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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07242007 - C.45 StA/ TO: Board of Supervisors Con t ra FROM: Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee j Costa (Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, Chair ��-...��s-.-.�f� County -rrc'{ Cox] DATE': July 9, 2007 - us SUBJECT: Support for SB 748 (Corbett) regarding Proposition 1 B transportation funding SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND.JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPT a position of"support"for SB 748 (Corbett, D-San Leandro)and AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign a letter expressing this position to the County's legislative delegation. FISCAL IMPACT NONE to the General Fund. If the bill passes it will improve the County's competitiveness for grants from one of the Proposition 1 B funding programs, as described in this report. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS When the voters approved the $19.9 billion Proposition 1 B in November 2006, the measure created new funding programs for various transportation needs. One of the programs is the $1 billion State-Local Partnership Program, which will provide grants to local jurisdictions who can provide 50-percent local matching funds for specific transportation projects. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER I 5�t SIGNATURES : Su PAN le B. Uilkema upervisor Federal D. Glover ACTION OF BOARD ON o APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Greitzer (925/335-1201) cc: Community Development Department (CDD) ATTESTED J. Bueren, PWD JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF L. Delaney, CAO THE BOA OF SUPERVISORS AND CO T ADMINISTRATOR G:\Transportation\TWIC\2007\Board Orders\TWIC SB 748 support for July 24 BOS.doc BY DEPUTY Support for SB 748 JULY 9, 2007 Page 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (Continued) The legislature is responsible for developing the specific process and guidelines for allocation of the State-Local Partnership Program funds. One of the key issues in Sacramento concerns the types of local funds that will qualify as matching funds. Counties such as Contra Costa County and Alameda County have several types of local transportation funding programs, including voter-approved transportation sales taxes, and uniform regional development impact fees. Other counties, notably Los Angeles County, only have a transportation sales tax. The latter counties seek to restrict the definition of matching funds to transportation sales taxes only. It would work to Contra Costa County's advantage to have both the sales taxes and the uniform regional development impact fees qualify as matching funds for the State-Local Partnership Program. This would help improve the County's competitiveness for the grants. SB 748, introduced by Senator Ellen Corbett, would accomplish this by specifically designating uniform regional development impact fees as eligible for local match purposes. A competing bill introduced by Assemblymember Lloyd Levine of Los Angeles, AB 1351, would do the opposite and restrict the eligible match to transportation sales taxes only. SB 748 has passed the Senate and is now in the Assembly Transportation Committee. The County's transportation advocate in Sacramento, Mark Watts of California Strategies and Advocacy, discussed SB 748 with the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee on July 9. As a result of the discussions, the.Committee recommends the Board adopt a position of support for SB 748 and authorize the Chair to sign a letter of support for transmittal to the legislature. The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the League of California Cities (LCC), and the Regional Council of Rural Counties have sent a joint letter of support for the bill to the legislature. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission also supports the bill. Exhibit A is the letter for the Chair's signature. Exhibit B is the full text of SB 748. Exhibit C is a joint letter of support for the bill from CSAC, LCC, and the Rural Counties. EXHIBT A The Board ot'Supervisors Contra John Cullen (aerk rn'ihu Board Costa andCounty \dministratiol Buddim, C'QU111F"Adminislralor 651 fine Street, Room 106 County (qr�)3;5 19or.t tiiartinez, Calili)rnia 94553-4068 John(Aoia,I)isu ic.l I Gayle 13.Vilkemn,I)istrict II ,. Mal") N. Vie llo,I)isiricl lll' susall Ronill:t, I)isojel I1ji m..,<., Federal I).