All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Policy Board or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Policy Board concerning the item before action is taken.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-26 adopting the fiscal year 2016-17 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Huron in the amount of $643,499.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-27 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Huron in the amount of $486,880.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-28 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Kerman in the amount of $566,069.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-29 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Parlier in the amount of $600,661.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-30 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Reedley in the amount of $1,013,454.

Action:  Approve Resolution 2017-31 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of San Joaquin in the amount of $157,729.

Action:  Approve Resolution 2017-32 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Selma in the amount of $974,607.

Action: Approve Resolution 2017-33 adopting the fiscal year 2017-18 Transportation Development Act Claims for the City of Sanger in the amount of $1,023,161.

Summary: To provide for a comprehensive understanding of transportation movements and effects between Fresno and Madera Counties, Fresno COG and the Madera County Transportation Commission (MCTC) – in partnership with the Counties of Fresno and Madera, and the Cities of Fresno and Madera – conducted a joint study focusing on traffic movements along the State Route (SR) 41 corridor in both Fresno and Madera Counties, and the various impacts associated with such movements.

The study's first phase (completed in June 2016) included an origin and destination analysis of traffic movements between the two counties, primarily along SR 99 and SR 41.

Phase two (completed in August 2017) provided a fiscal impact analysis of those movements on the local and regional economy. The results are intended to better inform local decision-making bodies regarding commuter patterns and their economic impacts as these agencies continue discussing development patterns, in line with previous agreements.

The fiscal analysis identifies employment industries for commuters in both directions between Madera and Fresno counties. These job destinations are then evaluated as land uses in the fiscal analysis, along with the residential units that house workers in their home communities. In addition, the analysis identifies retail market conditions in each jurisdiction and estimates the retail sales that occur from non-work trips within the study area. The Fresno/Madera SR 99 & 41 Fiscal Analysis report brings this project to a close.

The full report, as well as a two-page summary, are provided as attachments. For further information, contact Meg Prince at mprince@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 203.

Action: Staff, TTC and PAC recommend that the Policy Board accept the Fresno/Madera SR 99 & 41 Fiscal Analysis report.

Summary:  Senate Bill (SB) 1 represents a transportation investment that rebuilds California's neighborhood streets, freeways and bridges, while also targeting funds toward transit and congested trade and commute corridors.  For SB 1 updates, implementations, and more visit the SB 1 webpage at http://rebuildingca.ca.gov/.

Local Streets & Roads – The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the 2017 Local Streets and Roads Funding Annual Reporting Guidelines on August 16th.  The guidelines can be accessed on the Commission’s website at http://catc.ca.gov/activities/sb1/docs/sb1-lsr-program-reporting-guidelines-final-081717.pdf.  Many cities and counties are actively working to reflect/amend Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds and projects into their respective budgets.

In addition to this action, jurisdictions will also need to submit to the CTC a Proposed Project List form by October 16th. The Guidelines' Appendix A provides a general outline of the project information that will need to be submitted.  Fresno COG has provided to its member agencies the standard project list Excel template needed to submit projects to CTC.

For further information, please contact Jennifer Soliz at jsoliz@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 223

Action: Information only.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Summary:  Caltrans’ official deadline to submit E-76 requests and Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) transfers was July 28, 2017 to guarantee Obligation Authority (OA) approval for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016-17. 

As of August 31, 2017, $19,337,667 of Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding was obligated, representing 88.5 percent project delivery.  This has reduced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17 OA target balance to $2,516,258. 

The Fresno region has $5 million in projects that are anticipated to be funded this month. Assuming $2,516,258, of the outstanding $5 million is funded, the region will deliver 100 percent of its FFY 2016-17 OA target.

 For further information, please contact Jennifer Soliz at jsoliz@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 223

 Action:  Information only.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Summary: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has released its 2017 Draft Funding Guidelines, which include updated provisions to incorporate the legislative requirements of Assembly Bill 1550 for disadvantaged communities, low-income communities and low-income households.

