Action: Elect Chair and Vice-Chair

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.

1.

Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) TDA Claim (Les Beshears) [ACTION]

2.

City of Reedley TDA Claim (Les Beshears) [ACTION]

3.

City of Kingsburg TDA Claim (Les Beshears) [ACTION]

4.

City of Coalinga TDA Claim (Les Beshears) [ACTION]

Summary:  The Federal Aviation Administration approved the Fresno-Chandler Executive Airport Master Plan in May 2023. Due to changes in the Fresno-Chandler Airport Layout Plan resulting from the updated master plan approval, certain exhibits in the Fresno County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan require updating. This triggers an amendment to the Fresno County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (ALUCP). Working with ALUC staff, airport consultant Coffman Associates will complete the required work within four months as part of ALUCP Amendment No. 2. 

Amendment No. 2 Scope of Service Deliverables:

1.  20-year forecast of noise contours for Fresno-Chandler Executive Airport
2.  Revised safety zones for Fresno-Chandler Executive Airport
3.  Revised Appendix C exhibits
4.  ALUC and public outreach meeting materials
5.  Updated .pdf version of the amended ALUCP 

The state-mandated Fresno County ALUCP covers nine public use airports in Fresno County and recommendations from the Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Report for Naval Air Station (NAS), Lemoore, CA. Fresno County's ALUCP establishes the planning boundaries around each of these airport facilities that define safety areas, noise contours, and height/airspace protection for policy implementation and areas within which notification is required as part of real estate transactions. 

Major amendments to an ALUCP may not occur more than once per calendar year. The last amendment to the plan, Amendment No. 1, was approved in December 2021. To request additional changes to the plan, contact ALUC staff member Brenda Thomas at bthomas@fresnocog.org or 559-233-4148. 

The current plan is located on Fresno COG's webpage at the following link: Airport Land Use Commission of Fresno County - Fresno Council of Governments (fresnocog.org)

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

Summary:  The Short-Range Transit Plan (SRTP) for the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA) is the biannual update to the operating plan and capital programs for Fresno Area Express (FAX) and Clovis Transit.  The SRTP promotes a comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous planning process for transit service in the FCMA. It represents a short-range evaluation of transit needs and proposes specific recommendations for long-range objectives of Fresno County's Regional Transportation Plan.  The Plan will guide transit service provision in the metropolitan area over the next five years. 

 Action: Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2023-14, approving the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area Short-Range Transit Plan.

Summary:  Two appointments to Fresno COG's Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) are lapsing and need to be reappointed.  These individuals are:

• Thomas Dulin, a Fresno resident, representing social services transportation agencies in Fresno County
• Darlene Christiansen, a Fresno residents, representing urban consolidated transportation service agencies.

Action:  Staff and SSTAC request that TTC/PAC recommend to the Policy Board that Thomas Dulin and Darlene Christiansen be reappointed to the SSTAC another two-year term.

Summary: The Clovis Consolidated Transportation Services Agency’s (CTSA) 2023-24 Operations Program and Budget (OPB) for the Clovis Urban area provides an overview of the manner in which the Clovis CTSA will provide service over the next fiscal year.  The proposed adoption is scheduled for Thurs., June 29, 2023, at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

Action: Staff and SSTAC requests that TTC/PAC recommend the Fresno COG Policy Board approve resolution 2023-13, adopting the Clovis Consolidated Transportation Service Agency’s 2023-24 Operations, Program, and Budget.

Summary:  The Fresno Area Express and Fresno County Rural Transit Agency's Urban and Rural Consolidated Transportation Services Agencies’ (CTSA) 2023-24 Operations, Program, and Budget (OPB)  provides an overview of how the CTSA will be providing services over the next fiscal year.  The proposed adoption is scheduled for Thurs., June 29, 2023, at the Fresno COG Policy Board meeting.

Action:  Staff and SSTAC requests that TTC/PAC recommend the FCOG Policy Board approve Resolution 2023-12 for the urban CTSA, and Resolution 2023-18 for the rural CTSA, adopting the 2023-24 Urban and Rural Consolidated Transportation Services Agency’s Operations, Program, and Budget. 

Summary: In conjunction with the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency, Fresno COG has updated the Short-Range Transit Plan for the Rural Fresno County Area (SRTP) in cooperation with the cities of Coalinga, Firebaugh, Fowler, Huron, Kerman, Kingsburg, Mendota, Orange Cove, Parlier, Sanger, San Joaquin, Selma, and the County of Fresno.  The Plan will guide transit service in the rural Fresno County area over the next five years.

Action:  Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board adopt Resolution No. 2023-05, approving the 2024-2028 FCRTA Short-Range Transit Plan for the Rural Fresno County Area.

Summary: Fresno COG has completed the 2023-24 cycle of the Unmet Transit Needs process, which culminates in  the UTN report.  During the May 2 Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) meeting,  the Committee approved releasing the draft report for a 30-day public review and comment period. 

Public outreach is an essential part of the UTN process.  Fresno COG regularly exceeds minimum legal requirements, holding eight public meetings in this cycle -- six of which were in-person, and another two that took place virtually and were broadcast online.  Staff also collected public feedback online with a survey, social medial posts, a dedicated email address, and an “800” line during February and March. Outreach efforts culminated with a public hearing during the April 27 Policy Board meeting, during which staff recorded two public comments, both of which have been added to the draft report.  

Examples of public comments received, included:

•         Feedback on FAX, FCRTA, and Clovis Transit routes and services,
•         Questions on FAX, FCRTA, and Clovis Transit routes and services, and
•         General transportation-related comments.

This cycle, staff received 110 comments, 22 of which were met the criteria for unmet needs, but none of which were determined as reasonable to meet. All comments received, transit agency responses, and determination of unmet needs are within the report, including the comment letter from Leadership Counsel, along with FCOG’s official response.

Action: Staff and SSTAC request the TTC/PAC recommend that the Policy Board adopt Resolution 2023-15, approving Fresno COG’s FY 2023-2024 Unmet Needs Report and to find that there are 22 unmet transit needs, none of which are reasonable to meet.

Summary: The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement, and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) programs -- as well as the new Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) -- are each authorized in the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).  These programs serve as the cornerstones for Federal transportation funds distributed to our region. 

Fresno COG, in its role as a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), is responsible for programming future federal transportation revenues for the Fresno region in the Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). CRP, CMAQ and STBG funds are reimbursable federal-aid funds, subject to the requirements of Title 23, United States Code. 

Program guidelines describe the policies, standards, criteria, and procedures for developing, managing, and adopting Fresno COG’s CRP, CMAQ and STBG programs. The 2023/2024 CMAQ and STBG programs will cover four years of programming, 2024/25 through 2027/28. All three funds are now distributed through a competitive, regional bid program based on scoring criteria and evaluated by a scoring committee.  Together, the three programs are expected to distribute over $59.3 million during this two-year cycle.

The Fresno COG Programming Subcommittee met three times in May to update and finalize guidelines, application packets, and scoring criteria for the upcoming 2023-24 CRP, CMAQ and STBG calls-for-projects. New guidelines for CRP and updates for CMAQ/STBG include funding distribution policies, changes to the scoring system,  language regarding programming construction funds, changes to address project contingencies and minor changes to the applications. The programming subcommittee approved the guidelines and scoring criteria for each program.

The CRP, CMAQ and STBG program guidelines and application packets can be found on Fresno COG's website. Upon Board approval of the application packets, the call-for-projects will be initiated. 

Action: Staff and the programming subcommittee request the TTC/PAC recommend the Board approve the CRP/CMAQ/STBG guidelines and application packets and initiate the call-for-projects.

Summary: Fresno COG has released a request for proposals for consultant assistance in designing the REAP 2.0 program/project application and advertising the program to housing stakeholders.  The intent is to provide $13 million within the region for "transformational" housing infrastructure that helps meet the program's three pillars of success: accelerating infill housing development, reducing vehicle miles traveled and affirmatively furthering fair housing.

Fresno COG received the 5 percent advance requested through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for assitance in designing the REAP 2.0 program  locally.  Of the $600,000 requested in the initial application, $100,000 will be used for the consultant contract. Staff will reserve the remaining $500,000 for administrative and program management expenses over the next three years, as well as for any contract contingencies.

REAP 2.0 seeks to accelerate progress towards state housing goals and climate commitments through a strengthened partnership among the state, its regions, and local entities. The broad intent is to accelerate infill  increase housing supply at all affordability levels and help with implementing adopted regional and local plans to achieve these goals. The program was established as part of the 2021 California Comeback Plan under AB 140 and builds on the success of REAP 2019, but expands the program focus by integrating housing and climate goals, and allowing for broader planning and implementation investments, including infrastructure investments that support infill development that improves housing supply, choice, and affordability.

HCD, the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, the California Air Resources Board and the Strategic Growth Council all jointly administer REAP 2.0, with HCD serving as the lead agency.  Fresno COG has submitted a "final" application that details its proposed methodolgy and scoring criteria, which is attached.  The consultant scope of work will include developing a project application based on the methodology and scoring ruberic proposed in the application.  The final application has yet to be approved; however, Fresno COG has responded to two sets of minor comments received.

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

Summary:   Included as an attachment is the Measure C renewal post-election survey presentation that was given by Dr. Richard Bernard with the polling firm FM3.  Dr. Bernard used this material in his presentation to the Fresno County Transportation Authority last month. A link to a Zoom recording of that presentation can be found here at  Measure C Post Election Survey

Although Dr. Bernard will not be giving his presentation to TTC/PAC, he will be presenting this information to the Fresno COG Policy Board at its June 29 meeting.

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

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.