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CONSIDERATION OF CHULA VISTA'S PORTION OF THE 2014 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
A. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-058 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2014/2015 THROUGH 2018/2019 EXCLUDING CHV73 ("THIRD AVENUE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE 3 (STL406)") AND CHV-NEW ("SWEETWATER RIVER PATHWAY STUDY") FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING THE CERTIFICATION AND INDEMNITY STATEMENTS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN TRANSNET FUNDS
B. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2014/2015 CIP BUDGET BY ESTABLISHING A NEW CIP PROJECT "THIRD AVENUE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE 3 (STL406)," APPROPRIATING $150,000 FROM THE AVAILABLE BALANCE OF THE TRANSNET FUND TO STL406, APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2014/2015 THROUGH 2018/2019 TO ADD FUNDING FOR CHV73 FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND PROVIDING THE CERTIFICATION AND INDEMNITY STATEMENTS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN TRANSNET FUNDS (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
C. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-059 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE AMENDMENT OF THE TRANSNET LOCAL STREET IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2014/2015 THROUGH 2018/2019 TO ADD FUNDING FOR CHV-NEW PROJECT SWEETWATER RIVER PATHWAY STUDY FOR INCLUSION IN THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT AND PROVIDING THE CERTIFICATION AND INDEMNITY STATEMENTS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN TRANSNET FUNDS
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council conduct the public hearing and adopt the resolutions.
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SUMMARY
The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) notified all local agencies that requests for third amendments to the 2014 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) may be submitted beginning January 30, 2015. Signed resolutions supporting the request must be submitted to SANDAG by March 20, 2015. Staff recommends several adjustments to the TransNet allocations adopted as part of the 2014 RTIP in order to included proposed new projects in the City's Fiscal Year 2015-16 Capital Improvement Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity, consisting of approval to submit a funding request for various TransNet Projects to SANDAG, for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060 (c) (3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary at this time. Although environmental review is not necessary at this time, once the scope of the individual projects proposed to be funded have been more specifically defined, environmental review will be required for each project and the appropriate environmental determination will be made.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Background
On May 6, 2014, Council adopted the Chula Vista portion of the 2014 RTIP through adoption of Resolution 2014-066 (Attachment 1). SANDAG provided the member agencies with the most recent version of the financial projection for Fiscal Years 2014-15 through 2018-19. This projection was used to plan the City's TransNet allocation program for the next five years. The 2014 RTIP was approved by the SANDAG Board of Directors on September 26, 2014.
Council subsequently approved an amendment to the 2014 RTIP through adoption of Resolution No. 2014-222 on November 18, 2014 (Attachment 2). The first amendment to the 2014 RTIP was approved by the SANDAG Transportation Committee on January 16, 2015.
The proposed revision to the City's TransNet allocations is provided in the attached spreadsheet (Attachment 3). The amounts allocated for Fiscal Year 2014-15 reflect the original 2014 RTIP, the changes made in the first amendment, as well as changes proposed in this amendment. For Fiscal Years 2015-16 through 2018-19, the estimated annual allocation reflects the TransNet revenue forecasts calculated as of January 30, 2015.
Changes to Fiscal Year 2014-15
The City recently received the results of the Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee's (ITOC) audit for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2014. During the process of the audit, they pointed out that the City could not transfer $100,000 from CHV50: Emergency Storm Drain and Bridge Culvert Repair to CHV66: Claire Avenue/I Street Drainage (DR191) because the former is an ongoing program. The revised programming for Fiscal Year 2014-15 reverses this transfer.
Additionally, several completed projects will be closed out and the funds (approximately $18,295) will be returned to the unallocated carryover. The details are shown on Attachment 4.
Congestion Relief Projects
The total available funding in Fiscal Year 2015-16 is $7,167,000. This includes the remaining funds from Fiscal Year 2014-15 and the new estimated allocation.
The major and new Congestion Relief projects are as follows:
CHV48: Pavement Major Rehabilitation
This is the City's annual program for major pavement rehabilitation. The appropriation is being increased to $4,000,000 for Fiscal Year 2015-16. This includes an additional $1,182,780 balance from pavement projects that have been completed and closed out. The major change to this list is the addition of streets in very poor condition.
The streets are itemized in Attachment 5. Any bicycle and pedestrian accommodations needed for these locations are noted on the spreadsheet. The additional list also breaks down the street list into locations that are exempt from the requirements, either because they are not shown as a bikeway on the City's Bikeway Master Plan, or because they do not have curb and gutter and are not a bus route.
CHV73: Third Avenue Streetscape (STL406)
This project was originally established to cover the matching funds needed for Phase 2 of the project. Additional funds ($150,000 in Fiscal Year 2014-15 and $150,000 in Fiscal Year 2015-16) are needed to begin design of Phase 3 of this project, which is generally located between E Street and F Street.
