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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.6.19 UAPB MinutesMINUTES FINAL MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD MEETING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019 - 4:30 PM CITY OF IOWA CITY - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 410 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Meghann Foster Iowa City: John Thomas, Pauline Taylor, Geoff Fruin, Mazahir Salih, Bruce Teague, Eleanor Dilkes Johnson County: Pat Heiden, Lisa Green-Douglass North Liberty: Terry Donahue Tiffin: Steve Berner University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Erin Shane ICCSD: Lori Roetlin OTHERS PRESENT: Tracy Achenbach (ECICOG) STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Frank Waisath, Brad Neumann, Sarah Walz, Ian Klopfenstein 1. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 4:30 PM by Berner. a. Recognize alternates Geoff Fruin served as an alternate for Rockne Cole (Iowa City) and Eleanor Dilkes for Susan Mims (Iowa City). b. Consider approval of meeting minutes Motion to approve was made by Donahue; Thomas seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. c. Set date for next meeting The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, hosted by Johnson County. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA Ralston indicated that Erin Shane has replaced Jim Sayre representing the University of Iowa. Ralston thanked Sayre for his time on the Board and presented a certificate of appreciation. 3. ADMINISTRATION a) Report from nominating committee for 2019 MPOJC Board officers Ralston explained that a three-person nominating committee was assembled at the November meeting, composed of Louise From (University Heights), Bruce Teague (Iowa City) and Susan Mimms (Iowa City). Steve Berner (Tiffin) is the current Chair, with Terry Donahue (North Liberty) as Vice- Chair. Each position has a two-year term limit, with Berner and Donahue currently concluding their first years in their respective positions. From indicated that the nominating committee met and unanimously recommended that Berner continue as Chair and Donahue continue as Vice-Chair. Motion to approve Berner as Chair and Donahue as Vice-Chair was made by From; seconded by Salih. The motion was approved unanimously. b) Consider approval of the FY20 MPOJC Budget and financial forecast Ralston explained that the primary focus of the MPO is to continue fulfilling federal and state requirements for discretionary funding. The MPO also performs locally-generated traffic studies, work on grant applications for member entities, as well as providing mapping services. MPOJC is a division of the City of Iowa City Neighborhood and Development Services (NDS) department. Ralston indicated that the proposed FY20 budget contains an approximate 4.5% increase from the FY19 budget. A majority of the increase is a result of staff salaries and benefits. MPO assessments for each community are based on population. From moved to approve; Thomas seconded. Motion passed unanimously. c) Consider approval of the FY20 Johnson County Assessments to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments Ralston indicated that the MPO collects dues on behalf of Johnson County and passes the funds on to ECICOG. Dues are calculated on a per capita basis, and the MPO calculates member entity dues based on a per capita basis as well. An annual increase of 2% is standard for ECICOG each year, which is the FY20 proposed increase. This increase had been intended to be voted on at an ECICOG meeting last week which was postponed to later this month due to the extreme cold. Ralston further identified that there was no indication that there would be any issues with ECICOG approving the 2% increase, though, any changes will be addressed at the March meeting. Tracy Achenbach, Housing Director for ECICOG, was present for any questions. Salih moved to approve; Green-Douglass seconded. The motion passed unanimously. d) Consider appointments to the ECICOG Board of Directors Ralston indicated the MPO communities responsible for appointing elected officials to the Board for calendar year 2019. These communities were Johnson County, Lone Tree, and Solon. The singular citizen appointment was offered to Randy Laubscher, who would be continuing in the post. Appointment officials included Rod Sullivan (Johnson County Supervisor), Ruby Dickey (Lone Tree City Council Member), and Mark Prentiss (Solon City Council Member). Teague moved to approve, Foster seconded. The motion passed unanimously. e) Discuss MPOJC Orientation opportunity for Board members Ralston indicated that the MPO offers an orientation for UAPB members to orient or refresh themselves with the functions and organizational structure of the MPO. He asked any member interested in the orientation to contact him directly. 