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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.F 08/07/2017Agenda Item #3.F DATE: August 7, 2017 'A0 TO: Honorable�Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager FROM: Da t. ASCE — Director, Public Works & Utilities Joe ye ransit Manager SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Applications with the Federal Transit Administration, an Operating Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, for Federal Transportation Assistance Authorized by Chapter 53 of Title 49 of the United States Code and Any Other Federal Statutes Administered by the Federal Transit Administration RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Applications with the Federal Transit Administration, an Operating Administration of the United States Department of Transportation, for Federal Transportation Assistance Authorized by Chapter 53 of Title 49 of the United States Code and Any Other Federal Statutes Administered by the Federal Transit Administration. BACKGROUND The City of Petaluma became a direct grantee of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2008 to access FTA funds for capital projects such as replacement buses, maintenance facility improvements, and security enhancements. At that time, the City Council passed Resolution 2008 -031 N.C.S. authorizing the filing of applications to FTA for the Urbanized Area Formula Funding program (Section 5307). Since 2008, the City has successfully submitted applications annually to FTA for both capital and operating funds. In recent years, the type of funding awarded to the City by FTA through their Transit Award Management System (TrAMS) has expanded to include Buses and Bus Facilities Program (Section 5339) and Surface Transportation Program (STP) funds. Since the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was signed into law in December 2015, FTA has been working with grant recipients to update their supporting legal documents. The City's existing authorizing resolution is limited to the filing of applications for Section 5307 funds, therefore FTA has requested that the City approve a new resolution authorizing the filing of applications for all FTA funding. DISCUSSION The City of Petaluma has two pending grant applications with FTA: (1) FYI Section 5307 capital funds for bus replacements, paratransit operating funds, and facility improvements; and (2) FYI STP funds for Phase III of the Transit Signal Priority project. Each application requires months of review by the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), FTA, and the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU). FTA will close their Award Management System in mid - September, and all documents must be submitted in a timely manner for the needed approvals to take place. FTA has also been short- staffed, leading to delays in review and approval. Due to the time - sensitive nature of the pending applications, adoption of the attached Resolution authorizing the Filing of Applications with the Federal Transit Administration is recommended in order to prevent the loss of critical funding for Petaluma Transit. The proposed action meets Council Goal: "Achieve fiscal stability and maintain financial sustainability ". This item was recommended for Council approval by the Transit Advisory Committee at their August 3, 2017 meeting. FINANCIAL IMPACTS The targeted funding is reflected in the approved FY 17/18 Budget. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2 Attachment 1 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF APPLICATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, AN OPERATING ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, FOR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED BY CHAPTER 53 OF TITLE 49 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE AND ANY OTHER FEDERAL STATUTES ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has been authorized to provide funding to support public transportation under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53; and WHEREAS, grants or cooperative agreements for Federal financial assistance will impose certain obligations upon the City of Petaluma and may require the City of Petaluma to provide the non - Federal share of transportation - related expenses supported with Federal financial assistance; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is legally authorized under Federal, state, or local law to apply for and receive Federal assistance; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is the Designated Recipient as defined at 49 U.S.C. 5307(a)(2) to apply for and receive Urbanized Area Formula Program assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5307; and WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma is required to provide certain certifications and assurances to the Federal Transit Administration at least annually. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY that the City of Petaluma City Council hereby approves and authorizes the following: That the City Manager or designee is authorized to execute and file an application for Federal assistance on behalf of the City of Petaluma with the Federal Transit Administration for Federal assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 or any other Federal statutes authorizing activities administered by the Federal Transit Administration. 2. That the City Manager or designee is authorized to execute and file with the Federal Transit Administration the annual certifications and assurances and other documents the Federal Transit Administration requires before awarding a Federal assistance grant or cooperative agreement. That the City Manager or designee is authorized to execute the grant and cooperative agreements with the Federal Transit Administration on behalf of the City of Petaluma. 4. That the City Manager or designee is authorized to draw payments against available grant funding using the ECHO web system or other Federal Transit Administration automated application used to request payments from grant awards.