Proceeds from the cap-and-trade program auctions are deposited into the Greenhouse Gas reduction fund, which is then apportioned to programs such as Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives and Urban Greening Grants (UGG).

The draft Guidelines are intended to help administering agencies provide consistency in designing and implementing California Climate Investments (CCI) programs that meet the State’s statutory and policy objectives.

To download the full Draft Guidelines, see https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/auctionproceeds/fundingguidelines.htm or contact Trai Her-Cole at traih@fresnocog.org. 

Action: Information only.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Summary: The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) along with the Department of Conservation (DOC) has released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for approximately $1.5 million in planning grant funding for the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program.

Eligible applicants include: cities, counties, metropolitan planning organizations, joint powers authorities, regional transportation planning agencies, councils of government or combinations thereof.  The SGC encourages proposals comprising actionable, internal and external collaboration that demonstrate a commitment from multiple organizations.

Each project must have at least two joint partners. Scoring priority will be given to applicants who are able to demonstrate strong and diverse partnerships, including with community-based organizations and other stakeholder groups.

The planning grants are intended to help communities apply for and implement future TCC Implementation Grant awards or other California Climate Investment programs. Planning activities should focus on responding to planning issues or priorities that directly benefit vulnerable communities and that are defined either within an existing regional or local plan or that further development of an area eligible for a future TCC Implementation Grant.

Planning grant applications are due by on by 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2017.  Selection recommendations will be in January 2018.

The compete NOFA and TCC program guidelines are available at http://sgc.ca.gov/Grant-Programs/Transformative-Climate-Communities-Program.html.

For additional information, contact Trai Her-Cole at 559-233-4148.

Action: Information only.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Summary: Through the Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) new Transformative Climate Communities Program, the State of California is proposing to invest $140 million of cap-and-trade money in three communities – $70 million in Fresno, $35 million in Los Angeles and $35 million in a third location.

This program was created “to fund the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple coordinated greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental and health benefits to disadvantaged communities.”

The City of Fresno has engaged its residents through a working group called the Fresno Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative (FTCCC). The FTCCC is a participatory process to identify projects that provide significant environmental and economic benefits for people who live or work in downtown, Chinatown, and southwest Fresno. The Collaborative will meet regularly through October to produce a suitable proposal.

The FTCCC includes a Community Steering Committee. Anyone who lives, works or owns property in downtown, Chinatown or southwest Fresno can join the Community Steering Committee. A list of meeting dates is below. The Committee’s ultimate direction is advisory and will be considered by the Mayor and Fresno City Council for final approval.

IMPORTANT DATES (date, time, location, description)

• 7/20/17, 6-8 pm, The Californian, Community Steering Committee Meeting #1
• 8/2/17, 5-7:30 pm, Westside Church of God, Community Steering Committee Meeting #2
• 8/15/17, noon, Online, release call for project concepts
• 8/15/17, 5-7:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Fresno 1540 M Street, Proposal Kickoff Workshop #1
• 8/16/17, 5-7:30 pm, Westside Church of God 1422 West California Avenue, Proposal Kickoff Workshop #2
• 8/24/17, 10 am-1 pm, CalEPA, 1001 I St. Sacramento, CA, CA Strategic Growth Council adopts final program guidelines
• 8/30/17, 5-7:30 pm, Westside Church of God 1422 West California Avenue, Community Steering Committee Meeting #3
• 9/12/17, 8 pm, call for project concepts closes
• 9/20/17, 5-7:30 pm, Westside Church of God 1422 West California Avenue, Project Review Day
• 9/27/17, TBD, Westside Church of God 1422 West California Avenue, Community Steering Committee Meeting #4
• 10/4/17, 5-7:30 pm, Westside Church of God 1422 West California Avenue, Community Steering Committee Meeting #5
• 10/12/17, TBD, City Council Chambers, 2600 Fresno St., City Council Workshop on TCC
• 10/18/17, TBD, City submits concept proposal to SGC

For additional information:

• Fresno Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative (FTCCC): http://transformfresno.com/
• Strategic Growth Council Transformative Climate Communities webpage: http://sgc.ca.gov/Grant-Programs/Transformative-Climate-Communities-Program.html

For further information, contact Meg Prince at mprince@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 203.

Action: Information only. Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

Summary: Senate Bill (SB) 1 appropriated $100 million a year from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) for the Active Transportation Program (ATP) starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18. 

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has adopted the 2017 ATP Augmentation Guidelines that address ATP RMRA funds for FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19.  Fresno COG will receive $1,047,000 each for FY 2017-18 and FY 2018-19 to award local projects.  The regional augmentation announcement will close on October 2, 2017.

Funding for the 2017 ATP Augmentation will only be available to:

•         Projects programmed in the adopted 2017 ATP that can be delivered earlier than currently programmed, or

•         Projects that applied for funding in the 2017 ATP but were not selected for funding

Project eligibility requirements are detailed in the Guidelines referenced above and can be found on the CTC website at http://catc.ca.gov/activities/atp/ and on the Fresno COG website at: www.fresnocog.org. 

Action: Information only.  Direction may be provided at the discretion of the Board.

1.

Regional Transportation Plan Draft Policy Element (Meg Prince/Jennifer Soliz) [APPROVE]

2.

Regional Transportation Plan Safety Performance Target (Lang Yu) [APPROVE]

Summary: The Fresno COG Programming Subcommittee met on March 1, 2017 and July 19, 2017 to finalize the procedures and selection criteria in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2017-18 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) call for projects. 

The Programming Subcommittee received comments and approved changes to the CMAQ and STBG scoring criteria.  Both application packets were revised and resubmitted to Subcommittee members on July 19^th.  The suggested changes are in red, track-change format for easy review.  The full draft application packets can be found at www.fresnocog.org. 

For further information, please contact Jennifer Soliz at jsoliz@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 223 or Suzanne Martinez at smartinez@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148 Ext. 240.

Action: Staff, the Programming Subcommittee, and the TTC/PAC recommend the revised draft CMAQ and STBG application packets be approved as amended and the Policy Board initiate the FY 2017-18 call for projects.

Summary:  During 2016, the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was $750 million in deficit.  Senate Bill 1 (SB1) appears to relieve that situation and beginning in FY 2020-21, the Fresno region should be receiving $13.9 million a year in new money.  Nevertheless, the state first has to pay off its deficit.  

The region has a $28.4 million county share balance; however, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) will only allow Fresno COG to program $16.6 million in FY 2019-20.  As the new money accumulates, the region may have $57 million to program by FY 2022-23.

The STIP guidelines also created a new category, Advance Project Development Element (APDE), to encourage developing shelf-ready projects.  The $6.7 million in APDE available to this region will reduce Fresno County’s shares but it will not count against the $16.6 million target available in FY 2019-20.

Fresno COG is updating the Measure C Regional Transportation Expenditure Plan.  Previously, the Board dedicated regional STIP county shares to major projects on the Measure C Tier I list to maximize financial leverage.  

During the 2010 STIP, the Board held public hearings to select between State Route (SR) 180 East Segment 3 or Veterans Boulevard.  SR 180 East won that competition, but now that it has been funded, Veterans Boulevard appears to be next in line for STIP funding, considering the region has invested $35 million in design and right of way.  The project will be ready to list in FY 2018-19.

Meanwhile, the City of Fresno is applying for a $44.5 million federal Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant that, if successful, requires construction to begin prior to STIP funding being available in FY 2019-20.  If the INFRA grant is not approved, Fresno COG should have a standby plan for delivering Veterans Boulevard with STIP funding.  The INFRA grant and STIP cycle run concurrently, so staff won’t know if the INFRA grant is approved until after the 2018 STIP submittal is presented.  Fresno COG staff is discussing Veterans Boulevard as a 2018 STIP candidate with the City of Fresno during the course of updating the Expenditure Plan.

