REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 20, 2017
FROM: BRUCE RUDD, Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: JIM SCHAAD, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
DARLENE CHRISTIANSEN, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation/Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
Items related to applying for and accepting state funding for Department of Transportation projects:
1. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the execution of certifications and assurances, and the annual filing of applications for, acceptance of, and execution of all documents and instruments related to state transportation assistance authorized and administered by the California Office of Emergency Services, the California State Transportation Agency, or the California Department of Transportation
2. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the application for and execution of documents related to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program Project: Operating Support for FAX Extended Night Service (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve resolutions authorizing the City Manager, Director of Transportation, or their designee to file annual grant applications and project proposals as required by the State of California, and to execute and file all necessary funding documents on behalf of the City, and approve application for and execution of documents relating to Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) operating support for extended night service on multiple Fresno Areas Express (FAX) public transit routes.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation (Department) seeks Council approval of the attached resolutions authorizing the City Manager designee to execute and file required certifications and assurances, project proposals, grant approval documents, and other documents required by the State of California on behalf of the City for programs with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA), or the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Approval of the attached resolutions would reduce delays in receiving state funds by authorizing the City Manager, Director of Transportation, or designee to execute and file annual grant documents each following fiscal year, provided the grant amounts and projects have been approved by Council in the annual budget resolution.
BACKGROUND
The Department will annually submit project proposals to the State of California for available funding of programs such as Proposition 1B, Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), and future state programs. These anticipated revenues and corresponding appropriations will be included in the Department’s proposed budget each fiscal year, or the Department will return to Council to request the appropriations.
In recent years, the Department has aggressively pursued new sources of revenue, including transit specific grant funds through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ); San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD); and through the State of California. These funds provide for transit specific operating and capital expenditures. Program funds can often be anticipated in advance, and the revenues and appropriations will be included in the department proposed budget for Council approval each fiscal year.
Proposition 1B, known as the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006, was established in 2006 (Chapter 25, Statutes of 2006) in order to fund mobility, safety, and air quality improvements.
The LCTOP is one of several programs of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014 by Senate Bill 862. LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility, with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities.
The TIRCP was created by Senate Bill (SB) 862 (Chapter 36, Statutes of 2014) and modified by Senate Bill 9 (Chapter 710, Statutes of 2015) to provide grants from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to fund transformative capital improvements that will modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail systems, and bus and ferry transit systems to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by reducing congestion and vehicle miles traveled throughout California. The goal of the TIRCP is to provide monies to fund transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity rail, bus, and ferry and rail transit systems.
In FY05, Council approved a similar resolution relating to annual federal funding through the FTA. This has reduced delays in submitting and executing grant documents to the FTA that occur on an ongoing basis. It is anticipated the State of California will require a resolution each year with regard to these various funds. The attached resolutions, along with Council’s annual approval of expenditure of grant funds during the annual budget process, will satisfy the state requirement.
The attached resolutions have been reviewed by the City Attorney’s Office. The resolutions are consistent with transportation funding resolutions previously approved by Council, and authorize the City Manager, the Director of Transportation, or their designee to execute and file documents required by the State for funding from Cal OES, CalSTA, and Caltrans on behalf of the City of Fresno, provided the grant amounts have been approved in the annual budget resolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
This is not a “project” for the purpose of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this is not a bid or award of a contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund from this action. If the department will match (leverage) a particular project in future years, any local match funds will be identified in the annual budget or in amendments to the Annual Appropriations Resolution, as approved by Council.
Attachments:
Resolution Authorizing Application for Execution of Documents Related to LCTOP
Resolution Authorizing Execution of Documents Related to State Transportation Assistance