Los Angeles city council members are asking department heads to evaluate projects to best position the city for federal funding should an infrastructure bill pass.
A motion approved unanimously by the five-member budget and finance committee Monday asks the city administrative officer and the chief legislative analysts to produce a report on the final passage of the federal infrastructure and reconciliation bills with the categories and funding criteria to match city needs, and to provide that information to the City Council and department heads, so the city can make sure it taps any funding for which it is eligible to help the city clear a backlog of infrastructure projects.
"I should add to this motion that everyone should light a candle — that we hopefully get to a place where the leaders at the federal level start making some progress," City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez said.
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“The city may have the opportunity to receive an unprecedented amount of funding from the federal govt for infrastructure. This motion is designed to capitalize on this,” said Councilman Paul Krekorian, the committee chair.
While Rodriguez described Congress “as all locked horns at the federal level,” she said “it is always prudent for the city to be ready to tap these resources,” adding that “sadly, we often see these resources come online and we are not teed up to benefit. I would ask all the city departments to consider this.”
City Councilman Bob Blumenfield described the proposed federal infrastructure money as a way for the city to get caught up on repairing city sidewalks and streets.
“We need the departments to not only think about the big, sexy projects, but the bread and butter, we are never able to get caught up on, despite our best efforts," Blumenfield said.
In supporting the measure, he added, “This is really important, we have got to be positioned. We have all seen the city lose out on federal money for one reason or another.”
