MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2006

 

7:30 AM TO 9:30 AM (approximately)

 

LOCATION:   City of San Pablo, Council Chambers

13831 San Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane) - San Pablo, California

 

·  In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in the WCCTAC Board meeting, or if you need a copy of the agenda and/or agenda packet materials in an alternative format, please contact Nancy Cuneo at 510.215.3035 or Lisa Hammon at 510.215.3044 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so that your request can be handled.

·  If you have special transportation requirements and would like to attend the meeting, please call WCCTAC (see phone numbers above) at least 48 hours in advance to make arrangements.

·  Please refrain from wearing scented products to the meeting as there may be attendees susceptible to environmental illnesses.

·  Please turn off all cellular phones and pagers during the meeting.

·  A meeting sign-in sheet will be circulated at the meeting.  Sign-in is optional.

 

 

1.      Call to Order and Self-Introductions – Chair Sharon Brown

 

 

2.      Public Comment – Please fill out a speaker card and hand it to the Chair/Staff

 

      At this time, the public is welcome to address the WCCTAC on any item which does not otherwise appear on the agenda.  With a full agenda, comments may be limited to three minutes per speaker.  Speakers shall follow the rules of common courtesy and decorum.

 

 

 

 

***** CONSENT CALENDAR *****

 

3.      Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the January 27, 2006 Meeting – ATTACHMENTS

 

         The minutes, sign-in sheet, and meeting summary from the January 2006 meeting are attached.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Approve the January 2006 minutes.

 

 

4.      Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

         Staff reports from the Managing Director, Management Assistant, and Transportation Project Specialist for February are attached.

     

         Staff Recommendation:  Accept the reports.

 

 

5.      Mid-Year Budget Report

 

         The WCCTAC Operations budget ($259,123 for FY 05-06) is on track as of January 31, 2006.  With 42% of the year remaining, approximately 52% of the funds are available.  The Transportation Demand Management program budget is also on track as of January 31, 2006.  With 42% of the year remaining, 56% of the funds are available.

 

         Staff Recommendation:    Accept the mid-year budget report.

 

 

6.            Claim #4 – Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program Highway 4 West Project – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is Claim #4 from CCTA in the amount of $370,502.50 for the Highway 4 West Project in the STMP.  Detailed invoices were submitted with the cover letter.  The funds in this project category are available.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Approve Claim #4.

 

 

7.      511 Contra Costa – West County Projects for FY 06-07 - ATTACHMENT

 

Linda Young, Transportation Project Specialist, prepared the attached summary of the potential projects to be included in the 511 Contra Costa program for the next fiscal year.   The Transportation Fund for Clean Air Application and Measure C budget will be on the March agenda for final approval.

 

Staff/TAC Recommendation:    For information only.

 

 

8.            Items Over $10,000 – ATTACHMENT

 

a.       Invoice for MACK 5 for October 2005; funded by Richmond Redevelopment Agency funds.

 

Staff/TAC Recommendation:    For information only.

 

 

 

9.                  Items for Next Agenda

 

·              Richmond Transit Village Survey and Focus Group Results.

·              Update on the bus shelter program in West County.

·              Information on the Flex Car/City Car Share/Zip Car Programs.

 

 

 

 

*****  END OF CONSENT ITEMS  *****

 

 

 

10.    Date for Transit Summit (“Go I-80”)

 

         Based upon information from the Board members at the January meeting, the “Go I-80” Transit Summit has been scheduled for Thursday, May 11th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Please mark your calendars for this important event.  The draft agenda and other information will be presented at the March meeting.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   For information only.

 

 

11.        Update on the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee (STMP) Program  – VERBAL REPORT AND POSSIBLE HANDOUT – 20 minutes

 

The first meeting/conference call with WCCTAC’s General Counsel and the attorneys for the member agencies and CCTA was held on Friday, February 10th.   Some comments have been received and others are forthcoming.  General consensus is that the jurisdictions/agencies need additional time to review the Cooperative Agreement, Sample Ordinance, and Nexus/STMP Report and provide comments.  Therefore, the Board Resolution to circulate the documents for final approval will be on the March 31st agenda. 

 

Staff and WCCTAC’s General Counsel will provide a verbal report at the meeting on the status of the developer fee program.

 

Given the accelerated schedule for adoption of the STMP Update, Staff and Legal Counsel would like to suggest that the Board convene an “ad-hoc working group” of three to four Board members to discuss issues, review comments from the member jurisdictions/agencies, and provide input to staff.  Recommendations from the ad-hoc working group would be advisory only and subject to the full review and approval of the Board at the next regular meeting.

 

Staff/TAC Recommendation:   No recommendation; Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 

 

12.    WCCTAC Mission Statement – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

       As a follow up to the discussion on this item at the December meeting, and incorporating comments received by the Board, staff drafted a new Mission Statement, as well as Goals and Objectives.  The information was emailed to the Board members on January 19th; however, this item was held-over to the February meeting due to insufficient time for discussion at the January meeting.  Staff seeks further input and direction from the Board.

 

Staff Recommendation:   No recommendation; Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 

 

13.    AB 1234 “Local Government Sunshine Bill” – Bryan Otake, WCCTAC General Counsel – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

The attached letter was emailed to the WCCTAC Board members in January.  Bryan Otake, WCCTAC’s General Counsel, will provide a summary of AB 1234, and will highlight sections particularly pertinent to the Board members.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; discussion and Board action as appropriate.

 

 

14.        Taxi Safety In West County – Staff - ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

The attached Staff Report outlines the recent history of taxi safety issues in West County and WCCTAC staff involvement in the issue.  Staff is requesting funds from WCCTAC’s General Operating Budget for a Study and for the initiation of a pilot program to provide safety devices (most likely the driver safety shield) in the taxis via a “public-private partnership.”

 

Staff Recommendation:  Discussion and questions by the Board; action as appropriate.

 

 

15.    West County Auto Loan Program (“West County ALP”) – Staff and Contra Costa County Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

The West County ALP Pilot Program would provide a vehicle for low-income persons to access jobs, child care, and/or educational opportunities where public transportation is not an option.  Contra Costa County’s Employment and Human Services Department staff has been implementing this program for Calworks participants for several years, with much success and few loan defaults.  The auto loan program was referenced in the Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) grant that was secured by the Neighborhood House of North Richmond.  Funding for the pilot program would come from a County grant and WCCTAC Operating Funds in the amount of $6,000 each (50% matching funds are required) which would fund approximately three loans.  Training would be provided by County staff to the NHNR Transportation Center staff who would implement the program.  Further details are in the attached Staff Report.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Discussion and questions by the Board; action as appropriate.

 

 

16.    West County Project Priorities and Sacramento Legislative Delegation – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

At the January meeting, the Board received a briefing on the various bond measures that are under discussion in Sacramento and indicated support for a West County delegation to go to Sacramento to present high-priority projects to legislators/staff.  In order to assist with the discussion, staff prepared the attached table that shows 22 West County projects that are currently proposed, the project sponsor, funding sources and amounts, etc.

 

Staff is seeking input from the project sponsors in order to complete the table, input from the Board on the top priority projects, a potential date in mid-March for a Sacramento trip, and designation of a delegation to go on the trip.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; discussion and Board action as appropriate.

 

 

17.        Correspondence/Other Information: 

 

         Incoming:

         Growth Management Checklist from CCTA – January 31, 2006.

         Capitol Corridor Principles on Stations and Train Service – February 7, 2006.

         Email re:  EIS for Scotts Valley Casino in North Richmond – February 9, 2006.

         Capitol Corridor Email Newsletter – February 10, 2006.

 

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

         “Coalition Fights Waterfront Development;” 1.28.06.

         “Don’t we Already Pay for These Projects?” 1.30.06.

         “Fairgrounds or eBART?  Debate Starts;” 2.4.06.

         “City Council Scales Back Plaza Condo Project;” 2.4.06.

         “Commuters Stick with Mass Transit;” 2.5.06.

         “Plan Would Block Waterfront Building;” 2.6.06.

         “Politician Revisits Transit Growth;” 2.7.06.

         “New Gambling Challenge – Can Bingo Slots be Regulated?” Sacramento Bee; 2.8.06.

         “Sights Set on Transit Village;” 2.9.06.

         “Bridge Safety Charges Not Probed, Audit Says;” 2.10.06.

         “City Looks Into Land Owned by Wal-Mart;” 2.11.06.

         “Local Officials Attack Transit Plan;” 2.12.06.

         “Infrastructure Visions Will be put to Political Test This Week;” Sacramento Bee; 2.14.06.

        

         Conferences:

         CA Redevelopment Association: Introduction to Redevelopment – April 5 to 6, Pleasanton.

         Rail-Volution 2006 – November 4 to 8 – Chicago.

 

         Handouts Available at the Meeting:

         2005 Capitol Corridor Performance Report.

         Hercules Transit Oriented Development Tour Materials.

     

 

18.    Board Member Comments/Reports

 

 

19.    Other Business

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

MARCH 31, 2006