HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW Traffic Mitigation Fee Report 2017f SAN RAFAEL
THE CITY WITH A MISSION
Agenda Item No: .q
Meeting Date: January 17, 2017
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works
Prepared by: Bill Guerin, City Manager Approval:
Director of Public Works
TOPIC: ANNUAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE REPORT File No.: 01.26.01
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ACCEPTING
THE ANNUAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE REPORT AND APPROVING THE DETERMINATION
THAT A REASONABLE RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE CURRENT NEED FOR TRAFFIC
MITIGATION FEES HELD OVER FIVE YEARS AND THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE
ORIGINALLY COLLECTED.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution accepting annual traffic mitigation fee report.
BACKGROUND: Traffic Mitigation fees are a type of development impact or public facility fees. They
are charged by a local governmental agency to an applicant in connection with the approval of a
development project. They are not a tax or special assessment. Rather, their purpose is to offset the cost
of public facilities made necessary by the development project. In the case of Traffic Mitigation Fees,
the fees are collected to provide funds for increasing street capacity to accommodate additional traffic
generated by new development. Assembly Bill 1600 (California Government Codes §66000 — 66025)
established requirements for how cities collect, maintain and spend impact fees. The focus of this report
is on the impact fee portion of the law.
The City's Traffic Mitigation Fees were enacted in 1988 in connection with General Plan 2000 and that
document's projections for growth and future traffic patterns in the City. The Circulation Element of
General Plan 2020 calls for continued implementation and periodic updating of Traffic Mitigation Fees
in order to fund the long list of traffic improvements mentioned in the General Plan as well as other
circulation needs that may arise as the City is developed. (General Plan 2020, Programs C-6, C-7)
Impact fees must demonstrate a reasonable connection between the fee charged and the cost of the
improvements for which they are collected, must be deposited in a separate account, segregated from the
city's general fund, and used only for the identified improvements. AB 1600 requires cities to spend or
commit the fees within 5 years of collection, or return them to the developer unless a finding can be
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: 9-10-20) x 9-3-40
Council Meeting: 01/17/2017
Disposition: Resolution 14261
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Paae: 2
made that a reasonable relationship continues to exist between the current need for the fee and the
purpose for which it was originally collected (Gov. Code §66001(d)).
Of the City's various development fees, the Traffic Mitigation Fee is the only such fee subject to AB
1600 reporting. Pursuant to Government Code Section §66006, cities must publish annual reports on
these fees, which are to be available to the public within 6 months of the end of a fiscal year. In addition,
the city must review the report at a public meeting not less than 15 days after the information is made
available.
ANALYSIS: The Traffic Mitigation Fee report consists of the following seven elements:
1. Fee description: The Traffic Mitigation Fee is charged to new development projects. It is
intended to pay for those circulation system improvements identified in General Plan 2020
needed to accommodate the proposed development or, as stated in section C-6 of General Plan
2020, for "Other recommended roadway improvements, including additional improvements that
may become necessary in the long term and are desirable to enhance San Rafael's circulation
system..." The Plan lists 32 long-term roadway improvement projects, 24 of which are identified
to be partially funded with Traffic Mitigation fees.
2. Amount of the fee: Each new A.M. and P.M. peak hour trip generated by a development is
charged $4,246. Fees are calculated based on land use types and their estimated trip rates.
3. Account beginning and ending balance, fees collected and interest accrued:
Fund balance July 1, 2015
$10,628,632
Revenue
• Interest income
$50,734
• Model run charges
$0
• Traffic Mitigation Fees
$336,106
Total Revenue
$386,840
Expenditures
• Model Updates
$0
• Capital Projects
$2,174,278
Total Expenditures
$2,174,278
Net Change Fund Balance
-$1,787,438
Fund Balance June 30, 2016
$8,841,194
4. List of improvements on which fees were expended, amount of expenditure and total percentage
of cost covered by fee: A list of all major planned circulation improvements identified in the
General Plan is provided in Attachment 2 of this report. Following are three examples of projects
for which Traffic Mitigation Fees are currently being used or planned for use, 2 of which are
active and one long term:
a. Freitas/Las Gallinas Intersection Improvements — the project will upgrade traffic signal
system and operations, improve pedestrian safety and intersection geometry. The bid
opening is set for January 2017. Construction is tentatively scheduled for summer 2017.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
The project will utilize approximately $2.7 million of the $5.22 Traffic Mitigation Fund
balance held 5+ years.
b. Tamalpais Ave. Queue Cutter Improvements — the project will reduce the possibility of
traffic backing up on to the SMART rail line at Mission Avenue, Fifth Avenue and
Fourth Street. Queue Cutter traffic signals will be constructed at each of the three
crossings. The project will utilize $1.864 million of the $7.359 Traffic Mitigation Fund
balance held 5+ years. Although not specifically identified in the General Plan, this
project falls under the general category of signal improvements.
c. Mission Ave./Lincoln Ave. — this is a long-term project which will provide additional
northbound and westbound lanes and will upgrade the traffic signal system. Right-of-way
acquisition will be required. The projected cost is $4 million, all of which will come from
the Traffic Mitigation Fund.
5. Approximate date by which construction will commence when City has determined that sufficient
funds have been collected: See No. 4 above. Projects identified in General Plan 2020 are major
infrastructure improvements which often require substantial state and federal funding in addition
to Traffic Mitigation resources. Scheduling of those projects therefore depends upon the
availability of these supplemental funds.
6. Any interfund loan or transfer, including the public improvement where it will be spent: No
interfund transfers were made.
7. Refunds made due to sufficient funds being collected: No refunds were made.
An analysis of the accumulated fund balance follows. A first in, first out (FIFO) accounting method
assumes the first revenue collected is the first spent. Staff analyzed the annual balances for the past 5
fiscal years and determined that $5,252,485 has been held for more than 5 years, as shown in the
following table:
Traffic Mitigation Fund #246
0-1 Year
1-2 Years
2-3 Years
Unspent &
Unspent &
Unspent &
received in
received in
received in
FY 15-16
FY 14-15
FY 13-14
$386,840
$660,888
$168,851
3-4 Years
4-5 Years
Unspent &
Unspent &
received in
received in
FY 12-13
FY 11-12
$2,337,703
$34,427
5+ Years
Unspent & Balance as
received 1/1/89 of 6/30/16
to 6/30/11
$5,252,485 $8,841,194
A finding must be made that a reasonable relationship exists between the current need for the fees and
the purposes for which they were originally charged.
As evidenced by the Freitas/Las Gallinas Intersection Improvements, Queue Cutter, and Mission
Avenue/Lincoln Avenue projects described above, current traffic improvement projects underscore the
connection between the current need for the fees and the purpose for which they were originally
collected. The funds currently held by the City for more than 5 years are already planned for use in
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4
specific projects. Further, overall, the total cost of the 24 Circulation Element improvements is
estimated at $58 million, of which $38.6 million (67%) would come from traffic mitigation fees.
FISCAL IMPACT: If the City Council makes a finding that a reasonable relationship continues to exist
(staff recommendation), the fund balance remains $8,841,194. If the City Council does not find that a
reasonable relationship exists, $5,252,485 will be returned and the fund balance will be $3,588,709
($8,841,194 - $5,252,485 = $3,588,709).
OPTIONS:
Accept the report and adopt the Resolution as recommended;
Accept the report with modifications and adopt the Resolution with amended findings; or
Reject the report and do not adopt the Resolution.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: Accept the Traffic Mitigation Fee Report and adopt the resolution
making a Ending that a reasonable relationship continues to exist between the current need for Traffic
Mitigation Fees held over 5 years and the purposes for which they were originally charged.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit 21 from General Plan 2020: "Major Planned Circulation Improvements"
RESOLUTION NO. 14261
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
ACCEPTING THE ANNUAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE REPORT AND
APPROVING THE DETERMINATION THAT A REASONABLE
RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE CURRENT NEED FOR TRAFFIC
MITIGATION FEES HELD OVER FIVE YEARS AND THE PURPOSES FOR
WHICH THEY WERE ORIGINALLY COLLECTED
WHEREAS, the City's Circulation Element of General Plan 2020
identifies improvements necessitated by continued development in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City has adopted a Capital Improvement program that has
been developed to prioritize and guide the construction of the needed improvements and
which allocates funds to construct the improvements as mitigation for continued
development; and
WHEREAS, these improvements are scheduled to be constructed over
time as sufficient funds become available; and
WHEREAS, the City imposes a Traffic Mitigation Fee on new
development projects for the purpose of paying for those circulation system improvements
identified in General Plan 2020 needed to accommodate the development; and
WHEREAS, the City's Traffic Mitigation Fee fund contains some funds
that have been held for over five years; and
WHEREAS, City staff has presented to the City Council an annual report
on the Traffic Mitigation Fees as required by Government Code Section §66006; and
WHEREAS, the circulation system improvements identified in General
Plan 2020 are of such size that insufficient funds have been collected or obtained to
construct these improvements within the five year expenditure period provided by
Government Code Section §66001(d); and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Mitigation Fees that have been held for over five
years are currently planned for specific pending or upcoming projects; and
WHEREAS, there continues to be a distinct nexus between continued
development and the necessity to mitigate development impacts on traffic circulation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby
accepts the annual report on Traffic Mitigation Fees, and finds that a reasonable
relationship exists between the current need for the Traffic Mitigation Fees held over five
years and the purposes for which they were originally charged.
