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.

Approve Resolution 2021-17 adopting the City of Kingsburg's 2020-21 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $692,700.

Approve Resolution 2021-18 adopting the City of Selmas' 2020-21 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $1,187,572.

Summary: Since SB 743 took effect on July 1, 2020, Fresno COG modeling staff has been providing VMT modeling services for development projects that are not exempt or do not meet the threshold for using the VMT tools created by Fresno COG. Due to limited staffing resources at Fresno COG and increased demand for such VMT analysis using COG's activity-based model (ABM), the turnaround time for VMT modeling requests is longer than what project sponsors would hope for. 

To alleviate the situation and improve the turnaround time for modeling requests, Fresno COG issued a request For qualifications (RFQ) in March to seek qualified consulting firms that can provide modeling services to our agencies and development communities. Six firms provided qualification statements with both SB 743 and ABM modeling experience. A selection committee that comprised representatives from City of Fresno, Clovis, the County, eastside cities, westside cities , Fresno COG and the BIA recommended the following four companies as our preferred consulting firms:

DKS Associates

Kimley Horn

Kittelson & Associates

LSA Associates, Inc.

These four firms have had extensive involvement with SB 743 process and have high-caliber modeling staff who are experienced with ABM. After Board approval of the preferred consultant list, Fresno COG staff will provide these consultants with COG's ABM, and conduct training sessions with them. Project sponsors who need modeling services can either work with Fresno COG modeling staff or any of recommended consultants. Fresno COG will not be involved in any transactions between the project sponsors and the consulting firms. 

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend to the Policy Board that the above-mentioned four companies be approved as the preferred consulting firms for VMT modeling purpose. 

Summary: Measure C's Senior (Taxi) Scrip Program was first launched on July 1, 2008 with vending outlets at the Downtown FAX office, Manchester Transit Center/FAX, Clovis City Hall, the Clovis Senior Center, and Fresno COG's office. Taxi service to scrip customers in Reedley improved when an agreement to accept scrip was executed at the beginning of 2013 with Greenpoint Taxi, the local taxi company.  To assist scrip program services to their senior residents, the City of Reedley agreed to become a vending site and executed an agreement on Feb. 25, 2014. The term of the agreement was for the period of July 1, 2013 through June 20, 2018.  Reedley Community Center was designated to provide the taxi scrip services and began doing so on July 1, 2014.

Even though the initial agreement term expired on June 20, 2018, scrip services have not been disrupted.  Below is a summary of scrip sales at the Reedley Community Center:

  *Results Impacted by COVID-19

The City of Reedley confirmed its commitment to continuing scrip services at the community center and have agreed to execute Amendment No. 1, amending the initial Agreement’s term to run from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2027.

Senior Scrip Background Information:

The Measure C Senior Scrip program provides alternative, reliable and affordable transportation to Fresno County residents who are 70 years of age and older. Eligible seniors receive a 75% discount on ride fares by purchasing senior scrip in their choice of paper scrip for taxi or EOC transit rides, or as an electronic credit (e-scrip) for Lyft/Uber rides.  Each month participating seniors have a choice to purchase as many as 100 one-dollar-scrips (the size of a business card) or up to $100 worth of scrip credited to their program account.

The Senior Taxi Scrip program name was modified to Senior Scrip Program when Uber and Lyft were added to our list of providers on July 1, 2019.  Our partnership with a company called GoGoGrandparent made it possible for participating seniors to book rides with Uber and Lyft drivers by calling one telephone number. This process also eliminated the need for seniors to use a smart phone, download apps or use a credit card in order to user Lyft/Uber services.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Amendment No. 1 to the City of Reedley's Agreement to provide Senior Scrip sales and application processing services to Fresno Council of Governments.

Summary: Fresno COG, as a direct grant recipient of Federal Transit Administration funds, plans to contract with FCRTA pursuant to an FTA 5339 grant to build a bus maintenance facility. County counsel has advised the COG and FCRTA boards that they should adopt a waiver allowing County Counsel’s office to appoint separate, independent attorneys to represent each respective board during the contract negotiation process to avoid any potential conflict of interest. The waiver language is  under review and will be provided when County Counsel approves it as to form.

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt County Counsel's proposed waiver for independent counsel.

Summary: The Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities program (49 U.S.C. 5339) makes federal resources available to states and designated recipients to replace, rehabilitate and purchase buses and related equipment, and to construct bus-related facilities including technological changes or innovations to modify low- or no-emission vehicles or facilities. Funding is provided through formula allocations and competitive grants.

