IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MINUTES FOR JUNE 23, 2021

6:00 p.m.

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VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

                                                                City of Brawley                                       George Nava via zoom

                                                                City of Calipatria                                    Maria Nava-Froelich via zoom

                                                                City of Calexico                                      Absent

                                                                City of El Centro                                    Cheryl Viegas-Walker via zoom

                                                                City of Imperial                                      Robert Amparano via zoom

                                                                City of Holtville                                       Michael Goodsell via zoom

                                                                City of Westmorland                           Ana Beltran via zoom

                                                                County of Imperial                                Luis Plancarte via zoom

                                                                County of Imperial                                Ryan Kelley via via zoom

                                                                Imperial Irrigation District                 Javier Gonzalez via zoom

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:          Caltrans District 11           Ann Fox for Gustavo Dallarda

STAFF PRESENT:               Mark Baza, David Aguirre, Cristi Lerma, Virginia Mendoza, Marlene Flores, Michelle Bastidas, Audrie Tapia, Daveline Villasenor

OTHERS PRESENT:            All via zoom – David Salgado: SCAG; Rafael Reyes, Alexis Araiza, Martin Lang: Caltrans; Erwin Gojuangco: County Council, Layla Sawari, Eric Havens: Counsel; Brenda Hom, Poonam Bapori: Ascent Environmental

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, June 23, 2021, together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference.

Given public health directives limiting public gatherings due to the threat of COVID-19 and in compliance with the Governor’s Order N-29-20, the meeting will be held telephonically and electronically.

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Chair Viegas- Walker called the Commission meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

II.                  CLOSED SESSION

A.            Motion to convene to Closed Session (Amparano/Nava-Froelich) Motion carried

B.            PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government Code § 54957)         

                Title:  ICTC Executive Director

C.            Announcement of Closed Session Action(s) – at 6:00 p.m.: The ICTC Commission met in closed session to discuss a public employee performance evaluation. Direction was given to the Commission and no reportable action was taken.

III.                 EMERGENCY ITEMS

                There were none.

IV.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments received.

V.                  CONSENT CALENDAR

A.            Approval of the ICTC Commission Draft Minutes:               May 26,2021

B.                  Receive and File:

1.                   ICTC Management Committee Draft Minutes:     June 9,2021

2.                   ICTC TAC Minutes:                                                           April 22,2021

3.                   ICTC SSTAC Minutes:                                                       May 5, 2021       

A motion was made by Nava-Froelich and seconded by Amparano to approve the consent calendar as presented, roll call:

                Motion Passed.

VI.                REPORTS

A.                  ICTC Executive Director

⁻          Mr. Baza provided updates from the report on page 27 of the agenda.

⁻          Mr. Baza shared that the Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Widening Project is finalizing the construction management contract award and staff is planning to present the recommendation to the Board at the July meeting.

⁻          Mr. Baza provided the reporting that was pending on behalf of Ms. Viegas-Walker who requested a full report and clear understating of the deliverables and partnerships with IVEDC regarding the Southern Border Broadband Consortium (SBBC). They include the first report of the cycle and the final report for the previous cycle, and subsequent payment from the CPUC; and remaining funds for the Brawley Transit Corridor Brownfield Assessment.

B.                  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

-          There were no updates.

C.                  California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)- District 11   

-          Ms. Fox provided updates from the report on page 43 of the agenda

o   Caltrans announced the successful applications and awards for the sustainable planning grants, ICTC was awarded a $500,000 grant for sustainable freight implementation strategy.

o   The I-8/Imperial Avenue Interchange project is scheduled to have another concrete pouring mid-July and expected to have ramps open to traffic late summer 2021.

o   SR-98 Widening Project is still delayed due to the active bird nests. Construction may be able to start mid to late summer 2021 pending follow up on biological surveys.

o   SR-111 Niland Geyser / Mud pot is active, however, has not moved despite the seismic activity that has been ongoing.

o   The El Centro Travel Way Crew has been working on Brush control/guardrail repair at various locations.

D.                  Commission Member Reports 

-          Mr. Nava shared facilities are beginning to open in the City of Brawley.

-          Ms. Viegas-Walker shared all the jurisdictions are receiving a great amount of cash.

-          Cal Cities annual conference will be held in Sacramento this year, please reach out if you are planning to attend.

-          Mr. Gonzalez shared that the City of Calexico requested that the IID facilitate the clean up the Highway 111.

