The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 3.E 04/18/2011DATE: TO: FROM: April 18, 2011 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council through City Manager Scott Duiven, ;Senior PlanneW SUBJECT: Resolution Objectingto the Potential Location of Sonoma -Marin Area Rail Transit's (SMART''s) Operations and Maintenance Facility in Downtown Petaluma and Authorizing the Mayor to Submit a Letter to SMART. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City 1), adopt the attached resolution objecting to the potential location of Sonoma -Marin Area Rail Transit's (SIVIART's) Operations and Maintenance Facility in Downtown Petaluma, and 2),authorize the Mayor to submit a letter to SMART.. BACKGROUND SMART is currently facing a funding gap of between $109 million and $145 million to construct the Initial Operating Segment of passenger rail service from Downtown San Rafael to Railroad Square iii Santa Rosa. In response, SMART Staff have identified `$88 million of potential cost reductions /deferrals. These cost reductions /deferrals were discussed at SMART workshops held on March 16, 2011 and April 6, 2011. As noted at the workshops, a significant cost component of the SMART rail system is land acquisition and construction of an Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) — currently proposed to be located southwest of Santa Rosa on Todd Road. It has been brought to our attention that locating a reduced OMF on the 4.7 -acre SMART property adjacent to Petaluma's historic rail depot is under consideration as a cost - saving option. The SMART Board of Directors is scheduled to take action on proposed cost reductions /deferrals at their April 20, 2011 meeting. DISCUSSION Locating the Operations and Maintenance Facility in Downtown Petaluma would have negative impacts on both SMART ridership and the long -term goals identified. in the Central` Petaluma Specific ,Plan; the Petaluma Economic Development Strategy, the current Station Area Planning process and regional planning efforts aimed at implementing SB 375 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Transit- oriented, vertically integrated, mixed use development on the SMART property as well as other sites between the rail station .and historic Downtown Petaluma is central to the long -term vision set forth in the above plans. Agenda Review: City Attorney Finance Director City Manager 1 0 If the City Council objects to the potential location of the OMF in Downtown Petaluma, the Council'may adopt'the,attached resolution directing that the Mayor-send to the SMART Board of Directors a letter of objection on behalf of the City Council for consideration at their April 20, 2011 meeting. A draft letter is attached to the resolution. FINANCIAL. IMPACTS Staff time in preparation of this report and any follow -up as directed by City Council. ATTACHMENTS 1. Resolution 2 ATTACHMENT I Resolution No. 2011- N.C.S. of the City of Petaluma, California RESOLUTION OBJECTING TO THE POTENTIAL LOCATION OF SONOMA -MARIN AREA;RAIL TRANSIT'S (SMART'S):OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN PETALUMA AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO SMART. WHEREAS, SMART is facing a funding ;gap of between $1.09 million and $145 million to construct the Initial Operating Segment of passenger rail service from Downtown San Rafael to Railroad Square in Santa Rosa; and WHEREAS, SMART staff has identified cost reductions and deferrals to be considered by the Board of Directors at its April 20, 2011 meeting; and WHEREAS, a significant cost component of the SMART rail system is land acquisition and construction of an Operations and Maintenance Facility; and WHEREAS, SMART is considering locating a- reduced Operations and Maintenance Facility on the 4.7 -acre SMART -owned property adjacent to Petaluma's historic rail depot as a cost - saving option; and WHEREAS, locating the Operations and Maintenance Facility in Downtown Petaluma would have negative impacts on both SMART ridership and the long -term goals identified in the Central Petaluma Specific Plan, the ^Petaluma Economic Development Strategy, the current Station.Area Planning process, and regional ,planning efforts aimed at implementing SB 375 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. NOW, `THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Petaluma City Council that the Mayor is herby authorized and directed to submit to the SMART Board of Directors .on behalf of the City Council; for consideration at the Board of Directors' April 20, 2011 meeting, a letter presenting the City's objection to the potential location of SMART's Operations and Maintenance Facility in Downtown Petaluma substantially in accordance with -the draft letter attached to and made a part of this resolution as Exhibit A. EXHIBIT A April 18, 2011 Via Facsimile and US Mail SMART Board of Directors 750 Lindaro' Street; Suite 200 San Rafael, CA 94901 RE: Potential Location of SMART Operations and Maintenance Facility in. Downtown Petaluma Dear Directors: The City of Petaluma recognizes and understands SMART's funding challenges related to lower than expected revenues. However, the consideration of locating a reduced or temporary Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) on the 4.7- acre property adjacentto the historic Petaluma rail depot as a cost saving measure cannot be supported and is strongly opposed by the City of Petaluma for several reasons as described below. Transit - Oriented Development: The downtown SMART property is critical to the success of achieving transit - oriented development and the vision of a robust mix of uses supportive of both passenger rail ridership and the long -term goals articulated in the Central Petaluma Specific Plan for the area between Downtown Petaluma and the historic rail depot. Station Area.Planning Program:. The location of an OMF at this site brings great uncertainty to the Station Area-PI arming process currently being undertaken by the City of Petaluma, funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) dnd supported with matching funds from SMART. The SMART property is a catalyst site which if used as an OMF would severely impact the feasibility and marketabilityof other key sites in the area f6r1transit- oriented development as well as ridership potential. Regional Planning 'Goals: SB 375, enacted in 2008, requires that land -use planning and transportation are integrated in the form a Sustainable Communities Strategy in an effort to reduce greenhouse :gas emissions from personal -use vehicles. The Association of Bay Area Governments and MTC recently released the Initial Vision Scenario for the Sustainable Communities Strategy. Central to achieving its goals is the location of future growth within MTC's FOCUS Priority Development Areas (PDAs). The SMART property sits at the center of Petaluma's designated FOCUS PDA. Location of an OMF on this site is contrary to these regional planning efforts and greenhouse gas reduction targets. Site Limitations ; :, At 4.7 acres, the property is far smaller than what SMART OMF studies indicate is needed — 17.3 acres at startup and 24.1 acres at buildout. Access and circulation is extremely constrained r in this area, connecting El additional rail spurs across East D Street and or East Washington Streei to connect the main line with an OMF may be infeasible. In addition, locating the OMF on this property would inhibit.access to the station site from both the existing Petaluma Transit Mall and Downtown for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users further impacting SMART ridership. Land Use and Zoning: Finally, an OMF is inconsistent• with both the land use and zoning for this property and would not be allowed under City regulations. Petaluma has always been a strong supporter of SMART rail and we look forward to continuing to work together to promote complementary development of housing and j:ob generating uses in the areas' surrounding the passenger rail stations that will both support SMART ridership and Petaluma's economic health. We respectfully request that the downtown SMART property be removed from consideration as an Operations and Maintenance Facility. Such a project, coupled with deferral of the Corona Road:station would have significant impacts for both.the City of Petaluma and SMART. Best Regards, David Glass Mayor