Chapter 15.62
WEST COUNTY SUBREGIONAL TRANSPORTATION MITIGATION PROGRAM 2019 UPDATE
Sections:
15.62.050 Project descriptions, funding commitments, eligible costs, and implementation schedule.
15.62.010 Title.
The title of this chapter is the West County Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program 2019 Update. (Ord. 19-001 § 1 (part), 2019: Ord. 06-010 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 97-007 § 1 (part), 1997)
15.62.020 Purpose.
The purpose of the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program (STMP) Update and the STMP fee set forth in this chapter is to meet the intent of Measure J by levying a fee on new development to mitigate the regional impacts of new trips generated by that development. Further, the purpose of the STMP fee set forth in this chapter is to raise funds for regional transportation projects in West Contra Costa County. (Ord. 19-001 § 1 (part), 2019: Ord. 06-010 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 97-007 § 1 (part), 1997)
15.62.030 Findings.
A. The STMP fee is required to defray all or a portion of the costs of building transportation capital improvement projects needed to mitigate impacts of new development projects.
B. The STMP fee will raise funds for twenty projects, in the general categories of freeway and interchange improvements, local street and intersection improvements, transit and station-related improvements, bicycle and pedestrian-focused improvements, and complete streets projects. A detailed description of the projects can be found in Section 15.62.050.
C. The total cost of the twenty projects is approximately eight hundred fifty-five million dollars in 2018 dollars. The nexus study report determined the amount of eligible funding that could be collected through the STMP program at one hundred sixty-one million eight hundred thousand dollars.
D. The nexus findings, in conformance with Government Code Section 66000 et seq. can be found in the “2019 Nexus Update of the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program (STMP) Impact Fee” (hereinafter referred to as the 2019 STMP Nexus Update) prepared by Fehr & Peers for the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) dated December 2018. Two copies of the 2019 STMP Nexus Update are on file with the city clerk.
E. The 2019 STMP Nexus Update included the following steps:
1. Projecting the amount of new development anticipated in West Contra Costa County;
2. Setting criteria for identifying eligible capital improvement projects;
3. Specifying the transportation improvements needed to accommodate growth;
4. Evaluating the relationship between the improvements, the share of funding from new development, and the impacts of new trip generation;
5. Allocating the costs across land use types; and
6. Preparing fee schedules and implementation documents.
F. After considering the 2019 STMP Nexus Update, the testimony received at a noticed public hearing, the agenda statements, the general plan, and all correspondence received (together, the “record”), the city council approves and adopts the 2019 STMP Nexus Update and incorporates such report herein.
G. Adoption of the STMP fee set forth in this chapter, as it relates to development within the city, is intended to obtain funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within the WCCTAC area. Accordingly, this fee, as it relates to development within the city, is not a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act. (Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(8)(D).)
H. The record establishes and finds:
1. That there is a reasonable relationship between the use of the STMP fee set forth in this chapter (funding for transportation capital infrastructure projects) and the type of development projects on which this fee is imposed in that all development in the city—both residential and nonresidential—will contribute to the need for the projects listed in Section 15.62.050; and
2. That there is a reasonable relationship between the need for the projects listed in Section 15.62.050 and the type of development projects on which this fee is imposed in that new development in the city—both residential and nonresidential—will generate persons who live, work, shop, travel to and from, commute to and from, and visit the city and who, therefore, contribute to the need for the projects listed in Section 15.62.050; and
3. That there is a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee set forth in this chapter and the cost of the projects listed in Section 15.62.050 or portion of such projects attributable to the development on which this fee is imposed in that such fee is calculated based on projections described in the 2019 STMP Nexus Update of new development, the total cost of the projects listed in Section 15.62.050, and allocation of a fair share of costs to new development across the various land use types. (Ord. 19-001 § 1 (part), 2019: Ord. 06-010 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 97-007 § 1 (part), 1997)
15.62.040 Fees.
A. Levy of the Fee and Fee Structure. In order to fund the program and projects stated herein, the following updated STMP fee schedule shall be implemented July 1, 2019, and shall terminate on March 31, 2040. The following fees, to be updated annually for inflation pursuant to subsection K of this section, are payable to the city at the time of issuance of a building permit:
|
LAND USE TYPE |
FEE |
|---|---|
|
Single-Family Residential |
$5,439/DU* |
|
Multifamily Residential |
$2,679/DU |
|
Senior Housing |
$1,469/DU |
|
Hotel |
$3,481/Room |
|
Retail/Service (except gas stations) |
$6.59/SF** |
|
Office |
$8.72/SF |
|
Industrial |
$5.56/SF |
|
Storage Facility |
$0.76/SF |
|
Other |
$7,350 per a.m. peak hour trip |
*DU = Dwelling Unit
**SF = Square Foot
City is responsible for determining the appropriate land use category and fee amount to apply to specific development projects being considered by their jurisdiction. City will refer to the STMP administrative guidelines for guidance on how to apply these land use categories to development projects. The STMP administrative guidelines are incorporated into the master cooperative agreement by and among the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, the cities of El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo, the county of Contra Costa and the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee for the 2019 Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (“cooperative agreement”) and may be changed from time to time by the WCCTAC executive director. The cooperative agreement and initial version of the STMP administrative guidelines are available from WCCTAC or the city clerk.
B. In addition to the STMP fee imposed by subsection A of this section, each applicant shall pay the city an administrative fee as set forth in the city’s master fee schedule, payable to the city at the time of issuance of a building permit. The administrative fee shall be no greater than the cost incurred by the city to adopt and administer this chapter, and to collect, report, and transmit appropriate reports and funds to WCCTAC. The administrative fee shall be kept separate from the STMP fees.
C. No development shall be exempt from the fee, except if application of the fee to the development would be unlawful under and/or conflict with federal, state, or local law and/or regulation. In addition, accessory dwelling units within the footprint of an existing dwelling unit’s habitable space are not required to pay the STMP fee.
D. A project that reconstructs or reuses an existing structure or development that has been occupied within the previous three years is subject to the fee only to the extent that it would generate more a.m. peak hour vehicle trips than the existing development.
E. Fees for uses not identified in subsection A of this section shall be determined by the city using the “Other” land use type and according to methodology provided by WCCTAC in the STMP master cooperative agreement and STMP administrative guidelines.
F. An applicant may receive credit against fees for the dedication of land for right-of-way and/or construction of improvements for specific 2019 STMP projects, where such right-of-way or construction is beyond that which would otherwise be required for approval of the proposed development. The calculation of the amount of credit against fees for 2019 STMP dedications or improvements shall be based upon a determination by the city that such credits are, in fact, exclusive of the dedications, setbacks, improvements, and/or traffic mitigation measures which are required by local ordinance, standards, or other practice. In addition, the credit shall be calculated based upon the actual cost of construction of improvements or, in the case of land dedication, on an independent appraisal approved by the city. City must report any credit to WCCTAC prior to awarding the credit.
An applicant may receive reimbursement from STMP fees paid by other development projects to the extent that the amount of the credit is greater than the STMP fee obligation of the development project. The award of any reimbursement by city must be preapproved by the WCCTAC board; in making that decision, the board will take into consideration criteria and metrics related to funding availability and project prioritization that they use in making other STMP funding decisions.
G. The fees specified herein shall be made a condition of approval of all tentative and final subdivision maps. The fees shall be collected at the time of the issuance of any building permit.
H. The STMP fees specified above shall be collected for projects in the entire city.
I. Fees paid pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in a separate segregated interestbearing account, and, together with any interest accumulated on amounts on deposit, shall be remitted on a quarterly basis to WCCTAC or its designee, to be placed in a fund to be used solely for the purposes described in this chapter and in the master cooperative agreement. Any interest accumulated on such funds shall also be used only for the purposes specified in this chapter.
J. The fees will be used for, but are not limited to, the administration of the STMP, planning, environmental documentation, design, acquisition of rightofway, and construction of the projects.
K. Effective July 1, 2020, and on each subsequent anniversary date of such date, the amount of each of the developer fees, set forth in subsection A of this section, shall increase or decrease by the annual percentage change in the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index for the San Francisco Bay Area for the twelve-month period ending with the February index of the same calendar year. The percentage change will be calculated by WCCTAC, which will notify all signatories to the cooperative agreement of the change.
L. Pursuant to Government Code Section 66001(d), after the fifth fiscal year following the first deposit of 2019 STMP revenues and every five years thereafter, WCCTAC shall make all required findings with respect to that portion of the fee account or fund remaining unexpended, whether committed or uncommitted. Such findings shall be made in connection with the release of public information required by Government Code Section 66006(b).
M. Pursuant to Government Code Section 66006, as specified, WCCTAC shall submit a public report to the WCCTAC board on an annual basis, identifying the amount of fee revenues collected and other statutorily required information, which will also be shared with the member agencies’ city managers/county administrator.
N. Any applicant may appeal the determination of the amount of the STMP fee due, and such appeal shall be made in writing to WCCTAC with supporting documentation. The WCCTAC board shall consider the appeal at a regularly scheduled meeting, and shall make a decision on the appeal. The decision of the WCCTAC board is final. (Ord. 19-001 § 1 (part), 2019: Ord. 06-010 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 97-007 § 1 (part), 1997)
15.62.050 Project descriptions, funding commitments, eligible costs, and implementation schedule.
A. List of Projects. The 2019 STMP Nexus Study fees provided for in this chapter shall be used exclusively for the following summary of projects (note that more detailed project descriptions can be found in the 2019 STMP Nexus Study report):
1. San Pablo Avenue Complete Streets Projects. Transit, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements along several segments of San Pablo Avenue.
