All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Committee or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

Summary: Fresno County Rural Transit Agency is claiming $9,257,405 in Transportation Development Act funding in support of its $9,161,553 2019-20 operating budget and $19,882,607 capital budget.

Action:  Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2019-19 approving FCRTA’s 2019-20 Transportation Development Act claim.

Summary: Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's budget has been prepared to reflect Fresno COG's Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for the rural Fresno County Area 2020-2024.

The document recommends programmed service improvements and continuing existing services. This year's budget has been developed to include continued review, comment and action during its 45-day review period that will culminate on June 27, 2019, with the scheduled FCRTA Board meeting following a public hearing. The numbers in the draft budget are subject to refinement following service contract negotiations, an opportunity for public presentations and a public presentation before the Board of Directors. The budget, which may require periodic amendments during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, is available on the Fresno COG's website www.fresnocog.org and FCRTA's website www.ruraltransit.org.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend that the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency approve Resolution No. 2019-06 adopting fiscal year 2019-20 Fresno County Rural Transit Agency budget.

Summary: The Short-Range Transit Plan for the Rural Fresno County Area (SRTP) has been developed by the Fresno Council of Governments and updated by FCRTA in cooperation with the cities of Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma and the County of Fresno. The SRTP for rural Fresno County area provides a five (5) year action-oriented program to implement the Public Transportation Element of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The SRTP is also consistent with the recently adopted Fresno County Regional Long-Range Transit Plan (LRTP) 2019-2050. The 45-day public review process was initiated by TTC and PAC on May 10, 2019, with a proposed adoption of June 27, 2019, following a public hearing. The document is available on the Fresno COG website www.fresnocog.org and the FCRTA website www.ruraltransit.org. 

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board hold a public hearing and approve Resolution No. 2019-05, adopting the 2020-2024 Short Range Transit Plan for the Rural Fresno County Area.

Summary:  The Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for the Fresno-Clovis Urban Area is the annual update to the operating plan and capital programs for Fresno Area Express (FAX) and Clovis Transit.  The SRTP promotes a comprehensive, coordinated and continuous planning process for transit service in the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA). It represents a short-range evaluation of transit needs and proposes specific recommendations for long-range objectives of Fresno County's Regional Transportation Plan.  The Plan will guide transit service provision in the metropolitan area over the next five years. 

 Action: Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that, following a public hearing, the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2019-17, approving the Fresno Clovis Metropolitan Area Short-Range Transit Plan.

Summary:  Fresno COG's Policy Board formed the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) in May 1988 to: respond to State legislation and to coordinate social service transportation, assist the Board in identifying transit needs throughout Fresno County, review and recommend action for Fresno COG to address at its unmet transit needs hearing, and advise Fresno COG on any other major transit issues.  The Board appoints SSTAC members for three-year terms.

SSTAC new member appointments to the Council are: Sarin Wakimian, resident, Fresno County          

Article III, Section 99238 of the Transportation Development Act requires a minimum number of SSTAC members in specific categories.  There is no maximum number of members specified in the TDA and in the interest of diversity, staff is seeking additional nominations.  Specifically, staff is seeking members who represent minority groups, social service providers for seniors and potential transit users. A complete list of SSTAC members is included in the agenda package.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve appointing one new member to SSTAC.

Summary: The Clovis Consolidated Transportation Service Agency’s (CTSA) Operations Program and Budget (OPB) FY 2019-20 for the Clovis Urban Area is available on the Fresno COG website at fresnocog.org. It provides an overview of how and in what manner the Clovis Consolidated Transportation Service Agency will provide service over the next fiscal year. The OPB 45-day review process began on May 7, 2019, and was approved by the Social Service Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) on June 4, 2019. 

Action:  Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that the Fresno COG Board adopt Resolution 2019-15, approving the Clovis Consolidated Transportation Service Agency’s 2019-20 Operations Program and Budget. 

Summary: Fresno COG completed its activity-based model (ABM) in 2018 with assistance from RSG, a reputable consulting firm specialized in ABM development. While the base year was calibrated and validated, Fresno COG staff has been working with RSG on fine-tuning the ABM on various applications such as environmental justice, air quality conformity, etc. Attached is the scope of ABM support work proposed for fiscal year 2019-20. The ABM is expected to be used extensively to develop the 2022 RTP/SCS.

Since RSG developed Fresno COG's ABM, it is the most reasonable firm to continue to provide support for model troubleshooting, staff training, and other maintenance related modeling activities.

