HomeMy WebLinkAboutR2006-033S:\Our Documents\Resolutions\06Voint Recommendation for Rog Rail.doc
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS,
AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. R2005-053 AND ENDORSING THE JOINT
RECOMMENDATION FOR REGIONAL RAIL IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS" AS APPROVED
BY THE BOARDS OF DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT (DART), DENTON COUNTY
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY DCTA) AND THE FORT WORTH
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (THE T) THAT SUPPORTS THE CONCEPT OF LOCAL
OPTION FUNDING OF PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE REGION BY EXEMPTING AN
AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE LOCALLY AUTHORIZED TRANSIT SALES TAX FROM THE
2% LOCAL SALES TAX CAP; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Denton is firmly committed to supporting regional efforts toward
addressing the mobility and air quality needs of its citizens and for future generations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 2005-053 supporting the Regional
Transit initiative, on December 13, 2005 which indicated support for a fourth transit entity and
now wishes to support the "Joint Recommendation for Regional Rail in North Central Texas" as
approved by the Dallas Area Transit ("DART"), Denton County Transportation Authority
DCTA") and the Fort Worth Transportation Authority ("The T") which does not recommend a
fourth transit entity; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that the best approach to achieving the goal of
providing additional funding capacity to expand rapid transit in the region is by exempting an
amount equal to the locally authorized metropolitan transit sales tax from the 2% sales tax cap in
cities like Denton that do not currently have room under the local sales tax cap; and
WHEREAS, among the existing transit authorities in the region - DART, The T and
DCTA - there exists expertise and evidence of cooperation on current and future rail projects
that demonstrates their ability to successfully expand rail transit in the region; and,
WHEREAS, exempting the transit sales tax will also allow current transit member cities
to have capacity available for 4A/4B projects under the Development Corporation Act of 1979,
as amended, or for other purposes such as crime control districts; and,
WHEREAS, the citizens of Denton want to ensure that the quality of life remains high in
the region and our economy remains strong and competitive, and transit has an important role in
achieving this goal as the population in the Dallas/Fort Worth area continues to grow toward
eight million in the very near future; and NOW, THEREFORE,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DENTON HEREBY RESOLVES:
SECTION 1. The findings set forth in the preamble of this Resolution are incorporated
by reference into the body of this Resolution as if fully set forth herein.
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby agrees with and supports the "Joint
Recommendation for Regional Rail in North Central Texas" as put forth by DART, DCTA and
The T on the regional transit issue in Attachment 1, which is attached to and made a part of this
S:\Our Documents\Resolutions\06Uoint Recommendation for Reg Rail.doc
Resolution for all purposes, and strongly urges the 80th Texas Legislature to pass legislation
exempting an amount equal to the locally authorized transit sales tax from the 2% local sales tax
cap in the nine counties of North Texas that are designated by the Environmental Protection
Agency as "non-attainment" for federal air quality standards.
SECTION 3. Save and except as amended hereby, all the remaining clauses, sentences,
paragraphs, sections and subsections of Resolution No. R2005-053 shall remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the day of lSL/.O/yL~2006.
PERRYR. McNEILL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER WALTERS, CITY SECRETARY
BY.
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
EDWIN M. SNYDER, CITY ATTORNEY
BY: C/, I/G c/ .~1( L~ ,
Page 2 of 2
Attachment 1
D
JOINT RECOMMENDATION FOR REGIONAL RAIL IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
The three existing transit authorities support expanding meaningful public transit in North Texas through
our existing organizations. Such transit authorities support the Statement of principles for the
Implementation of a Regional Rail System in North Central Texas agreed to in August 2004 by regional
leadership under the following conditions:
New regional rail projects will require new sources of funding. The State authorized Sales and
Use Tax has been the primary means of fording public transit service within the region, and the
magnitude of the required funding will most likely dictate that sales tax should be the source of
funds for new regional rail projects. However, most cities in the region do not have the ability to
fund public transit services because sales and use tax capacity has been committed to other uses.
The three existing transit authorities support local option funding of public transit in the region by
exempting au amount equal to the locally authorized transit sales tax from the 2% cap in the
following counties:
o Tarrant
Parker
o Johnson
o Benton
o Wise
o Dallas
o Collin
o Rockwall
o Ellis
This action would provide an equitable means of allowing "iion-transit",jurisdictions to determine
as a local option whether or not they would choose to fund public transit, while allowing
jurisdictions that currently support public transit to determine whether they would choose to
allocate sales tax capacity for non-transit uses (up to the existing cap).
We support a determination of citizens' support of a regional rail system outside the existing
transit authorities' territory or service area. and inside The'T's service area.
Formation of a 4th transit entity is not recommended.
DART, Chain nanorthe Board D, R , 'resi e xeeutive Director
r
DC-1'A, Ctairman c tTe Boa D(XA, Executive Director
S
file T, Chair of the Board The T, PresidentJExecutive Director