Fresno COG Header
Policy Advisory Committee
Date:
Time:
Place:

Friday, October 8, 2021
10:00 AM

COG Sequoia Conference Room
2035 Tulare St., Suite 201, Fresno, CA



Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
The Fresno COG offices and restrooms are ADA accessible. Representatives or individuals with disabilities should contact Fresno COG at (559) 233-4148, at least 3 days in advance, to request auxiliary aids and/or translation services necessary to participate in the public meeting / public hearing. If Fresno COG is unable to accommodate an auxiliary aid or translation request for a public hearing, after receiving proper notice, the hearing will be continued on a specified date when accommodations are available.

The Policy Advisory Committee will take place

in person at the Fresno COG Sequoia Room and via Zoom.

 

Joining the meeting:

 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81693316260?pwd=WnJlVnRaYngvR3M5cFYxNHVTVFVMdz09

Join by Phone:  (669) 900-6833

Meeting ID: 816 9331 6260

Passcode: 742510

 

 If you wish to address the Committee during the public comment portion of the agenda, click on the “Reactions” at the bottom center of your PC or Mac screen. Select the Hand icon, click the icon to “RaiseHand”.  Your digital hand will now be raised.

 

When on the phone, if you wish to address the Committee during the public comment portion of the agenda, Press *9 to “RaiseHand” and we will select you from the meeting cue.

 

**If joining by phone use *6 to unmute and mute yourself.  When joining the meeting all participants are automatically muted.  Do NOT use the mute function on your LAN line phone or cell phone. 

 

Those addressing the Committee must state their first and last name and agency for the record.

 

To facilitate electronic access, no person shall speak until recognized by the Chair.

POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Policy Advisory Committee will consider all items on the agenda.  The meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.

PAC agenda and annotated agenda in PDF format - ALL EXHIBITS ARE AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE

JOINT Transportation Technical/Policy Advisory Committee

A.
Caltrans Report (Caltrans) [INFORMATION]

I.TRANSPORTATION CONSENT ITEMS

About Consent Items:

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 Committee 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 Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

A.
Executive Minutes of September 10, 2021 [APPROVE]
B.
City of Fresno Transportation Development Act Claim (Les Beshears) [APPROVE]

Action:  Approve Resolution 2021-45 adopting the City of Fresno's 2020-21 Transportation Development Act claims totaling $47,663,637.

II.TRANSPORTATION ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.
2022 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS) Update

1.
Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) Scenarios Presentation (Kristine Cai) [INFORMATION]

Summary: Fresno COG staff has been working on producing the performance indicator results for the three Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) scenarios over the summer. These three scenarios are:

Scenario A: This scenario focuses on addressing equity and planning for transportation investments that meet the needs of the transit-dependent communities.

Scenario B: Reducing sprawl while supporting higher densities in urban centers to complement high-quality transit investment defines this scenario's priorities.

Scenario C: This scenario prioritizes conserving important farmland while providing for clean air and climate resiliency. 

Although every scenario has its investment priorities, each includes all 20 SCS strategies approved by the Roundtable, TTC, PAC and Policy Board. According to the modeling results, the three scenarios have slightly different impacts in various areas demonstrated by the performance indicators. The draft performance indicator results can be found at: https://planfresno.com/planfresno/uploads/2021/09/SCS-Indicator-Graphs_9-22-21_DRAFT.pdf.  All three scenarios are consistent with local general plans, and will be able to meet the greenhouse gas targets of 13% per capita reduction by 2035, should any of the plans be implemented. 

COG staff will present the performance indicator results for the three SCS scenarios at the TTC/PAC meetings. 

Action: Information and discussion. The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

2.
Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) Scenarios Fall Outreach Summary (Brenda Veenendaal) [INFORMATION]

Summary:  Fresno COG released three Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) scenarios for public review and comment on Aug. 25. Public outreach ran through Sept. 26, using a four-pronged approach that included the following strategies:

1. Online, interactive surveys for scenario review and selection in English and Spanish, easily accessible via smart phone or computer.

2. Hosted eight workshops throughout the county in Reedley, Coalinga, Sanger, Clovis, Kerman, Selma, Fresno and Mendota.

3. Five additional presentations to rural residents and community organizations.

4. Hosted two virtual workshops in English and Spanish, day and evening.

Additional outreach included the following:

  • Dedicated website developed for access to RTP/SCS information at www.planfresno.com that included an SCS Fall Outreach webpage 
  • Social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter. Purchased ads to run on Facebook and Instagram regarding the workshops and online survey. 
  • Videos posted to YouTube and linked in the SCS survey explaining the scenarios.
  • RTP/SCS handout developed in English and Spanish distributed at each workshop and posted online with detailed indicator definitions, reporting data and other explanations. 
  • Constant Contact emails sent to 4,500 email addresses. 
  • Staff worked with each host city to invite community members to attend meetings.

SCS scenario indicator data results were depicted in various graphic forms for scenario reporting. 

Staff will provide a summary of the feedback from the public about the three SCS scenarios.

Action: Information and discussion. The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

3.
Preferred SCS Scenario Selection (Kristine Cai) [APPROVE]

Summary: Following presentations of the scenario performance and public feedback, further discussion about the SCS scenarios is welcome.

Action: Staff and the RTP Roundtable request that the TTC/PAC recommend to the Policy Board that scenario B be selected as the preferred scenario for the 2022 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy.

B
Measure C Renewal Update (Tony Boren) [INFORMATION]

Summary: Staff will provide a short update on the Measure C renewal process and timeline.

Action: Information and discussion. The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

C.
State Route 41 Elkhorn to Excelsior Project (Tony Boren) [INFORMATION]

Summary: Staff will provide a short update on the status of the State Route 41 Elkhorn to Excelsior gap closure project.

Action: Information and discussion.  The Committee may provide additional direction at its discretion.

III.ADMINISTRATIVE CONSENT ITEMS

About Consent Items:

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 Committee 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 Committee concerning the item before action is taken.

A.
2022 One Voice-Washington Program (Robert Phipps) [ACTION]

Summary: Fresno COG's long-running One Voice-Washington program was suspended in 2019, owing to a lack of federal transportation funding or policy requests at that time.  The program was delayed again in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions and concerns.

In the interim, a new administration ascended and proposed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which, if approved in the House of Representatives, will succeed the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that expires Sept. 30. The IIJA has been tied to a broader spending package totaling $3.5 trillion that the Biden Administration is actively negotiating to have approved before the new federal fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Meanwhile, Fowler Mayor and Fresno COG Chairman David Cardenas, along with Kingsburg Councilmember Michelle Roman, represented the Fresno region earlier this month to support the region's earmark requests during the annual Valley Voice-Washington lobbying effort as part of the San Joaquin Valley Policy Council delegation. Those requests included a $20 million set-aside for the Elkhorn-Excelsior gap closure project on State Route 41 near Kings County, as well as the City of Fresno's Elm Avenue Road Diet Reconstruction and Class IV-Ventura/California to North Avenue project for $3.75 million.  In addition, the Policy Council supported Fresno COG's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant application for the California Inland Port, a Valleywide project, at $1 million.

Given the timelines associated with the federal infrastructure bills and the recent Valley Voice trip, staff is recommending that Fresno COG not embark on a separate One Voice-Washington trip in 2022, unless some unforeseen circumstances arise.

Action: Staff requests that the PAC recommend the Policy Board decline to host a One Voice-Washington program for 2022.

IV.ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS

V.OTHER ITEMS

A.
Items from Staff

B.
Items from Members

VI.PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

A.
Public Presentations

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 three minutes.