For City Council Meeting [November 14, 2017]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Michael E. Story, City Administrator
FROM: Robert G. Eisenbeisz, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Request City Council to Approve a Second Amendment to the Funding Agreement with Omnitrans related to the Metrolink Parking Lot Expansion.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On April 12, 2011, City Council approved an agreement with Omnitrans to administer the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grant for the Metrolink Parking Lot Expansion Project. The staff report and agreement are included as Attachment 1.
On August 28, 2012, City Council accepted the FTA Grant from the Federal Transit Administration in the amount of $3,345,600, adopted budget Resolution No. 6165, and approved the First Amendment with Omnitrans to Administer the FTA Grant for the Metrolink Parking Lot Expansion Project. The staff report and First Amendment are included as Attachment 2.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
The original scope of work for the Metrolink Parking Lot Expansion Project included the addition of 230 parking spaces to the existing 175 space parking lot. The project was split into two phases to avoid delays associated with right-of-way acquisition. This allowed the first phase to be constructed while the City pursued additional acquisitions required for Phase 2. The Phase 1 construction has been completed and has increased the existing parking lot capacity by 122 parking spaces.
The original Phase 2 plan required the acquisition of privately owned parcels located immediately north of the Metrolink Station. Efforts to acquire the needed parcels were unsuccessful. For this reason the City evaluated alternative locations for the Phase 2 expansion, and selected a vacant site owned by the Rialto Housing Authority located immediately south of the Metrolink Station. The site will be immediately adjacent to improvements proposed for the Rialto Station Double Track Platform. The Phase 2 engineering design is underway and will be completed in December 2017. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2018.
With the second amendment to the funding agreement, the City and Omnitrans desire to clarify the amount of grant funds remaining for the project, revise the agency contact persons identified to receive notices under the Funding Agreement, and affirm the continued effect of the Funding Agreement, as amended. The grant funds remaining for the project are included in the financial impact section of this report. The agency contact for Omnitrans is Jaime Lewis, previously Nancy Strickert. The agency contact for City of Rialto is Jeffrey Schafer, previously Saba Engineer. Lastly, the second amendment affirms that all provisions of the Funding Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, including without limitation the indemnity and insurance provisions, are, have and shall remain in full force and effect and shall govern the actions of the Parties under Amendment No. 2. A copy of the second amendment is included as Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Approval of the second amendment to the Funding Agreement with Omnitrans is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Approval of this action also complies with the City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 4-7: Achieve optimum use of regional rail transit.
Policy 4-7.1: Support Metrolink regional rail services, and work with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to expand services.
Policy 4-7.2: Achieve better integration of all transit and multimodal options at the Rialto Metrolink Station.
Policy 4-7.3: Promote activity centers and transit-oriented development projects around the Rialto Metrolink Station and Downtown.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report and the Second Amendment to the Funding Agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Table below shows the total grant amounts, expenditure amounts for Phase 1, and remaining funds available for Phase 2.
The grant funding is budgeted and available in Capital Grant Fund Account No. 223-500-4408-3001-120808 (Project Phase I) and 170808 (Project Phase II).
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Second Amendment to the Funding Agreement with Omnitrans related to the Metrolink Parking Lot Expansion.