The next major project on the Tier I urban list after Veterans Boulevard is the North/Cedar interchange on SR 99.  This project is near a developing commercial center, and the City of Fresno has suggested this should be the next STIP candidate.  City of Fresno officials have requested Fresno COG staff begin programming environmental clearance (PA&ED), plans, specifications and estimates (PS&E) and right-of-way (ROW).  It makes sense to begin programming PA&ED and PS&E with STIP APDE, and this is an issue Fresno COG will explore during the expenditure plan update. 

The expenditure plan incorporates a series of interchanges along SR 99, including North/Cedar, Central, and American Avenue that potentially serve developing commercial interest and the proposed High Speed Rail Heavy Maintenance Station.  Caltrans and Fresno COG are considering environmentally clearing all three simultaneously, creating significant economies of scale.  This issue will also be explored during the expenditure plan update.

Caltrans has proposed putting $9.5 million on SR 41, from Elkhorn to Kings County Line, from the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program (ITIP) for PSE & ROW.  The original Measure built SR 41 out to Elkhorn, and Kings County has improved SR 41 on from the county line to Lemoore, leaving a six-mile, unimproved gap on the remaining segment in Fresno County. 

Caltrans wants to have the project shelf ready for a potential $52.5 million construction job in FY 2020-21 and has requested the Fresno region partner by contributing $2 million in STIP funding for ROW.  Caltrans’ initial plan is to program construction against future ITIP and will be requesting Fresno COG to contribute an additional $4 million in STIP funds.  Caltrans also anticipates that should SB 1 or some new federal funding source become available, it makes sense to have shelf-ready projects lined up.

This proposal makes sense from a regional perspective in that it completes an improvement started by the original measure and the region would be leveraging a $62 million project with $6 million in STIP funds.  However, note that the project is not on either the Measure C Tier I or Tier II list, so there is no avenue for funding from the Measure without amending it into the list.  The region has traditionally dedicated STIP funding to leveraging projects in the expenditure plan.

Action:  Staff, TTC and PAC recommend that the Policy Board:

1.  Confirm Veterans Boulevard as the highest priority 2018 STIP project.

2.  Designate the SR 99 North\Cedar Interchange as second priority for 2018 STIP, PA&ED and PS&E programming.

3.  Reserve $2 million in STIP for right-of-way for SR 41– Elkhorn to Kings County Line.

All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine and non-controversial by COG staff and will be approved by one motion if no member of the Policy Board or public wishes to comment or ask questions.  If comment or discussion is desired by anyone, the item will be removed from the consent agenda and will be considered in the listed sequence with an opportunity for any member of the public to address the Policy Board concerning the item before action is taken.

Summary: Your agenda package includes this month’s Clearinghouse Calendar containing “Project Notification and Review Reports” for grant proposal. 

1. SF-424 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

Action: Per Board procedure, unless an item is pulled from the Consent Calendar, staff has tacit authorization to forward any comment(s) received, or any Committee/Board comment(s) generated as a result of this informational item, to the appropriate agency.

Summary: The San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, a coalition of elected officials from Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) throughout the San Joaquin Valley, travel to Sacramento and Washington, D.C. annually as part of its "Valley Voice" program to present issues of regional significance to federal and state legislators.

A delegation representing the eight counties and MPOs met with the Trump Administration, congressional members, senators and key departments to discuss 10 Valley priories listed below and detailed in the attached brochure.

• Buy America Waivers: Federal Transit Administration and Federal Highway Administration should expedite their review and approval of Buy America waiver requests in the San Joaquin Valley.

• Regional Transportation Plans Adoption Cycles: Support legislation authorizing updates to Regional Transportation Plans at least once every 10 years as opposed to the four-year cycle.

