MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2004

 

NOTE TIME:  7:30 AM TO 9:30 AM

 

LOCATION:   City of San Pablo, Council Chambers

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

 

NOTES:

  • If you have special transportation requirements and would like to attend the meeting, please call WCCTAC at 215.3035 or 215.3044 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.

 

 

1.      Call to Order and Self-Introductions – Chair Kris Valstad

 

 

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.

 

 

 

*****  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

 

      The minutes and sign-in sheet from the May and June meetings are attached.

 

      Staff Recommendation:    Approve the May 2004 minutes and the June summary.

 

 

4.   Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

      Employee Staff Reports from the Managing Director and the Transportation Project Specialist for June and July are attached.

 

      Staff Recommendation:   Accept the reports.

 

 

5.   Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program (STMP) Fees for Consultants - ATTACHMENT

 

      Staff is requesting approval from the Board for up to $10,000 in STMP fee revenue for consultant services on the Richmond Intermodal Station project          .  These services would include, but are not limited to, VBN Architects (oversight and architectural services until the VBN contract is signed), Kimley-Horn for project management, and Mack5 for construction estimating/construction management.  The Managing Director will require a scope of services and cost estimate prior to any services being performed.

 

      Additionally, staff is requesting approval of up to $8,500 in funds for additional services to be provided by Michael Bernick based upon the six tasks in the attached draft letter.

 

      As of 6.30.04 there is $97,306 in available STMP revenues for this project.

 

      Staff Recommendation:    Authorize 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

 

      Approximately $101,000 of additional TFCA funds are available for projects in West County.  Staff solicited projects from the member agencies and received ten requests totaling nearly $400,000. Staff and the TAC discussed funding for the projects from the additional funds, as well as from WCCTAC’s existing Program Manager funds.  Staff is reviewing the TFCA criteria, particularly the cost effectiveness, and it appears that most projects can be funded through TFCA.  Several larger projects will be recommended for funding through WCCTAC’s Regional Studies budget, the Transportation for Livable Communities program, and/or the TFCA Regional funds.

 

Staff /TAC Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only at this time.

 

 

7.      Agreement for Professional Consultant Services Between WCCTAC and TJKM – ATTACHMENTS

 

Attached is a new contract with WCCTAC’s technical consultant, TJKM.  WCCTAC’s advising attorney and TJKM have advised that the Agreement is satisfactory. 

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize the Chair to sign the Agreement.

 

 

8.   Update on the Measure C Transportation Sales Tax Renewal

 

All nineteen jurisdictions and the County have approved the final Transportation Expenditure Plan (TEP), and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority took final action at the July 21, 2004 meeting.  The TEP and Ordinance will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors with a request to place the extension of the Measure C sales tax on the November 2, 2004 ballot.

 

CCTA staff is now working on an informational mailer and brochure for distribution in the very near future.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.

 

 

9.      Contract with VBN Architects for the Next Phase of the Richmond Intermodal Station Project – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT

 

Staff and Michael Bernick (consulting attorney) are drafting the contract with VBN Architects for services related to the Richmond Intermodal Station building Phase 2.  Once drafted, WCCTAC’s advising attorney and VBN will review the contract.  The consultant fees will be paid from project funds (STP/CMAQ funds).

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize the Chair to sign the Contract once final negotiations and reviews are complete.

 

 

*****  END OF CONSENT ITEMS  *****

 

 

 

ACTION ITEMS:

 

The order for discussion of Action Items is as follows:  (1) Staff  Report; (2) Public

Comment; (3) Board Discussion and Questions; (4) Action/Vote.

 

 

 

10.        WCCTAC Budget, Dues, Scope of Work, and Employment Agreements for             FY 04-05 – Staff – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

The following budget-related items are attached:

 

1)      Comprehensive WCCTAC budget (including comparison to FY 03-04) with minor changes noted since first presented in April 2004;

2)      Job descriptions for WCCTAC Staff (including changes to the Transportation Project Specialist’s salary range noted in the Memorandum to the Board);

3)      Staff Report with background information;

4)      Summary of TSM projects;

5)      Adopting Resolution outlining the dues structure for the member agencies;

6)      Accomplishments in relationship to the FY 03-04 Scope of Work;

7)      Scope of Work for FY 04-05;

8)      Employment Agreements for WCCTAC Staff (copies were included for Board members only in the June 2004 meeting packet) which have been approved and signed by WCCTAC’s advising attorney.  Please call Lisa Hammon at 510.215.3044 to request copies of the Employment Agreements.

 

Staff has not received any comments on the budget or related documents.  Staff will highlight the minor changes proposed since April and will briefly discuss the Job Descriptions.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Discuss and approve the budget, dues, employment agreements (and related job descriptions), and scope of work for FY 04-05.

 

 

11.        WCCTAC Travel Policy – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 10 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

Staff has drafted a Travel Policy for WCCTAC based upon the City of San Pablo’s policy and comparison to other local jurisdictions’ policies.  [The Managing Director would like to thank Administrative Analyst Nancy Cuneo for researching and drafting the Travel Policy.]

 

Staff Recommendation:  Discuss and provide comments on the Travel Policy; adopt and/or action as appropriate.

 

 

12.        Discussion of the Contra Costa Housing Trust Fund Initiative and the Relationship Between Housing and Transportation – Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 20 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

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.  An attachment on the HTF’s history and background is enclosed.  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.

 

         WCCTAC Board members Alegria, Gioia, and/or Valstad may wish to provide further information on the subject and answer questions.  The WCCTAC Board may wish to consider setting up a subcommittee to study this issue.

 

         David Rosen (from David Paul Rosen and Associates) – the consultant who is conducting the Housing Trust Fund Study – will be at the meeting to answer questions and/or provide information.

 

         Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; action(s) to be determined

 

 

13.        Highway 4 West Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) Revenues for the I-80/SR4 Interchange Project Study Report (PSR) – Staff and City of Hercules Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

WCCTAC Staff, City of Hercules staff, and CCTA staff have been discussing the use of STMP fees for the PSR for the I-80/SR4 interchange.  The attached Memorandum outlines the project and the suggested use of STMP fees for this purpose which is within the scope of the STMP project description.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Review the request; approve the use of $150,000 in STMP revenues.

 

14.  Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) Update – Staff – 15 minutes – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT

 

ACTION ITEM

 

         TJKM (WCCTAC’s technical consultant) is working on the update to the STMP – the developer fee program.  The attached Memorandum summarizes the work currently underway on the update including potential new projects and a revised Nexus Analysis.

 

         Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; staff is seeking comments and direction from the Board.

 

 

 

INFORMATION ITEMS:

 

 

15.    Update on the Parking Structure at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station – Scott Hanin, El Cerrito City Manager – SEPARATE ATTACHMENT - 20 minutes

 

Scott Hanin (El Cerrito’s City Manager) will provide an update on the El Cerrito BART Parking Structure (a Measure C project) and will be available to answer questions.

 

         Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.  

 

 

16.    Congress for a New Urbanism Conference in Chicago – Board Members Penn and Wallace – ATTACHMENT – 10 minutes

 

         WCCTAC Board members Mindell Penn and Joe Wallace attended the Congress for the New Urbanism conference in Chicago at the end of June and will provide brief verbal reports.

 

         Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.  

        

 

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

 

 

19.    Other Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

SEPTEMBER 24, 2004