REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 29, 2018
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: DARLENE CHRISTIANSEN, Senior Management Analyst
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorizing annual filing of applications for, acceptance of, and execution of all documents and instruments related to Federal Transportation Assistance Authorized by Title 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 and other federal statutes administered by the Federal Transit Administration, an operating administration of the United States Department of Transportation (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Transportation, or designee, to annually submit grant applications with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and to execute and file all necessary grant application documents on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The department seeks Council approval of the attached resolution authorizing the City Manager or Director of Transportation, or designee, to annually submit grant applications with the FTA and execute and file all necessary grant documents on behalf of the City in FY19 and in each following fiscal year.
In 2004, at the suggestion of the FTA, the department put forth and Council approved annual authorizing Resolution 2004-464, which has served to reduce delays in receiving federal funds and meet the FTA’s requirement since that time. The attached resolution is updated to reflect the department’s current funding relationship with the FTA and the possibility the City may be subrecipient to Fresno Council of Governments on some projects and will repeal and replace 2004-464.
BACKGROUND
The department annually submits applications to the FTA for transportation operating, capital, and planning assistance funds under Title 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53. This includes FTA grant programs like 5307 (Urbanized Area Formula Grants), 5309 (Capital Investment Grants), and 5339 (Buses & Bus Facilities funding programs). Additionally, the department is a subrecipient of some FTA grant funding, such as the 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities) program for which the Fresno Council of Governments is the designated recipient and passes through funding on a reimbursement basis to the department.
The non-discretionary FTA grant funds can be anticipated in advance and the revenues and appropriations are included in the department's proposed budget each fiscal year. Discretionary funding under these programs can often be anticipated in advance as well; when it cannot, the department will return to Council to request the appropriations.
As part of the execution of grant agreements between the department and the FTA each year, the City of Fresno is required to review, execute, and file the FTA’s annual certifications and assurances. This requires both the City Attorney’s Office and the Director of Transportation to approve/sign the document in the FTA’s electronic grant management system called TrAMS. The attached resolution will enable this process to continue annually.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
This resolution does not represent a “project” for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This request will have no impact to the General Fund as revenues and any required local matching funds are identified in the annual budget or in amendments to the Annual Appropriations Resolution, as approved by Council.
Attachment:
Resolution