Action: Staff request that TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board approve the on-call contract with RSG and authorize the executive director to enter into a contract with RSG for an amount not to exceed $20,000.

Summary: The Transportation Development Act's (TDA) Article 4 requires Fresno COG to conduct a triennial performance audit of its own administration and the three transit operators to which Fresno COG allocates funds: Fresno Area Express (FAX), City of Clovis Public Transit, and Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA). Fresno COG also requires a triennial performance audit for the Consolidated Transportation Service Agencies (CTSA) within Fresno County to determine if AB 120's action plan goals are being met. The Fresno County Economic Commission (Fresno EOC) is co-designated with FAX and FCRTA as the CTSA, functioning as a fourth operator. The City of Clovis is the designated CTSA for that community.

The audits are intended to provide an independent, comprehensive review of the recipient’s TDA funds, their management and use.  It also provides an opportunity to review service efficiency and effectiveness, and to assure compliance with State requirements using TDA performance indicators. 

All final audit reports can be found at the following links:

RTPA https://db.tt/uUfqsbbiao

FEOC https://db.tt/FZEPrVUzH5

FCRTA https://db.tt/9ynWU9JNSv

FCOG https://db.tt/RX8mC9fogn

Clovis https://db.tt/KEYkwavMmH 

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Board accept the triennial performance audits for Fresno COG, FAX, City of Clovis Public Transit and Fresno EOC for the three-year period ending June 30, 2018.

Summary:  A public notice was placed in the Fresno Bee on May 18, 2019, noticing a public hearing and inviting interested parties to submit comments regarding the Fresno Council of Governments Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) program on June 27, 2019. Any comments received will be included in the record during the public hearing.

Fresno Council of Governments, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26, adopts a triennial Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal for awarded contracts funded with federal or state grants. On June 28, 2018, in a public hearing, Fresno COG's Policy Board adopted Resolution 2018-13, approving a three-year goal if 16 percent for 2018-19 through 2020-21.  The goal applies to a variety of technical transportation and air quality-related studies funded by Federal Highways Administration and Federal Transit Administration programs itemized in Fresno COG's Overall Work Program and budget. Also included are some Federal Transit Administration 5310 grants passed on to Fresno Area Express for transit infrastructure.

The triennial DBE goal considers the availability of certified DBEs in Fresno COG’s market area.  It also considers a disparity study conducted by the state Department of Transportation which determined three groups exhibited disparity indices substantially below parity and are presumed to be disadvantaged; Black-American, Hispanic-American and Native American.  Two additional groups displayed disparity indices below parity but did not reach the threshold considered substantial: White Woman-Owned Business and Subcontinent Asian-American.  

Proposals will be solicited from qualified consultants at various times during 2018-19 through 2020-21 fiscal years.  Any firm with technical qualifications to perform these studies may apply to be added to Fresno COG's request for proposal (RFP) listing. Firms qualifying as a DBE must provide a certification in compliance with 49 CFR Part 26, issued by the State of California, Department of Transportation, the National Economic Development Administration, the City of Fresno, the County of Fresno or some other certifying governmental agency.

Fresno COG staff mailed a notice to its entire consulting database requesting updates to DBE status and NACIS classification. Consequently, the database now has 29 companies, of which: four are African-American owned, seven are Asian Pacific-American, two Native American, 19 woman-owned, 10 Hispanic male, two Subcontinent Asian Male and one classified as "other", resulting in a ratio of 15.52 percent DBEs to non-DBEs. This finding suggests the 16 percent adopted DBE participation level is a valid reflection of DBEs willing and able to do business in our market area.  No adjustment to the proposed goal is recommended at this time.

The 2019-20 Overall Work Program and budget identifies $2,412,711 in contracting opportunities that will be subject to procurement during the 2019-20 fiscal year.

During the 2018-19 fiscal year, Fresno COG entered into 11 consultant contracts totaling $1,654,040. Overall DBE participation was $351,406 or 21 percent.

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board conduct a public hearing addressing Fresno COG's DBE program.

Summary: Fresno COG has upgraded communications and computer equipment over a period of several years, resulting in stacks of obsolete gear accumulating in the server room and storage closet. Staff has compiled an inventory of equipment that is still functional, although no longer state-of-the-art. Traditionally, staff has offered surplus equipment to member agencies prior to disposing of it. This list includes 13 Dell computers, three overhead projectors, microphones, cables and signal processing equipment from our previous board room sound system, and a Toshiba digital office phone system. The list has a proposed minimum bid, but anyone interested in this equipment should contact Kai Han or Les Beshears at (559) 233-4148 or visit the office.  Any gear remaining by the end of July will be recycled.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the list of equipment subject to disposal.

Summary:  Fresno COG is beginning the fiscal year 2019-20 process for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) calls for projects.  The programming subcommittee will comprise eligible applicants, including local agencies and school districts (for CMAQ) to develop program guidance, criteria and application packets.  The programming subcommittee kick-off meeting will be held mid-July at Fresno COG.  More information will be distributed once it becomes available.

If you have any questions regarding the CMAQ Program please contact Braden Duran at 559-233-4148 ext. 217 or bduran@fresnocog.org. For questions on the STBG program, please contact Jennifer Soliz at 559-233-4148 ext. 223 or jsoliz@fresnocog.org.

Action:  Information.  The committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

Summary: The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has announced that approximately $29 million is available in the second round of the California Emergency Solutions and Housing (CESH) program funding through this notice of funding opportunity. CESH program funding provides grants to administrative entities, designated by a continuum of care to assist persons who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.

The full NOFA is available at http://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-funding/active-funding/cesh/docs/2019-CESH-NOFA-Amended.pdf .

Applications for CESH program funding are due at 5 p.m. June 28, 2019.

Please submit questions to CESHNOFA@hcd.ca.gov .

Action: Information.  The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

Summary: The Department of Conservation (DOC) has released $950,000 for local and regional planning grants to support natural and working lands integration, specifically agricultural lands, into local and regional planning documents. 

Grant applications are due Wednesday, July 31, 2019.  

As much as $17 million is also available through DOC's Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP) for agricultural conservation easements on important farmland within Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties. ALMP has no match requirement and includes funding for direct acquisition costs, associated costs, and stewardship funds. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, nonprofit organizations, resource conservation districts, and regional park or open space districts. The draft ALMP guidelines are available for public comment on the department’s website.   

Action: Information.  The committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

Summary: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the FY 2019 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS). Applications must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system within the next 25 years. The department seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach and that will significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food while providing sustainable opportunities for expansion of the bioeconomy through animal, crop, and forest products and supporting technologies. These approaches must demonstrate current and future social, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes being proposed must result in societal benefits, including promoting rural prosperity and quality of life for those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to consumption. The Department will accept only integrated (must include research, education, and extension) project applications.

Applications are due Thursday, September 26.  Additional information may be found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=314379.

Action: Information.  The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

Summary: Groundwork USA, in partnership with the National Park Service and US Environmental Protection Agency, is now accepting letters of interest from communities seeking to apply for Groundwork USA program funding and technical assistance and to join the Groundwork Network. Letters must be received by Groundwork USA by Wednesday, July 31.

Complete details on the application and selection process, including eligibility requirements, submission details, and evaluation criteria are available at https://groundworkusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-GWUSA-New-Community-Selection-RFP_final.pdf.

Action: Information.  The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

Summary: Fresno COG received a 2018-19 Caltrans Sustainable Communities Planning Grant to develop the Fresno County Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Network (EVCI) Plan. The Plan will identify network gaps and funding, as well as prioritize potential sites for deploying future infrastructure investment.

Fresno COG released a request for proposals for consultant services and received six proposals. A selection committee interviewed the top three scoring firms (Center for Sustainable Energy, AECOM, and Wildan) and selected Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE).

On March 28, 2019, Fresno COG's Board authorized the executive director to enter into a contract with CSE; however, CSE has since withdrawn the proposal. Therefore, the scoring committee has recommended awarding the contract services to the AECOM. AECOM has developed several similar plans to assist in the evaluation of smart infrastructure solutions for local jurisdictions in California, Illinois, and Ohio.

Action: The scoring committee and staff request that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the executive director to enter into a contract, not to exceed $152,892, with ACEOM for consulting services for the Fresno County Regional Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Network Plan.

Under California's Transportation Development Act, Fresno COG's Policy Board must determine that public transportation needs within Fresno County will be reasonably met in fiscal year 2019-20 prior to approving Local Transportation Fund claims for streets and roads. The Fresno COG Social Service Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) is responsible for evaluating unmet transit needs. 

