HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/2020 Item 09, Horn -- Staff Correspondence
Council Agenda Correspondence
City of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
Date:November 16, 2020
TO:Mayor and Council
FROM: Matt Horn, Director of Public Works
Shelly Stanwyck, Assistant City Manager
VIA:Derek Johnson, City Manager DJ
SUBJECT:Item 9–Revisions to the SLO Regional Transit Authority Joint Powers Agreement
Staff received the following questionsregarding the benefits of the revisions to the SLO Regional
Transit Authority Joint Powers Agreement:
1.What is the benefit to RTA / SoComerger that is in excess of taking on SoCo’s
employee healthcare costs?
On-going operating costs would increase for the South County Transit jurisdictions –
including healthcare costs.These new/additional costs would be solely borne by the South
County Transit jurisdictions and would not affect thenon-South County jurisdictions (SLO
City). The annual net benefit to the South County Transit jurisdictions is $82,000annually.
Since SoCo Transit achieves a relatively low farebox recovery ratio (FRR), consolidation
would effectively lower the combined RTA/SoCo Transit FRR results. RTA has requested
State-allowed relief from SLOCOG under consolidation that would ultimately benefit the
RTA. No net cost increases, or revenue declines are expected for the RTA jurisdictions
because of SoCo Transit consolidation into the RTA.
With this consolidation, fewer public meetings for South County Transit are expected
freeing up roughly 60-90 hours annually of RTA senior staff time to focus on other
issues.Additionally, with the consolidation, a single payroll process will be implemented
that will reduce staff time needed; currently managing the two separate payroll systems
takes more time. Also, consolidation reduces costs for the region to complete two separate
annual financial and compliance audits. Finally, reduced annual administrative fees for
workers compensation, vehicle liability and physical damage insurance coverage provides
a small financial benefit for RTA and SoCo jurisdictions.
2.What is the benefit to SLO City by this action?
No “hard” financial benefits would be realized directly by the City of SLO from the
consolidation –the principal benefits would accrue to the South County Transit Joint
Powers Authority (JPA) jurisdictions (the cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and
Pismo Beach, as well as SLO County). However, there are indirect or soft financial benefits
to the City of SLO as one of the eight RTA JPA jurisdictions.By reducing the minimum
November 17, 2020 Item #9 Staff Agenda CorrespondencePage 2
farebox recovery ratio for the RTA from 20% to 15% in the Arroyo Grande-Grover Beach
Urbanized Area upon consolidation will allow RTA to avoid possible future farebox
recovery ratio (FRR) penalties should the RTA experience trouble meeting the mandated
FRR level. It should be noted that any future FRR penalty would be funded by regional
revenue.Reducing the likelihood of future regional revenue going to pay penalties is of
benefit to all.