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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - Citizens Transportation Advisory Commission - Meeting Date: 8/2/2018 11,4 GLENur MINUTES CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT COMMISSION GLENDALE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE 6210 W. MYRTLE AVENUE, BUILDING A, SUITE 111 GLENDALE,ARIZONA 85301 AUGUST 2, 2018 6:00P.M. Present: Tom Schmitt, Chair John Geurs, Vice Chair John Fernandes, Commissioner Chris Hauser, Commissioner Chuck Jared, Commissioner Marie Nesfield, Commissioner Barbara Rose, Commissioner Christopher Sund, Commissioner Joan Young, Commissioner Absent: Jack Nylund, Commissioner Also Present: Purab Adabala, Transportation Planning Administrator Patrick Sage, Transportation Planner Trevor Ebersole, Transportation Director Kevin Link, Transit Administrator Charyn Erich-Palmisano, Community Revitalization Administrator Renee Ayres-Benevidez, Revitalization Grants Supervisor 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Schmitt called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA -WITHDRAWALS AND CONTINUANCES Action to approve the agenda for the August 2, 2018 meeting of the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission, as written. Motioned by Commissioner Chuck Jared, seconded by Commissioner Chris Hauser AYE: Chair Tom Schmitt Vice Chair John Geurs Commissioner John Fernandes Commissioner Chris Hauser Commissioner Chuck Jared Commissioner Marie Nesfield Commissioner Barbara Rose Commissioner Christopher Sund Commissioner Joan Young Other: Commissioner Jack Nylund (ABSENT) Passed 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Action to approve the minutes from the June 7, 2018 Citizens Transportation Oversight Committee meeting. Motioned by Commissioner Chris Hauser, seconded by Commissioner Chuck Jared AYE: Chair Tom Schmitt Vice Chair John Geurs Commissioner John Fernandes Commissioner Chris Hauser Commissioner Chuck Jared Commissioner Marie Nesfield Commissioner Barbara Rose Commissioner Christopher Sund Commissioner Joan Young Other: Commissioner Jack Nylund (ABSENT) Passed 4. CITIZEN COMMENTS No comments. 5. HOMELESSNESS AND IMPACTS TO GLENDALE RESOURCES Mr. Sage stated that homelessness is a growing presence throughout the Valley, and that staff from the Community Services Department will provide an overview on how the City is addressing this issue at a high-level. Mr. Link will address impacts on transit resources. Ms. Erich-Palmisano explained that Community Revitalization is responsible for the administration and oversight of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds that the City receives annually. The City receives Community Development Block Grants (CBDG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG). The CDBG Public Service funds and the ESG funds are allocated for homeless prevention, shelter operations, outreach, engagement, and Rapid Re-Housing to non-profits whose missions, programs, and services focus on ending homelessness in the area. It is a natural fit for this Division to develop a homeless strategy for the City. Ms. Erich-Palmisano presentation included the following • Point-In-Time Count Homelessness Survey •Glendale's Strategy on Homelessness •Create a Unified, Multi-Agency Team • Data Collection •Glendale Homeless Initiatives • Phoenix Rescue Mission (Outreach and Engagement) •Workforce Initiative (Mayor's Program): • Heat Relief(MAG) • Police Engagement Mr. Link's presentation included the following highlights: •Transit Related Issues •Transit Actions Underway • Mr. Link opened the floor for questions. Vice Chair Geurs inquired as to the number of homeless from the recent count. Ms. Erich-Palmisano replied that there were 164 homeless counted on January 23, 2018. Vice Chair Geurs asked for a breakdown of homeless versus transient. Ms. Erich-Palmisano relayed that a breakdown is hard to determine. Ms. Erich- Palmisano stated that one of the questions on the survey asks where the individual slept the prior night, with many indicating that it was in Glendale, but many indicate other cities. Vice Chair Geurs asked how many of the count were winter visitors. Ms. Erich-Palmisano stated that a lot of the homeless do travel- some travel to Flagstaff in the summer, for example. Vice Chair Geurs wondered how long it would take for a family of four who became homeless this evening to find shelter immediately from Community Services. Ms. Erich-Palmisano stated that they may not be able to find housing immediately, but they can be diverted to other resources or assisted via emergency services. Ms. Erich-Palmisano stated that shelter housing is four to six weeks currently. Ms. Ayres-Benavidez stated that the bottom line is that there is not enough affordable housing, and that the Community Action Program can help to find resources for those in need. Vice Chair Geurs wondered how homeless people know where to find help. Ms. Erich-Palmisano provided various examples of how individuals come across information. Ms.Ayres-Benavidez stated that one agency, Circle the City, is working to be the place for homeless people to go when they are discharged from a hospital with nowhere to go. Vice Chair Geurs asked for the Department's budget for homelessness. Ms. Ayres-Benavidez replied that it was approximately$350,000 to $400,000. Chair Schmitt wondered about the percentage of the homeless who choose to be homeless. Ms. Ayres-Benavidez stated that the percentage is unknown, although there certainly are those who do not want to be assisted. Also, there are individuals who have experienced some sort of trauma and are not ready to be assisted. Staffs goal is to have resources available when individuals are ready for help. Furthermore, a lot of the homeless who choose to be are not seen, because they are avoiding assistance. Commissioner Sund commented on the challenges he has seen with the homeless and stated that some of the homeless prefer to go to jail instead of the shelters. Ms. Erich-Palmisano relayed that it is not a crime to be homeless and cities are treading lightly with laws regarding homeless. Ms. Erich-Palmisano distributed resource cards which the police hand out to the homeless individuals they come across. 6. STATUS UPDATE - BETHANY HOME ROAD EXTENSION Mr.Adabala gave a presentation, which included the following information: •The development area is from Bethany Home Road to Camelback Road between 83rd and 91st Avenues •The City has a development agreement with the property owner. •The City is responsible for the north half of the roadway. •The developer is responsible for the south half of the roadway. •The design is for a 5-lane roadway with two east-bound and two west-bound travel lanes •City share of the ROW is $1.29 million •Under the terms of this development agreement, the roadway is to be construction by January 2022. Chair Schmitt asked if there was a number of homes that had to be built before the road would be completed. Mr. Adabala replied that in the development agreement, the road project is not tied to a number homes, but rather by the date of January 2022. Chair Schmitt noted that the Superbowl will be here in 2023 and the road would help with traffic flow. Chair Schmitt stated that he previously suggested that the City consider constructing its two lanes now. Chair Schmitt commented that the environmental design process and utilities should begin now in order to make the January 2022 deadline. Mr. Adabala statedthat the challenge is the funding at this time and once it is obtained, the process could move quickly. Mr. Ebersole stated the City does see value in the development of the Bethany Home Road extension, but it would not provide enough traffic relief for major events such that the City would build it out prior to the developer. Mr. Ebersole noted that Council could change the priority at another time. Chair Schmitt wondered if the other Commissioners thought that this would be a priority project to express to Council. Commissioner Jared stated that this is a priority based on upcoming major events. Commissioner Hauser noted that the developer must complete the road by January 2022, which is before the Superbowl. Chair Schmitt stressed that the Commission could express that the roadway should be completed by January 2022. Commissioner Fernandes stated that the road should be completed when the development is constructed, and Mr. Adabala noted that this is the developer's intent. Commissioner Young inquired as to the total cost of the road and Mr.Adabala replied that he did not have current specifics, but previously the project was budgeted at$2.9 to $3.0 million for the city's half of the road. Action to confirm that the CTOC has received the presentation from staff and supports the construction of Bethany Home Road between 83rd Avenue and 91st Avenue by the target construction date of January 2022, as specified in the current development agreement; and if that date is not going to be met for whatever reason, the CTOC recommends that Council allocates the necessary funding to complete the City's half of the project independently. Vice Chair Geurs stated that the agenda did not list this item as"for action"this evening and wondered if the action would be