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CC - Item 4A - Bus Pass Subsidy Fee IncreaseROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER DATE: SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 SUBJECT: BUS PASS SUBSIDY FEE INCREASE SUMMARY The City's Proposition C fund (Prop C) is used for public transit to increase safety and improve road conditions by repairing and maintaining streets heavily used by public transit. In addition the City uses Prop C funds to purchase bus passes from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for sale to Rosemead seniors at a reduced cost. The City was recently notified by Metro that the cost of the bus passes will increase effective September 15, 2014. In order to stay within budget, it is proposed that the City subsidize one -half of the increased costs. Therefore, it is proposed that the City subsidy be adjusted from $8 per month to $11 per month; and that the cost to the senior citizens would be adjusted from $6 to $9 per month. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council: Adopt Resolution #2014 -43 adjusting the fee for senior bus passes. DISCUSSION Currently the City pays for bus passes with Prop C funds and sells them to seniors at a subsidy. The City is currently charged $14 per bus pass by Metro and charges seniors $6 per pass. As a result, the City is subsidizing the difference of $8 per rider for the program. The City was recently notified by Metro that effective September 15, 2014 the price would increase to $20 per rider per month. That is a 42% increase. In an effort to reduce costs and stay within our budget, the City would need to increase the cost charged to each rider. Staff recommends a fair solution is to "split" the cost of the increase. The increase is $6 per month. If we split the cost of this increase, we would charge the seniors an additional $3 for a total of $9 per month. The City would pay an additional $3 for a total of $11 per month. The City's costs would increase $14,400 per year by implementing this shared increase. [f m q A City Council Meeting September 23, 2014 Pape 2 of 2 FISCAL ANALYSIS The 2014 -15 budget includes funding in the Prop C fund for the Bus Pass Subsidy program. However, due to the recent increase in fees implemented by Metro on September 15, 2014, the City needs to increase the costs charged to each rider in order to keep the Prop C fund balanced and stay within our budget. By increasing the fees for each bus pass subsidy by $3 per month, the City will be able to stay within our Prop C budget. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared by: Carolyn Chu Acting Finance Director Attachment: 1. Resolution — Resolution No. 2014 -43 RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -43 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO 2014 -19 AND ADJUSTING THE FEE FOR SENIOR BUS PASSES WHEREAS, the Municipal Code of the City of Rosemead provides that certain filing fees, permit fees, inspection fees, deposits and conditions of service may from time to time be established by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Rosemead has determined that the cost of providing certain services is not of general benefit but of benefit to the individual and, therefore, certain filing fees, permit fees, inspection fees and deposits should be required to pay for materials and special services performed by City staff, and WHEREAS, after the passage of Propositions 4 and 218, local governments were made to charge for the costs of services to those who benefited, and WHEREAS, the City Council has found that since the fees represent a portion of the actual costs of the service or facilities provided, there is a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee charged and the costs of the services provided to the person paying the fee, and WHEREAS, the City Council may adjust fees for certain services from time to time and incorporate all adjusted and /or new fees for services provided into one comprehensive fee schedule, and WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead has determined that there is a need to increase the fees charged for each bus pass to offset a portion of the additional costs, NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: To increase the Senior Bus Pass fee in Section E of the Comprehensive Fee Schedule to $9 per month. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of September 2014, ATTEST: Gloria Molleda City Clerk Alarcon Mayor APPROVE AS TO FORM: Rachel Richman City Attorney