DATE: April 25, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Maintenance Services
SUBJECT: Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an Application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for Transportation Development Act Article 3 Funds in Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and Execute a Funding Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
That Council: 1) adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to submit an application with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funding in fiscal year (FY) 2023-2024 to be used for the procurement and maintenance of a fully electric, compact bike-lane street sweeper and to execute the funding agreement with MTC once grant funding is approved and 2) adopts a resolution (Attachment III) authorizing the acceptance and appropriation of grant funds in Gas Tax (Fund 210) for this project.
SUMMARY
Every year, TDA funds are made available to cities state-wide for construction and maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian projects. In the Bay Area, TDA Article 3 funds are allocated by MTC and require the submittal of a resolution by the City’s governing body authorizing the submittal of the application for funding request. In April 2023, staff received approval from the City’s Grant Review Committee for this opportunity. Staff is now requesting the authorization to submit the funding request application to procure a fully electric, compact bike-lane street sweeper, which is an eligible expense under TDA Article 3. Once approved, a funding agreement will be executed, and funds will be appropriated to Gas Tax (Fund 210). Per the City’s accounting policies, all TDA Article 3 funded projects need to be recognized in this fund.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
TDA funds are provided through statewide retail and gas taxes. City and county governments are required to request funding to support pedestrian and bicycle projects. The City currently has $550,629 in eligible TDA Article 3 funding to request or roll over to the new fiscal year. In April 2023, staff received approval from the Grant Review Committee for this funding opportunity. Staff is requesting $390,000 to purchase an electric, compact sweeper and the estimated annual costs for ongoing maintenance for the expected life of the vehicle (seven years). The overall service intervals, maintenance schedules, and operational capabilities of this full EV sweeper are similar to that of the City’s traditional fleet of full-size street sweepers.
Per the City’s 2020 Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, the City has 3.18 Class I, 50.96 Class II, and 69.04 Class III bike lane miles. The City’s full-size sweepers are unable to access some of these bike lanes due to protected bike lane features, such as parking stalls, bollards, raised curbs, and landscaping improvements. To ensure all bike lane facilities are adequately maintained and free from debris, that can possibly harm bicyclists and impact storm drains, staff is interested in procuring a fully electric, compact bike-lane street sweeper. The full EV street sweeper staff selects will have zero carbon emissions, dust pollution, and harmful gasses remittance to the environment. It also has far less noise emissions than a traditional street sweeper which provides operational flexibility for staff, such as working at night when bike lanes are least used by cyclists.
Procurement of this item will also comply with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposed Advanced Clean Fleet regulations with the goal of achieving zero-emission by 2045. Per the new regulations, between 2024-2026, fifty percent of new additions to a city or county’s fleet would need to be zero-emission. By 2027, all new additions must be zero-emission, municipalities may submit an exemption request for any vehicles that may be unavailable for purchase in full EV.
ECONOMIC IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
This item has no direct economic impact. However, the procurement of this EV sweeper will help keep bike lanes clear from debris, providing a safer and cleaner City for all bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles. Since this will be done through the use of a zero-carbon emitting piece of equipment, there is also no harmful impact to the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
TDA grant funding will allow for the purchase of an electric compact sweeper, which would otherwise require funding from another source. There are no matching funds required for this application. Per the City’s accounting policies, TDA Article 3 funded projects are required to be received and expensed in Gas Tax (Fund 210). Should the City be awarded the TDA grant funding, the appropriation of grant funds will be made to the Gas Tax fund (Fund 210).
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This item supports Council’s Strategic Priority of Confront Climate Crisis since it will further the goal of transitioning at least 15% of total city fleet to EV/hybrid vehicles. Transitioning to EV/hybrid models provides a positive environmental impact as it provides for better air quality and less pollution. The equipment will also indirectly support projects listed in Invest in Infrastructure and Support Quality of Life.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Staff attended the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) meeting on April 20, 2023. After the meeting, ACTC will coordinate with MTC to process requests. MTC will then approve funding requests and request execution of funding agreements.
NEXT STEPS
Upon approval of TDA funding and execution of the funding agreement, staff will receive grant funds and appropriate them to a new project in Fund 210 and procure an electric, compact bike-lane sweeper.
Prepared by: Manny Grewal, Management Analyst
Justin Temores, Fleet Manager
Recommended by: Todd Rullman, Director of Maintenance Services Approved by:
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Kelly McAdoo, City Manager