MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 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:

 

 

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, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the August 6, 2004 Meeting –ATTACHMENTS

 

      The minutes and sign-in sheet from the August meeting are attached.

 

      Staff Recommendation:    Approve the August 2004 minutes.

 

 

4.   Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

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

 

      Staff Recommendation:     Accept the reports.

 

 

5.   Support Letter for Low Income Flexible Transportation (LIFT) Grants – ATTACHMENT

 

      WCCTAC staff has been actively involved in preparing two LIFT grant applications which are due on Friday, September 24: (1) A grant to support two projects that were identified in the Richmond Area Community Based Transportation Plan (bus benches and a transportation center staff person); and (2) A grant to support bus service (or another viable option) for elementary school students traveling from Parchester Village to Lake and Bayview schools in San Pablo.

 

      A fact sheet on the grants is attached.  Staff is requesting Board approval to submit letters of support for the projects, as well as letters of support for other West County LIFT projects (if requested to do so).

 

      Staff Recommendation:    Authorize staff to submit letters of support for the LIFT applications.

 

 

6.      Capitol Corridor Intercity Rail Service Update - ATTACHMENT

 

      Excerpts from the September Capitol Corridor JPA agenda are attached that highlight recent information regarding the service.  Additionally, approximately 450 passengers are using the Richmond station daily.

 

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

 

 

7.      Measure C Renewal – Measure J on the November Ballot – HANDOUT

 

The West County version of the Expenditure Plan Summary for Measure J will be available at the meeting.  This data sheet may be used to provide information on Measure J and the benefits for West County.

 

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

 

 

8.   Conflict of Interest Code Biennial Review – ATTACHMENT

 

A draft of the information to be submitted to the County Administrator regarding the Conflict of Interest Code review is attached and has been sent to WCCTAC’s advising attorney for review and approval.  The deadline to submit the update is October 1, 2004.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize 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 – ATTACHMENT

 

The Urban Limit Line committee – with representatives from each jurisdiction – was discussed briefly at the August 6, 2004 meeting.  Attached is information from CCTA Executive Director Bob McCleary on the designees.  Initial meetings are commencing this month.

 

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; for information only.

 

 

10.  Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP) – Update and Request for Funds for VBN Architects – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is the summary of WCCTAC STMP fees collected as of June 30, 2004.  The following summarizes the Board’s approval of funds in August 2004 for consultants:

 

      Richmond Intermodal                                            $232,697.54 (starting balance)

            Consultants (Managing Director’s discretion)      $  10,000.00

            Michael Bernick                                    $    8,500.00

                              Funds Remaining                        $221,847.54

 

Staff is requesting $25,000 in STMP revenues for VBN Architects who are working on three separate sets of plans for the three phases of the station building.  The bulk of the work on the plan sets (approximately $190,000) will be undertaken by VBN and its subconsultants (engineers, landscape architects, etc.) and funded by other grants, but the $25,000 will cover work that is ongoing for this effort.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize 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) – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is correspondence from Will Baumgardner (ARUP) regarding funds for design concepts for the Richmond Parkway Transit Center (to be shared with AC Transit).  Staff has been working on the RPTC project for over five years and the project is fully funded with STIP and RM2 funds.  The design is problematic due to easements, overhead power lines and a large tower, ingress and egress, and a constrained site.  ARUP has requested $5,000 in additional funding for the design concepts ($2,500 from WCCTAC and $2,500 from AC Transit).

 

Staff Recommendation:  Approve the $2,500 funding request (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 – ATTACHMENT

 

Staff has been working on the Street Smarts program – with a consortium of West County agencies – for several years.  Last year, WCCTAC and several other agencies contributed funds to the program to implement some of the Street Smarts campaign items.  Contra Costa County Health Services/Injury Prevention has requested the same amount of funding for FY 04-05 ($4,200) as outlined in the attached letter.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Approve the funding request (funds are available in the West County Regional Studies line item in the FY 04-05 budget).

 

 

*****  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.

 

 

 

13.        Follow-Up Discussion of the Contra Costa Housing Trust Fund Initiative – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

As a follow up to the discussion at the August meeting, and after further discussion with the Chair and Maria Alegria, staff is seeking clarification on exactly what action will be requested of the City Councils/Board of Supervisors in the presentations outlined in the attached draft Memorandum.  The agenda item on this topic from the August 6th Board meeting is also attached for background.

 

Additionally, attached is a scope of services and budget from David Paul Rosen and Associates to attend the City Council/Board of Supervisors meetings to discuss legal requirements, an overview of the scope of a commercial linkage nexus fee study, California practice with commercial linkage fees and housing trust funds, etc. (NTE $4,800).  This amount ($4,800) is available in the FY 04-05 WCCTAC budget for West County Regional Studies.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   (1) Direction to staff regarding the content of the City Council/Board of Supervisors presentations; and (2) approval of $4,800 for David Paul Rosen and Associates to assist with the presentations.

 

 

14.  Parchester Village Elementary School Bus Service – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 15 minutes

 

ACTION ITEM

 

         Last month, the WCCTAC Board authorized $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.  Since that meeting, staff met with a small working group to discuss short- and long-term solutions to this issue and the following are some of the outcomes:

 

a.       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.  Staff will provide a summary of the responses at the meeting.

b.      Staff drafted a LIFT grant application for the bus service that will be submitted on September 24th.  Copies of the application will be available at the meeting.

c.       Various ideas for funding the service (or alternatives to the current service) are being considered.

d.      A verbal update on funding for the current service ($6,600 per month) will be presented at the meeting.  Additional funding from WCCTAC through the Measure C revenues is not be possible, as this source of funds has been fully allocated to other budget line items (approved by the Board in August).

 

         Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; staff is seeking direction from the Board on this issue.

 

 

 

INFORMATION ITEMS:

 

 

15.    2004 Update of the Subregional Transportation Mitigation Program (STMP) – VERBAL REPORT/HANDOUT - 10 minutes

 

Staff will provide a verbal report on the STMP Update.  The Administrative Draft of the Update will be on the October 14th TAC agenda.  Comments from the TAC will be brought to the Board next month along with the Administrative Draft.

 

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

 

 

16.    AC Transit’s West County Service Plan Draft Recommendations (Phase I) – AC Transit Staff – ATTACHMENT – 20 minutes

 

         For the first time in many years, AC Transit is reviewing all lines serving West County.  AC Transit staff will present the draft service plan recommendations for Phase I and will be available to answer questions.  AC Transit staff is soliciting comments from a number of agencies/jurisdictions regarding the recommendations.  A presentation was made at the September 9, 2004 WCCTAC-TAC meeting, as well.

 

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

 

 

17.               Presentation on BART’s Earthquake Safety Program – BART Staff – 20 minutes

 

         BART staff will present information on the earthquake safety program and funding for the program.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

20.    Other Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

OCTOBER 29, 2004