HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9169 INFORMAL. REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No, 9169
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 15, 2009
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SUBJECT: City of Fort Worth Federal Program for 2010
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In September, the City Governmental Relations staff communicated to the Mayor, City Council,
City Manager's office and City department heads a request for issues to be considered for
inclusion in the City of Fort Worth federal program for 2010. Based upon the responses received,
individual meetings with all respondents, and three meetings of the Legislative and
Intergovernmental Affairs Committee in October and November, the following are the issues for
consideration by the City Council for inclusion in the City of Fort Worth federal program for 2010:
Specific funding requests that the City of Fort Worth will take to Congress in 2010
* Funding for the development of a new City of Fort Worth police/fire training center
o $10 million
o For acquisition of land to allow for development of a facility into which a firing
range and burn pad will be located
o Potential sources of funding
■ FY 10 Senate/CJS/OJP-Byrne Discretionary Grants
* Funding for the City of Fort Worth homeless initiative
0 $4 million
o For acquisition of land to allow development of additional housing units
o Potential source of funding
* FY 10 Senate/THUD/HUD/Economic Development Initiative
* Funding for the City of Fort Worth modern streetcar project
o The City will seek authorization for $250 million, the full anticipated cost of the
project
o $35 million
• A specific appropriation request to fund completion of the final design
work
• Potential source of funding
* Federal Transit Administration ® Exempt Discretionary Grants
Program for Urban Circulator Systems—A maximum of $ 5 million
per project has been established under this program
NOTE; Seeking a specific appropriation is an additional request that has not been
approved by the Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee because at
the time of the last LIAC meeting, it was felt that seeking this appropriation would
put the request in direct competition with the Southwest/Northeast Rail request of
The T. however, a specific alternative source of funding for the modern streetcar
pro e t has now been identified that would avoid any competitive issues.
Funding of s requests ill, ail probability, occur in annual increments over the course of
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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9169
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 15, 2009
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: City of Fort Worth Federal Program for 2010
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Specific issues for which the City of Fort Worth will provide support
• Funding for development of the Southwest/Northeast rail line
o The T is seeking for the project to be authorized in the Highway Transit
reauthorization for$250 million
o The City of Fort Worth will work in active support of The T in this effort and in
seeking specific appropriations
• Funding for Tower 55
• The BNSF and UP railroads are pursuing a TIGER Grant for$85 million to fund
at grade improvements.
• The City of Fort Worth has submitted supportive letters and will continue to
actively support this effort
• In addition, the Texas Legislature approved $35 million for Tower 55
improvements with the express understanding that these funds would be
available only if federal efforts fail.
Passage of the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act
• S 1584, by Senators Merkley of Oregon and Collins of Maine, was heard in the
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on November 5.
• HR 3017, by Representatives Frank of Massachusetts and Ros-Lehtinen of
Florida, was heard in the House Education and Labor Committee on September
23.
• Upon approval of the federal program for 2010, staff will prepare a Council
Resolution expressing the support of the City of Fort Worth for the passage of
the Act.
Following approval of the City of Fort Worth 2010 Federal Program by City Council, the
appropriate Congressional forms, with letters of support, will be prepared and submitted to The
Franklin Partnership. These forms and supportive letters will be filed with the offices of the City of
l Fort Worth Congressional delegation. Then, in early 2010, members of the Legislative and
Intergove mmertal Affairs Committee will travel to Washington, DC to meet with delegation
members to urge their leadership and support in seeking the funding outlined above and in i
supporting the issues outlined above.
I v
Flsel
City Manage
FORT WORTH,
, TEXAS