Dublin’s Requests For Federal Stimulus Funds
One of the questions on the minds of most Dublin residents is – How much money will Dublin receive as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan? Mayor Tim Sbranti recently provided an update on Dublin’s request for funds.
The City of Dublin is working diligently to obtain Federal funds as part of the recently approved $787B stimulus package. Residents are unlikely to see a specific earmark for the city of Dublin on websites such as stimuluswatch.org because of our small size (under 50,000). The actual funding for smaller cities like Dublin is being channeled through state, county, and metropolitan planning agencies. These agencies will distribute the money to cities based upon project funding requests.
The largest portion of funding for local governments is related to shovel-ready road maintenance and repairs on major arteries. Dublin’s funding share will likely be between $692K-$865K and will go towards repaving, maintenance, and rehabilitation for all of Dougherty Road as well as portions of Dublin Boulevard. These two projects have been approved by Alameda County as being eligible for funding, so once the County receives the money it will be funneled to Dublin so that work can start immediately.
Other existing or future Dublin funding requests include:
- $2.5M+ for completion of the Alamo Canal Trail connection (in partnership with Pleasanton).
- Fallon Sports Park and the Emerald Glen Recreation and Aquatic Complex.
- Green project grants through the Department of Energy if/when we qualify.
- 2-3 other shovel-ready requests for under $50K.
Mayor Tim Sbranti is on the Executive Board for the Economic Development Alliance for the East Bay (EDAEB). At their most recent meeting, the Board gave direction to their Executive Director to make it his highest priority to identify funding opportunities through the stimulus package for local governments and businesses in the East Bay. Mayor Sbranti has made a commitment to relay updates on items that Dublin qualifies for and work with Dublin’s City Staff to apply for funding requests.
The Around Dublin Team would like to thank Mayor Tim Sbranti for providing this comprehensive update.
10:33 AM on February 15th, 2009
Thank you for the information!! So the stimulus funds cannot be used for new contruction such as the widening of Tassaraja, Dublin Blvd. or Dougherty?
Reason I bring this up is for example, one of the prime project in Oakland is the people mover connection from the Coliseum BART to the Airport, in SF is the tunneling of a subway for trains to get to the New Transbay Terminal. These to me are all brand new contruction and not simple maintenance like repaving streets that are already in decent shape.
Wouldn’t the widening the roads mentioned above and completion of the 680-580 interchange be considered a way to improve the local existing infrastructure to help ease the flow of traffic and the movement of commerce? Repaving a street to me does not do anything to stimulate jobs in the area nor help the local economy. I mean how many jobs will we create by paving over a street that is already in decent shape?
Pleasanton, SR and Livermore have requested funds in the multi million dollar range (50-70 to be exact), Dublin didn’t even break $1mm? For 50-70mm that our neihbors have each requested I am sure there are new projects on that list, not just street repaving.
11:06 AM on February 15th, 2009
Funding for a new high school in East Dublin would bring a lot of jobs. Its a good occasion to get funding for a justifiable cause.
11:12 AM on February 15th, 2009
Yes, but according to some websites Dublin is only receiving $1.2mm for two years to use towards education, only $275 (plus or minus) could be used for construction. This number seems very low in proportion to what our neighbors are getting, I mean in the millions per year.
12:24 PM on February 18th, 2009
Tim Rocks.!!! I love this guy.
12:25 AM on February 20th, 2009
I have some extreme ideas.
I always think that it would be very sustainable to have some sort of local mono rail system connecting the tri-valley area. I understand that we already have bart, which will be extending to livermore. However, there are lots of mis-connect. The bus service is not as reliable as monorail/ light rail. If we have a mono rail system connecting from bart station to like Old Town livermore, Old town Pleasanton and possibly the East dublin area, and any new commerical district, this will make the entire Tri-valley area more cohesive. I am not sure how much it will cost. However,I am sure that it will entice lot of future investment.
10:29 AM on February 21st, 2009
Best use of Stimulus funds.
1) Waive all Development related fees for developers breaking ground or restarting stalled projects by July 30, 2009. Projects such as Grafton Station, Fallon Gateway, The Green on Park Place, Windstar, AMB, The Promenade and maybe even Grafton Plaza. The City in turn could recoup the lost development fees from the Stimulus funds. The City now has development/impact fees sooner than expected to complete Fallon Park, Emerald Glen and various other civic projects. With these project moving forward sooner than later creates immediate construction jobs, both at the 2 parks mentioned and the retail centers. Once completed we’ll have added retail jobs and the city will realize added sales tax revenue sooner than later. In addition, with the AMB, Windstar, Grafton Station, Grafton Plaza and Fallon Gateway the City could also see high paying office jobs created as these project all have campus office components. By waiving all development fees we may entice some wary retailers to move their project up like Target, Sports Authority and Wholefoods. Now they have the opportunity to add an outlet at a much lower cost than the norm. Win for the City, Win for Retailers, Win for Developers, Win for Residents.
2) Replace our City fleet with American Built alternative fuel vehicles. It will point Dublin in the right direction as going green while at the same time help our auto makers and factories stay in business.
3) Replace or upgrade or Police cruiser fleet, once again American Built to help these manufacturers.
