City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 22, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt for the Federal Transit Administration the Updated Title VI Program for the City of Alexandria. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Updating for the Federal Transit Administration Title VI Program for the City of Alexandria.
RECOMMENDATION: The City Council approve a resolution (Attachment 1) which adopts for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) an updated program implementing the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
BACKGROUND: The FTA requires that all direct and primary funding recipients document their compliance with Title VI regulations by submitting a Title VI program to their FTA civil rights officer once every three years. City Council approved the City’s Title VI program in 2013. The City is currently a subrecipient of the FTA funds through the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and the Metropolitan Washington Area Council of Governments (MWCOG). As a result, following City Council’s resolution to adopt an updated Title VI program, the City will submit its updated Title VI program to NVTC, and then NVTC will submit it to the FTA.
DISCUSSION: The objectives of the FTA’s Title VI program are the following:
• Ensure that the level and quality of public transportation service is provided in a nondiscriminatory manner;
• Promote full and fair participation in public transportation decision-making without
regard to race, color, or national origin; and
• Ensure meaningful access to transit-related programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency.
Historically, only direct recipients of FTA funds were required to document how FTA requirements were being met. A new set of guidance promulgated at the end of 2012 set forth a more comprehensive set of requirements for sub recipients. As a subrecipient, the City must:
• Submit Title VI Programs to the primary recipient from whom they receive funding;
• Supply and utilize a notice to beneficiaries, complaint procedures, and complaint forms;
• Provide information related to its public participation plan and language assistance plan;
• Generate a list of complaints, investigations, or lawsuits;
• Develop a table depicting the racial breakdown of the membership of any transit-related non-elected planning boards, advisory councils, or committees; and
• Describe efforts made to encourage the participation of minorities on such committees.
The City of Alexandria’s Title VI program (Attachment 2) includes each of the required elements and notes that no Title VI complaints have been filed since its last submittal in 2013. No Title VI complaints were filed prior to 2013. As noted above, if City Council approves the plan, staff will submit the Title VI program to NVTC and NVTC will submit it to the FTA.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed plan will not have a fiscal impact on the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Proposed Resolution
Attachment 2: Title VI Program
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
James Banks, City Attorney
Jean Kelleher, Director, Office of Human Rights
Carrie Sanders, Acting Deputy Director, T&ES
Ramond Robinson, Division Chief, T&ES
Lee Farmer, Principal Planner, T&ES