Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: GO SONOMA & SIDEWALK GAP CLOSURE COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS
Date: August 13, 2024
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution approving Cooperative Funding Agreements for City to 1) receive funds through the Go Sonoma Act and 2) to receive Go Sonoma Act funds for the Sidewalk Gap Closures Project, and authorizing the City Manager to execute said agreements in substantially the form attached.
Background
On November 3, 2020, Sonoma County voters approved the 2020 Go Sonoma Act Expenditure Plan and Ordinance (Go Sonoma) which is an extension of the existing Measure M transportation 1/4 cent sales tax. The Sonoma County Transportation Agency (SCTA) receives these sales tax dollars and in turn redistributes the funding to the County and cities and transportation agencies in Sonoma County. This measure continues to fund transportation projects including local road maintenance, bike and pathways, traffic and safety and public transportation. Funding agreements are needed between SCTA and local jurisdictions to provide rules and procedures for spending the sales tax proceeds on specific projects within each jurisdiction.
Analysis/Discussion
Go Sonoma provides the City with an annual allocation based on a formula and project specific funding for priority City projects that meet the Go Sonoma criteria. The formula amount is used by the City towards street paving, bicycle and pedestrian pathway and traffic safety Capital Projects as depicted in its annual budget and, for future years, its Capital Improvement Program.
This formula based funding requires a Cooperative Agreement to pass funding through to the City.
The Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) is tasked by Go Sonoma to prioritize and make funds available to its member agencies. To this end, SCTA developed the 2023 Strategic Implementation Plan (Go Sonoma SIP) which includes a Build Bikeways and Pathways program for the development of improvements to better separate bikes from cars and make it easier to bike and walk. Consistent with the Build Bikeways and Pathways program, SCTA has approved the City’s Sidewalk Gap Closure Project (Project) for Go Sonoma funding. A separate Cooperative Agreement is needed for rules and procedures for the City to receive payment for the Project.
The bid advertisement period is open presently for the Project with bids to be opened and anticipated Council award on August 27, 2024, and construction to begin 3-5 weeks later. The City is to begin invoicing SCTA for Go Sonoma funding once construction and construction management expenses are incurred.
Financial Considerations
The formulaic Go Sonoma funds due to the City are estimated to be $75,000 per year.
The Project is included in the City’s adopted FY24/25 budget for an amount of $735,000, for completing design, construction and construction management services. These funds consist of $235,000 from the City’s General Fund and $500,000 of project specific Go Sonoma funding.
Environmental Issues
This action is found to qualify for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Section 15301 in that the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use.