City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2022 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: FISCAL YEAR 2022/23 LIST OF PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION ACCOUNT CREATED BY SENATE BILL 1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017 – RESOLUTION ADOPTION ISSUE:
Adopt a resolution approving the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 project list to be completed utilizing projected revenues from FY 2022/23 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account created by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a resolution approving the FY 2022/23 project list to be completed utilizing the projected revenues from the FY 2022/23 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account created by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
BACKGROUND:
On April 28, 2017, the California Governor signed Senate Bill 1, referred to as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB-1), to address basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety needs on both the state highway and local streets networks. SB-1 is funded by fuel excise taxes, diesel fuel sales taxes, and vehicle registration fees. Taxes may adjust in future years proportionally to inflation and/or increased fees.
The California State Controller’s Office deposits various portions of these revenues into the State’s Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA). A percentage of the RMRA funds are apportioned by a formula to eligible cities and counties pursuant to Streets and Highways Code Section 2032(h) as part of the SB-1 Local Street and Roads Program (LSRP).
SB-1 guidelines include accountability and transparency provisions that will ensure the public is aware of the projects being completed utilizing the RMRA funds each fiscal year. Any jurisdiction receiving RMRA funds must adopt a Resolution that includes a list of projects to be completed.
The project list does not limit the flexibility of the City to fund projects in accordance with the City's needs and priorities so long as the projects are consistent with the SB-1 program priorities which include projects associated with road maintenance and rehabilitation, safety, railroad grade separations, complete streets, and traffic control devices.
DISCUSSION:
The SB-1 LSRP enables the City to complete more essential road maintenance and rehabilitation projects. The State Department of Finance estimates the City of Riverside will receive $7,181,384 in FY 2022/23 RMRA funds (Attachment 1). Estimated RMRA funds are included in the City’s budget for FY 2022/23.
Per LSRP guidelines, the Resolution (Attachment 2) provides the list of projects to be completed utilizing the RMRA funds. The project list requires a description and the location of each proposed project, a proposed schedule for the project’s completion, and the estimated useful life.
The project list for the FY 2022/23 LSRP includes (see Resolution for specific project locations):
Maintenance and rehabilitation improvements to 8.0 miles on three arterial streets, one collector street, and 23 local streets. These maintenance improvements generally include asphalt resurfacing; reconstruction of damaged concrete curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveways; replacement of pedestrian ramps that are not compliant with the current provisions of the American with Disabilities Act; and replacement of signing and striping as required.
Preservation improvements to 5.0 miles on 15 local streets. These improvements generally include sealing existing cracks and applying a slurry surface treatment on the entire roadway surface.
Reconstructing eight alleys. These improvements include excavating the existing surface to construct a new asphalt surface over a crushed aggregate base material. The improvements may potentially include a center concrete gutter to convey surface drainage.
Traffic safety improvements at seven intersections. These improvements include traffic scrambles at two arterial intersections, traffic circles at four residential intersections, and constructing left turn lanes at one collector intersection. These traffic improvements will improve circulation for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. These improvements should also reduce vehicular and pedestrian collisions.
SB-1 spending for the above projects is accounted for when selecting projects in the respective Council Wards to equitably distribute funding within the seven Wards.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility and Connectivity and Goal 6.2 – Maintain, protect, and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.
It also aligns with each of the Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – Riverside is transparent and makes decisions based on sound policy, inclusive community engagement, involvement of City Boards & Commissions, and timely and reliable information. This Project aligns with the priorities identified in the Pavement Management Program.
Equity – Activities and actions by the City serve the public interest, benefit the City’s diverse populations, and result in greater public good. Public Works strives to improve the City' s roadway network to provide safe and reliable transportation to all areas of the City.
The Public Works Department utilizes various funding sources to complete maintenance projects throughout the City. These revenues include sales taxes generated from County Measure A and City Measure Z, gas taxes generated from state programs including SB-1, and federal funds generated from the Community Development Block Grant Program.
The Public Works Department strives to allocate these funds equally each year throughout all seven Council Wards. The City meets with each Council representative annually to obtain input on the needs within their respective Wards. Project selection is based on objective data collected through our Pavement Management Program, however the Council representatives have a close relationship with their constituents, so specific locations may often be selected when the data aligns with the requested needs.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources. The work proposed in the service agreement will be constructed by the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Innovation – This project exemplifies established methods of street improvements. Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships and adaptive processes.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The construction materials to be utilized to complete this work described in the service agreement are considered best practices in the industry.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. The adopted FY 2022/23 Public Works Department Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget includes $7,392,354 allocated to the project “RMRA Rehabilitation & Traffic Improvements” based on the estimated revenues at the time. The CIP budget will be reduced to $7,181,384 based on current State revenue estimates and specifically appropriated to the projects indicated on the Project List in the FY2022/23 SB-1 Resolution (Attachment 1).
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Projected FY 2022/23 RMRA Revenues
FY 2022/23 SB-1 Resolution
Fiscal Year 2022/2023 SB-1 Resolution ● Page 2