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CIP
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Glossary
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Capital
Improvements Program
Building Today for Tomorrow
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Frequently
Asked Questions
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We
have received a number of questions and comments from the
web site, e-mail, and people visiting the project office.
Following are the most frequently asked questions:
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- What
are capital improvements?
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Capital
Improvements are permanent additions to the City's assets,
including the design, construction or purchase of land,
buildings or facilities or major renovations of the
same. They can be new improvements or existing infrastructure
whose operation has been extended or enhanced as result
of the project. A Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
is a long-range plan of proposed capital improvement
projects with single and multiple-year capital expenditures.
The CIP is updated annually. Appropriations for each
approved project are presented in the annual budget.
Some projects may span more than one fiscal year. In
Fontana, these improvements include the design-construction-improvement-reconstruction
of storm drain facilities, sewers, arterial roadways,
freeway interchanges/crossings, freeway grade separations,
railroad grade separations, and other similar works.
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Who
is directing the Capital Improvements Program and making
key decisions?
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The
Capital Improvements Program (CIP) is a joint effort
of several Fontana City departments. Each year a revised
plan for the CIP is submitted to the City Council by
the City Manager, based on the current project priorities
and available funding. The plan is developed from input
received from the community and City staff. The Council
appropriates the funds required to support the proposed
plan for the upcoming budget year. Subsequent years
are approved by Council on a planning basis and do not
receive ultimate expenditure authority until they are
eventually incorporated into the current fiscal year
budget. Expenditures in these years are therefore subject
to change.
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How
are the Capital Improvements Program projects prioritized?
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Each
year, the community and City staff have an opportunity
to submit potential capital projects for review and
consideration. As the budget process unfolds, the City
Engineer and engineering staff assess each potential
project in order to develop estimated funds required
for coming year and beyond, while City Senior Management
and Management Services review the City’s financial
position in order to determine potential revenues available
to fund Capital Improvements Program (CIP) projects.
Once these two processes have been reconciled, the recommended
CIP budget for the next fiscal year is presented by
the City Manager to the City Council for their review,
consideration, and ultimate approval. Throughout this
entire process, several key factors are used in prioritizing
and preparing the proposed budget and revised plan to
the City Council, including:
- Relation
to Community Strategic Planning goals and other significant
development and/or planning efforts;
- Projects
previously budgeted in the CIP;
- Projects
that have committed outside funds that are specifically
tied to a particular proposal; and
- Projects
that reduce ongoing operational costs.
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How
will the Capital Improvements Program projects be funded?
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The
City's Council has commissioned this capital improvement
program, recognizing that the existing transportation
and utility infrastructure has not kept up with development
projects in the City or with the overall population
explosion in the Inland Empire in general. As part of
the City of Fontana’s First Quarter Fiscal Year
2000-2001 budget adjustments, the Fontana City Council
officially adopted the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).The
City utilizes a variety of different funding sources
to pay for the CIP. The City also takes advantage of
available outside funding sources (state, federal and
local) to compliment and further its own funding. As
of July 2002, City Council has authorized (funded) $63.8
million in expenditures. An additional estimated $175.0
million will be required to complete the program. A
large percentage of future funding will come from federal,
state, and local Grants. Other sources include bonds,
developer fees and money from the City General fund.
A description of City Funds used to support the CIP
is listed below:
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General
Fund – City revenue from taxes, fees
and other various forms of revenue.
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Capital
Reinvestment Fund – General fund
moneys expended on capital projects.
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Circulation
Mitigation – Developer impact fees
for traffic and street improvements.
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Community
Facility District (CFD) – Special
taxes levied on property owners for capital improvements
in their community.
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Storm
Drain Fund – Fees received from developers
for storm drain facilities.
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Sewer
Capital - Fees collected by the City for
Future expansion and capacity increases of the sewer
and waste water systems.
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San
Sevaine Flood Control – Fees collected
for the purpose of constructing flood control improvements
in the San Sevaine area.
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North
Fontana Capital Projects - Bond proceeds
used to fund improvements in the project area.
