TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

September 22, 2022

            Present:          

            Guillermo Sillas                        City of Brawley

            Livier Lau                                City of Calexico

            Jeorge Galvan                           City of Calipatria

            Abraham Campos                     City of El Centro

            Adriana Anguis                         City of Holtville

            Jesus Villegas                           City of Imperial

            Ramiro Barajas                         City of Westmorland

            Veronica Atondo                       County of Imperial

            Manuel Ortiz                            Imperial Irrigation District

            Others:

            David Aguirre                           ICTC

            Virginia Mendoza                     ICTC   

            Marlene Flores                          ICTC

            Angela Delgadillo                     ICTC

            Phillip Ramirez                         City of Brawley

            Juan Manuel Cabrera                 City of Brawley

            Ana Gutierrez                           City of Brawley

            Esperanza Colio-Warren            City of Calexico

            Felix De Leon                           City of El Centro

            Andres Miramontez                   City of El Centro

            Christian Rodriguez                   City of El Centro

            Angel Hernandez                      City of El Centro

            Othon Mora                              City of Imperial

            Marco Coronel                          City of Imperial

            Othon Mora                              City of Imperial

            Yvonne Cordero                        City of Imperial

            Adolfo Garcia                           County of Imperial

            Janette Govea                           County of Imperial

            Ben Guerrero                            Caltrans

            Nick Ventrilla                           Caltrans

            David Salgado                          SCAG

            Jessica Reyes Juarez                  SCAG

            Ma’ayn Johnson                        SCAG

1.       The meeting was called to order at 10:04 a.m. A quorum was present, and introductions were made. There were no public comments made.

2.       Adopted resolution authorizing remote teleconference meeting in accordance with Assembly Bill 361. ICTC requested a motion to adopt. (Galvan/Atondo). Motion Carried.

3.       A motion was made to adopt the minutes for August 25, 2022 (Atondo/Galvan) Motion Carried.

4.       REAP 2.0 Grant Funding Program Presentation:

(Presented by: Jessica Reyes Juarez, SCAG)

-          About $246 million will be coming into the SCAG region and will need to be obligated by June 2024 and expended by June 2026.

-          This is a state funded program; it is no longer a federal funded program.

-          Programs to Accelerate Transformative Housing:

-          NOFA-Funding for Lasting Affordability: Funding for innovative housing finance and trust funds.

-          Pilot: Regional Utilities Supporting Housing (RUSH): Non-transportation utilities infrastructure improvements

-          Pilot: Housing Infill on Public and Private Lands (HIPP): Scaling up development of available land, and large corridor-wide or area-wide infill housing policies and initiatives.

-          Definition of Infill (Purpose of the REAP 2.0 Program): (1) the area consists of unused or underutilized lands, AND (2) within existing development patterns, AND (3) that is or will be accessible to destinations and daily services by transit, walking, or bicycling AND is location in either an urban center, corridor, or an area with transit-supportive densities, OR an established community that meets all the following criteria:

-          The area consists or previously consisted of qualified urban uses, the area is predominantly surrounded by parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, and no parcel within or adjoining the area is classified as agricultural or natural working lands.

-          Proposed Funding: NOFA-45 million, Pilot RUSH Program-35 million, and Pilot HIPP Program-8 million. A total of 88 million.

-          CTC Partnership Program Guidelines will be available at https://scag.ca.gov/reap2021 September 21st through 3pm on October 12, 2022.

-          All written comments should be sent via email to: Alisha James at james@scag.ca.gov

-          Mr. Galvan, City of Calipatria, asked if there was anything that precludes leveraging funds from other state resources, such as CTBG or through the tax credit allocation process?

-          Ms. Juarez answered and stated that the program allows stacking. This is one way to demonstrate that you have momentum on the project.

-          Mr. Galvan asked if there is a maximum per person. Ms. Juarez stated that it is not identified yet, however, it is possible that it will be included in the final draft.

-          Ms. Mendoza, ICTC, asked for clarification on the definition of infill section b. “Is intended to capture unincorporated communities that are within the county?” Ms. Juarez stated that it can also be unincorporated communities if they meet the criteria.

-          Virtual Information Session on October 5, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

-          REAP 2.0 Info. Session Registration Link: REAP 2.0 PATH Virtual Information Sessions (jotform.com)

-          For more information or any questions, please contact Jessica Reyes Juarez at juarez@scag.ca.gov, Alisha James at james@scag.ca.gov, Jacob Noonan at noonan@scag.ca.gov, or David Salgado at salgado@scag.ca.gov .

