HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.J 06/05/2017DATE: June 5, 2017
Agenda Item #3.J
TO: Hono e or and City Council Members through City Manager
FROM: Da St. o . ASCE, Director, Department of Public Works & Utilities
Joe Rye — ransit Division Manager, Public Works & Utilities
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the City of Petaluma to Submit a Low Carbon Transit
Operations Program Grant Application for $29,004 to Fund Weekday Afternoon
Service Enhancements, and Designating the City Manager as the Authorized
Agent, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Application and Agreement
Documents and Accept Grant Funds on Behalf of the City
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City of Petaluma to Submit a Low Carbon
Transit Operations Program ( LCTOP) Application for $29,004 to Fund Weekday Afternoon
Service Enhancements, Designating the City Manager as the Authorized Agent, Authorizing the
City Manager to Execute the Application and Agreement Documents and Accept Grant Funds on
Behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND
The LCTOP is one of several programs that are part of the Transit, Affordable Housing, and
Sustainable Communities Program established by the California Legislature in 2014 under
Senate Bill 862. The LCTOP was created to provide operating and capital assistance for transit
agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility with a priority on serving
disadvantaged communities. Approved LCTOP projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions
will support new or expanded bus or rail services, or intermodal transit facilities, and may
include equipment acquisition, fueling, maintenance and other operational costs.
DISCUSSION
Caltrans is distributing the LCTOP funding based largely upon existing State Transit Assistance
formulas, which are indexed to population and fare revenues generated by transit operators. For
the FYI 6/17 allocation, Petaluma is programmed to receive a total of $29,004, down from
$62,410 the prior year. The State's Cap and Trade emissions reduction program has fallen short
of its revenue projections, however, Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding is expected
to make up the revenue gap. The FY 16/17 allocation will fund additional bus service in the late
afternoon on weekdays. This is the highest priority project in the 2016 -2026 Short Range Transit
Plan and was funded for the current fiscal year with FY 15/16 LCTOP funding. The project
improves both service frequencies in the PM peak hours and on -time performance on Routes 2
and 11. The proposed service will be delivered in FY 17/18 and will expend these funds within
the required time. These funds help Petaluma Transit meet the goals of providing a high level of
transit service and increasing ridership in future years while maintaining reserves to avoid
service reductions during economic downturns.
The proposed action meets Council Goals: "Improve and Enhance Fiscal Stability and
Sustainability ".
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The FY 16/17 LCTOP allocation represents an unexpected decrease in funding of over $30,000
from FY 15/16. The difference will be made up with TDA funds, designated for transit
operations.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Authorizing Submittal of LCTOP Cycle 4 Application and Acceptance of
Funds
2
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PETALUMA TO SUBMIT
A LOW CARBON TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROGRAM APPLICATION FOR $29,004
IN OPERATING FUNDS FOR WEEKDAY AFTERNOON SERVICE
ENHANCEMENTS, DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED
AGENT AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE
APPLICATION AND AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is an eligible project sponsor and may receive state
funding from the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program ( LCTOP) now or sometime in the
future for transit projects; and
WHEREAS, the statutes related to state - funded transit projects require a local or
regional implementing agency to abide by various regulations; and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill 862 (2014) named the Department of Transportation
(Department) or (Caltrans) as the administrative agency for the LCTOP; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has developed guidelines for
the purpose of administering and distributing LCTOP funds to eligible project sponsors (local
agencies); and
WHEREAS, the City plans to use the $29,004 allocated from Cycle 4 for Operating
Funds for Weekday Afternoon Service Enhancements, an eligible expenditure of LCTOP funds,
( "Project "); and
WHEREAS, the Project is exempt from the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") pursuant to section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines
because it involves minor alterations of existing public facilities with negligible or no expansion
of use.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Petaluma hereby:
1. Agrees to comply with all conditions and requirements set forth in the applicable
statutes, regulations and guidelines for all LCTOP funded transit projects.
2. Designates the City Manager, as the Authorized Agent of the City for purposes of the
LCTOP program, to execute the Certifications and Assurances, and to execute all
required documents of the LCTOP program and any amendments thereto.
3. Authorizes and directs the City Manager to submit an application for and accept on
behalf of the City $29,004 in FY 2016 -16 LCTOP funding for operating funds for
weekday afternoon service enhancements in accordance with all applicable LCTOP
requirements.