HomeMy Public PortalAbout2015.143 (08-18-15)RESOLUTION NO. 2015.143
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD, URGING
THE STATE TO PROVIDE NEW SUSTAINABLE FUNDING FOR STATE AND LOCAL
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE
WHEREAS, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has called an extraordinary session
to address the immense underfunding of California's transportation infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties own and operate more than 81 percent of streets
and roads in California, and from the moment we open our front door to drive to work,
bike to school, or walk to the bus station, people are dependent upon a safe, reliable
local transportation network; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lynwood has participated in efforts with the California
State Association of Counties, League of California Cities, and California's Regional
Transportation Planning Agencies to study unmet funding needs for local roads and
bridges, including sidewalks and other essential components; and
WHEREAS, the resulting 2014 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads
Needs Assessment, which provides critical analysis and information on the local
transportation network's condition and funding needs, indicates that the condition of the
local transportation network is deteriorating as predicted in the initial 2008 study; and
WHEREAS, the results show that California's local streets and roads are on a
path of significant decline. On a scale of zero (failed) to 100 (excellent), the statewide
average pavement condition index (PCI) is 66, placing it in the "at risk" category where
pavements will begin to deteriorate much more rapidly and require rehabilitation or
rebuilding rather than more cost - effective preventative maintenance if funding is not
increased; and
WHEREAS, the results show that the City of Lynwood's local streets have a
statewide average pavement index of 64.66, placing them in the "at risk" category; and
WHEREAS, if funding remains at the current levels, in 10 years, 25 percent of
local streets and roads in California will be in "failed" condition; and
WHEREAS, cities and counties need an additional $1.7 billion just to maintain a
status quo pavement condition of 66, and much more revenue to operate the system
with Best Management Practices, which would reduce the total amount of funding
needed for maintenance in the future; and
WHEREAS, models show that an additional $3 billion annual investment in the
local streets and roads system is expected to improve pavement conditions statewide
from an average "at risk" condition to an average "good" condition; and
WHEREAS, if additional funding isn't secured now, it will cost taxpayers twice as
much to fix the local system in the future, as failure to act this year will increase unmet
funding needs for local transportation facilities by $11 billion in five years and $21 billion
in ten years; and
WHEREAS, modernizing the local street and road system provides well - paying
construction jobs and boosts local economies; and
WHEREAS, the local street and road system is also critical for farm to market
needs, interconnectivity, multimodal needs, and commerce; and
WHEREAS, police, fire, and emergency medical services all need safe reliable
roads to react quickly to emergency calls and a few minutes of delay can be a matter of
life and death; and
WHEREAS, maintaining and preserving the local street and road system in good
condition will reduce drive times and traffic congestion, improve bicycle safety, and
make the pedestrian experience safer and more appealing, which leads to reduce
vehicle emissions helping the State achieve its air quality and greenhouse gas
emissions reductions goals; and
WHEREAS, restoring roads before they fail also reduces construction time which
results in less air pollution from heavy equipment and less water pollution from site run-
off; and
WHEREAS, in addition to the local system, the state highway system needs an
additional $5.7 billion annually to address the state's deferred maintenance; and
WHEREAS, in order to bring the local system back into a cost - effective condition,
at least $7.3 billion annually in new money going directly to cities and counties.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City of Lynwood strongly urges the Governor and Legislature
to adopt the following priorities for funding California's streets and roads:
1. Make a significant investment in transportation infrastructure. Any
package should seek to raise at least $6 billion annually and should
remain in place for at least 10 years or until an alternative method of
funding our transportation system is agreed upon.
2. Focus on maintaining and rehabilitating the current system. Repairing
California's streets and highways involves much more than fixing
potholes. It requires major road pavement overlays, fixing unsafe
bridges, providing safe access for bicyclists and pedestrians, replacing
storm water culverts, as well as operational improvements that
necessitate the construction of auxiliary lanes to relieve traffic
congestion choke points and fixing design deficiencies that have
created unsafe merging and other traffic hazards. Efforts to supply
funding for transit in addition to funding for roads should also focus on
fixing the system first.
3. Equal split between state and local projects. We support sharing
revenue for roadway maintenance equally (50/50) between the state
and cities and counties, given the equally - pressing funding needs of
both systems, as well as the longstanding historical precedent for
collecting transportation user fees through a centralized system and
sharing the revenues across the entire network through direct
subventions. Ensuring that funding to local governments is provided
directly, without intermediaries, will accelerate project delivery and
ensure maximum accountability.
4. Raise revenues across a broad range of options. Research by the
California Alliance for Jobs and Transportation California shows that
voters strongly support increased funding for transportation
improvements. They are much more open to a package that spreads
potential tax or fee increases across a broad range of options,
including fuel taxes, license fees, and registration fees, rather than just
one source. Additionally, any package should move California toward
an all -users pay structure, in which everyone who benefits from the
system contributes to maintaining it — from traditional gasoline - fueled
vehicles, to new hybrids or electric vehicles, to commercial vehicles.
5. Invest a portion of diesel tax and /or cap & trade revenue to high - priority
goods movement projects. While the focus of a transportation funding
package should be on maintaining and rehabilitating the existing
system, California has a critical need to upgrade the goods movement
infrastructure that is essential to our economic well- being. Establishing
a framework to make appropriate investments in major goods
movement arteries can lay the groundwork for greater investments in
the future that will also improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
6. Strong accountability requirements to protect the taxpayers'
investment. Voters and taxpayers must be assured that all
transportation revenues are spent responsibly. Local governments are
accustomed to employing transparent processes for selecting road
maintenance projects aided by pavement management systems, as
well as reporting on the expenditure of transportation funds through the
State Controller's Local Streets and Roads Annual Report.
7. Provide Consistent Annual Funding Levels. Under current statute, the
annual gas tax adjustment by the Board of Equalization is creating
extreme fluctuations in funding levels — a $900 million drop in this
budget year alone. A transportation funding package should contain
legislation that will create more consistent revenue projections and
allow Caltrans and transportation agencies the certainty they need for
longer term planning.
Section 2. The City Council strongly urges the Governor and Legislature to
identity a sufficient and stable funding source for local street and road and state
highway maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure the safe and efficient mobility of the
traveling public and the economic vitality of California.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this City Council
Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 18th day of August, 2015.
ATTEST:
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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David A. Garcia, City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
J. Arnoldo Beltran, City Manager
i liam E. Stracker, RE
Director of Public Works/ City Engineer
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
Lynwood at a regular meeting held on the 18th day of August, 2015.
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS ALATORRE,
SANTILLAN -BEAS AND SOLACHE
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Maria Quinonez, ity Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
) SS.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
CASTRO, HERNANDEZ,
I, the undersigned, City Clerk of the City of Lynwood, and the Clerk of the City Council
of said City, do hereby certify that the above foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
Resolution No. 2015.143 on file in my office and that said Resolution was adopted on
the date and by the vote therein stated. Dated this 18th day of August, 2015.
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aria uinonez, City Clerk