4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a) Consider approval of Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Transit Operating Formula funding apportionment for FY2019 and transit statistics for FY2018 Neumann indicated that there is just under $2.6 million in Section 5307 operating funding to apportion to the three transit agencies. The MPO’s apportionment is based on a Board- approved formula made up of four-factors. The formula factors include operating costs, locally determined income, revenue miles, and fare revenue. The Board adjusted the locally determined income factor last year to match the NTD and Iowa DOT formulas. The proposed apportionment presented to the Board was recommended unanimously for approval by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC), as well as the DOT. FY18 apportionments as well as performance characteristics were included. Ralston clarified that transportation planners from the different transportation entities (Iowa City, Coralville, CAMBUS) are members of the TTAC. Neumann explained that apportionment may be affected by the prospect of a government shutdown. However, the funds are apportioned based on the previous calendar year’s federal funds (use of FY18 funding for FY19 spending). Operating a calendar year behind with funding eliminates the need to apply for funding multiple times in the case of fut ure government shutdowns. Thomas moved to approve; Green-Douglass seconded. The motion passed unanimously. b) Update on Surface Transportation Block Grant & Transportation Alternatives Program grant funding process The MPO conducts a competitive grant application process for federal Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds in the spring every other year per the desires of the TTAC and UAPB. This allows for larger funding blocks to be available for allocation every other year. However, due to uncertainty surrounding federal transportation legislation, the Iowa DOT was not prepared to allow the MPO to undergo the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding process for FY17. This resulted in the availability of four years of TAP funding and two years of STBG funding. Funding is apportioned through a competitive application process. Applications for funding were distributed to TTAC members on 2/1/2019, the application closing date is 2/22/2019. The Regional Trails and Bicycling Committee (RTBC) will make a recommendation to the TTAC at their March 12th meeting and the TTAC will vote on a recommendation to the Board at their March 26th meeting. Ralston indicated that there is approximately $6.7 million in STBG funding, which can be used for any form of transportation, and $1.45 million for TAP funding, usually used for non-street infrastructure projects, available to apportion this year. Ralston further indicated that he had been in contact with city engineers at each member entity to discuss uses for funding and projects of interest. c) Consider approval of Federal Functional Class designations for urbanized area roadways Bothell indicated that the MPO is updating the federal functional classification roadway map for the Iowa City urbanized area. The functional classification system is a hierarchical classification of roads to determine which are eligible for federal subsidization. Only 35% of roadways within the Iowa City urbanized area can be included on the map and the Iowa City urbanized area is currently 12 miles under that threshold. Last year, nine miles of roadway were solicited for updating with 3.2 miles being pre- approved by the Iowa DOT. At their January 22nd meeting, the TTAC unanimously recommended amending the federal classification map to include those 3.2 miles of pre- approved roadways. Green-Douglass inquired on the hierarchical classification scheme for roadways and its effect on approval or denial. Specifically, Coralville’s request for changing Forevergreen Road from collector to arterial status. Ralston clarified that projects must be included in the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan in addition to its status as being approved for reclassification. Salih moved to approve; Foster seconded. The motion passed unanimously. d) Discussion regarding participation in the ‘Federal-Aid-Swap’ in Iowa whereby State funding could replace Federal funding for road/bridge projects Ralston reminded the Board that last year House File 203 was signed into law, permitting the Iowa Transportation Commission to perform the ‘Federal-Aid Swap’, allowing substitution of federal funding with state funding, often streamlining project timelines. At their March 2018 meeting, the TTAC unanimously recommended approval of the swap. The UAPB opted out of the swap by a vote of 11-4 due to concerns over Davis-Bacon wages, lack of data, and securing worker protections. MPOJC is the only MPO in Iowa that has opted out. Unless the MPO opts out of the swap program each year, the state DOT will assume the MPO has agreed to participate. Ralston suggested a decision be made at the following UAPB meeting to align with the timeline of the MPO’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). As the swap went into effect last October, not much information is available about the cost-saving aspects of aid swapping. However, project timelines were decreased by an average of 6 months among participating projects. Green-Douglass inquired about the relative availability of data this coming April and reiterated concern over the ability to bypass certain regulations (Davis-Bacon Act, OSHA). Green-Douglass further indicated that a county engineer approached her stating that a project would be participating in the federal swap, causing confusion as participating in the swap was not approved. Ralston indicated that the Iowa DOT may be able to force the swap for state projects. Local projects are likely to have more autonomy. Foster expressed concern over the lack of information on the impacts on worker wages and conditions with associated projects, particularly with the bypassing of OSHA and Davis-Bacon wages. Ralston indicated that there is currently a lack of information from the DOT on worker conditions and information. Ralston further explained that the