REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate, Execute, and Administer an Agreement with the City of San Jose for the Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study and Related Budget Amendment
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High-Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
On November 19, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-8781 (Attachment 1) in support of a Stevens Creek Corridor Complete Streets and Transit Study to: 1) explore transit options including Complete Streets elements along the Stevens Creek Boulevard corridor and 2) consider potential options for a grade-separated high capacity transit system for the Stevens Creek Boulevard corridor to connect the Cities of Santa Clara, Cupertino, and San Jose. The Cities of Cupertino, San Jose, and the County of Santa Clara have also adopted resolutions in support of a Stevens Creek Corridor Complete Streets and Transit Study.
Stevens Creek Corridor Steering Committee: A Stevens Creek Corridor Steering Committee (Steering Committee) was formed and includes elected officials from the Cities of Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, and the County of Santa Clara. The Steering Committee has met two times - on July 20, 2020 and December 13, 2021. During both meetings the Steering Committee discussed the potential joint study of the Stevens Creek corridor for complete streets and transit improvements.
On July 20, 2020, former Councilmember Teresa O’Neill, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones (City of San Jose), Councilmember Dev Davis (City of San Jose), Mayor Darcy Paul, (City of Cupertino), former Councilmember Rod Sinks (City of Cupertino) and staff from Santa Clara, San Jose, Cupertino, VTA, and the County of Santa Clara met as a part of the Steering Committee to discuss a proposed scope to study the Stevens Creek corridor. At the meeting, the Steering Committee gave direction to proceed with a study that would provide a vision for the Stevens Creek Corridor. The Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study (Vision Study) would be developed through a community engagement process that would be supported by illustrative concepts versus engineered drawings. Final approval for the scope of the Vision Study and budget allocations would require approval of each affected jurisdiction. Additionally, the Vision Study was to be included as an amendment to VTA’s Strategic Plan with the VTA as the lead for consultant contract management. In late 2020, the City of Cupertino’s City Council elected not to participate in the Vision Study and, consequently, the Vision Study was put on hold.
In spring 2021, the staff-level working group met to discuss options to reengage on a possible joint study for the Stevens Creek Corridor. With continued interest in a joint study, staff continued to work on possible options and funding strategies. Additionally, staff from the City of Cupertino expressed interest in re-presenting the study concept to the Cupertino City Council. During the summer of 2021, it was determined that the option to include the Vision Study as an amendment to the VTA’s Strategic Plan had expired. The City of San Jose proposed an option in which the Vision Study would be included as an amendment with their contract with Iteris and Winter Consulting for the West San Jose Multimodal Transportation Improvement Plan, which is a City of San Jose effort to identify, prioritize, and recommend transportation projects and programs for West San Jose, which includes a portion of the Stevens Creek corridor (within San Jose’s jurisdiction).
On December 13, 2021, the Steering Committee, comprised of Mayor Lisa Gillmor, Councilmember Anthony Becker, Vice Mayor Chappie Jones (City of San Jose), and Councilmember Kitty Moore (City of Cupertino), met and gave direction to staff to proceed with the Vision Study subject to the approval of each respective City Council or Board, if necessary.
DISCUSSION
Since the December 2021 Steering Committee meeting, staff has continued to meet monthly with staff from the City of San Jose, City of Cupertino, County of Santa Clara, and the VTA on the Vision Study. As this is a multi-jurisdictional effort with required funding from each agency, a cooperative and funding agreement with the lead agency who is contracting with the transportation planning consultant is necessary. The Council previously adopted Resolution No. 6603 which, among other items, authorizes the City Manager or designee to approve and execute certain documents including partnership, cost-sharing, and service agreements with other public agencies or private entities. Due to the prominent nature of the Stevens Creek Boulevard Corridor, staff determined it to be prudent to update Council and confirm the authorizations for the City Manager to proceed with implementation of the project under an agreement with the City of San Jose.
Presented below are key items for the Vision Study:
• Study limits are Stevens Creek Boulevard from Foothill Boulevard (Cupertino), through Santa Clara and San Jose, transitioning to West San Carlos (San Jose) to Diridon Station (San Jose) - See Attachment 2, Study Area Location Map
• Estimated 19-month study schedule
• Total cost estimate of $794,400
• City of San Jose to amend its contract with Iteris and Winters Consultants to include the Vision Study
• City of San Jose to lead contract management for the consultant
• Cities of Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, County of Santa Clara, and VTA to all have active leadership roles in the technical and community engagement portions of the study
• Each jurisdiction to provide fair-share funding for the Vision Study based on each jurisdiction’s proportionate share of mileage along the study corridor
• Key Study deliverables include:
o Existing conditions report
o Public outreach results
o Vision statement
o Alternative improvement concepts considered and evaluated
o Final vision concept
o Implementation and a funding strategy
• Study progress and updates to be presented to each respective jurisdiction’s relevant Committees, Commissions, and Council/Board for feedback and direction at key Study milestones.
The key provisions of a cooperative and funding agreement with the City of San Jose would possibly include:
• City of San Jose to lead the study, contract administration, and project closeout
• Term of agreement in effect through December 31, 2024
• City of Santa Clara to provide funding in the amount of $100,296 to the City of San Jose for the Vision Study
• Reimbursement costs based upon actual payments made to the consultant procured by the City of San Jose
• Payment made to the City of San Jose on a quarterly basis
• City of San Jose would act as Lead Agency for compliance with CEQA for the project.
It is estimated that the Vision Study will start in fall 2022 and would be completed in 2024. Staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to negotiate, execute, and administer an agreement with the City of San Jose to complete the Vision Study.
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)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment. Should a project move forward to construction it would be reviewed in accordance with CEQA as part of the approval process.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Vision Study is estimated to have a total cost of $794,400 and is shared by each jurisdiction (Table 1). The cost to Santa Clara is $100,296 and is based on Santa Clara’s share of mileage along the Stevens Creek/West San Carlos corridor in Santa Clara’s city limits.
Table 1: Project Cost Share by Jurisdiction
|
Jurisdiction |
Length (miles) |
Length (%) |
Cost Share |
|
Santa Clara County |
0.430 |
5.21% |
$27,039 |
|
Cupertino |
2.450 |
29.66% |
$154,059 |
|
San Jose |
3.785 |
45.82% |
$238,006 |
|
Santa Clara |
1.595 |
19.31% |
$100,296 |
|
VTA |
|
|
$275,000 |
|
Total |
8.260 |
100% |
$794,400 |
The recommended budget action allocates funds to a new Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study Project in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund. The recommended funds are traffic mitigation funds set aside for pedestrian and bicycle enhancements.
Budget Amendment
FY 2022/23
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Streets and Highways Capital Fund |
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities Project |
$1,766,953 |
($100,296) |
$1,666,657 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study (New Project) |
$0 |
$100,296 |
$100,296 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department 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.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate, execute, and administer an agreement with the City of San Jose for the Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study up to a total not-to-exceed amount of $100,296;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents necessary for or associated with the agreement, including payments to the City of San Jose; and
3. Approve the FY 2022/23 budget amendment in the Streets and Highways Capital Fund to establish an appropriation for a new project - Stevens Creek Boulevard Vision Study in the amount of $100,296, and decrease the Pedestrian and Bicycle Enhancement Facilities Project by $100,296; (majority affirmative Council votes required).
Staff
Reviewed by: Craig Mobeck, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Rajeev Batra, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution 19-8781
2. Study Area Location Map