HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2549-8-06RESOLUTION NO. 2549-8-06 (R)
' A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ALLEN, COLLIN COUNTY,
TEXAS, 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 (ME 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.
WHEREAS, the City of Allen 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 of Allen 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 Allen that do not currently
have room under the local sales tax cap because of 4A/4B obligations; 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 mil projects that demonstrates their ability to
successfully expand mil transit in the region; and,
' WHEREAS, exempting the transit sales tax will also allow current transit member cities to have capacity
available for 4AA4B or other purposes such as crime control districts; and,
WHEREAS, the citizens of Allen want to ensure that the quality of life remains high in the region and our
economy strong and competitive, and transit has an important role in achieving this goal as the population
continues to grow toward eight million in the very near future.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN,
COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The Allen City Council hereby agrees 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 Exhibit
1 and strongly urges the 80m 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 9 counties of North Texas that are
designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as "non -attainment' for federal air quality standards.
SECTION 2. This Resolution shall become effective immediately from and after its passage.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLLIN
COUNTY, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 29m DAY OF AUGUST, 2006.
APP
Z,I�a
' Stephen errell, MAYOR
ATTEST:
caty
Shelley B. Geo CITY SECRE Y
EXHIBIT 1
JOINT RECOMMENDATION
osr DCTA
JOINT RECOMMENDATION FOR REGIONAL RAIL IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS
The three existing transit malwrilies support expanding meaningfid public transit in North Texas through
our existing crganimtitns. Such transit aulhorilicssupport the Slalemem of Principles for etre
Implementation of a Regional Rail System in North Central Texas agreed to in August 2004 by regional
leadership under the following conditions:
New regional nail projects will require new sources of finding. The State authorized Sales and
Use Tax has been the primary means of funding 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
• This action would provide an equitable means of allowing "nmt-traosit"jurisdictlons to determine
as a local option whether ornn they would choose to fund public transit, while allowing
jurisdictions that currently support public trap it to determine whether they would choose to
allocate sales tax capacity for non -transit uses (up to the existing rap).
• We support a determination of citizens' supportof a regional rail system outside the existing
transit authorities' territory m service area, and inside The T's service area.
• Formation of a 4th transit entity is not recommended.
DARDAR� he Board
DCTA, (. airman wc ]3
The T, Chair ofthc Boazd
ThO1, President/Executive Director
Resolution No. 2549-8-06 (R). page 2
exempting an amount equal to the local ly authorized transit sales tax from the 2% cap in the
following counties:
o Tartan
o Parker
o Johnson
o Denton
o Wisc
o Dallas
v Collin
o Rockwall
o Ellis
• This action would provide an equitable means of allowing "nmt-traosit"jurisdictlons to determine
as a local option whether ornn they would choose to fund public transit, while allowing
jurisdictions that currently support public trap it to determine whether they would choose to
allocate sales tax capacity for non -transit uses (up to the existing rap).
• We support a determination of citizens' supportof a regional rail system outside the existing
transit authorities' territory m service area, and inside The T's service area.
• Formation of a 4th transit entity is not recommended.
DARDAR� he Board
DCTA, (. airman wc ]3
The T, Chair ofthc Boazd
ThO1, President/Executive Director
Resolution No. 2549-8-06 (R). page 2