WCCTAC
West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee
MINUTES
The regular meeting of the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:33 a.m. by Vice Chair Viramontes 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: Maria Viramontes, Vice Chair (Richmond), Janet Abelson (El Cerrito), Jerrold Parsons, (WestCAT), John Gioia (Contra Costa County), Ed Balico (Hercules), Bob Franklin (BART), Irma Anderson (Richmond), Joe Wallace (AC Transit), Leonard McNeil (San Pablo), *Maria Alegria (Pinole), *Tom Butt (San Pablo)
ABSENT: Sharon Brown (San Pablo)
STAFF: Lisa Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young, WCCTAC Transportation Project Specialist
John Rudolph, WCCTAC Management Assistant
Nancy Cuneo, WCCTAC Administrative Assistant
Hisham Noeimi, CCTA Staff
Bryan Otake, WCCTAC General Counsel
* Not present for Self Introductions
2. Public Comment
None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
On motion by Janet Abelson, seconded by Ed Balico and carried unanimously, the Board approved the Consent Calendar.
3. Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary October 28, 2005 Meeting
The Board approved the October 2005 minutes.
4. Staff Reports
The Board accepted the Employee Staff Reports.
5. Copy Machine Lease
The Board authorized the Managing Director to sign the Lease Agreement with Xerox for a new Xerox Model WCP255 copy machine for sixty months (five years) at a monthly rate of $472.64, which includes maintenance, supplies, and 10,000 copies per month (additional copies are charged at a rate of $.006 per copy) following review and approval by WCCTAC’s attorney.
6. Invoices Over $10,000
The Board received the information.
7. Amendment #1 to the Purchase of Services Contract with Yellow Cab for the Guaranteed Ride Home Taxi Service
The Board authorized the Chair to sign the Amendment in substantially the same form as presented herein, following review and approval by WCCTAC’s attorney.
8. Update on the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee (STMP) Program and Presentations to the City Councils and Board of Supervisors
The Board received the schedule of staff presentations regarding the updated STMP Developer Fee Program.
REGULAR CALENDAR
9. WCCTAC Mission Statement
Managing Director Hammon submitted three mission statement formats for discussion and consideration by the Board. The members had varying opinions on the style of the statement (specific or general) and how the statement should be conveyed to the public (sentence structure or bullet points).
Irma Anderson felt a mission statement should be more general in form, and she was not prepared to make a recommendation at this time. Jerrold Parsons and Janet Abelson agreed, and suggested the mission statement be very short and concise.
Joe Wallace stated he preferred the third option suggested by Ms. Hammon, but requested buses specifically be included. Janet Abelson suggested the statement include a sentence such as ‘WCCTAC supports a transportation system that meets the needs of all West County.’ In this way all modes of transportation are covered.
Ed Balico suggested the Board needs to have goals and objectives for achieving their mission, as it will be cited in the mission statement.
Ms. Hammon will craft a revised mission statement along with goals and objectives and submit it to the Board for review prior to the January 2006 meeting.
10. Presentation of the FY 04-05 Annual Report by the 511 Contra Costa Staff
Linda Young, WCCTAC Transportation Project Specialist, and Lynn Osborn, TRANSPAC/TRANSPLAN Program Manager presented the FY 04-05 Annual Report for the 511 Contra Costa program.
Ms. Young provided a brief overview of the projects and programs in the 511 Program.
Employer Outreach is a major activity, and staff is currently conducting an Employer Work Site Transportation Survey. The program has over 735 employers participating and over 133,600 employees enrolled.
Tom Butt and Maria Alegria noted present at 7:47 a.m.
Lynn Osborn stated the Carpool Incentive Program is designed and available to anyone traveling to, from or through the county. Participants are referred to the regional ride share agency or assisted at their employment site to find partners. The program has over 950 carpool participants. Each new carpool member receives a $60 gas card for participating.
Ms. Osborn stated the Carpool to BART program was developed to maximize parking availability at Contra Costa BART stations. Participants receive a free BART parking permit. New carpool members receive a $20 gas scrip and BART ticket. The College Commute Program includes community colleges, universities and technical colleges in Contra Costa. It provides a $20 gas card or transit tickets for those who previously drove alone. The program had 294 carpool and 255 transit participants in FY04/05.
Ms. Young stated the Vanpool Incentive Program is a combination of public and private employers with 156 new vanpool passengers and 6 new vanpools formed in FY04/05.
Ms. Osborn stated the Transit Incentive Program provides a $60 incentive to new participants. There are currently over 2,000 users in this database, and participation is growing. There is also a countywide School Pool Program for all public and private schools. Although free bus tickets are available through the schools, Ms. Osborn stated there is very little participation in this program despite efforts to encourage schools to join. Maria Alegria requested this item be scheduled on the January agenda for a full discussion.
Ms. Young discussed the Countywide Guaranteed Ride Home Program and how participants, who walk; ride a bike; use a carpool or vanpool; the Bus, BART, or other transit method to get to work, can sign up for either a taxi or rental car voucher as a guaranteed ride home in the case of emergency. This program is designed for people who work in the county, not only those that live in the county. Ms. Young noted counties adjacent to Contra Costa have similar programs. Jerrold Parsons personally attested to the success and value of the program.
John Gioia asked if staff had considered the use of the car share idea in the 511 Program overall not just specific projects in the program. Ms. Young stated she has been in discussions on how this could be coordinated.
Vice Chair Viramontes requested all cities receive copies of the 10-minute video.
On motion by Joe Wallace, seconded by Jerrold Parsons and carried unanimously, the Board accepted the FY04-05 Annual Report.
11. “Walk and Roll West County”
Nancy Baer (Injury Prevention and Physical Activity Promotion Projects – Contra Costa Health Services) asked for the Board’s assistance with a problem regarding the Street Smarts Campaign. One way this program advertises is at movie theatres. The Hilltop Movie Theater has recently refused to run the ads for the campaign on teen alcohol abuse prevention. These ads were developed by students at Contra Costa College to educate their peers on drinking and driving. Ms. Baer requested the Board use their influence in getting the ads back at the movie theater. Irma Anderson thanked Ms. Baer for the information and will take the lead on this item. She asked Ms. Baer to contact the City of Richmond.
On motion by Joe Wallace, seconded by John Gioia and carried unanimously, WCCTAC will send a letter to the Hilltop Movie Theater.
A subcommittee was formed (Irma Anderson, Joe Wallace and John Gioia) to work on the issue of showing the Street Smarts ads at the Hilltop Movie Theater.
Ms. Baer introduced “Walk and Roll West County”; a new project that is designed to bring walking and bicycling planning tools into West County. Funding for staff, speaker fees and materials for the project is provided through a grant from the California Kids' Plates Fund. This project is a partnership between Contra Costa Health Services and WCCTAC. The project will conduct a workshop series for safe streets for walking and cycling; research and publish a “white paper” on health impacts of the built environment; conduct an Officials Forum; develop an electronic library of Smart Growth/Walkability materials; conduct marketing; and conduct evaluation activities to determine the impact of grant-funded activities. Ms. Baer asked for input from the Board. The TAC discussed the project at the November 10th meeting and provided feedback on the Work Scope.
The Board suggested there be a focus on areas of transit – bus stops and BART stations for the electronic library. Ms. Hammon will present an electronic survey at the January meeting for the Board’s consideration. Ms. Hammon asked the members to submit topics to be included in the “white paper” either by email or at the January meeting.
12. Update on Ferry Service in West County
John Sindzinski, Manager of Planning Water Transit Authority, “WTA”, stated this study was recently completed per the RM2 funding requirements. The purpose of the study was to look for potential locations for a ferry terminal placement within the City of Richmond. Mr. Sindzinski stated the study consultants looked at the Ford Peninsula, where there has been much interest in transit-oriented development, various levels of development and placement of a ferry terminal. The study concluded that up-zoning the area in and around the Ford Peninsula to higher densities would encourage ferry ridership and contribute to the City’s revitalization of the waterfront. Transit-oriented development will help both the City and WTA to qualify for funding through federal, state and regional TOD program.
The members requested clarification on the exact area under consideration. John Gioia requested Mr. Sindzinski provide a detailed map of the development proposals within a half-mile radius of the waterfront. Mr. Sindzinski will provide more accurate maps outlining the area to Ms. Hammon for distribution to the members. Mr. Sindzinski also clarified the study states there is a potential for development to include somewhere between 12,000 and 28,000 individuals, not roofs as was mistakenly reported.
Joe Wallace was opposed to alcohol service on the ferry. He stated the ferry will be used by families and children, as well as commuters, and he could not support having alcohol on board the ferry. Mr. Sindzinski stated the service is only in the planning process at this time. No operating policies are currently under consideration.
Mr. Sindzinski stated in order for the Ford Peninsula site to serve as a ferry terminal, the City of Richmond will need to update the General Plan and adopt land use policies for the Ford Peninsula. He stated the study supports 300 parking spaces as close to the terminal as possible. Ed Balico was in support of the ferry terminal at this site and encouraged the City of Richmond to make the necessary changes.
Irma Anderson thanked Mr. Sindzinski for his presentation and requested the City of Richmond Planning Director attend the January Board meeting for a continued discussion on this item.
Vice Chair Viramontes stated Richmond needs to understand that they do not need to sacrifice the current commercial property to accommodate the ferry. The population estimates are applied regionally, not specifically to the one-half mile area surrounding the ferry terminal.
Ms. Hammon stated the Board’s January agenda would allow for discussion of the Developer Fee Program, ferry service and Measure C funding as it relates to the Richmond Ferry Terminal Location Study.
13. Update on the Low-Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grant Implementation – Neighborhood House of North Richmond Staff
Jannat Muhammad reported the West County Transportation Center opened in October and will host a grand opening in February 2006. Although, the Center was funded to be open part time, the staff of five has set a schedule so that the center is now open eight hours a day, five days a week. Services are provided in English, Spanish and three Asian languages. The center helps community residents with transportation needs. Trip planning, a bus program, as well as information on BART are offered. The center reaches out to residents who are not using the transportation system. A bus-buddy program is also provided to orient new riders to the system. Current schedules, maps and fares are available for residents to pick up at the center. Staff is looking for grants to fund a car-loan program, to be implemented for the CAL Works residents.
Maria Alegria suggested the center be open for a few hours on a Saturday to accommodate those that work a regular nine to five schedule. Ms. Muhammad stated that residents could call or fax any questions or concerns to the center.
Joe Wallace stated bus benches are fine, but he felt that bus shelters are necessary for all riders. Ms. Hammon stated a bus shelter group has been meeting for a number of months and is working to expand bus shelters throughout West County. Ms. Hammon will schedule a discussion of bus shelters for the January agenda.
Fred Jackson stated that the Center staff wanted to involve community youth in the bus bench art program, in order to give them a feeling of ownership. The youth developed a theme of “It’s Our World”; with artwork focusing on people living together. He stated there had been a very good response to the program, including some juveniles and gang members, and the program intends to accommodate as many youth as possible.
14. Correspondence/Other Information:
Incoming:
STPP Electronic News Bulletin – October 27, 2005.
Summary of CCTA meeting – November 17, 2005.
Newspaper/Internet Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):
“Construction Begins on Richmond Transit Village,” Daily Planet, 10.28.05
“Richmond Housing Development Stirs Controversy,” 10.31.05.
“Traffic Analysis Required to Continue Condo Project,” 11.5.05.
Conferences:
“New Partners for Smart Growth,” January 26 – 28, 2006 in Denver, CO.
15. Board Member Comments/Reports
Tom Butt requested information on Loni Hancock’s project on the San Pablo Vision Improvement program.
Bob Franklin stated SB 1024 is moving quickly and he asked staff to provide reports. He stated this is a great opportunity to receive funding for transportation projects.
Ms. Hammon stated there was an error in the packet and she would be attending the Hercules city council meeting on December 13th, not December 12th.
16. Other Business