IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DRAFT MINUTES OF June 9, 2021 10:30 a.m.

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

STAFF PRESENT: David Aguirre, Audrie Tapia, Michelle Bastidas, Marlene Flores, Virginia Mendoza, Maricela Galarza, Daveline Villasenor

OTHERS PRESENT:  David Salgado: SCAG; Maurice Eaton, Rafael Reyes, Ryan Fallica, Daniel Hernandez, Hanh Dung Khuu, Ben Guerrero, Alex Araiza, Vanessa De La Rosa, Beth Landrum: Caltrans; Cesar Sanchez: First Transit; Alexis Brown: City of Imperial, Rebecca Terrazas-Baxter: County of Imperial, Jurg Heuberger: Lafco 

The following minutes are listed as they were acted upon by the Imperial County Transportation Commission Management Committee and as listed on the agenda for the meeting held Wednesday, June 9, 2021, together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference.

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Tyler Salcido called the Committee meeting to order at 10:34 a.m., roll call was taken and a quorum was present.

II.                  EMERGENCY ITEMS

There were none. 

III.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

IV.                CONSENT ITEMS 

A                    motion was made by Colio-Warren seconded by Morita to approve the consent calendar as presented; Roll call was taken: 

                                Motion carried unanimously.

A.                  Approval of Management Committee Draft Minutes:      May 12, 2021

B.                  Received and Filed: 

1.                   ICTC Commission Draft Minutes:                                                May 26, 2021

2.                   ICTC TAC Minutes:                                                                            April 22, 2021

3.                   ICTC SSTAC Minutes:                                                                       May 5, 2021

V.                  REPORTS

A                    ICTC Executive Director 

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

⁻ As a result of the pandemic and the inability to conduct formal public gatherings, ICTC issued physical surveys to passengers on vehicles and in person at transit facilities throughout the county to generate responses related to purposed unmet transit needs. ICTC also posted electronic surveys on all transit websites and its social media outlets. Mr. Baza informed the committee the FY 2021/2022 Unmet Transit Needs Hearing will be held virtually on June 7, 2021, at 4: 00 p.m.

B                    Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 

                                        ⁻    Mr. Salgado provided updates from the report on page 36 of the agenda.

o   SCAG Scholarship committee took action to approve the award of eleven scholarships at the May 24, 2021, SCAG Scholarship Committee Meeting SCAG Regional Council Member and El Centro City Mayor Chery ViegasWalker chaired the Committee. Seventy-five applications were received of which twenty-eight were forwarded to the committee for review. Eleven total were awarded and 2 specifically were funded to Imperial County students.

o   SCAG partnered with University of California, Davis to launch a survey to investigate the evolving nature of the impacts of the Pandemic on transportation in the SCAG Region. SCAG will be conducting another round of surveys to further advise the study. Once the survey is released, it was encouraged to compete the survey. For further information please reach out to David Salgado.

o   SCAG adopted a resolution which directs SCAG staff to develop a “Broadband Action Plan.” That would provide a model resolution and policy paper for local jurisdictions, pursue funding opportunities and partnerships to assist local jurisdictions with broadband implementation, convene a working group, and further support broadband planning and data research.

C                    Caltrans Department of Transportation – District 11

                                -     Mr. Hernandez provided updates from the report on page 57 of the agenda.

o   The I-8 Imperial Avenue Interchange concrete pour is set to be schedule the second week of July for anyone who would like to join, more information will be released later this month.

o   The SR-98 Widening Project is still on suspension as for a biologist is scheduled to complete another nest survey. If all goes well construction might continue by July 15 or the latest August

o   The SR-111 Niland Geyser/Mud Pot is currently active, and the caldera continues to be approximately 20 feet away from the SR-111.

                                ⁻    Mr. Guerrero provided information on page 58 of the agenda.

o   Midway Travelway Crew performed crack sealing operation on I-8 at Winterhaven Dr./Sidewinder Rd. Ogilby Rd. and fence repairs at the sand hills rest area.

o   El Centro Functional/Landscape sign and maintenance addresses service request to refresh pavement markings throughout Imperial County.

o   Caltrans is kicking off outreach efforts for the Caltrans Active Transportation Plan (CAT) Plan. A survey to help gather information has been developed and District 11 will be contacting schools, cities, and community organizations to help spread the word of the survey.

o   Project Study Report for Forrester Road Improvements will have a technical working group meeting in June to discuss the study.

o   Annual Exhibits 9-B and 9-C forms are past due for some cities. Failure to submit the completed forms may delay processing of Request for Fund Authorization.

o   California Transportation Commission (CTC) Allocation Requests must be submitted two months prior to the preferred CTC meeting date. June 18, 2021 is the deadline for the August 18-19, 2021 CTC meeting.

o   Quality Assurance Program (QAP) approval expires in September 2021 for the County of Imperial and in January 2022 for the City of Imperial. Updated Quality Assurance Program (QAP) packages must be submitted to the Local Area Engineer. Otherwise, no Construction funding authorization requests will be processed.

o   Local agencies must comply with all Title VI requirements – LAPM Section 9.2, Title VI compliance is subject to review at any time.

