Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONISDERATION AND APPROVAL OF A COOPERATION
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SONOMA
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO PROVOIDE
$30,000 IN FUNDING FOR THE COTATI ACTIVE
TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Date: March 26, 2024
Written by: Noah Housh, Director of Community Development Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council consider the draft cooperation agreement between the City and the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) to provide $30,000 in funding to support completion of the City of Cotati Active Transportation Plan (ATP).
Background
In early 2023, a grant was awarded to the Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) to complete a County-wide Active Transportation Plan.
In June of 2023, the City Council adopted the fiscal year 2023-2024 (FY23/24) which included $30,000 in funding for the City of Cotati Active Transportation Plan (ATP).
On June 13, 2023, City staff and the consultant team presented an overview of the project to the Planning Commission.
On November 6, 2023, City staff and the consultant team presented draft Vision and Goals as well as a draft list of projects that would provide for a low-stress bicycle network and address existing network gaps.
On December 4, 2023, City staff presented the draft policies and actions to the Planning Commission for discussion and feedback.
On February 22, 2024, the draft ATP was posted for a 30-day public review and comment period on the City website, here: https://www.cotaticity.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=95. Members of the public should submit their comments to [email protected]. All written comments must be received by Monday, March 25.
On February 29, 2024, the Sonoma County Bicyle Coalition, the project consultant, SCTA staff and City staff hosted a community engagement meting at the SMART Depot to gather additional public comments on the ATP.
Analysis/Discussion
A cooperative agreement is the mechanism required for the City to provide the allocated $30,000 to the SCTA to fund the Cotati ATP. As indicated above, a significant amount of work has been completed on the draft ATP and presentation of the final ATP for adoption is anticipated in May 2024. As such, the funding to cover the City of Cotati portion of the project needs to be available to reimburse SCTA for their costs incurred. The draft agreement is attached to this report for the Council’s review and approval by simple majority to allow staff to expend the funds.
Financial Considerations
City Councils adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2023/24 includes the required funding for the $30,000 agreement with SCTA. Other minor financial impacts include staff time to manage and administer the ATP update included in the adopted FTE and Staffing budgets. No new financial requests for appropriations are required.
Environmental Issues
The potential impacts of the proposed project were analyzed and addressed to a less-thansignificant level in the Cotati General Plan Update EIR (SCH# 2013082037), which was certified by the Cotati City Council on March 24, 2015, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15183 allows a streamlined environmental review process for projects that are consistent with an existing zoning, community plan or general plan policies for which an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified. As noted, the proposed project is consistent with the land use designations and densities established by the Cotati General Plan, for which an EIR was certified.