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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1.25.23 UAPB MinutesMINUTES APPROVED MPOJC URBANIZED AREA POLICY BOARD JANUARY 25, 2023 – 4:30 PM IOWA CITY, CITY HALL – EMMA HARVAT HALL MEMBERS PRESENT: Coralville: Laurie Goodrich Iowa City: Laura Bergus, Andrew Dunn, John Thomas Johnson County: Rod Sullivan, Jon Green North Liberty: Brian Wayson, Chris Hoffman University Heights: Louise From University of Iowa: Erin Shane Tiffin: Steve Berner ICCSD: Molly Abraham STAFF PRESENT: Kent Ralston, Emily Bothell, Hannah Neel, Sarah Walz, Tunazzina Alam OTHERS PRESENT: Karen Kurt; Cathy Cutler 1. CALL TO ORDER Thomas called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. The meeting was held at Iowa City, City Hall in Emma Harvat Hall. a. Recognize alternates and welcome new Board members Councilor Dunn of Iowa City was welcomed to the Board along with Molly Abraham with the Iowa City Community School District. b. Consider approval of meeting minutes After discussion about a few minor corrections to the minutes Green moved to approve, Dunn seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Set next Board meeting date Ralston proposed March 29, 2023 as the next Board meeting date - location to be determined. 2. PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF ANY ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA None. 3. ADMINISTRATION a. Report from nominating committee for 2023 MPOJC Board officers Bergus stated that the nominating committee (Bergus, From, and Goodrich) is proposing to nominate Thomas to continue in the position of Chair and From to continue in the position of Vice Chair. Berner moved to approve the nominations, Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Consider approval of the FY24 MPOJC Budget and financial forecast Ralston explained that the focus of the MPOJC is to fulfill federal and state requirements necessary for MPOJC entities to receive state and federal formula and discretionary funding; and to produce locally-generated traffic studies, grant applications, and mapping services for MPOJC communities. Ralston explained that due to decreases in costs for staff benefits and wages, the overall budget reflects a 4% decrease from FY23. Ralston noted that the budget also reflects the continued use of $50,000 of internal carryover funds and $230,000 in Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) funds. Sullivan moved to approve the FY24 MPOJC Budget and Financial Forecast, Wayson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Consider approval of the FY24 Johnson County Assessments to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Ralston explained that MPOJC collects East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) dues for Johnson County and then forwards those funds to ECICOG. Ralston stated that ECICOG calculates their assessments on a per-capita basis and that the MPOJC in turn calculates a per-capita assessment for each entity within Johnson County. This budget reflects new population figures from the 2020 census. Ralston noted that ECICOG proposed a 2% increase for all counties that it serves for FY24. Sullivan moved to approve the FY24 Johnson County Assessments to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG); Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. d. Consider appointments to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments Board of Directors Ralston noted the entities responsible for appointing elected officials for the 2023 East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) Board of Directors. These entities and appointees were as follows: Jon Green (Johnson County), Meghann Foster (Coralville), and Christopher Taylor (Swisher). Johnson County also has one citizen appointment, Allison Wells. Bergus moved to approve the appointments to the East Central Iowa Council of Governments Board of Directors, Sullivan seconded. The motion carried unanimously. e. Discuss MPOJC Orientation opportunity for Board members Ralston noted that he is available to provide a short orientation about the MPOJC and its role, funding sources, services provided, and structure. Abraham and Dunn stated their interest. 4. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING a. Public Hearing and consideration of an amendment to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – amending the funding amounts for the I-80 6 lane widening project Neel explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for all surface transportation projects that receive state or federal funds in the Iowa City urbanized area. She noted that the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) has requested an amendment to the adopted MPOJC FY2023-2026 TIP, increasing the federal funding amount and total project cost for the I-80 6 lane widening project. Berner moved to approve the amendment to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – amending the funding amounts for the I-80 6 lane widening project, Green seconded. The motion carried unanimously. b. Public Hearing and consideration of an amendment to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – including new funding for bus replacements for Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS Neel explained that both Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS requested an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include a new funding source and funding amounts for the capital replacement of a light duty bus in both fleets. It was stated that part of the funding amounts given are from shortfall assistance being offered