TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

January 23, 2020

            Present:          

            Gordon Gaste                           City of Brawley

            Guillermo Sillas                        City of Brawley

            Abraham Campos                     City of El Centro  

            Veronica Atondo                       County of Imperial

            Jesus Villegas                           City of Imperial

            Joel Hamby                              City of Westmorland

            Robert Ureña                            County of Imperial

            Others:

            Mark Baza                                ICTC

            Virginia Mendoza                     ICTC

            Marlene Flores                          ICTC

            David Salgado                           SCAG

            Beth Landrum                           Caltrans

            Stephen Capuno                        Caltrans

            Phat Nguyen                             Caltrans

            Doni De Castro                         Caltrans

1.       Introductions

2.       Rotation of Chair and Vice-Chair Positions

A motion was made by Abraham Campos and seconded by Joel Hamby to nominate the County of Imperial as the Chair for 2020, Motion Carried.

A motion was made by Veronica Atondo and seconded by Joel Hamby to nominate the City of Brawley as the Vice-Chair for 2020, Motion Carried.

3.       A motion was made to adopt the minutes for December 12, 2019 (Hamby/Campos) Motion Carried.

4.       Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) resolution for Federal Fiscal Year 2021/21-2025/26 Federal Transportation Improvements Program

A motion was made to adopt the Federal Fiscal Year 2021/21-2025/26 Federal Transportation Improvements Program (Campos/Villegas) Motion Carried.

5.       Regional Climate Action Plan Updates

Mrs. Flores provided a brief update on the status of the data collection efforts for the Climate Action Plan. Our consultant representative Andrew Beecher is working with local agencies in obtaining this data. We still have several local agencies that need to start the process. The next highest priority item is having the County complete the request for energy data SoCal Gas. We appreciate the assistance with those who have been helping us move this project forward.

6.       ICTC Updates / Announcements

(Presented by ICTC Staff)

a.       Transit Planning Updates- Ms. Mendoza provided a brief update on transit planning. Existing Transit Facility MOU’s will be required. Mr. David Aguirre will follow up with corresponding agencies.

b.       Transportation Planning Updates (by Virginia Mendoza):

-          (Imperial Mexicali Binational Alliance (IMBA)- Next IMBA meeting will be here in the Imperial Valley on March 12, 2020. Location: TBD.

-          Border Master Plan (BMP)- Kick off meeting for the Border Master Plan was on January 21, 2020 at the Caltrans San Diego Office. The BMP is a comprehensive and binational approach to coordinate the planning of international ports of entry or land checkpoints and their respective transportation infrastructure projects.

-          SR-78/Glamis Multiuse Grade Separated Crossing Feasibility Study Virginia Mendoza provided a brief update on project. The Technical Working Group meetings have begun, and initial outreach to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) community was held at the Glamis Dunes on Saturday, January 18, 2020.  An on-line survey to gather information related to user preferences and support for a potential crossing was opened on January 1, and will close on January 31, 2020.  To date, over 1,400 surveys have been recorded.

-          I-8 Interchange Avenue Interchange- The I-8/Imperial Avenue interchange replacement project is expected to begin construction in April 2020.  Caltrans and the City of El Centro had an open house on January 15, 2020 which provided   community members and local businesses great details about the project. It was a great opportunity to get informed on what is happening around the area.

c.       FFY 2019-20 Programmed Project Updates (by Virginia Mendoza):

-          Local Partnership Program (LPP) Virginia Mendoza provided local agencies a list with all the LPP projects and when they need to be obligated. ICTC wants to make sure everyone knows the status of their project and when to start the process of obligating the money. 

d.       LTA Updates 2012 and 2018 (by Virginia Mendoza):

-          2012 LTA Bond- City of Brawley still have a balance on their respective 2012 LTA Bond account. ICTC has been in contact with the city of Brawley.

-           2018 LTA Bond- The City of Holtville already utilize all their 2018 LTA money and City of Calexico and City of Calipatria is still in the works.  

7.       SCAG Updates / Announcements (by David Salgado)

-          Mr. Salgado mentioned how SCAG is working closely with Imperial County partners to develop Connect SoCal. Mr. Salgado had the following updates:

-          CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2020 SCAG SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS: Recognizing Excellence in Sustainable Planning throughout Southern California: The Guidelines have been released. The deadline for submittal is February 6th, 2020 at 5:00pm.

-          The DRAFT Connect SOCAL Plan is out for public review until the end of January.

-          The SCAG General Assembly is scheduled for May 6-8, 2020. Please save the date and select your delegates and alternates.

8.       Cities and County Planning / Public Works Updates:

-          Local agencies gave an update on their local projects in progress.

9.       Caltrans Updates / Announcements (By: Stephen Capuno and Beth Landrum)

Local Assistance: Mr. Capuno provided updates on local assistance.

District 11 must have complete and accurate invoices before this due date to avoid de-obligation of federal funds.

Local Assistance- New Invoice Format Required – Effective October 15, 2019.

Please transmit all invoices on LAPM Exhibit 5-A.  This consolidated format is now required.

Quality Assurance Program (QAP)- A quick reminder to all local agencies of their QAP expiration or expired QAP. As a reminder, the Quality Assurance Program (QAP) approval expired for the City of Holtville. Calexico, El Centro, and Westmorland have until April 2020.  A list with specific dates for each agency was provided. An updated QAP package must be submitted as soon as possible to the Local Area Engineer, Ben Guerrero.

Call for Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) Applications- Caltrans announced a Call for Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) Applications on October 8, 2019. The funds will be awarded to the applicants on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.  There is no application deadline.  Caltrans will continue to accept applications as long as funding is available.

Office of Traffic Safety 2021 Grant Application due: The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Federal Fiscal Year 2021 Grant Application are due on January 30, 2020.

January 31, 2020: Federal Fiscal Year 19/20 Request for Authorization/Obligation is due: Mr. Capuno mentioned that the deadline is January 31, 2020. Early RFA submittals will minimize delay to obtaining fund authorizations.

Beth Landrum from Caltrans provided updates on several projects:

Traffic Operations- SR-86/Customs & Border Protection Checkpoint Expansion. Caltrans continues to work on design reviews with the goal being to have a design approved project ready for when funding becomes available.

Planning- City of Calipatria – Railroad Corridor Multi-Use Bikeway Master Plan- This was presented to the Calipatria City Council on January 14, 2020 and was approved.

El Centro Land Use, Mobility Element and Environmental Justice Update: Outreach efforts and marketing continue with Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings, pop-up events, and increased exposure to the website and survey link.  The next Public Outreach event is anticipated to be held in late April 2020.

10.   General Discussion / New Business

Mr. Chi Vargas has retired from Caltrans and now we have Mr. Jose Ornelas to assist the Imperial Valley.

11.   Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.