REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL May 19, 2016 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Capital Management Division SUBJECT ..Title ***RESOLUTION -47th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2015-104 appropriating $60,000 for topographic survey and initial design work for three Midtown Trail segments including Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue and the Herndon Canal (Requires 5 affirmative votes) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution of the Council of the City of Fresno for the 47th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2015-104 to appropriate $60,000 for topographic survey and initial design work for three Midtown Trail segments including Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue and the Herndon Canal. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Staff wishes to appropriate $60,000 topographic survey and initial design work for three Midtown Trail segments including Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue and the Herndon Canal. This money will be used to begin the topographic survey and start the design process. BACKGROUND The region is faced with growing urbanization, poor air quality and health challenges such as higher than state average rates of obesity and asthma. Active transportation infrastructure such as trails provide dedicated space for physical activity and active commuting to schools, work and activity centers throughout the city. There has been growth in trails infrastructure projects since 2005, and recent investment in feasibility studies resulting in a long-term vision for trails in the mid-town area of the city. In 2014, the City of Fresno and the City of Clovis began meeting to discuss trail needs and partnership opportunities. The Metropolitan "Midtown" Trail vision was borne out of these discussions as well as feasibility analyses. At its completion, the Midtown Trail will run 7.1 miles east from Blackstone Avenue to Clovis Avenue. It will begin running east along Shields Avenue, heading south along the Herndon Canal near Millbrook Avenue before continuing east along McKinley Avenue. These trail corridors were included in the 2035 General Plan. The trail is broken into 5 segments, with segment two of five currently under design. On December 10, 2015, the Council adopted Resolution No. 2015-238, approving applications for funding three segments of the Midtown Trail from the regional Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement program, and anticipated award for two of the three segments. The remaining two segments will seek grant funding from Cycle Three of the Active Transportation Program. CMAQ awarded segments will be programmed into the 2018-19 fiscal year. However, beginning this work in fiscal year 2016-17 is anticipated to result in a cost savings of approximately $200,000 over the life of constructing the trail. Therefore, the Department of Public Works is requesting an AAR to begin surveying the length of the trail utilizing current Measure Trail C allocations. This early investment will result in long term cost savings, advance the ultimate completion of the project, and demonstrate a local commitment to cost sharing which may increase the overall competitiveness of future grant applications. Staff recommends Council approve the 47th Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2015-104 to appropriate $60,000 for topographic survey and initial design work for three Midtown Trail segments including Clovis Avenue, McKinley Avenue and the Herndon Canal. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines section 1537 this item does not qualify as a project for the purposes of CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not implemented because an AAR does not include a bid or an award of a construction or services agreement. FISCAL IMPACT Approval of this 47th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2015-104 will have no fiscal impact upon the General Fund. Funding will come from Measure "C" funds. Attachment: 47th Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2015-104