Purpose

Staff requests Council approval to amend Resolution No. 27,273 that authorized local matching funds of $22,380 for a Safe Routes to School Grant in Cycle Six of the grant program.  The local funding match was based on a 90 percent grant contribution established under the previous transportation funding bill; however, the current Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act � A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) program allows a maximum federal contribution of only 84 percent and a local contribution of 16 percent.  Staff requests authorization to increase the local funding match by $13,020 to a total of $35,400 to comply with the new regulations.

BACKGROUND

On July 11, 2006, Council discussed and approved the receipt of a Safe Routes to School Grant for a total project cost of $223,800.  Resolution No. 27,273 amended the Fiscal Year 2006-07 budget to provide local matching funds for the grant of $22,380 (10 percent of the total project cost).  The ten (10) percent proportion of local funds was required under the previous several federal transportation funding authorization bills, including the Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency Act (ISETEA).  Resolution No. 27,273 also appropriated the total project cost of $223,800 from account number 105.ND000.30004.0000.00000 (Unappropriated Fund Balance - Proposition C Transportation Fund) to 105.CD33A.70002.0000.16981 (Cycle 6 Safe Routes to School Project).

The new SAFETEA-LU authorization bill now requires a local match of 16 percent of the total project cost, or $35,400.  Therefore, an additional $13,020 in the project account must be allocated to the local match component of the project costs.  The revised project funding includes $35,400 of local matching funds and $188,400 of Safe Routes to School Grant funds.

The Safe Routes to School Grant will fund improvements at three Burbank elementary schools.  William McKinley School will be provided with an in-pavement crosswalk lighting system, a pedestrian access ramp, and radar speed display signs.  Thomas Edison School improvements include new sidewalk and pedestrian countdown traffic signals.  George Washington School will have radar speed display signs, an improved student drop-off area, improvements to the existing bikepath, and a pedestrian access ramp.

ANALYSIS

Staff requests that Resolution No. 27,273 be amended to reflect the new local matching fund proportion under SAFETEA-LU of 16 percent of the total project cost, or $35,400.  Proposition C funds were allocated to this project by Council and these funds will provide the additional local matching fund amount of $13,020.

FISCAL IMPACT

 Resolution No. 27,273 appropriated a total of $223,800 from account number 105.ND000.30004.0000.00000 (Unappropriated Fund Balance - Proposition C Transportation Fund) to project number 105.CD33A.70002.0000.16981 (Cycle 6 Safe Routes to School Project).  The additional local matching funds are available in the project budget.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council approve a resolution amending Resolution No. 27,273 to reflect the additional $13,020 in matching funds, bringing the total local contribution to $35,400, and accepting the Safe Routes to School Cycle Six Grant.