ITEM TITLE:
Consider approving the Chairman to sign the Authorizing Resolution for FTA that will allow Ryan Landers, General Manager of the Lawton Area Transit Trust, the authority, to the extent set forth in the resolution, to execute and manage all FTA appropriated grants that the Transit Trust has approved.
INITIATOR: Christine James, Planning Director
STAFF INFORMATION SOURCE: Ryan Landers, LATS General Manager
BACKGROUND: The Authorizing Resolution is a resolution or equivalent, from the recipient’s Board of Directors or equivalent Authorizing Official, to be responsible for applying for assistance and legally committing the applicant or recipient to compliance with terms of an award of any grant that has been approved by the Transit Trust.
The resolution states Ryan Landers, General Manager of LATS, is authorized to execute appropriated grants for federal assistance that have been presented and approved by City of Lawton Transit Trust with the Federal Transit Administration for federal assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, Title 23, United States Code, or other federal statutes authorizing a project administered by the Federal Transit Administration. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), as the designated recipient, has given authority to the City of Lawton Transit Trust, the direct recipient, to apply for Urbanized Area Formula Program assistance.
The resolution also states that Landers is authorized to execute and file with its applications the approved annual certifications and assurances and other documents as approved by the City of Lawton Transit Trust that the Federal Transportation Administration requires before awarding a federal assistance grant or cooperative agreement.
The resolution is necessary for several reasons. First, federal law requires the FTA to have this resolution on file for every grantee of FTA funds. Second, it communicates who the applicant is as well as who the designated recipient is and ensures that the FTA and the applicant, the Lawton Transit Trust, have a clear understanding of that statute. Third, it establishes the legal chain of authority, i.e. that the Trust has received authority from the designated recipient, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The resolution also advises the FTA that there is no threatened litigation or legal impediment to receiving these funds, and that the applicant is legally able to receive federal assistance and how it will use its authority to provide the assistance to serve public transit needs of the community.
Additionally, this is a new required document by FTA for grant execution.
EXHIBIT: (1) Resolution 25-____; (2) Cooperative Agreement Between City of Lawton and City Transit Trust; (3) Agreement for Limited Funding Between City of Lawton and City Transit Trust.
KEY ISSUES: Without this signed document, the City of Lawton will not be able to execute any grants
FUNDING SOURCE: N/A
RECOMMENDED TRUST ACTION: Approve the Chairman to sign the Authorizing Resolution for FTA that will allow Ryan Landers the authority, to the extent set forth in the resolution, to execute and manage all FTA grants that the Transit Trust has approved.
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