Number
160954
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
141313
Sponsor
ALD. PEREZ, BAUMAN, COGGS
Title
Resolution authorizing acceptance and expenditure of a Federal Transit Administration Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the Department of City Development to accept and expend a Federal Transit Administration Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant to carry out planning activities to foster transit-oriented development in the areas of the proposed extensions of the Milwaukee Streetcar.
Body
Whereas, Common Council File No. 141313, adopted on February 10, 2015, authorized construction and operation of the Milwaukee Streetcar System and noted that the Phase I Starter System and Lakefront Line are part of a broader long-term vision for a comprehensive, City-wide, multimodal transit system, including expanded streetcar service in the center city area; and
Whereas, Common Council File No. 141313 contained a map of potential future route extensions that included the Historic King Drive/Bronzeville area and the Walker’s Point/Harbor District area; and
Whereas, The Federal Transit Administration operates the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning to provide assistance to local municipalities and transit agencies to integrate land use and transportation planning with transit capital investments that are seeking or have recently received funding through the Capital Investment Grant Program; and
Whereas, The comprehensive planning funded through the program must examine ways to improve economic development and ridership, foster multimodal connectivity and accessibility, improve transit access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, engage the private sector, identify infrastructure needs and enable mixed-use development near transit stations; and
Whereas, The City of Milwaukee (“City”) hopes to request entry into the project development stage of the Capital Investment Grant Program in the near future for northern and southern extensions of the Milwaukee Streetcar; and
Whereas, Engaging in Transit-Oriented Development Planning in the areas of these proposed extensions will help the City and its community partners determine how to best leverage Transit-Oriented Development to advance existing economic development efforts to revitalize these corridors that are directly to the north and south of Downtown; and
Whereas, Project partners at the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District and the Harbor District Inc. will assist the City to mobilize the businesses and other stakeholders along the corridors to ensure that there is substantial resident and private sector participation in the planning process to achieve community goals; and
Whereas, A Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant will allow the City to carry out a number of planning activities including:
An assessment of the City’s zoning code to ensure it supports higher-density mixed-use Transit-Oriented Development in the corridors.
A housing market analysis, including housing development strategies that focus on providing new affordable options within Transit-Oriented Development, preserving existing affordable housing and protecting the historic properties along the corridors.
Meaningful public engagement to educate stakeholders on the benefits of Transit-Oriented Development and seek their input on appropriate densities, desirable land uses, infrastructure needs and removing barriers to transit ridership.
Development plans and policies for key sites along the corridors to determine market potential, desired density and intensity of development and create conceptual massings of buildings.
A connectivity plan that makes recommendations for streetscape improvements, wayfinding and gateway signage opportunities, bicycle and pedestrian connections and other infrastructure improvements needed to increase ridership, connect the streetcar stations to the surrounding neighborhoods and break down barriers to equitable access.
Recommendations on locally viable innovative financing strategies that may be used to support Transit-Oriented Development; and
Whereas, The total cost of the project will be $770,000 of which $750,000 will be provided by the Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant and $20,000 will be provided by the Capital Improvements-Advance Planning Fund, to be supplemented by in-kind staffing time provided by the Department of City Development (“DCD”), the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District and the Harbor District Inc. and the complementary work being undertaken through the ongoing Harbor District Water and Land Use Planning process; and
Whereas, The current unencumbered balance in the Capital Improvements-Advance Planning Fund cannot be expended unless the funds are transferred to a specific subaccount; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that DCD is authorized to accept and execute the Federal Transit Administration Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning Grant without further approval unless the terms of the grant change as indicated in Section 304-81, Milwaukee Code of Ordinances; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Comptroller is directed to transfer the amount of $20,000 from the Capital Improvements-Advance Planning Fund Account No. UR01216000A to be allocated to the “Streetcar Planning” Subaccount No. UR01280142 to be used by DCD for a grant match in the amount of $20,000; and, be it
Further Resolved, That upon approval of the grant agreement, the City Comptroller is authorized to create within the Capital Grant and Aid Projects Fund the appropriate Project/Grant Chartfield Value for this project and transfer to these accounts the amount required under the agreement and City accounting policy, but not to exceed a ten percent increase of the total amounts reserved for the grantor’s share and local share or $5,000, whichever is greater as follows:
Project/Grant: GR0001600000
Fund: 0150
Organization: 9990
Program: 0001
By: 0000
Subclass: R999
Amount: $750,000
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That these funds are appropriated to DCD, which is authorized to expend from the amount budgeted for specific purposes as indicated in the grant budgets and incur costs consistent with the grant; and, be it
Further Resolved, That DCD shall have the authority to continue transfers within the aforementioned project budget as long as the amounts expended are in accordance with Grantor regulations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That DCD, on behalf of the City, is authorized to enter into contracts or subcontracts, including with the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District and the Harbor District Inc., in accordance with grant regulations, City purchasing procedures and grant guidelines for awarding such contracts.
Drafter
DCD:Samuel.Leichtling:spl
11/01/16/B