2005-04-18(2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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activities. She said most youth wanted to work in the summer but it was difficult to find jobs. Recommendations included: offer programs that involve youth on the governing board; continue asset implementation team for continued guidance; investigate a teen club; expand hours of existing programs; develop a marketing campaign to increase youth involvement; increase community opportunities for employment, especially for those ages 14 to 16; and conduct a market study for an after-school bus line and increase youth ridership RESOLUTION: URBAN ALLOCATION MANAGEMENT Mr. Tolbert said that the Virginia Department of Transportation is now allowing localities through the Virginia First Cities program to manage their own urban allocation program. He said staff had previously recommended that we wait a year in order to study the program. He said staff has met with VDOT and other involved communities and now feel we are ready to assume this responsibility. He said this will give us more control over the allocation of resources and should be more timely and efficient. He said funds will still have to go to eligible projects. He said disadvantages include the fact that this is still unknown to a certain degree and there is some cost to administer the program, but the cost can be charged back to the program. He said VDOT is holding a training session in May. Mr. Tolbert said it was discovered that there are $908,000 in state and $1,352,000 in federal funds available in leftover funds. He said the federal funds are appropriate for repair of the Belmont Bridge and the state funds could be allocated to transit improvements, traffic light synchronization or as a match for the eastern connector study. Mr. Tolbert recommended that Council approve the urban allocation management to be effective July 1, and authorize the RFP for engineering services. Mr. Schilling asked for clarification as to why in a March 28th memo the referenced $600,000 was slated for "Transit Center Improvements," yet in the current Council package, the referenced $600,000 is slated for "Transit Improvements." Mr. Tolbert said that is correct, but said we will probably need to make up for additional transit center costs. Ms. Hamilton asked how quickly repairs to Belmont Bridge can be underway, and Mr. Tolbert said probably in late fall assuming we have the money. Regarding hiring an engineering firm, Ms. Hamilton asked how much staff support will be required, and Mr. Tolbert said it should be easy to manage depending on who we get. Mr. Lynch suggested that we might want to consider starting repairs to the Belmont Bridge in the spring rather than the fall as it would be nice to have a few months when downtown is not torn up. Mr. Tolbert said repairs can be staged any way Council wants. Mr. Caravati asked for an explanation of why the Meadowcreek Parkway mechanism is different than those associated with Virginia First Cities. Mr. Tolbert said there was concern about taking over a project at this late stage, and said VDOT does not recommend that we take it over. Mr. Lynch noted that we can terminate this program within 180 days, and asked what happens to projects if we terminate. Mr. Tolbert said projects will continue on in the City's six year plan. He said another advantage to this program is that the City will no longer have to come up with a 2% match for future projects. Mr. Lynch said his only concern is getting out.