Danville City Council is set to discuss and vote on whether to adopt a change in fees set by the Tri-Valley Transportation Council (TVTC) on Tuesday evening, following a study session by the morning during which they will continue discussions on the city’s budget for the next fiscal year.

Danville and San Ramon are among the municipalities that entered into a Joint Powers Exercise Agreement (JEPA) in 2013 establishing the Three Valleys Transportation Council (TVTC) as an individual agency to coordinate transportation planning in the whole region. The move included plans for a Three Valleys Transport Development Fee (TVTDF) to fund the implementation of projects identified by the TVTC.

The pre-2013 JEPA was passed in 1998 and required member agencies to collect the TVTDF, as well as an area impact fee to fund land use fees that would be required for planned transport improvements in the region. region.

Under JEPA, TVTC is responsible for recommending Regional Impact Charge amounts for land use rights. If the TVTDF is recommended for modification, each member agency should consider adopting the fees for the amounts recommended by the TVTC.

Although the decision to adopt the TVDF as recommended rests with the individual member agencies, only those that do are eligible to receive allocations from the fees.

The Danville discussion follows an April 18 meeting of the TVTC, where the body voted to pass a resolution approving a new transportation development charge.

Local jurisdictions participating in the TVTC are required to discuss findings on the purpose of collecting development impact fees, identify how the funds raised from the fees will be used, and determine a reasonable relationship between the use of these funds and the type of projects they are taxed. on, as well as between the needs for public facilities and the projects on which these charges are imposed, and between the amount of the charge and the cost of financing public facility projects.

Prior to the TVTC meeting in April, the TVTC voted last August to adopt the findings of a nexus study required by the state under the California Mitigation Fee Act.

One of the highlights of the nexus study includes a projection of 33,312 additional households and 63,947 jobs in the Tri-Valley between 2018 and 2040, resulting in a projected increase of 57,596 morning and afternoon rush hour trips. evening, resulting in a projected 60% increase in delays. in the morning and 88% increase for evening journeys, which TVTC aims to address.

“With the 38 improvement projects, this delay is expected to decrease by 15% during the morning peak and 23% during the afternoon peak compared to the 2040 no-construction scenario,” says a report from the prepared staff for Tuesday’s meeting. “In addition, these projects will bring other benefits to the Tri-Valley region, including improved road safety, improved road operations, improved public transit, and increased number of cyclists.

City Council will consider TVTC recommended rate adjustments at 15% of the current maximum royalty rate as long as the current Strategic Expenditure Plan (SEP) is in place for all land uses other than retail and “other” .

The proposed lower rate for retail is intended to promote growth in this sector following the hits it has taken throughout the pandemic, with proposed fees to be capped at a 6% increase this year and 7% next year, and 12% for “other” land uses.

“‘Other’ land uses consist of developments that do not fit into the other five land use categories such as theatres, motels/hotels, day care centers and gas stations,” staff said. in Tuesday’s report.

Staff also pointed out that the adoption of the new TVTDF tariffs established by the TVTC is necessary for local municipalities to receive the funds allocated from the fees.

Danville City Council will meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. to vote on a resolution that would adopt the TVDF as uniformly established by the TVTC last month. The agenda is available here.

In other cases

Council members will continue a study session on the city’s draft 2022-2023 operating budget and capital improvement program at a separate meeting on Tuesday morning.

In particular, board members will discuss the allocation of up to $50,000 in business development funds.

“These funds are used to provide financing opportunities for small businesses and organizations that make Danville a premier retail, restaurant and service destination,” staff said in the report prepared for Tuesday morning.

According to staff report.

Staff highlight the impacts of the pandemic in fiscal year 2021 to 2022 on the ability to implement the program as originally envisioned.

“For this reason, it has been determined that it is not possible to administer the grant program in the same manner as in previous years, and not until commercial and event activities can safely resume,” said writes the staff. “These considerations prompted a different approach to how the funds were ultimately administered.”

Last year, $35,000 of those funds were used for the “Keep Danville Merry and Bright” campaign and a community radio campaign to help revive local businesses, with $15,000 earmarked for grants and events. individual.

“As the transition continues from pandemic to endemic and into a ‘new normal’ for the business community, there is a need to revisit the purpose of the business promotion fund program and ensure that the objectives and the established criteria meet the needs of the business community,” the staff continued.

The budget study session is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. The agenda is available here.