-          Mr. Gonzalez stated that on behalf of the Imperial County Southern Border Alliance they would like to extend an invitation to the Imperial County Transportation Commission to present at the next meeting with information on what ICTC’s role and plans for any future Calexico Projects.

VII.              INFORMATION CALENDAR

                A.            Imperial County Regional Climate Action Plan.

Ms. Mendoza announced Ms. Hom and Bapori had prepared a presentation for the Commission on The Regional Climate Action Plan. The Regional Action Climate Plan is led by the Imperial County Transportation Commission with the intent to quantify GHG emissions and recommend reduction strategies. The regional CAP is funded by the Southern California Association of Governments and recommendations of the Regional CAP is intended to be a baseline tool for local agencies. The purpose of the Regional Cap is to address the impacts of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Imperial Valley region which includes the County of Imperial (County) and the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, Holtville, El Centro, Imperial, and Westmorland. The Regional CAP is consistent with and complementary to statewide legislation and regulation and establishes local strategies, measures, and actions aimed at reducing GHG emissions.

VIII.            ACTION CALENDER

A.                  Draft ICTC Overall Work Program (OWP) and Budget, FY 2021/2022

Mr. Aguirre presented and covered the adoption of ICTC’s Overall Work Program (OWP) and Budget, FY 2021/2022, and stated this new Fiscal Years Budget (FY 2021-2022) of $52 million is the largest budget since ICTC’s inception. Mr. Aguirre shared a few of the many milestones and accomplishments that ICTC has had over the past year.

The OWP and Budget is divided into multiple sections; the Budget Summary, and the core programs of Regional Transportation Planning, and programing, Transit Operations, Planning and Program Management, Regional Collaboration, and the incorporation of the SAFE and IVRMA programs.

Ms. Viegas-Walker requested Mr. Aguirre provide an email explaining the Budget comparison for page 76 of the agenda.

                                1.            Adopted the Draft ICTC Overall Work Program (OWP) and Budget FY 2021/2022

B.                   Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing Process- Fiscal Year 2021-22

Mr. Aguirre stated ICTC had to take a different approach to conduct the Unmet Transit Needs Public Hearing due to the Pandemic. On June 7, 2021, the Unmet Transit Needs Hearing Panel conducted the required local Public Hearing. The Hearing Panel reconvened on June 16, 2021, to consider the verbal and written testimony and staff recommendations. After discussion of the analysis portion, the Panel developed the “Findings” to assist in the allocation of resources and determination of the service levels to be provided. The process consequently guides the FY 2021-22 Transit Financing Plan and work program activities.

1.       Adopted the FY 2021-22 “Findings” and the prioritized 2021 ICTC Unmet Transit Needs List as Presented or amended.

2.       Authorized the Chairman to sign the attached resolution,

3.       Directed staff to forward the FY 2021-22 “Findings”, and all other public hearing documentation and resolution to the State Department of Transportation.

C.                   Donation Acceptance Agreement between U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Imperial County Transpiration Commission (ICTC) for the Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Widening Project.

Mr. Baza stated the Imperial County Transportation Commission, in coordination with General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA and Caltrans will facilitate and deliver the Calexico East Port of Entry (POE) Bridge Widening over the All-American Canal project.

                                1.    Authorized the Chairperson to sign the Donation Acceptance Agreement between U.S.

                                      General Services Administration (GSA) and Imperial County Transportation Commission     

                                      (ICTC) for the Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Widening Project.

D.                  Legal Services Agreement- County of Imperial- Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) FY 2021/2022 to FY 2023-24

1.    Authorized the Chairperson to sign the agreement for the continuation of legal services

       between the County of Imperial and the Imperial County Transportation Commission for

       an annual fee not to exceed $30,000, effective July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024

2.    Directed Staff to forward the agreement to the County of Imperial

E.                   Legal Services Agreement- County of Imperial- Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) FY 2021/2022 to FY 2023-24

1.    Authorized the Chairperson to sign the agreement for the continuation of legal services

       between the County of Imperial and the Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies for

       an annual fee not to exceed $5,000, effective July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024

2.    Directed Staff to forward the agreement to the County of Imperial

It was agreed upon by the commissioners to combine all actions in a single roll call. A motion was made by Viegas-Walker and seconded by Nava to approve the action calendar as presented, roll call:

                Motion Passed.

IX.                 NEXT MEETING DATE AND PLACE

A.                  The next meeting of the Imperial County Transportation Commission will be held on July 28, 2021, at 6:00 p.m., at the ICTC Offices, 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 104, El Centro, CA 92243 via Zoom Meeting.

X.            ADJOURNMENT