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2024/11/12 City Council Resolution 2024-099 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-099 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK APPROVING LETTER OF AGREEMENT FOR PARTICIPATION IN SONOMA COUNTY TRANSIT (SCT) FARE-FREE PROGRAM FOR LOCAL ROUTES 10, 12 & 14 AND LOCAL PARATRANSIT SERVICE, AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE TO EXECUTE LETTER OF AGREEMENT AND APPROPRIATING $42,000 IN MEASURE M TRANSPORTATION FUNDS IN FY 2024-25 FOR SCT SERVICES WHEREAS, Sonoma County Transit (SCT) provides bus services in Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Sonoma, Sonoma Valley and Guerneville/Monte Rio, including local fixed-route service, intercity transit service, and paratransit services; and WHEREAS, since 2015, SCT has offered fare-free and discount programs benefitting many transit users, especially low-income households, students and seniors, who are less likely to have a personal vehicle and for whom public transit is essential for employment, education and community participation; and WHEREAS,transit fare-free and discount programs are usually funded through federal, state and local transportation, transit, air quality and climate action funding programs; temporary federal pandemic relief programs like the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA); and funding partnerships with the municipalities and schools; and WHEREAS, SCT Local Routes 10, 12, and 14, which largely serve Rohnert Park has remained fare-free for all riders and local paratransit in Rohnert Park has also remained fare-free since 2020; and WHEREAS, SCT does not currently have an agreement for a funding contribution from the City of Rohnert Park for the fare-free program for local routes or paratransit; and WHEREAS, the City desires to contribute to the fare-free program for the Local Routes 10, 12, and 14 and local paratransit services for the benefit of the community and to achieve City Council goals related to environmental sustainability and support of transit as set forth in the current General Plan and draft 2040 Rohnert Park General Plan. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park that the above recitals are true and correct and material to this Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED as follows: 1. The Letter of Agreement between the City of Rohnert Park and Sonoma County Transit, attached hereto as Exhibit A, is hereby approved and the City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to execute the Letter of Agreement. 2. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute all necessary documents pertaining to same for and on behalf of the City of Rohnert Park. 3. The Finance Director is hereby authorized to appropriate $42,000 from the Measure M Transportation Fund (Fund 4327) to fund the contribution to the Fare-Free Program for Local Routes 10, 12 & 14 and Local Paratransit Service. DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 12th day of November, 2024. CI F HN T PARK Susan H. Adams, Mayor ATTEST: Sylvia Lopez Cuevas, City Clerk A OV D FORM. 1 ; 'chelle M. Kenyo , City Attorney Attachments: Exhibit A ELWARD: RODRIGUEZ SANBORN: _G, IUDICE:2 .A ADAMS: AY S: () NOES: ( ABSENT: ( ABSTAIN: ( -�), Resolution 2024-099 Page 2 of 2 LETTER OF AGREEMENT Participation in Sonoma County Transit’s “Fare-Free” Program For Local Routes 10, 12 & 14 and Local Paratransit Service The following is an agreement between the City of Rohnert Park, hereinafter referred to as "CITY" and Sonoma County Transit, hereinafter referred to as “TRANSIT.” WHEREAS, CITY receives local public transit services provided by TRANSIT via Rohnert Park/Cotati local routes 10, 12 & 14. WHEREAS, CITY wishes to promote the use of local routes 10, 12 & 14, as a convenient local transportation alternative for travel within CITY’s incorporated area. THEREFORE, it is mutually agreed as follows: Program costs are determined by the appropriate fare for all passengers served on routes 10, 12, & 14 from the period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. Fares in effect at the time of this agreement are $1.50 for adult riders (over 18 years of age), $1.25 for Youth riders (6 to 18 years of age), $0.75 for Senior riders (65 years of age and above) and $0.75 for disabled riders. Under a current program funded by the Sonoma County Climate Resilience fund, Youth riders ride free. It is anticipated that local Measure DD funds will fund the free Youth program beginning July 1, 2025. TRANSIT will record the number of route 10, 12 & 14 riders, by fare type, and bill the CITY quarterly for its respective share of uncollected passenger fares. Paratransit passengers making local trips within Rohnert Park will be counted and changed the current paratransit local fare of $3.00 per trip. The CITY’s maximum contribution for FY 2024-25 is $42,000, for FY 2025-26 is $44,940 and for FY 2026-27 is $48,086. This agreement allows for a 7% annual increase to accommodate increased ridership. This agreement pertains to routes 10, 12, 14 and does not include fares collected on other Sonoma County Transit routes or services that operate in the Rohnert Park/Cotati area. TERM OF AGREEMENT: Agreement is effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. CITY agrees to notify COUNTY if it no longer wishes to participate in this program no later than May 15 prior to the upcoming fiscal year. METHOD AND PLACE OF GIVING NOTICE, SUBMITTING BILLS, AND MAKING PAYMENTS: All notices, bills, and payments shall be made in writing and may be given by personal delivery or by mail. Notices, bills, and payments sent by mail should be addressed as follows: For TRANSIT: Attn: Transit Systems Manager Sonoma County Transit 355 West Robles Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95407 (707) 585-7516 For CITY: Attn: City Manager City of Rohnert Park 130 Avram Avenue Rohnert Park, CA 94928-1180 (707) – 588-2226 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES: Nothing contained in this agreement shall be construed to create, and the parties do not intend to create, any rights in third parties. By: By: City of Rohnert Park Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Date: Date: By: Transit Systems Manager Sonoma County Transit Date: