HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/06/2020 05 Consideration of Support Letter for People for People O
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 5.
For Meeting of: October 6, 2020
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of support letter for People for People
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
People for People is submitting a public transportation consolidated grant application to the
Washington State Department of Transportation and is requesting the City Council provide a
letter supporting the application. Attached is the request from People for People and a draft
letter of support for Council's consideration.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve request.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D ple for eople support letter r uest r e o
D P ple for People draft supI.rt letter •/2 2020 r e o
2
August 14, 2020
.4 A
Mayor Patricia Beyers
City of Yakima
129 North Second Street PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE
Yakima, WA 98901
Dear Mayor Beyers,
People For People is requesting your support for our application to the Washington State Department
of Transportation (WSDOT). Transportation services that People For People provides will terminate
on June 30, 2021. The current transportation service provides over trips for individuals with special
needs, allowing them to remain independent in their communities and access critical health and
human services. It also supports the preservation of Mobility Management with the coordination of
transportation services for individuals to access transportation options.
Our WSDOT application will provide grant funding from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2025 to sustain
transportation services in the rural and remote areas of Yakima County. The focus of the projects is to
ensure that vulnerable citizens have access to basic services; That elderly individuals can remain
independent in their own homes; That individuals with special needs can access dialysis, cancer
treatment, and other health care services; That individuals have access to employment, job training,
educational opportunities,social services, nutrition,and shopping.
The funding is extremely competitive. With that in mind, People For People would appreciate a letter
of support in order to continue providing transportation services. Some facts that you may consider
mentioning in your letter include the following:
• The lack of transportation options for many of our residents.
a The critical need to provide transportation service for individuals to access health care,
education, employment, social services, nutrition, shopping, and other basic services.
" The rising cost of fuel has a dramatic impact on low-income and fixed-income individuals that
live in remote rural locations.
• Your interest in coordinating services and opportunities that you provide to the public.
• Any other information that would demonstrate the value of this service to the communities
or specific customer needs.
I have enclosed an Executive Summary and a Sample Letter of Support. In order to meet the deadline
for the application, please return your letter of support by Tues.a eote •er 1, I I to People For
People, 304 West Lincoln Avenue,Yakima, WA 98902 or rricarison zpfp.or.. If you should have any
questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at
rncarson@pfp,org or(509)248-6726.
Sincerely,
I 4,
Madelyn Carlson
People For People, CEO
Enclosures
304 West Lincoln,Yakima,WA 98902, (509)248-6726
We are an Equal Opportunity Agency. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
. - ***. Executive Summary
allli
t. o- People For People
Transportation Service PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE
People For People is submitting an application to Washington State Department of Transportation
(WSDOT) to sustain and expand transportation services in Yakima County. The funds we seek will allow
People For People to provide transportation services to individuals that have special transportation
needs with the purpose of providing access to basic services such as health care, education, social
services, and employment.
Transportation Projects
People For People is requesting WSDOT funding to support:
Yakima County Replacement Vehicles to Sustain Special Needs Transportation: This request is to
replace aging ADA accessible vehicles that are past their useful life to preserve the much-needed
demand response, route-deviated, and fixed route services to individuals with special needs. The
replacement vehicles will provide needed transportation service for our elderly and persons with
disabilities to access nutrition, health care, employment, and other community activities. The vehicles
will transport low-income individuals to access employment and employment related services as well as
transporting children with special needs to therapeutic child care. The project replaces the aging
Community Connector vehicle that provides fixed-route service between Prosser and Yakima for special
needs individuals and the general public, connecting riders with Ben Franklin Transit, Yakima Transit,
Pahto Public Passage, and the Yakima Ellensburg Commuter service.
The projects will preserve transportation services to special needs populations in addressing the
transportation needs that are identified in the 2018 Yakima Valley Region Coordinated Public Transit-
Human Services Transportation Plan:
* Persons with disabilities lack access to employment, health care, social services, recreation, and
social events.
• Older adults seek access to health care, as well as, shopping, nutrition, and socialization with friends
and family.
• Low-income individuals lack access to social services, health care,job search, employment,
education, and taking children to childcare.
01 Youth lack transportation for after-school activities, summer activities, recreation, child care,
alternative schools, and post-secondary education.
111 Veterans lack transportation for health care, employment, employment related services, education,
and other vital services.
Gracie Sexton Jan 011ivier Madelyn Carlson
Central Region Transportation People For People, People For People,CEO
Manager Transportation Director mcarison@pfp.org
gsexton@pfp,or
304 West Lincoln,Yakima,WA 98902, (509)248-6726
We are an Equal Opportunity Agency. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TTY 711
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October 6, 2020
Madelyn Carlson
People for People
304 West Lincoln Avenue
Yakima, WA 98902
Dear Ms. Carlson,
The Yakima City Council expresses its full support of People for People's proposal to the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for grant funding to sustain
and expand transportation services in Yakima County.
People for People has demonstrated its commitment and ability to provide transportation
services to vulnerable populations. Because much of Yakima County is remote, People
for People is the only resource available meeting the transportation needs of many of
our community members.
The Council strongly encourages WSDOT fund both the Yakima County Preservation of
Rural Special Needs Transportation and Yakima County Preservation of Mobility
Management services.
On behalf of the entire Yakima City Council, the City of Yakima, and the Yakima
community, I urge WSDOT to give careful and thorough consideration of People for
People's proposal to secure grant funding to continue to provide outstanding
transportation services in Yakima County.
Sincerely,
Patricia Byers
Mayor