HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/15/2010 - STAFF REPORTS - 2.I. ��It p A L M sA�
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cg41FOR CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: December 15, 2010 Consent Calendar
SUBJECT: REQUEST BY THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF
GOVERNMENTS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF SCHEDULED FORMS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, LOCAL UTILITIES AND TRANSIT AGENCIES, CITIES AND
REGIONAL PLANNING ENTITIES.
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Public Works and Planning Services Departments
SUMMARY
The Coachella Valley Association of Governments Executive Committee is
recommending the City Council adopt a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
establishing partnerships between school districts, local utilities and transit agencies,
other cities and regional planning entities for the purposes of coordinating school
planning, furthering the Safe Routes to Schools initiatives, and collaborate in seeking
funding opportunities for those programs.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council
1. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding establishing methodology for
collaboration between governmental agencies on school planning, the Safe
Routes to School Program and pursuit of related external funding
opportunities.
2. Direct the City Manager to execute the contracts as appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
In 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRS) estimates that in 1969,
ITEM NO...2 -- .
City Council Staff Report December 15, 2010
Memo of Understanding on Safe Routes to School Collaboration Page 2 of 3
42% of adolescent children walked or biked to school, however in 2001 only 16% of
children walked or biked. The American Medical Association (AMA) found that
approximately 16% of American children between the ages of six and nineteen were
obese, and that related diseases like diabetes and arthritis are on the rise in the United
States. It is recognized that the establishment of safe routes to school is beneficial to
school districts in curbing childhood disease and promoting social interaction among
students through walking, biking, and exercise, and assists cities in the establishment of
safe and healthy communities.
In June of 2009 the CVAG Executive Committee voted to recommend that the various
agencies within the area adopt a Memo of Understanding committing to better
collaboration and coordination of efforts in school and transit planning with the goal of
creating safer routes for children to get to school.
Palm Springs has received two state and federal Safe Routes to Schools grants totaling
roughly one million dollars ($1 m). A project associated with one state grant has been
constructed and is complete. The second state grant has been obligated and is in
design. These projects include sidewalks, cross-walks, countdown signals, traffic
calming, warning lights and curb ramps. The federal grant is scheduled for 2011.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Constraints to the Safe Routes to School. Traffic, site planning, and community issues
represent key constraints to the creation of safe routes to school that can be
successfully addressed via an open dialogue on these issues. It is recognized that a
partnership between school districts and cities can assist in the location of new schools
by addressing community concerns, planning for infrastructure issues, and addressing
site specific issues such as utilities and street access that can make for a school that is
properly designed while decreasing building costs.
Collaboration between agencies. These agencies desire to establish a long-term
process which allows each individual agency to discuss on a frequent and ongoing
basis the issues associated with school site location issues, creating safe routes to
schools for existing campuses, and working partnerships for external funding. It is
recognized that opportunities to compete for external funding to solve the problems
related to safe routes to school can be achieved by partnerships between school
districts, cities, and regional planning agencies.
The proposed MOU establishes a regular schedule and methodology for the various
agencies to improve collaboration and communication on school and transportation
planning for the creation of safer routes for children to get to school.
FISCAL IMPACT: No fiscal impact.
City Council Staff Report December 15, 2010
Memo of Understanding on Safe Routes to School Collaboration Page 3 of 3
David Barakian, City Engineer +Dirof
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Director of Public Work lnn ng Services
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David H. Ready, City r Thomas J. Wils n, Assistant City Manager
Attachments:
Draft Resolution to execute a Memorandum of Understanding
CVAG Staff Report to Executive Committee dated June 1, 2009
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU")
This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is entered into between the City of
Cathedral City; City of Desert Hot Springs; City of Palm Springs, City of Rancho
Mirage; the Palm Springs Unified School District; Riverside County Department
of Public Health and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments. This
MOU is for the development of partnerships and the establishment of scheduled
forms of communication between school districts, local utilities and transit
agencies, cities, and regional planning entities.
Purpose of the MOU
WHEREAS, in 2006 the National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRS)
estimates that in 1969, 42% of adolescent children walked or biked to school,
however in 2001 only 16% of children walked or biked; and
WHEREAS, in 2005 the American Medical Association (AMA) found that
approximately 16% of American children between the ages of six and nineteen
were obese, and that related diseases like diabetes and arthritis are on the rise in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that the establishment of safe routes to school is
beneficial to school districts in curbing childhood disease and promoting social
interaction among students through walking, biking, and exercise, and assists
cities in the establishment of safe and healthy communities; and
WHEREAS, traffic, site planning, and community issues represent key
constraints to the creation of safe routes to school that can be successfully
addressed via an open dialogue on these issues; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that a partnership between school districts and cities
can assist in the location of new schools by addressing community concerns,
planning for infrastructure issues, and addressing site specific issues such as
utilities and street access that can make for a school that is properly designed
while decreasing building costs; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized by the City of Cathedral City; City of Desert Hot
Springs; City of Palm Springs, City of Rancho Mirage; the Palm Springs Unified
School District; and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments that
bureaucratic isolation and lack of communication is detrimental to the creation of
safe routes to school and the important benefits that walking has for students;
and
WHEREAS, these agencies desire to establish a long-term process which allows
each individual agency to discuss on a frequent and ongoing basis the issues
736588-1
Memorandum of Understanding Page 2 of 5
Collaboration on Safe Routes to Schools Programs December 15, 2010
associated with school site location issues, creating safe routes to schools for
existing campuses, and working partnerships for external funding; and
WHEREAS, it is recognized that opportunities to compete for external funding to
solve the problems related to safe routes to school can be achieved by
partnerships between school districts, cities, and regional planning agencies; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED that the parties to this MOU agree to
form standing collaborative meetings to address the issues of creating safe
routes to school and further agree to adhere to the following guidelines in the
formation, management and operations of the collaborative meeting group.
Collaborative Discussion Group for Safe Routes to School
I. Quarterly Meetings: There shall be initiated among the parties to
this MOU a standing series of meetings that shall be arranged to
occur on an as-needed basis, but no less than once a quarter.
These meetings shall exclude federal, state, and school district
holidays. The time and duration of these meetings will be set by the
parties to this MOU. Meetings will be appropriately noticed[A1].
II. Core Participants: The scheduled meetings shall include the
parties to this MOU and other interested agencies including (but not
be limited to) school district superintendents or their
representatives, municipal mayors or their representatives, city
managers or their representatives, regional utilities and transit
agencies, and the representative of the regional planning agency.
III. Discussion Format. The agreed scheduled meetings shall
generally address the issues of creating safe routes to school with
discussion topics that include (but are not limited to) planning and
development for present school site locations, offsite infrastructure
inclusive of streets, sidewalks, and roads, water, power, and other
utility issues, local resident concerns regarding school sites, grant
applications and partnerships to fund projects related to the
creation of safe routes to school, and future school site selection
issues.
IV. Grant Partnerships. The parties to this MOU will, to the extent
possible, participate in partnerships to enhance and attract external
grant funding from federal, state, local, and private sources for the
purpose of school planning and the creation of safe routes to
school for students.
Data Sharing and Acknowledgement
I. It is acknowledged that any data and information shared in
meetings that are considered confidential by law shall remain
confidential among the parties to this MOU.
Memorandum of Understanding Page 3 of 5
Collaboration on Safe Routes to Schools Programs December 15,2010
II. Any successful grant applications or outcomes from the meetings
and partnerships formed under this MOU will be generally
acknowledged to all parties to this MOU.
Duration and Termination
This MOU is to remain in effect for 5 (five) years following its execution by the
parties to this MOU. This MOU may be terminated at any time by any of the
parties to the MOU with a 30 (thirty) day notice to the remaining parties. Should
one party elect to terminate participation under this MOU, the remaining parties
may continue the meetings and collaboration contemplated in this MOU. This
MOU will automatically terminate should a simple majority of parties to the MOU
terminate participation with appropriate notice as defined above.
Liability and Insurance
Each party to this MOU hereby assumes any and all risks for personal injury and
property damage attributable to the negligent acts or omissions of that party and
the officers, employees, and agents thereof. Each party warrants that is has
adequate Worker's Compensation Insurance and liability insurance for its own
employees. Each party agrees to indemnify and hold each of the other parties
harmless from any obligations, costs, claims, judgments, attorney fees, and/or
attachments in any way connected with the services provides under this MOU.
Independent Contractor
In the performance of all services and obligations under this MOU, all parties
shall act as independent agents. Parties shall not be considered as an employee
or agent of any other party to this MOU.
Force Majeure
No party to this MOU shall be liable or deemed to be in default for any delay or
failure in performance under this MOU or interruption of services resulting,
directly or indirectly, from acts of God, civil or military authority, acts of the public
enemy, strikes, labor disputes, or any similar cause beyond the reasonable
control of participants to this MOU.
Governing Law
The validity and interpretation of this MOU shall be governed by the laws of the
State of California.
Execution
IN WITNESS THEREOF, City of Cathedral City, City of Desert Hot Springs, City
of Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs Unified School District, Riverside County
Memorandum of Understanding Page 4 of 5
Collaboration on Safe Routes to Schools Programs December 15, 2010
Department of Public Health and the Coachella Valley Association of
Governments have executed this Agreement on the date first herein written.
