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Item 4ECITY OF SOUTH LADE MEMORANDUM (November 2, 2010) To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager From: Robert H. Price, P.E., Director of Public Works Subject: Resolution No. 10 -056, Adopt Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. Resolution endorsing a statewide education campaign to inform Texans of statewide transportation needs and urging the 82" Texas Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. Action Requested: Resolution No. 10 -056, Adopt Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. Resolution endorsing a statewide education campaign to inform Texans of statewide transportation needs and urging the 82 Texas Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. Background Information: Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc., (TATI) a growing statewide coalition of individuals, businesses, associations, regional organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and local governments, was established in January 2010 with one common agenda: to improve transportation in Texas. TATI is building a grassroots movement that will empower citizens and businesses across the state to advocate for increased transportation investments that will preserve our quality of life and support our economic vitality. Vic Suhm, Executive Director of the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition also serves as Vice - Chairman of the Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. On behalf of TATI, Inc, he has respectfully requested the City of Southlake to adopt the attached resolution. The ability to move people, services and goods across the state, otherwise known as Transportation continues to be one of the major challenges for the State and local governments. The basic fact is that there are just not enough financial resources to construct the necessary infrastructure. No matter what transportation solution is developed, it will require additional financial resources. It is important that the transportation issue be on the forefront when it comes to solution development. The State of Texas is falling behind in the area of transportation as more and more people and businesses move to the state because of its stable economy. This continued influx of people and businesses taxes the state transportation system. The key to persuading the Texas Legislature to take action to develop additional funding mechanisms for transportation lies in the education of the state's citizenry. TATI, Inc. was created to develop an education program to bring to light the statewide transportation issue and the need for additional funding to address the problem. Furthermore, TATI, Inc. will endeavor to work with the 82 Texas Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. Financial Considerations: No funding is required for the adoption of this Resolution. Strategic Link: The adoption of this resolution links to the city's strategy map relative to the focus areas of Mobility, Infrastructure, and Performance Management and Service Delivery. The specific corporate objectives that are met by this adoption of this resolution include: Providing travel convenience within city and region; and providing high quality customer service. Citizen Input/ Board Review: N/A Legal Review: No review by the City Attorney's office id necessary. Alternatives: The City Council may approve or deny the adoption of this resolution. Supporting Documents: Resolution 10 -056 TATI, Inc. Board of Directors Possible statewide transportation solutions Staff Contact: Robert H. Price, P. E., Public Works Director Gordon J. Mayer, Jr., P.E., City Engineer RESOLUTION 10 -056 ENDORSING THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO INFORM TEXANS OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND URGING THE 82 TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ENACT REVENUE MEASURES TO FUND TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT WHEREAS, a statewide coalition - Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. - is carrying out a public information campaign to inform Texans of transportation needs and to develop a consensus agenda to improve our state's transportation system; and WHEREAS, without new revenue or diversion of needed maintenance funding, there will be no new funding for added transportation capacity in Texas beginning in 2012; and WHEREAS, Texas is adding more population annually than any other state and its metropolitan areas are adding more population than other U.S. regions; and WHEREAS, the condition of Texas roadways is declining because of underinvestment in maintenance and rehabilitation; and WHEREAS, delays from traffic congestion are increasing because of underinvestment in infrastructure to provide the capacity to serve population growth; and WHEREAS, the quality of life of Texans declines to the extent that transportation fails to move people and goods efficiently; and WHEREAS, failing to provide for a transportation system that moves people and goods efficiently jeopardizes the strength and vitality of the Texas economy; and WHEREAS, moving people and goods safely and efficiently requires a large, on -going investment; and WHEREAS, current transportation revenues are too low to fund Texas' priority transportation needs; and WHEREAS, Texans want and deserve transportation improvements that enhance mobility, improve air quality, relieve gridlock, maintain existing infrastructure and energize the Texas economy. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE that: Section 1. The City of Southlake endorses the statewide education campaign to inform Texans of transportation needs and to develop a consensus agenda to improve Texas transportation and encourages Texans to participate in the transportation conversation. Section 2. The City of Southlake urges the 82 Texas Legislature to enact revenue measures to fund investment needed to improve Texas transportation. Section 3. A copy of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Texas Legislature and Governor, to media and to Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. Adopted this 2nd day of November, 2010. DATE APPROVED: City of Southlake Mayor ATTEST: City of Southlake City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney TRANSPORTATION ADVOCATES OF TEXAS, INC. Texans working together to secure resources for transportation investment to enhance mobility, improve air quality, relieve gridlock, maintain existing infrastructure, and energize the Texas economy. Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. is a growing statewide coalition of individuals, businesses, associations, regional organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and local governments with one common agenda: to improve transportation in Texas. The coalition is engaged in an education process to inform Texans of transportation needs and challenges, to discuss possible solutions, and to develop a consensus transportation agenda for the 82 Texas Legislature. Transportation Advocates of Texas, Inc. Board of Directors Region Representative Arlington /Fort Worth Vic Suhm, Executive Director, Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition Austin Beth Ann Ray, Vice President, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Corpus Christi Judy Hawley, Commissioner, Port of Corpus Christi Dallas Rider Scott, Executive Director, Dallas Regional Mobility Coalition East Texas John Thompson, Polk County Judge El Paso Mica Espinoza, Vice President, El Paso Chamber of Commerce Houston Jennifer McEwan, consultant, Gulf Coast Regional Mobility Partners Laredo Keith Selman, Metropolitan Planning Organization Director, Laredo Northeast Texas James Carlow, Bowie County Judge Panhandle/West Texas Michael Reeves, President, Ports -to- Plains Alliance San Antonio Vic Boyer, Executive Director, San Antonio Mobility Coalition South Texas / Valley Pat Townsend, President, Rio Grande Partnership Corporate Sponsors Williams Brothers Construction Co Doug Pitcock (Bob Lanham, alternate) BNSF Railway Dennis Kearns Texas Council of Engineering Co's Steve Stagner (Peyton McKnight alternate) Texas Conference of Urban Counties Donald Lee (Michael Vasquez alternate) San Antonio Medical Center Alliance Jim Reed Civil Engineering Consultants Don Durden Port of Corpus Christi Judy Hawle Executive Committee Chairman Jim Reed Vice Chairman Vic Suhm Secretary Beth Ann Ray Treasurer Jennifer McEwan Possible Solutions Texans need to decide what level of transportation they wish to pay for and what means they wish to use to make that payment. If we continue on our current course with the planned level of transportation revenue and expenditures, then Texans will be paying with their time, vehicle repairs, commodity prices, air pollution, lost economic growth opportunities, tolls, vehicle registration fee and motor fuel tax. If Texans decide they wish to improve transportation and to pay a higher tax or fee to fund transportation improvements, then they will pay less with their time, commodity prices, air pollution, and lost economic growth opportunities. Texans need to decide what they want and how they want to pay for it; then they must convey that decision to their elected state senator and state representative. There are numerous revenue options from which the Texas Legislature can choose in deciding how to fund transportation, depending upon which their constituents are willing to support, including: • Eliminating the state sales tax exemption on motor fuel • Eliminating the local sales tax exemption on motor fuel • Increasing the annual state vehicle registration fee • Authorizing an additional county vehicle registration fee • Authorizing a state mobility improvement fee (a vehicle registration fee that is applied only to annual renewals, not at the time of vehicle purchase) • Authorizing a county mobility improvement fee (a vehicle registration fee that is applied only to annual renewals, not at the time of vehicle purchase) • Increasing the rate of the state tax on motor fuel • Authorizing counties to levy a county tax on motor fuel subject to voter approval of a ballot listing specific transportation improvement projects • Incrementally reducing the use of motor fuel tax and vehicle registration fee revenue to fund the Department of Public Safety • Authorizing any county to establish a county toll authority or to join with adjacent counties in a regional toll authority • Expanding the ability to use reinvestment zones to fund transportation, i.e., authorize cities and counties to capture the growth increment in local property taxes and/or local sales taxes for investment in transportation projects • Indexing the tax on motor fuels • Utilizing public private partnerships to attract private equity • Enacting a vehicle miles traveled fee (realistically this option is best enacted by the federal government following satisfactory resolution of related issues)