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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2022 0406 CCSA REG ITEM 08ACITY OF MOORPARK, 
CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of April 6, 2022 ACTION ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2022-4085. (ROLL CALLVOTE: 4-0, COUNCILMEMBER GROFF ABSENT). BY A. Hurtado. A. Consider Resolution Establishing Fares for the Pilot Mobility On-Demand Rideshare Program and Determining that this Action is Exempt Under Article 18 of the California Environmental Quality Act. Staff Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 2022-4085 establishing transit fares for the Pilot Mobility On- Demand Rideshare Program and determining that the action is exempt under Article 18 of CEQA in that the fare establishment is being undertaken in furtherance of one of the permitted purposes stated in Section 15273(a)(1), Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges: The rate establishment is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) (Staff: Shaun Kroes, Public Works Manager) Item: 8.A. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Shaun Kroes, Public Works Manager DATE: 04/06/2022 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Establishing Fares for the Pilot Mobility On- Demand Rideshare Program and Determining that this Action is Exempt Under Article 18 of the California Environmental Quality Act SUMMARY Staff is recommending that City Council approve proposed fares for the Pilot Mobility On- Demand Rideshare Program and find that the Fares are Exempt under Article 18 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). BACKGROUND On March 16, 2022, the City Council approved the “Pilot Mobility On-Demand Rideshare Program (Pilot Program) Guidelines”. The Pilot Program will explore the feasibility of replacing portions of the City’s fixed-route bus service with a general Dial-A-Ride service that is intended to provide more efficient service to the City’s residents at a reduced cost. During the March 16, 2022, the City Council was presented with proposed fares for the Pilot Program which were to be brought back to City Council during a formal Public Hearing for adoption. DISCUSSION Table 1 on the following page provides the proposed fares along with comparisons to other Moorpark City Transit (MCT) fares as well as other transit services in and near Ventura County. Although Agoura Hills Transit is in Los Angeles County, staff included its fare information for an additional general dial-a-ride (DAR) service comparison. Item: 8.A. 1 Honorable City Council 04/06/2022 Regular Meeting Page 2 Table 1: Proposed Pilot Program Fares & Transit Agency Fare Comparisons Transit Agency Standard Fare Senior/Disabled Fare MCT Pilot Program $1.00 $0.50 MCT Bus $1.00 $0.00 MCT Local DAR n/a $2.00 Valley Express DAR* $2.00 $2.00 Camarillo Area Transit DAR $3.00 $2.00 Agoura Hills DAR $1.50 $1.50 *Valley Express (which serves Fillmore, Santa Paula and Piru) currently has a half-off promotion of $1.00 per trip; fare will return to $2.00 per trip effective July 1. Not included in Table 1 is information related to the ages of children that can ride for free with a paying customer. For the MCT Pilot Program, children five and younger riding with a fare-paying passenger ride for free (same as the MCT bus service). For Valley Express service, children under the age of five ride for free (also with a fare-paying passenger). Staff is proposing that the Pilot Program standard fare be $1.00 per trip; matching the MCT bus service fare. The fare is proposed to be the same in order to encourage use of the Pilot Program over the fixed route bus (no price competition). The Pilot Program proposes a $0.50 per trip fare for seniors (age 65 and older) and passengers with a disability. The fare is more than the current free service on the MCT bus service; however, it is significantly less expensive than the $2.00 per trip on the senior/disabled local DAR service. Declaration of Finding: Exemption to California Environmental Quality Act The Community Development Director finds that the proposed fare establishment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Title 14 of California Code of Regulations, Chapter 3, Article 18, Section 15273(a)(1). Transit fares may be subject to the provisions of CEQA when such increases are intended to fund capital projects for the expansion of a system. CEQA grants an exemption under Title 14, Chapter 3, Article 18, Statutory Exemptions, Section 15273 for the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, or other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of 1) meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits, 2) purchasing or leasing supplies, equipment, or materials, 3) meeting financial reserve needs and requirements, 4) obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing service areas, or 5) obtaining funds necessary to maintain those intracity transfers as are authorized by city charter (CCR Section 15273). In order to claim an exemption under Section 15273, the agency must make written findings in the record stating the facts supporting the claim of exemption. Accordingly, the City makes the following declarative statement: 2 Honorable City Council 04/06/2022 Regular Meeting Page 3 The proposed fare establishment is necessary to meet operating expenses (including employee wage rates and fringe benefits). This is one of the permitted purposes stated in Section 15273(a)(1), Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges. Therefore, the Community Development Director finds that the rate establishment for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15273(a)(1) of CEQA. FISCAL IMPACT As the cost of the City’s contract provider begins at $89.63 per revenue hour for the first year of service, establishment of a fare is necessary to help meet operating expenses and will not be used to fund capital expenditures for the expansion of a system. In addition, funding generated through this rate establishment will be used to ensure the City will continue to receive Federal and State transit funding. Fares collected will help to offset Program expenses. Due to the nature of the Pilot Program, staff does not have an initial estimate of how much revenue will be collected. COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE This action supports City Council Strategy 2.16: “Determine success of Pilot Mobility RideShare Program to provide reliable equitable transit services throughout the City.” STAFF RECOMMENDATION (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUIRED) Approve Resolution No. 2022-____ establishing transit fares for the Pilot Mobility On- Demand Rideshare Program and determining that the action is exempt under Article 18 of CEQA in that the fare establishment is being undertaken in furtherance of one of the permitted purposes stated in Section 15273(a)(1), Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges: The rate establishment is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits. Attachment: Resolution No. 2022-____ 3 ATTACHMENT RESOLUTION NO. 2022-____ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING THE FARES FOR THE PILOT MOBILITY ON-DEMAND RIDESHARE PROGRAM, AND DETERMINING THAT THIS ACTION IS EXEMPT UNDER ARTICLE 18 OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT WHEREAS, it is appropriate for the City to establish fees and charges for City services which fully reimburse the City for the associated services, unless specified otherwise by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City is providing a new Pilot Mobility On-Demand Rideshare Program to provide general dial-a-ride services throughout the City. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The Community Development Director finds that the proposed fare establishment is exempt under Article 18 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that the fare establishment is being undertaken in furtherance of one of the permitted purposes stated in Section 15273(a), Rates, Tolls, Fares, and Charges. The Community Development Director finds that the rate establishment is for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits (Section 15273(a)(1)) SECTION 2. The general fare for a one-way ride $1.00. SECTION 3. The senior fare for a one-way ride for a person aged 65 or older is $0.50. SECTION 4. The accessible fare for a one-way ride for an individual with a disability is $0.50. SECTION 5. Children aged five and younger, when accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible person aged 16 or older, may ride on the Pilot Mobility On Demand Rideshare Program for free. SECTION 6. A personal care assistant (PCA) for a certified Americans with Disabilities Act rider may ride for free if the PCA’s trip origin and destination match the ADA rider’s. 4 Resolution No. 2022-____ Page 2 SECTION 7. The City Manager is authorized to establish special promotional fare offers, discounts, or passes from time to time, such as a Summer Youth Pass, or a Rider Appreciation Day fare holiday, for the purpose of promoting public transit ridership and good community relations. SECTION 8. The City Manager is authorized to approve additional fare options (such as a ridership reimbursement program) or passenger pass/transfer acceptance program. SECTION 9. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption by the City Council and shall remain in effect until rescinded by the City Council. SECTION 10. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of the resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original Resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of April, 2022. _____________________________________ Janice S. Parvin, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ Ky Spangler, City Clerk 5