D                    Committee Member Reports  ⁻ There were no updates.

VI.                ACTION CALENDAR 

A                    Accept the document as completed for the Imperial County Regional Action Plan

A motion was made by Salcido seconded by Medina for approval to have this action moved up prior to Reports. 

                                Motion carried unanimously.

Ms. Mendoza informed the Committee consultants Brenda Hom and Poonam Bopari from Ascent Environmental had prepared a presentation with further information regarding the Regional Action Climate Plan.

The Imperial County Transportation Committee (ICTC) developed the Imperial County Regional Climate Action Plan (Regional CAP) through funding from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). 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

It was requested that the Technical Advisory Committee and ICTC staff forward this item ICTC Management Committee and Commission for their review and consideration, after public comment if any.

1.  Accept the document as completed for the Imperial County Regional Action Climate Plan

A motion was made by Wells seconded by Morita. Roll call was taken:

                                Motion carried unanimously.

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

Mr. Aguirre announced despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, the previous fiscal year of 2020/2021 was a productive year for ICTC in growth to implement capital projects and growth as a Council of Governments (COG) for non-transportation programs as well as the work completed in the Regional Transportation and Transit Programs. 

This new Fiscal Years budget (FY 2021/2022) of $52 million is the largest budget since ICTC’s inception. This is due in part with the addition of capital grand award funds of $27.5 million for the Calexico East Bridge Widening, and other state and federal grant awards. Mr. Aguirre shared a few of the key milestones and accomplishments ICTC has had over the past year. 

It was requested that the ICTC Management Committee forward this item to the ICTC Commission for their review and approval, after public comment if any.

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

A motion was made by Wells seconded by Medina. Roll call was taken:

                                Motion carried unanimously.

C.                  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 

Mr. Baza shared the Imperial County Transportation Commission is in coordination with General Services Administration (GSA), D=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. The project will facilitate traffic and trade flow to the existing U.S federal primary inspection booths, reduce delays, idling times, and improve air quality emissions.

It was requested that the ICTC Management Committee forward this item to the ICTC Commission for their review and approval, after public comment if any.

1.                   Authorize the Chairperson to sign the Donation Acceptance Agreement between U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) for the Calexico Eat Port of Entry Bridge Widening.

A motion was made by Medina seconded by Colio-Warren. Roll call was taken:

Motion carried unanimously.

VII.              IVRMA ACTION CALENDAR

A.                  Draft IVRMA Budget, FY 2021/2022

Ms. Villasenor provided a brief summary of the IVRMA Budget for FY 2021/2022. Ms. Villasenor shared the membership portion of the FY 21/22 IVRMA Budget reflects an increase from $289,689.00 (FY 20-21) to $377,601 (FY 201-22) for a total 30% increase. An increase in Professional & Spec Serv-Wages is reflected assuming the minimum wage increase beginning January 2022 and the proposed acquisition of a new temporary Outreach position that will assist each city and county with outreach functions associated with CalReycle’s senate Bill 1383, Food Recovery Program and AB1826, Mandatory Organic Commercial Recycling Mandates.

It was requested that the ICTC Management Committee forward this item to the ICTC Commission for their review and approval, after public comment if any.

                                1.            Adopt the Draft IVRMA Budget for FY 2021/2022

Ms. Piedra expressed her concerns with the proposed outreach position and recommended to move forward with the action not funding the Outreach coordinator at this time.  

A  motion was made by Piedra as amended and seconded by Salcido.

Roll call was taken:

                                Motion carried unanimously.

VIII.            PRESENTATION CALENDER

A.                  Caltrans Active Transportation Plan 

A  presentation was made by Caltrans Staff regarding the Caltrans Active Transportation  Plan. Caltrans District 11 is developing an active transportation plan to identify bicycle and pedestrian improvements on, across, or parallel to the State Highway System (SHS). The SHS, which is generally owned and operated by Caltrans, is made up of urban freeways and rural highways. SHS facilities are classified as State Routes (SR) or Interstates (I). Local highways, such as SR-52 and freeways such as I-8, along with the onramps, offramps, overpasses, and underpasses make up what is referred to as Caltrans Right of Way.

More information on Caltrans plans and projects can be found on www.catplan.org/district-11

IX.                The next meeting of the Management Committee is scheduled for July 14, 2021, at the ICTC Offices and via Zoom Meeting.  

X.                  ADJOURNMENT

A.                  Meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m. (Gomez/Colio-Warren)