HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 04_3/11/2020Agenda Item #4.
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO
Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) - Mar 11 2020
Staff Contact: Frank Harding Department: Environmental Advisory
Committee
Grant Funding for Micro -Transportation System
Fundina reaort 03042020
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Agenda Item #4.
Mini -transit system
Grant study
February 28, 2020
Chairman Bradford has expressed an interest in exploring establishing a free "Micro- Transportation"
system for the Village of Tequesta. He suggested that a study be conducted to see whether there are
any grants available to support such a system or at least determine the feasibility thereof.
A. State grants: The Department of Transportation Grant Administrator is Erin Schepers. I have
contacted her. Her office administers both the Florida DOT transportation grants system and Federal
transportation grants. Here is a list of the current grant programs:
1. Section 5303 -- Program that funds metropolitan and state transit planning projects
2. Section 5307 -- Formula program that funds capital and operating assistance in urbanized areas
3. Section 5310 -- Programs for capital projects planned, designed and carried out to meet special
needs of elderly and individuals with disabilities
4. Section 5311-- Formula program that funds capital and operating assistance in rural areas
5. Section 5339 -- Buses and Bus Facilities Grants Program
6. Section 5305(d) -- Metropolitan Planning Program (MPP)
The only one we could possibly fit under for a micro transportation system would be the Section
5339 program which generally covers: `°.... Federal capital assistance to eligible recipients who
operate/contract public transportation services in Small Urban Areas".
Unfortunately, Tequesta, having a population of around 5000 residents would not qualify because
the program is only available to "small urban areas" which are defined by the program guidelines as
follows:
"Small urbanized areas have a population of at least 50,000 but less than 200,000, as determined by the
Bureau of the Census."
B. Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (Palm Beach TPA) planning partnership:
This agency is a federally funded organization and has functions dictated by Federal Statute. I have been
in communication with Valerie Neilson, Deputy Director.
A Partnership with TPA could possibly result in our receiving funding for 50% of the needed funds up to
$50,000.00. We would be a partner with TPA.
The TPA does not fund operations- just planning- that is what they do.
C. AARP Community Challenge:
Surprisingly, AARP may be our best for obtaining serious operations funding.
Please review the attached AARP Community Challenge program information document.
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Agenda Item #4.
The cutoff this year for applications is April 1, 2020. The application requirements are serious and not
that easy to meet quickly. I have written to AARP to see if they anticipate running a Challenge next year.
Of course, the applicant would be the municipality.
There may well be other sources of funding for either planning and/or operations. So far, I have not
found any such sources.
D. Existing Systems- Freebee.
BEEFREE, LLC, t/a FREEBEE is the dominant mini -transit system contractor in South East Florida. There
are other companies, of course, such as VIA, a major international player.
Freebee has contracts with 13 municipalities ranging from Islamorada in the Keys to St. Petersburg
Beach on the West Coast. Most of the towns are in Broward and Miami -Dade counties.
The nearest Freebee served town is Delray Beach. Take a look at www.delraybeach.com/freebee for a
look at a typical and apparently successful Freebee operating system.
I spoke on the phone with the Public Works Director of North Bay Village. This town abuts
South Beach and Key Biscayne. I picked this community because it is roughly the same
population size as Tequesta. The Director, Jose Olivo, expressed considerable satisfaction with
the services provided (which consisted of one van on call weekdays and Saturday. The service
connects to points outside of town in South Beach. The cost of the operation was calculated at
$41.00/hour for each hour the van was available for use. The total cost of the Freebee contract
was $130,000. North Bay received last year its share of the 1% Miami -Dade sales tax surcharge,
$330,000. Twenty percent of this (around $65,000) was applied to transportation programs
thus reducing the Village's cost of Freebee to about $65,000.00. We do not enjoy the benefits
of such a sales tax sharing for transportation needs.
I could not find any VIA systems in our area, or in the State of Florida for that matter. However, VIA is a
major player worldwide and should be considered for any program going forward.
Preliminary Conclusions:
1. We should ask Jason Spiegel, Manager and Founder of Freebee to provide our Committee with a
presentation explaining their operation and, particularly, his analysis of whether Tequesta is well
suited forthe system. His office is in Miami. I have spoken with him briefly.
2. A similar invitation could be extended to VIA.
3. If, after these presentations, and the Committee and the Council and Administration concur with
moving forward with planning, the Village should pursue a partnership with the Palm Beach
Transportation Planning Agency for planning and due diligence assistance.
