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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.C 02/06/2017Agenda Item #3.0 � , T, rs5$ DATE: February 6, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: John C. Brown, City Manager�-� SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting Senate Bill SB1 (Beall) and Assembly Bill AB (Frazier) Regarding Statewide Proposals on Transportation Funding RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council consider the attached Resolution Supporting Senate Bill SB 1 and Assembly Bill AB 1 which are statewide proposals on transportation funding and take action as appropriate. BACKGROUND SB 1 and AB 1 are similar proposals that provide for comprehensive transportation reform and a funding package to avoid systematic failure of the state's entire transportation infrastructure. Included are reforms, increases to existing revenue sources, and infrastructure investment to address the overwhelming backlog of repair and deferred maintenance as well as other transportation needs. DISCUSSION The proposed legislation addresses the $73 billion unmet funding needed for local streets and roads and the $72 billion backlog to the State's Highway System. When frilly phased in, it is estimated that $6 billion would be generated annually to provide needed funding for the state and local transportation network. The legislation proposes to raise revenue over a variety of sources, such as increases to the gas tax, vehicle registration fees including a fee on zero emissions vehicles, monies from existing cap and trade funds, and returning the vehicle weight fees phased in over five years. In addition to raising revenue, the proposals include a series of reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability; to streamline roadwork; and permanently extend and expand on the limited exemptions to California's Enviromnental Quality Act (CEQA) and create an advanced mitigation program. Draft letters of support are attached for the City Council's review and approval. FINANCIAL IMPACTS There are no financial impacts beyond the staff time associated with preparing this report. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2. Draft Letters 3. League Analysis of AB 1 (Frazier) /SB 1 (Beall) 4. Local Streets & Roads Funding �/ ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING SENATE BILL SB 1 (BEALL) AND ASSEMBLY BILL AB 1 (FRAZIER) REGARDING STATEWIDE PROPOSALS ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING WHEREAS, as the first order of business on December 5, 2016 in the new legislative session, Senator Beall and Assembly Member Frazier introduced similar transportation funding proposals; and WHEREAS, under SB I (Beall) and AB 1 (Frazier), each proposal will generate approximately $6 billion annually, with approximately $2.2 billion going to local streets and roads; and WHEREAS, these proposals, supported by the League of California Cities, present an opportunity for all sides to negotiate on a comprehensive package to send to the Governor; and WHEREAS, the proposed legislation addresses the $73 billion unmet funding needed for local streets and roads and the $72 billion backlog to the State's Highway System; and WHEREAS, the legislation proposes to raise revenue over a variety of sources, such as increases to the gas tax, vehicle registration fees including a fee on zero emissions vehicles, monies from existing cap and trade funds, and returning the vehicle weight fees phased in over five years; and WHEREAS, in addition to raising revenue, the proposals include a series of reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability; to streamline roadwork; and would permanently extend and expand on the limited exemptions to California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and create an advanced mitigation program. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Petaluma City Council supports Senate Bill SB 1 and Assembly Bill AB 1 to address needed transportation funding for cities, counties, and the State of California and authorizes the Mayor to sign letters of support on behalf of the Petaluma City Council. ATTACHMENT 2 February 6, 2017 The Honorable Jim Beall Chair, Senate Transportation Committee California State Capitol, Room 2082 Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: (916) 651 -4915 RE: Support for SB 1 (Beall) - Transportation Funding Dear Senator Beall: I write on behalf of the City Council of the City of Petaluma, to convey our support for SB 1(as introduced December 5, 2016). SB 1 represents a comprehensive transportation proposal which includes sensible reforms, modest increases to existing revenue sources, and robust investment in infrastructure. The bill presents an opportunity for the Legislature to advance a comprehensive framework to address an overwhelming backlog of repair and deferred maintenance, and other transportation needs. It is urgent that the Legislature act, to address the $73 billion unmet funding need for local streets and roads, statewide, and $72 billion backlog to the. State's Highway System. For local streets and roads alone, the funding need grows by an additional $20 billion in just ten years. With the expressed commitment of Legislative Leadership and this Administration to getting this done in early 2017, we urge this legislature's immediate attention to this proposal as the vehicle to deliver this victory for California's streets and roads, and highways. Petaluma's streets rank at the bottom of street condition ratings for Sonoma County cities. In the Metropolitan Planning Commission's most recent report on pavement condition, an overall score of "good" is 82. Petaluma's overall score is 46, a rating given to poor or failed streets. Petaluma recently completed a Streets Plan that identifies the least cost alternative needed to bring our streets up to the "good" rating of 82. Doing so requires an investment of $167.5 million, performed over 20 years. Petaluma currently receives about $3 million in annual Streets funding. Our chances of filling this gap locally are slim. Without the critical funding SB 1 provides, our street ratings, and pavement condition will only continue to worsen. At full phase -in, SB 1 would generate an additional $6 billion annually, to provide desperately needed funding for the state and local transportation network. To repair and maintain existing transportation infrastructure, the proposal would generate up to $2.4 billion and $2.2 billion annually for the state's highway system and local streets and roads, respectively. The bill also provides nearly $600 million for freight and the state's trade corridors, over a half billion for transit and intercity rail, and up to $150 million to support active transportation programs throughout the state. The proposal would raise revenue across a variety of sources, such as a 12 cent increase to the gas tax phased in over three years, ending the Board of Equalization's "true up" process on the price based excise tax on gas, a $38 increase to the vehicle registration fee, a $100 vehicle registration fee on zero emission vehicles, a 20 cent increase to the diesel excise tax, $300 million from existing cap and trade fiends, and returning $500 million in vehicle weight fees phased in over five years. In addition to raising revenue, the proposal includes a series of reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability, such as restoring independence to the California Transportation Commission, creating the Office of the Transportation Inspection General with audit and investigation authority over the state's transportation spending, and establishing local reporting requirements on local transportation spending. To streamline roadwork, the bill permanently extends and expands on the limited exemptions to California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for repair, maintenance, and minor alteration projects on existing roadways to cities and counties with populations greater than 100,000 and state roadways. The proposal also creates an advanced mitigation program which authorizes the Natural Resources Agency to establish state and regional transportation mitigation plans and mitigation banks to allow transportation projects to fulfill their environmental requirements in advance. Overall, this proposal provides a comprehensive transportation reform and funding package that picks up where we left off at the end of the special session, while giving this legislature an opportunity for early action. While the legislature has had success in recent years in balancing the state budget, we can no longer afford to ignore our most basic repair and maintenance needs if we wish to avoid systematic failure of the state's entire transportation infrastructure. There may be no better way to put Californians back to work and stimulate our economy than making the roads we and our children rely on everyday safe again. For these reasons, the City of Petaluma Supports SB 1 (Beall). Sincerely, David Glass Mayor City of Petaluma cc: Senator Bill Dodd, 3rd District; senator. dodd @senate.ca.gov Assembly Member Marc Levine, 10`x' District; assemblymember .levine2assembly.ca.gov Nancy Bennett, nbennett2cacities.org Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, mdesmondgcacities.org February 6, 2017 The Honorable Jim Frazier Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee California State Capitol, Room 3091 Sacramento, CA 95814 FAX: (916) 319 -2111 RE: Support for AB 1 (Frazier) - Transportation Fundin Dear Assembly Member Frazier: I write on behalf of the City Council of the City of Petaluma, to convey our support for AB 1(as introduced Deceinber 5, 2016). AB 1 represents a comprehensive transportation proposal which includes sensible reforms, modest increases to existing revenue sources, and robust investment in infrastructure. The bill presents an opportunity for the Legislature to advance a comprehensive framework to address an overwhelming backlog of repair and deferred maintenance, and other transportation needs. It is urgent that the Legislature act, to address the $73 billion unmet funding need for local streets and roads, statewide, and $72 billion backlog to the State's Highway System. For local streets and roads alone, the funding need grows by an additional $20 billion in just ten years. With the expressed commitment of Legislative Leadership and this Administration to getting this done in early 2017, we urge this legislature's immediate attention to this proposal as the vehicle to deliver this victory for California's streets and roads, and highways. Petaluma's streets rank at the bottom of street condition ratings for Sonoma County cities. In the Metropolitan Planning Commission's most recent report on pavement condition, an overall score of "good" is 82. Petaluma's overall score is 46, a rating given to poor or failed streets. Petaluma recently completed a Streets Plan that identifies the least cost alternative needed to bring our streets up to the "good" rating of 82. Doing so requires an investment of $167.5 million, performed over 20 years. Petaluma currently receives about $3 million in annual Streets funding. Our chances of filling this gap locally are slim. Without the critical funding AB 1 provides, our street ratings, and pavement condition will only continue to worsen. At full phase -in, AB 1 would generate an additional $6 billion annually, to provide desperately needed funding for the state and local transportation network. To repair and maintain existing transportation infrastructure, the proposal would generate trp to $2.4 billion and $2.2 billion annually for the state's highway system and local streets and roads, respectively. The bill also provides nearly $600 million for freight and the state's trade corridors, over a half billion for transit and intercity rail, and up to $150 million to support active transportation programs throughout the state. i< The proposal would raise revenue across a variety of sources, such as a 12 cent increase to the gas tax phased in over three years, ending the Board of Equalization's "true up" process on the price based excise tax on gas, a $38 increase to the vehicle registration fee, a $100 vehicle registration fee on zero emission vehicles, a 20 cent increase to the diesel excise tax, $300 million from existing cap and trade funds, and returning $500 million in vehicle weight fees phased in over five years. In addition to raising revenue, the proposal includes a series of reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability, such as restoring independence to the California Transportation Commission, creating the Office of the Transportation Inspection General with audit and investigation authority over the state's transportation spending, and establishing local reporting requirements on local transportation spending. To streamline roadwork, the bill permanently extends and expands on the limited exemptions to California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for repair, maintenance, and minor alteration projects on existing roadways to cities and counties with populations greater than 100,000 and state roadways. The proposal also creates an advanced mitigation program which authorizes the Natural Resources Agency to establish state and regional transportation mitigation plans and mitigation banks to allow transportation projects to fulfill their environmental requirements in advance. Overall, this proposal provides a comprehensive transportation reform and funding package that picks up where we left off at the end of the special session, while giving this legislature an opportunity for early action. While the legislature has had success in recent years in balancing the state budget, we can no longer afford to ignore our most basic repair and maintenance needs if we wish to avoid systematic failure of the state's entire transportation infrastructure. There may be no better way to put Californians back to work and stimulate our economy than making the roads we and our children rely on everyday safe again. For these reasons, the City of Petaluma Supports AB 1 (Frazier). Sincerely, David Glass Mayor City of Petaluma cc: Senator Bill Dodd, 3rd District; senator.doddasenate.ca.gov Assembly Member Marc Levine, 10°' District; assemblymember .levine(�cbassembly•ca•gov Nancy Bennett, nbennett @cacities.org Meg Desmond, League of California Cities, mdesmond2cacities.org ATTACHMENT 3 $6 Billion Transportation Funding Proposals Introduced, including $2.2 Billion for Local Streets and Roads As the first order of business in the new legislative session, Senator Beall and Assembly Member Frazier introduced similar transportation funding proposals on December 5, 2016, under SB 1 and AB 1, respectively. Upon full implementation, each proposal will generate approximately $6 billion annually, with about $2.2 billion going to local streets and roads. These proposals present an opportunity in the new legislative session for all sides to negotiate on a comprehensive package to send to the Governor. The League of California Cities supports these proposals as a starting place for negotiations, but also understands that there is still work needed to get the necessary two - thirds vote in each legislative chamber. The League will continue to help advance the discussion and will provide cities with the tools it needs to advocate when the legislature is closer to reaching a deal. Below, the League has summarized the key provisions in each of these proposals, as well as highlight the key differences under specific provisions: Reforms • Establishes local reporting requirements. Cities and counties would be required to send the CTC a list of projects they propose to fund with Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds, specifying the location, description, proposed schedule, and estimated useful life for each project each fiscal year. • Requires cities and counties to maintain existing general fund levels for transportation funding. The bills require cities and counties to maintain their general fund transportation levels at equal to or greater than their annual average expenditures during the 2009 -10, 2010 -11, 2011 -12 fiscal years, which is known as a maintenance of effort requirement. The bill authorizes the State Controller's Office to audit local governments for compliance and subject local governments to reimbursing the state for non - compliance. • Makes permanent the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) delegation authority. Permanently extends the authority for CalTrans to participate in the federal NEPA delegation pilot program, which allows projects involving federal funds to be delivered faster. • Promotes employment and training opportunities through preapprenticeship. Requires state and local agencies to create programs that promote employment in advanced construction through preapprenticeship as a condition of receiving RMRA funds. • Incorporates "complete streets" design concept into the Highway Design Manual. Requires Caltrans to incorporate the "complete streets" design concept into the Highway Design Manual. • Restores independence to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The bills move the CTC out from under the California State Transportation Agency, establishing it as its own entity within state government to help it fulfill its oversight role. t • Creates the Office of Transportation Inspector General as an independent entity and office within state government. Its role will be to ensure that all other state agencies that receive state transportation funds are operating efficiently, effectively, and in compliance with federal and state laws. The Inspector General would be appointed by the Governor to a six -year term and would have the authority to conduct audits and investigations involving state transportation funds with all affected state agencies. • Permanently extends and expands the limited CEQA exemption for transportation repair' ' maintenance, and minor alteration projects to existing roadways. The bills delete the January 1, 2020 sunset of the existing law and expand the exemption to cities and counties with populations greater than 100,000 and apply the exemption to state roadways. • Creates an Advanced Mitigation program for transportation projects. The bills authorize the Natural Resources Agency to prepare, approve, and implement advance mitigation plans for one or more planned transportation projects. An advanced mitigation plan is defined as a regional or statewide plan that estimates the potential future mitigation requirements for one or more transportation projects and identifies mitigation projects, sites, or credits that would fulfill some or all of those requirements. The Agency would be authorized to administer the program, establish mitigation banks, secure areas for the purpose of providing mitigation, and allow transportation agencies to use mitigation credits to fulfill mitigation requirements. The program's intention is to supplant existing CEQA requirements, not substitute for them. Additional Revenues (Approximate) • $1.8 billion from a 12 cent increase to the gasoline excise tax, adjusted every 3 years for inflation. The revenue generated from this particular increase would help restore the gas tax' lost purchasing power due to inflation. The funds attributable to the 12 cent increase would be transferred to the newly created Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) for distribution. o Key Difference: SB 1 (Beall) phases in the 12 cent increase over 3 years, while AB 1 (Frazier) does not include a phase in period. • $1.1 billion from ending the Board of Equalization (BOE) "true up" and resetting the rate to the historical average of 17.3 cents per gallon, adjusted every 3 years for inflation. This provision would "reset" the priced based excise tax on gasoline to its original rate of 17.3 cents. Funds would be distributed using current formulas. • $1.3 billion from a $38 increase to the Vehicle Registration Fee, adjusted every 3 years for inflation. After the California Department of Motor Vehicles deducts their administrative costs from imposing and collecting the fee, the funds from the increase would be deposited into the RMRA for distribution. • $500 million from restoration of half the truck weight fees to transportation projects. Restoration of truck weight fee revenue would be phased -in over a five -year period and half would no longer be allowed to be transferred out of the state highway account (SHA) after the 2020 -21 fiscal years. The funds would remain in the SHA, which would prevent HUTA funds from the variable gas tax from having to offset the SHA weight fee transfer. o Key Difference: SB 1 (Beall) phases in a percentage of the truck weight fees back to transportation projects, while AB 1 (Frazier) phases in specific weight fee amounts every year. SB 1 caps the weight fee transfer at 50% in FY 2020 -21, while AB caps the weight fee transfer at $500,000,000 in FY 2020 -21. • $600 million from a 20 cent per gallon increase to the diesel excise tax, adjusted every 3 years for inflation. The funds attributable to the 20 cent increase to the diesel excise tax would be transferred to the Trade Corridors Improvement Fund (TCIF). Federal FAST Act funds for freight would also be deposited into the TCIF. • $300 million from unallocated cap and trade funds. This continuous appropriation of cap and trade funds would essentially double the amount going towards the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP). • $263 million from 3.5 Percent Increase to the diesel sales tax. The funds generated through the additional 3.5 percent increase to the diesel sales tax would deposit $263 million into the State Transportation Account for transit and intercity rail purposes. o Key Difference: SB 1 (Beall) would impose an additional 0.5 percent to this sales tax which would generate a $40 million set aside for intercity rail and commuter rail. • $60 million from miscellaneous transportation revenues. The