REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Accept a Fiscal Year 2019/20 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Grant in the amount of $172,712 from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), and Approve Budget Modification No. 16 to Appropriate the Grant Funding to fund the Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue, and Find that the Action is Exempt from CEQA
Report
GRANT SUMMARY
TDA Article 3 is a source of funds created by state legislation and processed through MTC that annually returns sales tax revenues to local agencies earmarked for bicycle and pedestrian projects. In FY 2019/20, $172,712 is guaranteed to the City for eligible projects.
At the May 21, 2019 City Council Meeting, Council adopted Resolution No. 940-19 (Attachment 1) to authorize the filing of Fiscal Year 2019/20 TDA Article 3 Application for the Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue (RTC No. 19-0461) (Attachment 2).
On July 24, 2019, MTC authorized the disbursement of a total of $172,712 for the Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue (Attachment 3). The disbursement would be on a reimbursement basis, and all invoices need to be submitted to MTC by August 31, 2022 in order for the funds to be drawn by September 30, 2022.
The project would include the design and implementation of the following pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements to:
• Install curb extension on the northwest corner with bi-directional ADA compliant curb ramps
• Install high visibility crosswalks at the intersection
• Install an Accessible Pedestrian System (APS)
• Replace all existing 8” vehicle signal heads with 12” vehicle signal heads to improve visibility
• Modify traffic signal as needed for the implementation of the above improvements
The estimated cost to complete the project exceeds the FY 2019/20 TDA Article 3 funding allocation. Therefore, implementation of the project would occur over a two-year period, with FY 2019/20 funds used for design and environmental clearance. Any remaining FY 2019/20 funding allocation above the design consultant costs will be combined with anticipated FY 2020/21 TDA Article 3 funds to construct the project in the second year.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.1.5 Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships:
The City Manager may apply for grants of any dollar amount, but shall notify the Council when grants are being pursued. Council approval of a budget modification to appropriate grant monies is required before funds can be expended by staff. Such a budget modification shall include the use to which the grant would be placed; the objectives or goals of the City which will be achieved through use of the grant; the local match required, if any, plus the source of the local match; any increased cost to be locally funded upon termination of the grant; and the ability of the City to administer the grant. For grants under the amount of $5,000 that do not have any external reporting requirements or any local match requirement, Council approval of a budget modification is not required. The City Manager is authorized to accept and administratively appropriate the grant funds.
This grant does not meet all the criteria to be administratively appropriated by the City Manager; therefore, a budget modification is required. Grant funds from MTC have external reporting requirements and fall under the federal single audit guidelines.
Pursuant to Sunnyvale Charter Section 1305, at any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by affirmative votes of at least four members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The construction of the intersection improvements will be categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301 (c) regarding the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond which presently exists and that does not add automobile lanes. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the County Recorder’s office upon award of construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
FISCAL IMPACT
TDA Article 3 is a program that reimburses cities for the incurred costs of selected projects. MTC has authorized a disbursement of $172,712 from the FY 2019/20 TDA Article 3 Grant program and no local matching funds are required.
Increased Cost to City Upon Grant Termination
There may be a minor increase to the Environmental Services operating budget if green infrastructure is installed at the northwest corner curb extension in lieu of using concrete.
Budget Modification No. 16 has been prepared to appropriate TDA Article 3 Grant funds in the amount of $172,712 in Fund 285 - Transportation Development Act (TDA) Fund and transfer the amount to Fund 385 - Capital Projects Fund to fund the Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue.
Budget Modification No. 16
FY 2019/20
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Transportation Development Act (TDA) Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
TDA Allocation |
$120,887 |
$172,712 |
$293,599 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers |
|
|
|
|
Transfer to Capital Projects Fund |
$0 |
$172,712 |
$172,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Projects Fund |
|
|
|
|
Transfers |
|
|
|
|
Transfer from TDA Fund |
$0 |
$172,712 |
$172,712 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
New Project - Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue |
$0 |
$172,712 |
$172,712 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Find that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (c) and Approve Grant Acceptance of a $172,712 Fiscal Year 2019/20 Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Approve Budget Modification No. 16 to Appropriate the Grant Funding in the Transportation Development Act Fund and transfer the funding to the Capital Projects Fund to fund the Design and Implementation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue.
Staff
Prepared by: Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Grace Zheng, Assistant Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Timothy J. Kirby, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Teri Silva, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 940-19
2. RTC No. 19-0461
3. FY2019/20 TDA Article 3 Grant Disbursement Authorization by MTC Director