To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
FY 2024-25 ADA Paratransit Services Agreement
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Public Infrastructure to execute an Agreement with the Center for Volunteer & Non-Profit Leadership (formerly Volunteer Center of Sonoma County) for countywide Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit Services for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, in an amount not to exceed $2,904,680.
end
Executive Summary:
As a fixed-route public transit operator, and in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, Sonoma County Transit provides complementary paratransit service within ¾ mile of all its routes during the same days and hours as its fixed-route service. To meet federal ADA requirements, all paratransit trip requests, made by eligible clients, must be provided regardless of trip purpose, cost or number of trips taken within any period of time.
The proposed Agreement would renew services with the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) to provide countywide ADA-compliant paratransit services. Under this agreement, CVNL will continue to serve as Sonoma County Transit’s ADA paratransit services provider through FY 2024-25, under the name of “Sonoma County Paratransit.”
Discussion:
CVNL (and its predecessor) has provided Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit service, on an annual basis, for Sonoma County since 2002.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementing regulations, fixed-route transit operators are required to provide complementary paratransit service within ¾ of a mile of their fixed-route service during the same hours and days that fixed-route services are provided. All trip requests, made by eligible passengers, must be met regardless of their trip purpose. Operators are required to provide, at a minimum, all next-day requested trips.
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires transit operators to provide a sufficient level of paratransit service such that no eligible passenger is denied paratransit service due to capacity limitations. Transit operators that do not meet the required “no-denial” level of service jeopardize their federal funding eligibility and expose themselves to potential legal liability.
Within Sonoma County, there are approximately 2,800 active paratransit users. For many of these individuals, the services provided under this agreement are their sole access to on-going medical care, as-well-as, social activities, shopping and educational opportunities.
Sonoma County Paratransit operates a fleet of 29 vehicles including: 21 minibuses, 5 accessible minivans, and 3 sedans.
The impacts of COVID-19 on paratransit services began in March 2020 when daily ridership fell to 23% of its pre-pandemic level. Today, paratransit ridership is recovering and is approximately at 68% of its pre-pandemic level with slow increases as Sonoma County continues to return to normal. Although ridership is increasing, it’s not anticipated to return to its pre-pandemic level until FY 2025-26. It’s estimated that paratransit will provide approximately 38,600 passenger trips during FY 2023-24.
In early 2024, Sonoma County Paratransit introduced a new on-line passenger portal that enables paratransit passengers to confirm, cancel and follow their trips on their mobile device. The passenger portal also enables passengers to use a credit card to pay for their trips. Both improvements have been positively received by paratransit users. In June, four new minibuses will be added to the paratransit fleet.
The proposed FY 2024-25 agreement permits up to a total of 47,216 paid driver hours (wheelchair accessible fleets) and 2,500 volunteer driver hours (sedan fleet).
The proposed Agreement will provide for a maximum payment of $2,904,680 (including a 3% contingency for additional services), reflecting a 9.1% increase over FY 2023-24’s agreement maximum. The increase in the proposed agreement is largely tied to the increased cost of labor for both driving and call center staff and an increase to the amount of service hours projected for FY 2024-25. The increased wage rates will keep CNVL staff competitive with other local paratransit providers that operate in the north bay area.
Under this agreement, fares are collected by CNVL and Sonoma County provides a subsidy that compensates CNVL for its operating deficit. The operating deficit is the cost of services provided less passenger fares.
It should be noted that CVNL provides volunteer drivers to the County to support this service. Based on CVNL’s hourly rate, the annualized value of the volunteer service for FY 2024-25 is projected at $84,875. Due to their scheduling flexibility, CVNL’s use of volunteer drivers has been a key contributor in its efforts to provide a “no-denial” level of service. The ability to “right-size” the level of service each year due to passenger demand is a benefit of utilizing CVNL for this service.
CVNL is the preferred vendor based on their non-profit status and experience, and that their use of volunteer drivers reduces the County’s overall operating costs and provides the back-up necessary to provide the federally required “no-denial” level of service. It’s estimated that the continued use of CVNL for the provision of ADA paratransit service saves the County approximately $1.17 million annually versus a for-profit transit contracting firm.
County Purchasing has reviewed this request and has approved a Single Source Waiver for the proposed agreement, in accordance with Sonoma County Code 2-58.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
5/09/23- Board approved agreement with Center for Non-Profit Leadership for FY 2022-23 Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit services in the amount of $2,636,590.
5/10/22 - Board approved agreement with Center for Non-Profit Leadership for FY 2022-23 Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit services in the amount of $2,405,820.
5/11/21 - Board approved agreement with Center for Non-Profit Leadership for FY 2021/22 Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit services in the amount of $2,348,833.
5/19/20 - Board approved agreement with Center for Non-Profit Leadership for 2020-21 Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit services in the amount of $2,506,592.
5/14/19 - Board approved agreement with Volunteer Center for FY 2019-20 Americans with Disabilities Act Paratransit services in the amount of $2,435,758.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$2,904,680 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$2,904,680 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
$2,904,680 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$2,904,680 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Costs associated with this agreement are estimated at $2,904,680, including a 3% contingency. Funding for the FY 2024-25 agreement was included in the FY 2024-25 Transit Division Recommended Budget and is consistent with Sonoma County Transit’s annual TDA/STA funding claim with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Agreement.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.