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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMPOJC RPB Minutes Jan 2018 approved APPROVED MPOJC RURAL POLICY BOARD  WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2018 – 6:00 PM CITY OF NORTH LIBERTY – COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1 QUAIL CREEK CIRCLE, NORTH LIBERTY, IA MEMBERS PRESENT: Johnson County: Mike Carberry, Lisa Green-Douglass Hills: Tim Kemp Swisher: Christopher Taylor Lone Tree: Jonathan Green Oxford: Tim Hennes STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Brad Neumann, Emily Bothell OTHERS PRESENT: Jennifer Fencl (ECICOG) 1. CALL TO ORDER a. Introduce Board members and recognize alternates Kemp called the meeting to order. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Green-Douglass moved to approve the meeting minutes from January 2017; the motion was seconded by Taylor. The motion carried unanimously. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION None 3. ADMINISTRATION a. Consider approval of the Rural Policy Board section of the FY2019 MPOJC Budget and Two-Year Financial Forecast Ralston introduced the FY2019 MPOJC Budget and Financial Forecast, noting that the overall budget for FY19 reflects a 12% increase from FY18, primarily due to an increase in benefits, wages, and the 0.5 full-time-equivalent that was approved by the Urbanized Area Policy Board at the November Board meeting. Carberry moved to approve the motion. Hennes seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2 b. Consider approval of the FY2019 Johnson County assessment schedule for the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Ralston informed the Board that the MPO collects ECICOG dues for Johnson County and forwards them to ECICOG. Ralston stated that ECICOG assesses each county in which they serve on a per-capita basis; the MPO then assesses each municipality within Johnson County. ECICOG proposed a 2% rate increase for all counties it serves for FY19. Hennes moved to approve the motion; Green-Douglass seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. Availability of East Central Iowa Council of Governments assistance Fencl stated that ECICOG offers many services and additional commuter transportation services were being provided. The goal is to create regional connectivity that may not have existed in the past. Ride sharing (both public and private) and van pooling will be the first modes implemented. 5. Discuss MPOJC Orientation opportunity for Board Members Ralston stated that an orientation is available for current and new Board members interested in discussing the role of the MPO. Ralston mentioned he would set-up a meeting for those interested. 6. Discuss potential MPOJC Work Program projects for FY2019 Ralston stated that the MPO was putting together Work Program projects for FY19. In the coming weeks, the MPO would be reaching out to entities for potential projects. 7. Update on small community traffic engineering assistance Neumann updated the Board on traffic engineering studies done for different entities, most of them being average daily traffic counts. The MPO will reach out to entities for 2018 traffic engineering requests. 8. Update on Long-Range Transportation Plan revision process Ralston informed the members that the 2017 Long Range Transportation Plan was complete and both hard and digital copies are available for communities. 9. Update on the CRANDIC Passenger Rail Study & Iowa DOT I-380 Corridor Study Neumann stated that in September, Phase II of the Iowa City to North Liberty Passenger Rail Feasibility Study was presented to the Urban Policy Board. Phase II indicated that the project would cost between $30-40 million. Neumann informed the Board that the Iowa DOT had conducted an additional study in the I-380/CRANDIC corridor looking at alternative transportation options, including passenger rail and autonomous vehicles. The Iowa DOT concluded that the Iowa City to North Liberty section for passenger rail was warranted for further study. Neumann stated that Phase I, Phase II, and the Iowa DOT studies are complete, but the MPO is seeking more direction for Phase III. The Iowa DOT developed ridership estimates 3 which will allow forecasting for revenue. Phase III would focus on a cost-benefit analysis, a financial plan, securing operating funding, operation oversight, and proposed station stops. The Iowa DOT and CRANDIC have stated that they are willing to cover a portion of the cost of the Phase III study. In addition, the MPO met with the City of Iowa City, the Iowa City Area Development Group, the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Alliant Energy, and the CRANDIC Railroad to discuss ways to preserve the rail corridor if local officials determine not to move forward with passenger rail. The group supported completion of the Phase III passenger rail study and proposed a “rails-to-trails” option. Neumann stated that this could become part of the Phase III study for passenger rail or it could be done separately and would require additional funding. Neumann stated the Iowa DOT will not provide funding for any portion of the trail study because they are using federal rail funding. The “rails-to-trails” scope of the study includes rail banking, rail abandonment and conversion processes, CRANDIC liability issues, trail distance, and infrastructure costs. 10. Consider election of calendar year 2018 Rural Policy Board Officers Tim Kemp and Chris Taylor were nominated for Chair and Vice-Chair for 2018. Hennes moved to approve the motion; Green seconded. The motion was approved unanimously. 11. Other Business None 12. Adjournment Motion to approve was made by Green; seconded by Carberry. The motion was approved unanimously.