4. This is a project for completion in 2021. The work involved will be substantial, and the time is very
late. Most grant funding applications must be filed early in the year.
In my opinion, it is very important that we rationally conclude that there is a real need for a Freebee
style mini -transportation system and that it would be well -used. Jose Olivo, the North Bay Village
Page 25 of 69
Agenda Item #4.
Public Works Director told me that he was very pleased with having 700 riders use the system each
month. I wonder if we would get that many.
Frank F. Harding
Page 26 of 69
Agenda Item #4.
AARP LIVABLE COMMUNITIES (/LIVABLE -COMMUNITIES/)
AARP Community Challenge
Ne
The 2020 AARP Community Challenge is On!
Learn about the details and deadlines for this year's "quick -action" grant program
AARP Livable Communities (/livable -communities/), February 5, 2020
The application period for the 2020 AARP Community Challenge is open!
The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund "quick -action" projects that can help
communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are being accepted for projects to improve
housing, transportation, public space, technology ("smart cities"), civic engagement and more.
APPLY TO THE 2020 AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE! (HTTPS://APP.REVIEWR.COM/S1/SITE//AARP COMMUNIT'
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a Item
Grants to make communities livable
for people of all ages
aarp.org/CommunityChallenge
(https.//app.reviewr.com/sl/site//aarp communitychallenge20).
Please read this page and the following downloadable materials before starting the application process. When ready, click
on the image or one of the yellow "Apply" bars to register for the 2020 AARP Community Challenge.
Attachment A: Sample Online Application (/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/community-
challenge/2020/AttachmentA-Application Challenge2020.pdf)
Attachment B: Sample'After-Action' Report (/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/co mmunity_
challenge/2020/AttachmentB-AfterAction Challenge2020.pdf).
Attachment C: Past Challenge Projects (/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/community-
challenge/2020/AttachmentC-Examples Challenge2020.pdf)
Attachment D: Required Deliverables (/content/dam/aarp/livable-communities/community-
challenge/2020/AttachmentD-Deliverables Challenge2020.pdf)
Challenge Overview: A PDF of the information on this page (/content/dam/aarp/livable-
communities/community-challenge/2020/AnnouncementExternalChallenge2020.pdf)
Challenge Home Page: AARP.org&ommunityChallenge (flivable-communities/community_
challenge/)
SIGN-UP (FOR FREE) TODAY!
Stay informed about the AARP Community Challenge and more: AARP Livable Communities
e-Newsletter (hops://cp.email.aarp.org/Ic signup form)
SEE PAST PROJECTS!
Page 28 of 69
AgendaM"Af m the 2019 AARP Community Challenge (/linable-communities/community-
challenge/info-2019/2019-aarp-community-challenge-videos.html).
• Videos about Housing, Transportation and Public Spaces (/livable-communities/community_
challenge/info-2020/videos-transportation-housing_public-spaces.html)
APPLY TO THE 2020 AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE! (HTTPS://APP.REVIEWR.COM/S1/SITE//AARP COMMUNIT
Important Dates
• April 1, 2020: Applications are due by 11:59 pm (ET)
• May 26, 2020: Applicants will be notified of their status this week
• July 15, 2020: The selected grantees will be announced to the public — and the project work can begin —
on or around this date
• November 9, 2020: All funded projects must be completed
• December 11, 2020: Deadline for after -action reports
Eligibility
The program is open to the following types of programs:
• 501(C)(3), 501(C)(4) and 501(c)(6) nonprofits
• Government entities
• Other types of organizations will be considered on a case -by -case basis
The following projects are NOT eligible for funding:
• Partisan, political or election -related activities
• Planning activities and assessments and surveys of communities
• Studies with no follow-up action
• Publication of books or reports
• Acquisition of land and/or buildings
• Sponsorships of other organizations' events or activities
• Research and development for a nonprofit endeavor
• Research and development for a for -profit endeavor
• The promotion of a for -profit entity and/or its products and services
Community Criteria
Although communities that belong to the AARP Network of Age -Friendly States and Communities (/livable-
communities/network-age-friendly-communities/) are encouraged to apply, projects that benefit any
community and satisfy all other criteria are eligible for consideration.
Acceptable Projects
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AAWMI fr6cMti projects that aim to achieve the following outcomes:
• Increasing civic engagement with innovative and tangible projects that bring residents and local leaders
together to address challenges and facilitate a greater sense of community inclusion and diversity.
(Although this category is targeted to local governments, nonprofit organizations can apply for and receive
a grant in this category provided they demonstrate that they are working with local governments to solicit
and include residents' insights about the project or to help solve a pressing challenge.)
