Item No. 9.
| MEETING DATE: 04/05/2021 |
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| TO: | HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, CITY MANAGER By: Kelly Fujio, Director of Community Services |
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REQUEST TO PURSUE A PROJECT DELAY FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (OCTA) MEASURE M2 CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM (CTFP) FUNDS FOR THE LA HABRA SPECIAL EVENT SHUTTLE PROJECT AS PART OF THE PROJECT V COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSIT/CIRCULATORS PROGRAM |
RECOMMENDATION:
That City Council:
A. Approve and authorize the Director of Community Services to request a 24-month Project delay of funding and the implementation of the Initial Marketing (MARK) and ongoing maintenance and support (O&M) portions of the project from OCTA for the La Habra Community Special Event Shuttle Project, Project V Community Based Transit/Circulators Program; and
B. APPROVE AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. ______ ENTITLED: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA APPROVING A REQUEST TO PURSUE A PROJECT DELAY FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (OCTA) MEASURE M2 CALIFORNIA TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PROGRAM (CTFP) FUNDS FOR THE LA HABRA SPECIAL EVENT SHUTTLE PROJECT AS PART OF THE PROJECT V COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSIT/CIRCULATORS PROGRAM.
DISCUSSION:
In 2016, the City of La Habra approved an agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for a special event shuttle service to support large special events in the community. These events have included the City's 4th of July celebration and the Tamale Festival, as well as La Fiesta at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Each of these events bring in hundreds of visitors and vehicles to the community, increasing pedestrian and vehicle traffic that present a challenge given the limited amount of parking at event locations. The grant funded event shuttle service helped the City to arrange for offsite parking at the La Habra Market Place and La Bonita Park, along with the transportation of guests directly to events.
In late 2019, OCTA issued a call for projects for seven (7) additional years of funding to support their Special Event Shuttle Program. However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted all programming before the call for projects could be completed. While OCTA will continue to fund shuttle services, they have notified cities that they will no longer act as a direct provider of shuttle services and accordingly, it would be necessary for cities to issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from other transportation companies. However, before a formal RFP could be issued, the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred and all large scale special events were canceled, temporarily eliminating the need for shuttle service.
Due to the lingering effect of COVID-19, it is not clear when the City will be allowed to resume large scale events that will require the use of a shuttle system. As a result, staff are recommending an authorization of a request for a 24-month delay from OCTA in the award of the grant and the implementation of the Initial Marketing (MARK) and ongoing maintenance and support (O&M) portions of the project. The delay will provide time for the pandemic to recede or be eliminated and allow the City to assess when and how large scale events will resume, and then have staff issue a Request for Proposal in anticipation of shuttle services restarting. In order to approve the 24-month delay, the City Council must authorize the attached resolution. It should also be noted that the City is currently operating under an overlapping OCTA grant for shuttle services, so if one or more large scale special events are planned for 2021, the City can utilize the existing grant funds to provide shuttle services.
In late 2019, OCTA issued a call for projects for seven (7) additional years of funding to support their Special Event Shuttle Program. However, the COVID-19 pandemic halted all programming before the call for projects could be completed. While OCTA will continue to fund shuttle services, they have notified cities that they will no longer act as a direct provider of shuttle services and accordingly, it would be necessary for cities to issue a new Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from other transportation companies. However, before a formal RFP could be issued, the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred and all large scale special events were canceled, temporarily eliminating the need for shuttle service.
Due to the lingering effect of COVID-19, it is not clear when the City will be allowed to resume large scale events that will require the use of a shuttle system. As a result, staff are recommending an authorization of a request for a 24-month delay from OCTA in the award of the grant and the implementation of the Initial Marketing (MARK) and ongoing maintenance and support (O&M) portions of the project. The delay will provide time for the pandemic to recede or be eliminated and allow the City to assess when and how large scale events will resume, and then have staff issue a Request for Proposal in anticipation of shuttle services restarting. In order to approve the 24-month delay, the City Council must authorize the attached resolution. It should also be noted that the City is currently operating under an overlapping OCTA grant for shuttle services, so if one or more large scale special events are planned for 2021, the City can utilize the existing grant funds to provide shuttle services.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
The 24-month extension does not have any financial impact on the award and acceptance of the grant in the future.
The OCTA Board of Directors has approved funding for the City of La Habra through Measure M2 in the amount not-to-exceed $66,235 during the proposed 7-year term. Pursuant to the agreement, if approved, the City will provide a 10 percent match of $6,623 over the life of the grant once it is awarded. The cost would be apportioned equally among the three aforementioned events (4th of July, Tamale Festival, and La Fiesta) that utilize the special event shuttle services.
The OCTA Board of Directors has approved funding for the City of La Habra through Measure M2 in the amount not-to-exceed $66,235 during the proposed 7-year term. Pursuant to the agreement, if approved, the City will provide a 10 percent match of $6,623 over the life of the grant once it is awarded. The cost would be apportioned equally among the three aforementioned events (4th of July, Tamale Festival, and La Fiesta) that utilize the special event shuttle services.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
LU 6.2 Public Utilities and Service
RN 1.1 Regional Transportation Plan
RN 1.6 Regional Transportation Improvement
RN 1.7 Street System Improvement
RN 1.11 Complete Streets
AT 1.1 Public Transportation Available
AT 1.2 Transportation Accessibility
AT 1.8 Go Local
AT 1.12 Bus Rapid Transit
TDM 1.6 Transit and Carpool Trip Share
RN 1.1 Regional Transportation Plan
RN 1.6 Regional Transportation Improvement
RN 1.7 Street System Improvement
RN 1.11 Complete Streets
AT 1.1 Public Transportation Available
AT 1.2 Transportation Accessibility
AT 1.8 Go Local
AT 1.12 Bus Rapid Transit
TDM 1.6 Transit and Carpool Trip Share