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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03172009 - C.69RECOMMENDATION(S): DISCONTINUE the Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee and AUTHORIZE the Chair to sign letters thanking the committee's members for their service to the County, as recommended by the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee. FISCAL IMPACT: NONE to the General Fund. The Department of Conservation and Development provided staff support for the Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee. (any staff saving is 100% transportation funding) BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors created the Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee (AIRAC) in 1995 to provide the Board with input and recommendations on matters pertaining to intercity rail service. At the time, the state initiated new intercity rail services and there were opportunities for local governments to provide input into the state's initiatives. Today, almost 15 years later, intercity rail service has been dramatically expanded and improved. The Capitol Corridor service connecting the Bay Area to Sacramento has grown from one daily roundtrip to sixteen APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 03/17/2009 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYES 4 NOES ____ ABSENT ____ ABSTAIN ____ RECUSE ____ Contact: John Greitzer, 335-1201 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: March 17, 2009 David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: Katherine Sinclair, Deputy cc: C.69 To:Board of Supervisors From:Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Comm Date:March 17, 2009 Contra Costa County Subject:Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) daily roundtrips, and is managed by BART and governed by representatives from local agencies. The San Joaquin service linking the Bay Area to the Central Valley has increased from one to four daily roundtrips, and the state plans four additional roundtrips over the next ten years. In addition to providing input during the planning for those services, AIRAC has contributed to intercity rail policy in other ways as well. The County General Plan has policies supporting intercity rail serivce which were developed and recommended by AIRAC several years ago. AIRAC also recommended the County support federal legislation in 2008 that reauthorized Amtrak, increased Amtrak's annual funding by fifty-percent for the next six years, and created a new grant program to which states and local agencies can apply for intercity rail funding. At AIRAC's recommendation, the Board of Supervisors asked our congressional delegation to support the bill, which was passed and signed into law in October 2008. Given these significant increases in rail service and funding, there have been fewer and fewer issues which AIRAC needs to discuss and report to the Board of Supervisors. Lacking agenda items, the committee has met only once in each of the past two years. The Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee discussed this issue on February 19 (Vice Chair Glover was unable to attend). County staff provided the above background to the Committee and indicated there is no longer a need to continue AIRAC. County staff also has discussed this matter with the Chair of AIRAC, Howard Abelson of El Cerrito. Mr. Abelson acknowleged there are few items for AIRAC to discuss and he concurred with the recommendation. Therefore the Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee recommends the Board discontinue AIRAC. The Committee also recommends the Board authorize the Chair to sign letters to all AIRAC members thanking them for their efforts. The letters are attached. AIRAC members are Mr. Abelson of El Cerrito, John Mercurio of Concord, Jim Kennedy of Martinez, Richard Mitchell of Hercules, Walter Fields of Oakley and John Starr of Walnut Creek. The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. Howard Abelson Chair Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee 3150 Hilltop Mall Road, Ste 34 Richmond CA 94806 Dear Mr. Abelson: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks habelson.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. Jim Kennedy Redevelopment Agency 2530 Arnold Drive, Suite 190 Martinez CA 94553 Dear Mr. Kennedy: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks jkenn.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. John Mercurio Concord Parks and Recreation Commission 5411 Rock Creek Court Concord CA 94521 Dear Mr. Mercurio: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks jmercurio.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. John Starr, Esq. 3352 Terra Granada Drive 1A Walnut Creek CA 94595 Dear Mr. Starr: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks jstarr.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. Richard Mitchell 112 Beechnut Drive Hercules, CA 94547 Dear Mr. Mitchell: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks rmitchell.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County The Board of Supervisors County Administration Building 651 Pine Street, Room 106 Martinez, California 94553 John Gioia, 1st District Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District Federal D. Glover, 5th District March 17, 2009 Mr. Walter Fields 2199 Meadowlark Lane Oakley CA 94561 Dear Mr. Fields: The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors wishes to thank you for your work over the years on the County’s Ad Hoc Intercity Rail Advisory Committee, or AIRAC. As you know, the County has discontinued this committee. Intercity rail service in Contra Costa County and California today is much more extensive and convenient than it was when AIRAC was created in 1995. The Board of Supervisors over the years has supported numerous efforts to increase intercity rail service and funding, largely based on recommendations we received from AIRAC. The committee’s advocacy efforts have played a part in bringing about these improvements in rail service. Given the improved state of intercity service, AIRAC has succeeded in fulfilling its purpose and reaching its goals. We therefore decided to discontinue the committee, so our staff can focus on more pressing needs. The Board of Supervisors is grateful to citizens like you who volunteer their time and energy to improving the quality of life for Contra Costa residents and workers. Thank you for all you have done on AIRAC over the years. Sincerely, Susan A. Bonilla, Chair Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors SAL\JG G:\Transportation\Board Orders & Greenies\2009\airac thanks wfields.doc David Twa Clerk of the Board and County Administrator (925) 335-1900 Contra Costa County