City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 11/12/2024
Subject: SJCOG Fund Transfer Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Fund Transfer Agreement (C-25-021) in order to receive SB 125 transit funding to mitigate Blossom Express operational financial shortfalls attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND
The City of Ripon receives Measure K Renewal transit funds, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5311 funds and Local Transportation Funds (LTF) that are specifically designated to operate the Blossom Express service. The Blossom Express operates 2 times a week for 5 hours each day providing stops near Bethany Home, downtown Ripon, Kaiser Hospital in Modesto and the Vintage Faire Mall Food Court.
DISCUSSION
The California State Transportation Agency, through Senate Bill (SB 125), has issued short-term funding on a formula basis to regional transportation planning agencies to mitigate the financial losses that are attributable to the Covid-19 pandemic. The funding will be made available via the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) for FY 23/24 through FY 27/28.
In January and February of 2024, SJCOG’s SB 125 working group, along with all of the transit operators in the County, met several times to consider formula funding methodologies for the region. Following many technical discussions, consensus was built around methodologies that considered ridership and operational budget, using data taken from each agency’s Transportation Development Act claim. The working group agreed to proceed with a methodology that assigned 50% of Year 1 and Year 2 allocations based on ridership, and 50% based on the operational budget. Due to state economic shortfalls, the funding for Years 3 and 4 are uncertain and therefore not being assigned to agencies at this time.
The following table is a summary of the formula distribution of SB 125 funding that is available for Years 1 and 2.
The City of Ripon will receive a one-time allocation of $25,919 to be used to offset operational expenses of the Blossom Express transit service.
FISCAL IMPACT
For FY 2024-25, the City budgeted $103,890 of expenses to operate the Blossom Express transit service. The table below summarizes the initial budgeted funding of this expense along with the revised funding with the SB 125 allocation.
FY 2024-25 Initial Transit Op.
Funding
FY 2024-25 Revised Transit Op.
Funding
FTA 5311 $62,792 $62,792
Measure K Renewal-Transit $41,098 $15,179
SB 125 n/a $25,919
Total $103,890 $103,890
The City of Ripon’s Measure K Renewal Transit allocation that is not allocated for FY 2024-25 will rollover for the City’s transit use in a future year.
Attachments:
1. SB 125 Funds Transfer Agreement - Ripon
2. Exhibit A