IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF September 11, 2019

10:30 a.m.

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

City of Brawley                        Rosanna Bayon Moore

                                    City of Calipatria                      Rom Medina

City of Calexico                       David Dale

                                    City of El Centro                     Marcela Piedra

City of Holtville                       Nick Wells

City of Imperial                        Stefan Chatwin

County of Imperial                   Tony Rouhotas

County of Imperial                    Esperanza Colio-Warren

STAFF PRESENT:     Mark Baza, David Aguirre, Kathi Williams, Cristi Lerma

OTHERS PRESENT:  David Salgado, Javier Aguilar: SCAG; Beth Landrum, Jesus “Chi” Vargas, Jose Ornelas: Caltrans; Liz Zarate: City of El Centro

The following minutes are listed as they were acted upon by the Imperial County Transportation Commission Management Committee and as listed on the agenda for the meeting held Wednesday, September 11, 2019 together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference.

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Wells called the Committee meeting to order at 10:44 a.m. Roll call was taken at 11:07 when a quorum was present.

II.                 EMERGENCY ITEMS

A.                 There were none.

III.              PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

IV.              CONSENT ITEMS

A motion was made by Chatwin seconded by Medina to approve the consent calendar as presented, Motion carried unanimously.

A.                 Approved Management Committee Minutes for July 10, 2019

B.                  Received and Filed:

1.                   ICTC Commission Meeting Minutes for July 24, 2019

C.                  Review and amendment for the IVT MedTrans; Non-emergency Transportation to Medical Facilities in San Diego - Operating Agreement, FY 2018-19

The ICTC Management Committee met on September 11, 2019 and forwarded this item to the Commission for review and approval, after the receipt of public comment:

1.       Authorize a FY 2018-19-year end payment to FIRST TRANSIT Inc. for the IVT MedTrans service, in an amount of $4,903.79 from the transit services account (7416001) fund balance.

V.                 REPORTS

A.                 ICTC Executive Director

                        Updates were provided by Mr. Baza regarding the following:

-          The Executive Director was asked to speak in support of Secretary Kim on behalf of the Imperial County Transportation Commission at the Senate Confirmation Hearing on September 4, 2019 in Sacramento.

-          The SR-78/Glamis Multiuse Grade Separated Crossing Feasibility Study will analyze and develop feasible design alternatives and locations for a Grade Separated Crossing (GSC) for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use at or near SR-78 and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) in Imperial County. The successful consultant will provide conceptual GSC design alternatives, analysis of site alternatives, public/stakeholder outreach and cost estimates for construction, operations and maintenance. The Request for Proposals was released July 3, 2019. Staff recommendations for consultant award will be presented in the month of September.

-          The current schedule to begin construction on the I-8 / Imperial Avenue Interchange Reconstruction project is in FY 19/20. ICTC staff coordinated a meeting with Caltrans and City of El Centro staff to discuss the project schedule of the interchange and the Imperial Avenue Extension South projects. The project schedules will be compatible and the closure of the I-8/Imperial Avenue Interchange Bridge is scheduled to begin February 2020.

-          As part of the POE Expansion project, SR-98 and Cesar Chavez Boulevard are being widened and improved to serve the expansion to the west. Caltrans’ SR-98 work between VV Williams and Ollie Avenue was completed in March 2018. Caltrans is working on a second segment on SR-98 between Rockwood Avenue and Ollie Avenue is in the design and right-of-way phase and is anticipated to begin construction in spring 2020. ICTC and Caltrans submitted a grant application through SB 1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program. The CTC approved $3.4 million from the SB 1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program to complete construction for SR 98. Cesar Chavez Blvd has been completed and open to the public. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on June 26, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Cesar Chavez and 2nd St.

B.                  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)

                        Updates were provided by Mr. Salgado regarding the following:

-          The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) provided their Regional Housing Need determination for the SCAG region last week – a total of 1,344,740 housing units that the six-county region must plan for in the October 2021 – October 2029 planning period. On Thursday September 5th at the SCAG Regional Council voted to reject the number provided outlining the specific reasons why. Once the objection is filed with justifications HCD will have 45 days after receiving the objection to respond with a final determination. SCAG is also concurrently working on the 3 methodologies for distributing the final RHNA numbers to the region. That process will be closed for public comment Sept. 13th. Numerous workshops and webinars have been provided as well as public hearings to gather comment from stakeholders regarding the proposed methodologies. All the information regarding the proposed methodologies can be found on the SCAG website under the “Housing and Land Use” Section. The information has also been distributed electronically.

-          SCAG’s Active Transportation Department has secured funding from the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for another round of Go-Human advertising materials development and provision. If any agencies or stakeholders are interested in having materials provided for promotion of safe walking and biking and driver awareness, there is a simple order form process for requesting materials. SCAG is looking for any creative ways to incorporate the materials into any of your facilities. The materials are created and provided to you at no cost. SCAG is working with a consultant to incorporate logos of those agencies which are interested as well as develop the signage to fit any specific marketing spaces or opportunities you may have available. Also, as a part of our ongoing efforts to provide resources to our members and stakeholders, we’ve developed a “Kit of Parts” designed to facilitate the demonstration of safe multi-momodal temporary bicycle and pedestrian friendly infrastructure. SCAG also hosted a Traffic Safety Seminar on Wednesday August 7th from 10am to 3pm to gather stakeholders and local officials to develop traffic safety strategies at a local level cooperatively. The Safety Workshop was well attended and provided a forum for discussion around local issues. A panel of local experts and advocates including City of El Centro Planning, Caltrans Dist. 11 Planning, and Imperial County Public Health was convened to offer success stories and dialogue around next steps.

