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Home My WebLink AboutTC Digest 2015-02-2054", TOWN COUNCIL WEEKLY DIGEST Week of February 16 - 20, 2015 Tiburon 1. Email —Dianne Steinhauser — TAM Needs 2. Letter — Redwood High School Grad Night — June 11, 2015 3. Memo — Marin LAFCo — Countywide Water Municipal Service Review Agendas & Minutes 4. None Regional a) League of Women Voters — Bay Area Monitor — February/March 2015 * Agendas & Minutes b) None * Council Only DIGEST �• Peggy Curran From: Dianne Steinhauser <DSteinhauser@tam.ca.gov> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2015 11:30 AM To: Adam Politzer, Dan Schwarz; David Bracken; Debbie Stutsman; Felicia Wheaton; James McCann; Peggy Curran; Michael Frank; Michael Rock; Nancy Mackie; Rob Braulik Cc: Derek McGill; Bill Whitney, Dan Cherrier, Nick Nguyen; Scott McDonald; David Chan; Li Zhang; Denise Merleno Subject: TAM needs Greetings, Thank you for the opportunity to address you regarding transportation at your recent retreat in Mill Valley. I am following up on a request to increase fees to TAM from our member agencies. TAM is facing a need to accomplish several work elements over the next two -three years for which there are no funds available. As TAM has taken on a number of new tasks over the last year, any discretionary funds have been utilized, and so a new fund source is needed. TAM cannot increase its use of transportation sales tax or vehicle registration fee funds as we are obligated to stay within a prescribed cap as noted in the transportation sales tax and vrf expenditure plans. TAM formerly received Planning, Programming and Monitoring funds through the State via the STIP, but those are no longer available. TAM last claimed regional planning funds in 2012, when the TAM board adopted a four-year funding cycle of federal funds, aka OBAG. No new federal planning funds will be available until FY 2017-18 or later. All of these aforementioned funds are fully utilized to address existing workload. So TAM staff are recommending how to raise funds for these new efforts. TAM staff are recommending increasing the fees we charge to our member agencies for CMA related activities. It is a limited term increase over 3 years , increasing fee levels by 50%. See chart below. The work elements are either required or critical to how we move forward with transportation investment over the next few years. All are beneficial to you, our member agencies, the cities, towns, and the county. They include the following needs: 1. Developing a Transportation Strategic Plan for Marin. $350,000 rough estimate TAM last developed a Vision Plan in 2003 as the Congestion Management Agency for Marin. The last Countywide Plan was adopted in 2007 by Marin County and while formally addressing the unincorporated areas only, its Built Environment element was a broad brush depiction of transportation system components and needs. TAM was approached by two major advocacy organizations last Spring, when MTC received a formal legal complaint that they were not requiring countywide transportation plans at the county level—that all needed to be consistent with the regional plan- Plan Bay Area. MTC ultimately decided that statute does not allow them to "require" countywide transportation plan updates. Only one county is not planning to update its "countywide transportation plan" - Marin. In the meantime, what MTC is doing is to require "consistency with a countywide transportation plan" in its grant programs. MTC keeps half of all federal gas tax coming to the Bay Area and manages grant programs or funds regional programs. For example, there are "points" assigned to Active Transportation Program candidates if you are "consistent with the Countywide Transportation Plan'. We can claim yes, but to make that claim regarding an 8 year old plan that is an outdated and partial document -- is likely not going to get us many points. So we risk losing grant opportunities. BTW, MTC apportions transit funds under a separate very complex process). We have done a lot of good "countywide" planning over the last few years—transit planning, and bike/ped plan updates, for example-- and a number of local specific plans as well. We want to capture all of these individual planning efforts into a "Transportation Strategic Plan' for the entire county. But we -have gaps—and we need a planning process to capture and help us define those gaps. We respond to the fires that develop regarding a perceived priority, but for which we have not identified need, scope, and received public input about. Some examples—and there are likely others — include: • Local corridor management. This is a hot concept right now in places like Sir Francis Drake. We need to inventory needs and establish