REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, M.A., Director Department of Transportation BY: DANIEL COLBERT, Training Officer Department of Transportation SUBJECT ..Title Approve the service agreement between the City of Fresno, Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX), and the County of Fresno, Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Emergency Services (OES), in the amount $35,000 annually for a term of three years with the option of two one-year extensions to provide emergency transportation services to Fresno County residents when emergency/disaster evacuations have been ordered. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommend the Council approve the service agreement between the City of Fresno, Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX), and the County of Fresno, Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of Emergency Services (OES), in the amount of $35,000 annually for a term of three years with the option of two one-year extensions with a maximum compensation of $175,000 for a full-five year term. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Department seeks Council approval of the attached service agreement between FAX and the County of Fresno, for the provision of emergency transportation services in the event evacuations have been ordered in Fresno County due to an emergency/disaster. Under the terms of the service agreement, services delivered by FAX during such an event would include providing buses, bus drivers and Transit Supervisors to transport residents from areas in Fresno County under evacuation orders or evacuation warnings. BACKGROUND Fresno County has a responsibility to respond to various emergencies/disasters occurring in the unincorporated areas of the Fresno County operational Area and to coordinate and assist with disaster response in jurisdictions within the Fresno County Operational Area. The emergencies/disasters may necessitate issuing evacuation orders and evacuation warnings to residents located within and near areas affected by an emergency/disaster. Fresno County may need to request transportation resources from FAX to assist in evacuating areas under an evacuation order or warning in a timely manner. FAX has numerous buses, including wheelchair accessible buses, drivers and supervisors who can assist in transporting areas in Fresno County under evacuation order or evacuation warning to a designated safe location. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 the approval of the service agreement does not qualify as a "project"; as defined by CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not applicable as approval of this service agreement does not include the selection of a contractor. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this action. Any expenses generated as a result of this service agreement will be reimbursed by Fresno County. Attachment: Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno