REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  July  18, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Health and Human Services-7.

SUBJECT:

Revenue agreement with Shasta Regional Transportation Agency for Safe Routes to School services.

Supervisorial District No. :  ALL

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD – Public Health Branch Director. (530) 245-6869

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Terri Fields Hosler, MPH, RD – Public Health Branch Director

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize the following: (1) The Chairman to sign a revenue agreement with the Shasta Regional Transportation Agency (SRTA) in an amount not to exceed $170,000 for the provision of Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure activities in Shasta County effective date of signing through June 30, 2019; (2) the Chairman to sign Appendix A - Scope of Work, and Appendix B - Budget, to the agreement; and (3) the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director or HHSA Branch Director, as designated by the HHSA Director, to sign prospective and retroactive amendments and other documents during the term of the agreement that result in a net change of no more than $17,000 to the maximum compensation that do not result in a substantial or functional change to the original intent of the agreement, and that otherwise comply with Administrative Policy 6-101, Shasta County Contracts Manual.

SUMMARY

Approval of this agreement will allow HHSA – Public Health to continue collaborating with Shasta Regional Transportation Agency (SRTA) to receive federal funds for expansion and continuation of Safe Routes to School (SR2S) non-infrastructure activities through June 2019. The federal funds received from SRTA each year allows HHSA – Public Health to continue its efforts to improve the health of children and decrease childhood obesity by encouraging walking and biking to school safely.

DISCUSSION

The California Department of transportation (Caltrans) offers funding opportunities for local governments and schools to partner on non-infrastructure agreements to fund programs that educate and encourage students and parents about walking and biking safely to and from school. The desired outcomes of the Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure program include: increased pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety; increased number of children walking and biking to and from school; improved childhood health; reduced rates of childhood obesity; and encouragement of healthy and active lifestyles.

The SR2S agreement will provide funding for Public Health to continue its SR2S program with schools, city and county government, law enforcement, and community members to enable and encourage children to safely walk and bike to and from school.  The HHSA Project Manager will continue to oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project, working intensively with local school districts, members of law enforcement, and community members.  Specific activities funded by the agreement include continuing to work with schools to educate students and families on safely walking and biking to school; training school crossing guards; coordinating Walk to School and Bike to School Day trainings; forming walking school busses/bike trains; engaging and promoting the annual Shasta Bike Challenge; and participating in activities to evaluate walking and biking.

ALTERNATIVES

The Board could choose not to approve this agreement, may direct staff to modify the terms of the agreement, or revise the recommended authority for the Director to sign future amendments.

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

Shasta Regional Transportation Agency will serve as the responsible agency to Caltrans on behalf of HHSA – Public Health. Local law enforcement agencies – Redding and Anderson Police Departments and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office – participate in Walk to School and Bike to School Day trainings and events.  Anderson Police Department facilitates crossing guard trainings in Cascade School District. Redding, Cascade, and the Shasta Union High School Districts participate in the SR2S program.  Redding School District conducts walking school busses/bike trains.

County Counsel has approved the agreement as to form. Risk Management has approved the agreement. The recommendations have been reviewed by the County Administrative Office.

FINANCING

Funding for this project is provided by the Federal Highway Administration through Caltrans and SRTA. Revenue and expenditures associated with this agreement were included in Public Health’s FY 2017-18 Adopted Budget.  No additional County General Funds are requested.