IMPERIAL COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF September 14, 2022

10:30 a.m.

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:

STAFF PRESENT: Cristi Lerma, Angela Delgadillo, Marlene Flores, Daveline Villasenor

OTHERS PRESENT: David Salgado: SCAG, Rafael Reyes, Ben Guerrero, Alex Araiza: Caltrans, Tim Kelly, Alessandra Muse: IVEDC, 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 14, 2022, together with staff reports and related documents attached thereto and incorporated therein by reference.

I.                    CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL

Chair Nick Wells called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m., roll call was taken, and a quorum was present.

II.                  ACTION CALENDAR

A.                     Adopt resolution authorizing remote teleconference meetings in accordance with Assembly Bill 361

1.            Approved the resolution of the Imperial County Transportation Commission authorizing remote meetings in accordance with the provisions of the State Assembly Bill (AB) 361.

2.            Authorized the Chairperson to sign the resolution.

A motion was made by Terrazas-Baxter seconded by Salcido to approve this item; Roll call was taken:

                Motion carried unanimously.

III.                EMERGENCY ITEMS

There were none.

IV.                PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

V.                  CONSENT ITEMS

A motion was made by Morita seconded by Piedra to approve the consent calendar as presented; Roll call was taken:

Motion carried unanimously.

VI.                REPORTS

A.                  ICTC Executive Director

-          Mr. Aguirre had the following updates:

o   State Route 86 Border Patrol Checkpoint is currently in design and has been some additional design features that have been incorporated.

o   IVRMA has been working with all member agencies towards completing an amendment to the existing IVRMA JPA. It is anticipated that the member agencies will approve the amended JPA via individual board action in the August to early September 2022 timeframe and the IVRMA board will approve the amended JPA at the September 2022 board meeting. IVRMA is attempting to amend the JPA prior to the October reporting deadline.

o   The design of the Calexico Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) is 100% complete, and staff is working on right-a-way acquisition. We are hoping to accomplish this in the next few months and move forward with construction. Multiple grants have been submitted for a variety of funding opportunities. 

o   Calexico East Port of Entry Bridge Widening Project is fully in construction. About 55% of construction has been completed. Currently, tunnel work is being constructed. This allows CBP to access the east and the west sides of the bridge. Hoping to have the project completed by late April or early May 2023.

o   The Free Fares Program grant was approved for $492K which will cover about 9 months of free fares for transit riders.

B.                  Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)  

-      Mr. Salgado had the following updates:

o   SCAG 33rd Annual Demographic Workshop: Part 1 - September 14th and Part 2 - September 21st from 1:30 – 4:45 p.m. To register go to scag.ca.gov/demographics

o   REAP 2.0 Housing Supportive Infrastructure Development Program Outreach: SCAG will be receiving about $240 million for the REAP 2.0 program and supporting housing opportunities. This money does need to be spent rather quickly. The timeframe to spend this amount is until 2024/2025.

o   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

o   SCAG Transportation Broadband Strategies to reduce VMT and GHG Study https://www.cetfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Caltrans-Grant-to-SCAG-Final-Report-PRINT_web.pdfAttachments

C.                  Caltrans Department of Transportation – District 11

-          Mr. Reyes had the following updates:

o   SR-98 Widening Project has restarted work on Stage 1. The anticipated completion date is set to Mid-November.

o   The District 11 Active Transportation Plan (D11-CATPLAN) has been completed. A summary report has been published and can be accessed using the link provided:

o   https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/transportation-planning/documents/active-transportation-complete-streets/caltrans-reconnecting-communities-program/district11-finalreport-a11y.pdf

o   https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/807af02be4084bb1bb1854a112b56d5c

-          Mr. Guerrero had the following updates:

o   There is a new District 11 Local Assistance engineer, Bryan Ott. Please make sure that all staff include his name as the new DLAE for any type of communication with their office. His email is bryan.ott@dot.ca.gov.

o   The FHWA has established a goal of 22.2%. If there are any projects that are FHWA funded do, make sure to aim for that goal. This goal is based on a survey that was done along the last three years that states that there are enough subcontracting opportunities for DBE up to 22.2%.

o   The next CTC meeting is December 7, 2022 and the deadline for any documentation for that is October 10, 2022. Any state funded projects that need to go to the CTC meeting, please submit all documentation by October 10, 2022 to Caltrans office.

o   FHWA Announcement: FHWA Project Bundling Peer Exchange October 4 and 5, 2022

o   https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/alternative_project_delivery/defined/bundled_facilities/

D.                  Committee Member Reports

⁻          There were no updates.

VII.              INFORMATION CALENDAR

A.                  Updates on the Southern Border Broadband Consortium (SBBC) and the Brawley Transit Corridor Brownfield Assessment Projects

o   A presentation by Tim Kelly from the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation (IVEDC) was given.

o   Mr. Kelly provided program updates for EPA Brownfields.

o   The Chai Property has its phase 1 complete and the phase 2 was not required. The property is not listed and being marketed for redevelopment.

o   The Finnell Property has its phase 1 and 2 completed, the contamination identified, and the property owners are now equipped to secure independent clean up funding.

o   The Lesika Property has its phase 1 and 2 completed and blighted property has been redeveloped.

o   The Pioneers Property has its phase 1 completed and its phase 2 in process. A developer has chosen this property due to the grant funding that is offered.

o   The Texaco Property had its phase 1 completed and its phase 2 in process. The property will be marketed for redevelopment.

o   The Dek Property was poorly executed phase 1 completed by another firm. The brownfields program completed phase 2 and provided the technical assistance for project completion. The business in now in operation.

o   Mr. Kelly also provided program updates for Southern Border Broadband Consortium (SBBC). In 2016, IVEDC formed the SBBC utilizing an initiative from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) along with representatives from all economic sectors to improve the availability and adoption of affordable broadband technology for unserved and underserved areas of Imperial and San Diego counties.

o   Regional Broadband Consortium: In 2020, SBBC was approved for a second 3-year grant cycle with the CPUC's California Advanced Services Fund as the RBC for San Diego and Imperial Counties. Current Grant Cycle: November 1, 2020 - October 31, 2023 Ongoing Efforts: SBBC continues to work with ISPs to identify funding opportunities and project locations in San Diego and Imperial.

o   In 2019, SBBC participated in the development of a Preferred Scenario for 98% broadband deployment of broadband in the region submitted to the CPUC.

o   In 2022, SBBC completed a project facilitated by Caltrans to identify Transportation Broadband Strategies to Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and Greenhouse Gases. Partners included SCAG and CETF

o   Get Connected California: A statewide mobilization to register low-income households with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offers discounted high-speed home internet. For more information: Internet for All Now: Bridging the Digital Divide in California

o   For more information or any questions/comments, please contact the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation at (760) 353-8332.

VIII.             ACTION CALENDAR

A.                   Imperial Valley Resource Management Agency (IVRMA) - Amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement

It was requested that the Management Committee forward this item to the Commission for review and approval after public comment, if any:

1.                   Approve the Amendment to IVRMA Joint Powers Agreement.

2.                   Authorize the Chairperson to sign the agreement.

A motion was made by Salcido seconded by Colio-Warren to approve Action A. Roll call was taken:

                Motion carried unanimously.

B.                   Extension of the ICTC Lease and Sublease Agreements – 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 104, El Centro, CA  92243, Addendum 4

It was requested that the Management Committee forward this item to the Commission for review and approval after public comment, if any:

1.            Approve the fourth amendment of the current lease and sub-lease agreements with Pico Group, LLC for the property on 1503 N. Imperial Ave., Suite 104 in El Centro; and authorize the Executive Director to execute the lease agreement.

2.                   Authorize the Executive Director to sign the sub-lease amendments between ICTC and SCAG with same terms as the original agreement.

A motion was made by Salcido seconded by Morita to approve Action B. Roll call was taken:

                                Motion carried unanimously.

C.                   Proposed Distribution plan for the 2020 Cycle 3 and 2022 Cycle 4 Local Partnership Formulaic Program (LPP)

It was requested that the Management Committee forward this item to the Commission for review and approval after public comment, if any:

1.                 Approve Proposed Distribution Plan for the Local Partnership Formulaic Program funds.

a.       Cycle 3 Option #2   2 Flat Distribution Plan

b.       Cycle 4 Option #2   2 Flat Distribution Plan

c.       Authorize staff to open Call for Projects for the Local Partnership Formulaic Program Cycle 3 and Cycle 4

2.                   Authorize staff to submit the recommended projects to the California Transportation Commission (CTC).

A motion was made by Morita seconded by Colio-Warren to approve Action C. Roll call was taken:

                                Motion carried.

VIII.             The next meeting is scheduled for October 12, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. tentatively in the City of El Centro and via Zoom Meeting.  

IX.                 ADJOURNMENT

A.                  Meeting adjourned at 12:06 p.m.