IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MINUTES FOR January 23, 2019

6:00 p.m.

______________________________________________________________________

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

                                                            City of Brawley                        George Nava

                                                            City of El Centro                      Cheryl Viegas-Walker 

                                                            City of Holtville                       Jim Predmore

                                                            City of Imperial                        Robert Amparano (Vice Chair)

                                                            County of Imperial                   Luis Plancarte (Chairman)

                                                            County of Imperial                    Ryan Kelley

                                                            City of Westmorland                Larry Ritchie

                                                            City of Calipatria                      Maria Nava-Froelich

                                                            Imperial Irrigation District         Erik Ortega

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:        Caltrans District 11                   Ann Fox

STAFF PRESENT:     Mark Baza, Vicky Hernandez, Michelle Bastidas

OTHERS PRESENT:  David Salgado: SCAG, Marcela Piedra: City of  El Centro, Liz Zarate: City of El Centro, Eric Havens: County Counsel, Jesus Vargas: Caltrans, Gerard Chadegian: Caltrans,  Helio Sanchez,  IVT Medtrans, Tony Rouhotas: County of Imperial, Esperanza Colio: County of Imperial, Rosanna B. Moore, City of Brawley, Nick Wells: City of Holtville

The following action minutes are listed as they were acted upon by the Imperial County Transportation Commission and as listed on the agenda for the meeting held Wednesday, January 23, 2019 together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference.

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Chair Plancarte called the Commission meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  Roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

II.                 EMERGENCY ITEMS

            There were none.

III.              PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

IV.              CONSENT CALENDAR

A motion was made by Nava-Froelich and seconded by Predmore to approve the consent colander as presented. Motion Carried unanimously.

V.                 REPORTS

A.                 ICTC Executive Director

Mr. Baza had the following announcements:

-          Caltrans authorized a special planning grant to perform a traffic management study to assist the City of Calexico and the Imperial Valley region to analyze the border expansion. SCAG, Caltrans and ICTC have led the Traffic Circulation Plan in partnership with the City of Calexico, Customs and Border Protection and General Service Administration. The draft Traffic Circulation Plan is currently under review by the project stakeholder group. A technical workgroup meeting will be scheduled in February 2019 to discuss the Draft Plan.

-          Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Expansion over the All American Canal Project, ICTC submitted the Calexico East Commercial Vehicle Port of Entry Expansion Project under the California Sustainable Freight Action Plan:  Pilot Project ideas. The proposed elements of the Calexico East Expansion include: bridge expansion, commercial vehicle primary inspection booths and road construction is estimated at $65 million. ICTC was awarded discretionary freight program funding for the bridge expansion for an estimated total cost of $28 million under the Build grant program.

-          Mrs. Nava-Froelich requested a bus shelter in her region. Mr. Baza stated that staff would review the area. If it is on a state highway, staff will work with Caltrans.

B.                  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

                        Mr. Salgado had the following  announcements:

-          The SCAG General Assembly is in May. More information will be forthcoming. Please save the dates of May 2-3, 2019.

-          In the early part of 2019 SCAG will hold an election for the Regional Council (RC) District 1 seat in collaboration with the California League of Cities. District 1 includes all 7 incorporated cities in Imperial County.

-          SCAG is committed to highlighting excellence in sustainable planning efforts and development projects in the SCAG Region. Each year, SCAG honors projects that best exemplify the core principles of sustainability with awards at the Annual Regional Conference and General Assembly.

-          SCAG and the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee (MSRC) are pleased to make available the Future Communities Piot Program, a new $2.7 million grant opportunity designed to provide local cities and counties with the resources needed to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through the use of new technology and data solutions, as well as help implement SCAG’s 2016 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Stragedy.                            

C.                  California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)

            Ms. Fox had the following announcements:

-          Interstate 8 (I-8) Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Project (CRCP) I-8 CRCP Project was divided into five segments with segments 1- 3 being complete. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 2019.

-          Caltrans Highway Operations has placed the order for two new speed feedback signs for SR-98/C.N. Perry Intersection and is waiting for a delivery date from the manufacturer. A new Traffic Investigative Report (TIR) was generated to update existing school zone signs, pavement markings and to provide two rectangular rapid flashing beacons at the C.N. Perry Avenue pedestrians crossings.

The cone beacons were installed. Maintenance crew will install crosswalk crossings on January 26th.

-          All American Canal Bridge/SR-186. The Bureau of Reclamation has requested that Caltrans investigate constructing a separate structure over the All American Canal. Caltrans has agreed to do a feasibility study to look at options. Comments on the draft feasibility study are due in late January. IID asked for an extension.

-          Caltrans Maintenance crews completed work on I-8 from Dunaway Road to Ocotillo in December. This was done to address complaints of humps, dips and an overall rough ride. Corrective measures involved the use of grinding equipment and surface sealers over the entire area. The work was completed.

-          Local Assistance Inactive Projects should be billed within the specified and agreed upon timeframe to avoid deobligation of funds. As of December 20, 2018, the inactive and future inactive list was updated. Action is required by the cities of Calexico and El Centro. The next deadline to submit Inactive and Future inactive invoices is February 20, 2019, which is the District 11 due date to avoid unilateral deobligation of federal funds. Outstanding invoices from El Centro and Calexico are still due. Due by February 20, 2019. Mrs. Maricela Piedra stated that Abraham Campos had already submitted the invoices. 

