REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 30, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations and Planning Division
SUBJECT
Title
Consider approval of a Cooperative Agreement in the amount of $478,000 with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA) for the Blackstone & McKinley Transit Orientated Development Project under the Measure “C” Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Program (Council District 1).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council approve a Cooperative Agreement for the Blackstone & McKinley TOD Project under the Measure “C” TOD Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Blackstone & McKinley TOD Project will build 88 affordable multi-family dwelling units and 4,000 square feet of retail space. The Council authorized staff to submit a grant application for this project on February 15th, 2018, for Measure “C” TOD funding. The Fresno County Council of Governments (COG) has approved the allocation of TOD funds for the project. Approval of the Cooperative Agreement will allow the City to be reimbursed for eligible project costs by the FCTA.
BACKGROUND
The Measure "C" Extension (2007-2027) approved by the voters of Fresno County includes a number of subprograms including regional street and highway projects, airport funding, transit, flexible funding, street maintenance, bicycle lanes, trails and environmental enhancements, as well as several others. Under the Environmental Enhancement Allocation Program, the Measure Expenditure Plan includes the TOD Program, the purpose of which was to provide funding to support planning, incentives and infrastructure related to infill, higher-density TOD types of development.
On February 15, 2018, the Council adopted Resolution No. 2018-41, authorizing submission of an application for grant funds under the TOD program. The Resolution included an application to fund public infrastructure near a proposed affordable housing project near the southwest corner of McKinley and Blackstone avenues. The City’s application was reviewed by the Fresno COG scoring committee, which recommended awarding funding for the project. The COG and FCTA Boards approved the award of funding, but a cooperative agreement is necessary for the City to receive reimbursement of eligible project costs. Council approval will in turn allow for the FCTA Board to authorize execution of the Agreement.
The developers of the affordable housing project have secured funding and are working on final plans for their mixed-use development. The funds will be used to install curb, gutter, sidewalk and new paving on Home Avenue. The work will also convert the existing overhead utility lines on Home Avenue to an underground system and to install new street lights on Home Avenue and Blackstone Avenue. The existing sidewalks on Blackstone between Home and the railroad tracks will be replaced with twelve-foot wide sidewalks.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a “project” and is therefore exempt from California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable because this is not a competitive bid. This is a funding mechanism only.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project cost is being fully funded by Measure "C" TOD dollars. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
Attachment:
FCTA Agreement for Blackstone McKinley TOD Project