4) Place solar panels on all Government building like City Hall and the Library etc… This will save the City in the long term and will also help in the development of the green energy industry. Add this to item 2 and Dublin could be the model for going green.
All four points above is the real way to stimulate jobs now while at the same time help industries that are far beyond the borders of Dublin like our auto makers and green energy companies. While at the same time our Citizens will see new parks sooner, the city realizes sales tax revenues sooner, developers and retail gets to complete their projects sooner creating jobs from Construction to Retail to high End Office.
Just a thought as repaving and trimming a few trees and filling in potholes really does not help stimulate anything other than the Asphalt Company’s bottom line for 2009. No one else really benefit, long term or short term.
10:35 AM on February 21st, 2009
In regards to item 1 above. There will need to be a part of the development agreement that if the developer takes advantage of the development fee waiver by starting their project by July 30, 2009. They must complete it in a certain amount of time that is reasonable. Any delays after construction started they will be liable for the fees waived and must pay it back to the City as a penalty. It will work to encourage them to push along to completion instead of stalling with no recourse and walking away with the fee waiver.
12:03 PM on February 21st, 2009
I agreed to the wavier of development fee may be a good use of the fund. However, it has to be done cautiously since the vacancy rate of avaliable space is trending higher. There have been a number of big retailers going out of business, like Mervyn and Expo design center. It is very likely that there will be more retailers coming to close. I am concerned if the new space will be able to absorbed in thid market. For example, EXPO design center, it is hard to find a Big Anchor to replace them. Same to residential development, putting those high density residential developement. Like Windstar on hold may be a good thing, so allow the market to get in balance. The most important thing is the quality of the new development cannot be compromised to benefit the developers and short term benefits of creating construction jobs.
I wonder if we can selectively utilize the development incentive only to the projects, that are considered more benefitial and desirable to the area, like the Wholefood, or the cooperate office for Target, since they can bring in higher pay jobs and enhance the image of Dublin.
10:12 AM on February 22nd, 2009
I concur Morgan. Waiver of development fee to jump start project does not necessarily mean waiving of standards/quality.
Windstar, although I agree we don’t need more housing right now, especially the high density type as the market is already flooded with them. The only reason I would support this particular project is that it is on the West side where High Density is not in abundance. Also this project could very well kick start the eventual redevelopment of downtown. Putting some bodies into downtown 24/7 could entice retailers to look at investing in Downtown Dublin. I’m just looking at the larger picture.
I also agree somewhat regarding the current vacant retail buildings and that it may sit empty for years and years if more newer centers come on line and sucking up whatever retailers that are left that can still expand. On the flip side, especially for downtown this scenario could encourage or entice owners of these vacated properties to finally work with the City and fellow property owners to redevelop and put downtown in the right direction of becoming a pedestrian friendly, cohesive and quaint downtown that most of us desire. I don’t mind seeing 99 Ranch, Long’s, Aaron Brothers, Mervyn’s, Toy’s R’us, Burlington and EXPO all razed and redeveloped into something less car oriented. A higher density retail development with garages may possibly entice Michael’s, Ross to move over from across the street. This then would open up the current Ross/OSH shopping center to also be razed and re-oriented. Redeveloped to compliment the future St. Patrick Way and creating a main street setting. Currently this can’t happen as OSH, Michael’s etc.. back into St. Patrick thus the hope of making it into a small scale retail main street is impossible. A project similiar to Grafton Plaza, mixing Campus Office, Retail and “some” residential at the Current OSH and Michael’s site would be a boon for Downtown and Dublin. It would have a built in customer base night and day. This location is prime for something like this as it is at the door step of the future West Dublin BART station, much like how Downtown Walnut Creek was built around their BART station.
7:43 AM on February 26th, 2009
Breaking News: Fallon Sports Park has been renamed to “Fallo[u]t Sports Park”.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/columnists/ci_11784559
I didn’t realize Alan Elias is so political. I suppose either “Fallout” or “Bailout” would work. Regardless of what Alan Elias may think about this park and its funding, it is a good thing for Dublin. I fully support it.
7:53 AM on February 26th, 2009
Pleasanton approved the Stoneridge drive extension. Good news for dublin
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/ci_11789298
4:02 PM on February 26th, 2009
Thanks for flagging that error, Anonymous February 26, 2009 6:43 AM. Glad to see the former Around Dublin columnist is reading the comments posted here. Looks like he fixed that very political typo.
Posted: 02/25/2009 04:13:04 PM PST
Updated: 02/26/2009 12:32:31 PM PST
12:37 PM on April 15th, 2009
I read in many places that the extension of Stoneridge Drive is a good news for Dublin (Dublin Dlvd). How are these two roads related? Why is Dublin Blvd depends on Stoneridge drive?
7:57 PM on April 15th, 2009
Hi Anonymous on April 15, 2009 12:37 PM – in order to avoid having 100% of the cut-through traffic, Dublin does not want to open up Dublin Boulevard or Central Parkway until Stoneridge Drive is extended so that both cities can share in the traffic.
Having Dublin Boulevard punched through is key to the success of Fallon Gateway because it straddles both sides of Fallon Road along Dublin Boulevard.
Thx, John Z.