MPO has not taken a stance as to whether or not to adopt the policy. Salih reiterated concerns over Davis-Bacon wages, worker safety, and lack of data from having opted out last year. She expressed her interest in opting out again due to lack of new information and the continued presence of these concerns. Taylor agreed, calling attention to the reduced project timelines possibly increasing worker risk. Ralston indicated a lack of data procured from Iowa DOT after multiple inquiries, particularly pertaining to Davis-Bacon wages and whether wages are being outsourced or bypassed. Following a question over bypassing legislation from Green-Douglass, Ralston explained that projects must still comply with OSHA and NEPA. Berner indicated that a Tiffin engineer expressed that engineering costs, administrative costs, and other associated bureaucratic costs will be decreased by opting to participate. This is due to a decrease in the amount of paperwork necessary to complete federal projects. Berner further indicated that he did not perceive an inherent difference among federally-funded and state-funded projects, contrasting the statements of local unions. Thomas inquired about the difference between the wages currently provided for construction work and the prevailing wages of the area, particularly in relation to thresholds determined by Davis-Bacon wages. Ralston explained that his understanding was that workers were paid the prevailing wage to account for the high cost of living in the area. This level is expected to me et or exceed Davis-Bacon wages for most jobs. This information was based on conversations with engineers. From expressed interest in having an engineer present at the April 3rd meeting to provide input into the conversation about the “back-end” (construction process) of the aid swap process. Ralston suggested that entities reach out to their engineers and have a discussion and/or invite them to the April 3rd meeting. e) Update on the MPOJC FY20 Transportation Planning Work Program and FY20-23 Transportation Improvement Program Neumann reported that the MPO’s W ork Program document includes all projects to be addressed in the following fiscal year (FY20) and includes all state and federally required documents and processes. Staff has begun soliciting for local projects for FY20. Projects will be considered throughout March, and the draft Work Program is due to Iowa DOT and Federal Highway Administration by April 1. The Board will consider the final Work Program in May 2019. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) includes all federally funded transportation improvements for all modes of transportation in the Iowa City Urbanized Area. The majority of local projects were covered within the STBG and TAP funding blocks. The TIP formalizes specific projects to receive federal funds and the year in which the projects receive funding. The Board will consider awarding STBG and TAP projects in March. The projects will be programmed in FY23 and FY24 to be included in the next two TIPs. The Board will consider the draft for FY20-23 in May, and the final will be considered in July. f) Update on CRANDIC Passenger Rail and Rails-to-Trails studies Neumann indicated that two studies are currently underway, with the passenger rail study currently in its third phase. The current focus is on ridership, revenue forecasts, financial strategies, benefits to the community, and conceptual station design. Funding for the study comes from stakeholders including Iowa City, Coralville, Johnson County, the University of Iowa, CRANDIC, and the Iowa DOT. Staff is currently working with HDR to resolve issues regarding the ridership model and methodology. The FTA needs to approve the ridership model and the methodology for the project to be eligible for future federal funding. HDR is currently working with the DOT and FTA to sort out issues surrounding assumptions made during the project. The completion of the study was delayed by the partial government shutdown, and the anticipated completion date of December 2018 has been surpassed. The Rails-to-Trails report is currently being reviewed by staff. This includes a 6-mile corridor between downtown Iowa City and the University of Iowa’s Oakdale Campus. Johnson County, Iowa City, Coralville, and the University of Iowa have assumed a third of associated costs. The DOT will not be involved as it is pertaining to trails, opposed to railways. Current estimates for cost range from $3.5-$5.5 million, depending on the surface type of the trail. Green-Douglass inquired as to the prospects of a passenger line being installed. The passenger line is the primary objective of the line, and Supervisor Green-Douglass expressed interest in further exploration of this plan. Ralston responded by explaining that the current hope is to provide both a trail and passenger rail along the corridor, but that multiple options are being explored as for how to best utilize the corridor in the future. 5. OTHER BUSINESS a) Report on the Severson Cup Charity Challenge; Award Severson Cup Walz indicated that the MPO entities compete each holiday season to raise funds for local charities, including local food banks, the Joan Buxton Children’s Aid Fund (ICCSD), and the Valley View Lodge. Contributions increased over 14% with over $11,000 made in donations. North Liberty won the Severson Cup, having demonstrated the greatest improvement in participation over the past year. 6. ADJOURNMENT Berner moved to adjourn; Salih seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:25 PM.