-          September is California’s Pedestrian Safety Month, dedicated to educating drivers and pedestrians about safe roadway habits and reducing the number of pedestrians killed and injured on California roadways. SCAG staff is conducting and promoting safety activities throughout September to support Pedestrian Safety Month and promote available resources for use during “Walktober,” or Walking October, in an effort to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries. This ties into the current efforts under the “Go-Human” Campaign.

C.                  Caltrans Department of Transportation – District 11

                        Mr. Vargas provided the following updates:

-          The I-8 concrete project is still scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Other projects are also on time. No delays have been reported.

-          Local Assistance updates included:

o   Inactive Projects – The deadline to submit an invoice for inactive projects was August 20th, 2019. Currently, agencies with inactive projects are ICTC, County of Imperial, and the cities of Calexico and Imperial.

o   The 2019 High Bridge Program Annual Survey is due September 10, 2019.

o   Reminder to submit annual DBE and ADA certifications. The deadline was June 28, 2019.

Ms. Landrum had the following updates:

-          Structural design review is still pending on the SR-86/Border Patrol Checkpoint project. Waiting on funding from the federal government.

-          Caltrans, in coordination with the County of Imperial, Holtville and ICTC have developed a comprehensive package which will encourage commercial truck drivers traveling from the Calexico East Port of Entry to use the State Highway System rather than Orchard Road to access areas north and east of Imperial County. A citizen group has been involved with bringing their concerns about increased truck traffic, noise, and safety concerns to the involved agencies over the course of the last year.  By working in partnership, we have developed several strategies that will educate, inform, and increase awareness of the change s for the trucking industry. This awareness campaign includes installing “no truck parking signs” in the residential area of Orchard Road, removing Orchard Road as a designated truck route, and installing guide signs to inform truckers of the preferred routes. Additional resources will include flyers placed at the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility just north of the Calexico East POE, direct outreach to the trucking industry both in California and Mexico, and an enforcement effort by our partners at the CHP. It is anticipated that the above elements will be put into place by January 2020.

-          Caltrans received concerns by residents as well as CBP officers regarding the intersection of SR-98 and Barbara Worth Road just outside of the City of Calexico. Traffic Operations developed a Traffic Investigative Report (TIR), which included recommendations for increased signage to include “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop”, enhanced “Stop” signs, and refreshed pavement markings. It is anticipated that these improvements will be installed by November 2019.

D.                 Committee Member Reports

-          There were none.

VI.               ACTION CALENDAR

A.                 ICTC Overall Work Program (OWP) and Budget FY 2019-2020, Amendment #1

The ICTC Management Committee met on September 11, 2019 and forwarded this item to the Commission for review and approval, after the receipt of public comment:

1.         Approve the FY 2019-20 Overall Work Program and Transit Finance Plan Budget Amendment #1

A motion was made by Bayon Moore seconded by Chatwin. Motion carried unanimously.

B.                  ICTC Safety and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP)

The ICTC Management Committee met on September 11, 2019 and forwarded this item to the Commission for review and approval, after the receipt of public comment:

1.                   ICTC Safety and Emergency Preparedness Plan (SEPP)

A motion was made by Bayon Moore seconded by Medina. Motion carried unanimously.

C.                  State Route 78/Glamis Multiuse Grade Separated Crossing Feasibility Study – Award Recommendation

The ICTC Management Committee met on September 11, 2019 and forwards this item to the Commission for review and approval, after the receipt of public comment:

1.                   Approve the award of Consultant Agreement for the State Route 78/Glamis Multiuse Grade Separated Crossing to Kleinfelder in the amount of $271,098.76.

2.                   Authorize the Chairperson to sign the consultant agreement.

A motion was made by Chatwin seconded by Medina. Motion carried unanimously.

VII.            INFORMATION / DISCUSSION CALENDAR

A.                  Refunding/Savings Considerations for the LTA's 2012 Sales Tax Revenue Bonds

Ms. Carmen Vargas from Ramirez & Co., Inc.     was present at the Management Committee meeting. She presented a refunding / savings consideration for participants of the 2012 sales tax revenue bonds. Due to the decrease in interests’ rates there would be significant net savings for all agencies. Mr. Baza stated that this would not add years to the current agreement, however if all agencies agreed, an amendment to the pledge agreement would be needed. This information will also be taken to the LTA Board for their review and consideration.

VIII.         NEXT MEETING DATE AND PLACE

The next meeting of the Management Committee is scheduled for October 9, 2019 at the City of El Centro, El Centro, CA.

IX.               ADJOURNMENT

A.                 Meeting adjourned at 11:36 a.m.