Fresno COG will receive $5,145,281 in FTA Section 5339 funding for Fresno County Rural Transit Agency to construct a new, state-of-the-art bus maintenance and operations facility. FCRTA is proposing to construct the facility on 7.5 acres of raw agency-owned land in Selma. The facility will be constructed in three phases and include: a maintenance shop equipped to service both natural gas and electric transit buses; a maintenance shop devoted to light-duty vehicles and vans, and; an office and training facility for technician training in advanced, transit-vehicle technology. The site will be equipped with: 10, level-three, electric vehicle chargers to serve electric transit buses; 10, level-two chargers to serve electric transit vans, and; a public-access, fast-fill, CNG station capable of serving both transit buses and over-the-road Class 8 trucks. The site will have approximately 1.3 MW of on-site solar power and 500 kWh of battery storage to support the electric vehicle charging without creating strain on the electric grid.

Action:  Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the Fresno COG executive director to enter into a contract with FCRTA for $5,145,281 to construct a new bus maintenance and operations facility.

Summary: Fresno COG receives FTA Section 5310 Program funds for the Fresno County, which provides capital and operating assistance grants for projects that meet the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.  The funds may be used for projects where public mass transportation services are otherwise unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate; that exceed the requirements of the ADA; that improve access to fixed-route service and that provide alternatives to public transportation.

On Feb. 8, Fresno COG issued a formal call for projects for $1,184,976 in Fresno County large urban area FTA Section 5310 funding. Staff received five applications requesting $1,709,493. A scoring committee comprising volunteers from the Social Service Technical Advisory Council (SSTAC) evaluated the applications and issued funding recommendations. The full SSTAC unanimously approved the scoring committee’s recommendations on April 20, which include:

Action: Staff and the SSTAC request that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the recommendations for the 2021 FTA Section 5310 program of projects. Approved projects will be programmed for funding in the 2021 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP).  Staff also requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board authorize the Fresno COG Executive Director to enter into contracts with the approved agencies for the purchase of the approved number of vehicles for the awarded amounts. 

Summary:  Fresno COG’s Policy Board formed the Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) in May 1988 to: respond to state legislation, 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 other transit issues.  The Board appoints SSTAC members for two-year terms.

New member appointments to the Council are:

Darlene Christiansen – FAX, replacing Judith Nishi, formerly of FAX

Existing member reappointments to the Council are:

Michael Mendez Jr.
Brian Spaunhurst – Fresno County Department of Public Works
Vidal Medina - RICV
Amy Hance – Clovis Transit
Yonas Paulos – Homeless Veterans Advocate

Transportation Development Act Article III, Section 99238 requires a minimum number of SSTAC members in specific categories. There is no maximum number membership 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 reappoint five existing members and appoint one new member to SSTAC.

Summary: On Tuesday, April 20, the Social Service Transit Advisory Committee (SSTAC) approved the Fresno County Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) Assessment for fiscal year 2021-22.  On Thursday, April 29, Fresno COG's Policy Board held its public hearing on the matter. Two individuals provided comments:

Karla Martinez, Leadership Counsel.

• Thanks to Fresno COG for the UTN process and making it accessible online through virtual meetings on Zoom and a Facebook event.
• She participated in an event and appreciated Todd Sobrado taking the time to hear and address her concerns.
• Thank you to FCRTA for the electric rideshare program for Lenare and Cantua Creek.  It was one of the eight items she addressed in the letter she submitted for the UTN.
• She would also like to “understand how funding for the UTN will be used if there are leftover funds for projects deemed an unmet transit need but unreasonable to meet.”  This is for her own clarification.

• Thank you to the City of Fresno and Mayor Dyer.  Free fares are making a difference and saving lives. 
• Homeless veterans are going through a tough time and this is really helping.

Public outreach is an important part of the Unmet Transit Needs Assessment process.  In past years, outreach consisted of several face-to-face meetings held in urban and rural communities throughout Fresno County.  Because of COVID-19, face-to-face meetings were not possible.  As a result, the public outreach process was taken online in the form of a public survey and six virtual events: five on Zoom, one on Facebook.