For the City of Cathedral City:
Don Bradley, City Manager
For the City of Desert Hot Springs:
Rick Daniels, City Manager
For the City of Palm Springs
David Ready, City Manager
For the City of Rancho Mirage
Patrick Pratt, City Manager
For the Palm Springs Unified School District:
Lord S. McCune Ed. D., Superintendent
For the Riverside County Department of Public Health:
Susan D. Harrington, M.S., R.D., Director
For the Coachella Valley Association of Governments:
Tom Kirk, Executive Director
Memorandum of Understanding Page 5 of 5
Collaboration on Safe Routes to Schools Programs December 15, 2010
ATTEST:
James Thompson, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
the attached memorandum of understanding is a full, true and correct copy, and
was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm
Springs on , by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
James Thompson, City Clerk
City of Palm Springs, California
DATE: June 1, 2009
TO: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FROM: Jacob Alvarez, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Schools by Design Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the School
Districts, Riverside County Department of Health and CVAG. (Consent
Calendar)
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION: That the Executive Committee:
1. Endorse the Schools By Design Concept; and,
2. An associated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between CVAG and the three
school districts to guide the implementation of ongoing dialogue needed to assist in the
location of new schools and implementation of new Safe Routes to School in the Coachella
Valley, be initially sent to the three school districts for consideration and action; and,
3. The signed MOU be returned to CVAG Executive Committee for consideration and action
Human & Community Resources Committee: CONCURS (April 151h meeting)
BACKGROUND: The Schools by Design Project was formed approximately 18 months ago in
response to concerns about insufficient communication and collaboration between representatives
of cities, schools, school districts, and interested community members in the Coachella Valley
about issues of student safety on the streets and in the neighborhoods near and around the
region's schools. In contrast to standard planning models that require schools simply to be located
within the street grid and placed on a per-capita basis, the Project sought to establish a broader
set of community partnerships to address the locations of schools proactively, and specifically in
relation to the provision of"Safe Routes to School".
Providing safer routes to school while encouraging exercise and social skills was the focus of a
two-year research project recently completed in the Coachella Valley. Schools by Design was a
collaborative project that brought together local school district and government officials, county
health specialists, parents, teachers, planners and engineers to develop a model that could be
used by communities for establishing safer routes to school.
The Schools by Design project's personnel gathered data on traffic around Coachella Valley
schools; surveyed thousands of the region's students and parents about their attitudes on walking
or biking to school and related issues; and successfully built relationships among representatives
of local schools, school districts, cities, and public health agencies to identify how cities and school
districts might work together to improve safety and promote greater "walkability" in the Coachella
Valley, especially for children going to and from school.
Working together, Schools by Design personnel and community partners produced new data
about student pedestrian safety in the Coachella Valley that indicates public support for, and
institutional capacity to create, safer routes to school. This information was used to solicit $1.8
million in funded grant proposals to cover the costs of local infrastructural and other changes
currently needed to ensure safe routes to school for the region's children.
The Schools by Design partners developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between
cities, school districts, and regional planning agencies to guide the implementation of regularly
scheduled meetings and assist in the location of new schools by addressing community concerns
and encouraging walking and other self-propelled means of transportation to and from school in
the Coachella Valley.
At its April 15th meeting, Human & Community Resources Committee (HCRC) expressed some
reservations as to the Coachella Valley school districts' interest and committed in executing the
MOU. Consequently, HCRC requested that each school district agendize the item for
consideration and action. Once the MOU has occurred in the three school districts, HCRC will
consider the execution process.
Financial Analysis: Should Schools By Design be approved, initial staff time would be required
to initiate the transition of Schools By Design over to Riverside County Department of Health and a
minimal amount of staff time would be required to attend quarterly meeting. The Riverside County
of Department of Health recently received a grant for education on Safe Routes to School, thus,
helping to reduce staff time expense to CVAG and maintaining continuity with the core
participants.
Exhibit:
1. Schools by Design Report Executive Summary
2. Memorandum of Understanding.
�l
Schools by Design
Executive SummaeY
Providing safer routes to school while encouraging exercise and social skills was the
focus of a two-year research project recently completed in Riverside County's
Coachella Valley. Schools By Design was a collaborative project that brought together
local school district and government officials, county health specialists, parents,
teachers, urban planners and engineers to develop a model that could be used by other
communities for establishing safer routes to school.
The Schools by Design project's personnel gathered data on traffic around Coachella
Valley schools; surveyed thousands of the region's students and parents about their
attitudes on walking or biking to school and related issues; and successfully built
relationships among representatives of local schools, school districts, cities, and public
health agencies to identify how cities and school districts might work together to
improve safety and promote greater "walkability" in the Coachella Valley, especially
for children going to and from school.
Working together,Schools by Design personnel and community partners produced new
data about student pedestrian safety in the Coachella Valley that indicates public
support for, and institutional capacity to create, safer routes to school. This information
was used to solicit $1.8 million in funded grant proposals to cover the costs of
infrastructural and other changes currently needed to ensure safe routes to school for
the region's children. Finally, Schools by Design partners instituted a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between cities,school districts, and regional planning agencies to
guide the implementation of regularly scheduled meetings and ongoing dialogue
regarding new models and best practices for maintaining safe routes to school and
generally encouraging walking and other self-propelled means of transportation to and
from school in the Coachella Valley.
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