TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Prem Kumar, City Engineer
Adilia Miller, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving a Funding Agreement with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for the Exchange Agreement and Assignment of Federal Surface Transportation Program - Local Funds (STP-L) for the Rosecrans Avenue Street Resurfacing Project for $817,472; and Authorize the City Manager to Execute the Agreement (Public Works Director Katsouleas).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 20-0079
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution No. 20-0079:
1. Approving a Funding Agreement between the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and City of Manhattan Beach for the Exchange Agreement and Assignment of federal Surface Transportation Program-Local Funds (STP-L) for the Rosecrans Avenue Street Resurfacing Project for $817,472.
2. Authorizing the City Manager to execute the Funding Agreement.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City of Manhattan Beach made a request to Metro to exchange $834,156 of the City’s federal Surface Transportation Program-Local (STP-L) funding allocation for local LACMTA funds. This amount includes $520,635 in currently available funds plus an advancement of estimated annual allocations of $104,507 for the next three years (totaling $313,521 for Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, and 2023). Metro charges a two percent processing and administrative fee (“the Processing Fee”) of $16,683 in connection with the exchange, for a net disbursement to the City for $817,472. The $16,683 fee is reasonable and less than the City would spend to comply with cumbersome federal funding stipulations.
A $817,472 Exchange Agreement and Assignment of STP-L funds was finalized by Metro staff and provided to the City on June 19, 2020 for consideration.
BACKGROUND:
Manhattan Beach receives an annual allocation of federal funds each year through the federal Surface Transportation Program - Local (STP-L), based on a population formula. Metro is the local agency that administers STP-L funding received by the federal government. Metro is also the agency that administers local funding programs for transportation projects, such as Measure R and Measure M. Because Metro carries out a large number of federal projects on behalf of the region, and must, therefore, comply with federal grant requirements, it is advantageous for them to exchange federal dollars for local dollars. This allows them to leverage funding while at the same time help local cities eliminate the administrative burden associated with federal grants for smaller projects.
Per Metro, eligible uses for STP-L funds include “construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, resurfacing, restoration and operational improvements for highways (including interstate highways and bridges), capital costs for transit projects eligible for assistance under the Federal Transit Act and publicly-owned intra-city or intercity bus terminals and facilities, carpool projects, fringe and corridor parking facilities, bicycle and pedestrian walkways, highway and transit safety improvement & programs.”
Rosecrans Avenue, as a major arterial roadway, qualifies as an eligible project for STP-L funds and thus for exchange. Because resurfacing Rosecrans Avenue between Village Drive and Aviation Boulevard is imminent, the City requested, and Metro agreed to consider exchanging accumulated and future STP-L funds so that Public Works could utilize its allocation on this project. Notably, Rosecrans Avenue is the last major corridor to have a pavement condition index (PCI) ranking below 20. Metro agreed to allow the STP-L exchange.
DISCUSSION:
In order to accept and utilize STP-L funds, City Council must adopt a resolution approving the Metro Funding Agreement. The attached agreement outlines the scope of work, expenditure and reporting requirements as well as the expected timeline for implementation. The agreement contains standard boiler plate agreement language similar to previous Metro Funding Agreements approved by City Council for previous City projects. The attached resolution also authorizes the City Manager to sign the Agreement.
The exchanged funding amount of $817,472 will be designated for the Rosecrans Avenue Street Resurfacing Project, which involves the street resurfacing of eastbound Rosecrans Avenue from Aviation Boulevard to Village Drive. The specific work entails:
• Asphalt concrete resurfacing: 2-inch mill and asphalt hot rubber mix overlay over Tensar Glaspave50 paving mat;
• Manhole and water valve adjustments;
• Curb ramps and driveways approach upgrades to comply with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines;
• Traffic signal pedestrian push button relocation;
• New thermoplastic striping; and
• New traffic signal loop detectors installation.
Construction bids for the Rosecrans Avenue Street Resurfacing Project were received on June 17, 2020. Pending this exchange, a construction contract award will be presented to City Council in July for consideration. The execution of the $817,472 Exchange Agreement and assignment of STP-L funds is timely to supplement the City local gas tax funding allocated to complete this important and much needed improvement to Rosecrans Avenue.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The businesses and residences impacted by this project will be provided advanced information regarding the project, including dates and times of construction. Contact information will also be provided for residents and businesses who require additional information. Notice will be sent to businesses and residences adjacent to the work once the project is ready to commence with construction.
ENVIROMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the Rosecrans Avenue project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 (repair and maintenance of existing public facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of use) of the State CEQA Guidelines. A Notice of Exemption will be filed for the project with the Los Angeles County Clerk’s Office prior to the construction for the Project.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 20-0079
2. Agreement - LACMTA