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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAir Quality Management District Subvention Funds of $61,925.7`, irk) .5 �-J Council/Agency Meeting Held: 4Z aZ2,012— Deferred/Continued to: l: Council Meeting Date: ❑ Denied February 21, 2012 I Department ID Number: PW 12-011 • • !0mly—ITMIll SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, PE, Director of Public Works SUBJECT: Appropriate Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Subvention Funds of $61,925.70 for professional services related to the Circulation Element Update Statement of Issue: Funds previously appropriated for professional services to complete the Circulation Element Update are no longer available. A substitute appropriation is needed to reimburse our current consultant for services already rendered and for minor additional services. Financial Impact: The recommended action will appropriate $61,925.70 from the Air Quality Management District Subvention Fund, Account No. 20185201.82700. Sufficient funds are available in the account to meet this obligation. Recommended Action: Motion to: Appropriate $61,925.70 from the Air Quality Management District Subvention Fund to reimburse consultant services related to the Circulation Element Update. Alternative Action(s): Do not appropriate the funds and direct staff to identify other means of meeting the City's obligation on this project and complete the effort. HB -83- Item 12. - 1 REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION MEETING DATE: 2/21/2012 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 12-011 Analysis: Staff in Public Works and the Planning and Building Department, have been working on an update to the Circulation Element of the General Plan for'the past several years. Progress on this effort has been slowed over time due to competing priorities and some minor contracting challenges. Despite those challenges, the effort is nearing completion with most of the work efforts completed including a substantial portion of the environmental processing. One of the most significant efforts in the project was the completion of detailed technical studies related to traffic and the structure of the updated Circulation Element. Our consultant, Austin -Foust Associates (AFA), completed the vast majority of their efforts, but had not been paid the final 10 percent of the fees earned pending completion of the project. The delays encountered throughout the project resulted in a staff error where funds previously available to reimburse AFA for their efforts were not carried forward in the budget process and are no longer appropriated for the effort. The project effort was entirely funded through the Traffic Impact Fee fund. In the meantime, reprogramming of funds has made funds unavailable in the Traffic Impact Fee Fund. However, the need to reimburse the consultant still remains. The total amount owed to the consultant is $56,525.70. Additionally, the annexation of Sunset Beach requires several sections and diagrams within the draft Circulation Element be revised to reflect the new City Limits and streets. A minor amount of additional work is required from our consultant to make these changes with an additional fee of $5,400. Staff has evaluated the options available for meeting our obligation on this effort and determined that the effort is eligible for funding under the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Subvention Funding program. The City receives funds annually from the AQMD to fund projects that reduce emissions or lead to emission reductions. Significant elements of the Circulation Element directly implement programs or develop policies that reduce vehicle congestion and promote the use of alternative forms of transportation such as transit, bicycle and personal electric vehicle use. Staff believes that funding less than 10 percent of the overall Circulation Element effort using AQMD funds is reasonable and justified. The City receives approximately $240,000 each year in funds under this program and funds several efforts each year ranging from bike valet services Downtown, to retrofitting particulate traps on diesel powered City vehicles. Environmental Status: An environmental impact report is currently being processed for the Circulation Element Update. Strategic Plan Goal: Maintain and Enhance Public Safety Attachment(s): Item 12. - 2 Hs -84-