To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Human Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Angela Struckmann 707-565-5800, Kathleen Cortez 707-565-5903
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Caltrans-Federal Transportation Authority Section 5310 Grant Funding Agreements and Position Request
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of the Human Services Department to execute two funding agreements with the California Department of Transportation for programs serving older adults and individuals with disabilities, for a total amount of $657,341, and authorizing execution of future amendments to adjust for revenue changes.
B) Adopt a Resolution adjusting the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget to increase appropriations in the Human Services Department by $171,744. (4/5th Vote Required)
C) Adopt a Resolution amending the Department Allocation List of the Human Services Department to add 1.0 full-time equivalent time-limited Social Work Assistant allocation to the Adult And Aging Division through December 31, 2026, effective March 18, 2025.
D) Adopt a Resolution approving the 2025 Human Services Department Title VI Program and authorize the Director of the Human Services Department to implement the federal required components of the Title VI Program and comply with subsequent revisions or interpretations to the Civil Rights Act.
end
Executive Summary:
The Human Services Department is requesting that the Board adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Human Services to execute the Federal Transit Authority Section 5310 Formula Grants for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities standard agreements with the California Department of Transportation in the amount of $657,341 for the two-year term January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026. Additionally, the Human Services Department requests adopting a resolution to increase the FY 24/25 budget by $171,744 to allocate this portion of funding to the current fiscal year.
As part of this grant, the Human Services Department requests the adoption of a position resolution to add a 1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) time-limited Social Work Assistant allocation. This position will be embedded in an existing Adult and Aging social work team with the primary function of working with Sonoma County residents and implementing the approved transit program.
The Human Services Department will leverage this funding to address transportation barriers for older adults and people with disabilities who need access to services and are geographically isolated.
Discussion:
The 2022 California Department of Aging report shows that 42% of Sonoma County’s older adults live in rural areas, with 10.7% considered geographically isolated. These individuals face significant barriers to transportation, leading to increased social isolation, difficulty accessing essential services, and challenges maintaining health and quality of life (http:// www.aging.ca.gov/data_and_statistics/). Sonoma County’s public transit primarily serves areas along the Highway 101 corridor, leaving many without reliable transportation options.
The 2023 Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) needs assessment identified “accessible, reliable transportation” as a critical unmet need for older adults, adults with disabilities, and non-English speakers. Despite the presence of multiple transit agencies and the SMART rail service, same-day and on-demand transportation options, especially for wheelchair users, remain limited.
The Human Services Department (HSD), Adult and Aging Division secured $657,341 in Federal Transit Authority (FTA) Section 5310 funding for 2025-2026 to address these gaps through two projects:
1. Mobility Management Grant ($439,480) - Funds a bilingual Social Work Assistant (SWA) for the Aging and Disability Resource Unit (ADRU) to provide transportation assistance and collect data for future planning. It also enhances the Sonoma Access website, a central hub for transportation resources.
2. Operating Assistance Grant ($217,861) - Supports a Transportation Voucher & Mileage Reimbursement Program to fund alternative transportation (e.g., taxis, Uber, Lyft) for older adults and people with disabilities. It will also reimburse friends, family, and volunteers who provide rides in underserved areas.
These initiatives align with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Coordinated Plan, aiming to improve mobility for vulnerable populations and expand access to essential services.
As a direct recipient of Federal Transit Authority funding, HSD is required to have in place a Title VI program approved by the Board of Supervisors. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that no person on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under and any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. HSD’s Title VI program complies with the Federal Transit Authority Title VI requirements.
The Board is requested to adopt resolutions authorizing the Human Services Director to execute funding agreements with the California Department of Transportation, adjust the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget by $171,744, add a 1.0 FTE time-limited Social Work Assistant allocation, and adopt the Title VI Program to ensure compliance with federal civil rights requirements.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
November 10, 2020: Adopted a Resolution authorizing the director of HSD to execute funding agreements with Caltrans for activities serving older adults and individuals with disabilities, including transportation services and mobility management activities in the amount of $538,261.
October 16, 2018: Authorized the director of HSD to execute 4 funding agreements with Caltrans serving older adults and individuals with disabilities, including transportation services and mobility management activities, for a total of $659,780.
April 4, 2017: Approved the Resolution of Authority allowing the director of HSD to sign grant proposal applications and attachments on behalf of the AAA to receive FTA funding for senior transportation programs.
July 12, 2016: Authorized the director of HSD to execute grant agreements with Caltrans for the term of July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018, in the amount of $388,975.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 24-25 Adopted |
FY 25-26 Projected |
FY 26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$416,205 |
$69,392 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$171,744 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$171,744 |
$416,205 |
$69,392 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$171,744 |
$416,205 |
$69,392 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$171,744 |
$416,205 |
$69,392 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
HSD requests approval to increase FY 2024-25 appropriations by $171,744 based on the remaining contract terms as follows:
FY 2024-25 $171,744 (Project 1 - $92,522 and Project 2 - $79,222)
FY 2025-26 $416,205 (Project 1 - $277,566 and Project 2 - $138,639)
FY 2026-27 $69,392 (Project 1 only)
Appropriations for future years will be programmed in the corresponding fiscal year’s budgeting process. Total expenditures of $657,341 associated with this item will be funded from two CalTrans grants, Mobility Management Grant ($439,480) and Operating Assistance Grant ($217,861).
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
Social Work Assistant |
$5,016.05 - $6,096.13 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The Social Work Assistant (SWA) position is fully funded by the grant. There will be minimal routine impacts of hiring, training and supervising the new position. The SWA will complement an existing team of bilingual social workers and help offset their workload.
Attachments:
1. Funding Agreement Resolution
2. Budget Resolution
3. Position Resolution
4. Title VI Resolution
5. Funding Agreement - CDOT Operating Assistance
6. Funding Agreement - CDOT Mobility Management
7. HSD Title VI Program Plan
8. MTC Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan July 2024
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None