MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

 

WEST CONTRA COSTA

 

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007

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

(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.

 

 

Call to Order and Self-Introductions – Chair Sharon Brown

 

 

 

1.      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 *****

 

 

 

2.            Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the August 10, 2007

         Meeting – ATTACHMENTS

 

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

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Approve the August 2007 minutes.

 

 

3.      Staff Reports – ATTACHMENTS

 

Staff reports from the Managing Director, Management Assistant, and Transportation Project Specialist for late August/September are attached.  Also attached is a summary of the UC Davis Bike/Walk Conference attended by Linda Young.

     

         Staff Recommendation:  Accept the reports.

 

 

4.      2008 State Transportation Improvement Program Project List – ATTACHMENT

        

         The 2008 STIP applications and ranked list are attached.  The fund estimate from the California Transportation Commission will determine how many of the projects on the list will receive funds.

        

Staff Recommendation:  For information only.

 

 

5.      Approval of WCCTAC Executive Director’s Employment Agreement for FY 07-08 (ATTACHMENT in Board Member Packet and available to the public upon request)

 

The Executive Director’s Employment Agreement for FY 07-08 is attached.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Board action as appropriate.

 

 

6.            Holiday Schedule

 

Staff is proposing the following holiday schedule, consistent with the schedule for the past four years:

 

Friday, December 21                               Employees work or take a vacation day

Monday, December 24                            Office closed with pay

Tuesday, December 25                            Holiday

Wednesday, December 26                      Holiday

Thursday, December 27                          Office closed with pay

Friday, December 28                               Office closed with pay

Monday, December 31                            Employees work or take a vacation day

Tuesday, January 1                                  Holiday

Wednesday, January 2                             Holiday

Thursday, January 3                                 Employees work or take a vacation day

Friday, January 4                         Employees work or take a vacation day

 

Staff Recommendation:  Approve the holiday schedule.

 

 

7.            Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly Meeting and Transportation Summit; Date Change for October WCCTAC Board Meeting – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is information on the ABAG General Assembly to be held on October 26th from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Oakland Marriott.  This meeting conflicts with the date of the next regular WCCTAC Board meeting.  The WCCTAC Board meeting, therefore, has been changed to Friday, October 19th at 7:30 am.

 

Staff Recommendation:  For information only.

 

 

8.      Update on San Pablo Dam Road/I-80 Interchange Project – ATTACHMENT

 

         Recently, several issues regarding the San Pablo Dam Road/I-80 Interchange Project have surfaced, as summarized in the attached Memorandum.  Note that meetings are on-going to try and resolve the issues, and the following WCCTAC Actions are requested:  (a) Support additional funding sources for the project; (b) Write a letter to Caltrans regarding the issues and requesting full funding for the project through Caltrans sources; (c) Receive periodic updates on the project at WCCTAC; and (d) Direct staff to participate in the multi-jurisdictional meetings for planning and implementing the project.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Approve the actions listed above in (a) through (d).

 

 

 

9.            Funding Opportunities Memorandum – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is a Memorandum from Michael Bernick, WCCTAC Consultant, regarding funding opportunities, particularly related to the Proposition 1C funds.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Accept the report; additional follow-up as necessary.

 

 

10.        Vision and Goals for the Draft 2008 Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update – ATTACHMENT

 

CCTA is asking the Regional Transportation Planning Committees to review and comment on the “Vision, Goals, and Strategies” chapter of the CCTP.  The TAC briefly reviewed the chapter and comments are included in the attached Memorandum.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Direct staff to send a Memorandum to CCTA regarding the broad issue areas identified in the Memorandum.

 

 

11.    Wildcat Creek Trail Crossing Project – Lead Agency – ATTACHMENT

 

Staff attended the August 2, 2007 Wildcat-San Pablo Creeks Watershed Council meeting.  At the meeting, the Wildcat Creek Trail crossing at the Richmond Parkway was discussed.  As this is a regional issue involving several jurisdictions, and funding is the primary issue, the Watershed Council members requested that WCCTAC staff take the lead on the project.  WCCTAC staff would be pleased to be the project coordinator, but due to current staff time constraints, this may have to wait until the new Senior Transportation Project Administrator is hired in the near future.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Authorize WCCTAC Staff to take the lead on the Wildcat Creek/Richmond Parkway crossing project and coordinate with all involved agencies toward resolution of the project sponsorship, funding, rights of way, and maintenance of the facility.

 

 

12.    Regional Rail Plan Comments

 

At the August meeting, the Board received a report on the Regional Rail Plan and had several comments.  Subsequently, staff attended the Regional Rail meeting in Livermore.  Based upon the comments from the WCCTAC Board and the Livermore meeting, staff submitted the attached letter prior to Board final review, as the Plan is scheduled for MTC adoption at the September 26, 2007 meeting.

 

Staff Recommendation:    Accept the letter; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

13.        Three-Party Agreement for Fence Construction North of the Richmond Intermodal Station Platform – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is a Letter Agreement between WCCTAC, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, and the Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency for installation of the wrought iron fence north of the station and related capital improvements.  The WCCTAC funds are available in the Richmond Intermodal Station STMP project.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize the Chair to sign the Letter Agreement in substantially the same form as presented herein.

 

 

14.        Legal Services Agreement for STMP Fee Financing – ATTACHMENT

 

Attached is the Legal Services Agreement with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for the STMP fee financing.  The fees for the services are:  1.25% for the Structuring Phase and the Transaction Phase of the principal amount of the financing to be paid upon closing of the financing; and $25,000 for the Validation Phase (and standard hourly rates if an answer or appeal is filed).  The Agreement has been reviewed by WCCTAC Counsel.

 

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize the Chair to sign the Legal Services Agreement with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

 

 

 

*****  END OF CONSENT ITEMS  *****

 

 

 

15.    Board Member Comments, Conference/Meeting Reports, and Announcements – 2 minutes per Board Member

 

 

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

 

17.        Ad Hoc Subcommittee to Interview Senior Transportation Project Administrator Candidates – Staff – 5 minutes

 

Fourteen resumes were received for the Senior Transportation Project Administrator.  The Executive Director reviewed and scored the resumes, and conducted phone interviews with six candidates.  After the phone interviews, three finalists were asked to participate in a panel interview on Friday, September 28th.  The interview panelists include Lisa Hammon and John Rudolph from WCCTAC, Jerry Bradshaw from El Cerrito, Alan Wolken from the Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency, and Bijan Yarjani from the Alameda County CMA.  Following the panel interviews, staff anticipates that the field will be narrowed down to two finalists, at which time staff would like two or three Board members to interview the finalists.

 

Staff Recommendation:   Request two or three Board member volunteers to interview the candidates.

 

 

18.        Presentation by San Pablo Avenue “Youth Engagement Program” Summer Interns – Staff – ATTACHMENT and HANDOUT – 20 minute presentation; 10 minutes for Questions and Answers

 

In March, 2007 the Board approved $25,000 in San Pablo Avenue Corridor STMP funds for the San Pablo Avenue Youth Engagement Program summer internship.  Five students were selected to participate in the internship, where they studied issues related to San Pablo Avenue from a youth perspective, particularly in the area of San Pablo Avenue/Del Norte BART Station.  The program leaders included adults from the UC Berkeley Center for Cities and Schools, Ma’at Youth Academy, Kennedy High School, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock’s office, WCCTAC, and various special guest speakers including Jerry Bradshaw from the City of El Cerrito and Robert Del Rosario from AC Transit.

 

The students learned about the history of San Pablo Avenue; and studied equitable development, transportation planning, urban planning, and environmental education.  The students are all from Kennedy High School’s ACET Academy (Architecture and Construction Engineering Technology Academy).

 

The WCCTAC Board and guests are fortunate to have the interns – Tierra Andrews, Julio Arauz, Jr., Eduardo Arias, Marlon King, Jr., and Norman Walker – available to make this presentation.  There will be ten minutes at the end of the student presentation for questions and answers.

 

         Staff Recommendation:   Thank and congratulate the students on a successful internship program; direct staff to use the information and recommendations from the interns in future planning for San Pablo Avenue and the Del Norte BART station area.

 

 

19.    Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (STMP or “Developer Impact Fees”) Project Financing – Staff – ATTACHMENT – 40 minutes  

 

On Thursday, September 13, 2007, staff from WCCTAC, Piper Jaffray, and Meyers Nave hosted a meeting with the West County Finance Directors to discuss the West County Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee (STMP or “Developer Impact Fees”) financing options and recommendation.  An alternative “back-stop” for the developer impact fees was suggested – using Measure J “return-to-source-funds” from the “Local Streets Maintenance and Improvements” – and is being researched.

 

The Piper Jaffray team will update the WCCTAC Board on recent developments relative to the STMP financing, in addition to the update provided in the attached letter from Mark Curran.  Staff and the team will also be available to answer questions.

 

Staff Recommendation:   No recommendation; Board action as appropriate.

 

 

20.    Correspondence/Other Information: 

 

Incoming:

Meeting Summary from SWAT – July 5, 2007.

Bay Area Monitor Newsletter – August/September 2007.

Letter from Joe Wallace to BART and Follow-Up Letter from Richmond Community Redevelopment Agency – August 3 and August 17, 2007.

 

Outgoing:

Letter to Shanna Holland re:  Support for Kids’ Plate Grant – August 6, 2007.

Capitol Corridor Ridership Information – August 10, 2007.

Letter to Bob McCleary re: West County Projects – August 13, 2007.

Letter to Jonathan Strunin, ABAG re: PDA Resolutions – August 28, 2007.

 

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

“Disaster Plan Relying on Ferries Floated,” August 11, 2007.

“BART Offers Airport Parking for Less,” August 13, 2007.

“Police Reinstate Taxi Firm,” August 15, 2007.

“First Cars Drive Over New Benicia Bridge,” August 25, 2007.

“Hecuva Weekend as Bay Bridge Closes,” August 27, 2007.

“BART Turns 35,” September 9, 2007.

“Overweight Trucks Damage Infrastructure,” September 10, 2007.

“States Target Teen Use of Electronic Devices While Driving,” September 10, 2007.

“Lawmakers Propose New Ferry Authority,” September 13, 2007.

“WestCAT Improves Schedule,” September 18, 2007.

“Bay Area Commutes Second-Worse in US,” September 19, 2007.

Draft “ClimatePlan” and Relationship to AB 32 (greenhouse gas reductions targets).

 

 

21.  Other Business

 

 

ADJOURN TO NEXT MEETING:

October 19, 2007 (note date change)