TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or his designee, to accept a Transit Oriented Development Planning Grant award from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the amount of $183,500; execute all necessary documents; and commit in-kind matching funds, not to exceed $45,875, for the preparation of a Transit Oriented Development Pedestrian Master Plan with a particular focus on greater Downtown transit stations; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund (SR 120) in the Department of Development Services (DV) by $183,500.
(Districts 1,2,6,7)
DISCUSSION
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is providing local assistance to encourage transit oriented development through its Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Planning Grant Program. This program is designed to spur the adoption of local land use regulations that create a regulatory environment supportive of TOD in Los Angeles County, as well as pre-regulatory planning efforts that can lead to the adoption of such local land use regulations. On September 10, 2012, staff submitted a grant application for the TOD Planning Grant Program to prepare a TOD Pedestrian Master Plan along the Metro Blue Line corridor.
The Metro Board of Directors recently awarded the City $183,500 to prepare a TOD Pedestrian Master Plan (Plan). The Plan's primary focus will be in the greater Downtown area, where the largest concentration of Metro Blue Line stations exist. The Plan will complement the recently adopted Downtown Plan by focusing on public realm and other infrastructure improvements, and supporting ongoing planning activities related to the preparation of the Long Beach Boulevard Specific Plan. The Plan will provide detailed guidelines, standards and policies to ensure that all Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) incorporate best practices for pedestrian design and identify catalytic infrastructure projects. The Plan will also be consistent with, and further define, the Downtown Pedestrian Priority Areas identified in the recently released Draft Mobility Element. Staff will conduct appropriate community outreach to ensure that any new policies, programs, regulations or ordinances accurately reflect the needs and desires of local stakeholders, including residents, workers, and property owners.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael J. Mais on June 10, 2013 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on June 20, 2013.
SUSTAINABILITY
This planning effort will generate conceptual infrastructure plans and development standards to facilitate new public investment in support of pedestrian, bicycling and transit usage.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on July 23, 2013, in order to execute contracts with Metro as soon as possible to commence planning activities in August 2013.
FISCAL IMPACT
Total project costs are anticipated to be $229,375 over two years. The City will receive up to $183,500 in grant funding from Metro with an in-kind match from the City. Appropriations totaling $183,500 are requested for the General Grant Fund (SR 120) in the Department of Development Services to expend this grant.
The in-kind matching requirement of $45,875 will be met by existing City staff budgeted in the Development Services Fund (SR137) in the Department of Development Services (DV) and in the Capital Projects (CP) and General (GP) Funds in the Department of Public Works (PW) for project management and environmental review document preparation. The TOD Pedestrian Master Plan will facilitate infrastructure investment around Metro Blue Line stations, which will have a positive impact on local jobs.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
ARA MALOYAN
ACTING DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER