REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Kristin Martinez, Community & Library Services Manager
Subject:
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Public Hearing to Adopt Resolution No. 2026-34 authorizing an application for funds under the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for an Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled Grant Program (EMSD)
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Statement of Issue:
There is a need to adopt Resolution No. 2026-34 authorizing staff to apply to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for an Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled Grant (EMSD) to purchase accessible vans to transport older adults and people with disabilities for the Surf City Senior’s on the Go! Senior Transportation program.
Financial Impact:
The total EMSD grant request is $392,040, plus a 10% match requirement of approximately $43,560, for a total project cost of $435,600. Sufficient funds are available in the Equipment Replacement Fund 325 fund balance to cover the 10% match requirement.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Conduct Public Hearing and Adopt Resolution No. 2026-34, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing City Staff to apply to the Orange County Transportation Authority for an Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled Grant Program to Purchase Accessible Vans to Transport Older Adults and People with Disabilities” for the Surf City Senior’s on the Go! Senior Transportation program;” and
B) Authorize the appropriation of $43,560 from the Equipment Replacement Fund 325 fund balance to fulfill the 10% grant match requirement.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended actions and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The Orange County Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Disabled Grant (EMSD) grant program is administered through the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). The EMSD program is intended to support the needs of seniors and people with disabilities when transportation services are unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meet these needs.
Funding from the grant would be used to support the City’s “Surf City Senior’s on the Go!” transportation program. “Surf City Senior’s on the Go!” is a grant and donation-based program that provides curb to curb transportation for Huntington Beach seniors aged 60 years and over from their homes to a variety of locations, such as nutrition services, medical appointments, shopping centers, social services, and the Senior Center in Central Park.
As part of the grant application process, Resolution No. 2026-34 must be adopted at a public hearing (Attachment 1). As part of this requirement, staff sent a copy of the public notice via registered mail to several non-profit agencies (Attachment 2). The purpose of this notice is to inform interested people and/or non-profit providers of the opportunity to express support or opposition of the proposed grant application and proposed use of said grant during the public hearing portion of the August 18, 2026, City Council meeting.
The proposed grant application would fund the purchase of three accessible vehicles to transport older adults and individuals with disabilities. The City needs newer, modern vehicles to continue providing this heavily utilized transportation program effectively. City staff propose purchasing two accessible vans, each capable of seating seven passengers or a combination of seated passengers and wheelchair users. The third vehicle would be a small accessible bus designed to accommodate up to 9 passengers, including both seated and wheelchair passengers. Acquiring these three new vehicles would allow the City to retire one older bus currently on standby, shift another aging bus into standby status, and maintain reliable transportation services for the older adults of Huntington Beach.
The “Surf City Senior’s on the Go!” program in fiscal year 2025/2026 provided 23,000 trips and served over 500 unduplicated participants annually. Over 300 of those unduplicated participants have mobility limitations and use a mobility device.
An appropriation of $43,560 is requested from the Equipment Replacement Fund 325 fund balance in order to fulfill the 10% match requirements of the grant.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2026-34, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Authorizing City Staff to Apply to the Orange County Transportation Authority for an Orange Country Enhanced Mobility for Seniors & Disabled Grant Program to Purchase Accessible Vans to Transport Older Adults and People with Disabilities.”
2. Notice of Public Hearing
3. OCTA EMSD Grant Presentation