MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2007

 

TIME:  7:30 AM to approximately 9:30 AM

 

LOCATION:   City of San Pablo, Council Chambers

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

(Accessible by AC Transit lines #72 and #72R)

 

Additional Parking is available in the City lot two blocks

south of City Hall at 13685 San Pablo Avenue

 

 

·   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 April 27, 2007

         Meeting – ATTACHMENTS

 

         The minutes, sign-in sheet, and meeting summary from the April 2007 meeting are attached.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Approve the April 2007 minutes.

 

 

4.      Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

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

     

         Staff Recommendation:  Accept the reports.

 

 

5.      Transportation Grant/Funding Opportunities – ATTACHMENT and HANDOUT

 

a.                         2008 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – preliminary information is attached.

b.                        Transportation Fund for Clean Air Regional Funds (FY 2007/08) – Applications will be available at the meeting.

c.                         Transportation Fund for Clean Air Regional Funds Bicycle Facility Program (FY 2007/08) – Applications will be available at the meeting.

 

Staff Recommendation:    No recommendation; for information only.

 

 

 

6.      FY 07-08 WCCTAC Budget Update

        

         At press time, the following is the most current information regarding the member agencies’ review of the FY 07-08 Draft Budget:

 

a.       El Cerrito, Pinole, San Pablo, and BART do not require staff to attend a Council/Board meeting for presentation of the budget.

 

b.      Hercules – staff is meeting with the City Manager on May 23rd.

 

c.       Contra Costa County – on the May 22nd agenda (consent item).

 

d.      AC Transit – unknown at this time.

 

e.       WestCAT – concerns regarding the budget increase, but Board meeting is just prior to the WCCTAC meeting.  Staff has been in communication with WestCAT staff.

 

         Final action on the budget will be at the June 29, 2007 meeting.

        

Staff Recommendation:  No recommendation; action as appropriate.

 

 

7.      Update on the West County Taxi Program

 

a.       Staff is working with City of Richmond staff on a revised Taxi Ordinance that may be replicable in other jurisdictions, along with a timeline for implementation of the new Ordinance and the safety improvements (funded by the City of Richmond and WCCTAC).

b.      Accessible taxi vehicle – Staff is working with local jurisdictions’ Paratransit services to determine if an accessible vehicle could be owned/operated by a local jurisdiction

 

         Staff Recommendation:   No recommendation; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

*****  END OF CONSENT ITEMS  *****

 

 

 

 

 

8.      Board Member Comments and Announcements – 2 minutes per Board Member

 

 

9.            Legal Counsel Comments and Announcements – Up to 5 minutes

 

 

10.        WCCTAC Board Meetings – Summer and Fall 2007

 

Typically, the WCCTAC Board meetings during the summer are held on the regular day/time for June and the July/August meetings are combined.  Staff is seeking input from the Board members as to the preference for meetings this summer.  Staff proposes the following for summer/fall:

 

                                    June 29                        7:30 am (regular meeting day/time)

                                    August 10                     7:30 am (combined July/August meeting)

                                    September 28               7:30 am (regular meeting day/time)

                                    October 26                  7:30 am (regular meeting day/time)

 

 

         Staff Recommendation:   No recommendation; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

11.        Conversation with MTC Contra Costa Representative Amy Worth – Board   Members – 15 minutes

 

Amy Worth, Orinda City Councilmember, is the new MTC representative for the Cities of Contra Costa.  Ms. Worth has requested time on the WCCTAC agenda to discuss important issues/needs for both the jurisdictions/transit agencies in West County and for MTC.

