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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1988/03/15 Item 5COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT • Item 5 Meeting Date 3/15/88 ITEM TITLE• Resolution ~~~7 Approving mid-year budget adjustment for an additional Assistant Civil Engineer position and appropriating funds SUBMITTED BY: Director of Public Works REVIEWED BY: City Manager,~~ ~'~ (4/5ths Vote: Yes X No ) On November 3, 1987, the voters passed Proposition "A" 1/2 Cent Transportation Sales Tax. The purpose of this proposition is to provide funds to repair and rehabilitate existing roadways; reduce congestion and improve safety; provide for the construction of needed facilities. The Proposition "A" 1/2 Cent Transportation Sales Tax is a 20-year program. The City of Chula Vista is expected to receive $35,540,000 (1987 dollars) over the life of the program. For years one through five, we are expecting $9,?_11,000 which represents an average of $1,842,200 per year for the first five years. On February 23, 1988, the City Council by Resolution 13466 approved the • submittal of Chula Vista's Proposition "A" Transportation Sales Tax Expenditure Plan to the San Diego Association of Governments. The implementation of this program significantly increases the workload of the Engineering Design and Construction Division of the Public Works Department. In order to meet the Proposition A work program approved by the Council, an additional design engineer needs to be added to the staff. RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt resolution approving a mid-year budget adjustment for an additional Assistant Civil Engineer and appropriating $10,610 from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: Subsequent to Council's action approving the submittal of Chula Vista's Proposition "A" Transportation Sales Tax Expenditure plan, staff projected the work hours necessary to implement this plan. Based upon our projections we are concerned about the Department's ability to turn out Proposition "A" projects, in addition to the current and future Capital Improvement Program with existing staff. It has been our management philosophy that we not add permanent staff to handle short term peaks in workload. Under these conditions it is more • appropriate to retain the services of consultants. If, however, we expect the increased workload to remain for an extended period of time, then we should increase permanent staff to handle the increased workload. The workload attributed to the Proposition "A" funds will remain for a period of 20 years. • Page 2, Item 5 Meeting Date 3/15/88 In general, most projects being proposed in the five year Proposition "A" program include street widening and reconstruction projects. These are the kinds of projects staff can handle better than outside consultants. The cost of design engineering will average around 10 percent, including full cost recovery. This results in a design expenditure of approximately $180,000.00 per year for the Proposition "A" projects. We are proposing that an additional Assistant Civil Engineer be authorized for the Design Section. The cost of this position will be entirely supported by Proposition "A" funds. We are requesting that this position be added this current fiscal year so that we can start design on Proposition "A" projects in advance of fund availability for construction. This will give us lead time to prepare construction plans so we can proceed with acquisition of needed right-of-way, and be ready to award a construction contract during next fiscal year. The first project which will be designed is the widening of Main Street from Industrial Boulevard to the I-5 freeway. This will be followed by the reconstruction of Broadway from "I" to "L" Street. Adding an engineer to design staff, however, will not necessarily eliminate the need for consultant services. In addition to contracting for design field surveying services, soils engineering, testing and right-of-way acquisition, consultant services may still be required to supplement the increased design • staff. FISCAL IMPACT: This position will be funded during this fiscal year from the General Fund. The City will begin to receive Proposition "A" revenues on July 1, 1988. The General Fund will be reimbursed for the cost of this position from the Proposition "A" 1/2 Cent Transportation Sales Tax revenues. The cost of this position will be 100 percent funded from these revenues. The cost of this position for this fiscal year is $10,610. The recurring annual cost is $37,760. WPC 3611E 'by the City Co.lnci! of Chula Vita, California Dated ~/~ ~ . ~; ,. •,