FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 5, 2024
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: Interim City Manager Alex Posada
BY: Director of Public Works Brett Fulgoni
SUBJECT: Santa Maria Regional Transit Title VI Program Update for Federal Fiscal Year 2024-2027
Description:
The City Council will consider approving the Transit Division’s updated Title VI Program for Federal Fiscal Years 2024 -2027. The Federal Transit Administration requires transit funding recipients, such as the City of Santa Maria’s Transit Division, to update its Title VI Program every three years in order to continually receive federal transit funding assistance. The proposed Title VI Program is necessary to maintain compliance with the Federal Transit Administration’s requirements.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution approving the Santa Maria Regional Transit Title VI Program for Federal Fiscal Years 2024 -2027, as proposed in Exhibit A , and authorize the Public Works Director, or designee, to make administrative changes to the F ederal Fiscal Year 2024-2027 Title VI Program based on any final Federal Transit Administration feedback, after submission.
BACKGROUND:
Title VI, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states: “No person in the United States shall, on t he grounds 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.”
As a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding recipient, the City of Santa Maria Transit Division must therefore ensure that its programs, policies, and activities comply with the Title VI Regulations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The proposed Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024-27 Title VI Program Update (FFY 2024-27 Title VI Program) has been created to comply with the requirements and to demonstrate the City’s commitment to upholding the values of Title VI.
2 DISCUSSION:
This Santa Maria Transit Division’s FFY 2024-27 Title VI Program has been prepared to ensure that the level and quality of Santa Maria Regional Transit’s (SMRT) fixed route and demand response services are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner and that the opportunity for full and fair participation is offered to SMRT’s riders and other community members.
Similarly, through this program update, SMRT has examined the need for services and materials for persons for whom English is not their primary langua ge and who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English, and is creating strategies to engage these members of the public so that they too may benefit from these services.
The community's feedback on the proposed program was solicited in the development of the FFY 2024 -27 Title VI Program. In accordance with the Transit Division’s adopted Public Engagement Manual, public outreach and public participation are a component of developing the FFY 2024 -27 Title VI Program. The draft FFY 20 24-27 Title VI Program was made available for review online and even in -person for a thirty -day window commencing on November 15, 2023, and extending to December 15, 2023. Additionally, two public meetings were held on December 7, 2023, to give the public time and opportunity to review and critique the proposed program. Only after the public participation process is complete, is the final proposed FFY 2024 -27 Title VI Program developed and brought to City Council for adoption.
Alternative(s)
The alternative is not to approve the FFY 2024-27 Title VI Program. This is not a recommended alternative as this action would cause the City to become ineligible to receive federal transit funding assistance.
A second alternative is to make modifications to the FFY 2024 -27 Title VI Program.
However, this alternative is not recommended as any modification would necessitate an additional 30 -day public review process before adoption. The FFY 2024 -27 Title VI Program before City Council already reflects the outcomes of the public participation process.
Fiscal Considerations
There are no fiscal impacts to adopting the proposed FFY 2024-27 Title VI Program.
There are, however, consequences for not completing the process of establishing a renewed Title VI Program on a triennial basis, as it is necessary for the continual receipt of federal funding assistance for the City’s Transit program.
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3 Impact to the Community
Adoption of the FFY 2024-27 Title VI Program ensures transit services are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner and that the opportunity for full and fair participation is given to members of the public while also assuring that the City of Santa Maria’s Transit program qualifies to continue to receive federal funding. Not adopting a c ompliant program would jeopardize federal funding and would have negative impacts on the users of the City’s public transit system, Santa Maria Regional Transit.