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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2015-012 Sponsored by: Hunt CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA RESOLUTION 2015-012 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA, SUPPORTING THE TOP TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED BY THE LOCAL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURSUING STATE AND FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT FUNDING WHEREAS, people with special transportation needs have the right to mobility. Individuals with limited income and people with disabilities rely heavily, sometimes exclusively, on public and specialized transportation services to live independent and fulfilling lives. These services are essential for travel to work and medical appointments, to run essential errands, or simply to take advantage of social or cultural opportunities; and WHEREAS, under the SAFETEA-LU program, projects funded through three Federal Transit Administration (FTA) human services transportation programs must be derived from a "locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan", including: Elderly and persons with Disabilities (Section 5310), Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC, Section 5316), and New Freedom (Section 5317). The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities also includes funds from the Alaska Mental Health Trust in the application process; and WHEREAS, the JARC program provides capital and operating funds for services to improve access to jobs for low income persons; and WHEREAS, the New Freedom program provides capital and operating funds for transit and para- transit services and improvements for persons with disabilities, which are new and go beyond those required by the American with Disabilities Act; and WHEREAS, the Elderly and persons with Disabilities program provides capital assistance funding to provide transit and purchase of services to private nonprofit agencies, federally recognized tribes, and to qualifying local public bodies that provide specialized transportation services to elderly persons and to persons with disabilities; and WHEREAS, the Alaska Mental Health Trust provides grants to private non-profit agencies, federally recognized tribes, and to qualifying local public bodies that serve community transit needs of trust beneficiaries, namely Alaskans who experience mental illness; developmental disabilities; chronic alcoholism with psychosis; or Alzheimer's disease and related dementia through funding for purchase of services, capital and coordinated transportation system planning; and WHEREAS, in order to meet the requirements for federal funding, a local transportation committee was formed a number of years ago, with representation from public, private and nonprofit transportation providers and human service agencies, including the State of Alaska, CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA RESOLUTION 2015-012 Sea View Community Services, Seward Independent Living Center, Community Health Center, Qutekcak Native Tribe, the City of Seward, CARTS,the Seward Senior Center, and others. WHEREAS,the purpose of this group is to identify and prioritize transportation needs in the community to maximize the use of federal funds, as required by the grant programs. WHEREAS, this group met on Tuesday, November 10th, 2014 for the purpose of developing a funding request priority list, with the recommended priorities as follows: Independent Living Center request for funds to purchase transportation services for the ILC Voucher Program which will purchase rides from participating local cab companies. The requesting agencies will be responsible for providing the required match as outlined in the application. WHEREAS, the local committee reviewed and recommended through consensus, the above Project List of priorities to be submitted to the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD: Section 1. That the Seward City Council supports the priorities as identified by the local transportation committee, for the purposes of pursuing state and federal grant funding opportunities. Section 2.This resolution takes effect immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 9th day of February, 2015. THE CITY OF SEWARD,ALASKA /44) i'gt-d•0.4./101n1 an Bardarson,Mayor AYES: Keil, Terry, Squires, Butts, Darling, Bardarson NOES: None ABSENT: Casagranda ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: ,3I,,,.a; / ••.N!•w••^ "(SP-Porte •T J o hanna `! , CMC .� Cty Clerk (City Seal) .. (P qt Vit 4 I^�^� r •.. ,�:.;. ti, OF , Council Agenda Statement y OF s , Meeting Date: February 9, 2015 �� 4c • From: Jim Hunt, City Manager ii &ASV Agenda Item: Supporting Transportation Plan and Priorities of the Transpiration Group and the Seward Independent Living Center BACKGROUND &JUSTIFICATION: People with special transportation needs have the right to mobility. Individuals with limited income and people with disabilities rely heavily, sometimes exclusively, on public and specialized transportation services to live independent and fulfilling lives.These services are essential for travel to work and medical appointments,to run essential errands, or simply to take advantage of social or cultural opportunities. Under the SAFETEA-LU program,projects funded through three Federal Transit Administration(FTA) human services transportation programs must be derived from a"locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan", including: Elderly and persons with Disabilities (Section 5310),Job Access and Reverse Commute(JARC, Section 5316),and New Freedom(Section 5317).The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities also includes funds from the Alaska Mental Health Trust in the application process. The JARC program provides capital and operating funds for services to improve access to jobs for low income persons. The New Freedom program provides capital and operating funds for transit and para-transit services and improvements for persons with disabilities,which are new and go beyond those required by the American with Disabilities Act. The Elderly and Persons with Disabilities program provides capital assistance funding to provide transit and purchase of services to private nonprofit agencies, federally recognized tribes, and to qualifying local public bodies that provide specialized transportation services to elderly persons and to persons with disabilities. The Alaska Mental Health Trust provides grants to private non-profit agencies,federally recognized tribes, and to qualifying local public bodies that serve community transit needs of trust beneficiaries, namely Alaskans who experience mental illness;developmental disabilities;chronic alcoholism with psychosis;or Alzheimer's disease and related dementia through funding for purchase of services,capital and coordinated transportation system planning; and In order to meet the requirements for federal funding, a local transportation committee was formed a number of years ago,with representation from public,private and nonprofit transportation providers and human service agencies, including the State of Alaska, Sea View Community Services, Seward Independent Living Center,Community Health Center,Qutecak Native Tribe,the City of Seward,CARTS, the Seward Senior Center,and others.The purpose of this group is to identify and prioritize transportation needs in the community to maximize the use of federal funds, as required by the grant programs. Most recently,this group met on Tuesday,November 10th,2014 for the purpose of developing a funding request priority list,with the recommended priorities as follows: "The Independent Living Center's request for$26,400 to purchase transportation services for the ILC Voucher Program which will purchase 2640 one way rides from participating local cab companies" The local committee reviewed and recommended through consensus,the above Project List ofpriorities to be submitted to the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. INTENT: Council show support for the priority and plan of local transportation group for the purpose of pursing grant funding. CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A 2020 Seward Comprehensive Plan: Section 3.4 "We value diverse transportation facilities including road, rail, air,pedestrian, and water routes that meet the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. ",& "Support X enhanced public transportation throughout the community. " &3.9 "Quality of Life" City of Seward Strategic Plan(page 4): Transportation Facilities X Other: FISCAL NOTE: There is no fiscal impact to the City for this request. It is a request for support. Approved by Finance Department: S elut..) ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X RECOMMENDATION: Council Approve Resolution 2015- 0 0, supporting the local transportation group's priority and transportation plan.