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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(D) Page 1 of 3 Date: June 18, 2013 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Janet Bilbas, Senior Services Supervisor Christopher Jones, Recreation Director Subject: Authorization to Apply and Claim Measure J Funds for Paratransit Services for the Elderly and Disabled for Fiscal Year 2013-14 ACTION REQUESTED Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for and claim Measure J funds in order to provide paratransit services for the elderly and disabled for Fiscal Year 2013-14. DISCUSSION The City of El Cerrito has operated a Dial-a-Ride program since 1978. Prior to 1988 the program was funded through the Transportation Development Act (TDA) 4.5 funds. At the November 8, 1988 general election, the voters of Contra Costa approved a half-cent local transportation sales tax that would be in place for 20 years. Measure C 15 specified an allocation of funds for transportation of seniors and people with disabilities. The voters approved Measure J when Measure C sunset in 2009. Measure J 15 continued the allocation of base program funds for transportation for seniors and people with disabilities with Measure J 20b allowing for additional transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) annually determines the allocation of funds to be used to supplement services. Persons served by this program are El Cerrito residents who are unable to use fixed route public transportation due to disability, frailty or age. Historically, El Cerrito’s Senior Services Division has administered this program. Easy Ride Paratransit Service El Cerrito’s paratransit service is known as Easy Ride. In July 2011, Easy Ride Paratransit Services expanded operations from four to five full days a week, Monday through Friday. The City, through the use of Measure J funds operates this affordable door-to-door service within city limits enabling seniors, 65 and older and disabled residents 18 years and older to regularly run errands to local stores and businesses, get to work, visit friends and family, attend classes, do banking, attend club and community meetings, special events, pick-up medical prescriptions, keep hair, medical, dental, and physical therapy appointments, and visit the City operated Open House Senior Center. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(D) These shared ride trips are essential for community members who want to maximize their independence, quality of life, life satisfaction, pursue activities of interest, and opportunities for involvement in their community. Rides can be scheduled with City dispatch for same day appointments between 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. providing space is available or up to two weeks in advance during the City’s normal business hours. The cost of each one-way ride is $2.00. Tickets are sold in books of ten. Currently, 475 El Cerrito residents are registered to use Easy Ride Paratransit. A passenger guide is distributed to passengers of the Easy Ride Paratransit Program. Day Trip and Excursions The City provides day trips and excursions for seniors and the disabled using vans purchased with Measure C funds. Measure J funds are used to maintain the vans. Staff at the Senior Center coordinate and facilitate day trips which operate as frequently as twice a week. Pre-registration and advanced payment is required. Group activities include travel to events, field trips and cultural excursions i.e. museums, regional, state and municipal public parks, out-of-town shopping malls, tourist sites, and various places of interest in the Bay Area. Currently, over 500 seniors and the disabled are registered for the day trip and excursion program. It is easy for the City to provide these services with limited overhead, since the City operates a van service for the transportation of children for its recreation programs, and drivers for this program are also utilized for the senior trips. There is some economy in numbers in running concurrent programs. For example, drivers, training programs, and vehicle maintenance contracts all benefit from this program. The City has a passenger endorsement program, and several staff have obtained a Class B drivers license. Nutrition RidesGroup rides are offered to and from the CoCo Café located at the Senior Center. The City waives passenger fares with the County Nutrition Program paying 50% of the transportation fare for seniors to and from the City’s nutrition site. User ride subsidies are as follows: Measure J funds at a rate of $2.00 per ride for East Bay Paratransit and $1.00 for Easy Ride Paratransit. East Bay Paratransit tickets are purchased for this purpose. The County Nutrition Program reimburses the City $2.00 per ride for East Bay Paratransit and $1.00 for Easy Ride Paratransit. These trips are essential to the health, wellbeing and independence of the City’s older adult population. Without providing these trips many seniors would be homebound and not receive essential nutrition. Program Expansion Offer shuttle service to high demand shopping locations just outside the city limits. These locations would include Grocery Outlet, Target, Costco and the East/West Mall. On Demand Service El Cerrito offers service within the City limits for emergency same day medical appointments that are non-life threatening, on an as needed and availability basis. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(0) FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The budget proposed for FY 2013-14 will increase service from FY 2012-13 levels. El Cerrito's Measure J allocation for FY 2013-2014 totals $119,417. Program 15 = $82,372 and Program 20 = $37,045. The FY 2013-14 budgets include all expenses for the administration and operation of services. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS None. The West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) has already approved this program as outlined above. Reviewed by: Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachment: 1. Resolution ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(D) RESOLUTION 2013-XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR AND CLAIMING OF MEASURE J FUNDS FROM THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR PARATRANSIT SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN FISCAL YEAR 2013-14 WHEREAS, The Contra Costa Transportation Improvement and Growth Management Program (Measure J) authorizes the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to expend monies for use by eligible claimants for the purpose of providing transportation for the elderly and persons with disabilities; and WHEREAS, The City of El Cerrito is an eligible claimant for Measure J funds pursuant to the Contra Costa Improvement and Growth Management, Measure J, Sales Tax Ordinance #88-01 Section 5C; and WHEREAS, Measure J funds will be required by claimant for the purpose of providing transportation for the elderly and persons with disabilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Manager, or his designee, is authorized to execute and file an appropriate claim together with all the necessary supporting documents with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority for allocation of Measure J funds. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be submitted to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority in conjunction with the filing of the claim. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on June 18, 2013, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on June 2013. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Gregory B. Lyman, Mayor