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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Citizens Transportation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 8/3/2017P1. MINUTES CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUILDING CONFERENCE ROOM B-3 5850 W. GLENDALE AVE. GLENDALE, ARIZONA 85301 AUGUST 3, 2017 6:00 P.M. Present: Tom Schmitt, Chair John Geurs, Vice Chair Donald Brazier, Commissioner Chuck Jared, Commissioner Marie Nesfield, Commissioner Jack Nylund, Commissioner Joan Young, Commissioner Absent: John Fernandes, Commissioner Michael Hart, Commissioner CJ Williams, Commissioner 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Schmitt called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES Vote to approve the agenda for the August 3, 2017 Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission meeting. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed Motioned by Vice Chair John Geurs, seconded by Commissioner Jack Nylund Vote: 7 - 0 Passed 3. CITIZEN COMMENTS No citizens addressed the commission. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Review and approval of the minutes from the June 1, 2017 Citizen Transportation Oversight Commission meeting. Vote: 7 - 0 Passed Motioned by Commissioner Jack Nylund, seconded by Commissioner Donald Brazier Vote: 7 - 0 Passed 6. COMMISSION AND STAFF UPDATES Commissioners did not have any updates to share with the commission. For information and discussion only. 6. MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Lorbeer provided the Manager's Report to the Commission, which included the following: • Follow-up Items: • Pedestrian crossing south of the intersection of Northern Avenue and 55th Avenue' • HAWK (High intensity Activated crosswalk) public education • Ongoing Projects • Northern Parkway • Transportation Plan • Light Rail Transit • Other Items • Construction Incentives • Supplemental Airport Funding Pedestrian Crossing and HAWKs - Commissioners discussed the challenge for GUS bus riders that disembark on the east side of 55th Avenue south of Northern Avenue, and desire to cross 55th Avenue to access Walmart on the west side. Mr. Sage will revisit the discussion with Glendale traffic engineering staff regarding options for enhanced pedestrian crossing infrastructure. Transit staff will also be consulted to explore the potential to alter the GUS route and/or relocate or add a stop with more direct access to Walmart. Staff will report back to the CTOC on these discussions. Commissioner Jared expressed the opinion that a HAWK should be considered across 43rd Avenue north of Bethany Home Road, where he has observed RCB High School students "jaywalking" across 43 rd Avenue north of the intersection, and also Bethany Home Road west of the intersection. Mr. Lorbeer suggested that staff discuss these potential HAWK locations with the Glendale traffic engineering staff and report back to the CTOC. Commissioner Young suggested that a brief educational video explaining how HAWKs work could be uploaded to Facebook and other City of Glendale social media accounts (if available), in addition to the city webpage, to provide more effective outreach. Mr. Sage will convey this suggestion to the transportation education staff, who execute these types of outreach opportunities. Transportation Plan — Vice Chair Geurs inquired whether the Transportation Plan will address improvements at the local street level. Mr. Lorbeer responded that generally, maintenance at the local street level is a more detailed issue than what is typically addressed in a long-range Transportation Plan. Instead, the Public Works Department follows a Pavement Management Program that addresses maintenance at the local street level, following a flexible, near term timeline that is focused on improving pavement condition throughout the city. The Pavement Management Program is included and described in the Streets and Highways Element of the Transportation Plan. Chair Schmitt suggested that the Transportation Plan identify locations where gaps exist in the city street network, particularly in undeveloped areas and where half -streets exist today. Mr. Lorbeer confirmed that a key component of the Plan is to identify those gaps in the streets network, and also throughout the transportation infrastructure, by mode and between modes. Light Rail Transit — Mr. Lorbeer informed commissioners that Valley Metro will provide the City Council with an update on their progress related to the light rail project at an upcoming Council workshop session.on August 15. Mr. Sage will send a confirmation of,the date to the commissioners with any additional information. Construction Incentives — Mr. Lorbeer discussed how the City does not currently have a construction incentives program per se, but instead the Engineering division assesses opportunities to offer incentives on candidate projects. Commissioner Schmitt questioned whether it might be appropriate for the CTOC to make a recommendation to Council that a policy regarding construction incentives be considered at the Council level. Commissioner Schmitt expressed that such a policy can help businesses and the traveling public by increasing efficiency in construction schedules. Commissioner Nylund expressed the opinion that the city really needs to have a construction incentive program in place. Mr. Lorbeer explained that this topic can be discussed as part of an agenda item planned for the September meeting, where city staff will provide information on the street construction coordination and permitting process (requested by the CTOC as a future agenda item at the June meeting). Supplement Airport Funding — Mr. Lorbeer provided details on the (fiscal) year-end surplus allocation for transportation divisions, with a focus on the funds allocated to airport needs. Chair Schmitt expressed his desire to identify additional discretionary funds that the airport management could use for unforeseen issues. Mr. Lorbeer replied that such contingencies are generally planned for as part of the annual budgeting process for any public agency. The flexibility of using year-end surplus funds to append the regular budget planning allows transportation management to direct surplus funds between divisions where the immediate needs are the greatest at that time. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commission Nylund requested an agenda item to discuss a construction incentives program for the city. Chair Schmitt made a similar request. Other questions/requests: Vice Chair Geurs identified an issue he has observed, where public transit buses operated by Valley Metro at times "stand" on city arterials blocking travel lanes, when bus pullouts are located along the route in close proximity. Vice Chair Geurs suggest that a request be made to Valley Metro to direct buses to "stand" at nearby pullouts where they won't block traffic. Vice Chair Geurs also requested that full minutes from CTOC meetings be distributed to commissioners for review within 10 days after the meeting. Chair Schmitt asked if traffic impacts generated by the ongoing Desert Diamond Casino development are being considered in the transportation planning activities of the city. Mr. Lorbeer affirmed that city staff has been apprised of the development plans for the casino, including traffic projections. Chair Schmitt asked for confirmation that the funds previously earmarked for a Light Rail Study west of Grand Avenue, which was not conducted during the FY16-17, are still included in the GO! Program budget. Mr. Lorbeer stated that the funds are still in the program budget to be carried into FY 17-18. 8. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT eeting was adjourned at 7:11 PM. Theiti Is Transportation Oversight Commission meeting minutes of August 3, 2017 were submitted and r ed this 7 day of September, 2017. Patrick Sage Recording Secretary