SR-02-10-2015-3B - 1000-002-04,tyot City Council Report
Santa Monica,
City Council Meeting: February 0 2015
Agenda
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director of Community and Cultural Services
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application
to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for
Continued Funding for the Door Through Door Attended Ride Program
Recommended ,fiction
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds in an
amount not to exceed.$280,000 from the Federal Transit Administration through
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for continued
funding for the Santa Monica Door Through Door attended ride program for older
adults and persons with a disability.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grant, accept the grant, if awarded, accept all grant renewals, if awarded, and
participate in the program.
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
section of this report, in the event that the grant is awarded.
Executive Summary
The City of Santa Monica submitted a successful grant application for $469,971 in Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) New Freedom funds through the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) in 2012. The City entered into a MOU
with LACMTA effective July 1, 2013 to provide ride attendant and vehicle maintenance
and operations services and to purchase an accessible paratransit van. Federally- funded
services began in February 2014 and will continue through June 2017. The FTA is not
renewing the New Freedom program beyond current awards; however, the City has the
opportunity to request funds to continue the Door Through Door program through
December 2018 under LACMTA's current FY2015 Solicitation for Proposals for the FTA's
Section 5310 Program. The City's funding proposal represents an 18 -month continuation
of the Door Through Door attended ride program in an amount not to exceed $280,000.
The Section 5310 Program requires a 25% match from local sources, representing
approximately $70,000 over the 18 -month grant term. This cash match would be met
through existing budgets of Proposition A funding and City staff time to operate the
program and for grant oversight and administration.
Background
On Aral 24L, 2012. staff presented Council with options for expanding access to
transportation for older adults and people with disabilities in Santa Monica. One of those
options was the expansion of the pilot Door Through Door attended ride program
operated by WISE & Healthy Aging in conjunction with the City's Dial -A -Ride program.
Dial -A -Ride is a curb to curb program. Some people with mobility issues need assistance
from their door to the curb, and from the curb through the door of their destination. At the
April 2012 meeting, Council authorized staff to submit an application to the LACMTA for
FTA New Freedom funds to expand the Door Through Door program. The successful
application secured federal funds in the amount of $469,971 to expand available hours
for rider assistance by funding ride attendant services, vehicle maintenance and
operations, and the purchase of an additional accessible vehicle for the Dial -A -Ride fleet.
The City entered into a MOU with LACMTA effective July 1, 2013 and conducted
procurements for ride attendant and vehicle maintenance and operation services. On
ek�!_uar_ }_i 1_,_201 14, Council awarded WISE & Healthy Aging a contract for ride attendant
services. Vehicle maintenance and operation for the Door Through Door program was
included in the contract for the Dial -A -Ride program which was awarded to MV
Transportation on AP-LL, fv 4. Federally- funded services began in February 2014 and
will continue through June 2017. The purchase of the accessible van was completed in
September 2014. It is anticipated that the program will provide 7,800 rides over the grant
to rm.
Discussion
In July 2012, Congress merged the former FTA New Freedom Program with the Section
5310 - Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section
5310). In November 2014, the LACMTA announced the FY2015 Solicitation for Proposals
E
for the FTA's Section 5310 Program. This solicitation provides the opportunity for the City
to request funds for former New Freedom - funded projects through calendar year 2018.
The City's funding proposal in an amount not to exceed $280,000 represents an
18 -month continuation of the Door Through Door attended ride program Monday through
Friday from 8:OOam through 5:30pm, and will include the expansion of attended ride
services to include Saturdays from 8:30am through 3:30pm. The funding request for ride
attendant services is estimated to be $110,000. The estimated funding request for vehicle
operations and maintenance is approximately $170,000.
The Section 5310 Program also requires a 25% match from local sources, representing
approximately $70,000 over the 18 -month grant term. This cash match would be met
through existing budgets of Prop A funding for program oversight and administration
provided by the ride attendant provider (currently WISE & Healthy Aging), and by vehicle
operation and maintenance hours on Saturdays. The local City match would also be
funded by existing budgets for City staffing costs associated with grant oversight and
administration.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The amount of grant funds requested from the FTA's Section 5310 Program through the
LACMTA is for an amount not to exceed $280,000. If awarded, the grant requires a 25%
local match, or $70,000, which would be funded by existing budgets in the following
accounts:
Account No. Description FY 17 -19
0126211.511000 City Administrative Staffing $14,489
20642.563123 Ride Attendant $23,061
41603.55501 B Vehicle Maintenance & Operations $32,450
Total
3
$70,000
If awarded, revenue and expenditure budgets will be established in divisions 202627 and
2026211 during the FY 2017 -19 biennial budget process for the awarded grant amount.
If renewals are awarded, budget changes will be included in subsequent year budgets,
contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared by: Stacy Rowe, Senior Program Analyst
9! i `?
Karen Ginsberg
Director
Community and Cultural
Attachment A: Resolution
0
T '
Elaine Polachek
Interim City Manager
Reference:
Resolution No. 10862
(CCS)