WCCTAC
West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory
Committee
MINUTES
The regular meeting of the West Contra Costa
Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order at 7:30 a.m. by Acting
Chair Abelson in the City Council Chambers of the City of San Pablo, 13831 San
Pablo Avenue (at Church Lane), San Pablo, California.
1. Call to Order and
Self-Introductions
Jerrold Parsons (WestCAT), Maria Alegria (Pinole),
Irma Anderson (Richmond), Maria Viramontes (Richmond), Joe Wallace (AC
Transit), Sharon Brown (San Pablo), Bob Franklin (BART), John Gioia (Contra Costa
County)
ABSENT: Mindell
Penn (Richmond)
STAFF: Lisa
Hammon, WCCTAC Managing Director
Linda Young, WCCTAC Transportation Project
Specialist
John Rudolph, WCCTAC Management Assistant
Nancy Cuneo, WCCTAC Administrative Analyst
Paul Maxwell, CCTA Staff
2. Certificate
of Appreciation to Outgoing Chair Kris Valstad
Acting Chair Abelson
presented Kris Valstad with a plaque commemorating his dedication and
commitment to the community and particularly its transportation issues. Staff and members also offered their
appreciation to Mr. Valstad, and he thanked the members and staff for the
opportunity to represent and serve the community.
3. Public Comment
Janet Pygeorge, Rodeo
Citizens, expressed concern regarding the rapidly growing traffic problem in
Hercules and suggested the new BART parking structure currently set to be
constructed in El Cerrito could be better used in Hercules. She also requested timeline information on
the sound wall and HOV lanes planed for her area. Staff will contact Ms. Pygeorge regarding her requests.
Peter Loubal, El Cerrito
Del Norte Neighbros, stated there is a considerable amount of concern regarding
proposed changes to Casino San Pablo and the accompanying traffic impacts on
the surrounding communities. Although
Mr. Loubel did support the housing and jobs that would be created by the
expansion, he asked that staff and CCTA keep the communities informed regarding
traffic solutions.
CONSENT
CALENDAR
On motion by Joe Wallace, seconded by Maria
Alegria and carried unanimously, the Board approved the Consent Calendar.
4. Minutes, Sign-In Sheet, and Meeting Summary from the December 10, 2004 Meeting
The Board approved the December 2004 minutes.
5. Staff Reports
The
Board accepted the Employee Staff Reports from the Managing Director, the
Management Assistant, and the Transportation Project Specialist for January.
6. Revised Countywide Model
The Board approved the
WCCTAC-TAC request for an additional month to review the Revised Countywide
Model and forward a recommendation to the Board in February.
7.
Transportation and Land Use Solutions (T-PLUS)
Funding
The Board approved the TAC
recommendation to review and approve the application form and timeline; direct
the TAC subcommittee to convene to review the applications; direct the TAC to
bring a recommendation to the WCCTAC Board in March.
8.
Contra Costa Commute Alternative Network (CCCAN)
Link to Regional 511 Program
The Board accepted the
information on the CCCAN link to the Regional 511 Program.
9.
Agenda Items for February Meeting
ü
Form-Based Code
Workshop
ACTION ITEMS:
10.
Election of
the Following Officers and Representatives: (a)WCCTAC Chair; (b) WCCTAC Vice Chair; (c) CCTA Representative
(odd-year term); and (d) CCTA Alternate
11.
Subcommittee to Discuss West County Strategic Plan
Projects
The Managing Director reported CCTA had sent a
letter to all RTPCs requesting them to review projects in the original Measure
C that have not substantially moved forward.
She stated two projects, Wildcat Creek Trail and El Cerrito BART Parking
Garage, are two such projects in West County.
She recommended the Board review the information, designate a
subcommittee and schedule the first subcommittee meeting in order to forward
comments to CCTA on these two projects by March 14th.
Ron Nyren, Plaza Neighbors Association, stated that
although he supports public transportation and transportation development, he
has concerns with the current parking garage plans. He stated the developer’s information states the garage will not
increase BART ridership, but will negatively impact the already huge traffic
problem in El Cerrito Plaza. The
proposed route to access the garage is circuitous and unlikely to be used by
BART patrons considering the cost to park when there is other free parking in
the area. Mr. Nyren also expressed
concern with increased air pollution and the obstruction of views for nearby
residents.
Charles Burress, Behrens Neighborhood Assoc./ Plaza
Neighbors, requested the subcommittee the Board appoints have their meetings
open to the public, allow input from the public on the BART parking garage and
access to the information the subcommittee will consider in making a
recommendation on this project. Mr.
