Submitted By: Tom Duncan, Transit Administrator
presenter
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Adopt Resolution 2024-40 to accept a Public Transportation Grant Agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Ocala for operational funding for the Ocala/Marion County Public Transit System, SunTran, in the amount of $790,550
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annually provides grant funding to communities to pay operating assistance up to 50 percent for fixed route public transit systems. To be awarded the funding, the City of Ocala must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT. The PTGA requires a local match of at least $790,550. The proposed resolution will be effective after the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2024.
On September 19, 2023, the City and Marion County adopted a new Interlocal Agreement that established their respective commitments of local funds necessary to operate SunTran. The agreement states that the percentages of support between the City of Ocala and Marion County may vary yearly based on service changes identified in the Transit Development Plan. Fiscal Year 2024-25 percentages will be 75 for the City of Ocala and 25 for Marion County.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The PTGA and the matching local funding are necessary to operate SunTran. Expenses include but are not limited to, paying RATP Dev to run the daily operations of SunTran, staff salaries for working on the federal and state grants that fund SunTran, fuel for the buses, and utilities for the SunTran Administration and Maintenance Facility.
FISCAL IMPACT: In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City of Ocala has budgeted $597,412 as its local match in account 494-381-000-000-19-38091. Marion County’s local match is $199,138. The local matches total $796,550. Staff will submit a budget resolution to accept and appropriate the $790,550 and local matches at the October 1, 2024, City Council meeting.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW: N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: This resolution and Agreement will be reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with changes
• Deny
• Table
RESOLUTION 2024-40
TO ACCEPT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GRANT AGREEMENT #442455-1-84-03 BETWEEN THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (FDOT) AND THE CITY OF OCALA FOR OPERATIONAL FUNDING FOR THE OCALA/MARION COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM, SUNTRAN, FOR $790,550
WHEREAS, FDOT annually provides grant funding to communities that will pay operating assistance up to 50% for fixed route public transit systems; and
WHEREAS, to be awarded the funding, the City of Ocala must enter into a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ocala has been awarded $790,550, pending approval of the PTGA, which requires a $790,550 local match; and
WHEREAS, the local commitments for this PTGA grant have been allocated by both the City of Ocala and Marion County in their Fiscal Year 2024-25 budgets; and
WHEREAS, FDOT PTGA funds are necessary to operate SunTran; and
WHEREAS, this resolution will be attached as Exhibit D to the PTGA; and
WHEREAS, the Agreement becomes effective on the later of October 1, 2024, or the date executed by FDOT.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, in regular session duly assembled that the City Council President is hereby authorized to execute and deliver to FDOT the adopted Public Transportation Grant Agreement # 442455-1-84-03.
This resolution was adopted by the City Council this ______ day of _________________, 2024,
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Barry Mansfield
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney
Reviewed for accounting accuracy and completeness:
By: _________________________________
Peter A. Lee
City Manager