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The Regular Meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was called to order at 1:34 p.m. by Chairperson Kott in Conference Room B-104, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.

Ex-Officio-Alternate Member Render took her seat at 1:35 p.m.

ROLL CALL

There were no Public Presentations.

M/S/C (Rose/Porter) to approve the Minutes of November 18, 2004.

John Ristow, Deputy Director Programming & Highway Administration, announced that adoption of the Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030) has been postponed to February 3, 2005 Board of Directors Meeting to allow the Mountain View City Council to receive a presentation.   Mr. Ristow stated that if any other city would like a staff presentation between the present time and February 3, 2005, contact VTA staff.

Mr. Ristow introduced David Miller, AICP, Commercial Development Manager, to present the Proposed Joint Development Policy and Procedures.

Member McNeely took his seat at 1:40 p.m.

Mr. Miller provided a report outlining the Joint Development Policy, Developer Selection Process, Exclusive Negotiating Agreement and Disposition and Development Agreement (ENA & DDA).

Alternate Member Jenkins took her seat at 1:41 p.m.
Alternate Member Tripousis took his seat at 1:47 p.m.

Mr. Miller requested input from the TAC Members.Alternate Member Jenkins requested Mr. Miller provide the adoption schedule.  Mr. Miller responded that through the month of December 2004, the Joint Development Policy and Procedures will be provided to VTA Advisory and Standing Committees and the Board of Directors for approval at their meeting of January 6, 2005.

Alternate Member Jenkins expressed concern that the Joint Development Program presentation was not agendized, which did not give TAC time to review the document nor will it allow them to take action.

Chairperson Kott expressed concern that TAC was not provided with a hard copy of the report for review.

Alternate Member Jenkins further expressed concern that the presentation was not provided to the cities.

Member Kass stated that it is important that staff work with and receive input from other cities.

Member Yoshino recommended TAC receive another report advising of how the Program is working once the City of San Jose has provided input.

Member Goepfert stated there are some prime sites such as in the City of Milpitas, which might provide a good opportunity.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee Staff Report was received.

Chairperson Kott expressed his gratitude in ending his year as Chairperson and thanked the Members for their attendance.

BUSINESS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ GENERAL MANAGER

Chairperson Kott stated that per the selection process, the TAC Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson occur in January of each year. 

Stephen Flynn, Senior Management Analyst, reported that the mission of the Nominating Committee is to determine who is willing to serve as chairperson and vice chairperson and provide a report at the January meeting.   Mr. Flynn advised there is nothing that precludes the current Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from being re-elected. 

M/S/C (Kass/Jenkins) to appoint Chairperson Kott and Vice Chairperson Porter as the Nominating Committee for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for 2005.

John Sighamony, Transportation Planner II, referenced to a handout entitled FY 2004/05 Community Design & Transportation (CDT) Program:   First Cycle Planning Grants – Minor Changes to Agenda Item, which corrects the programming dollar amount from $450,000 to $475,000 to distribute for the FY 2004/05 cycle.

Mr. Sighanmony reported that a call for projects went out on July 18, 2004, staff received ten proposals, and the Scoring Committee met October 20, 2004 to score the projects.    Mr. Sighanmony noted that the criteria used by the Scoring Committee can be found on Attachment A – Community Design & Transportation Program Planning Grant Fund Program Project Application Process and Evaluation Crisis Adopted June 3, 2004.

Mr. Sighanmony stated that the Scoring Committee granted funds to the five highest scoring projects:   City of Milpitas – Midtown Transit Sub Area Plan; City of San Jose – Pedestrian Master Plan Update; City of Sunnyvale – Tasman/Fair Oaks Bike & Ped Circulation Plan; City of Sunnyvale – Caltrain Station North Pedestrian Access Improvements; and City of Mountain View – Mayfield/Central Bike & Ped Improvement Plan which are outline in Table 1 of the handout.  Mr. Sighanmony further stated that on the previous Final Project List, the City of Sunnyvale – Downtown Murphy Avenue Project was dropped because the City of Mountain View received a Transit for Livable Community (TLC) Grant from Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee reviewed and commented on the recommendation to program $450,000 in Community Design & Transportation (CDT) Program Planning Grants to specified projects.

Mr. Ristow reported that this item is in response to a new funding program for a grant cycle from MTC.   Mr. Ristow stated that part of the responsibilities within that program was for the Congestion Management Agencies (CMAs) in each county to nominate projects able to compete at the regional level.   The projects were provided from the Bicycle List developed by the VTA Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee (BPAC) and staff.

Mr. Ristow advised that of the four projects submitted, three are being recommended for competition at MTC.   The fourth project, City of Saratoga, Highway 9 Improvements at Horseshoe Drive and Oak Street fell below MTC’s minimum level of grant amounts.

Mr. Ristow stated that clarification will be provided to the Members regarding the purpose and process of the list of projects.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee reviewed and commented on the Regional Bicycle/Pedestrian Program – Project Prioritization.

Mr. Ristow stated that the Freeway Litter Control issue has been on everyone’s list for some time and although it was listed on VTP 2020, nothing happened with the issue.   Mr. Ristow further stated that Member Kass has brought this issue to the forefront and will provide a presentation of a proposal for TAC’s discussion.

Member Kass stated his appreciation for VTA’s willingness to act as a lead agency to the issue of litter control and landscape maintenance.

Member Kass stated there are a lot of contributing factors to the state of Santa Clara County’s freeways mainly, District 4.

Member Kass stated he has been frustrated with the inability to get a straight answer from Clatrans as to whether they have a regular maintenance schedule and if so, what it is, the standards of District 4 versus the rest of the State and how their budget is allocated with other resources.   Mr. Kass further stated that it is obvious there needs to be a lead agency that is willing to take this first step at getting a handle on the magnitude of the problem is and the cost to provide litter control and landscaping at the level that the County needs.  Mr. Kass advised that should VTA decide to take this on as an effort to ascertain a consultant and to begin to get some basic analysis in pact to look at what is involved, VTA should get a straight answer from Caltrans as to whether they have a regular maintenance schedule and if they do, what it is, what are the standards in District 4 versus other parts of the State, and how their budget is allocated with other resources.  Member Kass stated that garbage franchise fees have been considered to help with the funding but will need a vote from the City of San Jose.

Member Kass stated that it is his hope that with Mr. Ristow’s assistance that this be forwarded to the Board of Directors for approval of funding and for VTA to be lead agency.

Alternate Member Tripousis noted the importance of determining which cities want to participate in the program.

Mr. Ristow stated that if VTA agrees to be the lead agency, research will be conducted and a report provided to TAC.   Mr. Ristow noted the importance of the issue remaining at the TAC level so a work program can be developed that will answer all of the questions in terms of what is needed.

Mr. Ristow advised that with regard to funding, VTA is considering submitting another vehicle license fee bill and the Manufacturing Group is interested in being a sponsor of the bill.   Laura Stuchinsky, Manufacturing Group, has requested that anyone interested attend the Manufacturing Group’s brainstorming idea session on December 16, 2004. 

Member Rose expressed concern that Caltrans has flexibility on how they spend funding they received and stated the importance that Caltrans identify where the funding will be used.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Committee discussed the Freeway Litter Control and Replacement Landscaping Program. 

OTHER

There were no announcements.

On order of Chairperson Kott, there being no objection, the Meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gilda M. Grozdanich, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors