Posting Language
Title
Approve an ordinance accepting the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Title VI Program, enabling the Parks and Recreation Department to receive federal grant funds for the City’s Senior Transportation Program.
De
Lead Department
Parks and Recreation Department
Fiscal Note
This item has no fiscal impact.
Prior Council Action:
February 15, 2018-Austin City Council approved Ordinance No. 20180215-021 authorizing the acceptance of $49,368 in grant funds from the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to provide funding for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Project. The ordinance was approved on consent with Council Member Garza’s motion, Council Member Flannigan’s second on a 10-0 vote. Council Member Casar was off the dais.
For More Information:
Lucas Massie, Acting Assistant Director, (512) 974-6772, Christa McCarthy, Acting Division Manager, (512) 978-2431; Vera Labriola, Business Process Specialist, (512) 974-6716.
Additional Backup Information:
The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Community Recreation Division's Senior Transportation Program received a $49,368 grant award from Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The Senior Transportation Program provides transportation to pre-qualified persons with the goal of enhancing quality of life and promoting independence for persons 60 years or older residing in the Austin city limits. The grant is a pass-through grant, awarded by the FTA to Capital Metro, which creates a sub-grant program awarded to non-profits, municipalities, and other senior services organizations.
As a condition of receiving these federal funds, recipients must ensure that "programs, policies, and activities" comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation non-discrimination regulations. Specifically, sub-recipients are required to prepare and submit a Title VI Program which includes:
• notice to the public indicating compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation Title VI regulations,
• instructions for filing a Title VI discrimination complaint and complaint form,
• a public participation plan,
• a plan for providing language assistance to persons with limited English proficiency, and
• a table providing the racial breakdown of the membership of transit-related, non-elected planning board or committee (Parks and Recreation Board).
The grant also requires that prior to submission to the FTA, all recipients (including sub-recipients) obtain approval of the Title VI Program from the recipient’s board of directors, governing entity, or official(s) responsible for policy decisions. The Austin City Council’s required action will facilitate PARD’s submission of its Title VI plan to the FTA and will allow PARD to meet the grant requirements outlined above.