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South
West Industrial Park Capital Projects -
Bond proceeds used to fund improvements in the project
area.
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Sierra
Corridor Capital Projects – Loan
proceeds used to fund improvements in the project
area.
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Grants
– Funding for a variety of transportation
improvements is available through programs like
the Transportation and Enhancement Act (TEA-21 and
TEA3), State Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP), and Measure I. The Regional Transportation
Authority (RTA), San Bernardino County Association
of Governments (SANBAG), is generally responsible
for overseeing the allocation of these funds to
specific projects within their counties. Funding
is typically transferred to a local agency on a
reimbursement basis, administered by the California
Department of Transportation (CALTRANS). The maximum
reimbursement received is typically 80% for construction.
To date, SANBAG has allocated over $9 million in
funding to pay for RWWCIP projects. City staff is
actively pursuing additional outside funding through
SANBAG and other sources. Funding terms are defined
in the website glossary.
- What
is the schedule for this project?
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The
Capital Improvements Program (CIP) is an ambitious seven
to ten year capital improvements program. There are
27 projects in various stages of design, environmental
assessment, right of way determination and/or construction.
Schedules for individual projects are displayed in the
project fact sheets.
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What
are the environmental impacts of this capital improvement
program?
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Most
projects fall within the jurisdiction of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). This legislation requires full consideration
of all environmental consequences before the project
can begin. If a study indicates that there are undesirable
environmental consequences of a proposed project, legislation
requires that either consideration be given to “mitigating”
measures built into the project that would lessen the
environmental damage or that alternatives (different
ways of accomplishing the project goals) be considered
that would be less damaging to the environment. NEPA
applies to any major federal, state, county, city or
industrial project that requires a Federal permit or
receives funding from a Federal agency. CEQA applies
to projects undertaken by state and local public agencies
that must receive approval from a government agency
which can cause either a direct physical change in the
environment or a predicted indirect change in the environment.
Not only projects, but also government programs, decisions,
and plans which may not immediately result in physical
development (such as a general or community plan), require
an environmental study under NEPA and CEQA. The basic
process of NEPA/CEQA are similar, though the terminology
varies, the compliance usually process includes:
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An
initial meeting with the lead regulatory agencies
to discuss the project.
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Initial
studies, if the study finds no significant impacts,
a Negative Declaration is prepared, after approval
by the lead regulatory agency, the project can proceed.
A Mitigated Negative Declaration can be prepared if
the Initial Study finds significant impacts but the
project is revised to avoid or mitigate those impacts.
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An
initial public hearing where public input is requested.
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If
significant impacts are identified, a draft Environmental
Impact Report or Study is prepared, which typically
takes several months. The basic steps are data collection,
assessment of potential environmental impacts, and
preparation of the report.
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Public
Review Period of the draft EIS/EIR, usually 45 days,
but may be longer.
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Completion
the Final EIS/EIR and acceptance by the lead regulatory
agency. If the project proponent feels that there
are very few or no adverse environmental effects of
the project, they may decide to prepare an Environmental
Assessment (EA) rather than an EIS. The EA relies
only on existing published data and is a much briefer
document than the EIS. The EA is reviewed by the lead
regulatory agency and if there appear to be no environmental
impacts worth considering, a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) is approved.
- Where
can I get more information?
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When
will bids be advertised for construction contractors?
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CIP
Projects will be advertised when a project completes
design, the City Engineer approves construction plans,
and funds are made available for construction. All projects
must have City Council authorization before they can
be advertised for bid. The entire process can take several
months, and is summarized by following list of the activities:
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Completed
plans are approved by City Engineer.
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Approved
plans are sent to agencies for required construction
permits.
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Approved
plans are sent to impacted utility companies.
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The
Agenda Item for Authorization to Bid is approved by
City Council.
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“Notice
Inviting Bids” is advertised in local papers,
and on the city website.
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Bids
are opened, evaluated and the contract awarded to
the lowest qualified bidder.
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Contractor’s
information including required bonding, contractor’s
license, class and expiration date are verified prior
to award of contract.
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The
Agenda Item to Award Contract is approved by City
Council.
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