Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: December 11, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Ventura County Transportation Commission Interagency Agreement - Senate Bill 125 Funding
BACKGROUND
On Sept. 29, 2023, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) released the final guidelines for the Senate Bill 125 (SB-125) Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and Zero-Emission Transit Capital Program (ZETCP). These supplemental budget funds are apportioned to counties, and it is estimated that in the current fiscal year Ventura County’s transit capital and operations apportionment is $5 million for zero- emission transit capital. Ventura County’s share of the promised SB-125 future-year funds is estimated to be another $42.3 million for transit capital and $8.5 million for zero emission transit capital, subject to future budget acts apportionments. The future SB-125 funds will be approved annually through Fiscal Year 2027-28.
SB-125 requires extensive analysis of short-range financial needs along with significant reporting requirements. Based on the law’s provisions, VCTC implemented a needs- based process to equitably distribute the SB-125 funds among the county’s transit operators, including the City of Camarillo. The clear intent is that these funds are a temporary funding solution to avoid transit service cuts due to lack of funding until more significant innovations are implemented to address reductions in ridership and fare revenue. Each transit operator in Ventura County discussed their financial needs with VCTC and submitted details and financial information for projects that could be funded by SB-125. The City’s funding requests were focused on vehicle procurement and design/construction of the planned joint City and VCTC bus charging and storage facility, as identified in the City’s adopted Zero Emission Bus Plan. VCTC completed their assessment of all proposed projects and provided operators with the proposed SB-125 funded project list.
SB 125 Interagency Agreement
December 11, 2024
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DISCUSSION
On August 7, 2024, VCTC received authorization to fund the proposed SB-125 Projects over the next few fiscal years. The City will receive $700,000 in the first round of funding, to be distributed in FY 2024/25 and FY 2025/26 as shown in Exhibit A (Attachment 2); $500,000 of which will go towards the procurement of new transit vehicles and the remaining $200,000 will be used for preliminary design work for the joint bus charging and storage facility. An interagency agreement between VCTC and the City must be executed for administration and disbursement of SB-125 funds. SB-125 funding can cover 100% of vehicle replacements costs as well as the preliminary design costs. SB- 125 funding will be deposited into an assigned revenues account. Future rounds of SB- 125 funding received by the City are planned to go towards the final design and construction of the joint bus charging and storage facility and additional transit vehicle procurements and will require City Council approval of an amendment to the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Interagency Agreement will generate $227,000 in revenue to the SB 125 Fund, Capital Grants SB 125 Revenue, Account No. 206-0000-336.36-18 for Fiscal Year 2024/25 and $473,000 in Fiscal Year 2025/26.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Interagency Agreement with Ventura County Transportation Commission for the disbursement and administration of grant funds in the amount of $700,000 from the State of California’s Senate Bill 125.
ATTACHMENTS
1. CC Agreement 2024-194
2. Exhibit A - Scope of Services
3. Exhibit B - Grant Requirements
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None