Appoint one (1) Member to the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) seat held by Jon Bartel, whose current term will expire May 1, 2023. The new term will be effective May 1, 2023, and will expire May 3, 2027. This is one of two "City Representative" positions on the ALUC looking for appointment. At minimum, one position must be filled by a representative from a city contiguous to adjacent to a public use airport. For more information about the position please contact Fresno COG staff member Brenda Veenendaal at brendav@fresnocog.org or (559) 233-4148. 

Appoint one (1) Member to the Airport Land Use Commission seat held by Raymond Remy, whose current term will expire May 1, 2023. The new term will be effective May 1, 2023, and will expire May 3, 2027. This is one of two "City Representative" positions on the ALUC looking for appointment. At minimum, one position must be filled by a representative from a city contiguous to adjacent to a public use airport. For more information about the position please contact Fresno COG staff member Brenda Veenendaal at brendav@fresnocog.org or (559) 233-4148. 

Appoint one (1) Member to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) seat held by Daniel Parra, whose current term will expire May 1, 2023. The new term will be effective May 1, 2023, and will expire May 3, 2027.

Appoint one (1) Alternate Member to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) seat held by Scott Robertson, whose current term will expire May 1, 2023. The new term will be effective May 1, 2023, and will expire May 3, 2027.

(This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the City Selection Committee on any matter the committee has jurisdiction over which is not on this agenda).

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.

County of Fresno Fiscal Year 2021-22 TDA Claim (Les Beshears) [ACTION]

Summary: On March 15, Fresno COG staff submitted its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022/23 obligation plan (attached) to Caltrans' Division of Local Assistance. This plan documents Fresno COG’s estimated project delivery for the remainder of 2022/23. The obligational authority (OA) target for 2022/23 is $37.7 million.  Also attached is the list of obligated and deobligated projects from Oct. 1, 2022 to Feb. 28, 2023.

As of Feb. 28, $17.1 million or 23.3 percent of the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Program and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding has been obligated, leaving the region with an OA balance of $20.6 million. The obligation plan outlines approximately $36.7 million in additional, combined CMAQ and STBG, which exceeds the OA target but includes approximately $22.2 million of delivery risk.

The federal fiscal year ends Sept. 30; however, as of May 1, federal funds become available to the rest of the state on a first-come, first-served basis. Projects not submitted to Caltrans for authorization by May 1 are at risk of being delayed. It is the state’s goal to exceed the OA target and, in August, receive additional federal funds redistributed from other states to projects pending authorization. Fresno COG encourages all agencies to continue submitting their requests for authorization as soon as possible to ensure they are queued up for the funds that will become available. If projects do not receive authorization approval after August, they will be delayed to October, the beginning of the next federal fiscal year.

Please keep Fresno COG staff updated on any changes that could impact the region’s project delivery plan. Contact Robert Phipps at 559-233-4148 ext. 210 or rphipps@fresnocog.org with any questions regarding fiscal year deadlines or the process of obligating project funds. 

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

Summary: The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant program is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC). The purpose of the AHSC program is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the State by investing in development projects that reduce GHG emissions. One of the goals of the grant is to improve conditions in disadvantaged communities and reduce air pollution. The program provides funding for projects that implement land-use, housing, transportation, and agricultural land preservation practices to support compact and infill development patterns. This type of development encourages active transportation and transit usage while also protecting agricultural land from sprawl development. Personal vehicle use is by far the most significant source of greenhouse gas emissions in California. In essence, a reduction in vehicle miles travelled would reduce GHG and improve air quality in our region. By funding projects that increase the supply of affordable housing near transportation corridors and employment centers, the program seeks to build healthier communities that provide easy access to walking, biking and transit. Staff will review projects from eligible entities in our region and determine their eligibility. The program will fund affordable housing developments (new construction or renovations) and sustainable transportation infrastructure.

AHSC is a state-funded program and the SGC was delegated the responsibility for the administration of the program. The SGC awarded the technical assistance grant To Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and its partners. Technical assistance will be provided to the grant applicants. The technical assistance grant will allow MPOs to determine if the proposed projects support the implementation of our Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS).  The attached resolution is an agreement to approve allocating staffing resources to the technical assistance program. Fresno COG will provide technical assistance to applicants in Fresno County and invoice staffing time and resources based on the applications received. These invoices will be sent to the San Joaquin Council of Governments for reimbursement. The questionnaire and resolution are attached for your reference.

Action: Staff, TTC and PAC recommend the Policy Board approve Resolution 2023-07 for Fresno COG to participate in the AHSC Technical Assistance Program.

Summary: On the agenda is a contract between FCOG and FCRTA to buy a Paratransit bus. As county counsel is representing both sides, they require the board to adopt a conflict waiver authorizing county counsel to appoint separate counsel for both sides.

Action: Staff recommends the Policy Board authorize the adoption of a FCOG \ FCRTA Conflict Waiver.

Summary: Fresno Council of Governments (FCOG) conducts an annual Unmet Transit Needs process as a requirement for allocating Transportation Development Act Funding. In response to an Unmet Transit Needs finding in 2019-20 Fresno Area Express and Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) jointly agreed to start a demonstration paratransit service in south Fresno, West Park and Biola under the auspices of their Consolidated Transportation Service agency designations (CTSA). FCRTA selected a non-profit named Inspiration Transportation to provide the service with FCRTA providing dispatch, a bus, insurance and maintenance facility. The demonstration paratransit service in South Fresno, West Park and Biola ran for two and a half years. Unfortunately, the service never developed the ridership required to justify its cost and was recently canceled.

FCOG allocates FTA 5310 to local transit agencies to purchase buses and is currently going through the procurement process to buy buses for the last grant cycle. FCRTA initially recommended Inspiration Transportation receive an Electric Paratransit Bus to provide the demonstration service. However, now that the demonstration program has been canceled, FCRTA will acquire the bus for incorporation into their normal CTSA paratransit related activities.

Ation: Authorize the Executive Director to enter into a contract with FCRTA to procure an electric paratransit vehicle for $185,645.

Summary:  The Policy Board will hold a public hearing to take comments regarding Unmet Transit Needs public transpotation needs within the Fresno County region that are reasonable to meet during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Staff will return to the Board in June with the final Unmet Transit Needs Report, following approvals from the Social Services Technical Advisory Committee (SSTAC), TTC and PAC.

Action: Staff, the SSTAC, TTC and PAC recommend the Policy Board open the public hearing, receive comments, and close the public hearing. The Policy Board may provide additional direction at its discretion.

Summary: The final, fiscal year 2023-24 Overall Work Program, totaling $53.2 million is submitted for Board approval following a 30-day public review and comment period.  The full document is also attached to this report.  The proposed budget increased $5.9 million from last year. Operational revenues remain intact, reserves are adequate, and the agency continues to operate within the bounds of prudent management.

The largest part of the increase is attributed to $13.6 million in anticipated funding from the Regional Early Action Plan (REAP 2.0) funds provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, California Air Resources Board, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the Strategic Growth Council. This increase was partially offset by decreases in a variety of multi-year “one-time” project funds that are spent and not reflected in subsequent years’ budgets. Generally, operating expenses are not affected this way.

Federal revenues decreased 14 percent ($1.6 million). Included in this are decreases in multiple one-time projects where significant work occurred during the current budget year, such as the Inland Port Study and Regional Valleywide Travel Survey.   

State revenues increased 63 percent, ($10.9 million) primarily due to the REAP 2.0 grant.   

Local revenues decreased 19 percent ($3.4 million), resulting from elimination of in-kind revenues associated with the TradePort California and drawdowns from Measure C New Tech grants to Fresno State Institute and Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA).

Action: Staff, TTC and PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the Final 2023-24 Overall Work Program.

