OFFICE OF THE CITY AUDITOR
Roland E. Smith
City Auditor

July 9, 2002

TO: President De La Fuente and Members of the City Council

PROPOSED RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROPRIATE THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM SECOND CYCLE FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $449,523

SCOPE

We have reviewed the accompanying Council Agenda Report and draft resolution. Our
review was limited to evaluating the reasonableness of the amount involved.

BACKGROUND

This is the second cycle of funding for the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program. The program was established in 1999 through Assembly Bill 1475 to improve pedestrian access and safety for children traveling to and from schools. In the first cycle of funding the City was awarded $459,000 in federal funds for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, and is currently making safety improvements at 20 intersections.

On November 27, 2001 the State awarded to the City an additional $449,523 in federal funds as the second cycle of the program. The City proposes to use these funds, plus $71,600 in City matching funds, to make improvements at 15 additional intersections located along routes to 12 elementary schools and 2 middle schools throughout the City. The improvements will include:

• 65 new pedestrian signal heads at 13 intersections;
• a new traffic signal at the intersection of Bancroft Avenue and 77th Avenue; and
• new curb bulb-outs at the intersection of Fruitvale Avenue and 18th Street
  

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In our opinion, the proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to appropriate the safe routes to school program second cycle funds in the amount of $449,523 is reasonable and merits a favorable consideration from the City Council. We hereby recommend its approval.

Issued by:

Roland E. Smith, CPA
City Auditor

June 19, 2002