• Create vibrant public places that improve open spaces, parks and access to other amenities.
• Deliver a range of transportation and mobility options that increase connectivity, walkability, bikeability,
wayfinding, access to transportation options and roadway improvements.
• Support the availability of a range of housing that increases accessible and affordable housing
options.
• Demonstrate the tangible value of "Smart Cities" with programs that engage residents in
accessing, understanding and using data, and participating in decision -making to increase the quality
of life for all.
• Other community improvements: In addition to the five areas of focus, AARP wants to hear about
local needs and new, innovative ideas for addressing them.
Project Types
HARP Community Challenge grants can be used to support the following types of projects:
• Permanent physical improvements in the community
• Temporary demonstrations that lead to long-term change
• New, innovative programming or services
These project types will be prioritized over those that support ongoing programming or events.
Grant Amount
If your idea is big, no project is too small!
Grants can range from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to several thousand or tens
of thousands of dollars for larger projects.
Grant Selection Process
Grant recipients will be selected by an AARP panel of experts on aging, community development and livable
communities. Projects will be judged on the degree to which their goals make an immediate change that
leads to longer -term impact in a manner that meets all other selection criteria.
Threshold Criteria (must meet the following criteria to be considered): Page 30 of 69
Agenda&l`#sthe grant application have been addressed (or noted if not applicable).
• The grant is NOT used for partisan, political or election related activities, or property acquisition.
• The grant is NOT used to promote a for -profit or its products and/or services.
• The grant is for one of the uses in the Project Details section of the application.
Assessment Criteria:
• Impact (45 points): The proposed project addresses a clear need that brings positive change to the
community and effectively engages residents. The project also demonstrates the ability to accelerate,
grow and/or sustain the community's livability for all, especially those 50 plus.
• Execution (40 points): Applicants demonstrate capacity to deliver the AARP Community Challenge
project on time and within the awarded budget, as well as show that the project will effectively
leverage volunteers.
• Innovation (15 points): The project demonstrates creativity, aesthetic beauty, unusual design or
engagement elements, and/or the potential to spark additional community change.
AARP reserves the right to make funding decisions based on other criteria, in addition to those described
herein.
Application Requirements
• Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements.
• Applications must be submitted through the online application form (available during the application
period via AARP.org/CommunityChalleng (/livable-communities/community-challenge/)) with all
pertinent information.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Notification
Grant recipients and unselected applications will be notified by email. Grantees must execute and email a
binding Memorandum of Understanding and completed vendor forms to AARP by June 29, 2020.
Noncompliance with this time period may result in disqualification or delayed funding.
Terms and Conditions
By submitting an application to AARP, the applicant agrees that:
• The decisions of AARP regarding the eligibility of participants and the validity of entries shall be final and binding.
• All submissions will be judged by AARP, whose decisions and determinations as to the administration of the award and selection of
award recipients are final.
• AARP has the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, or suspend the award.
• All projects and applications shall not violate any third -party rights.
• Except where prohibited by law, participation in the AARP Community Challenge constitutes the Applicant's consent to AARP's use of
the organization's name and corporate logo, street address, city, state, zip code, county, and names, likenesses, photographs, videos,
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images,
and statements made or provided by the Applicant's representatives regarding the award for promotional purposes in any media
Agendl $�
a iMo,uf furfheTrr permission, consent, payment or other consideration.
All promotional materials (such as newsletters, press releases), events and signage related to the funded project will include a statement
indicating that support was received from AARP.
The organization is required to capture photos of the project and is encouraged to capture video. As the organization captures photos and video
of the project, if an identifiable individual appears in the photos and/or videos, the organization is responsible for having him/her sign the AARP
General Release (this document will be provided to grantees with the MOU and other required paperwork). In addition, the organization should
not include any element in photos or videos provided to AARP that may violate third party rights such as artwork and trademarks in text and
logo other than those owned by the organization and AARP. The organization should be prepared to send work in progress photos to AARP
upon request. Following the grant period, grantees are required to respond to periodic requests for updates from AARIs.
AARP and its affiliated organizations, subsidiaries, agents and employees are not responsible for late, lost, illegible, incomplete, stolen,
misdirected, illegitimate„ or impermissible submissions or any other error whether human, mechanical or electronic.
• Questions? Please email CommunityChallengeaa AARP.org
(mailtoxommunitychallenge@aarp.org)
AARP.org/Livable
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Agenda Item #4.
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