TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES

January 19, 2017

            Present:

            Gordon Gaste                           City of Brawley

            Andy Miramontes                     City of Brawley

            Terry Hagen                             City of El Centro

            Abraham Campos                     City of El Centro

            Isabel Alvarez                           City of Imperial

            Joel Hamby                              City of Westmorland

            Veronica Atondo                       County of Imperial

            Manuel Ortiz                            County of Imperial

            Others:

            David Aguirre                           ICTC

            Virginia Mendoza                     ICTC

            Cristi Lerma                             ICTC

            Mark Baza                                ICTC

            Jack Fleming                            City of El Centro

            David Salgado                          SCAG

            Gustavo Gomez                        The Holt Group

            Beth Landrum                           Caltrans

            Kevin Hovey                            Caltrans

            Jack Fleming                            City of El Centro

            Joe Picazo Jr.                            County of Imperial

            Axel Salas                                County of Imperial

            Fernando Precichi                     County of Imperial

1.       The meeting was called to order by Chair Alvarez at 10:04 a.m. A quorum was present and introductions were made. 

2.       Election of Chair and Vice-Chair positions

A motion was made by Hamby and seconded by Hagen to nominate the City of Brawley as the Chair for 2017, Motion Carried.

A motion was made by Alvarez and seconded by Gaste to nominate the City of Holtville as the Vice-Chair for 2017, Motion Carried.

3.       A motion was made to adopt the minutes for December 15, 2016, 2016, (Hamby/Alvarez) Motion Carried.

4.       ICTC Updates / Announcements

Ø  Transit Planning Updates (By David Aguirre):

-          The Unmet Transit Needs (UTN) Public Hearing is scheduled for February 9, 2017 at 3 p.m. at the City of El Centro Council Chambers.

-          The Regional Bus Stop Inventory, Signage Replacement and Technology Assessment Project Request for Proposals are due February 10, 2017. The study will be a comprehensive bus stop inventory inclusive of an assessment of supporting infrastructure, uniform bus stop signage and recommendations for technology based upgrades pertaining to real time route and schedule service information and kiosk upgrades. The project goal is to have an inventory database and assessment for use by ICTC and its member agencies. In addition could be used to acquire and prioritize funding for future infrastructure and facility/equipment improvements.

-          Mr. Aguirre stated that the TDA Article 3 Bike and Peds Call for Projects was presented at the October TAC meeting, however has not received any submittal and therefore is moving the deadline to the end of March 2017. Agencies can allow the balance to accumulate over various fiscal years to allow the agencies to facilitate a larger project. He stated that if any agency had questions regarding information of a submittal to contact him.

o   The FY 2016/17 funding allocation associated with each agency is as follows:

                        Brawley                       $26,245

                        Calexico                      $34,689

                        Calipatria                     $12,235

                        El Centro                     $37,300

                        Holtville                       $13,750

                        Imperial                       $21,162

                        Westmorland                $11,389

                        County                         $32,230

Ø  Transportation Planning Updates (By Virginia Mendoza):

-          The draft concepts for the Mobility Hubs Concept Designs Study for the intermodal facilities in the City of Brawley, Imperial Valley College and the City of El Centro have been posted on the ICTC website for feedback from project stakeholders.  The project is anticipated to be completed by June 2017.  For more information about the project or to access the draft concepts please visit the ICTC website at http://www.imperialctc.org/mobility-hubs-strategy/.   Please forward any comments on the concept plans to Virginia Mendoza at virginiamendoza@imperialctc.org by no later than 5 p.m. on January 31, 2016.

-          Regarding the Earmark Repurposing Projects, the FHWA has not taken any action for approval. Due to this, projects are programmed in outer year in SCAG’s FTIP. As soon as FHWA approves the projects, ICTC member agencies will be notified.

-          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. Mr. Gaste for the City of Brawley stated that they are planning to bid on a $500k project soon. Both the cities of Calexico and Imperial had no update.

Ø  Mr. Baza had the following announcements:

-          ICTC is hiring an engineer to assess the old Caltrans maintenance yard (on Adams) for transit facilities. This would be in addition to the transit yard on Ross Avenue.

-          ICTC is looking to move into the old Rabobank offices later this year.

-          ICTC in partnership with Caltrans and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have met for discussions regarding the widening of the checkpoint at SR-86. ICTC staff may be submitting a request to the LTA Board for funding of the project in the future.  

-          The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) requested a CRFC and CUFC project nomination list from all Regional Transportation Planning Agencies (RTPA).  On January 10, 2017, ICTC reviewed the regional project list and submitted the following projects to SCAG: 

o   Widen bridge over the All American Canal at the Calexico East POE: widen of bridge over the All American Canal to six lanes at the Calexico East Port of Entry        

o   Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Implementation at Calexico East POE: install border wait-time monitoring systems, radio frequency identification (RFID)/Bluetooth technology, and advanced traveler information systems 

o   SR-98 widening from VV Williams Avenue to Rockwood Avenue: Widen SR-98 from 4 to 6 lanes from VV Williams Avenue to Rockwood Avenue    

o   Forrester Road Corridor: Forrester Road bridge over the New River reconstruction, roadway realignment and operational improvements      

o   Menvielle Road Widening: widen Menvielle Road from 2 to 4 lanes between Carr Road to SR-98

5.       Cities and County Planning / Public Works Updates:

-          City of El Centro: Mr. Campos stated that there will be an APA mixer at Inferno in Brawley on January 21, 2017 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and includes a tour to the Salton Sea. He also stated that repairs are being done on 8th Street between 18th and Adams as part of the ATP program. Another project moving forward is the widening of La Brucherie Road. The City has acquired most of the properties. Project should begin late 2017.

-          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 would be closing from January 23 to March 10, 2017. She also stated that there are radio and newspaper announcements informing the public and a CMS board will be installed with 10 days of advertising.

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

-          SCAG is committed to highlighting excellence in sustainable planning efforts and development projects throughout the region. Each year SCAG honors projects which best exemplify the core principals of sustainability with awards at the annual Regional Conference and General Assembly. Eligible submittals include plans, projects, and programs completed or adopted after January 1, 2013 and prior to December 20th, 2016. The criteria and nomination packet is available online. There are 6 award categories to include, Against All Odds, Integrated Planning, Collaborative Partnership, Healthy & Safe Communities, Green Region Initiative, and Active Transportation. Submittals were due January 23, 2017 by 2 p.m.

-          A Regional Transportation Plan-Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP-SCS) Amendment #1 Public Hearing was held at the SCAG Los Angeles Office on Wednesday January 18th, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The hearing was provided via video conference throughout the SCAG region and in the Imperial County Office.

-          The Sustainability Planning Grant Program award recipients will be announced at the SCAG Regional Council meeting in February. ICTC submitted an application for consideration for an Imperial County Regional Climate Plan. The County of Imperial Public Health also submitted an application for consideration.

7.       Caltrans Updates / Announcements

-          Ms. Landrum and Mr. Hovley, Caltrans staff was present. Ms. Landrum apologized that Local Assistance staff would not be present and the following updates were made.

-          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. Caltrans will again perform NEPA Assignment responsibilities once the waiver of immunity is back in place. There is no timeline available at this time.

-          The County of Imperial and the Cities of Imperial and El Centro have projects that will soon be flagged for inactivity. Both cities should submit a project invoice to District 11 by February 20, 2017, if you have not done so.

-          A Notice of Adverse Action was issued by the State Controller's Office (SCO) to the City of Calexico. The Single Audit Act and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, require non-federal entities that expend equal to or in excess of $500,000 in a fiscal year in federal awards have an audit performed in accordance with the Single Audit Act. The City missed the March 30, 2016 deadline to submit the June 30, 2015 fiscal year-end reports to SCO. Therefore, no additional funding will be authorized until SCO has informed the Caltrans DLAE of the agency’s compliance with the requirements.

-          Segments 1 and 2 of the I-8 CRCP rehabilitation project will be completed one year in advance of the original completion date.

8.       General Discussion / New Business

-          Bing Luu, Wishing Lima and Joseph Chua of Caltrans will be at the next TAC meeting.

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

9.       Meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.