Reso 2005-161 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

WEST SAN LEANDRO SHUTTLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT FY 2005-06 and the San Leandro Industrial Roundtable to provide a shuttle service, known locally as the LINKS. The purpose of the LINKS is to provide free transportation for employees to the industrial area of western San Leandro. The San Leandro Transportation Management Organization (SLTMO), a 501 C (3) non-profit corporation, was formed to handle the day-to- day operations and to provide operational oversight of the LINKS. The Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro, matched by a Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), provided initial start-up funds for atwo-year trial period to assess the viability of the program. Additionally, the City received a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to provide additional funding for the LINKS. Over the two-year trial period, there was a steady increase in ridership for the LINKS, and the program proved to be a benefit to the community. In early 2004, during preparation of the budget for Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO proposed along-term revenue plan to provide sustainable ongoing funding for the LINKS. The funding model included contributions from the business community, grant funding, and financial support from the San Leandro Redevelopment Agency on an as-needed basis. For Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO asked the City Council to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) to assess the business community served by the LINKS an annual fee to pay for a portion of the LINKS operating costs. With this guaranteed revenue source, the SLTMO would continue to seek out grant opportunities to help fund the remainder of the LINKS budget. After completing all appropriate notices and public hearings as required by State law, on June 21, 2004, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2004-013, establishing the West San Leandro Shuttle Business Improvement District (BID). The BID included a total of 380 businesses within the service area and was projected to generate $135,000 in revenue. The 2004-OS BID assessment was set at a base fee of $25, plus $10.56 per employee. Businesses with five or fewer employees and non-profits were exempt from the BID assessment. During Fiscal Year 2004-05, the SLTMO and the City continued to pursue all available grant opportunities to support the shuttle program. The City was again successful in obtaining a grant from the BAAQMD and the SLTMO, in partnership with the Davis Street Family Resource Center (DSFRC), obtained a second, two-year LIFT grant in the amount of $266,666. Since the LIFT grant from MTC was provided to fund transportation for DSFRC clients, the SLTMO expanded the LINKS route in January 2005 to include the DSFRC, located on Teagarden Street. The change in the service route to include DSFRC required the original BID to be re-formed to include additional businesses that lie within one-quarter mile of the expanded service area. The LINKS continued to see healthy ridership during Fiscal Year 2004-OS with total boardings exceeding 146,000. Average monthly boardings for the Fiscal Year 2004-05 was 12,169 with a high of 15,485 in March of 2005. The specific impact of the route change to include the DSFRC can be seen in the difference of average monthly ridership during the second half of the fiscal year. Average ridership from January 2005 through June 2005 was Page 2 of 5