2. Appian Way Complete Streets Project. Pedestrian, bicycle, and transit access improvements along Appian Way in El Sobrante and in city of Pinole.
3. San Pablo Dam Road Improvements. Multimodal access improvements along San Pablo Dam Road through downtown El Sobrante.
4. Bay Trail Gap Closure. Improve transit access by closing three key Bay Trail gaps: along Goodrick Avenue in Richmond, between Bayfront Park and Pinole Creek in Pinole, and between Atlas Road and Cypress Avenue in unincorporated Contra Costa County.
5. Ohlone Greenway Improvements. Crossing, wayfinding, signing, lighting, safety, access and landscaping improvements along Ohlone Greenway.
6. I-580/Harbor Way Interchange Improvements. Improve pedestrian and bicycle access across interchange, to serve movements between waterfront/ferry terminal and central Richmond.
7. I-580/Marina Bay Parkway Interchange Improvements. Improve pedestrian and bicycle access across interchange, to serve movements between waterfront and downtown Richmond.
8. Richmond Ferry to Bridge Bicycle Improvements. Improve bicycle access between Richmond Ferry Terminal and Bay Trail near Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
9. I-80 Express Bus. Capital improvements associated with implementing I-80 express bus service between Hercules and Oakland/Emeryville/Berkeley/San Francisco, with possible intermediate stops.
10. Hercules Regional Intermodal Transportation Center. Complete construction of new Capitol Corridor train stop, with associated track improvements, parking and access facilities.
11. BART Extension from Richmond Station (Planning and Conceptual Engineering Phases). Planning, conceptual engineering and/or program level environmental clearance phases of potential BART extension to Contra Costa College/city of San Pablo.
12. San Pablo Avenue Transit Corridor Improvements. Extension and improvement of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and/or rapid bus service along San Pablo Avenue through West County, with stops including Richmond Parkway Transit Center and Hercules Transit Center.
13. 23rd Street Transit Corridor Improvements. Provision of BRT and/or rapid bus service along 23rd Street from Richmond Ferry Terminal/UC Berkeley Richmond Field Station to Richmond BART, to Contra Costa College, and potentially to Hilltop Mall.
14. West County BART Station Access and Parking Improvements. Station modernization and capacity enhancements, parking, and access improvements at El Cerrito Plaza, El Cerrito del Norte, and Richmond BART stations, and Richmond Crossover Project to allow increased frequency along Richmond line.
15. Del Norte Area TOD Public Infrastructure Improvements. Parking facilities, bicycle, pedestrian, and/or bus transit access improvements, signage, lighting, improvements to station access or station waiting areas, ADA improvements, improvements to adjacent streets, street crossings, or signals, and/or Ohlone Greenway improvements.
16. San Pablo Avenue Intersection Realignment. Intersection reconfiguration, potential signal modifications to accommodate pedestrian, bicycle, and BART access at intersection of San Pablo Avenue, 23rd Street, and Road 20.
17. I-80/San Pablo Dam Road Interchange Improvements, Phase 2. Interchange reconstruction, new bridge over Wildcat Creek, and improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
18. I-80/Central Avenue Interchange Improvements, Phase 2. Increase intersection spacing to increase vehicle capacity, connect Pierce Street and San Mateo Street, convert Pierce Street access at Central Avenue to right-in/right-out and improve multimodal access.
19. I-80/Pinole Valley Road Interchange Improvements. Improve merge from eastbound on-ramp to I-80, widen ramp terminal intersections, and make pedestrian crossing improvements.
20. Future Nexus Study Updates. Two comprehensive nexus studies and fee updates, over the twenty-two-year planning horizon of the 2019 STMP fee.
B. Funding Commitments and Eligible Costs. Program revenues shall be available for project costs through completion of construction. Costs include, but are not limited to, environmental clearance, conceptual engineering, traffic studies, design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and costs of construction. Actual funding commitments will depend upon STMP fee revenues collected and project priorities as determined by WCCTAC.
Administrative costs for WCCTAC shall not exceed four percent of the STMP fee revenues collected under the master cooperative agreement.
C. Implementation Schedule. WCCTAC, the project sponsors and cosponsors shall work to promote steady progress on all of the projects, to the extent that funding and project readiness permit. (Ord. 19-001 § 1 (part), 2019: Ord. 06-010 § 1 (part), 2006: Ord. 97-007 § 1 (part), 1997)