STAFF REPORT
Operations Committee,
January 3, 2008
Federal Legislative Agenda for FY2009
(AD08-007)
Consideration of adopting a federal legislative
agenda for the federal fiscal year 2009
Speaker: Ms. Lana Hygh
From:
William B. Coleman, Jr. Town Manager
Prepared by: Lana Hygh, Assistant to the Town Manager
Approved by: William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager
The Town has contracted with The Ferguson Group since December 2001 for services related to helping the Town secure federal funding for various capital projects. To date, the Town has received over $9 million in federal support for its projects including the biosolids dryer, stream restoration and greenway projects, public safety technology, water reclamation and reuse, and the computerized traffic signal system. Appropriations are included in annual budget bills; authorizations are specified uses for already-existing funding. Both appropriations and authorizations are routed through federal and state agencies which typically receive a portion of the designated funds for administrative costs.
|
Federal Appropriation/ Authorization |
Project |
Appropriation/ Authorization |
|
|
FY02 SUPPLEMENTAL – Biosolids Dryer |
$1,000,000 |
||
|
FY03 |
Biosolids Dryer |
$360,000 |
|
|
FY03 |
Greenways Project |
$750,000 |
|
|
FY03 |
Stream Restoration |
$200,000 |
|
|
FY04 |
Traffic Signal System |
$800,000 |
|
|
FY04 |
Farmland Preservation |
$300,000 |
|
|
FY04 |
Public Safety Technology Improvements ($100,000 went to Chapel Hill) |
$250,000 |
|
|
FY04 |
West Cary Stream Restoration |
$100,000 |
|
|
FY05 |
Jordan Lake Water Reclamation and Reuse (through Wake County) |
$1,500,000 |
|
|
FY05 |
West Cary Watershed Protection |
$300,000 |
|
|
FY05 |
West Cary Stream Restoration |
$193,000 |
|
|
FY06 |
Jordan Lake Water Reclamation and Reuse (through Wake County) |
$1,500,000 |
|
|
FY06 |
West Cary Watershed Protection |
$298,000 |
|
|
FY06 |
West Cary Stream Restoration |
$175,000 |
|
|
FY06 |
Public Safety Technology Improvements |
$100,000 |
|
|
FY2005-2009 SAFETEA-LU – Pedestrian Bike/Trail System Project |
$1,600,000 |
||
|
TOTAL |
$9,426,000 |
||
For the FY07 federal budget, Congress passed a year-long continuing resolution instead of individual budget bills and no earmarks were included. They then reformed their earmarking processes and began working on the FY08 budget.
Status of Cary’s FY08 Federal Legislative Agenda
Even though federal fiscal year 2008 began on October 1, 2007, Congress did not pass the annual appropriations bills (except for the Defense spending bill) until December 19, 2007. The federal government has been operating under a series of continuing resolutions since October 1.
On Wednesday, December 19, Congress completed work on a $555 billion omnibus spending package for FY2008. It includes:
· $492,000 for the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility;
· $980,000 for Walker Street Grade Separation;
· $325,000 for Cary Police Department technology improvements;
· $213,000 for Swift Creek watershed protection
In addition to this funding in the omnibus House bill, a $4 million authorization was included in the Senate’s Water Resources Development Act for the Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility. This authorization was also included in the conference report and prepares the way for appropriation requests in the future budget cycles.
Federal FY2009 Proposed Legislative Agenda
Even while the FY2008 bills are being wrapped up, it is time to look forward to the FY2009 federal budget process. Based on current Town priorities, available federal funding accounts, and feedback from our federal legislators and consultants, the following projects are recommended for inclusion in the Town’s federal legislative agenda for FY2009:
|
FY2009 Appropriations Requests |
||||
|
|
Project |
Request |
Bill And Program |
Project Description |
|
1 |
Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility |
$1 million |
Interior and Environment / EPA’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant Program |
Funding will be used for design and permitting for a new regional wastewater treatment facility to serve Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs and RTP. |
|
2 |
Western Wake Regional Water Reclamation Facility |
$1 million |
Energy and Water Development / Army Corps of Engineers General Construction |
Funding will be used for design and permitting for a new regional wastewater treatment facility to serve Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Holly Springs, and RTP. |
|
3 |
Walker Street Grade Separation |
$1 million |
Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies FHWA’s TCSP Program |
Funding will be used for preliminary design and engineering, and to conduct a grade separation feasibility study, where Walker Street crosses rail tracks shared by CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak. |
|
4 |
Cary Police Department’s Technology Improvements |
$300,000 |
Commerce, Justice, Science DOJ’s COPS Law Enforcement Technology |
Funding will be used to purchase remaining in-car cameras and to install wireless hot spots at key intersections throughout the town. |
|
5 |
Historic Preservation Efforts to the Old Cary Elementary School |
$300,000 |
Interior and the Environment NPS’ Save America’s Treasures |
Funding will be used to renovate the Old Cary Elementary School for use as a visual and performing arts gallery. |
|
6 |
Town of Cary Watershed Protection and Stream Restoration |
$300,000 |
Agriculture NRCS’s Conservation Operations |
Funding will be used to establish protective buffers that will limit agriculture runoff and improve the quality of water in impaired watersheds. |
|
7 |
West Cary Stream Restoration |
$95,000 |
Energy and Water Section 206, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration |
Installation of planted and natural riparian buffers to limit runoff and improve the quality of water that flows into Jordan Reservoir. |
In addition to these projects, the following non-appropriations and policy items are included in the work plan for The Ferguson Group.
|
Non-Appropriations / Policy Items |
|
1. Actively promote efforts to provide federal support for local government efforts to address global climate change. 2. Monitor federal legislation related to low power FM regulations and other potential emergency communications. 3. Track federal water infrastructure funding legislation and ensure that Town of Cary would be an eligible recipient of any forthcoming funding. 4. Research planning and assessment funding for water intake facility at Jordan Lake. 5. Engage in discussions with Department of Energy regarding agency dollars for dryer sludge facilities. |
Fiscal Impact: The current contract with The Ferguson Group is for $96,862.50 and expires on November 30, 2008. Funds were appropriated in the Town’s FY2008 budget and no additional appropriation is necessary.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends adoption of the proposed FY2009 Federal Legislative Agenda.