WCCTAC
West
Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee
MINUTES
August
6, 2004
The regular meeting of the West
Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:30 a.m.
by Chair Valstad in the City Council Chambers of the City of San Pablo, 13831
San Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane), San Pablo, California.
1. Call to
Order and Self-Introductions
PRESENT: Chair Kris Valstad (Hercules), Janet Abelson (El Cerrito),
Sharon Brown (San Pablo), Jerrold Parsons (WestCAT), Joe Wallace (AC Transit),
Mindell Penn (Richmond), Maria Alegria (Pinole), Maria Viramontes (Richmond),
John Gioia (Contra Costa County)
ABSENT: Lynette Sweet (BART), Irma Anderson (Richmond)
STAFF: Lisa Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young, WCCTAC Transportation
Project Specialist
Nancy Cuneo, WCCTAC Administrative
Assistant
Hisham Noeimi, CCTA Staff
2. Public Comment
The Chair noted Janet Abelson’s
birthday was today, and the Committee and staff wished her a happy birthday.
The Managing Director reported she
had been made aware of the elimination of school bus service for Parchester Village’s
elementary school children who attend Lake and Bayview schools in San
Pablo. These children would need to both
walk a mile and cross the Giant Highway - which does not have sidewalks - to
get to school, or IF the parents have a vehicle, they would be forced to drive
the children to school.
Given the timing of the WCCTAC
meetings and the start of school in September, the Managing Director stated
there is an emergency to resolve the funding issue.
On motion by Joe Wallace, seconded
by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC approved adding the
emergency item to the agenda.
The Managing Director referred to a
letter sent by CCTA to all mayors and city managers in the County requesting
participation by each jurisdiction in a process to develop a mutually
agreed-upon ULL by December 31, 2004.
The Managing Director wanted to confirm all Committee members were aware
of this letter and the need to appoint a representative from this committee.
Sharon Brown stated her city had
discussions about the letter, but decided not to appoint a representative
because it was not clear where or when the proposed meetings would take
place. John Gioia stated the meetings
will be held at the convenience of the cities.
Maria Alegria felt it was important for all municipalities to
participate in the ULL discussions because of the impacts on West County
cities’ efforts in revitalization.
The Chair asked the Managing
Director to provide an update on the representation from each community in West
County at the September meeting.
CONSENT
CALENDAR
On motion by Janet Abelson,
seconded by Sharon Brown and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC approved the
Consent Calendar.
3. Minutes and Sign-In Sheet from the May 10,
2004 Meeting and the Summary Minutes and Sign-In Sheet from the June 25, 2004
Meeting –ATTACHMENTS
Approved the May 2004 minutes and the June summary.
4. Staff Reports
Accepted the reports.
5. Subregional Transportation Mitigation
Program (STMP) Fees for Consultants
Authorized the Managing Director to
use up to $10,000 in STMP fees for consultant services on the Richmond
Intermodal Station project and up to $8,500 for Michael Bernick (for a total of
up to $18,500).
6. Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA)
Additional Funds for Projects
Received information.
7. Agreement for Professional Consultant Services
Between WCCTAC and TJKM
Authorized the Chair to sign the
Agreement.
8. Update on the Measure C Transportation Sales
Tax Renewal
Received information.
9. Contract with VBN Architects for the Next
Phase of the Richmond Intermodal Station Project
Authorized the Chair to sign the
Contract once final negotiations and reviews are complete.
ACTION
ITEMS:
Emergency
Item: School Bus Service for Parchester
Village Elementary School Children
The Managing Director provided
background information to the Committee.
The service started in the early 1980’s, was discontinued and then
resumed after the death of a student crossing the Giant Highway. Approximately 60 children use the School
District-sponsored bus service to the Lake and Bayview schools at no cost to
the students/families.
The cost to the school District to
run the service is $66,000 for a 10-month contract ($6,600 per month). Without the service parents would be forced
to drive the children – if the parents have an automobile – or the children are
forced to walk a mile, crossing the Giant Highway without sidewalks.
A large number of residents,
elected officials, agencies, the school District, AC Transit, the City of
Richmond, as well as businesses have been in communication recently in an attempt
to resolve the issue on a short-term basis prior to the beginning of school
August 24, and ultimately to solve the problem for the long term.
Eddrick Osborne, Parchester Village
Neighborhood Council, requested emergency funding for the first month of bus
service. The Council is working
diligently with the community on a solution both short and long term for
continued bus service for the students in this neighborhood.
Vince Kilmartin and David Azcarraga,
West Contra Costa USD, stated the District has been working with the community
also. The District has a $9.5 million
dollar shortfall, and cannot consider any budget revisions until later in the
year. An anonymous donor has pledge
money for the first month of service and will also work with the District in
the hope that agencies will step forward to resolve the issue long term.
Maria Alegria asked for information
on the School District’s process for making this bus service a priority in
their budget. This bus service was the
only route where the cost was covered under the general fund, and the
elimination to fund the service from the general fund was a staff
recommendation. Although the School
District is willing to work with the community, they feel the issues are
infrastructure issues, eg. Sidewalks, traffic lights, highway crossings.
Jerrold Parsons expressed concern
using transportation funding for a service that should be paid from the school
district budget. John Gioia stated the
County supervisors consider school transportation very important and have
provided money in the Measure C renewal for low income student bus passes.
Joe Wallace felt strongly that no
child should have to make a decision between going to school and eating
lunch. He stated AC Transit is
committed to helping low-income students getting to school.
On motion by Maria Viramontes,
seconded by John Gioia and carried unanimously, to approve one-month of
funding, which will pay for the second month of bus service. In September, the Committee will consider an
option to fund the service through December.
The goal is that the community works together on a permanent resolution
for funding by the School District’s mid-year review.
10. WCCTAC Budget, Dues, Scope of Work, and
Employment Agreements for FY
04-05 – Staff – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes
The Managing Director highlighted
the proposed changes to the Budget.
On motion by Maria Viramontes,
seconded by Maria Alegria and carried unanimously, to approve the WCCTAC
Budget, Dues, Scope of Work and Employment Agreements for 04/05, with a
mid-year review and consideration of a COLA for the Managing Director.
11. WCCTAC Travel Policy – Staff – ATTACHMENT
– 10 minutes
Jerrold Parsons felt the car travel
should be raised to the IRS rate of 37 cents/mile. He also felt the proposed $3,000 was too small and should be
raised. John Gioia asked if the other
regional transportation committees fund travel. He suggested a $3,000 travel budget was reasonable, and added
that the agencies/cities the members represent have their own travel budgets.
On motion by Maria Viramontes,
seconded by Janet Abelson and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC Travel Policy was
approved with the car travel increased to 37 cents per mile.
12. Discussion of the Contra Costa Housing
Trust Fund Initiative and the Relationship Between Housing and Transportation –
Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 20 minutes
As background, the Managing
Director provided the following information:
Since early 2003, FaithWorks! and a number of stakeholders have been
meeting regarding the shortage of affordable housing in Contra Costa
County. The stakeholders are working to
create the Contra Costa Housing Trust Fund Initiative (HTF) in order to provide
a permanent, dedicated funding source to support affordable housing throughout
the county. Three WCCTAC Board members
are currently on the HTF Steering Committee, Maria Alegria, John Gioia, and
Kris Valstad.
For the following reasons, an
initial discussion of the relationship between the HTF and WCCTAC is being
brought to the Board:
a. There is a relationship between
housing and transportation. This
relationship is brought to light in discussions of Smart Growth,
Transit-Oriented Development, In-Fill, etc.
It is also highlighted in the transportation sales tax renewal Expenditure
Plan in the Transportation for Livable Communities program and West County’s
commitment to provide additional funds for TLC projects.
b. WCCTAC is in the process of
updating the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP),
including the projects supported by the fees and the nexus analysis. One of the potential revenue sources for the
HTF may be a commercial linkage fee (CLF) for the benefit of affordable
housing. In order to implement a CLF, a
nexus analysis must be completed. Since WCCTAC is doing a nexus analysis for
the STMP program, the question was raised:
“Could a nexus analysis in West County be done for a CLF as an adjunct
to the STMP?”
c. Given that there are many issues
to resolve in order to implement the HTF on a county-wide basis (including
adoption of an ordinance and agreement to share the revenues), the West County
elected officials on the HTF Steering Committee questioned whether West County
could initiate a CLF to serve as a “pilot” program. CLFs are one method of raising revenues for the HTF.
d. A JPA and STMP already exist in
West County and could serve as models for jurisdictions working together and
implementing fees for both transportation and affordable housing.
David Rosen, Principal of David
Paul Rosen and Associates, expressed excitement over the unique opportunity of
a housing trust fund and a commitment between housing and transportation. He stated there is a need to link smart
growth and land site opportunities with transit centers. He further stated that the task force has
suggested that a regional model be adopted for housing fees. This could be done by each city and the
county, and there could be a governing board, which would pool the leverage in
the county.
Maria Viramontes expressed support
for the HTF, but stated Richmond needs assistance in reviewing their existing
fee structure before the City could contemplate supporting on a regional
without giving up their own funding.
John Gioia stated all jurisdictions
need to participate in order for the linkage fee to be fair. He expressed support for reviewing the nexus
analysis as part of the transportation study.
On motion by Maria Viramontes,
seconded by Maria Alegria and carried unanimously, the Board requested that
each city representative place this item on their September council agenda for
consideration of participating in the study; making data available for the
study; and appointing a sub-group of elected officials to begin looking at the issue
and range of fees. The sub-group would
be asked to outline how the CCTA could act as the fiscal agent of the HTF.
The Managing Director will outline
the discussion in a letter for each Board member and copy their city/agency
managers.
13. Highway 4 West Subregional Transportation
Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) Revenues for the I-80/SR4 Interchange Project
Study Report (PSR)
On motion by Maria Viramontes,
seconded by Mindell Penn and carried unanimously, the Board approved the use of
$150,000 in STMP revenues.
14. Subregional Transportation
Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) Update
The Managing Director updated the
Board on the work currently underway on the update, including potential new
projects and a revised Nexus Analysis.
The Managing Director requested input/direction from the Board.
John Gioia suggested all areas need
to be re-evaluated. On the handout, he
stated Items b and c can be removed as they two projects are funded, but review
items a and d through h, along with the student bus pass, San Pablo Dam Road
Improvements, San Pablo Avenue Corridor Project and Bay Trail Gap Closure.
On motion by John Gioia, seconded
by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the Board directed the Managing
Director to look at the selection of the projects per their discussion and land
use assumptions, and direct the study to move forward.
INFORMATION
ITEMS:
15.
Update on the Parking Structure at the El Cerrito
Plaza BART Station
The Managing Director provided a
handout of the history of this project.
There is interest in moving the project forward in terms of timing and
funding. Scott Hanin, El Cerrito City
Manager, provided the following update.
The EIR will be out for review the
week of August 15, followed by public comment.
The City hopes the Planning Commission would consider the EIR at their
November meeting. Mr. Hanin stated
there is public concern with the 300-space parking garage.
Maria Viramontes supported the
project in Measure C; however, should El Cerrito not be able to spend the
funding within the time limits, she reminded the Board of Richmond’s need for
funding of their BART parking project.
John Gioia stated the Authority is
looking to El Cerrito to find a solution to the present conflicts. Maria Alegria expressed the need for the
Board to support El Cerrrito on this project.
Mani Feniger, Plaza Neighbors,
stated the parking looks like a private parking garage. The garage opens at 10:00 a.m., which
coincides with the store opening, not BART hours. He expressed concern that the parking is a far distance from
BART; it appears public funds will be used to fund a private parking lot; and
how will the garage determine who is a BART rider and who is a shopper. John Gioia stated the partnership of public
and private money is a legal use of money for land use combined with transportation.
Charles Burress, Behrens
Neighborhood Association, stated no neighbors were notified or consulted on
this project until after the MOU had been signed. The neighbors have many concerns with the placement of the garage
in the far rear corner of the property.
The location is directly adjacent
to high school and middle school athletic fields; there is not a safe pathway
to/from the garage; the garage is not adjacent to BART.
Peter Loubal, El Cerrito, stated
that although he supports public transit and the need for a BART garage, the
placement of this project is wrong and needs to be revised. All parties involved need to be in agreement
for the project to be a success.
16.
Congress for a
New Urbanism Conference in Chicago
WCCTAC Board members Mindell Penn
and Joe Wallace attended the Congress for the New Urbanism Conference. Mindell Penn reported the Bay Area is on
target concerning Smart Growth and regional planning. She found the discussions on how other regions are addressing
their regional planning educational.
Joe Wallace agreed, and stated many
regions are not abandoning their older neighborhoods, but revitalizing them
instead. He urged the other members to
attend these valuable conferences.
17. Correspondence/Other Information:
Incoming:
TRANSPAC meeting summary – June 21,
2004.
CCTA Items Approved for Circulation
to the RTPCs – June 21, 2004.
Richmond Bay Trail Mid-Year Report
– July 17, 2004.
Outgoing:
TLC Letter of Support for the
Marina Bay Shuttle – June 22, 2004.
TLC Letter of Support for Regional
Planning on San Pablo Avenue – July 7, 2004.
TLC Letter of Support for the
Richmond Transit Village Station – July 7, 2004.
Letter to Rich Davidson re: Richmond Parkway Transit Center – July 9,
2004.
TLC Letter of Support for the El
Portal Gateway Project – July 14, 2004.
TLC Letter of Support for 3 Contra
Costa County projects – July 14, 2004.
Newspaper/Internet
Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):
“Voters Would Support Half-Cent
Tax,” Solano County’s Vallejo Times-Herald – 6.29.04.
“El Cerrito Project Aims for a
Sense of Place,” 7.5.04.
“Six Cities Expected to OK Tax
Initiative,” 7.6.04.
“Six More Cities Back Sales Tax
Extension,” 7.9.04.
“County Extends Sales Tax Measure,”
7.14.04.
“Hercules City Council Weighs
Options on Franklin Canyon,” 7.25.04.
“Richmond Committee Touts City’s
Expanse of Bay Trail,” 7.25.04.
Conferences:
Railvolution, September 18 to 22 in
Los Angeles (Separate ATTACHMENT).
18. Board Member Comments/Reports
None.
19. Other Business
With no further business to come
before the WCCTAC, Chair Valstad adjourned the meeting at 9:33 a.m. to the next
regularly-scheduled meeting of September 24, 2004, at 7:30 a.m. at the San
Pablo City Council Chambers, 13831 San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo, California.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori D’Orazi
Stenocaptioner