(Am cr, I islrio J` July 24, 2007 The Honorable Ellen D. Corbett Senator, 101h District State Capitol, Room 3092 Sacramento;CA 95814 Dear Senator Corbett: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors today adopted a position of support for your bill, SB 748, which would specify the types of local transportation funds that would qualify as eligible match for the State-Local Partnership Program created by the passage of Proposition 1B in November 2006. The State-Local Partnership Program will provide valuable grants to local jurisdictions that can provide 50-percent local matching funds. Contra Costa County and its cities have worked hard over the years to create a number of local transportation funding sources, so we can fund our extensive transportation needs. There is a voter-approved countywide transportation sales tax, and we also have several uniform regional developer impact-fee programs which raise funds for specific transportation projects that are necessitated by new development. Our local jurisdictions created these funding programs to help us leverage federal and state funds. It is important that Contra Costa County and its cities be able to use all of these funds as local match in applying for State-Local Partnership Program grants. SB 748 would accomplish this by specifically designating uniform development impact fees, and transportation sales taxes, as eligible matching funds. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appreciates your efforts in developing fair guidelines for the allocation of State-Local Partnership Program funds. if you have questions about our position on this measure, please contact us at your convenience. Sincerely, Mary N. Piepho, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors MN P\JG C: Members, Board of Supervisors The Hon. 11.Nava,Assembly Transportation Committee Chair The Hon. M. DeSaulnier, 11"'Assembly District The Hon. G.Houston,.l 5°i Assembly District The Hon. L. Hancock, 14th Assembly District D. Baker, California State Association of Counties D. Barry,Community Development Director J. Cullen, County Administrator M. Shiu,Public Works Director M.Watts,California Strategies&Advocacy EXHIBIT B AMENDED.IN SENATE JUNE 5, 2007 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 4, 2007 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 10, 2007 SENATE BILL No. 748 Introduced by Senator Corbett (Principal coauthor: Senator Lowenthal) (Coauthors:Senators Drrcheuy and Perata) February 23, 2007 An act to add Article 8.(commencing with Section 228) to Chapter 1 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to. transportation. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 748,as amended,Corbett.Transportation: state-local partnerships... Proposition 1 B,approved by the voters at the'November 2006 general election, enacts the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security"Bond Act of 2006, which authorizes the issuance of $19.925 billion of general obligation bonds for various transportation purposes, including$1 billion for the State-Local Partnership Program,: to be allocated by the California Transportation Commission to eligible. transportation projects nominated by transportation agencies, subject. to appropriation by the Legislature. Existing law requires a dollar-for-dollar match of local funds for projects funded with these: bond funds. This bill would state the purposes of the State-Local Partnership Program and would require the California Transportation Commission to adopt guidelines for the program.The bill would define eligible local. matching funds under the program for purposes of the required 96 SB 748 —2— dollar-for-dollar match, and would establish an application procedure for eligible applicants to nominate projects. The bill would limit the amount of bond funding fora single project to 525,000,000 in a single funding cycle. The bill would describe the categories of projects that may be funded through the program, would establish timelines for expenditure of the funds, and would provide for the reallocation of ftmding if those timelines are not met. The bill would require the commission to include in its annual report to the Legislature a summary of its activities related to the program, as specified. Vote: majority: Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. The people of the State of Califof'nla do enact as follovt�s. I SECTION 1. Article 8(commencing with Section 228)is added. 2 to Chapter Lof Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, to 3 read: 4. 5 Article 8. State-Local Partnership Program 6 7 228. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature, pursuant to ' 8 subdivision (g) of Section 8879.23 of the Government Code, to 9 establish criteria and conditions for use of the funds in the. 10 State-Local Partnership Program Account in the Highway Safety, . 11 Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Fund of 2006.' 12 These criteria and conditions shall include,but need not be limited 13 to, eligibility of applicants, eligibility of projects, timely use of 14 funds, and relationship of funds in the account to other Rinds for 15 transportation purposes. .16 (b) The purpose of the State-Local Partnership Program is to 17 do both of the following: 18 (1) Reward"self-help"counties,cities,and Fegions districts, oj• 19 regional.ti-ahsportation agencies in which voters have approved 20 fees or taxes.solely dedicated to transportation improvements. 21 (2) Provide funds for a wide variety of capital projects that are 22 typically funded in local or regional voter-approved expenditure 23 plans and that provide mobility,accessibility,system connectivity, 24 safety, or air quality benefits. 