Fresno COG sent public outreach flyers to the UTN mailing list and ran a digital marketing campaign between Feb. 9 and March 2, targeted at Facebook users within Fresno County. While there was modest participation in the virtual events, most of the feedback came from the online survey.  Stakeholders and the public submitted 67 comments, including a letter from Leadership Counsel.  A summary of the comments received includes:

• Several requests for transit service to Clovis Community College. 
• Feedback about recent route changes to the FAX fixed-route network. 
• Comments about service between outlying rural communities and the Fresno metropolitan area.

The comments received, transit agency response, and the determination of unmet transit need is contained within the draft Unmet Transit Needs Assessment for Fiscal Year 2021-22 included within this agenda item.  This item will return for final determination in June.

Action: Information.  The Committee may provide additional information at its discretion.

Summary:  Fresno COG's Policy Board, acting as the Fresno County Mayors’ Select Committee, and the Chairman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, will be asked to appoint seven new members to the Measure C Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) consistent with the November 2006, voter-approved, Measure C Expenditure Plan.

The Citizen Oversight Committee ensures that the Measure C funding program revenues and expenditures are spent as promised, and reports to the public. The Committee may receive, review and recommend any action or revision to plans, programs, audits or projects that are within its scope. Specific responsibilities include:

• Receive, review, inspect, and recommend action on independent financial and performance audits related to Measure C Extension program planning and implementation.
• Receive, review, and recommend action on other periodic reports, studies and plans from responsible agencies, including: the Authority, Fresno COG, the cities, the County or other agencies. Such reports, studies and plans must be directly related to Measure C programs, revenues, or expenditures.
• Review and comment on Measure C expenditures to ensure they are consistent with the Expenditure Plan.
• Annually review how sales tax receipts are being spent and publicize the results.
• Present Committee recommendations, findings, and requests to the public and the Authority in a formal annual report
• Elect members to sit on related COG or FCTA committees as positions become available.

The Measure C Expenditure Plan states that the COC shall comprise 13 members, including six at-large public members who respectively reside in each one of the five Fresno County Supervisorial Districts. Three of the six must reside in the Fresno-Clovis metropolitan area and two must reside in the unincorporated rural area of the county (east and west). The remaining seven members must be representatives drawn from a diverse mix of interested community organizations.

Members serve four-year terms, with a maximum limit of eight years. Appendix G of the Measure C Extension Expenditure Plan (attached) states the Committee’s duties and responsibilities.

There are seven vacancies for four-year terms to begin July 1, 2021:

• Five positions for community-based organization representatives (Organization/agency/service clubs/chamber, etc. must provide applicant with a letter of recommendation.)

• Two public-at-large positions representing the following:

• Unincorporated rural area west of State Route 99 (supervisorial district 1)
• Unincorporated rural area east of State Route 99 (supervisorial district 5)

If interested in appointment to one of the vacant positions, submit completed nomination forms to the following staff:

Measure C Oversight Committee (COC)

c/o Brenda Veenendaal

Fresno COG

2035 Tulare Street, Suite 201

Fresno, CA 93721

Email: brendav@fresnocog.org

Should applicants have any questions, please call Brenda Veenendaal at 559-233-4148, leaving a message at extension 200. Staff will return your call.  You may also view the Measure C Citizen Oversight Committee’s webpage at: https://www.fresnocog.org/citizen-oversight-committee/2

The Measure C Extension Expenditure Plan's description of the formation and function of the Committee is located at: https://www.fresnocog.org/citizen-oversight-committee/

The Measure C website may be found at: https://www.measurec.com/

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

Summary: The Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's draft budget has been prepared to reflect Fresno COG's Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and the draft Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for the rural Fresno County area, 2022-2026.

The document recommends continuing existing services and capital improvements. This year's draft budget has been developed to include continued review, comment and action during its 45-day public review period that will culminate on June 24 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 2021-2022 fiscal year, is available on Fresno COG's website www.fresnocog.org and FCRTA's website www.ruraltransit.org

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board open the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's draft budget's 45-day review with a proposed adoption of June 24, following a public hearing.

Summary:  The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) released an updated Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Guidance Memo along with a new interactive AFFH Data Viewer.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing seeks to combat housing discrimination, eliminate racial bias, undo historic patterns of segregation, and lift barriers that restrict access to foster inclusive communities and achieve racial equity, fair housing choice, and opportunity for all Californians.

Under AB 686 (2018), all of California’s public agencies have an obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. AB 686 requires state and local public agencies to take deliberate action to explicitly address, combat, and relieve disparities resulting from patterns of segregation and to promote more inclusive communities.