• Aviation Fuel Sales Tax - H.R. 4441: Support H.R. 4441 to re-establish Congressional intent and 29 years of federal interpretation that the tax collected on aviation fuel for airport purposes is applied to excise taxes on aviation fuel only, not to general sales taxes that states and localities impose on all goods.

• Geographic and Socioeconomic Equity in Grant Programs: Provide special consideration for mid-sized, economically disadvantaged regions and air quality non-attainment areas for infrastructure-related grant programs.

• Goods Movement: Support FAST Act discretionary freight programming (INFRA) for regionally significant projects in the San Joaquin Valley (specific consideration detailed in brochure) and support policy and funding for priority projects identified in the ongoing San Joaquin Valley Interregional Goods Movement planning process.

• Farm-To-Market Routes: Support funding to maintain critical farm-to-market routes that have heavy truck traffic through a set-aside in the next Transportation or Farm Bill.

• Clean Air Act Modernization: Include an overriding provision in federal law to prohibit federal sanctions on local regions where their inability to attain federal standards is due to pollution from sources outside their regulatory authority.

• Reductions in Emissions Sources Under Federal Control: Petition requesting that EPA adopt new national standards for on-road, heavy-duty trucks and locomotives and establish a National Clean Air Investment Fund to accelerate low-emission vehicle deployment.

A copy of the final agenda and draft meeting notes are attached.

For more information, please visit http://sjvcogs.org/ or contact Trai Her-Cole at traih@fresnocog.org.

Action: Information only, direction may be provided at the request of the Board.

The monthly Capitol Track legislative report is attached for Board consideration. For additional information on current and past year state bill information go to the Official California Legislative Information webpage at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/

To locate current and past year federal bill information go to THOMAS, The Library of Congress’s bill information website (in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson) at: http://thomas.loc.gov/

Please contact staff person, Trai Her-Cole, if you have any questions or comments.

Summary:  In April 2017, the Fresno COG, Fresno County Rural Transportation Agency (FCRTA) and Fresno County Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Agency (FCRTMFA) boards adopted resolutions amending the Conflict of Interest Code to add an alternate board member to the annual Form 700 Conflict of Interest filings with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).  The County Board of Supervisors has ratified the amendments and they are now in effect.

The Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) provides no formal process for appointing alternates. Seating alternates has always been an informal process; however, the FPPC recommends anyone who takes part in the Board’s deliberative process should have a Form 700 filing on record.  The FPPC has the ability to monitor political processes and levy fines for noncompliance.  

Since FCOG, FCRTA and FCRTMA meet back-to-back on the same day, staff recommends that one alternate be designated for all three agencies.  This would require the member and alternate for Fresno and Clovis file a Form 700 for FCOG and FCRTMFA, while the rural city members and the County Supervisor should also file a Form 700 for FCOG, FCRTMFA and FCRTA.  In the case where neither the active board member nor the alternate can attend, staff will advise the substitute alternate to consider filing a Form 700 to be in compliance with FPPC regulations.

The JPA provides, “The Council shall be composed of one member of the County Board of Supervisors, or in his absence such supervisor as may be present, and the mayors of the member cities, or in the mayor’s absence such councilman as may be present.”  It is therefore incumbent upon the council of each agency to determine if they wish to appoint an alternate or defer to the Mayor for the selection.

Action:  Staff and PAC recommend the Policy Board accept that each board member take an action to their respective board or council to appoint an alternate member to the Fresno Council of Governments, Fresno County Regional Transportation Mitigation Fee Agency meetings, and if applicable, the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency boards, in the absence of the designated board member.  The alternate should be advised to file a Form 700 Conflict of Interest filing with the Fair Political Practices Commission for each respective agency.

1.

Upgrade to Fresno COG Sequoia Room Audio System (Trai Her-Cole) [INFORMATION]

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the Committee on items within its jurisdiction but not on this agenda.  Note:  Prior to action by the Committee on any item on this agenda, the public may comment on that item.  Unscheduled comments may be limited to 3 minutes.