Mr. Nava asked is there can be a presentation on the Mud Pods. Ms. Fox replied yes and to please contact Caltrans to get it set-up.

Ms. Viegas-Walker asked about the light poles that were supposed to be replaced and had not been ordered until December. Ms. Fox replied that the signs were on back order and will put an expedite order on them today.

D.                 Commission Member Reports 

-          Mr. Amparano announced that February 16th is the City of Imperial Tri-Tip Cook-off along with the State of City Address.

-          Mr. Kelley announced the Rib-Cook-off on March 14th at the Dockstader Organic in Calipatria.

-          Mr. Nava invited everyone on February 8th to the State City of Address, presented by Donnie Wharton, Mayor of Brawley and will be held at the Brawley Airport.

-          Mr. Ritchie announced that the construction with Westmorland Swimming Pool is going out to bid again. Also, Caltrans has completed their painting in Westmorland.

-          Mrs. Nava-Froelich announced that City of Calipatria is planning their Centennial 100 years on March 1st and 2nd; they will have all day events.

-          Mrs. Viegas-Walker announced the new City of El Centro Mayor Edgard Garcia, Pro-tem is Efrain Silva and Marcela Piedra is the City Manager.

-          Mr. Predmore stated that the Citywide Rehabilitation Project I is going well and just in time for Saturday’s Rib Cook-off. The parade is on February 8th with cooking contests on February 4th-7th.

VI.              INFORMATION CALENDAR

A.                 Draft Legislation for the Imperial County Regional Authority

Mr. Baza stated he met with Assembly member Eduardo Garcia and staff to discuss the draft legislation. The proposed language states that ICTC would take over the responsibilities of the proposed Authority by July 1, 2019 or something to that affect. We will have more information in February or March as we continue to work with the Assembly Member Garcia’s staff.

The commission discussed the item at length, with several questions for Mr. Baza.

City Managers were present at the meeting. Ms. Bayon-Moore, City of Brawley, Mr. Wells, City of Holtville, Ms. Pierda, City of El Centro all had valuable comments. Specifically it was agreed that a transition plan would need to be formulated for agencies such as IVRMA and SAFE.  Mr. Rouhotas, County of Imperial also present stated that regionalization is very important.

Direction was given to Mr. Baza to make the described changes and bring back to the next meeting in February.   

VII.           ACTION CALENDER

A.                 Rotations of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2019 

It was requested that the Commission take action to consider the rotation and assignment of the Chair and Vice-Chair positions for 2019.

A motion was made by Nava seconded by Viegas-Walker to nominate Mr. Amparano as Chair.  Motion Carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Nava-Froelich seconded by Ritchie, to nominate Viegas-Walker as Vice-Chair.

A second nomination was made by Kelley and seconded by Nava to nominate Mr. Nava as Vice-Chair. The Commission voted by written ballot.

Neither nomination carried a majority vote of six. Ms. Viegas-Walker then withdrew her nomination. The motion on the table made by Mr. Kelley was re-voted by the Commission and the motion was carried unanimously.

B.                  Appointment of an ICTC Commissions Member to the SCAG Regional Council

      It was recommended that the ICTC Commission take the following actions:

1.                   Appoint one ICTC Commission Member to the SCAG Regional Council

A motion was made by Viegas-Walker seconded by Ritchie to nominate Mr. Predmore to the Southern California Association of Goverments (SCAG) Regional Council (RC) as a voting member representing ICTC, Motion Carried unanimously.

Mr. Predmore said he appreciated the confidence in him to serve on behalf of ICTC on the Regional Council.

C.                  2019 Active Transportation Program (ATP) Project Nomination List 

Mr. Baza presented this item.

The Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) and Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) staff have completed the review and selection of the Active Transportation Program (ATP) projects. The regional share of ATP funds for Imperial County is in the amount of $840,000.  ICTC staff reviewed all projects that did not qualify under the State ATP Program.  The following table describes the scoring and ranking of projects after the additional 10 points projects were included in local and/or regional plans:

After consideration of the final scores and following the ATP guidelines, ICTC staff recommends to award the regional ATP funds of the third highest ranking project: Imperial County’s Heffernan Avenue from 14th Street to 10th Street project in the amount of $642,000.  The recommended award would result in an ATP Regional share balance of $198,000.  Per the direction of CTC and the ATP guidelines ICTC or project sponsors are not allowed to partially award a project.  Thus the remaining regional ATP funds of $198,000 will be redistributed under SCAG’s discretion.

ICTC Staff forwarded this item to the Commission for review and approval after public comment:

1.                   Approved the Project Nomination List for the Imperial County’s 2019 Active Transportation Program (ATP)

2.                   Approved the award of ATP funds to the Imperial County’s Heffernan Avenue from 14th Street to 10th Street project in the amount of $642,000

3.                   Directed staff to submit a Formal Nomination List to SCAG and proceed with the State/Federal programming and documentation

                        A motion was made by Predmore seconded by Nava, Motion Carried unanimously.

VIII.         NEXT MEETING DATE AND PLACE

A.                 The next meeting of the Imperial County Transportation Commission will be held on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 6:00 p.m., at the County of Imperial Board Chambers, at 940 W. Main Street, El Centro, CA.

IX.              ADJOURNMENT

A.                 Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.