recognition regarding value of better management of traffic systems in critical corridors. • Highway improvements and major interchange improvements. We have a number of need areas including finishing the Marin Sonoma Narrows, considering a 580 to 101 connector system, addressing overloaded interchanges to establish the future improvements needed there_ for example Tiburon/ East Blithedale at Highway 101, Tamalpais/ Paradise at Highway 101, Downtown San Rafael especially in relation to SMART, Atherton Avenue. These and others have some history of being addressed—inventorying and establishing needs are important regarding future investments. • SMART access- this is an important element to transportation management that has numerous pieces. Establishing an interagency needs list would be useful. • Bike/ pedestrian improvements. We have invested heavily in recent years in the bicycle/ pedestrian network. We have a large inventory of needs and difficulty meeting them. Where should we focus the areas of needs in the future? Countywide transportation plans can be very expensive endeavors. We are trying to scope this effort and keep the costs down. Some examples of other counties: Solano Transportation Authority has been working on their Countywide plan in over the last several years. This process required a significant amount of staff time and approximately $200k in consultant fees for public outreach, and technical development. The Sonoma County Transportation Authority, in the development of their countywide plan spent approximately $750k in consultant fees plus additional staff time. Larger counties typically spend even larger sums given the complexity and importance placed on countywide plans in developing transportation investment priorities. 2. Update TAM's travel model that is not meeting our needs. $200,000 rough estimate The current TAM travel demand model uses 1988 software. As part of TAM's Congestion Management Agency statutory requirements, TAM is required to maintain a model to forecast travel demand on CMP Corridors, and maintain model consistency with the Regional Model developed by MTC. As MTC moves toward activity based modeling, capturing VMT along with bike, ped, and transit trips, TAM's model will not be able to comply with its current model. The risk is loss of funds due to being out of compliance It is consistently pointed out by adjacent counties and transit operators that Maria's Travel Model is not a useful tool and dangerously near to being out of compliance. For years we have "manipulated" the model to be in compliance. This is no longer working due to having to account for more types of trips over a finer network of zones. Local Jurisdictions used to use the Marin Travel Model for forecasting project impacts under CEQA, developing general plan build -out scenarios and for circulation element development. The Marin Travel Model currently does not meet these needs anymore, and in the age of required activity based models and VMT assessment, the Marin Travel Model will not be able to meet these needs in the future. The model does not accurately portray supply and demand on local arterials, or address transit travel times nor have the capacity to address bike and pedestrian usage. Once updated, the model can be used by our local jurisdictions to meet a variety of needs- travel trip types, comparison of investments, assessment of greenhouse gas emission reduction are some of the useful outcomes, along with CEQA required evaluations. An updated model could also serve to meet local needs around SB 743, which now requires Vehicle Miles Travelled, VMT, to be assessed under CEQA for all decision documents. Updating the model will allow TAM to better meet MTC model consistency requirements, improve our representation of supply and demand on the transportation network, and improve the technical foundation for analyzing transportation investments and impacts. Staff at TAM are looking at the most cost-effective mechanism for re -developing the Marin travel model, while still meeting all of the regional requirements, and addressing local needs. Staff are leaning towards " adopting" MTC's model - while buying the hardware and software to make the necessary adjustments we need to make for Marin. 