bills delete the transfer of miscellaneous revenues to the Transportation Debt Service Fund and instead redirect the funds to the RMRA. • $20 million from Vehicle Registration Fee on zero emission vehicles, starting in the 2 "d year of ownership, adjusted every 3 years for inflation. Per the authors, this provision will help make up for the fact that owners of zero emission vehicles do not pay any gas tax to maintain the roads they drive on. Revenues would be deposited into the RMRA for distribution. o Key Difference: SB 1 (Beall) imposes a $100 Vehicle Registration Fee on zero emission vehicles generating, while AB 1 (Frazier) imposes a $165 Vehicle Registration Fee The revenues generated from these proposals, would provide the following allocations: From the $3.2 billion in the RMRA: • State Highway System - $1.45 billion annually for maintenance and rehabilitation of the state highway system. • Local Streets and Roads — $1.45 billion annually for maintenance and rehabilitation of local streets and roads. • Self -help counties — $200 million for existing and aspiring self -help counties. • Active Transportation Programs — $80 million annually for Active Transportation and up to an additional $70 million through Caltrans efficiencies. • Advanced Mitigation — $120 million one -time funds for implementation of the Advanced Mitigation program over the first four years. • California State University — $2 million for transportation research and workforce training. o Key Difference: University of California — $3 million under AB 1 (Frazier) for the Institutes for Transportation Studies. From restoration /returned revenue from the HUTA: • State Transportation Improvement Program - $770 million annually for capital projects and improvements on the state's highway system. • State Highway Operation and Protection Program — $210 million annually for maintenance and rehabilitation of the state highway system. • Local Streets and Roads - $770 million annually for local streets and roads. From Cap and Trade revenues and diesel tax increase: • Transit and Intercity Rail — $563 million annually for transit and intercity rail capital projects and operations, $40 million additionally set aside for intercity and commuter rail under SB 1(Beall). From the TCIF: • Freight, trade corridors, and goods movement — $600 million annually for freight, trade corridors, and goods movement. From loan Repayments: • $706 million one -time funds for transportation loan repayment. While not yet introduced, the League of California Cities will continue to advocate for constitutionally protecting the additional revenue for transportation purposes. The League has prepared preliminary estimates (insert link) of the revenues each city could receive for transportation maintenance and repair under the proposal. The time for the legislature and Governor to act is now and these proposals provide a solid framework to move the discussion forward. EXCERPT ATTACHNIENT 4 Local Streets & Roads Funding AB1 (Frazier) and SB1 (Beall) — 12Dec2016 versions Annual at full Phase-in One-time Loan Repay Estimated 15 December 2016 $2.2 Billion* $352 Million ........... .................... ............. Vil0 1 C141 :11,K014111 0 1 ...... ..... . .... ... ........... ......... ... ...... . .. ...... .... ...... ... ..... ........... 8_,p,� 1. 9 4 9,.9,, . ...... .......... ... ...... ... ....................... ... ....... ...... 1_,,,4., 1 4_,.,2 6 3 CAPITOLA 345,796 54,829 2,194,387 347,939 SCOTTS VALLEY ........... ... ...... ... 410,332 ................ .. ........... ... ...... 6 ............... ........... . . . . 062 . . . . . . . . ............. .......... . 5, ....... . ... .. ......... . ........... ... ... ..... ... . ...... .... ........ ...... ....... . ................... 349,649 55,440 ...... .... .... .... .... .... . .... .... . .... ... . ...... .... ...... ... - ........ .... . .... f,-8. 0,.6., 6-2-9,­ ....... ...... ­­­ .... .......... .......... 2. 86,456 .­­..,.­..._,._._ .. . .... ... - .......... . .... ............ ....... ........ . ....... ........... ............... ..... .. LOYALTON 26,454 4,195 . ...... .... ...... ...... ....... .......... . . ...... .... ...................... ..... ..... ........... ........... mi'me 7,460,749 1,182,966 DORRIS 32,302 ........... .... ... I - 2 . 2 .......... ....... .... .. ... ........... .. . . I MIA11--.1-1-1,11, -I.-I.."......"....- ­­­­...­­...­ ".." ..., 1.1.1-11.1.1 1.1-.1- 1.11'..... ­­­, 1-11'...1.1. 11111.11.1, 1.1-1-111. 376,103 - I-.. ­........ I., I.I.-I-II.-II.I....I.I. ... ..1-111.1 . ... ... ... 59,634 940,343 149,099 18,456,241 - ­­­ .. ... .. ... ... ­ .. . .... .... . ... .... - ... .. ... .. 2­­,­9­.,2.­6­,­.3, 9­5. CERES ... ... ...... ... .... ..... ... .. 1,616,455 ........ . ............. ........ . .......... ....... ..... .......... ... .. ... ... ... .......... ... ...... ........ ..... ................. 256,303 "HU H'96N''­­ 248,442 39,393 "M WE TU 7,196,147 1,141,011 NEWMAN 369,911 58,653 OAKDALE 749,007 118,761 .. .. . .. .. ..... "PATTEROU "' " " �" '' . .. .. ... ..... ... ..... ..... . ... .... .. . ........... �, - 725,649 .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. ... ....... .. - .. .... ......... .. - .. ... .. ... ... .. .. .... 115,058 RIVERBANK . . ... ...... .. .. . .. ...... .... ... .. ... .. . . ...... . . ...... ... ...... ..... . 807,901 .. .. . ... .. ...... . .. .... ... .. ... 128,100 TUREbUK 2,443,930 387,506 1 . 1 . 298,805 4 11 7 1. 3 1 7 1. 8 15 December 2016 Page 10 of 11