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 for the disbursement of transportation funds for July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Proposition A (Prop 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 Public Transportation Company (Long Beach Transit) relative to the disbursement of Prop 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 $7 million in Prop A funds in Fiscal Year 2013. Staff is recommending to continue to provide $4.5 million to Long Beach Transit for its operational needs, to be paid in quarterly installments. Separately, the Police Department provides security services for Long Beach Transit through the Agreement for Law Enforcement Services dated August 23, 2006. These costs will also be recovered through Prop A funds, providing for full cost recovery. The City's portion of the Prop A funds 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 security, 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 September 12, 2012 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on September 25, 2012.
SUSTAINABILITY
Investments in public transit infrastructure and operations allow the nearly 27 million annual Long Beach Transit boarding customers to move around the City in a sustainable manner. The City will use Prop 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 October 16, 2012 to authorize the execution of a new one-year Agreement with Long Beach Transit for various transit-related capital and operating expenditures.
FISCAL IMPACT
In FY13, $4.5 million of the City's share of Props A funds will be provided to Long Beach Transit for its operational needs. These funds are budgeted in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Citywide Activities Department (XC). Approval of this Agreement will result in a positive local job impact.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER