The Board approved the Employee Staff Reports from the Managing Director, the Management Assistant, and the Transportation Project Specialist for November.

5. Cooperative Agreement between WCCTAC and CCTA for FY 04-05 Transportation Fund for Clean Air (TFCA) and Measure C Projects/Funds

The Board authorized the Chair to sign the Cooperative Agreement for the TFCA and Measure C project/funds for FY04-05 projects following approval by the WCCTAC advising attorney.

6. Amendment #1 to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement with Summer Brenner

The Board authorized the Chair to sign Amendment #1 to the Professional Consultant Services Agreement between WCCTAC and Summer Brenner upon approval by the WCCTAC advising attorney.

7. Lease Agreement between WCCTAC and the City of San Pablo –

The Board authorized the Chair to sign a Lease Agreement with the City of San Pablo upon approval by the WCCTAC advising attorney.

8. Low-Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Program Grants

The Board received the information on the Low-Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Program Grants.

9. WCCTAC Financial Statements for FY 03-04 and Memorandum on Internal Control Structure

The Board accepted the Financial Statements for FY 03-04 and the Memorandum on Internal Control Structure.

10. Agenda Items for January 2005 Meeting

The Board received the Staff Recommendation on Agenda Items for the January 25, 2005 meeting.

ü Update and/or action on the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program.

ü Reappoint or elect a new WCCTAC Chair and Vice Chair.

ü Reappoint or elect a new representative for the “odd-year” CCTA representative position (February 1, 2005 to January 31, 2007).

ü WCCTAC Internship Program.

ü Approval of the revised West County model.

ü Workshop on “Form Based Codes” following the Board meeting.

ACTION ITEMS:

11. Summary of Richmond Intermodal Station/Transit Village Agreements and Approval of Agreements for Professional Consultant Services with VBN Architects and MACK5

The Managing Director stated the Board had approved a contract in August with VBN Architects for the Richmond Intermodal Station/Transit Village. The contract was not fully executed as a result of the successful TLC grant. The changes to the contract now include a revised scope for the construction of the infrastructure, as well as the building. Funding for the project will be $25,000 from STMP previously approved by the Board, and $175,000 from the Richmond Redevelopment Agency.

The Managing Director stated MACK 5 will be the consultant on the project for both the Design and Construction Phases. During the Design Phase, MACK 5 will assist with planning, controlling, organizing, coordinating and directing the design. During the Construction Phase, MACK 5 would include centralized record-keeping, oversight of the general contractor’s implementation plan, monitoring the schedule to meet milestones and deadlines, cost control, attend meetings, et cetera. MACK 5 will be working with Kimley-Horn in tandem on the design and construction phases of the station building project.

On motion by Janet Abelson, seconded by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, the Board approved the VBN Architects and MACK 5 Agreements.

Janet Abelson thanked the Managing Director for all her hard work on this project, and added she has heard from others of the great work of the Managing Director.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

12. Update on the Hercules Transit Center Relocation – Steve Lawton, Community Development Director, City of Hercules – ATTACHMENTS

Steve Lawton, City of Hercules, provided background on the current Hercules Transit Center location and the relocation efforts. He stated the Transit Center at the corner of Sycamore and San Pablo Avenue is a huge success, but is in need of expansion to accommodate bus flow and the parking demand. The City of Hercules is working to create an environment to attract private investors and grant money to improve the transit facilities in downtown. The Transit Center sits on a parcel purchased by BART in 1986. The City of Hercules did not support the location for the transit center. In 1998 the City of Hercules began considering other uses for the parcel, and agreed to participate in efforts to promote a commuter rail extension in that location. In 1999 the City of Hercules approached BART with a request to relocate the transit facilities from the current Transit Center location to the opposite side of I-80. The City and BART signed an MOU that started a process for the change to occur. The City purchased the property for the exchange, and the BART Board approved the terms of the MOU to move forward with an actionable real estate transaction exchange with the Hercules Redevelopment Agency.

Before the exchange can take place, there is a list of conditions the City of Hercules and the Hercules Redevelopment Agency must meet. One condition is the City needs to build a replacement transit facility to the specifications approved by the BART Board. The option period to complete secure the funding and create the design is two years. This is the beginning of the project, and the City of Hercules Redevelopment Agency will provide the lead on the project.

The Managing Director asked if the size of the new transit facility will have more parking than the current facility. Mr. Lawton stated the intention is to accommodate parking for car pools, casual car pools and bus riders at the new facility. Deidre Heitman stated BART has quantitative information on the parking from an Express Bus Study, which she will forward to the Managing Director.

