Title
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-025 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING REVISIONS TO COUNCIL POLICY NO. 478-01 THAT REFERS TO THE PARTICIPATION BY PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN THE FINANCING AND/OR INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND APPROPRIATING $16,358 TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014 TRAFFIC SIGNAL FUND (4/5 VOTE REQUIRED)
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Council adopt the resolution.
Body
SUMMARY
On August 8, 1978, the City Council by Resolution No. 9221, adopted Council Policy No. 478-01 to establish an equitable participation by private developers for the financing and/or installation of traffic signals on public streets within the City. The proposed action would make the Traffic Signal Fee exemptions consistent with the City’s Transportation and Public Facility Development Impact Fee (DIF) programs in exempting Community-Purpose Facilities from paying the fee.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity 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 because the activity consists of a governmental administrative/fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required. Although environmental review is not required at this time, once the scope of individual traffic signal projects that may be funded have been 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 August 8, 1978, the City Council by Resolution No. 9221 (see Attachment 1), adopted Council Policy No. 478-01 (Policy) to establish the Traffic Signal Fee (Fee) to establish an equitable contribution by private developers of residential, commercial and industrial uses in the financing and/or installation of traffic signals on public streets within the City.
The reasoning behind the implementation of the Fee was to create a proportionate contribution by all private developments generating significant vehicular traffic toward the projected traffic signal needs of the City. The payment of the Fee is usually a condition of building permit issuance, or approval of a rezoning action. The Fee is calculated on the basis of vehicle trips generated by the proposed development and does not include trips generated at the development site under previous or current land use.
The Amount of the Fee
Currently, the Fee is $34.27 per vehicular trip, and any new development project within the City that generates an increase in the number of trips based on its current land use is subject to the Fee. With the adoption of Resolution No. 2001-385, the Fee is automatically adjusted every year based upon the Engineering News Record 20 City Construction Cost Index.
Exemptions
The only development projects currently exempt are on-site recreational or service facilities (cabanas, clubhouses, swimming pools, meeting rooms, etc.) that are open to the public.
City staff recommends that Section 7 of Policy No. 478-01 be revised to exempt “Community-Purpose Facilities,” as defined in Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 19.04.055, from the Fee. This exemption would be consistent with the exemptions of the Public Facility DIF, the Western Transportation DIF, and the Eastern Transportation DIF (Municipal Code 3.50.100, 3.54.070, and 3.55.100, respectively).
For the proposed revisions to the language of the Policy, please see Exhibit A.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1), is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, 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 adoption of this Resolution to revise Council Policy No. 478-01 will address the Operational Excellence and the Economic Vitality Goals of the City. The revision to the Policy will provide City Staff with a clear direction to consistently implement the City’s Development Impact Fee Programs. In addition, City Staff considers that the adoption of this resolution will clarify to potential Developers of Community-Purpose Facility Projects that no Traffic Signal Fees are required giving the Developer an incentive to create these type of facilities in Chula Vista that will benefit the whole community.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact with this action. Traffic signals at major intersections are funded by their respective Transportation DIF Program (Eastern or Western). The impact of this change will be to slightly reduce the availability of funds to construct and/or modify minor intersection traffic signals.
Approval of the appropriation of $16,358 to the Other Expenses category will have no current year net fiscal impact to the Traffic Signal Fund. Funds equivalent to this amount were collected in the current fiscal year and are being refunded to the YMCA for their new facility at 2311 Boswell Road, Chula Vista. If the proposed action is approved, the YMCA will qualify for an exemption of the Fee as its development use is defined as a “Community-Purpose Facility.”
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund or the Traffic Signal Fee Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1: City Council Resolution No. 9221 and Text for Council Policy No. 478-01
Exhibit A: Proposed Revisions to the Language of Council Policy No. 478-01