Oroville councilors back exploring state and federal grants to build Southside sidewalks

Councilmember Goodson presented a Southside sidewalk initiative and the Oroville City Council agreed by consensus to have staff pursue grant funding and short-term safety measures for Burlington and Spencer streets.

The presentation, focused on gaps in sidewalks used by schoolchildren and persons with limited mobility, proposed applying for the federal Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) and related state programs. The presenter said the ATIIP deadline requires an expedited start and that the community had collected “well over 200 signatures” in support. Councilmember Goodson and staff described prior engineering work done when a redevelopment project was planned and said finding funding is the primary remaining barrier.

Why it matters: the sidewalks presented are primary walking routes for children attending nearby schools and for residents with disabilities. Speakers said missing or discontinuous sidewalks force people into traffic during rainstorms and create safety and attendance risks for students.

Council direction and next steps Council members expressed unanimous support for moving the idea forward. Council and staff recommended several near-term steps: 1) seek rough engineering and stormwater/drainage cost estimates (staff estimated a ballpark engineering estimate could be in the $20,000 range); 2) assess state “Rule 28” credits and other local funding sources; 3) coordinate with the Ferguson Group (federal/state lobbyists the city retained) on potential earmarks or community project funding; and 4) hold community meetings to build local input for grant applications.

Resident testimony and outside support Resident speakers described hazardous walking conditions. Levi Niss, a lifelong Southside resident, said children and elderly people are forced off roads into deep puddles in winter, and recounted rescuing relatives who were wheelchair-bound: “We would be forced off the road into those puddles.” Pastor David Goodson, who joined the council’s walking tour of the corridors, urged staff to pursue both short-term fixes and a phased long-term plan: “This is a multi year project,” he said. Terry DeBose, representing Congressman Doug LaMalfa, offered the congressman’s office help with letters of support if the city applies for federal funding.

Grant specifics and constraints Staff and presenters noted the ATIIP (state) and an analogous federal program are competitive; successful applications require detailed engineering and drainage analysis and demonstrated community support. Councilmember Goodson said the city previously completed civil-engineering pre-work when a redevelopment agency project was planned but that the state’s dissolution of redevelopment agencies removed funding for the work. Staff said pursuing a CDBG drainage study and Rule 28 credit reallocations are also in progress.

Implementation questions and costs Staff said hiring or contracting civil-engineering expertise for stormwater and land-development analysis will be necessary to prepare a competitive application. The presenter estimated an initial, rough engineering cost estimate could be about $20,000; the city also referenced a retained lobbying contract (Ferguson Group) of approximately $65,000 for federal/state representation. Councilmembers and staff described doing the project in phases and looking for multiple funding sources (federal earmarks/community project funding, state ATIIP/ATIP, Caltrans Safe Routes to School, Rule 28 credits, CDBG drainage study).

What the council decided The council gave staff direction by consensus to pursue grant opportunities and related short-term measures, to return with cost estimates and a recommended grant strategy, and to schedule community meetings for input. No ordinance or appropriation was adopted at the meeting.

Looking ahead Staff said they will return with a scope and cost estimate for engineering and a proposed schedule to strengthen any grant application before ATIIP deadlines. A council member asked staff to coordinate the council’s priorities with the Ferguson Group in early March so federal lobbying and any earmark requests can be pursued.