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the
Council of said City on Tuesday, the 17th of January, 2017 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
4. f&j.-A c � rem
ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk
Exhibit 21
Major Planned Circulation Improvements a
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
Funding Source
Proposed Roadway Improvements
Projected Cost Mitigation Fee Redevelopment State & Federal Projected Project Timing (b)
1 Smith Ranch Road/Lucas Valley Road
$4,000,000 $4,000,000 Depends On Development Timing
Widen roadway to provide two westbound and two
eastbound lanes between Redwood Highway and
Los Gamos.
Widen northbound 101 off ramp and southbound
101 off ramp for additional right and left turn lanes.
2 Lucas Valley/Los Gamos
$2,000,000 $2,000,000 Depends On Development Timing
Widen Lucas Valley Road to provide two through
lanes for eastbound and westbound, and provide
two westbound left turn lanes.
Widen southbound Los Gamos to provide 2 lanes
for 300 feet and merge back to one lane.
Signalize intersection and coordinate with adjacent
intersections.
3 Las Gallinas Avenue (Merrydale to Del
$300,000 $300,000 Depends On Development Timing
Presidio)
Remove parking and widen street to provide four
lanes (one southbound, two northbound and one
two-way left turn).
4 Freitas/Las Gallinas
$650,000 $650,000 5-7 years
Upgrade the traffic signal system and operation.
Improve intersection geometry, cover portions of
drainage ditch
5 Freitas/Del Presidio
$900,000 $900,000 Depends On Development Timing
Explore feasibility of double northbound right turn
and southbound 101 on ramp widening
6 Freitas/ Northbound 101 Ramps- Redwood-
$7,500,000 $7,500,000 Depends On Development Timing
Civic Center widening and signalization.
Right of Way Required.
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
Funding Source
Proposed Roadway Improvements
Projected Cost
Mitigation Fee
Redevelopment State & Federal
Projected Project Timing (b)
7
Grand Avenue (south of Grand Avenue bridge
to Fourth Street)
Widen north/south, add one lane as required, and
$6,500,000
$3,250,000
$3,250,000
Depends On Development Timing
upgrade traffic signal system. Requires right of way
and major bridge widening.
Signalize Grand/ Fifth, and restrict parking to
$200,000
$200,000
5-7 years
provide turn lanes.
Signalize Grand/ Mission, and restrict parking to
$200,000
$200,000
5-7 years
provide turn lanes.
8
Francisco Blvd. East (Bellam to Grand Avenue
Bridge)
Four lanes required. One southbound, one two-way
$10,000,000
$5,000,000
$5,000,000
Depends On Development Timing
left turn and two northbound lanes. Major right of
way required.
Signalize Francisco Blvd. East/Harbor.
$200,000
$200,000
5-7 years
9
Lincoln Avenue (Second Street to southbound
101 ramps - Hammondale or as required)
Extend the existing PM peak northbound Tow-
$400,000
$400,000
3-5 years
Away zone for AM peak as well (four lanes may be
required). This parking restriction is likely to be
extended north toward the southbound 101 ramps.
Signalize Lincoln/ Grand, and restrict parking to
$200,000
$200,000
3-5 years
provide turn lanes.
10
Mission/Lincoln
$4,000,000
$4,000,000
Depends On Development Timing
Provide additional lanes for northbound, and
westbound; upgrade traffic signal system, requires
right of way.
11
Fourth Street (Miracle Mile)
$450,000
$450,000
5-7years
Re -align Ross Valley and Santa Margarita and re-
design intersection operation. LOS may deteriorate
but community access will be provided.
Additional Signalization
12
Signalize Fifth & H Street, and restrict parking to
$100,000
$100,000
3 years
provide turn lanes.
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
$4,000,000 $4,000,000
$500,000
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$38,600,000
$500,000
$15,350,000
Projected Project Timing (b)
3 years
3 years
Depends On Development Timing
Depends On Development Timing
5-7years
Depends On Development Timing
2 years
Depends On Development Timing
$1,000,000 5-7 years
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$4,000,000
7 years
7 years
7 years
Widen Union Street to provide 4 lanes between
Funding Source
Proposed Roadway Improvements
Projected Cost
Mitigation Fee
Redevelopment State & Federal
13
Signalize First/C Street, and restrict parking to
$150,000
$150,000
provide turn lanes.
Upgrade the traffic signal system and operation.
14
Signalize First/ D Street, and restrict parking to
$150,000
$150,000
Andersen Drive Undercrossing
provide turn lanes.
Provide a minimum 3 -lane connector near
15
Signalize Fourth/Union Street, and restrict parking
$200,000
$200,000
Andersen /East Sir Francis Drake -eastbound
$2,000,000
to provide turn lanes.
580 Ramps
16
Signalize or Roundabout Mission/Court Street.
