IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MINUTES FOR December 13, 2023

6:00 p.m.

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VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

                                                                City of Brawley                                       George Nava

                                                                City of Calipatria                                    Maria Nava-Froelich

                                                                City of Calexico                                      Absent

                                                                City of El Centro                                    Martha Cardenas-Singh

                                                                City of Imperial                                      Robert Amparano

                                                                City of Holtville                                       Mike Goodsell                

                                                                City of Westmorland                           Xavier Mendez

                                                                County of Imperial                                Absent

                                                                County of Imperial                                Absent

                                                                Imperial Irrigation District                 Absent

                                                                                                                                                                                STAFF PRESENT:               David Aguirre, Cristi Lerma, Maricela Galarza, Katie Luna, Angela Delgadillo

OTHERS PRESENT:            Eric Havens: Counsel; Gustavo Dallarda, Everett Townsend: Caltrans, David Salgado: SCAG

PUBLIC:                               

The following action minutes are listed as they were acted upon by the Imperial County Transportation Commission and as listed on the agenda for the meeting held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference. 

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 

Chair Goodsell called the Commission meeting to order at 6:22 p.m. Roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

II.                   EMERGENCY ITEMS

                There were none. 

III.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

-          The public comment was regarding inputting a bus stop and transportation to the encampments in Holtville. She stated that she could not get to the campgrounds through IVT Access because there was no bus stop within the corridor. Furthermore, she explained if there was a bus stop at the campgrounds, it may be able to relieve other programs, such as Medical. 

IV.                CLOSED SESSION CALENDAR

A.                        Motion to Adjourn to Closed Session

A motion was made by Cardenas-Singh and seconded by Amparano to approve the closed session, roll call:       

                                Motion Carried. 

B.               CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION

(1 matter) (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2))

C.              PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government Code § 54957)         

Title:  ICTC Executive Director 

D.                        CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code § 54957.6)

                Agency Designated Representative:  Eric Havens

                Unrepresented Employee:  Executive Director 

E.                Announcement of Closed Session Action(s)

Mr. Havens stated the following:

·         The Commission met in a closed session regarding CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE TO LITIGATION (Government Code § 54956.9(d)(2)) direction was given, no action was taken.

·         The Commission met in a closed session regarding PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (Government Code § 54957) Title:  ICTC Executive Director direction was given, no action was taken.

·         The Commission did not meet in a closed session CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code § 54957.6).

V.                  CONSENT CALENDAR 

A.            ICTC Commission Minutes:                                                                           November 08, 2023

                B.            Received and filed:

1.                   ICTC Management Committee Minutes: November 08, 2023

2.                   ICTC TAC Minutes:                                           November 16 2023

3.                   ICTC SSTAC Minutes:                                      November 01, 2023

A motion was made by Nava and seconded by Nava-Froelich to approve the consent calendar as presented, roll call:                   

                                Motion Carried. 

VI.                REPORTS

A.                  ICTC Executive Director

-          Transit Data Update: At the request of the commission, staff has prepared the following data table noting ridership for all services. The data compares the Calendar Year 2019 (pre-pandemic) and the current Calendar Year 2023.  Services continue to grow in ridership post-pandemic restriction. The free fares program has certainly contributed to the increase in ridership.

-          Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Widening Project Ribbon Cutting Event, November 15, 2023: GSA, ICTC, and regional partners celebrated the completion of the Calexico East Land Port of Entry’s new bridge expansion - Stage 1 with a Ribbon Cutting celebration. It is anticipated that the remaining stages will be completed by Spring 2024. For additional information regarding this project visit the ICTC website at: https://www.imperialctc.org/projects/calexico-east-port-of-entry-bridge-expansion

-          Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) Free Fares Program: ICTC was able to secure a second grant to provide free fares for all services except the Calexico on Demand service.

-          Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC): ICTC has already acquired 2 of the required 3 properties for the project.

-          2022 Long Range Transportation Plan: The Final Draft LRTP was recently finished for public review before final development. It is anticipated that the document adoption will be in the January timeframe. To access the completed documents and draft project listing, please visit the project website located at https://ictc-lrtp2023.org/new-page-2.

-          All other updates are on the Executive Director report on page 22 of the agenda.

B.                  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

-          SCAG DRAFT Connect SoCal 2024: The plan was developed through a four-year planning process involving rigorous technical analysis, extensive stakeholder engagement, and robust policy discussions with local elected leaders. Information about the draft plan can be found at ww.scag.ca.gov/connect-socal and a copy of the plan is available for review at the SCAG Imperial Regional Office.

-          SCAG 2024 Save the Date: 2024 Regional Conference & General Assembly: SCAG will host the 59th annual Regional Conference & General Assembly on May 2-3, 2024, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert.

-          SCAG 2024 General Assembly Delegate and Alternate Selection: SCAG sends an email to all cities asking for respective councils to take action to appoint a specific General Assembly Delegate and an Alternate. Only the selected Delegate and Alternate will be allowed to vote at the conference. All elected officials are invited to attend the SCAG General Assembly and Annual Conference. Elected Officials and City Managers are comped on registrations.

-          All other updates are on the SCAG report on page 37 of the agenda.

C.                  California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)- District 11   

-          Gustavo Dallarda is retiring at the end of December and Everett Townsend will take over as interim.

-          Ann Fox is currently in Sacramento filling a post as Chief of planning and modal programs. Roy Abboud will be the planning director for District 11 until Ann returns.

-          Howard Anton has been selected as the new division Chief maintenance, engineering, and asset management.

-          SR-98 Widening Project: It is on track to complete the current stage. Stage 3 is underway with completion estimated in January 2024. Completion of Stage 4 is estimated for Spring 2024.

-           I-8, SR-78 Bridge Rehab at Various Locations: On locations 5 and 6, at Palo Verde Drain and Palo Verde Outfall bridges near Palo Verde, on Monday traffic control has started and it is being done with a signal.

-          I-8 Roadside Safety Improvements: The expected completion date is Spring 2024.

-          Clean California Projects: The bus shelters have been installed in Niland, Calipatria, and Holtville. Pending the delivery of the shelters to be installed in Brawley.

-          Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): Calipatria, Westmorland, and Imperial County have not confirmed their UEI.

-          All other updates are on the Caltrans report on page 39 of the agenda.

D.                  Commission Member Reports

-          Updates were provided by various commissioners.

VII.              The next meeting will be on January 24, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. at the ICTC Offices, 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 104, El Centro, CA 92243, and via Zoom Meeting for the public.

VIII.            ADJOURNMENT

A.                  Meeting Adjourned at 7:21 p.m.