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Home My WebLink About2002 09 09 Regular K ADA Paratransit Services for FY 2003 090902 Regular K County Manager Request to Speak on ADA Paratransit Page I of2 COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM K Consent Informational Public Hearing Regular X Meeting Mgr.~ / Dept. Authorization REQUEST: County Manager Kevin Grace requesting to address the Commission regarding the Commission's decision of August 12, 2002 to deny funding of ADA Para transit services for FY 2003. PURPOSE: County Manager Kevin Grace desires to address the City Commission to try to convince the Commission to reconsider its decision to deny ADA Paratransit funding. CONSIDERATIONS: On August 12, 2002 the City Commission reviewed the County's request for the City to participate in the funding of para transit services for FY 03 in the amount of$38,037. The Commission decided to deny the request since the County would not agree to reimburse the City in future years and the small degree of ridership. Mr. Grace desires to provide the Commission with information he believes could change the Commission's decision. FUNDING: The County requested $38,037 for FY 2003. These funds would have to come from the General Fund. RECOMMENDA TION: It is recommended that the Commission hear Mr. Grace's information and make any decision it deems appropriate. 090902 Regular K County Manager Request to Speak on ADA Paratransit Page 2 of2 ATTACHMENTS: 1. August 14,2002 Letter to Kevin Grace. 2. July 22,2002 Agenda Item Regular E, heard at the August 12,2002 Commission Meeting. COMMISSION ACTION: CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434 WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA 32708.2799 Telephone (407) 327.1800 Ronald W. McLemore City Manager August 14, 2002 Kevin Grace, Manager Seminole County Government 1101 East First Street Sanford, FL 32771 Dear Kevin: This letter is to advise you that the City Commission considered the para-transit item at the August 12, 2002 Commission meeting and decided not to participate as proposed by the County. This decision was not based upon a basic disagreement with the concept but on the suprisingly small number of persons being served in the city revealed in the more recent data. However, the Commission did agree to participate on the basis described in my letter of April 24, 2002 .in which the County would agree to reimburse the City for its $38,037 share within two years. If you have any questions, please call me at your convenience. Sincerely, ~ Ronald W. McLemore City Manager /jp cc: Mayor and Commission U:\Docs\Word\LcttersWear 2002\Aug 02\Para Transit Participation.doc COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM E CONSENT INFORMA TIONAL PUBLIC HEARING REGULAR X July 22, 2002 Meeting MGR /DEPT ICA REQUEST: The Community Development Department requests direction from the City Commission on funding ADA Paratransit services in FY 2002 to 2003. PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to request a final decision from the City Commission regarding the pro rata contribution requested by LYNX for ADA Paratransit services. CONSIDERA TIONS: · ADA Paratransit is a demand- or subscription-responsive program, which provides door- to-door service to transportation disadvantaged (economically, mentally and physically, general ridership, and human service) patrons and does not conform to the scheduled or fixed routes of traditional mass transit. · The American Disabilities Act requires that Paratransit service area be provided within 3/4 miles of existing bus routes. · LYNX has historically provided door-to-door Paratransit service beyond the required area on a needed or requested basis. · A funding shortfall is projected for the continuation of all transit services in the County, since contributions from funding partners have remained stable by comparison to rising operating costs. · County policy makers are concerned about imposing additional gas taxes to fund public transit in the same year the public has approved additional taxes for road improvements. · The funding shortfall has prompted LYNX to reduce Paratransit service to the required minimum (within % miles of existing bus routes, instead of the historic door-to-door service), effective October 1, 2002. · LYNX has requested that funding partners contribute a pro rata share of funds that would continue Paratransit service beyond the required minimum. · LYNX has provided a updated table of projected Paratransit service costs and trip estimates for FY 2002 to 2003 to serve 50 clierits in the City of Winter Springs, summarized as follows: *Pro.iected Trips : *ProJected Cost at $21.85 per Trip July 22, 2002 Regular Agenda Item E Page 2 Inside % Mile Outside % Mile Inside % Mile 494 1,909 2,403 $7,823 .Projections reflect the most recent information available as of May 23, 2002. Outside % Mile $30,214 Total Costs $38,037 · On March 25,2002, the City Commission directed staff to obtain from LYNX and/or work toward the following objectives: a. Documentation of existing and potential ridership in the City. b. Identification by policy makers of a source of funding other than general funds to finance ridership; and ideally c. Identification of a metropolitan wide source of funds to operate a metropolitan wide transportation system. · On April 22, 2002, staff presented LYNX's explanation of the methodology for the study which resulted in ADA Paratransit client counts by residence, number of actual trips taken annually, project trips, and projected costs. · On April 22, 2002, the City Commission approved an appropriation of $52,516 for one (1) year, contingent upon the adoption of an interlocal agreement between the City and Seminole County for the imposition of a new funding source for that project year and for the repayment of the fund expended by the City over no more than two (2) years outside the year of funding. · On April 22, 2002, the City Commission also directed staff to challenge the Paratransit service costs and trip estimates provided by LYNX, justify the data to the satisfaction of the Commission and present it as additional information at a future meeting date. · LYNX provided an explanation of the methodology used to determine existing ADA ridership and projected operating costs in the City, which subsequently reduced the initial request from $52,516 to $38,037. This information was presented by staff to the City Commission at the June 10, 2002 regular meeting. · On June 10, 2002, the City Commission directed the Mayor to prepare a letter requesting that LYNX further justify the projected service costs and trip estimates. · On June 14,2002, the Mayor prepared a letter requesting that LYNX further justify the projected service costs and trip estimates, as shown in Attachment A. · On June 20, 2002, the Seminole County Board of Commissioners accepted the recommendations of the Mayors and Managers Committee (Attachment B) and determined the 9th cent local gas tax revenues would only be used to fund fixed route services in FY 2002 to 2003 and that individual cities would be responsible for funding their pro rata share of ADA services during the same period. · The Seminole County Board of Commissioners further committed to working with LYNX's funding partners to identify a funding source for ADA Paratransit beyond FY 2002 to 2003. · The County's decision to limit funding in the next fiscal year only to fixed route services thereby rescinds the City Commission's conditional appropriation of$52,516 on April 22, 2002, and further direction is requested from the Commission for final disposition of this item. RECOMMENDATION: July 22, 2002 Regular Agenda Item E Page 3 Staff recommends the City Commission consider the following alternatives and make a decision regarding ADA funding in FY 2002 to 2003: A. Approve LYNX's requested .appropriation of $38,037 without reimbursement from Seminole County; or B. Deny the request. A TT ACHMENTS: A. Letter from Mayor to LYNX, dated June 14, 2002 B. Letter from Seminole County Manager's Office, dated June 13, 2002 COMMISSION ACTION: