City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	Dave Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Date:	September 22, 2009
RE:	Agenda Item: Revised authorizing resolution for filing grant applications and utilizing available Federal Transit Administration funding.

Please place the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at their October 6, 2009 meeting:

Approval of the revised resolution authorizing the City Manager or his/her designee to:

(1) Execute and file application for Federal Assistance on behalf of the City of Lawrence Department of Public Transit with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA);

(2) Execute and file with its application the annual certification and assurances and other documents the FTA requires before awarding a Federal assistance grant or cooperative agreement; and

(3) Execute grant and cooperative agreements with the FTA on behalf of the City of Lawrence Department of Public Transit.

Background Information:

In June, FTA’s legal counsel notified the City’s transit department that it needed a revised authorizing resolution as well as designated recipient letter from Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) naming the City as the recipient of FTA Section 5307 funds.  FTA indicated that they no longer had the designated recipient letter on file. KDOT has, once again, provided a copy of their letter dated May 16, 2007 to the FTA. This letter (designating the City as the designated recipient) has been provided to the FTA and was approved on June 24, 2009.

The existing authorizing resolution (Resolution No. 6722, dated May 8, 2007) covers capital, operating funds and planning funds. In a recent review of our files the FTA recognized that our current Authorizing Resolution is lacking a certification statement. They have provided us with examples and have assisted in our understanding of the missing verbiage.  

This document is necessary for the City of Lawrence Department of Transit to file grant applications and continue to receive FTA financial assistance. 

Action Request:

Staff seeks City Commission approval of the revised resolution so that the City of Lawrence will continue to be able to apply for and utilize available Federal Transit Administration funds to support public transportation operations in the City.