3. Monitoring of traffic and useful reporting. $35,000 annually ( total $100,000) In January, TAM staff, along with Caltrans, presented data we have available regarding traffic and congestion. TAM board members had a number of recommendations, pointing out deficiencies in how we track and report on traffic, as well as bike and pedestrian trips. TAM will be facing a period of investment decisions over the next several years. It will be very useful to compare investment alternatives -in a world of very limited funding -using traffic information and the modeling tool we want to develop as outlined above in Number 2. TAM has been asked to support local traffic monitoring efforts, and assist in developing local info leading to useful strategies for improvements. Staff would like to create an expanded program of monitoring, with the capability of responding more quickly to needs, as well as having an ongoing work -plan of regular collection. Staff envision a modest amount of Rinds being utilized for this effort. Cost-effective technologies will be utilized, along with an effort to have Caltrans and MTC collect data for our needs where feasible. Staff is still developing both a scope responding to Board needs, along with collecting local member agency recommendations in this regard and will be returning with more specifics. The fee increase is enumerated below and will be going to the TAM Board for consideration on February 26h. City/Town/County CMA Fee Schedule Increase Proposal Agency %Share FY 14/15 Contribution With 50% Increase Annual Difference Belvedere 0.98% $4,217 $6,326 $2,109 Corte Madera 3.57% $15,364 $23,045 $7,682 Fairfax 2.81% $12,089 $18,134 $6,045 Larkspur 3.92% $16,861 $25,292 $8,431 Mill Valley 5.65% $24,299 $36,448 $12,149 Novato 18.10% $77,850 $116,774 $38,925 Ross 1.02% $4,391 $6,586 $2,195 San Anselmo 4.43% $19,064 $28,595 $9,532 San Rafael 19.53% $83,990 $125,985 $41,995 Sausalito 2.68% $11,512 $17,268 $5,756 Tiburon 3.42% $14,721 $22,082 $7,361 County 33.87% $145,644 $218,466 $72,822 Total 100.000% $430,000 $645,000 $215,000 Dianne Stein hauser (415) 226-0820 Office Executive Director 781 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 160 Transportation Authority of Marin San Rafael, CA 94901 dsteinhauser@tam.ca.gov REDWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GRAD NIGHT A SAFE AND SOBER EVENT FOR OUR TEENS February 9, 2015 The Honorable Frank Doyle Mayor of Tiburon 1505 Tiburon Blvd. Tiburon, CA 94920 Dear Mayor Doyle, Thank you so much for the Town of Tiburon's contribution of $500 to Redwood High School's 2015 Grad Night event. Because of the generosity of members of our community, our new graduates can come together and celebrate their achievements at a safe and sober party. This year's event will be held on June 11, 2015. We will acknowledge your donation in a large "Thank You" ad in the Marin IJ in late June. We will also provide recognition on our website and at our Grad Night event On behalf the Class of 2015 and their families, I would like to express our gratitude for your help in providing wonderful memories at a safe celebration. Sincerely, Gale g Grad Night 2015Co- hair (415) 464-0246 galesmail@pacbell. net 3 MARIN LAFCO • Political Subdivision of the State of NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW - Time Extension - February 13, 2015 TO: Interested Parties FROM: Keene Simonds, Executive Officer SUBJECT: Countywide Water Municipal Service Review: 30 Day Extension for Public Review on First Phase The Marin Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) has approved a 30 -day extension for interested parties' to review and comment on the first phase of the agency's scheduled municipal service review on countywide water provision as part of the agency's prescribed growth management responsibilities. This first phase involves the preparation of agency profiles covering the four West Marin agencies under LAFCO oversight serving the unincorporated communities of Bolinas, Inverness, Muir Beach, and Stinson Beach. These profiles are in draft form and ultimately are intended to inform the subsequent development of preparing and adopting subsequent written determinations on the capacity, adequacy, and governance of the special districts as part of the municipal service review mandate. The 30 -day extension extends the comment period deadline from Thursday, February 26th to Monday. March 30th. Copies of the draft profiles on the West Marin agencies along with associated documents are available for viewing by visiting www.marinlafco.ore and clicking on the "special studies" tab. Hard copies are also available by contacting LAFCO staff. Written comments may be submitted by regular or electronic mail with the latter directed to Keene Simonds at ksimonds(a),mainlafco.or . Chairpersom Jeffry Blanchfield / Vue Chairpersom Dennis J. Rodoni Regulars: Susan Adams, Judy Arnold, Carla Condon, Craig K. Murray, Gary Phillips Altemates: Jack Baker, Christopher Burdick, Kathrin Sears, Herb Weiner Executive Officer. Keene Simonds Marin Local Agencyr Formation Commission 555 Nordtgate Drive, Suite 230 l San Rafael, California 94903 Telephone (415) 446-4409 • Facsimile (415). 446-4410 • General E -Mail: staffranarinlafco.ore http://lafco.marin.org/