upheld. Mr. Sage will confirm with the City Attorney's office and if necessary, this can be rectified at the next meeting. Subsequent coordination resulted in the City Attorney's Office advising that the CTOC place this item on the agenda of an upcoming meeting as "for action"and retake the CTOC vote. 7. CITIZENS BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CBAC) DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT Mr. Sage discussed the CBAC Mission Statement process, which included: •The CBAC recognized that there is no officially adopted mission statement to provide guidance for their committee. •Over the past several months, the CBAC has worked with staff to develop a Draft Mission Statement. The City's Attorney's Office was consulted as well. •The CBAC unanimously approved the Draft Mission Statement. •As a sub-committee to the CTOC, the CBAC is submitting the Draft Mission Statement for CTOC review and approval. The proposed CBAC Mission Statement is as follows: The mission of the Glendale Citizen Bicycle Advisory Committee (Committee) is to advocate for all forms of non-motorized transportation in the City of Glendale. The Committee's efforts will be directed to improve the safety, health, well-being and overall happiness of Glendale residents through the promotion of active transportation and recreation. Commissioner Nesfield commented that the committee dedicated a lot of effort on the Mission Statement, and that this Draft version is the best and most direct form. Action to accept the Draft Mission Statement for the Citizens Bicycle Advisory Committee, as written. Motioned by Commissioner Chris Hauser, seconded by Commissioner John Fernandes AYE: Chair Tom'Schmitt Vice Chair John Geurs Commissioner John Fernandes • Commissioner Chris Hauser Commissioner Chuck Jared Commissioner Marie Nesfield - Commissioner Barbara Rose Commissioner Christopher Sund Commissioner Joan Young Other: Commissioner Jack Nylund (ABSENT) Passed • 8.. MANAGER'S REPORT Mr. Adabala presented the Manager's Report on the following ongoing projects: •Transportation Plan and 10-Year Transportation Program • Northern Parkway Projects •Stadium Area Improvements •59th and Olive Avenues Intersection •71st Avenue, Orangewood Avenue to Myrtle Avenue •Camelback Road Sidewalks, 79th Avenue to 83rd Avenue • Neighborhood Connections Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities •Maryland Avenue Bike/Ped Connector •GO! Program Audit • Northwest Area Study 9. COMMISSION AND STAFF UPDATES Commissioner Jared stated that he went to Pueblo, Colorado and reported that their main city transit station is in a depot shared with Greyhound Bus service. Commissioner Hauser attended the pre-bid meeting for the Northern Parkway: Dysart Road to & 111th Avenue project. Commissioner Nesfield attended the Active Transportation Plan Technical Advisor Committee meeting on June 13th. Mr. Sage reminded the commission that all CTOC and CBAC members were invited to attend. Vice Chair Geurs reported that he received a phone call from the GO Program Audit consultant. He discussed the cancellation of the light rail project with the interviewer and the intent of Proposition 402. The interviewer stated to Commissioner Geurs that the audit team's interpretation of the ballot language was that the voters empowered the City Council to create the CTOC, and not that the voters voted for the commission directly. So, if the Council is empowered to create the commission, they also have the power to abolish the commission. Vice Chair Geurs was surprised at this interpretation and felt that the voters were not fully informed. 10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Schmitt commented on frequency of pedestrian-related crashes and inquired about tracking of pedestrian-related crashes•in crosswalks versus jaywalking. Mr. Sage will research this suggestion, and noted that the Glendale Police Department will discuss traffic safety and enforcement issues with the CTOC at the September meeting. Vice Chair Geurs inquired about an update on the Go Program Audit. Mr. Adabala replied that it would be sometime between October and December. 11. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the Citizens Transportation Oversight Commission will be held on September 6th at 6:00 p.m., at the Transportation Office, 6210 W. Myrtle Road - Building A, Suite 111, Glendale, Arizona, 85301. 12. ADJOURNMENT FTThb,Cneeting adjourned by consensus at 7:32 p.m. The Ci 'zen kIransportation Oversight Commission meeting minutes of August 2, 2018 were submitted and ap•ro e 7 this 6th day of September, 2018. Patrick Sage Recording Secretary