Each year the SSTAC begins soliciting comments by sending approximately 400 letters to agencies and individuals interested in providing feedback on their public transportation needs within Fresno County. The request for comments letters, in English and Spanish, were sent on February 2019.

In addition to the request for written comments, SSTAC held eight formal and one informal, information-gathering meetings. Formal meetings were split evenly with four held in the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area and four in rural communities (two east side and two west side). The informal meeting was held at the request of the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.

The unmet transit needs meeting schedule was publicized in Fresno COG’s e-newsletter; via public notices in the Fresno Bee and Vida En La Valle newspapers; and; posted on Fresno COG’s social media channels.  The meetings were also publicized in the Fresno Area Express’ e-newsletter reaching over 300 subscribers.  Attendance ranged from just a few people to upwards of 25 people. 

After a thorough review of all comments and issues, the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) found there to be no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet in Fresno County.

Action:  Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that Fresno COG's Board approve Resolution 2019-14, and find that there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet in Fresno County.

Summary: The Regional Sustainable Infrastructure Planning Grant Program (SIPGP) encourages local and regional multimodal transportation and land-use planning projects that further the region’s Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, contribute to the state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets and addresses the needs of disadvantaged communities.

SIPGP Cycle 3 will distribute $147,048 to eligible projects through a regional competitive program for fiscal year 2019-20. Regional guidelines, scoring criteria and the application packet were developed through a working group that included representatives from local agencies, Caltrans, and non-profit organizations. Upon Board approval, staff will initiate a call-for-projects and project applications will be due August 1, 2019, as outlined in the attached program guidelines.

Initially rolled out as an annual program, staff is recommending SIPGP move to a biennial basis, which would provide an increase in available funds per cycle.  This would also allow for more projects to be funded and/or a larger-scoped project to be awarded and more efficient program management. 

Action:  Staff and the SIPGP subcommittee request that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the SIPGP guidelines and application packet, initiate the call for projects, and shift SIPGP to a biennial program. 

Summary: In November 2018, both TTC and PAC were briefed on the AB 617 process that has been taking place in the south Fresno region with a focus on reducing harmful air pollution. AB 617 is “community focused” in that the program will heavily rely on community-specific monitoring to create a community-level action framework for air protection. The California Air Resources Board (CARB), air pollution control districts, and local communities are the main parties implementing AB 617. Fresno COG staff has been participating and observing through the steering committee as a government agency representative.

The steering committee voted to expand the community boundaries, area monitored, and committee membership from 30 members to 44 members. A new map of the community boundary has been provided. Included in this enlargement are the Southwest Fresno community, the Industrial Triangle area, as well as a larger percentage of Calwa and Malaga. Approximately $80 million is available for monitoring and reduction strategies/programs.

A subcommittee will specifically detail which pollutants will be addressed, locate the areas of greatest concern and provide recommendations on how to best use the monitoring equipment and funding. This program is specifically aimed at reducing emissions that otherwise get overlooked or that the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is not monitoring. The subcommittee is also considering how to better use Air District programs to help achieve community reductions.

While the South Fresno community program is scheduled to be completed by the end of October, the committee has now started to work on the first draft of the Community Emissions Reductions Plan (CERP). When this draft is available, Fresno COG staff will update TTC and PAC.

Action: Informational. The Committee may provide further direction at its discretion.

All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Committee or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

1.

Sigala Inc. Contract Renewal (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

2.

WSP On-Call Contract Renewal (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

3.

Echointeractive Contract (Les Beshears) [APPROVE)

4.

NEC Contract Extension (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Summary: Work Element 124 – Business Commute Maximization

This Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5304-funded project was in the 2018-19 Overall Work Program (OWP) and scheduled for completion by June 30, 2019.  The University of Denver and Fresno State have requested a time extension to provide the final report to Caltrans.  As a condition of approving the extension, Caltrans requires the project to be carried over into the 2019-20 OWP, funding the associated activities through October 31, 2019, to develop the final report.  This amendment programs $1,000 in local funds provided by the universities to cover the cost of the close-out work.

Work Element 160 – Better Blackstone Challenge

Fresno COG was awarded $481,559 in grant funding to develop the Better Blackstone Challenge.  Fresno Metro Ministries will provide $62,391 in matching funds.

Action:  Adopt 2019-20 Overall Work Program amendment No. 1, increasing the budget $544,950.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda.  Note:  Prior to action by the Committee on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item.  Unscheduled comments may be limited to 3 minutes.