Aleida Chavez stated WestCAT has concerns that the new transit center should be a regional state-of-the-art transit center. Parking spaces need to be added, and Aleida stated a parking structure is truly needed to accommodate not only current parking demand, but future demand. She noted there is a high percentage of disabled riders and pedestrian and bicycle use at this facility.

Jerrold Parsons also expressed the need for additional parking, as well as the access for buses and pedestrians. However, he also was concerned about increased costs for WestCAT for extra miles the buses will have to travel to the new site. Jerrold stated this new transit center will be a widely-used regional transportation facility, and CalTrans needs to be aware of the need for a smooth transition for the transit agencies.

Maria Alegria asked that the Hercules and WestCAT representatives keep the WCCTAC updated on the process, so that the agency and the West County cities are able to comment in a timely fashion. She also expressed the desire that the facility become a first class regional transit center.

The Managing Director stated she is happy to work with the City of Hercules on the project. She stated many funding opportunities are available in the next five years, and she is willing to work with the City on grant applications. The Managing Director also stated WCCTAC will look at the projects from the TAC on the Developer Fee Program, of which the transit facility is one project. In the next couple of months there will be consideration given to increasing the developer fees to a level that would help in reducing the shortfall on transportation projects in the region. The Managing Director will bring three options for WCCTAC’s approval on increased developer fees in early 2005.

13. Parchester Village Elementary School Bus Service

The Managing Director stated the LIFT grant, which was submitted for the bus services, was not successful. The school bus service is currently funded by a private, anonymous donor through December 2004. A grant request proposal will be sent to the Lesher Foundation. The Managing Director stated she will request the application review be sped up due to the current funding situation of the service. Another funding option the Managing Director is reviewing is a bus pass for the children and hiring a monitor to ride the bus with them and walk them across the busy roadways to the school.

Irma Anderson thanked the Managing Director and staff for their work with the community on this issue. The Halloween event received a very good response.

Maria Alegria felt the lack of funding by the school district is just pathetic. She suggested writing a letter to the school district from WCCTAC and the cities challenging the school district to find the money in their own budget to provide the bus service for the safety of the children, as well as their obligation to the community.

Janet Abelson expressed frustration with the school district that they would expect someone else to take care of their problem of getting the children to school safely. The school district is dropping the ball.

Joe Wallace thanked the Managing Director for getting WCCTAC involved in seeking a resolution for this problem; however, he stated the school district is violating the rights of the school children. One child has already died walking to Parchester Village Elementary.

Irma Anderson suggested inviting the school district to a future meeting and help the Board understand why they cannot or will not fund the bus service.

On motion by Maria Alegria, seconded by Maria Viramontes and carried unanimously, a letter will be sent by WCCTAC and the cities challenging the school district to fund the Parchester Village Elementary School bus service.

The Managing Director will draft a letter to the school district regarding their budget and invite them to the January 2005 meeting. Irma Anderson will request the City of Richmond’s school district liaison to set a meeting with the school district on this issue.

14. Correspondence/Other Information:

Incoming:

10.21.04 – TRANSPAC meeting summary.

11.1.04 – Email from Bob McCleary – Press Release – New Caltrans Director.

11.8.04 – MTC November 2004 Election Results.

11.8.04 – TRAC Funding.

11.18.04 – Items approved for circulation by CCTA.

11.19.04 – Capitol Corridor Rail News.

Outgoing:

VBN Notice to Proceed – 11.9.04.

Newspaper/Internet Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):

“Comments to Start on Garage Proposal;” 10.29.04.

“Toll Money will Help Rail, Bus, and Ferry Service; “ 10.29.04.

“Compromise Boosts Winning Transit Tax;” 11.7.04.

“Transit Panel Lays Out Plans for Bay Area;” 11.13.04.

Conferences:

LCG Building Livable Communities: “Two for the Price of One,” Yosemite, March 17-20, 2005.

15. Board Member Comments/Reports

Kris Valstad stated his four years on WCCTAC have been very insightful and positive. He thanked his fellow members and staff for their work, and stated it was an honor to work alongside them. The members thanked Kris for his work and dedication to the communities of West County and WCCTAC.

Maria Alegria stated she has submitted her name for the Mayors’ Conference representative at CCTA, and she would appreciate the WCCTAC members’ support.

16. Other Business

With no further business to come before the WCCTAC, Chair Valstad adjourned the meeting at 8:46 a.m. to the next regularly-scheduled meeting of January 28, 2005, 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