Council authorizes design and grant application for Jesse Turner Center microgrid under Transformative Climate Communities program

Deputy City Manager (S22) presented a proposal to apply for Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant funding to build a microgrid at the Jesse Turner Center that would combine solar and battery storage to reduce utility costs and provide resilience during power outages. Staff emphasized workforce-development elements and a downtown affordable‑housing component to strengthen the grant application.

S22 described the selection of ALCO Building Solutions (ABS) to design a shovel-ready project and California Consulting to assist with the TCC application. "If we are selected for the grant award...we can immediately go into the project," staff said, explaining ABS is contributing discounted design work contingent on grant award. Staff requested authority for the city manager to execute contracts and to expend approximately $130,000 for the design and application process, with an expected final application in the $20–27 million range.

Council voted to authorize the city manager to enter the necessary agreements and to submit the TCC application. Council members noted that even without the grant the city would retain the design (shovel-ready) and pursue alternative funding sources rather than rely on the general fund to construct the microgrid.

What’s next: Staff will complete the application and return with additional documentation if awarded; staff also plans to include affordable‑housing gap funding elements and workforce-trainings in the final application.