Summary: The Measure C Transit Oriented Infrastructure for Infill Development (TOD) Program was created as part of the 2006 Measure C Extension Plan. It was designed to boost transit ridership through transit supportive land uses and infrastructure improvement as well as planning activities. It serves as seed money to promote walkable, bikeable and transit friendly communities that are healthy, livable and vibrant. It is estimated to accrue around $850,000 annually with a total of $17 million for the entire 20 years of lifespan. The 11th funding cycle, with roll-over money from previous cycles and returned funding from an undelivered project, has a total of $2.73 million available for programming. 

Fresno COG received 5 applications from two cities including City of Fresno and City of Fowler. The Scoring Committee met in March and made the following funding recommendations:

1. City of Fresno: Senior Activity Center and Housing Street Improvement

City of Fresno requested $ 1,739,394 in 4 years to conduct a full traffic signal and crosswalks as well as streetscape improvements at Holland and Blackstone Avenue. The project will improve the accessibility and safety for access to a new City of Fresno Senior Activity Center and planned senior housing development. $1,382,945 was recommended for this project by the Scoring Committee.

2. City of Fresno: Ventura Avenue Affordable Housing Street Improvement Project

City of Fresno requested $342,923 in 4 years to construct a complete street along Venture Avenue to support a planned affordable housing development. The proposed project will enhance walking, biking and the use of public transit along the Venture/Kings Canyon Corridor and connect the communities to affordable housing, and many businesses along the corridor. $342,923 was recommended for the project by the Scoring Committee.

3. City of Fresno: West Shaw TOD Corridor and Town Center Planning Grant

City of Fresno requested $400,000 to develop a strategy to transform West Shaw Avenue into a transit-oriented community corridor and create concept renderings to show the development potential for Town Center and mixed-use corridor. $400,000 was recommended for the project by the Scoring Committee.

4. City of Fowler: Downtown Streetscape Plan

City of Fowler requested $77,078 to complete a remaining component of Fowler's Downtown Streetscapes Plan. The plan will create a design that leads to a lively, community-oriented human-scale downtown. $77,078 was recommended for this project by the Scoring Committee.

5. City of Fowler: Merced Street Improvement

City of Fowler requested $ 1,059,278 to implement a flush street design along Merced Street in Downtown Fowler. The improvement will span from Merced Street's intersection with 7th Street to Panzak at 3rd Street. $529,639 was recommended for this project by the Scoring Committee.

Action: Staff, TTC and PAC recommend the Policy Board approve the Scoring Committee's funding recommendations for the Measure C TOD Program 11th funding cycle. 

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:  This month's Clearinghouse Calendar contains "project notification and review reports" for grant proposals.

The Regional Clearinghouse is a process of informing local agencies of federal grant requests, providing an opportunity to comment, and potentially avoid duplication of effort. Clearinghouse items are brought before the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) and, if appropriate, the Transportation Technical Committee (TTC) for review and comment. Any resulting TTC/PAC comments, and any comments received from other agencies as a result of the Clearinghouse notification process, are noted on a monthly report brought forward to the Fresno COG Policy Board.

COG Policy Board action would be to authorize staff to forward any comments received or any Board comments to the State Clearinghouse and other appropriate agencies. The applicants have been notified of this meeting. While participation by the agency is optional, they have been personally requested to attend the Policy Board meeting in case there should be any questions. It should be noted that if in the event any of these items should be pulled from the consent calendar, that discussion and comment by the Committee/Board members and the public will be taken. Project notification and review reports describing these projects are attached.

Action: Per Board procedure, unless an item is pulled from the Consent Calendar, tacit authorization is given for staff to forward any comment(s) received, or any Committee/Board comment(s) generated as a result of this informational item, to the appropriate agency. It is understood that if in the event any item should be pulled from the consent calendar, discussion and comment by the Committee members and the public will be taken.

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.