City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2023
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: TARRENCE MOORER, INTERIM DIRECTOR, T&ES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Support the Update to the Federal Highway Administration Title VI Plan Amendment to Comply with Federal Requirements.[ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: The City needs to update their Title VI Plan documents to comply with federal requirements.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the attached resolution to adopt the amended Title VI Program.
BACKGROUND: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other directives prohibit agencies and sub-recipients receiving federal assistance from discriminating against anyone or any group in the United States on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or low income.
On September 28, 2022, City Council adopted a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Title VI Plan that was the result of significant collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) staff. This was the first time VDOT required a separate FHWA Title VI Plan in addition to the City’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Title VI Plan. On December 28, 2022, VDOT completed a formal review of the City’s FHWA Title VI Plan and identified that the Plan omitted the complete Title VI assurances with appendices as they require.
DISCUSSION: The Amended Program replaces Title VI assurances language derived from Federal Transit Administration requirements with the exact assurances and appendices required by VDOT per FHWA. These assurances were signed by the City Manager in April 2022 and commit the City to signing assurances of Title VI compliance annually. The updated Title VI Plan now includes the additional appendices within Section 2. These appendices are to be included with contracts and land agreements, as specified.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City must be in compliance with VDOT and FHWA in order to avoid federal funding being canceled, terminated, or suspended. There is no additional City cost to amending the Program.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Amended FHWA Title VI Program
Attachment 2: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Jen Monaco, Transit Program Manager, T&ES