5.       Caltrans Updates / Announcements:

(Presented by: Ben Guerrero)

-          Please welcome the Caltrans District 11 Local Assistance Engineer (DLAE) Bryan Ott! He resumes this management role as a permanent assignment.

-          September 5, 2022 was the deadline to submit “Inactive” invoices or a justification

-          A complete list of Inactive Projects – https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/projects/inactive-projects

-          January 31, 2023 – Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 22/23 Requests for Authorization Obligations Due!

-          Please transmit all RFA details on LAPM Exhibit 3-A and use the newest version from January 2022 https://forms.dot.ca.gov/v2Forms/servlet/FormRenderer?frmid=LAPM3A

-          Friday, October 7, 2022, is the final deadline (for that December 7-8, 2022, CTC meeting).

-          Project Bundling event on October 4th at 8:30 a.m. – 5: 00 p.m. & on October 5th at

8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

-          Please register at:  FHWA Project Bundling Peer Exchange October 4 and 5, 2022 (google.com)

-          For more information on Project Bundling please visit: EDC-5: Project Bundling | Federal Highway Administration (dot.gov)

-          Cooperative Training Assistance Program (CTAP) offers free trainings: https://ca-ctap.org/?pid=1609

-          Link to Active Transportation Resource Center (ATRC):  https://caatpresources.org/1502

-          Notice of Funding Opportunity due October 4, 2022 – Railroad Crossing Elimination Program Click for further details –

-          https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-07-06/pdf/2022-14344.pdf

-          On June 1, 2022, the list of active project end dates was updated. To avoid expiration, action is required by ICTC and the County of Imperial, as well as the City of Calexico.

-          Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Update: As a reminder, Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM) Exhibit 9-F must accompany every invoice that involves payment to a DBE subcontractor

-          If you have any questions, please contact Ben Guerrero at Benjamin.guerrero@dot.ca.gov

6.       SCAG Updates / Announcements:

(Presented by: David Salgado)

-          SCAG Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) Call 4! Civic Engagement, Equity, & Environmental Justice: The fourth Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) Call for Applications is anticipated to be released in Fall 2022, with a focus on Civic Engagement, Equity, and Environmental Justice. Due to the availability of new funding sources for this program, the guidelines for Call 4 are still in development. More information can be found here: https://scag.ca.gov/scp

-          Money Mondays” email SCAG has started to send out. SCAG Money Monday (mailchi.mp)

-          SCAG’s grant opportunities webpage holds links to many of the current, new, and ongoing grant opportunities.

-          SCAG Grant Opportunities Website Link: Get Involved Grant Opportunities - Southern California Association of Governments

-          To receive the information directly please subscribe with this link: Subscribe To Updates - Southern California Association of Governments

-          If you have any questions, please contact David Salgado at salgado@scag.ca.gov

7.       Cities and County Planning / Public Works Updates:

-          Each jurisdiction gave their update.

8.       ICTC Updates / Announcements                                                                                                  (Presented by ICTC Staff)

a.       Transit Planning Updates

-          The Free Fares Program grant was approved for $492K which will cover about 9 months of free fares for transit riders. In the month of November, a program is offered for free transportation for veterans for about a week. The annual “stuff a bus” campaign is coming soon as well. This campaign lets people ride the bus for free if they donate a canned good. Essentially, all the canned goods that are generated, are donated to the food bank prior to Thanksgiving holiday. These two programs will be put out for the public before the Free Fares Programs takes place. The Free Fares program will likely start around January 2023.

b.    Transportation Planning Updates 

·         2022 CMAQ & STBG Mini Call for Projects Update

-          The project schedule was updated. TAC members will meet to review and generate list of projects recommended for funding on October 6, 2022 from 2pm – 4pm instead of October 5th.

·         Local Partnership Formulaic Program (LPP) Update

-          City Managers took action on this item last week. It is anticipated that the Commission takes action on October 26th. It has also been confirmed by the state that if any jurisdiction would like to couple Cycle 3 and Cycle 4 funding they can. However, you would be subject to the Cycle 3 deadline: June 30, 2023.

9.       General Discussion / New Business

Next TAC meeting will be October 27, 2022 via Zoom at ICTC offices

10.   Meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m.