REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
February 15, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, P.E., Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, P.E., Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SHELBY MACNAB, MPA, Grants Administrator
Public Works Department, Administration
SUBJECT
Title
RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Submission of Grant Applications to the Fresno Council of Governments for the 2018 Measure C Transit Oriented Infrastructure for In-Fill Development Grant Program Call for Projects and Authorizing the Execution of Documents by the Public Works Director or Designee (Council Districts 1 and 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of grant applications to the Measure C Transit Oriented Infrastructure for In-Fill Development Grant Program and authorize the execution of all application related documents by the Public Works Director or designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting authorization to submit grant applications to the Measure C Transit Oriented Infrastructure for In-Fill Development (Measure C TOD) Grant Program. The intent of this program is to help incentivize development at locations served by high capacity transit services such as those found in Downtown and along the City’s Bus Rapid Transit Corridors. The City proposes submitting two applications with the first application being used to fund public infrastructure improvements near the proposed Blackstone and McKinley mixed use/affordable housing development. The second application is for the South Stadium mixed use/affordable housing project located at Fulton and Inyo.
BACKGROUND
The Measure C TOD program was created in the 2006 Measure C Extension Plan. The call for projects is administered through the Fresno Council of Governments, with final approval by the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) Board. FCTA is the authority responsible for administering Measure C funding. The goals of the Measure C TOD allocation are to support community based transit projects that are developed through an inclusive planning process with broad public-private partnership and outreach, improve the range of transportation choices by supporting transit facilities and improving links between facilities and activity notes, and support well-designed, high-density housing and mixed uses near transit. City and County governments in Fresno County are eligible for the TOD program. Private sector or non-profit organizations can apply for the funding through the representation of the local government where the project is located. Projects must be located within ½ mile of an existing bus stop or proposed High Speed Rail station that is in the latest Regional Transportation Plan.
As described in the 2006 Measure C Extension Expenditure Plan, the TOD program provides funding to three types of competitive projects:
A. Transportation infrastructure improvements to transit facilities to encourage safety and access to transit facilities, support in-fill development or revitalization, reduce traffic congestion at transit stations, and provide for a wider range of transportation choices and improved internal mobility. Funds can be used for preliminary design and environmental studies, engineering, land acquisition, and construction.
B. Planning projects or matching money to identify nodal transit sites on transit corridors for transit oriented development, planning retrofit projects for existing neighborhoods, downtowns, commercial cores, and transit station areas and stops in order to create access to transit and mixed use development in transit friendly environments. The community planning process must result in transportation/land-use concept plans, streetscape design concept plans, environmental studies, detailed drawings, construction cost estimates or implementation plans for specific capital projects.
C. Housing in-fill incentive projects which reward local governments for encouraging developers to build compact designs with higher housing densities, affordable, accessible housing, and mixed uses that are characteristic of well-implemented transit oriented design in other cities developments at transit stops. Local government agencies can spend funds to supplement development fees or on a capital project that supports new housing development connections to transit.
The City proposes submitting two applications. The first application is for funding public infrastructure near the proposed Blackstone and McKinley affordable housing development. If awarded, this project would provide funds for utility undergrounding and street lights on Home Avenue as well as sidewalk widening on Blackstone. The second application is for the South Stadium affordable housing development located at Fulton and Inyo. Funding will be sought under the in-fill incentive fee program and/or the capital improvement program in support of the transit-oriented development.
Applications are due on February 28, 2018. Projects will be selected for final approval by the Fresno County Transportation Authority on May 30, 2018. The City Attorney’s office has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
A resolution applying for grant funding is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not implicated because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This resolution will have no immediate impact on the General Fund. Should the grant be awarded, funds will be identified through future fiscal year capital budgets.
Attachment:
Resolution