Title
Transportation Department recommending Resolution authorizing the Director of Transportation, on behalf of the County, to file Federal Transit Administration Sections 5310 and 5311 Grant Applications and submit required Assurance and Certifications; and recommending said Director be authorized to execute all Grant Agreements, Cooperative Agreements, Amendments, and payment requests necessary to carry out the objectives of the Capital Acquisition and Operating Assistance grants relating to transit services in the Tahoe Basin, subject to review and approval by County Counsel.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution 126-2007.
Body
|
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
|
|
|
Total Estimated Cost |
|
$20,000.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
Funding |
|
|
|
Budgeted* |
$20,000.00 |
|
|
New Funding |
$ |
|
|
Savings |
$ |
|
|
Other |
$ |
|
|
Total Funding Available |
$20,000.00 |
|
|
Change To Net County Cost |
|
$0.00 |
* Included in Fiscal Year 07/08 proposed budget
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5311 "Operating Assistance" grant funding is a jurisdictional allocation made available through the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and equates to approximately $20,000 annually. Since this is an annual allocation, the Transportation Department (Department) has assumed the County will receive FTA Section 5311 operating assistance grants each year and this revenue has been included in the Department's proposed Fiscal Year 2007/2008 budget.
The FTA Section 5310 "Capital Acquisition" grant funding is necessary to allow for replacement of transit vehicles in order to maintain adequate transit levels of service within the Tahoe Basin (Basin). Funds are requested when a vehicle has reached its useful life and replacement is required.
There is no Fiscal Impact associated with this agenda item. There is no cost to the County General Fund.
Reason for Recommendation:
Without the above mentioned grants, transit levels of service would be inadequate to serve the social, economic, and environmental needs of the Basin. Moreover, the TRPA Regional Plan calls for the attainment of Environmental Thresholds related to Air Quality by reducing dependency on the private automobile through transit use. In addition to the regional transportation goals, the TRPA Code of Ordinances has also established a direct linkage between progress toward Environmental Thresholds and building permit allocations. A major component of this linkage is the inclusion of significant incentives to public agencies to increase levels of transit service in the Basin. Conversely, decreased transit levels of service translate into penalties in the form of a reduction of building allocations.
Each year the Department seeks to maximize opportunities to secure grant funding for programs within its area of responsibility. Coordination of transportation services to the elderly, disabled, and general public within the Basin is an important function of the County and one for which grant funding can be secured. Historically, FTA Section 5311 grant funds have been utilized for operations while Section 5310 grant funds have been utilized for vehicle acquisition.
The TRPA, as the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the Basin, distributes a portion of the FTA Section 5311 grant monies to the County on an annual basis, which is based on an established allocation formula. These monies are available following the County's submittal of an application and execution of an appropriate funding agreement.
The California Department of Transportation, Division of Mass Transportation, administers the FTA grant program on behalf of the Federal Government. The FTA grant program requires each applicant to submit assurance of authority affirming the applicant's authorized representative has adequate authority to 1) execute and file grant applications; 2) execute and file the required Certifications and Assurances; and, 3) execute Grant Agreements, Cooperative Agreements, Amendments and payment requests with the FTA on behalf of the County.
In order for the Director of Transportation to submit the requisite assurances, a unique provision within the associated FTA programmatic assurance of authority requires the County's representative to have the authority to execute the Grant Agreements, Cooperative Agreements and Amendments in the form of an authorizing resolution.
On April 25, 2006, the Board adopted Resolution # 114-2006 authorizing the Director of Transportation to apply and execute the FTA 5310 and 5311 grant programs from March 31, 2006 through March 31, 2007.
Based on the requirements of the FTA, the Department is now seeking the Board's adoption of the subject Resolution, which would allow for timely submittal of grant funding applications, approval of Certifications and Assurances and the execution of the requisite Agreements and payment requests by the Director of the Department.
Should your Board adopt the Resolution, upon approval by County Counsel and execution of the Grant Agreements, the Department will forward the executed Grant Agreements to the Board to receive and file.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1) The Board Clerk will obtain the Chairman's signature on the subject Resolution.
2) The Director of Transportation will submit applications for FTA Section 5310 and 5311 grant funds.
3) Upon County Counsel review and approval, the Director of Transportation will execute the necessary Certifications and Assurances, Grant Agreements, Cooperative Agreements, and Amendments.
4) The Director of Transportation will execute and submit payment requests.
5) Upon execution, the Department will forward the Grant Agreements to the Board to receive and file.
Contact:
Richard W. Shepard, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: Approved by County Counsel