25 228.1. An eligible applicant under the program shall be a local 26 or regional transportation agency that has responsibility for 96 -3— SB 748 1 funding, procuring; or,constructing transportation improvements 2 within its jurisdiction and that is , 3 distriet, or region that has sought and received voter approval.for. 4 the imposition of taxes or fees solely dedicated to transportation 5 improvements, or•has imposed un for•rn developer-fees, as ti,.fined 6 in Section 228.2. For purposes of this section and Section 228.2, . 7 "transportation improvements" includes capital investments or 8 services, or both. 9 228.2. Eligible local matching fiords required to obtain funding 10 under the program shall be obtained from revenues from any . 11 voter-approved local or regional tax or fee .solely dedicated to 12 transportation improvements, Or f-om 11ngbt-ni developel•fees.Tax- 13 or fee for purposes of this section means a countywide sales tax,' 14 a property or parcel tax in a county or counties or district,—altd 15 voter-approved bridge tolls or voter-approved fees dedicated to. 16 specific transportation improvements, and uniform developer—fees. 17 As used in this section, "unifor•nl developerfees"ideals developer 18 fees imposed pinsuant to existing.statutory authority, inchl.ding, 19 but not limited to, Chapter S (corrinleneing with Section 66000)of 20 Division I of Title 7.of,' and Article 5 (commencing with Section 21 66483) of'Chapter• 4 of Division 2 of Title 7 Of, the Gover•nlnent. 22 Code. The developer fees must be imposed by a local orzlinance. 23 or res'011ltlon adopted by a city, COalrll}V, or• city and, county and 24 insist be dedicated to transpor•tallon purpose's to address Calrrlallalive 25 transpol•tation impacts. The. developer-fees must be uniformly. 26 applied to new development within a defined area or jalr•isdic•tion,. 27 except in cases in which fees are waived, such as for affordable 28 holls'ing develOpmenl. Developer'fees imposed to millgate onsite. .29 impacts related to a specific development project do not qualify 30 as unif n-tn developer-fees under this section. 31 228.3. An eligible project funded pursuant to this article shall 32 require a match of one dollar(S 1)of eligible local matching funds 33 pursuant to Section 228.2 for each dollar of state funds made. 34 available under the program. An applicant may propose to use 35 other funds for the same project, including private, local, federal; 36 or other state funds, however, those other funds shall not be 37 counted toward the match required by this section. 38- 228.4. (a) In order to be eligible for funding under this article, 39 a project shall be a transportation capital project estimated to cost 40 at least five 96 i SB 748 —4— I 4—I million dollars ($5,000,000) that is consistent Mth the adopted . 2 regional transportation plan covering the jurisdiction of the 3 applicant, and the project sponsor shall identify the source of 4 eligible matching funds for the project required pursuant to Section. 5 228.3. 6 (b) Eligible projects shall include all of the following: 7 (1) Improvements to the state highway system, including, but 8 not limited to, all of the following: 9 (A) Major rehabilitation of an existing segment that extends the 10 useful life of the segment by at least 15 years. 1 1 . (B) New construction to increase capacity of a highway segment 12 that improves mobility or reduces congestion on that segment. 13 (C) Safety or operational improvements on a highway segment 14 that are intended to reduce accidents.and fatalities or improve 15 traffic flow on that segment. 16 (2) Improvements to transit facilities, including guideways,that 17 expand transit services, increase transit ridership, enhance access 18 or convenience. of the traveling public,.or otherwise provide or 19 facilitate a viable alternative to driving. 20 (3) The acquisition, retrofit, or rehabilitation of rolling stock, 21 buses, or other transit equipment, including, but not limited to, 22 maintenance facilities,transit stations,passenger shelters,and fare 23 collection equipment with a useful life of at least+510 years.The 24 acquisition of vans, buses, and other equipment necessary for the 25 provision of transit services for seniors and people with disabilities 26 by transit and other local agencies is an eligible project under this 27 paragraph. 28 (4) Improvements to the local road system, including, but not 29 limited to, both of the following: 30 (A) Major roadway rehabilitation,resurfacing,or reconstruction 31 that extends its useful life by at least 15 years. 32 (B) New construction and facilities to increase capacity,improve 33 mobility, or enhance safety. 34 (5) Improvements to bicycle or pedestrian safety or mobility 35 with a useful life of at ]cast 15 years. 