Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, September 01, 2020
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH YELLOW CAB (ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COOPERATIVE, INC.) TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ON-DEMAND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
To provide Carson residents with demand-responsive taxi services through Yellow Cab and several other local taxi companies, the City Council approved an agreement with Administrative Service Cooperative, Inc. (ASC) on April 21, 2020 to operate the City’s Dial-A-Ride program from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2023 (Exhibit No. 1). Funding for this program comes from the City’s Proposition A local return. The City’s General Fund is not impacted. The program is currently available to eligible residents who are 60 years of age or older, or have disabilities such as ambulatory, vision or hearing impairments. Due to the unexpectedly prolonged existence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Staff is now seeking approval of an Amendment No. 1 to the Dial-A-Ride Service Agreement (Exhibit No. 2) to extend the offering of ASC’s services to residents of all ages, with or without disabilities, up to the end of the declared emergency. Should the City Council approve the proposed Amendment No. 1 to the agreement, Staff will announce the first date of availability through the Public Information Office, Social Media, and the City’s website.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. APPROVE Amendment No. 1 to Dial-A-Ride Agreement with Administrative Services Cooperative, Inc.
2. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the Amendment, upon approval as to form by the City Attorney.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
In response to the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Disaster Council temporarily suspended its fixed-route bus services effective March 28, 2020 in an effort to protect the health of the public and specifically to slow the community spread of COVID-19. Dial-A-Ride and Access services have remained in operation. The City’s Dial-A-Ride program is managed by the Transportation Services office and operated by Administrative Service Cooperative, Inc. (ASC). Funding for this program comes from the City’s Proposition A local return. The City’s General Fund is not impacted.
Membership is currently available to eligible residents who have completed the application process, 60 years of age or older, or have disabilities such as ambulatory, vision or hearing impairments. Upon registering through the Transportation Services office, members pay a $2.00 co-pay per ride in advance, and receive a maximum City subsidy of $18.00 per trip. Members are limited to twenty (20) rides per month and can travel within City limits for any purpose, including medical and social services, groceries, and more. Participants may also use the services to travel to medical and social facilities at designated locations in Gardena, Harbor City, Lomita, Long Beach, San Pedro, and Torrance. Trips are currently limited to one eligible participant and their caretaker to minimize community spread of the COVID-19 virus.
At the direction of the Disaster Council, Staff has worked with ASC on a plan to extend the offering of taxi services to residents of all ages, with or without disabilities. Through a dedicated and toll-free phone line, Carson residents can order a ride through a live telephone operator. ASC will request the rider’s name, phone number, origin/destination, and dispatch a taxicab to their location. There is no need to apply to use this service, but riders will be asked to show their Driver’s license or California ID card to confirm their residency. Riders are limited to 20 rides per month and trips must begin and end within the boundaries of the City of Carson. Unlike the current Dial-A-Ride program, riders pay their driver 50% of the meter-based cab fare and the City will cover the remaining 50%, up to a maximum City subsidy of $10.00. Based on preliminary data, Staff estimates the cost of each ride to range between $3.00 to $4.00 with the 50% discount.
In addition to the new phone line, residents of all ages will also have the option to apply for the City’s existing Dial-A-Ride program. Interested applicants can contact the Transportation Services office for more information regarding the program and instructions on how to sign up. New members would have to pay the $2.00 copays in advance to use their rides, but they would save approximately $1.00 to $2.00 per ride compared to the phone line option.
Should the City Council approve the recommendations, Staff will announce the first date of availability through the Public Information Office, Social Media, and the City’s website.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
Should the City Council approve the recommendations, funds are budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 and appropriated in the Proposition A account 218-90-940-179-6004. There is no impact to the City’s General Fund.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Dial-A-Ride Services Agreement with Administrative Services Cooperative, Inc. (pages 4-35).
2. Amendment No. 1 to Dial-A-Ride Services Agreement with Administrative Services Cooperative, Inc. (pages 36-50).
Prepared by: Jason Jo, Transportation Supervisor