WCCTAC
West
Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee
MINUTES
September
24, 2004
The regular
meeting of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called
to order at 7:37 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), Joe Gomes (San Pablo), Tom Hansen (WestCAT), Mindell Penn
(Richmond), Maria Alegria (Pinole), Irma Anderson (Richmond), Tom Butts
(Richmond)
ABSENT: Maria Viramontes (Richmond), John Gioia
(Contra Costa County),
Joe Wallace (AC Transit)
STAFF: Lisa Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young,
WCCTAC Transportation Project Specialist
John
Randolph, WCCTAC Management Assistant
Hisham
Noeimi, CCTA Staff
2. Public Comment
The Managing
Director stated microphones will be standard at all future meetings.
CONSENT CALENDAR
On motion by
Janet Abelson, seconded by Maria Alegria and carried unanimously, the WCCTAC
approved the Consent Calendar.
3. Minutes, Sign-In
Sheet and Meeting Summary from the August 6, 2004 Meeting
The minutes of August 6, 2004 were
approved.
4. Staff Reports
Employee
staff reports from the Managing Director and the Transportation Specialist were
accepted.
5. Support Letter for
Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grants
The Board
authorized staff to submit letters of support for the LIFT applications.
6. Capitol Corridor Intercity Rail Service Update
The Board received the information.
7. Measure C Renewal –
Measure J on the November Ballot
The Board
received the information on the West County version of the Expenditure Plan
Summary for Measure J.
8. Conflict of Interest Code Biennial Review
The Board
authorized the Chair to sign the Conflict of Interest Code documents (once they
have been approved by the Advising Attorney) and submit them to Contra Costa
County no later than October 1, 2004.
9. Urban Limit Line Discussion – Participants
from West County
The Board
received the information from CCTA Executive Director Bob McCleary on the
designees for the Urban Limit Line Committee.
10. Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee
Program (STMP) – Update and Request for Funds for VBN Architects
The Board authorized the use of $25,000 in
STMP revenues from the Richmond Intermodal Station project for VBN Architects.
11. Additional Funds for ARUP for Design
Concepts for the Richmond Parkway Transit Center (RPTC)
The Board approved the $2,500 funding
request for ARUP for Design Concepts for the Richmond Parkway Transit Center
(funds are available in the West County Regional Studies line item in the FY
04-05 budget).
12. Funds for FY 04-05 for the Street Smarts
Program
The Board approved a funding request of
$4,200 from the Contra Costa County Health Services/Injury Prevention (funds
are available in the West County Regional Studies line item in the FY 04-05
budget).
13. Follow-Up
Discussion of the Contra Costa Housing Trust Fund Initiative
The Managing
Director prepared a memo for the West County jurisdictions on the Housing Fund
Initiative requesting discussion of the HTF.
Because there is a relationship between housing and transportation and
because there is a shortage of affordable housing in Contra Costa County, a
number of stakeholders are working to create the CCHTF Initiative in order to
provide a permanent, dedicated funding source to support affordable housing
throughout the county. WCCTAC is currently
in the process of updating the STMP Fee Program, and West County elected
officials on the HTF Steering Committee are questioning whether West County
could initiate a Nexus study to serve as a “pilot” program.
The Managing
Director asked the Board what action they would like the City Councils/Board of
Supervisors to take or if the presentations should be information only. Maria Alegria felt it is important for the
cities to be aware of this opportunity for regional benefit. The Chair agreed this is a very important
subject that needs to be discussed not only in West County, but the entire
county. Mindell Penn felt providing the
jurisdictions with background information and asking them to begin discussions
on the HTF should happen immediately, and after the November elections to
request action. Joe Gomes felt it would
be better to wait until after the November elections before bringing the
subject to the City Councils/Board of Supervisors.
The Managing
Director stated the STMP draft is going to the TAC in October. One reason to move ahead quickly is the
opportunity to change the amount of fees collected and get more revenue for
transportation projects. The Managing
Director felt it is critical to move forward on the program, but not request
action until January 2005. Irma
Anderson agreed, and suggested workshops on the HTF and the potential of the
commercial linkage fee should begin.
The Managing
Director requested approval of $4,800 for David Paul Rosen and Associates to
assist with the presentations
On motion by
Mindell Penn, seconded by Maria Alegria and carried unanimously, staff was
directed to conduct workshops/study sessions with the city councils/County
Board of Supervisors; and approve the funding request of $4,800 for David Paul
Rosen and Associates to assist with the presentations.
14. Parchester Village
Elementary School Bus Service
The Managing
Director stated since the Board authorized at their August meeting $6,600 in
West County Measure C revenues for one month of the elementary school bus
service for Parchester Village students traveling to San Pablo schools, she had
met with a small working group (school district staff, a school district board
member, neighborhood council members) to discuss short- and long-term solutions
to this issue. A survey was developed
in English and Spanish and mailed to Parchester Village residents with a
self-addressed, stamped envelope regarding options for the students to get to
school. There was a low response to the
surveys, with only 20 surveys being returned.
The most favored option if there was no bus service was a bus ticket for
the children to take AC Transit buses to school. There is a cost in purchasing the bus passes.
Staff has prepared and will submit a LIFT
grant application in the amount of $170,000 for the bus service. There is a match from the school district. Copies of the application were available for
the members’ review. Vince Kilmartin,
School District, reported an additional $5,000 to fund the bus. Presently there is enough money for bus
service through November. The school
district is continuing to explore funding options, both public and
private. Maria Alegria asked to see the
budget for this service; Mr. Kilmartin stated a separate budget is being
developed and should be available within a week or two. The school district has a contract with
Laidlaw to provide this service, and the district anticipates Laidlaw will
provide this service. The Managing
Director stated if the LIFT grant is approved, WCCTAC would issue an RFP for
the service.
Irma Anderson suggested more efforts be
made to get the affected community involved.
She suggested holding a BBQ in the neighborhood and having the surveys
filled out there. Maria Alegria,
Mindell Penn and Irma Anderson will serve as an ad hoc committee for the BBQ
and will work with WCCTAC Staff, the school district and community on the
event.
15. 2004 Update of the
Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program (STMP)
The Managing
Director reviewed the recommended list of projects to be included in the
updated STMP, along with the total cost, available funding and unfunded
amounts. She also presented a diagram
of the recommended STMP Rates and Fees.
She highlighted the 1997 full funding amounts versus the 1997 Fee Rates
as adopted. In 1997 there were
discussions and issues about charging the full funding amounts and possibly
driving development away. In the update
it shows that fees from a single-family residence can increase from $700 to
$3,206. The Managing Director asked the
members to consider the funding opportunity that was missed in the adoption of
the 1997 fees when they consider the 2004 Fee Rate.
The TAC will
discuss the update at their October meeting; the discussion will be on the
WCCTAC’s October agenda.
16. AC Transit’s West
County Service Plan Draft Recommendations (Phase I)
Robert Del Rosario, AC Transit Planning,
stated AC Transit is currently reviewing all lines serving West County. Mr. Del Rosario presented the goals and
objectives of the service plan and the service plan scope of work. He reviewed the community and driver input
and the draft Plan recommendations for Phase 1. Line 52 would be discontinued and runtime would be added to Lines
71 and 76. Line 19 would be extended to
Shattuck and Allston. Line 43 would be
extended into UC Village, and service to Pt. Isabel would be discontinued. Line 52L would be extended from UC Village
to El Cerrito Plaza BART. Line 76 would
be extended from Hilltop Mall to the Richmond Transit Center, with other small
changes. Line 71 would be rerouted from
Contra Costa College to Hilltop Mall and Richmond Parkway Transit Center. These changes would not result in additional
costs or buses.
17. Presentation on
BART’s Earthquake Safety Program
Molly
McArthur, BART, gave a presentation on the Earthquake Safety Program. The program stresses the importance of
BART’s commitment to keep the Bay Area moving and to keep its riders safe. With increasing earthquake probability and
the potential service and traffic impacts, BART staff has determined that the
Transbay Tube, aerial guide ways and stations are vulnerable. 87.5% of the stations requiring retrofit
are in Contra Costa County, as well as 31% of the track ways, 4 parking
structures and 2 maintenance facilities.
Measure AA, the BART Earthquake Safety Bond will be on the November
ballot and would allow BART to issue %980 million in bonds to make the required
improvements to the system.
Chair Valstad stated the CCTA voted in
favor of this measure because of its importance.
18. Correspondence/Other
Information:
Incoming:
Articles of
interest from the CNU Conference in Chicago – from Boardmember Penn.
TRANSPAC meeting summary from July 21,
2004.
CCTA Executive Director’s Report – July
26, 2004.
SWAT meeting summary – August 3, 2004.
Outgoing:
Letter to David Murray (CCTA) regarding
STMP fees – August 18, 2004.
Letter to David Murray (CCTA) regarding
STMP fees – August 19, 2004.
Letter to Robert McCleary (CCTA)
regarding STMP fees for Highway 4 West – August 19, 2004.
Newspaper/Internet
Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):
“Span Blame Game Draws in Agencies,”
8.19.04.
“Counties’ Sales Tax Measures in Danger,”
8.21.04.
“Caltrans’ Huge Consultant Bill for Bay
Bridge,” 8.26.04.
“N. Richmond – Coalition Supports
Affordable Housing,” 8.27.04.
“Busing Program Needs More Funds,”
8.27.04.
CT News, September issue, “You Won’t Miss
This Bus: Transit Signal Priority Project.”
“Residents Have Their Say on Land Deal,”
9.1.04.
“El Sobrante Plan Slow to Emerge,”
9.2.04.
“Report Offers Options for Bay Bridge,”
9.3.04.
“North Richmond Housing Opportunities in
the Works,” 9.3.04.
“BART Again Will Turn to Riders to Cover
Costs,” 9.9.04.
19. Board Member
Comments/Reports
None.
20. Other Business
With no
further business to come before the WCCTAC, Chair Valstad adjourned the meeting
at 9:07 a.m. to the next regularly-scheduled meeting of October 29, 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