TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a one-year agreement between the City of Long Beach and the Long Beach Public Transportation Company (Long Beach Transit) for the period of July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Proposition A was approved by the Los Angeles County voters in November 1980, authorizing a sales tax increase of one-half cent for public transit purposes. Collection of this tax began in July 1982, and the funds are administered and disbursed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to cities based on a per capita basis.
On August 10, 1982, the City Council approved a joint report by the Director of Public Works and the Executive Director and General Manager of the Long Beach Transit relative to the disbursement of Proposition A Local Return funds. Both the City and Long Beach Transit use these funds for various public transit-related capital and operating expenditures. In accordance with the report, the City of Long Beach and Long Beach Transit entered into an Agreement outlining fund allocation procedures. This Agreement has since been extended by the City Council numerous times.
The MTA estimates the City will receive approximately $8.1 million in Proposition A funds in Fiscal Year 2015. Staff recommends providing $5,190,603 to Long Beach Transit. This amount includes continuing the previous annual allocation of $4,500,000 for Long Beach Transit's operational needs, to be paid in quarterly installments during the one-year period. Under a separate Agreement for Law Enforcement Services, Long Beach Transit reimburses the Police Department for security services. A portion of these costs, approximately $690,603 annually are reimbursed through Proposition A funds, providing the City with full cost recovery.
Proposition A funding is to be used exclusively for the construction, improvement and maintenance of mass transit services and facilities. Due to the eligibility restrictions on Proposition A funds, the City's portion is used for bus stop improvements and maintenance, recreational transit services, transit facilities/transportation enhancements, park-and-ride lots, signal synchronization that prioritizes buses, transit demand management, right-of-way improvements, administration, and other costs related to public transit.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy Webber on February 9, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 2, 2015.
SUSTAINABILITY
Investments in public transit infrastructure and operations provides for over 28 million annual Long Beach Transit boarding customers to move around the City in a sustainable manner. The City will use Proposition A funds to improve the public transit system in Long Beach, making it safer and more convenient for transit users to access public transit options, and making it safer for bus operators to navigate through their routes.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 17, 2015 to authorize the execution of a new one-year Agreement with Long Beach Transit to continue various transit-related capital and operating expenditures.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will allocate a fixed amount of $5,190,603 in Proposition A funding to Long Beach Transit. This includes $4,500,000 for operational needs and $690,603 for partial reimbursement for Police Department services. The City's Proposition A allocation to Long Beach Transit is budgeted in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC) and the Public Works Department (PW). Approval of this Agreement will result in a positive local job impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ARA MALOYAN, PE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER