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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04252000 - C35 C35 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COrltl"r FROM; TRANSPORTATION, WATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE f ' Costa COMMITTEE - County DATE: APRIL 17, 2000 SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A PLANNING GRANT TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, RELATING TO DOWNTOWN EL SOBRANTE REVITALIZATION. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS Authorize staff to submit an application (see Exhibit A) on behalf of the 94803 Task Force in El Sobrante to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for a $50,000 transportation planning grant through the Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) Program. FISCAL IMPACT If the grant is received, it would be matched with $50,000 of in-kind staff resources from the Community Development Department and Public Works Department. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The County has been working with community groups in EI Sobrante to improve the commercial core along San Pablo Dam Road in the downtown area. A $40,000 Community Development Block Grant helped pay for a series of Downtown Visioning Workshops and a consensus-building effort on improvements needed by the community. A community-based group called the 94803 Task Force, named after the EI Sobrante zip code, has been created to carry on the effort. County staff continues to provide support to the group. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ✓ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S): 7 PERVISM JOHN GIOIA SUPERVISOR GAYLE B. UILKEMA ACTION OF BOARD O r;1 1 ;ca?geO APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: John Greitzer (5101335-1201) ATTESTEDr; / 5; cc: Community Development Department (CDD) PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Jcl:mb BY Y '? - ._ , DEPUTY a:\advotranUohn MrnarjorteMIC board order on TLC.doc AUTHORIZE STAFF TO SUBMIT AN APPUCATION FOR A PLANNING GRANT TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION,RELATING TO DOWNTOWN EL SOBRANTE REVITALIZATION APRIL 18,2000 Page 2 The Metropolitan Transportation Commission offers a twice-yearly grant program called the Transportation for Livable Communities (TLC) program. The program offers planning grants and construction grants. It is designed for the type of community-enhancing projects that the 94803 Task Force would like to accomplish. Due to the application deadline of April 5, staff already has sent its application for the planning grant to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee recommends the Board of Supervisors now act to authorize staff to submit the application. The 94803 Task Force will focus on business attraction and retention, beautification of the downtown area, and traffic improvements. The traffic improvements which are the focus of the grant application referenced herein —would provide improved local circulation and access into and out of local businesses on San Pablo Dam Road. Local access currently is hindered by the high volume of through-traffic, including commuter traffic, along the road. Improvements to bus, pedestrian and bicycle access also will be included, as described in Exhibit A. Community Centra EXHIBIT A Dennis M.Barry,ACCP Community Development erector Development Costa Department County County Administration wilding 651 Pine Street 4th Floor,North Wing Martinez,California 94553-01095 3l~ Phone: (925)335-12015 U :: April 4,2000 Mr.Lawrence Dahms,Executive Director Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland CA 94607 Dear Mr. Dahms: cc t this letter and ��assist lication for a $50,000 planning grant through the in the revitalization of Downtown El Sobrante. We submit this application on behalf of a coalition of non-governmental and governmental entities seeking funds for long-sought transportation and community enhancements in the commercial district of El Sobrante. The funds would continue the work begun in FY 1999/2000 with a Community Development Block Grant and contributions from the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce. The County Board of Supervisors is sponsoring this application on behalf of a newly formed community group called the 94803 Task Force,the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce, and two Contra Costa County departments (the Community Development Department and Public Works Department). The 94803 Task Force is named for the El Sobrante zip code, which includes both an unincorporated county area and part of the City of Richmond. The group was brought together largely through the volunteer efforts of El Sobrante residents and civic leaders interested in reviving the community's once-thriving downtown area. The Task Force is undertaking a three-pronged effort at revitalizing Downtown El Sobrante. The three components of the strategy are business attraction and retention;physical improvements and beautification to the downtown area; and traffic,circulation and parking improvements. The transportation concerns are a major component of the effort. The main commercial artery, San Pablo Dam Road, is a de facto expressway for commuters between Central and West Contra Costa County, and ether commuters trying to avoid congestion on Interstate 80. This causes conflicts with local traffic attempting to access local businesses and services, particularly when local motorists need to make left turns into or out of those businesses across oncoming traffic. Limited pedestrian facilities, combined with relatively high traffic speeds along the road, exacerbate the problem. There are only two designated crosswalks in the half-mile stretch of San Pablo Dam Road between El Portal Drive and Appian Way, which is the project area. This not only limits pedestrian access and circulation in the downtown area, but also may dampen bus ridership, since bus patrons have difficulty walking along or across San Pablo Dam Road to get from the bus stop to local businesses. Office Hours Monday- Frday:8:00 a.m.-5:00 p,m. Office is closed the 1 st, 3rd & 5th Fridays of each month FiEL SOBRANTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE �I► ' Crriia�raaM. ` 3550 San Pablo Dam Rd.,Suite E P.O. Box 330 El Sobrante,CA 944803 • Ph(510)223-0757 April 3,2000 Mr. Lawrence Dahms,Executive Director Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland,CA. 94604 Re. Application for Transportation for Livable Communities Grant. Bear Mr. Dahmsa The El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce in partnership with other El Sobrante Valley individuals and civic organizations have endeavored to improve the quality of life in the El Sobrante Valley. These efforts include the ongoing process of revitalizing a deteriorating El Sobrante downtown. In the past two years the U.C. Institute of Urban and Regional Development has worked with us to develop a database for the downtown area. The U.C. report made a strong recommendation that traffic congestion, circulation, and speed limit enforcement needed immediate attention. Convenient parking, elimination of curbcuts, additional pedestrian amenities such as crosswalks, sidewalks, and better signal timing were all necessary items to revitalize our downtown area. In November 1999,the Chamber Revitalization Committee which included members of the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council,El Sobrante Planning and Zoning Committee,and the May Valley Neighborhood Council contracted with Communities By Design to conduct a Vision Workshop for the downtown business owners and residents. The workshop demonstrated that the participants were.greatly concerned about the impact traffic has had on the community. The workshop resulted in the creation of the 94803 Task.Force. It formed three committees to address the basic concerns of the downtown area. The Traffic Committee was created to review and consider the impact of traffic flow and circulation, as well as parking and pedestrian access within the downtown area. It was generally agreed that solving these issues was a prerequisite for any substantial revitalization of the downtown business community. The Committee is presently developing concepts to address the traffic issues first. Engineered design and planning is the first essential steps to transforming our vision into reality. We enthusiastically join with and support Contra Costa County in this application for the TLC planning grant. EL SOBRANTE VALLEY" PLANNING & ZONING ADVISORY COMMITTEE P.O. BOX 2013+6 EL SOBRANTE, CA 94820 March 30, 2000 Lawrence Dahms,Executive Director Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 - 8b St. Oakland, CA 94607 Re: El Sobrante Downtown Transportation Grant Application 94803 Task Force Dear Mr. Dahms The ESVP&ZACommittee is strongly supportive of the El Sobrante Chamber's 94803 Task Force. The Task Force is composed of residents and business owners in the El Sobrante area who are working together to develop an innovative, comprehensive, workable plan for the downtown El Sobrante area. The business area is hampered by being located on a very busy commuter route, San Pablo Darn road. It is not pedestrian friendly. fast year's CHP accident statistics showed 70 accidents just in the 4/5 block downtown area. Your review and approval of this grant application would be a big step in giving us a leadership role in planning the future of our community. Area Richmond and El Sobrante residents have a long valued history of cooperative efforts to give the El Sobrante Valley a voice of its own. This Committee, itself, is an example of that cooperative spirit. It was established in 1975 with the cooperation of the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce and the Richmond May Valley Neighborhood Council. The El Sobrante Chamber has been the leader in setting up community meetings to focus the attention on the downtown area. Richmond and the County are doing a joint study of the whole El Sobrante Valley. When the Chambers' 94803 Task Force reaches a consensus on how to deal with traffic, pedestrians, and the business community, that report will become an integral part of the city/county Joint Study. So, the approval of the grant will help all 23,000 residents of the El Sobrante Valley. You may contact me by phone at 510-2236398 or by fax at 510-758-7697. Thank you. Sincerely, Eleanor Loynd, Chair ms's' EL SOBR.ANTE MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 3550 San Pablo Dam Rd., E-335, El Sobrante, CA 94803 March 29, 2000 Mr. Lawrence Dahms, Executive Director Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth Street Oakland, CA 94607 Dear Mr. Dahms: RE; TLC Grant Program The EI Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council (ESMAC) is a body elected by residents to advise the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on issues dealing with housing, traffic, transportation, public safety, and effective land use within our unincorporated community. Two of our council members serve on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the entire Ei Sobrante Valley, two others are on the R-9 Park and Recreation Com- mittee for the El Sobrante Valley, and two others are on the steering committee of the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce for the revitalization of the business district on the San Pablo Dam Road. The ESMAC is fully supportive of the Chamber's efforts to create and implement plans for the revitalization of the Dam Road. We endorse the application for a TLC grant to plan for • Enhancement of the traffic patterns to improve circulation while reducing auto- mobile speed, improving pedestrian access to retail stores, and creating a customer-friendly environment. • Creating a circulation plan which will allow the customers of local retail outlets to tum-around (go around the block) in order to return home. • Improving the opportunity for low and moderate income housing adjacent to AC Bus transit. • Allowing pedestrian and bicycle access to the natural area along San Pablo Creek (which is immediately adjacent to the commercial area.) • Creating job opportunities for a large local labor force. ESMAC believes that a key to these improvements may be the creation of a new, access road, parallel to and south of the San Pablo Dam road. Presently, there is underutilized open land available for such a road. El Sobrante is one of the few places left in the Bay Area where good planning will create an environment pleasing to business, pedestrians, and traffic; while at the same time utilizing open and under- developed acreage zoned for retail/residential uses. The TLC grant will allow for the detailed engineering and traffic evaluation needed prior to committing to such a project. Yours truly, / �y Richard A. Spelimann ESMAC Traffic Study Coordinator 7 M ATA Y Av LLE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL P.O. Box 21551 / El Sobrante, CA 94820-1551 March 31, 1999 Mr. Lawrence Dahms, Executive Director Metropolitan Transportation Commission 101 Eighth St. Oakland, CA 94607 Re: Transportation Grant Application El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce Dear Mr. Dahms, The Richmond May Valley Neighborhood Council represents a part of the 12,000 Richmond residents in the El Sobrante Valley. We share the same traffic headaches, overcrowded schools, landslides, and zip code with the 10,000 County residents in El Sobrante. Several Richmond residents are working members of the 94803 Task Force which was recently established to focus attention on the downtown area. The number one problem is traffic. The planning grant would empower the 94803 Task Force to bring in experts to answer questions on how the downtown area could be changed. Is it possible to put in a second parallel road? Is it possible to bring San Pablo Creek into place as a community resource? Is it possible to change the alignment of San Pablo Dam Road and move the through traffic to a separate portion of the road? The 94803 Task Force would prepare an action plan to be submitted to the County and to the city of Richmond for inclusion in the Joint Study which is now being done in part of the El Sobrante Valley. We ask that you give us a chance to put our ideas into this public forum. Thank you. Sincerely, Safy alifa, Presicl'ent ATTACHMENT 1 Downtown El Sobrante Access Enhancement Project TLC Planning Grant Application Downtown El Sobrante Access Enhancement Project: Project Description,Timeline,Budget,Collaborative Planning Process Project Description The El Sobrante community is currently involved in a planning process to identify and reach consensus on specific transportation improvements for San Pablo Dam Road between El Portal Drive and Appian Way. The transportation improvements must provide better access for local residents to businesses and services in the ware of constant through-traffic along the road,better and safer pedestrian and bicycle access along and across San Pablo Dam Road in the downtown area; and better bus access for the area. This effort is part of a larger Downtown Revitalization Project that began in FY 1999/2000 with a$40,000 Community Development Block Grant,$5,000 from the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce, and county staff resources. To date the revitalization project has produced two visioning workshops for Downtown El Sobrante and a report on conclusions; the creation of the community-wide 94803 Task Force and its three working committees; and completion of a baseline study by the UC Berkeley Institute of Urban and Regional Development(IURD). The IURD study inventoried land parcels,building footprints, condition of buildings,parking spaces and other data along the half-mile corridor. The final product of these efforts—due by Summer 2000--will be a unified vision for Downtown El Sobrante along with specific improvement strategies that take into account the three identified areas of concern: traffic,circulation and parking; business recruitment and retention; and physical beautification of the downtown area. The 7'.LC grant is needed to finance the next steps in meeting the traffic, circulation and parking challenge: taking the transportation improvements that have been chosen by the community and initiating the project development process. This includes developing the initial design, cost estimates and construction schedules; developing alternatives that will be needed for the environmental review process and amendment to the County General Plan circulation element, and performing the first step of the required environmental review process, known as the "initial study"under the California Environmental Quality Act. In short, the grant will help get the transportation improvements ready for construction or implementation. In addition to its importance for Downtown El Sobrante,the project also relates to a larger,multi-jurisdictional effort to coordinate planning between the county and the cities in the area(see neat section on Collaborative Planning). There is an impetus for this project in existing multi jurisdictional planning documents, such as the Corridor Action Plan for San Pablo Liam Road and Camino Pablo,published jointly in 1998 by the West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee(WCCTAC) and the Southwest Area Transportation(SWAT) Committee. The Corridor Action Plan recommends a project of this type to address access problems in the commercial core of El Sobrante. I ATTACHMENT 1 Downtown El Sobrante Access Enhancement Project TLC Planning Grant Application since has been broadened and handed over to the newly farmed 94803 Task Force. The creation of this task force was recommended by Communities By Design., a consulting firm that facilitated the Downtown El Sobrante Visioning Workshops. The 94803 Task Force includes a diverse group of interests such as members of environmental advocacy groups and creekside beautification interests,members of the El Sobrante Planning and Zoning Commission, the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Committee,business owners,the development and real estate communities, and interested private individuals, among others. Some Task Force members reside in the unincorporated area of El Sobrante, and some reside in the City of Richmond. The Task Force coordinates the efforts of its three working committees and approves all final products to ensure the outcomes are developed in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. The three working committees are the Business Environment, Activities and Recruitment Committee; the Design, Landscaping,Beautification and Creek Improvements Committee; and the Traffic, Circulation and Parking Committee. In addition,the 94803 Task Force will share information on the Downtown Revitalization Project with two larger multi jurisdictional groups that have been formed to coordinate numerous planning efforts in the El Sobrante'galley. These are the EI Sobrante Valley Joint Planning Effort, and the El Sobrante Coordinating Council. These organizations were created over the past year through the efforts of County Supervisor John Gioia. The groups meet periodically to share information and provide mutual input on planning efforts such as transportation, economic development,parks and trails development, and emergency preparedness, among others. These area-wide coordinating groups will ensure that a wide range of interested parties can provide input. Timeline(including the grant project and the"overall project") The timeline for the project is as follows. • Months 1-3. Develop Project Details and Alternatives Develop preliminary design, cost estimates and construction schedule for the transportation improvements selected through community consensus(county staff). Develop a limited number of detailed alternatives for improving vehicular,bus, and non-motorized access and circulation in project area(94803 Task Force; county staff). Provide additional workshop for community-wide public input into the alternatives (94803 Task Force; county staff) 3 ATTACHMENT 1 Downtown El Sobrante Access Enhancement Projects, TLC Planning Grant Application Following are some sample timeframes for different types of transportation improvements that may be part of the selected option. • Installing a crosswalk(assuming a traffic signal is included)may take 18 months. • Restriping San Pablo Dam Road to change the lane configuration may take 6 months. • Constructing a new parallel local access road south of San Pablo Dam Road likely would take at least 36 months, due to the process of land acquisition and the time it takes for building demolition and road construction. Bum Source Amount Transportation for Livable Communities grant request $50,000 County(Community Development Dept. &Public Works Dept.) $50,000 Total Project Cost $100,000 * --This reflects in-kind staff resources. The amount of in-kind contribution will vary depending on whether an EIR is required. If the Initial Study determines an EIR is required,the county will apply additional resources to the effort as needed,beyond the amount shown above. 5