Title
Gated Alley Program Pilot - Expansion and Funding (Ordinance S-46462)
Description
This report requests City Council approval to expand the Gated Alley Program Pilot citywide, enter into any necessary agreements to implement the expanded pilot, and use $400,000 in Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program funds for the costs associated with installation of gates. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
On June 27, 2017, the City Council approved the original Gated Alley Program (GAP) Pilot for specific targeted areas in the Royal Palm and Sunnyslope neighborhoods. This program was designed by an interdepartmental committee in collaboration with residents to provide a new approach to deterring illegal dumping, graffiti and criminal activity in residential alleys. The GAP Pilot provided homeowners whose properties abut an alleyway the opportunity to submit an application to the City requesting both the relocation of solid waste services from the alley to curbside, and permission to install locked gates at the ends of the alley adjacent to their properties at the owners' cost. The City covered the cost of relocating solid waste services and the required revocable fence permit fees. Many residents outside of the pilot areas are experiencing continued issues with illegal dumping, graffiti and criminal activity occurring in their alleys and have expressed interest in gating their alleys, as it is a tool that could reduce the number of alley clean-ups required and increase safety. Therefore, City staff recommend expanding the GAP Pilot up to an additional 10 alley segments in each Council District.
City staff identified funding as a barrier for many neighborhoods in the GAP Pilot. Therefore, City staff seek authorization to create a grant program using $400,000 in Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program (NBWGP) funds to assist neighborhoods within low-income community census tracts with the cost. Gating alleys has a correlation with reducing crime and is an eligible use of the funding source. NBWGP funds will be used to create a capital pool that can be used exclusively to fund contracts between awarded groups/organizations and City contractors or contractors on the Approved Contractor List (ACL) to design, obtain necessary permitting and complete all other work associated with building and installing the gates at the end of alleys. A recognized Block Watch Group or Neighborhood Organization registered with the Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) and within a low-moderate income census tract will be permitted to apply for NBWGP. The request must include signatures from at least 51 percent of the property owners that would be impacted by each alley closure. NSD will administer the program funding to eligible applicants, the Public Works Department (PWD) will continue to relocate trash pickup from alley to curbside and the Planning and Development Department (PDD) will coordinate the petition verification and permitting process.
Additionally, NSD will either use a City vendor or maintain an ACL, which will be an internal process, to ensure qualified contractors perform the work. Neighborhood organizations using grant funding must utilize contractors on the ACL or City vendors to install the gates. To be added to the ACL and be eligible to participate as a contractor, receive bid opportunities, and perform services on GAP projects, contractors will be screened and qualified on an individual basis and must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements established by NSD and PDD. These requirements include holding a license with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, maintaining adequate insurance and the like. Once on an approved ACL, contractors will be eligible to submit bids on alley gates within the alley segments designated as part of the program.
Staff seeks authorization to proceed with all actions necessary or appropriate to implement and administer the expanded GAP Pilot on a citywide basis including the following:
- Establish a separate GAP grant award process using $400,000 in NBWGP funds that may be used by recognized Block Watch Groups or registered Neighborhood Organizations within low-income community census tracts to pay for the costs associated with the design, construction and installation of gates at the ends of alleys.
- Enter into or amend any necessary contracts or agreements with eligible Block Watch Groups or Neighborhood Organizations.
- Enter into and/or amend contracts with private contractors or other service providers to perform work or otherwise implement the GAP Pilot.
- Maintain an ACL of qualified contractors to enter into agreements with Block Watch Groups or Neighborhood Organizations that will be funded by the GAP grant.
- Provide funding to Block Watch Groups, Neighborhood Organizations, contractors on the ACL or City vendors to perform work or otherwise implement the GAP Pilot.
- Establish requirements for the design, construction and installation of gates in alleys that must be adhered to regardless of whether grant funding is utilized, and which may vary depending on the conditions at the alley sites.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- The Land Use and Livability Subcommittee approved a recommendation to expand the Gated Alley Program Pilot to all the Council Districts to include up to 10 alley segments per council district, by a vote of 4-0 on Jan. 15, 2020.
- The Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program Fund Oversight Committee approved a recommendation to reallocate $400,000 in NBWGP funds to cover the expense for installing gates at the ends of alley segments located within neighborhoods defined as part of the expansion of the Gated Alley Program Pilot at the NBWGP Oversight Committee by a vote of 8-1-1 on Feb. 5, 2020.
- The Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee approved a recommendation to reallocate $400,000 in Neighborhood Block Watch Grant Program funds to cover the cost of gates within eligible neighborhoods that are part of the expanded citywide Gated Alley Program Pilot by a vote of 4-0 on Feb. 12, 2020. The motion included that the grant criteria should be based upon need as demonstrated by crime, graffiti and dumping data as well as economic need.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Managers Karen Peters and Mario Paniagua and the Public Works, Neighborhood Services and Planning and Development departments.