REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 19, 2019
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
THROUGH: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: FABIOLA LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst
Public Works Department
SUBJECT
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Actions pertaining to entering into four funding agreements totaling $1,223,079 with the Fresno County Transportation Authority for 2018/19 Cycle VII Measure “C” Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure for In-fill Program (Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7)
1. Approve four Funding Agreements with the Fresno County Transportation Authority for 2018/19 Cycle VII Measure “C” Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure for In-fill Projects for $1,223,079 for the Kings Canyon Transit Oriented Development Connectivity Plan, the Transit Oriented Tower, the Fancher Creek Trail, and the Merced Street Reconnection
2. ***RESOLUTION - 3rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2019-133 appropriating $583,200 for three funding agreements (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends Council approve four funding agreements for the Department of Planning and Development and the Public Works Department for the awarded projects under the 2018/19 Cycle VII Measure “C” Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Infrastructure for In-fill Program totaling $1,223,079, and authorize the Director of Planning and Development and the Director of Public Works or designees to execute all agreement related documents, and adopt the 3rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2019-133 to appropriate $583,200 for the three Public Works funding agreements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Measure “C” Transportation Expenditure Plan includes TOD Infrastructure for the In-fill Program. The program is administered by the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) in conjunction with the Fresno County Transportation Authority (FCTA). The Measure “C” TOD program provides funding for three types of projects: planning projects, transportation infrastructure capital improvement projects and a housing in-fill incentive program.
The Council authorized the submission of four grant applications under the Cycle VII Measure “C” TOD program on February 14, 2019. The COG has approved the allocation of Measure “C” TOD Funding for all four projects as follows:
• Planning and Development Department - Kings Canyon Road Connectivity Plan Project, $325,000;
• Public Works Department - Transit Oriented Tower at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue, $347,860; Fancher Creek Trail Clovis Avenue to Argyle Avenue, $475,219, and Merced Street Reconnection project, $75,000.
Approval of the Funding Agreement for each project will allow reimbursement for eligible project costs by the FCTA.
BACKGROUND
The Measure “C” TOD program was created in the 2006 Measure “C” Extension Plan. The call for projects is administered through the Fresno COG, with final approval by the FCTA Board. FCTA is the authority responsible for administering Measure “C” funding. The goals of the Measure “C” TOD allocation is 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.
On February 14, 2019, The Council adopted Resolution No. 2019-027, authorizing submission of four applications for grant funds under Measure “C” TOD program. The Resolution included one application for Planning & Development and three applications for Public Works as follows:
1) $325,000 Planning & Development application for Kings Canyon Road Transit Oriented Development Connectivity Plan project. The intent of this project is two-fold: 1) identify which “Q Line” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stops along the Ventura Street/Kings Canyon Road Corridor have the greatest near-term market potential for compact, higher-density mixed-use development and 2) develop a standardized TOD implementation framework, or station area “template,” that can be applied to regional mixed use and neighborhood mixed use zoned property along the BRT Corridor to maximize connections and catalyze future infill development around the City’s existing BRT stations. This planning process will be entirely Measure “C” TOD funded.
2) $347,860 Public Works application to fund the Transit Oriented Tower at Van Ness Avenue and Olive Avenue. The goal of this project is to provide improved accessibility to a highly used transit stop in the Tower District. Funds from this grant will be used to narrow the roadway, reconstruct the transit stop, and install improved bus shelter facilities for riders. This will encourage and support transit as a preferred travel mode. The project scope was developed in close coordination with the Department of Transportation / Fresno Area Express.
3) $475,219 Public Works application (construction funding only) for Fancher Creek Trail from Clovis Avenue to Argyle Avenue. The purpose of this project is to provide a separated and accessible multimodal connection between high density affordable senior housing, the Fresno Area Express (FAX) route 22, and the future Fancher Creek FAX Transit Center planned for the area. These connections will result in improved access or “location efficiency” for southeast Fresno residents to nearby employers and services.
4) $75,000 Public Works application for Merced Street Reconnection Project. The intent of this project is the production of engineered plans, specifications, and related bid documents for the reestablishment of a 600-foot segment of Merced Street, between H Street and Congo Alley, as well as the 230-foot northerly extension of Broadway Street from its current terminus (280- feet north of Fresno Street) to intersect with the Merced Street extension. The design process will address impacts to Parking Lot 2, as well as identifying right-of-way, utility, urban greening, lighting, place making and signalization needs.
The City’s applications were reviewed by the COG scoring committee, which recommended awarding funding for all four projects. The COG and FCTA Boards approved the award of funding, but a funding agreement is necessary for the City to receive reimbursement of eligible project costs. Following Council approval, the agreements will go to the FCTA Board for approval to authorize execution of the Agreement.
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the funding agreements as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378, this is not a project for purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because these funding agreements do not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This request will have no impact to the General Fund in the 2020 fiscal year. The projects are located in Council Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. Partial funding for the projects will be available through the adopted FY2020 budget and the attached 3rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2019-133.
Attachments:
Agreement - Kings Canyon Connectivity Plan
Agreement - Transit Oriented Tower at Van Ness and Olive
Agreement - Fancher Creek Trail from Clovis to Argyle
Agreement - Merced Street Reconnection project.
Resolution - 3rd Amendment to the AAR