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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07262011 - C.50RECOMMENDATION(S): ADOPT Resolution No. 2011/292 approving and authorizing the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to submit a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program Grant application to FHWA for up to $199,200 for FY 2011/12 for the purpose of developing the Knightsen-Byron Area Transportation Study. FISCAL IMPACT: None to the General Fund. If awarded, the FY 2011/12 TCSP Grant would be the funding source for the Knightsen-Byron Area Transportation Study. Total authorized funding for the Federal TCSP Program is $61.25 million for FY 2011/12, and the program requires 20% matching funds. The matching funds will be comprised of in-kind services (staff hours) and gas tax or Measure J revenue. BACKGROUND: The TCSP Program provides funding for a comprehensive initiative including planning APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 07/26/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Jamar Stamps, 925-335-1220 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: July 26, 2011 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: Patrick Roche, DCD, Jerry Fahy, PWD, Lara DeLaney, CAO C. 50 To:Board of Supervisors From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director Date:July 26, 2011 Contra Costa County Subject:Knightsen-Byron Area Transportation Study grants, implementation grants, and research to investigate BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) and address the relationships between transportation, community, and system preservation and to identify private sector-based initiatives. The program also seeks to fund projects that plan and implement strategies which improve the efficiency of the transportation system, reduce environmental impacts of transportation, reduce the need for costly future public infrastructure investments, ensure efficient access to jobs, services and centers of trade, and examine development patterns and identify strategies to encourage private sector development patterns which achieve these goals. States, metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and tribal governments are eligible for TCSP Program grant funds. The TCSP Program $61.25 million per year since FY 2006/07. Last year the County submitted an application for the Knightsen-Byron Area Transportation Study under the Caltrans Community-Based Transportation Planning Grant Program, but the project was not awarded funding. This study proposes to re-evaluate the Circulation Element of the General Plan to improve its consistency with the Urban Limit Line and related policies that support preservation of non-urban, agricultural, open space and other areas identified outside this line. The study area includes portions of land designated as Agricultural Core in the County General Plan. A map of the proposed study area is attached. This area is also a Priority Conservation Area, which is a designation developed by the Association of Bay Area Governments to describe areas that encompass regionally significant conservation values and demonstrate community support and an urgent need for protection within five years. This study would be conducted in cooperation with the Knightsen Municipal Advisory Council, Byron Municipal Advisory Council, Discovery Bay Community Services District and the cities of Oakley and Brentwood. Other stakeholders in the study area will be involved as well. Potential outcomes of the study include: • Revisions to the Circulation Element and related General Plan policies for the study area; • Revisions to the off-site fee program that funds transportation upgrades in the area; and • Development code revisions for ultimate road cross sections and frontage improvements. County staff was made aware of the FHWA Grant Program on May 10, 2011. The deadline for submitting applications was May 20, 2011. County staff quickly prepared an application in order to make the tight deadline. County staff has been seeking funding for this project for a while, and this opportunity was available but only briefly. However, unfortunately due to the time constraint staff was not able to execute a request for the Board of Supervisors' authorization to pursue this grant opportunity and submit an application. Therefore at this time staff is seeking retroactive approval and the Board's authorization to continue to proceed with the grant application. All applications had to pass an initial screening facilitated by Caltrans, and from there applications were forwarded to FHWA on June 3, 2011 for further consideration. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The County would need to identify other funding in order to re-evaluate the Circulation Element policies for the study area. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: The proposed study would evaluate policies to improve safe access to school facilities in the study area. ATTACHMENTS Resolution No. 2011/292 Study Area Map