The disproportionate economic and housing impacts of COVID-19 on low-income families and people of color have reaffirmed how vital it is for public entities and local planning to maintain a focus on achieving racial equity and opportunity for all Californians. For example, the U.S. Census shows about 6.5 percent of Californians are Black, but they account for nearly 40 percent of our state’s homeless population.

AFFH is part of new requirements for any housing elements due to HCD beginning January 2021. These requirements include an assessment of fair housing practices, an analysis of the relationship between available sites and areas of high or low resources and concrete actions in the form of programs to affirmatively further fair housing.

For more information, visit https://hcd.ca.gov/community-development/affh/index.shtml.

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

Summary: Below is an update on tasks underway through Fresno COG's Circuit Planner and Engineer Program, which provides technical assistance to small cities in Fresno County for efforts that further Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy goals. Such assistance may include but is not limited to: planning studies, project deliveries, grant applications, environmental documents, engineering services (i.e., conceptual design or preliminary engineering), permitting needs assessment, and quality (QA/QC) reviews as needed.  

Model Zoning Ordinance DRAFT (NEW!)

The circuit planner has drafted a model zoning ordinance tailored to small cities in the San Joaquin Valley. The draft is attached to this agenda item. Fresno COG encourages member jurisdictions to review the draft and provide any comments by Tuesday, June 1. If you would like to set up a meeting to discuss how the circuit planner can assist with updates to your zoning ordinance, please contact Meg Prince at mprince@fresnocog.org.

Zoning Ordinance Assessment Tool

The Circuit Planner has developed an easy-to-use questionnaire to help determine which aspects of a jurisdiction's zoning ordinance may benefit from an update to meet performance standards, state regulations, and best practices. At the end of the survey, participants will receive an email with results and resources to consider. This tool is intended to provide a high-level assessment and resources, and is not a substitute for professional or legal advice.

Access the tool here: Zoning Ordinance Assessment Tool

Other Planning and Engineering Projects Underway:

• Selma Downtown Overlay Zone
• Kerman Design Guidelines

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

Summary: Fresno Council of Governments, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26, adopts a triennial disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) goal to apply to contracts funded with federal or state grants. The goal applies to a variety of technical, transportation- and air quality-related studies funded by Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration programs as itemized in  the Overall Work Program (OWP) and budget. Also included is a Federal Transit Administration 5339 grant passed on to Fresno County Rural Transit Agency.

During the 2020-21 fiscal year, staff engaged in 14 procurements totaling $2,049,593. Overall DBE participation was $623,391 or 30%.

The 2021-22 OWP and budget identifies $16 million in contracting opportunities.  This represents a significant increase in contracting opportunities from previous years, resulting from a $10 million FTA 5339 grant and a $10 million State REAP grant. It also represents a major expansion of the NAICS categories of vendors in our procurement market.

Request for proposals will be solicited from qualified consultants at various times during the 2021-22 through 2023-24 fiscal years. Any firm with technical qualifications to perform these studies or projects may apply to be added to Fresno COG's consultant database. Firms wishing to qualify as a DBE must provide a current 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.

The triennial DBE goal takes into consideration certified DBEs in Fresno COG’s market area. It also considers State Transportation Agency disparity studies conducted in 2016 and 2019, which determined three groups that 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 businesses and subcontinent Asian-American.

Staff analyzed the state California Unified Certification Program (CUCP) database for Fresno's procurement market by NAICS Code and compared  those results to the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns to determine DBE availability in our market area.  With this data, staff calculated the Step 1 Base Goal required by federal regulations at 1.8%.

Regulations also provide for a Step 2 adjustment that may consider other factors to fine tune the goal to Fresno's procurement market including disparity studies.  

In setting its 2020-2022 DBE goal, the Caltrans Department of Rail and Mass Transit (DRMT) conducted a Disparity Study and calculated a Step One Base Goal of 1.7% for the state, which aligns with Fresno COG's analysis of the CUCP and County business patterns.  After considering additional factors reflecting on the current capacity of DBEs to  work in their market, DRMT determined a Step Two adjustment was appropriate to set the goal at 4.6%. Currently, DRMT’s goal is 4.8%

The Caltrans Office of Regional and Community Planning’s (ORCP) goal is also 4.8%.