Burress stated a recent EIR finding concludes that there will be no increase in
BART ridership by constructing a parking garage. He would like to present other options for the subcommittee to
consider and keep the funding in the City of El Cerrito.
Sara Stone, Plaza Neighbors, expressed concern the
garage will not improve the traffic problems or increase BART ridership, as
well as the increased noise level with the current soundwall design.
Maggie Winslow, BNA, agreed with the comments from
the previous speakers citing no increased BART ridership and air pollution
concerns. She also expressed concern
with the health effects to school children’s’ use of the adjacent athletic
fields. Ms. Winslow felt there are many
other projects in West County that could benefit the whole community in
reducing traffic in the region.
Peter Loubal, El Cerrito Del Norte Neighbors, felt
millions of precious dollars are being spent on a project that should not have
gone this far. He hopes that subcommittee
will nix the garage project and urged the subcommittee to review all the
information prior to making a decision.
Ann Lehman, BNA, stated she is a supporter of public
transportation, but the parking garage project is poorly planned. She stated the structure is too far for BART
riders to use at night; paid parking will not attract patrons of BART. She stated the subcommittee should revisit
the original plan of the parking structure at Del Norte BART, where access to
I80 makes sense. She also requested
more time to discuss options for the funding to be used in a way that maximizes
the funding and effect traffic mitigation.
Doug Donaldson, Albany Planning Commission, urged
the newly-formed subcommittee to look closely at the EIR on the parking garage. He stated the planning is backwards – the
money is available, but there is no need for a parking structure. He felt the money would be better spent
filling a real transportation need in the county.
The Managing Director asked Paul Maxwell if the
Authority would consider postponing the deadline for comments to March, and Mr.
Maxwell complied. The Managing Director
will also officially make this request in writing to the Authority. John Gioia, Janet Abelson, Irma Anderson,
Bob Franklin and Maria Viramontes all volunteered to serve on the
subcommittee.
On motion by Sharon Brown, seconded by Joe Wallace
and carried unanimously, John Gioia, Janet Abelson, Irma Anderson, Bob Franklin
and Maria Viramontes will form a subcommittee to discuss and make recommendations
to the WCCTAC Board on West County Strategic Plan Projects. Maria Alegria will serve as the alternate on
the subcommittee.
12.
West County Internship Program
John Rudolph stated he has
been working with the TAC on some small transportation projects related to
planning and engineering. John also
acts as an academic advisor for graduate students and has suggested a “West
County Transportation Planning/Engineering Internship Program” for review and
approval by the WCCTAC-TAC and Board.
The TAC recommends the WCCTAC Board approve the Internship Program;
authorize Staff and the TAC to move forward with the subcommittee review of the
project submittals; bring a funding recommendation to the Board in February.
The members requested outreach to the cities of
Pinole, Rodeo and Crockett to possibly include projects in those areas.
On motion by Irma Anderson, seconded by Jerrold
Parsons and carried unanimously, the Board approved the Internship Program;
authorized Staff and the TAC to move forward with the review of the project
submittals; outreach for projects to the cities of Pinole, Rodeo and Crockett;
and bring a funding a recommendation to the Board in February.
The Managing Director will also submit a mid-year
budget report along with the funding recommendation.
13.
Subregional Transportation Mitigation Fee Program
(STMP) Update
The
Managing Director gave a verbal presentation of the Executive Summary of the
STMP Program Update. She provided
background information, the list of projects, the nexus analysis and funding
scenarios. The Managing Director stated
the Nexus Analysis in 1997 showed that WCCTAC would establish fees whose
revenues would total $24.5 million. However,
the established fees were set considerably lower. The STMP Update justifies increasing developer fees, which if
adopted, would generate $95 million over 25 years for West County
projects.
Sharon
Brown stated she would like to see priority given to projects that were not
included in the first round of funding, such as San Pablo Dam Road and Central
Avenue. Irma Anderson agreed.
Maria
Viramontes stated she has always believed new growth should pay for
itself. She stated developer fees in
Orinda and Lafayette are most likely two to three times higher than those in
West County. She absolutely supports
the highest fee recommended in the Nexus Analysis, and recommended prioritizing
the projects after resolving the fee issue.
John
Gioia suggested the Board needs to consider a fee that is as high as possible
considering the market. He stated that
should the Casino go forward, the Board needs to negotiate with Caltrans for
traffic mitigation and pressure the State for more funding. This would free up funding for other
transportation projects in the area.
Ed
Balico requested information on the developer fees charged in other areas of
the county. He also suggested that
during the prioritizing of projects, serious consideration should be given to
projects that can be completed with the available funding.
Irma Anderson reminded the
Board that as city representatives, members must consult with their city
councils and developers active in the community on any fee increase.
On motion by Maria
Viramontes, seconded by Sharon Brown and carried unanimously, approve the full
funding of all ten projects on the STMP Project List at the amount justified by
the nexus; authorize staff to move forward in making presentations to city
councils and boards.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
14.
Parchester Village Elementary School Bus Service
The
Managing Director reported the grant application submitted to the Lesher
Foundation to support the Parchester
Village bus service was declined. She
stated there is donor funding to continue the bus service through the end of
this school year, however, a long-term solution is still needed. The Managing Director stated WCCTAC staff,
school district staff, city staff and members from the community will be
discussing funding solutions for the service.
Maria
Alegria suggested all cities should be sending letters to the school district
to support the bus service and encourage the school district to review their
budget.
15. Correspondence/Other
Information:
Incoming:
Letter
from UP to Hercules Mayor re: passenger
train station – November 2, 2004.
CCTA
Items Approved for Circulation – November 18, 2004.
TRANSPAC meeting summary –
November 22, 2004.
SWAT meeting summary – December 9,
2004.
Memo from CCTA Executive Director
re: Bay Bridge East Span – December 10,
2004.
BART Tracks Newsletter – December
17, 2004.
Press Release – Richmond TLC Grant
– December 21, 2004.
CCTA Letter re: Congratulations on Measure J – December 29,
2004.
TRAC Information – December 31,
2004.
TRAC New Year Report – January 1,
2005.
Capitol Corridor Ridership Report
– January 7, 2005.
TRANSPAC meeting summary – January
6, 2005.
Letter from CCTA to MTC re: Transportation Land-Use Platform – January
7, 2005.
California Transit Assoc. re: Governor’s Proposed Budget – January 11,
2005.
Outgoing:
Letter to Kathleen Odne, Dean
& Margaret Lesher Foundation – December 21, 2004.
Letter to Glen Price, WCCUSD –
December 21, 2004.
Newspaper/Internet Articles (all articles from West County Times unless stated otherwise):
“Cadillac of a Bridge Now Chevy,”
December 10, 2004.
“His Site Can Take You Out of the
Driver’s Seat,” December 13, 2004.
“Smart Growth Effects Forecast,”
December 14, 2004.
“Region Scores Low in Housing
Report,” December 17, 2004.
“Pitch for a Switch,” December 17,
2004.
“BART and City Enter Lot Exchange
Option,” January 5, 2005.
“Senator: Governor’s Rail Plan Won’t Work,” January 7,
2005.
“Governor’s Budget Taps Road
Funds,” January 7, 2005.
“Commute for East Bay Residents
Gets Uglier,” January 7, 2005.
“Parchester Busing Running Out of
Gas,” January 10, 2005.
“BART, Road Projects Staked on
Casino Cash,” January 11, 2005.
“BART Finances Cast Dark Shadow,”
January 14, 2005.
“Donor Pays Kids’ Bus Costs for
Rest of Year,” January 15, 2005.
“Regionalism Stalled,” January 16,
2005.
“Regionalism Under Review,”
January 16, 2005.
“Poll – County Calls Transit Woes
Worst,” January 16, 2005.
“Line Compromise Has Different
Faces,” January 16, 2005.
“A New Look at Urban Limit Line,”
January 19, 2005.
16. Board Member Comments/Reports
John Gioia stated the compact that the
Governor negotiated with the tribe on the casino requires the tribe to
negotiate with the City of San Pablo for any impacts on city services and to
negotiate with the county on any non-city services. Mr. Gioia stated the County wants a study of the impacts to the
surrounding areas. He suggested the
Managing Director be the point person to work with the cities and County due to
the traffic impacts to the West County communities.
An agenda item will be scheduled to
discuss this topic at the February WCCTAC meeting.
17. Other Business
With no further business to come before
the WCCTAC, Acting Chair Abelson adjourned the meeting at 9:00 a.m. to the next
regularly-scheduled meeting of February 25, 2005, at 7:30 a.m. at the San Pablo
city Council Chambers, One Alvarado Square, San Pablo, California.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lori D’Orazi, Stenocaptioner