UNAPPROVED MINUTES

SHASTA COUNTY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCY (MPO)

Tuesday, December 10, 2002, 4:00 p.m.

Redding Civic Center, City Council Chambers,

777 Cypress Avenue, Redding, California.

(Note: These minutes are not intended to serve as a transcript or verbatim record of the proceedings of the Shasta County Regional Transportation Planning Agency, but rather as a record of meeting time, place and attendance; the order and general nature of discussion; Agency deliberations; and action taken, if any.)

Agency Members Comnick, Clarke, Hawes, Duryee and Kight were present. Agency Members McGeorge and Wilson were absent.

1. Call to Order:

Chair Comnick called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.

2. Public Comment Period:

There was no one who wished to speak during the Public Comment Period.

Consent Calendar

3-1 Minutes of September 24, 2002, RTPA Meeting

3-2 Future RTPA Meeting Schedule Through December 2003 - Information Only

By motion made, seconded and carried, the items on the Consent Calendar were approved.

Regular Calendar

4. Public Involvement Procedure Update – Initiate Public Review Period

Executive Officer Kovacich explained that this item was initially presented to the Board at the July RTPA meeting. At that time, Agency Member Duryee had some concerns about the document. Staff went back and edited the document, making it more readable and establishing measurable goals and objectives within the public involvement procedure. It is now ready for any comments from the public.

Member Duryee stated that she appreciated the work staff did on the document, that it is nice to have a document with measurable goals and objectives. She stated that staff did a good job.

By motion made and seconded (Kight/Duryee) the staff recommendation passed unanimously.

5. Accept Review of Paratransit Programs in Shasta and Butte Counties

Executive Officer Kovacich explained that this item is a follow up from the July RTPA meeting. Staff member Sue Crowe had presented a review of transit services within the County. The Agency made a request for her to look at the services in some neighboring counties as well.

Staff member Sue Crowe explained how she now included the County of Butte’s Oroville Express; and the City of Chico’s Clipper bus service in the transit study. She chose these two because of the similarity in region, population and size to Shasta County. Comparison was made in the areas of cost per service mile, cost per service hour and service miles to service hours. The conclusion is that the RABA services are operating correctly. The only way to reduce costs is if the City of Redding were to decrease the allocated costs to RABA.

6. Social Services Transportation Advisory Council (SSTAC) Membership Approval

Executive Officer Kovacich explained that it is time to appoint and re-appoint members to the Social Services Transportation Advisory Council. The Council was created by state legislation with the intention of looking out for the interests of those in social service programs, paratransit services, etc. A list of names is provided to Board members listing the individuals that are recommended for nomination to the SSTAC.

By motion made and seconded (Hawes/Clarke) the staff recommendation passed unanimously.

7. Select a Demonstration Project to be Included in Federal Reauthorization

Executive Officer Kovacich explained that at the July Board meeting Agency members endorsed the Principles of Reauthorization that Caltrans and many regional agencies throughout the state have also endorsed. The intention of adopting these Principles is to move toward highway reauthorization. The ultimate goal is to have a unified California delegation in Washington, fighting to get as much money as they can for California. Part of that process is that each member of Congress can nominate projects to be put into the new Highway Funding Bill (demonstration or earmark projects). Shasta County should be at the table asking for some Federal demonstration or earmark projects.

Sources have indicated that each member of Congress will have the discretion to nominate approximately 15 million dollars in projects in the new Highway Bill; U.S. Senators are allowed to nominate considerably more. Typically the earmarks do not completely fund a project, and the Representatives and Senators typically do not spend all of their earmarks on one project.

Staff has come up with a filtering process to identify projects that could use 5 million dollars in funding, and is a project that is needed in the region. Staff came up with two projects, but they should not be considered exhaustive. One is the Stillwater project, which is on Highway 44 going east. It is currently in the environmental stage, and is a highly rated project in the RTP process. The other project is the Cypress Street Bridge. It has at present approximately a 10 million dollar funding shortfall. The environmental process has been initiated; it could absorb up to 8 million dollars in additional FBR funding (Federal Bridge Replacement program).

Dan Kovacich advised Agency members that a letter was received from the City of Redding City Manager, Mike Warren, suggesting that consideration be given to the Airport Road Corridor Project.

There may be other projects that Agency Members want to suggest for consideration. It doesn’t have to be limited to one project; several projects could be presented to Congressman Herger and Senators Boxer and Feinstein. A marketing strategy would be different based on the project. For example, Stillwater needs to have a constituency that could be enlisted to write letters of support. It is recommended that we engage the Chamber of Commerce and other interest groups to help sell the project or projects up the line.

Dan Kovacich advised the Board that he has scheduled meetings with Congressman Herger and Senator Boxer’s offices. The meeting with Congressman Herger is scheduled for December 14, 2002, at 9 am in Redding. The meeting at Senator Boxer’s office will be with one of her staff members, on December 19, 2002, at 11 am in Sacramento. RTPA Chair Member Comnick is currently scheduled to attend this meeting with Mr. Kovacich; however, other members of the Board are welcome to participate, the more people who attend, the better the presentation.

Dan continued to say that whatever local agency in which the project or projects resides would probably be

interested in also participating in this process. Dan also encouraged the local agencies to push for projects on their own jurisdiction. The more arrows fired at this process the better the likelihood that one of them will hit the mark.

Agency members discussed the various recommended projects, noting the pros and cons of each. It was decided the best choice overall was the Stillwater Project on Highway 44 and the Airport Road Corridor Project.

By motion made and seconded (Kight/Clarke) the Stillwater Project and Airport Road Corridor Project passed unanimously.

Dan Kovacich clarified that more than 5 million dollars will be asked for. Any suggestions or ideas that the Board may have that will help to advance this are welcome.

Board Member Clarke stated that personal letters from each Board Member of the Agency should be sent, in both their roles as RTPA and their jurisdiction. She suggested that Dan draft some standard letters that could go out to Congressman Herger and Senators Boxer and Feinstein.

Executive Officer Kovacich updated the Board on the Governor’s budget, and how much it will impact transportation. Everything is speculation right now. Dan explained how the money from the General Fund that was going to go for transportation is going to be pulled back. The hit on the County will be about one million dollars a year and on the three cities collectively, it will be about one million dollars a year. The State is only looking at one year, but Dan is sure they will continue to chop off a year at a time. That will ripple through STIP funding and delay projects that are programmed. It will end up with gas tax revenues, which is what there’s always been.

There being no other business to discuss, Board Member Comnick adjourned the meeting at 4:31 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

________________________________________

Daniel J. Kovacich, Executive Officer

/jac