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Date: To: From: June 5, 2012 El Cerrito City Council Ellen M Paasch, Adult Programs Supervisor Christopher Jones, Acting Recreation Director AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. S(C) Subject: Authorization to Apply for and Claim Measure J Funds for Paratransit Services for the Elderly and Disabled for Fiscal Year 2012-13 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 2012-13. BACKGROUND The City ofEl 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 twenty years. Measure C, Program 15 was specified and allocated for transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. The voters then approved Measure J when Measure C sunseted in 2009. Measure J, Program 15 continued the allocation of base program funds for transportation for seniors and people with disabilities with Measure J, Program 20B allowing for additional transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. The West Contra Costa Transportation Authority (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, work, visit friends and family, attend classes, community meetings, special events, medical, dental, and physical therapy appointments, and visit the City operated Open House Senior Center. These shared ride trips are essential for community members who want to maximize their independence, quality of life, pursue activities of interest, and opportunities for involvement in their community. Page 1 of3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. S(C) Rides can be scheduled with dispatch for same day appointments between 8:00a.m. and 9:00a.m. providing space is available or up to tWo weeks in advance during normal business hours. The cost of each one-way ride is $2.00. Tickets are sold in books often. Currently, 419 El Cerrito residents are registered to use Easy Ride Paratransit. A passenger guide is distributed to passengers of the Easy Ride Paratransit Program. Day Trips 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. These group activities 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, 529 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 benefit from this. The City has a passenger endorsement program. Several staff have obtained their Class B drivers license. Nutrition Rides: Group rides are offered to and from the CoCo Cafe 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 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 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 Easy Ride Paratransit. These trips are essential to the health, wellbeing and independence of our older adult population. Without providing these trips many of the City's seniors would be homebound and unable to receive essential nutrition. Vehicle Replacement, Using Measure J Funds Reserves were established at the inception of the Dial-A-Ride program. The City currently has no reserves. Ordinarily the reserve is one of the few sources of funds available to replace worn out vehicles. Available funds allow the city to purchase new vehicles to provide weekly trips and Easy Ride Paratransit service for the City's senior and disabled populations. Any remaining Measure J funds will be placed in a reserve fund for Measure J vehicle replacements. On Demand Service: El Cerrito offers service within 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. S(C) ANALYSIS Option 1: Approve the resolution attached to this Agenda Bill and continue the paratransit services for elderly and disabled constituents in El Cerrito. Option2: Option 3: Decline to approve the attached resolution and terminate the paratransit services, which the Measure C funding supports. Provide alternative direction to staff. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The budget proposed for Fscal Year 2012-13 will keep service at the same level as Fiscal Year 2011- 12. El Cerrito's Measure J allocation for Fiscal Year 2012-2013 totals $113,680 (Program 15 = $79,415 and Program 20B = $34,265). The 2012-13 budget includes all expenses for the administration and operation of services. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the attached resolution. Reviewed by: Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2012-XX: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR AND CLAIM OF MEASURE J FUNDS FROM THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR PARATRANSIT FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED FORFISCAL YEAR 2012-13. WHEREAS, the Contra Costa Transportation Improvement and Growth Management Program (Measure J) has authorized 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 Measure J Sales Tax Ordinance #88-0 1 Section SC; and WHEREAS, Measure J funds will be required by claimant for the purpose of providing transportation for the elderly and disabled. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of El Cerrito, that the City Manager or his designee is authorized to apply for Measure J funds and 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 shall 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 5, 2012, 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 ofEl Cerrito on June, , 2012. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: William C. Jones III, Mayor Page I ofl