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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 188-06City of Palo Alto C ty Manager’ Report TO: FROM: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DATE: SUBJECT: APRIL 3, 2006 CMR: 188:06 APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT ORDINANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,000 TO ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE STATE GRANT FUNDS AWARDED FOR RENOVATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE TRAIN DEPOT BIKE STATION RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve a Budget Amendment Ordinance (BAO) in the amount of $83,000 to accept and appropriate California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) funds awarded for the renovation of the University Avenue Depot (Depot) bicycle parking facility. BACKGROUND On June 29, 1998, Council approved an operating and sublease Agreement with Palo Alto Bicycles, Inc. for the Depot bicycle parking facility (Bike Station). In operation since March 1999, the Bike Station provides free valet parking 7 days a week for up to 150 bicycles and ancillary services including bike sales and rentals, bike repairs and rune-ups, sales of bike accessories, changing facilities, refreshments, bike licenses and bike transit information for bicycle commuters. Between 2000 and 2003, usage of the Bike Station increased 136%, and prior to its temporary closure in 2004, it served an average of 10,551 bike commuters a year or an average of 44 parked bikes per day. DISCUSSION - In November of 2004, the Bike Station closed while the depot and baggage buildings were seismically upgraded and re-roofed by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). In 2003, in anticipation of the Bike Station closure, staff applied to Caltrans for grant funds to provide funds to renovate the interior of the Bike Station with more modem improvements, allowing 24 hour self service. The renovation includes new bike racks, a new security door, new computer and software for card-key access, and new signage. In March 2004, Caltrans awarded the City $83,000 from the Bicycle Transportation Account. Renovation of the Bike Station is underway, and it is anticipated to reopen by the beginning of May. CMR:188:06 Page 1 of 2 RESOURCE IMPACT The attached BAO requests an increase in revenue and expenditure of $83,000 in the Planning and Community Environment Department budget. These transactions will have no impact on the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve. No future year General Fund ongoing costs are anticipated as a result of this BAO. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The Bike Station project is consistent with the Dream Team concept for an Intermodal Transit Facility, and it implements the Comprehensive Plan Policy T-19: Improve and add attractive, secure bicycle parking at both public and private facilities, including multi-modal transit stations. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The bicycle parking facility is considered to be a minor alteration to an existing facility and exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA guidelines. i: ?/:. /, --./ / WILLIAM W. FELLMAN M~ager, Real Prope~y DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: CARL :es ( EMIEY HARRISdN\Assistant City Manager ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Budget Amendment Ordinance CMR:188:06 Page 2 of 2 Attachment A ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 TO ACCEPT A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $83,000- FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CALTRANS) AND TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION IN THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE TRAIN DEPOT BIKE STATION The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION i. The City Council of the City of Palo Alto finds and determines as follows: A. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on June 20, 2005 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 2005-06; and B. The City leases property from Stanford University adjacent to the train depot and baggage buildings at the University Avenue train depot. The leased property is improved and used as a bicycle parking facility ("Bike Station") through an operating and sublease agreement with Palo Alto Bicycles; and C. In November 2004, the Bike Station closed in conjunction with a seismic upgrade and re-roofing project undertaken by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on the adjacent depot structures; and D. Concurrently with the closure, the City initiated a project to be undertaken by Palo Alto Bicycles to renovate and update the interior of the Bike Station and to al!ow 24-hour per day self service access and applied to the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) for grant funds for the project; and E. The Bike.Station renovation project includes new bike racks, a new security door, new computer and software for card-key access, and new signage and is expected to be complete in May 2006; and F. CalTrans awarded the City $83,000 in grant funds from the Bicycle Transportation Account. City Council authorization is needed to amend the 2005-06 budget to recognize and appropriate these funds. SECTION 2. Grant revenue in the Planning and Community Environment Department is increased by the sum of Eighty-Three Thousand Dollars ($83,000). SECTION 3. The sum of Eighty-Three Thousand Dollars ($83,000) is hereby appropriated to the Planning and Community Environment Department under Mobility Alternatives. SECTION 4. The transactions above will have no impact on the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve. SECTION 5. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City Counci! is required to adopt this ordinance. SECTION 6. The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby finds that this is not a project under the California Environmenta! Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. SECTION 7. As provided in Section 2.04.330 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective upon adoption. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSTENTIONS: ABSENT: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager City Attorney Director, Planning & Community Environment Director of Services Administrative