Fresno COG staff performed a major update to its bidder’s list soliciting NAICS codes, DBE certifications and purging inactive vendors. The database now lists 258 companies, including 13 DBEs, of which five are Asian-Pacific American, three are women-owned businesses, four are Hispanic-American and one is Subcontinent-Asian, resulting in a ratio of DBEs to non DBEs of 5.04%. Staff proposes this represents a valid reflection of DBEs willing and able to do business in the Fresno County region market area, and is also consistent with the disparity analysis and goal setting methodologies of DRMT and ORCP.

Action: Staff requests the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2021-15 setting the Triennial Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal at 5.04%.

Summary:  The Local Housing Planning Grants Program was created using Fresno COG’s Regional Early Action Planning Grant Program (REAP) funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. The Local Housing Planning Grants Program is intended to fund planning efforts that will accelerate housing production and meet  sixth cycle Regional Housing Needs Allocation Plan requirements. Approximately $900,000 is available for this round of funding, with a second round of funding anticipated within the next year.

Fresno COG received eight applications from seven jurisdictions, requesting a total of $868,950. The applications are summarized as follows:

• Fowler ($100,000): General Plan Update and VMT Guidelines
• Fresno/Metro Ministry ($250,000): Manchester Shopping Center Utilities Study and Master Plan for Affordable Housing
• Fresno County ($292,950): General Plan Community Plans Chapter and Community Plan
• Kerman ($65,000): Utility Infrastructure Master Plan
• Mendota ($10,000): ArcGIS Online Mapping
• San Joaquin ($100,000): Land Use Element Update
• Selma 1 ($25,000): GIS Development Portal
• Selma 2 ($26,000): Housing Design Program

Fresno COG conducted an internal review of the applications, all of which met the program requirements and objectives to further housing production. Staff is recommending awarding all applications received. Each award will come with reporting requirements that will need to clearly indicate how the project are furthering housing production.

Meg Prince can be contacted for questions or more information at mprince@fresnocog.org.

Action: Staff recommends that the TTC/PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the eight applications received for the Local Housing Planning Grants Program for a total of $868,950.

Summary: Fresno COG is serving as the fiscal agent and the project manager on behalf of itself and the seven other San Joaquin Valley regional planning agencies on an exciting and truly transformative sustainable transportation infrastructure project for California known as the California Inland Port Study (summary attached).

All eight Valley regional planning agencies  are working in partnership with “California Forward” and a broad coalition of public and private sector stakeholders from throughout the state, including: Sacramento COG, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and air districts in the San Joaquin Valley, South Coast and Sacramento regions.  Private sector participants include: shippers, truckers, Class 1 railroads and intermodal goods movement representatives.

The California Inland Port project is analyzing the potential of developing a transformational multimodal logistics spine to connect the San Pedro seaports to key markets in Northern California via the San Joaquin Valley. As envisioned, the California Inland Port project would significantly reduce greenhouse gases, materially improve air quality, reduce highway congestion, and improve traffic safety by reducing the number of trucks moving goods from the seaports complex in the Los Angeles region to the San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay regions.  The project also has the potential to create significant economic opportunity for the San Joaquin Valley, a region that has for decades lagged the rest of the state, through investment districts (“Tradeports”) adjoining multi-modal sites.  

The phase one feasibility analysis, completed in spring 2020, concluded that the competitiveness cost structure and market size can support the inland port concept and produce substantial environmental and economic benefits for California. Given the scale of California’s market and its seaport infrastructure, the California Inland Port project has the opportunity to become a nationally significant sustainable logistics and economic development project, which is key to advancing California’s ambitious climate, economy and equity goals.

Phase two, currently underway, is focused on developing market readiness, capital cost estimates, engaging  the Class 1 railroads, determining economic competitiveness and developing an understanding of the environmental processes that will be required.  The second phase builds upon previous underlying feasibility analyses funded by a coalition of seaports, air districts, SJV governments, and the Central Valley Community Foundation. These analyses, conducted by GLDPartners, found project viability and quantified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants. This second phase is funded by the same core group and does not include any funds from Fresno COG. The second phase will include a new Executive Advisory Group, a California Port Expert Advisory Panel, identify shipper sector market requirements, conduct a market sensitivity analysis, coordinate with railroads, identifiy anticipated direct and indirect costs, develop a financial model, an environmental analysis, recommendations and a business model framework.

Following these first two phases, additional steps have been taken to secure funding for Phase 3 (Caltrans Strategic Partners Planning grant application) and Phase 4 (Federal Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Grant).

CONSULTANT SELECTION

Fresno COG released a request for proposals on December 30, 2020, for consultant services and received one proposal from GLDPartners. A consultant selection committee reviewed the proposal and voiced unanimous support for it. The GLDPartners team will bring extensive specialized experience in economic development, good movement, supply-chain management, large-scale project implementation, as well as critical institutional knowledge of this project. In addition, GLDPartners was also the consultant on phase one.

Action: Staff recommends the TTC/PAC recommend the Fresno COG Policy Board authorize the executive director enter into a contract with GLDPartners for an amount not to exceed $250,000.

Summary: Fresno COG is proposing a draft 2021 Federal Transportation Improvement Program Amendment No. 3 (2021 FTIP Amendment No. 3), a draft 2018 Regional Transportation Plan Amendment No. 5 (2018 RTP Amendment No. 5), and the draft Corresponding Conformity Analysis.

This amendment is necessary to get ahead of a transportation conformity lockdown period that begins on Aug. 16 due to several San Joaquin Valley counties' failure to meet conformity standards using EMission FACtor 2017 (EMFAC2017). While Fresno County does not have an issue with using these newer factors, the region will be unable to process Type 5 formal amendments to the FTIP and RTP once the lockdown begins. Concurrently, Fresno COG has the need to update several capacity-increasing projects' (including the SR 41 Excelsior Expressway) open-to-traffic dates and incorporate other project scope and timeframe changes. Staff notes that the next likely available amendment to incorporate these changes will not be until late 2022 when the 2022 RTP and 2023 FTIP are scheduled to be approved.

Consequently, staff is requesting that the Board grant delegated authority, which authorizes the executive director to approve the upcoming formal Type 5 FTIP/RTP amendment and its corresponding air quality conformity analysis. Staff has already released the amendment for a 30-day public review period, with a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, June 3. The draft package will be available on the Fresno COG website at https://www.fresnocog.org/project/federal-transportation-improvement-program-ftip/. Once all public comments are sufficiently addressed, this action would give the executive director the authority to approve the amendment and the conformity analysis and submit to Caltrans and FHWA for state and federal approval.

Delegated authority is necessary due to the time constraint presented by the upcoming conformity lockdown and staff’s desire to submit the amendment to Caltrans and FHWA as soon as practically possible. Staff notes that this request is a one-time only delegation and would only apply to this amendment.

If recommended for approval today, staff will bring the director-approved, formal, Type 5 amendment to the TTC, PAC, and Board as an informational item in July 2021.

Action: Staff requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Fresno COG Policy Board grant delegated authority authorizing the executive director to approve 2021 FTIP formal Amendment No. 3 (Type 5), 2018 RTP Amendment No. 5, and corresponding conformity analysis.

1.

SCS Strategies and Indicator Public Engagement Survey (Brenda Veenendaal) [INFORMATION]

2.

Sustainable Communities Strategy Scenario Selection (Seth Scott) [ACTION]

3.

Performance Indicator Selection (Seth Scott) [ACTION]

Summary: Last month, COG staff gave a detailed presentation (attached) on a proposed amendment to the (2006) Measure C Expenditure Plan.  If the Fresno COG and FCTA boards, adopt Amendment No. 6, it would place the SR 41 South project (Elkhorn Avenue to Excelsior Avenue) into the Measure C Regional “Rural” Tier One program.  As discussed extensively over the last several months, SR 41 South is a long-awaited safety project to complete the last six-mile gap in the four-lane divided expressway in Fresno County. As highlighted at last month’s Policy Board meeting, there are many reasons to consider amending the SR 41 South project into the Measure C Expenditure Plan.  To summarize those reasons:

• Widening SR 41 from two to four lanes was an identified project in the original 1987 Measure C Plan.
• Following the 1986 Measure C Expenditure Plan, a six-mile unimproved gap between Elkhorn and Excelsior avenues still remained.
• The project was not included in the 2006 Measure C Expenditure Plan because all parties understood  that Caltrans was responsible for the project and would provide funding.
• The Caltrans-proposed project fell out of the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) due to funding issues at the state level.
• Serious accidents along the unimproved corridor have increased over time, including five fatal accidents over a three-month period in late 2020. 
• To date, the state and region have committed $10 million to completing design work and right-of-way acquisition.
• Caltrans/CTC have expressed support for developing a comprehensive funding partnership with the region to fund construction.
• Given the continual erosion of state transportation funding and a shifting focus by the state away from highway projects, this may represent a last chance to secure significant state funding to complete the gap closure project.
• The cost of the construction project is estimated at $61 million.
• Caltrans has advised that $14.5 million in State Highway Operations Protection funding may be used to reduce the unfunded amount to $46.5 million.
• When STIP estimates come out in June, FCTA/COG staff would like to begin to negotiate an equitable state and regional funding plan to fund the project.
• COG/FCTA staff have identified several funding sources and strategies to be used in combination with regional Measure C funds to leverage future state and federal funds to ensure the schedules of existing projects in the Measure C Regional “Rural” Program are not impacted.  These funds include:

1. Interregional Transportation Funds (ITIP)
2. Regional Transportation Improvement Program Funds (RTIP)
3. Federal COVID Relief Funds
4. Federal RAISE and INFRA grants
5. President Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs infrastructure initiative.
6. State Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (SB 1) competitive and formula grants
7. Congressional earmarks

Given the upcoming funding negotiations with Caltrans/CTC and the uncertainty of what the final funding package will look like, the SR 41 South project would be amended into the 2006 Measure C Expenditure Plan in a “generic” manner with no defined funding at this time.  Once the FCTA/COG staff have negotiated the funding plan, actual dollars amounts will be provided for each phase of the project consistent with historical practice.  Following Fresno COG’s action on the proposed 2006 Measure C Amendment No. 6, it will move forward to the FCTA Board for their consideration in June. 

Action: Staff recommends the TTC/PAC approve Amendment  No. 6/Resolution 2021-14, understanding the action is advisory to the COG Policy Board. 

Summary: The final fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 Overall Work Program (OWP), totaling just over $35 million, is submitted for Board and public review. The final document increased $55,000 from the draft budget release in February to cover the cost of a required Triennial Performance Audit.

The proposed budget increased $7.22 million from last year. The largest part of the increase is attributed to a $5 million FTA 5339 grant awarded to FCRTA for its maintenance facility. Another significant factor affecting this increase is that the budget contains fully funded multi-year projects, and as these “one-time” funds are spent they are not reflected in subsequent years’ budgets. Generally, operating expenses are not affected this way.

Federal revenues increased 19 percent ($2 million), mostly associated with the previously mentioned FTA 5339 grant. However, an additional $1.1 million in FTA 5310 apportionments will also be distributed to transit operators for bus procurement. Kings County Association of Governments, (KCAG) agreed to transfer $325,000 in FHWA planning funds to perform a Valleywide household travel survey.  

State revenues decreased 257 percent ($4,588,834). The largest portion of this decrease centers around the State Regional Early Action Planning grant (REAP), which this year provided $10 million to Fresno and Central Valley MPOs to assist local governments with housing plans and produce Valleywide activities for housing as well. Staff anticipates spending approximately $3 million of that and carrying over the balance into next year’s budget. Specific budget and activity highlights follow.

Staffing & Benefits:

There are no new Fresno COG planning positions included in this year’s proposed budget. Contingencies are carried for merit-based salary increases as well as for anticipated health insurance increases. The overall proposed budget for salaries increased by 4 percent and benefits by 3 percent.

Consulting

The overall consulting budget is $10.7 million, which is a decrease of $107,450, corresponding to projects associated with revenue reductions discussed above regarding multi-year projects.  New consulting projects are discussed below under the work element discussion.

Measure C Commuter Vanpool Subsidy

The budget decreased $228,000 reflecting reduced activity from COVID restrictions.

Measure C Farm Worker Vanpool Subsidy

The budget decreased $175,000, reflecting reduced activity from COVID restrictions.

FTA Section 5339

This is a new $10.2 million budget for FCRTA’s maintenance facility infrastructure. FCRTA will match the federal funds with $5.1 million.

Agency Pass Through

This account decreased by $3.2 million related to the State REAP funds paid to Valley COGs.

You can review the document on our website https://www.fresnocog.org/project/overall-work-program-owp/.

Action: Staff requests that the TTC/PAC recommend the Board approve Fresno COG's FINAL 2021-22 Overall Work Program and budget.

SUMMARY: Staff will provide a brief update on the status of the Measure C renewal efforts underway with the various boards and committees.

ACTION: Information and discussion. The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

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 three minutes.