REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on a Resolution Adopting a Complete Streets Policy to Receive Measure B Funds
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2016, Santa Clara County voters approved “Measure B”, a thirty-year half-cent countywide sales tax to enhance transit, highways, expressways, and active transportation projects. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), which administers these funds, requires that local jurisdictions adopt a Complete Streets Resolution that contains nine Complete Streets elements as outlined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Complete Streets are generally defined as streets that are built for the safe travel of all roadway users including motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Each local agency within Santa Clara County must adopt a resolution to receive funding from the Measure B program.
In addition, the MTC, as the metropolitan planning organization for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area (which includes Santa Clara County), administers the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program. The OBAG program is federally funded and funds can be used to invest in local streets and roads maintenance, streetscape enhancements, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, safe routes to school projects, priority conservation areas, and transportation planning. To be eligible for an OBAG grant, the MTC requires that local jurisdictions comply with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008 (AB 1358) which requires local jurisdictions to include the complete streets policies as part of their general plans so that roadways are designed to safely accommodate all users including bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, senior citizens, disabled people, and motorists. Jurisdictions can meet this requirement by adopting either a Complete Streets Resolution or a General Plan Circulation Element which complies with the California Complete Streets Act of 2008. The City currently meets this requirement by having General Plan Circulation policies that include complete streets elements. Although the City is already meeting this OBAG requirement and has adopted Complete Street policies within its General Plan, adopting this specific Complete Streets Resolution would further strengthen the City’s ability to obtain future grant funds.
DISCUSSION
Measure B will provide each local jurisdiction within Santa Clara County with an annual source of both guaranteed and competitive grant funds for both capital projects and local streets and road (pavement management programs) projects. The following are the eight capital program categories within Measure B that are eligible for the funds: BART Phase II, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Caltrain Grade Separations, Caltrain Corridor Capacity Improvements, Highway Interchanges, County Expressways, SR 85 Corridor, and Transit Operations. On October 11, 2016, the City Council endorsed a list of proposed multi-modal projects within Santa Clara that could be funded through Measure B.
In total, Measure B is projected to provide approximately $69 million in funding for the City’s local streets and roads projects over the next 30 years. Currently, funds are being held by the VTA due to ongoing litigation regarding Measure B. The VTA is projecting that this litigation will be resolved by the end of the year. Adopting the attached resolution and policy, (Attachment 1), which incorporates the nine elements outlined by the MTC, enables the City to meet the conditions required to receive both guaranteed and competitive funding from Measure B when funds become available.
The City also applies for MTC OBAG federal funds every grant cycle. Adopting this resolution will also strengthen the City’s ability to receive grant funding and solidify the City’s current efforts to meet these requirements through its updated General Plan Circulation policies.
The City coordinated the proposed policy with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority who is responsible for overseeing the Measure B program and received their concurrence that the City’s policy was consistent with the MTC guidelines. The City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) also reviewed the proposed Complete Streets Policy during its June 25, 2018 meeting. After a discussion as to what specific language should be included in the proposed Complete Streets Policy, the BPAC voted 6 to 2 to recommend that the City Council consider approving a resolution to adopt a Complete Streets Policy containing nine complete streets elements as outlined by MTC. A friendly amendment was added to the motion requesting that language be added to the proposed Complete Streets Policy to address BPAC’s concern that proposed projects would not remove existing non-motorized facilities or negatively impact non-motorized users.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organization or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to this report.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance, Community Development, Electric Utility, Water & Sewer Departments and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
In addition, this item was discussed at the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting on June 25, 2018.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution adopting a Complete Streets Policy containing the nine Complete Streets elements as outlined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to receive Measure B funds.
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution and Exhibit A