PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 04/06/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER APPROVAL TO RATIFY A LETTER FROM SAN PABLO MAYOR PABON-ALVARADO ON CITY OF SAN PABLO COMMUNITY CAPITAL FUNDING REQUESTS TO FEDERAL LEGISLATORS (U.S. SENATORS ALEX PADILLA (D-CA); ADAM SCHIFF, (D-CA); AND U.S. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE JOHN GARAMENDI, D-8TH DISTRICT) FOR DISTRICT FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR 2026-27 FEDERAL BUDGET CYCLE
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
Compliance statements
Federal Budget Earmarks for San Pablo Projects is not an applicable policy item contained in the adopted FY 2025-27 City Council Priority Workplan, effective April 7, 2025.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project as defined by CEQA as a budget or financing mechanism pursuant to 14 cal. Code of Regulations section 15378(b).
BACKGROUND
The City Manager’s Office (CMO), in collaboration with the city’s lobbyist, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), have been in direct communication with the City’s following Federal Representatives regarding potential one-time capital funding requests to be included in the forthcoming 2026-27 Federal Budget cycle to support active City capital infrastructure projects needing additional Federal funding support, as follows:
U.S. Senate Representatives (CA):
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D)
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D)
U.S. Congressional Representative (CA-8th District):
Congressional Representative John Garamendi
FY 2026-27 Federal Funding / Community Project Funding
In February 2026, TPA contacted the CMO to inform of the potential Federal Budget one-time community project funding to be considered for city infrastructure projects during the upcoming 2026-27 federal budget funding cycle.
As part of this funding process, Federal Representatives will carefully review all direct funding requests from their respective District representative cities. Only those Federal Funding requests deemed appropriate for federal funding support will be considered for potential funding via the Federal Budget one-time earmark process. With guidance provided by TPA, CMO developed the following list of active City capital projects needing potential one-time Federal funding consideration to meet the City’s current project management and construction management goals, as follows:
SAN PABLO CAPITAL PROJECTS UNDER FEDERAL FUNDING CONSIDERATION:
Local governments face economic uncertainty in obtaining essential Federal funds through the community project funding program. With a partial government shutdown, TPA recommended the City limit its funding requests to two (2) top-priority capital projects this cycle.
Despite these challenges, the San Pablo City Council unanimously authorized requests for Federal and state funding for five (5) specific capital projects, approved on February 17, 2026, via minute order. The City is now formally submitting its top two (2) Federal funding requests in good faith for consideration in the 2025-26 period, as follows:
PROJECT #1: I-80 FREEWAY / SAN PABLO DAM ROAD/INTERCHANGE PROJECT (PHASE II)
Amount Requested: up to $2m for the city’s local match requirement to fund construction
PROJECT #2: ROLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Amount Requested: up to $2m for retrofitting and upgrading city facility to ADA and Building Code requirements.
Note: Some of these projects noted above are repetitive in nature. At this time, it is unknown if any or a portion of 2026-27 Federal funding requests will be appropriated before the end of the federal fiscal year period on September 30, 2026.
City Manager Recommendation
CMO and TPA staff prepared a one-time federal funding request letter and project summaries for Mayor Pabon-Alvarado to send on March 4, 2026, to the City's Federal Representatives before the funding deadline in March 2026 (see attachment).
This evening, the City Manager is seeking formal ratification and approval, by majority vote via minute order, of the attached letter from San Pablo Mayor Pabon-Alvarado, representing the San Pablo City Council. The letter expresses support for the City’s requests for one-time federal budget earmarks for the 2026-27 budget cycle. These requests were transmitted on March 4, 2026, via our lobbyist, TPA, to the City's Federal Representatives as referenced above.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
Attachment:
att A - Letter transmitted on March 4, 2026, from San Pablo Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado re: 2026-27 Federal funding requests from the City of San Pablo to the City’s Federal Representatives.