TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES

February 23, 2017

            Present:

            Gordon Gaste                           City of Brawley

            Andy Miramontes                     City of Brawley

            Lily Falomir                             City of Calexico

            Abraham Campos                     City of El Centro

            Jack Fleming                            City of El Centro

            Hector Orozco                          City of Holtville

            Isabel Alvarez                           City of Imperial

            Joel Hamby                              City of Westmorland

            Veronica Atondo                       County of Imperial

            John Gay                                  County of Imperial

            Others:

            David Aguirre                           ICTC

            Virginia Mendoza                     ICTC

            Cristi Lerma                             ICTC

            David Salgado                          SCAG

            Gustavo Gomez                        The Holt Group

            Beth Landrum                           Caltrans

            Kevin Hovey                            Caltrans

            Jack Fleming                            City of El Centro

            Joseph Chua                             Caltrans

            Bing Luu                                  Caltrans

            Kevin Hovey                            Caltrans

            Bryan Ott                                 Caltrans

1.       The meeting was called to order by Chair Gaste at 10:13 a.m. A quorum was present and introductions were made. 

2.       A motion was made to adopt the minutes for January 26, 2017, (Hamby/Campos) Motion Carried.

3.       ICTC Updates / Announcements

Ø  Transit Planning Updates (By David Aguirre):

-          The Regional Bus Stop Inventory, Signage Replacement and Technology Assessment Project Request for Proposals were due February 10, 2017. The project goal is to have an inventory database and assessment for use by ICTC and its member agencies. Mr. Aguirre stated that the committee is currently on the scoring process.

-          Mr. Aguirre stated that the TDA Article 3 Bike and Peds projects are due on March 31, 2017. Agencies with projects submitted on that date will go for Commission approval in April and should be paid out before the fiscal year concludes.

Ø  Transportation Planning Updates (By Virginia Mendoza):

-          ICTC submitted an application for the development of a Regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) under SCAG’s 2017 Call for Projects and was awarded. Ms. Mendoza requested that agencies provide their point of contact to ICTC for this project.

-          An agency RFA status was requested for FY 2016-17 RSTP and CMAQ projects. The table below indicates agency responses under status for each project. Agencies are encouraged to submit their RFA’s to Caltrans Local Assistance by March/April 2017.

Ø  LTA Updates (By Virginia Mendoza):

-          Ms. Mendoza requested that all agencies submit their project requests for the LTA Bond and provide a status report. She stated that the County of Imperial and the City of Calipatria have spent all their funds. The City of Brawley has a balance as of January 31, 2017 of $1.98 million; Calexico $6 million; and, Imperial $265,134. Agencies are highly encouraged to submit invoices.

4.       SCAG Updates / Announcements: (By Mr. Salgado)

-          SCAG will be developing a sustainability database to use as a tool that will pull projects and relative data into one spot as it relates to sustainable projects. It was requested that agency public works and finance staff participate in the survey.

-          Two regional projects were selected under the SCAG 2017 Sustainability Grant Program (SPG). The Imperial County Transportation Commission submitted an application for the development of a Regional Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the County of Imperial Public Health Department submitted an application for a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Safety and Encouragement Campaign. Both projects were awarded under SCAG’s 2016-17 SPG Call for projects and were approved at the February 2nd monthly Regional Council (RC) Meeting. Combined the projects account for $400,000 awarded to Imperial County. Mr. Salgado urged agencies to apply for the next cycle of this Sustainability Grant program. SCAG is working to fund all projects. Mr. Campos stated that the City of El Centro also awarded the County Public Health department funds for a safety and encouragement campaign.

-          Mr. Salgado asked agencies if they knew of anyone interested in a GIS internship with SCAG’s GIS department to notify him. He will be reaching out to IVC and SDSU.

5.       Cities and County Planning / Public Works Updates:

-          City of El Centro: Mr. Campos stated that repairs are being done on 8th Street between 18th and Adams as part of the ATP program; an HSIP lighting project on Main Street; and, an overlay project on Ross Road between 4th and Dogwood).

-          City of Westmorland: Mr. Hamby stated that N. Center Street RSTP project has been awarded.

-          County of Imperial: Ms. Atondo stated that Forrester Road between Imler Road and Keystone Road is now open. Mr. Gay stated that a Caltrans dive team would be in Imperial County assessing a bridge over the New River due to the recent rain. Mr. Salgado requested to be notified of any damages from the recent storms because SCAG will be compiling that data.

6.       Caltrans Updates / Announcements

            Mr. Luu had the following updates and announcements:

-          A Call for Projects for the California FLAP program is currently open. Applications are due by May 12, 2017.  Information on a webinar will be disseminated when it is available.

-          The County of Imperial and the City of El Centro currently have inactive projects. It was requested that each agency submit an invoice by May 19, 2017.

-          The City of Calexico did not submit their FY 2014-15 Single Audit to the State Controller’s Office (SCO) which was due March 30, 2016. Therefore no additional funding will be authorized until SCO has informed the Caltrans Division of Local Assistance of the agency’s compliance.

-          The 2017 Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) was released. Mr. Luu encouraged all to read the manual. 

Mr. Hovey had the following updates and announcements:  

-          On January 1, 2017, California Streets and Highways Code Section 820.1 terminated and Caltrans stopped performing federal responsibilities for environmental decisions and approvals under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for highway projects in California, funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Caltrans' NEPA Assignment will be suspended for up to 90 days and FHWA will handle federal NEPA responsibilities. Assembly Bill (AB) 28 (Frazier) was introduced at the 2017-2018 Regular Session when Legislature convened on December 5, 2016. The Legislature will consider AB 28 when they reconvene this month. The bill would add back Section 820.1 to the Streets and Highways Code, with provisions ti waive immunity and consent to the jurisdiction of federal courts, but with sunset clause. The bill passed the Assembly unanimously, and is now awaiting Senate review. He also stated that this is not affecting local projects in Imperial County.

-          Michelle Blake will be attending in his absence.

-          Ms. Mendoza thanked Caltrans for being present. Joseph Chua will be the DLAE point of contact for Imperial County, and Bryan Ott will be the back-up.  Beth Landrum is the Planning point of contact, and Sam Amen is the Project Manager.

-          Caltrans is holding an Open House event on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 to meet with community members about construction of the State Route 98 Widening Project in Calexico.

7.       General Discussion / New Business

-          Next TAC meeting will be on March 23, 2017.

Meeting adjourned at 10:56