| | | | | | | | 
AGENDA REPORT
|
| | | | | | | | DATE:
| January 21, 2020
| TO:
| Mayor and City Council
| FROM:
| Stefan T. Chatwin, City Manager 
| | SUBJECT: | Resolution 2020-02 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield to Nominate Solano Business Park/Busch Corporate Center to the Association of Bay Area Governments & Metropolitan Transportation for Adoption as a Priority Production Area; and
Resolution 2020-03 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield to Nominate the Train Station Employment Center to the Association of Bay Area Governments & Metropolitan Transportation for Adoption as a Priority Production Area; and
Resolution 2020-04 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing the City Manager to Submit to the Association of Bay Area Governments & Metropolitan Transportation a Letter of Commitment to Adopt Policies for Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled |
|
| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION | Adopt resolutions.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | STATEMENT OF ISSUE | | The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) are requiring communities to formally nominate major employment areas as “Priority Production Areas” to qualify for future infrastructure and planning grants. Two areas recommended for nomination are the Train Station Specific Plan Employment Center and Solano Business Park/Busch Corporate Commons. |
|
| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION | As a core element of their regional planning program, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) established the Priority Development Area (PDA) program. The intent of this program was to foster infill development near major transit corridors and centers. PDAs were eligible for funding for planning and infrastructure, and Fairfield has received several grants associated with the program.
In their evaluation of the planning program, ABAG/MTC is expanding the program to address major employment centers that were not necessarily eligible for standard PDA designation. The Priority Production Area (PPA) program allows cities to designate major employment centers with transit access. ABAG/MTC are requiring cities to submit formal resolutions nominating PPAs in January. Staff is recommending the employment center in the Train Station Specific Plan and Solano Business Park/Busch Corporate Commons.
Concurrently, ABAG/MTC are also requesting cities participating in the PDA/PPA program commit to adopting policies reducing Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) in order to address air quality and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Adopting these policies will assure that the City remains an active participant in the PDA/PPA Program and thus will be eligible for future planning and capital funding grants.
Under SB743, VMT is a new focus of State policy, with VMT reductions and VMT as the threshold of significance in environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City has already contracted with DKS Engineering to develop baseline information on VMT and standards for mitigation and reducing the CO2 and air quality impacts of traffic congestion.
ABAG/MTC are requiring a commitment to one of two policy option packages. Staff proposes submitting to ABAG/MTC a Letter of Commitment to Option A:
A1. Parking and Transportation Demand Management. The City will work with major employers to reduce single vehicle occupancy commuting in favor of public transportation and active transportation (walking and bicycling). The objective is to tailor effective alternatives for workers and customers. This program also complements the City’s efforts to improve streets in the Heart of Fairfield Plan Area to encourage walking and bicycling as well as the proposed active transportation network in the Train Station Specific Plan area.
A2. Transportation Impact Fee Study. The City will review and update the Citywide AB1600 Fee Program after completion of the forthcoming General Plan Update to fund multimodal infrastructure and other transportation improvements designed to reduce VMT. These fees may also fund improvements citywide and in our PDAs.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT | The PPA program will have no direct financial impact to the City. However, participation will potentially qualify the City for regional infrastructure and planning grants.
The VMT reduction policies will have no direct financial impact to the City and will be an element of the forthcoming General Plan Update and AB1600 Update. |
|
| | | | | | | | | CITY COUNCIL WORKPLAN | Community Safety
| Community Infrastructure | Quality of Life | | Financial and Operational Sustainability | Economic Development | Travis Air Force Base |
| City Council Goal this item supports:
Economic Development |
|
| | | | | | | | | Priority Project: | #5B.7 Heart of Fairfield
|
|
| | | | | | | | | PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION | None. Any future planning efforts associated with the Priority Production Areas will include public outreach and involvement. These resolutions are only a preliminary step.
|
|
| | | | | | | | | ALTERNATIVE ACTION | | The City Council could decide not to nominate the two PPAs for consideration by ABAG/MTC. Note, if the City chooses not to participate in the program, future funding which could be allocated to Fairfield would be redistributed to other jurisdictions by ABAG/MTC. |
|
| | | | | | | | | STAFF CONTACT | Brian K. Miller, Associate Planner
707-428-7446,
bkmiller@fairfield.ca.gov
|
|
| | | | | | | | | COORDINATED WITH | Finance Department, Public Works Department
|
|
| REVIEWERS: | | Reviewer | Action | Date | | Answerer | Approved | 1/6/2020 - 7:05 PM | | Feinstein, David | Approved | 1/6/2020 - 8:39 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 1/7/2020 - 10:57 AM | | Answerer | Approved | 1/7/2020 - 12:06 PM |
|
|