Agenda Item: 15
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: June 13, 2023
SUBJECT: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT 2023 TITLE VI FEDERAL
NONDISCRIMINATION PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
PRESENTER: Adrian Aguilar
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve the City of Santa Clarita Transit 2023 Federal Title VI Nondiscrimination Program and authorize staff to amend the program as needed.
BACKGROUND
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs that receive federal funding. The Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) is tasked with ensuring nondiscriminatory transportation practices are upheld by all transit agencies that receive federal funds. The City of Santa Clarita (City) Transit operates, in part, using federal dollars. As such, the FTA requires that the City demonstrate compliance with Title VI by submitting an updated Title VI Federal Nondiscrimination Program (Program) every three years. The last Program was approved by the City Council in November 2020.
Section 601 of Title VI states the following:
No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
The Program consists of a report and supporting documentation that provides evidence of the equitable distribution of services; promotion of full and fair participation in public transportation decision-making without regard to race, color, or national origin; and meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). The Program also outlines procedures in place for the public to file a Title VI complaint and monitors
service delivery, specifically concerning low-income, minority, and LEP populations. The current Program is available for public review on the Santa Clarita Transit website.
While no major programmatic changes have been made, this update addresses ridership, fleet, and service-area changes made over the last three years. The update also confirms that Santa Clarita Transit routes continue to cover nearly all areas of the Santa Clarita Valley, with the most productive lines being those that serve communities with high LEP and minority populations.
Upon City Council approval, the 2023 Title VI Federal Nondiscrimination Program will be submitted to the FTA for review. After their review, the FTA will either concur with the updated Title VI Program or request additional information. Failure to submit an updated Title VI Program could result in the loss of federal funding.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to the approval of the updated 2023 Title VI Program.
ATTACHMENTS
Title VI 2023 Update with Appendices (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)