 

* * Ms. Worth’s time is greatly appreciated, especially given the early hour. * *

 

         Some potential topics for discussion:

 

1.                                    Regional planning

2.                                    Transportation funding

3.                                    Congestion, particularly on Interstate 80

4.                                    Diversity of the region, Contra Costa County, and West Contra Costa

5.                                    Relationship between transportation and land use

6.                                    Other (to be determined)

 

Staff Recommendation:   Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 


 

12.    Recommendation Regarding WCCTAC Financial Advisor or Consultant/Funding for the Developer Fee Projects – 15 minutes

 

         Interviews were held with the following firms on Friday, April 13, 2007:  KNN Public Finance, Piper Jaffray & Co., Public Financial Management, Inc., and Sperry Capital Inc.  The Ad-Hoc Subcommittee of the Board (Maria Alegria and Sharon Brown) along with staff and consultants (Bradley Ward – Finance Director for the City of San Pablo; Richard   Loomis – Finance Director for the City of Pinole; Bryan Otake – Counsel; Michael   Bernick – Consultant; and Lisa Hammon) comprised the interview team.

 

         Following the interviews, the Subcommittee convened and further information/deliberation was required before a recommendation could be forwarded to the WCCTAC Board.  Several firms were contacted by telephone with additional questions.  A follow-up meeting was also held with Maria Alegria and Sharon Brown.

 

         The Ad Hoc Board Subcommittee recommendation will be presented at the meeting.

        

         Staff Recommendation:   Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 

 

13.    FOCUS Priority Development Areas (PDAs) – Staff and ABAG/MTC Staff – ATTACHMENTS – 30 minutes

 

From the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Website:

 

About FOCUS – The FOCUS program is a regional planning initiative spearheaded by ABAG and MTC in coordination with BAAQMD and BCDC.  FOCUS advances a regional Vision that concentrates future growth near transit and in the existing communities that surround the San Francisco Bay, enhancing existing neighborhoods and providing housing and transportation choices for all residents. For more information, visit www.bayareavision.org.”

 

“Focusing Our Vision: Application for Priority Development Area Designation

 

Applications are now being accepted for priority development area designation under the FOCUS program. Local governments in the nine county San Francisco Bay Area are invited to apply for regional designation of an area within their community as a priority development area. Designation informs regional agencies which areas want and need assistance and expresses the region’s priorities for growth, which can help connect with state efforts and programs. The deadline for submitting an application is June 29, 2007.

 

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated, and areas that meet the designation criteria will be recommended for regional adoption as designated priority development areas. Jurisdictions that choose not to submit applications at this time will have periodic opportunities to apply for designation. Although, specific incentives are not yet available, regional agencies are committed to securing incentives and providing technical assistance to designated priority areas so that positive change can be achieved in communities working to advance smart growth goals. In return, the expectation is that local jurisdictions will commit to expedite development and support local policies that advance smart growth goals and local community aspirations in these areas. Once regional incentives for designated priority development areas are established, a separate incentives application will be made available.”

 

At the May 10, 2007 meeting, the TAC, along with Ted Droettboom (ABAG/MTC), had a lengthy discussion about the Priority Development Area (PDA) designation.  There were differing views regarding the San Pablo Avenue Corridor, for example, and whether or not WCCTAC and/or the local jurisdictions should apply for the PDA designation.

 

After a brief introduction and background, staff is seeking direction from the Board on how WCCTAC might be involved in the process, and whether or not to submit a PDA application for the San Pablo Avenue Corridor in West Contra Costa.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 

 

14.    AC Transit Service Changes Effective June 3, 2007– AC Transit Staff – 10 minutes (presentation) and 5 minutes for questions/answers

 

AC Transit staff will summarize the service changes in West County that will go into effect on Sunday, June 3, 2007.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 

 

15.    I-80 Integrated Corridor Mobility Project in the State Infrastructure Bond Program– Staff – HANDOUT – 10 minutes

 

I-80 ICM Project Components – “Part 3” in a series by John Rudolph.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Board discussion and action as appropriate.

 


 

16.    Correspondence/Other Information: 

 

Incoming:

Email from Gene Skoropowski re: Capitol Corridor train ridership.

 

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

“Mintz Makes Money for the City,” 4.20.07.

“Casino Compromise,” 5.14.07.

Richmond Greenway Opens,” 5.17.07.

 

Workshops/Conferences:

Forum on Community Planning and Transit Oriented Development with Enrique Penalosa (Bogota, Columbia), Oakland City Council Chambers, May 3oth, 2:30 to 5:30 pm.

 

 

17.    Other Business

 

 

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING: 

June 29, 2007