$200,000
$100,000
$100,000
17
Signalize Merrydale/Southbound 101 Ramps, and
$250,000
$250,000
system.
provide turn lanes.
Install Fiber Optic network throughout the
$2,000,000
18
Signalize Lincoln/DuBois/Irwin and re -align
$2,500,000
Sub Total
$2,500,000
intersection. Right of way required.
19
Third/Union Street
$900,000
$900,000
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
$4,000,000 $4,000,000
$500,000
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$38,600,000
$500,000
$15,350,000
Projected Project Timing (b)
3 years
3 years
Depends On Development Timing
Depends On Development Timing
5-7years
Depends On Development Timing
2 years
Depends On Development Timing
$1,000,000 5-7 years
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$4,000,000
7 years
7 years
7 years
Widen Union Street to provide 4 lanes between
Third and Fourth. Fire Station 4 modification
required.
Reconfigure Third/Union eastbound left turn
pocket.
Provide westbound right turn pocket.
Upgrade the traffic signal system and operation.
20
Kerner Blvd or Francisco Blvd. East. To
$8,000,000
Andersen Drive Undercrossing
Provide a minimum 3 -lane connector near
Shoreline Parkway. Signalize at both ends.
21
Andersen /East Sir Francis Drake -eastbound
$2,000,000
580 Ramps
Major widening and signalization.
22
Upgrade traffic signal system.
$3,000,000
23
Install traffic monitoring sensors and camera
$1,000,000
system.
24
Install Fiber Optic network throughout the
$2,000,000
traffic system.
Sub Total
$57,950,000
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
$4,000,000 $4,000,000
$500,000
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$38,600,000
$500,000
$15,350,000
Projected Project Timing (b)
3 years
3 years
Depends On Development Timing
Depends On Development Timing
5-7years
Depends On Development Timing
2 years
Depends On Development Timing
$1,000,000 5-7 years
$1,500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
$4,000,000
7 years
7 years
7 years
Proposed Roadway Improvements
Other Projects
25 Implement Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
26 Pedestrian bridge at Third/Hetherton — GGT
Transportation Center
27 Pedestrian bridge to connect Canal to Andersen
Drive/Downtown.
28 Pedestrian bridge to connect Canal to Montecito
Shopping Center.
29 Freitas / Northbound 101 Ramps - Redwood -Civic
Center or a new flyover from Civic Center Dr. to
Freitas.
30 Second Street (from E Street to east side of A
Street).
The projected volume requires right turn lanes or
through/right lanes be added in the long term. Right
of way required.
31 Pedestrian bridge over Canal between the Canal
and Montecito/Happy Valley neighborhoods.
32 North San Rafael Promenade
Sub Total Other Projects
Grand Total Project Cost
Funding Source
Projected Cost Mitigation Fee Redevelopment State & Federal Projected Project Timing (b)
Projected Cost
City Funds
Redevelopment
State & Federal
$5,300,000
$2,650,000
$2,650,000
7-20 years
$2,000,000
$500,000
$500,000
$1,000,000
Depends On SMART, 10-20 years
$4,500,000
$1,125,000
$1,125,000
$2,250,000
10-20 years
$4,000,000
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
$2,000,000
10-20 years
$12,000,000
$6,000,000
$6,000,000
Depends On Development Timing
$6,000,000
$1,500,000
$3,000,000
$1,500,000
10-20 years
$4,000,000 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 10-20 years
$2,000,000 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 10-20 years
$39,800,000 $14,775,000 $7,625,000 $17,400,000
$97,750,000
(a) Priorities for circulation improvements are set in the Capital Improvements Program. This list may be amended as part of the five-year General Plan update.
(b) The timing for the improvements depends on the size, type and phasing of additional development. Policies LU -2 (Development Timing) requires findings when project -
related traffic will not cause the LOS to be exceeded.
Source: San Rafael Public Works Department
Amended and reprinted 01/18/13
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AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS 4 [DEPT -
AGENDA TOPIC]
Agenda Item #
Date of Meeting: 1/17/2017
From: Bill Guerin
Department: Public Works
Date: 12/21/2016
Topic: ANNUAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE REPORT
Subject: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
ACCEPTING THE ANNUAL TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEE REPORT AND APPROVING THE
DETERMINATION THAT A REASONABLE RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE
CURRENT NEED FOR TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEES HELD OVER FIVE YEARS AND THE
PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE ORIGINALLY COLLECTED
Type: ® Resolution ❑ Ordinance
❑ Professional Services Agreement ❑ Other: Staff Report
APPROVALS
® Finance Director
Remarks: approved - MM - 12/30/16
® City Attorney
Remarks: LG -Approved 1/9/17
® Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes
Remarks: KM - Approved 1-10-17
® City Manager