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Home My WebLink About14 AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR ORANGE COUNTY ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR SENIORS & DISABLED (EMSD) GRANTRUORT AGENDA D_L_� lts►t1 MEETING DATE: MAY 15, 2018 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER Agenda Item 14 Reviewed: City Manager Finance Director FROM: DAVID A. WILSON, DIRECTOR, PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATION FOR ORANGE COUNTY ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED (EMSD) GRANT SUMMARY The Parks and Recreation Services Department is seeking authorization to submit an application for federal funds under the Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Disabled (EMSD) Grant (formerly FTA Section 5310 Program) administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that City Council: 1. Adopt Resolution 18-26 which authorizes staff to apply for grant funds to be used for operating assistance for existing transit service and enhancement of transit services and finds that there is no non-profit agency readily available to provide paratransit services for the elderly and disabled in the Tustin area. 2. Adopt Resolution 18-34 which authorizes the Director of Parks and Recreation Services to execute all documents related to the EMSD grant application. FISCAL IMPACT If the application is approved for funding, the EMSD Grant will provide operating assistance in the amount of $124,000 which will be used to continue to cover the cost of one (1) full-time Transportation Coordinator for two years as part of the existing Transportation Coordination Expansion Project to increase the service area and number of trips transporting senior citizens. CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN This grant opportunity advances Goal A of the City of Tustin Strategic Plan regarding Economic and Neighborhood Development in that it provides resources for future senior services to meet changing demographics and trends. BACKGROUND For the past seventeen years, the Tustin Area Senior Center has been offering a no fee transportation program to serve the needs of its senior residents. The program provides door-to-door transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and participation in Senior Center activities using two 16 -passenger vehicles with wheelchair accessibility. In 2014, the State of California's Department of Transportation Division of Mass Transportation (Caltrans) awarded the City of Tustin a FTA Section 5310 grant in the form of two new 16 -passenger vehicles (approximate value of $153,000), which were received by the City in October 2017. In addition, the program has a third 16 - passenger vehicle used as backup which was purchased in 2008 by the Tustin Area Senior Center Fund, Inc. In 2016 the City was also awarded funds through the FTA Expanded 5310 Projects Grant for two years of operational funding (total of $124,000) which was used for a second full time Transportation Coordinator. If awarded this EMSD Grant for operating assistance, the funds will again be allocated towards the second full time Transportation Coordinator position. This will enable the TASC Transportation Program to continue to expand its service area and the number of passenger trips completed. This grant will help ensure that the needs of the growing senior citizen population will continue to be met well into the future. Federal regulation provides that a State may allocate apportioned funds to a governmental agency provided that there are no non-profit organizations readily available in the area to provide the service. The EMSD Grant requires governmental agencies to hold a public hearing. The public hearing was advertised in the newspaper more than 30 days prior and notices were sent to known local non-profit organizations via certified mail. pectfully submitted, Dau A. Wilson Director, Parks and Recreation Services Attachment: City Council Resolutions No. 18-26 and 18-34 RESOLUTION NO. 18-26 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING STAFF TO APPLY TO THE ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (OCTA) FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED (EMSD) GRANT PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Federal Transit Administration, through its EMSD Grant Program provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations and qualifying public agencies for Operating Assistance to meet the transportation needs of the elderly and physically challenged; and WHEREAS, the City of Tustin ("City") through its Parks and Recreation Services Department maintains an on-going transportation program for the elderly to and from their residences to such places as doctors' offices, grocery stores, and the Tustin Area Senior Center ("Senior Transportation Program"); and WHEREAS, there is a need for the City to obtain additional funding to aid existing transportation services and expand transportation services in order to continue with this very important program; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Transportation Authority, administers the above-described EMSD Grant Program; and WHEREAS, a public hearing was held by the City Council on May 15, 2018, at which time all interested parties were invited to speak on the subject; and WHEREAS, prior notice of the date, time and specific purpose of said public hearing was published by the City in a newspaper of general circulation at least 30 days prior to the date of public hearing; and WHEREAS, prior to the date of the public hearing, City staff sent a contact letter to private, nonprofit transportation providers informing them of the date, time and place of the public hearing, as well as the right to be heard; and WHEREAS, no private, nonprofit transportation agencies are readily available to provide the services provided by the City through its Senior Transportation Program; and WHEREAS, the City desires to apply to the Orange County Transportation Authority for an Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Disabled (EMSD) Program Grant in order to secure funding for Operating Assistance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby resolve as follows: The Director of Parks and Recreation Services or his designee is hereby authorized to submit a grant application to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), to obtain funds for Operating Assistance for the existing and expansion of services for the City's Senior Transportation Program. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tustin at a regular meeting held on the 15th day of May 2018. Elwyn A. Murray, Mayor ATTEST Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) CERTIFICATION FOR RESOLUTION NO. 18-26 Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 18-26 was duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 15th day of May 2018 by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 18-34 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR OPERATIONAL FUNDING THROUGH ORANGE COUNTY ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED (EMSD) GRANT PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), through its EMSD Grant Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations and qualifying public agencies for Operating Assistance to meet the transportation needs of the elderly and physically challenged; and The OCTA has been designated approximately $3.6 million in local (non - Transportation Development Act) funds available with the amounts based on federal Section 5310 amounts allocated to Orange County; and The City of Tustin desires to apply for the grant funds to permit operations of paratransit service in Tustin; and The City of Tustin has, to the maximum extent feasible, coordinated with other transportation providers and users in the region (including social service agencies). NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Tustin does hereby resolve as follows: 1. The Director of Parks and Recreation Services (hereinafter "Director") or her/his designee is hereby authorized to file and execute applications on behalf of the City of Tustin with the Department to aid in the financing of senior transportation. 2. The Director is authorized to execute and file all certification of assurances, contracts, or agreements or any other document required by the Department. 3. The Director is authorized to provide additional information as the Department may require in connection with the City's application for the EMSD Grant Program. 4. The Director is hereby authorized to submit and approve requests for reimbursement of funds from the EMSD Grant Program. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tustin at a regular meeting held on the 15th of May 2018. Elwyn A. Murray, Mayor ATTEST Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) CERTIFICATION FOR RESOLUTION NO. 18-34 Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 18-34 was duly and regularly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 15th day of May 2018 by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: Erica N. Rabe, City Clerk