by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT). To receive these funds, these projects need to be programmed into the TIP. Dunn moved for approval of the amendment to the FY23-26 MPOJC Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – including new funding for bus replacements for Coralville Transit and University of Iowa CAMBUS, Wayson seconded. The motion carried unanimously. c. Consider approval of Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Transit Operating Formula funding apportionment for FY2022 Neel opened by stating $4,565,146 is available to MPOJC in FY2022 FTA section 5307 operating assistance. Neel noted that these funds are apportioned by MPOJC to Coralville Transit, Iowa City Transit, and University of Iowa CAMBUS based on a local formula. Neel stated that COVID-19 impacted the ridership and transit service numbers used in the formula and that staff is recommending we re- use the FY2019 transit data, as it was the last full year of pre-COVID transit data. There was some discussion about the relevance of using past years data and at what point these changes in data are considered permanent shifts in transit ridership. Green moved to approve the recommended Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Transit Operating Formula funding apportionment for FY2022; Hoffman seconded. The motion carried unanimously. d. Consider approval of safety targets and performance measures for the MPO as required by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Ralston explained that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) now requires that Metropolitan Planning Organizations set targets for five safety performance measures and report them to the State Department of Transportation by February 27th each year. Ralston stated that like past years, staff recommends adopting the State’s targets instead of creating individual targets. It was also mentioned that each year before approval, there is an opportunity to create individual targets if desired. Goodrich moved to adopt the State’s safety targets and performance measures for the MPO as recommended, Berner seconded. The motion carried unanimously. e. Consider approval of MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternatives Program and Carbon Reduction Program grant funding process Bothell stated that the MPO typically conducts their grant funding process biennially and that 2023 is the next grant cycle year. Bothell noted that this biennial process allows for two years of funding to be allocated at once, meaning projects can receive larger funding awards. Bothell explained that MPOJC is expecting approximately $9.3 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) funding will be available for programming in FY2027-2028 and that approximately $300,000 in Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) funding will be available for programming in FY2023. Bothell also stated that Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding (approximately $900,000) will be delayed due to pending program changes and revised program guidance from the Iowa Department of Transportation. Bothell stated that the MPO is planning to solicit for STBG applications this year and is recommending that the solicitation of CRP applications be delayed to allow for them to align with the solicitation of TAP applications. Bothell updated the Board on the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation from their January 17th meeting, which was to solicit for CRP and TAP applications in the winter of 2025, keeping with the standard biennial solicitation. Green moved to approve the MPOJC Surface Transportation Block Grant, Transportation Alternative Program and Carbon Reduction Program grant funding timeline as proposed, Berner seconded. The motion carried unanimously. f. Update on the MPOJC FY24 Transportation Planning Work Program and FY24- 27 Transportation Improvement Program Ralston explained that the Transportation Planning Work Program is a document developed each year that is designed to identify projects that the MPO will be addressing in the following fiscal year. Ralston noted that this document is developed in a coordinated effort by the Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC), the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Urbanized Area Policy Board. Ralston gave the timeline for solicitation of work program projects and submission of drafts to federal administration partners. Ralston explained that the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the programming document for federally funded transportation improvements within the Iowa City Urbanized Area and that it includes all street, highway, transit, and bicycle and pedestrian projects. Ralston reminded the Board of the funding allocations from the 2021 TIP, $7.38 million in STBG funds and $520,000 in TAP funds. Ralston noted that the Board will consider the FY2024-27 TIP for adoption in July. g. Verbal update on the CRANDIC Bus Rapid Transit Study from the MPOJC Director Ralston explained that he had drafted a Request for Proposals for a Bus Rapid Transit study on the CRANDIC line with the hopes of hiring a consultant by April 1, 2023. 5. OTHER BUSINESS a. Report on the MPOJC Severson Charity Challenge Walz stated that this year the Severson Charity Challenge raised almost $5,000 and that these funds will be split equally between the three local food banks. She also noted that no more than $500 would be used for a permanent memorial in Linda Severson’s honor. 6. ADJORNMENT Bergus moved to adjourn the meeting, Green seconded. The motion carried unanimously; meeting adjourned at 5:23 p.m.