36 (6) Improvements to mitigate the environmental impacts of new 37 transportation infrastructure on a locality's or the region's water 38 quality, commonly known as "urban runoff," including, but not 39 limited to,the installation of catch basin screens,filters,and inserts, 96 -5— SB 748 1 or other best management practices for capturing or treating urban 2 runoff. 3 (c) For purposes of the program, a separate phase or stage of 4 construction for an eligible project may include mitigation of the , 5 project's environmental impacts, including, but not. limited to, 6 soundwal Is,landscaping,wetlands or habitat restoration or creation, 7 replacement plantings, and drainage facilities. 8 228.5. Each fiscal year in which funds are appropriated for the 9 program shall constitute a funding cycle. To ensure that as many 10 eligible applicants as possible may benefit from this program, no 11 single project shall receive more than twenty-five million dollars 12 ($25,000,000) in a single funding cycle in which program funds 13 are allocated by the commission. The commission shall allocate 14 the funds pursuant to Sections 228.6 and 228.7. 15 228.6. (a) Each eligible applicant desiring to participate in the 16 program in any funding cycle shall submit to the commission all 17 of the following: 18 ' (1) A description of the eligible project nominated for funding, 19 including a description of the project's cost, scope, and specific 20 improvements and benefits it is anticipated to achieve. 21 (2) A description of the project's current status, including the 22 phase of construction the project is in at the time it is nominated 23 for funding and a schedule for the project's completion. . 24 (3) A description of how the project would support 25 transportation and land use planning goals within the region. 26 (4) The amount of eligible local matching funds the applicant 27 is committing to the project. 28 (5) The amount of program fund's the applicant seeks from the 29 program for the project. 30 (b) The commission shall review nominated projects and their 31 accompanying documentation to ensure that each nominated project 32 meets the requirements of this article. 33 (c) For each funding cycle, the commission shall adopt a 34 program of projects to receive allocations under this article, with 35 allocations to projects to be initially made no later than the 36 commission's ineeting in January 2008, and to 37 be made no later than the commission's September meeting for 38 subsequent years. An adopted program shall allocate funds tots 39 many eligibleeligible applicants meeting 40 the minimum criteria below and shall include a groupof projects 96 SB 748 =6— 1 that provide cost-effective and multimodal mobility, safety, 2 reliability, and environmental benefits. in allocating funds to 3 specific projects, the commission shall give priority to projects 4 that.meet any orall of the following: 5 (1) Can commence construction or implementation of the project 6 in a manner to provide the public benefit at the earliest possible 7 date. 8 (2) Can enhance the leveragability of bond funds, by utilizing 9 a higher proportion of nonbond funds toward a project's total cost 10 than is otherwise required by this article. 11 (3). Can demonstrate quantifiable air quality improvements. 12 (d) The commission may allocate funds to a project in more 13 than one funding cycle. The commission shall refer to Section 14 228.5 to adopt the number of funding cycles it will administer to 15 allocate funds pursuant to this article. The commission's adopted . 16 schedule for the allocation of funds pursuant to this article shall 17 accommodate the strict timely use of fiords policy described in 18 Section 228.7. 19 228.7. Projects receiving an allocation under the program shall 20 21 encumber funds no later than June 30 of the fiscal year in which 22 an allocation is made by the commission. In addition, allocated 23 funds shall be expended within three years of June 30 of the fiscal 24 year in which an allocation is made by the commission. The 25 commission shall rescind an allocation to a project that fails to 26 comply with these requirements. Rescinded allocations of funds 27 shall be reallocated to other projects during the fiscal year 28 following the year in which the applicable timely use of funds. 29 requirement was not met. 30 228.8. The commission shall develop and adopt guidelines to 31 implement this article, and to establish the criteria and process 32 for allocating funds to eligible.projects under the progrprn. Prior 33 to adopting the guidelines, the cornmi.ssion shall hold one public 34 hearing in Northern California and One public hearing in Southern 35 California to review and provide an opportunity for public 36 comment on the proposed guidelines. The cornmi.s.sion may 37 incorporate the hearings into its regular meeting schedule. 