CHV-New: SANDAG Main Street Fiber Optic Network
The $400,000 allocation will pay for the future connection of existing Chula Vista traffic signal system and other facilities to the SANDAG fiber optics network on Main Street.
Maintenance Projects
The major and new Maintenance projects are as follows:
CHV33: School Zone Traffic Calming
A total of $154,000 is being requested in Fiscal Year 2015-16. New locations include the Hazel Goes Cook Elementary School and the Kellogg Elementary School. Improvements include curb extensions, enhanced crosswalks and raised medians at Melrose Avenue and Montclair Street.
CHV45: Traffic Monitoring Program
In addition to the annual allocation of $50,000, staff is requesting an additional $136,000 in Fiscal Year 2015-16 in order to install an automatic vehicle data collection system along Palomar Street between Industrial Blvd. and Broadway. The new system will be able to record traffic volume and speed data.
CHV53: Bikeway Master Plans
The City needs to prepare a revised Bikeway Master Plan every five years in order to be eligible for certain bikeway facility funding. The City's most recent Bikeway Master Plan was adopted by Council in February 2011. Additionally, the City's Pedestrian Master Plan was completed in June 2010. Since both documents are near the five year mark, staff is proposing to combine both updates into a single multi-modal Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan. An application for the Active Transportation Grant is being prepared to help fund the update. A $50,000 allocation is needed to begin the consultant selection process and provide matching funds if the grant is awarded.
CHV50: Emergency Storm Drain and Bridge Culvert Repair
This is an ongoing City wide program to rehabilitate failing storm drains and bridge culverts. This amendment will add the Poggi Canyon Channel at Rancho Drive location. Additionally, a Bridge Maintenance Program that would maintain and repair City bridges in order to extend their lives is included. The allocation for Fiscal Year 2015-16 totals $430,000.
CHV-New: Sweetwater River Pathway Study
U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife staff has been encouraging the City and the County of San Diego to apply for funding for construction of a continuous multi-purpose path between the Bayshore Bikeway and Central Avenue. The Chula Vista portion is part of the Greenbelt Master Plan and is between the Willow Street Bridge and Central Avenue. Prior to applying for a grant for this project, certain issues need to be resolved. This includes determining the best location for the path, with input from all the stakeholders, including pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians. For Fiscal Year 2015-16, $75,000 is requested to conduct a study to gather input and evaluate alternatives.
CHV-New: Raised Median Improvements
This project will construct new raised medians in locations where motorists are making illegal left hand turns. It will also reconstruct existing medians that are protruding into the crosswalk. An allocation of $440,000 is requested in Fiscal Year 2015-16.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
For CHV48 and CHV50: Pursuant to California Code of Regulations Section 18704.2 (b) (2), there is no material effect on any economic interests in real property as the "decision solely concerns repairs, replacement, or maintenance of existing streets, water, sewer, storm drainage or similar facilities."
Resolution A: For CHVNEW ("SANDAG MAIN STREET FIBER OPTICS NETWORK (SANDAG CIP# 1280504)") : Though Councilmember John McCann has property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the project, Staff has determined, in accordance with California Code of Regulations section 18705.2(a)(6) that the project will have no material effect on the real property holdings; therefore no conflict exists.
Resolution B: For CHV73 ("THIRD AVENUE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PHASE 3 (STL406)"): Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and found that property-related conflicts of interest exist, in that Mayor Mary Casillas Salas has property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the properties which are the subject of this action and that project is related to new construction that may have a reasonably foreseeable financial effect on such property holding.
Resolution C: For CHVNEW ("SWEETWATER RIVER PATHWAY STUDY"): Staff has review the property holdings and has found that a property-related conflict of interest exists, in that Councilmember John McCann has property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the project.
Staff is not independently aware, nor has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The TransNet Local Street Improvement Program supports the Strong and Secure Neighborhood strategy in the City's Strategic Plan. It provides funding for the maintenance and rehabilitation of public infrastructure, which is a key City function in providing a safe and efficient transportation system for residents, businesses and visitors.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of these resolutions will result in the establishment of a new CIP, STL406, and the appropriation of $150,000 in Fiscal Year 2014-15 to STL-406. There are sufficient TransNet funds available for this appropriation.
Changes that result in a fund allocation for Fiscal Year 2015-16 will be approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Capital Improvement Program. There are sufficient funds available in current and projected TransNet allocations for the allocations in Fiscal Year 2015-16.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
Upon completion of the project, the improvements will require only routine City street maintenance. Since the improvements are anticipated to increase the life of the streets included, there should be a positive long term fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. 2014-066
2. Resolution No. 2014-222
3. TransNet Allocation FY 2016-2019
4. TransNet RTIP Updates/Changes
5. CV48 Overlay List
5A. CV48 Major Pavement Rehabilitation - Additional List
Staff contact: Elizabeth Chopp, Senior Civil Engineer