38 228.9. The commission shall include in its annual report to the 39 Legislature required pursuant to Section 14535 of the Government 40 Code a summary of its activities related to the administration of 96 -7- SB 748 1 the program. The summary, at a minimum, shall include the 2 description, location, and total cost of each project contained in 3 the program, the amount of bond funds allocated to each project, 4 the status of each project, and a description of the system 5 improvements the program each project is achieving. O 96 EXHIBIT C LLEAG U E l�tp�a,pNw�cpuHp,�uw 01: CALIFORNIA C I T I ES �_--_- June 26, 2007 The Honorable Pedro Nava Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee California State Assembly State Capitol, Room 2148 Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: SB 748(Corbett)—Transportation: State-Local.Partnerships As amended 6/5/07—SUPPORT Set for hearing July 2,2007—Assembly Transportation Committee Dear Assembly Member Nava: The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), the League of California Cities (League), and the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) support Senate Bill 748 by Senator Ellen Corbett, which is set for a hearing on July 2, 2007 in the Assembly Transportation Committee. SB 748 would establish procedures for the allocation of the$1 billion included in Proposition 1 B for a State-Local Partnership Program. Specifically, the bill as amended on June 5, 2007, would now include as an eligible local match, uniform developer fees, in addition to voter approved local or regional taxes or fees solely dedicated to transportation improvements. Additionally, SB 748 also recognizes that different communities have different transportation needs by providing that funds can be used for a variety of capital projects that are typically funded in local or regional voter-approved expenditure plans and that result in mobility, accessibility, system connectivity, safety, or air quality benefits. We also support provisions of the bill that would begin the program in 2008. For these reasons, CSAC, the League and RCRC respectfully request an "AYE"vote on SB 748. If you need additionalinformation regarding our position on this measure, please do not hesitate to contact DeAnn Baker at CSAC (916.650.8104), Liisa Lawson-Stark at the League (916.658.8249) or Paul Smith at RCRC (916.447.4806). Sincerely, DeAnn Baker Liisa Lawson-Stark Paul Smith Legislative Representative Legislative Representative Director of Legislation CSAC League RCRC cc: Members and Consultants, Assembly Transportation Committee The Honorable Ellen Corbett, California State Senate Gregson Porteous, Assembly Republican Caucus Peter Ackeret, Governor's Office of Planning and Research The Board of Supervisors Contra John Cullen County Administration Building ��� � Clerk of the Board 651 Pine Street, Room 106 - and Martinez, California 94553-1293 County Co(925)335-1900unty Administrator John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B.Uilkema,2nd District Mary N.Piepho,3rd District Susan A.Bonilla,4th District ,`!�y-`;•"° Federal D.Glover,5th District wZ July 24, 2007x. '` ' The Honorable Ellen D. Corbett Senator, 10ti' District State Capitol, Room 3092 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Corbett: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors today adopted a position of support for your bill, SB 748, which would specify the types of local transportation funds that would qualify as eligible match for the State-Local Partnership Program created by the passage of Proposition 1 B in November 2006. The State-Local Partnership Program will provide valuable grants to local jurisdictions that can provide 50-percent local matching funds. Contra Costa County and its cities have worked hard over the years to create a number of local transportation funding sources, so we can fund our extensive transportation needs. There is a voter-approved countywide transportation sales tax, and we also have several uniform regional developer impact-fee programs which raise funds for .specific transportation projects that are necessitated by new development. Our local jurisdictions created these funding programs to help us leverage federal and state funds. It is important that Contra Costa County and its cities be able to use all of these funds as local match in applying for State-Local Partnership Program grants. SB 748 would accomplish this 'by specifically designating uniform development impact fees, and transportation sales taxes, as eligible matching funds. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors appreciates your efforts in developing fair guidelines for the allocation of State-Local Partnership,Program fu s. If you have questions about our position on this measure, please contact us at your convenience. S' cer Map o, Chair r ! Co a Costa County oard of Supervisors MNPUG C,: Members, Board of Supervisors The Hon. P. Nava, Assemblyn Transportation Committee Chair The Hon. M'. DeSaulnier, 11l Assembly District 1 \ (� The Hon. G. Houston, 15"'Assembly District 1 �/�•. �.'t �1 I i The Hon. L. Hancock, 14th Assembly District ��` ''u 1JV t �l D. Balser,California State Association of Counties D. Barry, Community Development Director J. Cullen. County Administrator VI. Shiu, Public Works Director- ..M. California Strate-ies S-Advo �ac y = _ - - _ •r. .r -