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August
20, 2003
1. Revisions to agenda - none
2. Introductions/Announcements:
a) MTC and ozone attainment plan-there will be a comment period next month, and David Schonbrunn encouraged TALC members to come out and tell them we're not happy with the current plan.
b) MTC and ULI are having a smart growth workshop this Friday (half-day) for free. Registration is either 8 or 8:30, program starts at 9. See
http://www.mtc.ca.gov/whats_happening/workshops/smart-growth.htm for more details.
c) MTC has sent out an RFP for groups to help with RTP outreach - $5000, applications due soon. Email Stuart at
stuart@transcoalition.org for more details.
d) Duane from Sonoma County passed around newspaper article of a casino approval. He would like us to pay attention and help make sure transportation considerations are part of this oversized project.
e) Mark Wolfe has been working with unions and communities to stop big box development, most recently in the Fremont Walmart debate. He has helped form a collaboration in Contra Costa County (Neighborhood Alliance to Stop Increased Traffic), which recently convinced the County Board of Supervisors to approve an ordinance restricting big box
supercenters. Walmart has put referendum on the ballot to overturn this restriction in Contra Costa, so keep your eyes peeled for more updates as this heads toward march 04 ballot!
3. Do you believe this! The October elections
a) CRENO: Check out informedcalifornia.org for more information! A huge amount of people have signed on to the NO campaign (including TALC) and the Social Equity Caucus has made it a priority. The vote is polling as "close" right now so please get your membership involved. See www.informedcalifornia.org for more info, and watch for action alerts from TALC on what you can do.
b) Proposition 53: We discussed the bill, but didn't take a position on it. This used to be known as ACA 11, and attempts to set aside a certain percentage of the state general fund (1-3%) to fund infrastructure, but without any assurance that the money will go to smart growth. It takes money out of general fund, so it competes with other policy priorities. It also may limit the state's ability to raise money in the future for infrastructure as voters think the needs are taken care of. STPP has been trying to include affordable housing as an "infrastructure" need with no success so far. There is a non-partisan analysis from the California Budget Project at
www.cbp.org.
4) Proposal to increase TALC effectiveness and new land use direction. 5:50
a) Proposal for a new organizational structure
In February, 2003, the TALC Board of Directors initiated a strategic planning process, with the fundamental goal of improving our organizational effectiveness by engaging members and supporters in ALL stages of TALC's campaigns. A second component was to finalize a new strategic focus for improving land use and supporting Smart Growth. A two page outline of each proposal can be downloaded:
organizational effectiveness: www.transcoalition.org/involvement2003.pdf
land use: www.transcoalition.org/transland2003.pdf
Kristi, Margaret, and Doug presented the above proposals, which came out of a Board and staff retreat that was informed by a survey of member groups and key activists. Suggested changes include:
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holding regional meetings every other month (instead of every month); |
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the formation of new working groups (co-chaired by a staff or Board member) that would meet during the "off month"; and |
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engaging Member groups, along with TALC Board and staff, in the development of a TALC annual work plan. |
When the floor was opened to discussion, concerns included:
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concern about moving away from a "coalition" voting structure; |
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there may not be enough leadership or resources for all the working groups; |
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working groups may not have representative perspectives from across the coalition, and we wouldn't get much "cross-pollination"; |
Responses to these Concerns included:
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intention of these proposals is to energize and engage people again and to make regional meeting time more about campaigns and less about voting; |
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this structure will allow staff to better use the resources of members at the beginning of campaigns, instead of just getting buy-in at the end. |
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Annual workplan development would be an opportunity for members groups to help set TALC's direction for the following year; |
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working groups will allow people to get deeply involved in what they really care about; and |
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this organizational change is being taken seriously, and will require a bylaw change (a vote by member groups) to go into effect; |
Workgroups-what could they be? Some might be long-standing, others might be short-lived and campaign-focused. Quick brainstormed possibilities included
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high speed rail |
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transportation and land use connection |
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systematic under-funding of communities that are already "smart"- (is this environmental justice? Social equity?) |
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smart growth, combating building referendums |
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Regional Transportation Plan |
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q local workgroups focusing on land use, affordable housing |
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infill in affordable cities / counties |
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regional governance (or lack thereof) |
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regional plan |
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performance measures |
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connectivity between transit agencies, crossing modes |
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more operating money for transit (without hiking farebox fee) |
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gas tax |
There was general support for working groups, including the reduction in the number of regional meetings to allow time for workgroups. Stuart and the Board will refine the proposal and get it out to members for review. September TALC will have its regularly scheduled regional meeting, and in October we will meet at the same time, but the meeting will be with MTC representatives on RTP (see below).
b) MTC request for TALC input on the RTP
MTC called Stuart and wants to schedule a meeting to speak with TALC member groups about ideas for the next RTP. Stuart will ask them to come on October 15 (the usual time for the regional meeting) and meet with us.
c) Proposal on TALC's land use strategy
A majority of members who responded to the survey recommended that TALC should take the lead within transportation funding arenas to require smart land uses along with major investments in transit hubs and corridors, as well as efforts to increase funding for smart growth incentive programs. The idea is to have TALC define its niche on land use issues, focus on its strength and relationships with transportation decision-makers, and differentiate itself from other organizations who focus more directly on open space, housing, or other local land use issues. There was general support for this idea.
d) Logistics of next Board elections
Board election will happen this fall! The Board has 12 members and 3 year staggered terms. 5 seats will be opening up this term. Stuart will send out announcement this week, but we are now officially open for nominations until October 1st. The formal requirement to be on the Board is that you are representative of a member group and that you can meet the expected duties. Stuart will send out a memo detailing the "expectation of Board members" with the announcement for nominations. Then there will be a 6-8 week balloting process, and the Board will certify vote in December meeting and announce new Board members.
5) Transportation for a Livable Region (TLR) 6:40
The "Instant Advocate" (IA), the on-line and CD-ROM portion of our upcoming TLR report is partially complete. The IA CD-ROM will be released along with TLR (in a sleeve with the report). See the agenda attachment for a list of tools, along with the status of each one (6 are complete, 19 are nearly complete, 10 are in progress, and 6 high priority tools need someone to follow-up).
We need your advice:
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Suggest additional tools that should be included |
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Volunteer to help write or review one of the unassigned tools |
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Volunteer to review some of the tools |
Suggested additional tools during the brainstorm:
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Environmental Justice tools - see DOT website, recent publication by UCB |
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"Density calculator" - see SF LCV - www.sflcv.org/density |
If you can help, contact Jeremy at
jeremy@transcoalition.org
6) Access to Health in Contra Costa! 6:55
TALC's Roadblocks to Health report created a ground breaking way to quantify barriers to health in three counties. To follow up on this report, The California Endowment recently awarded TALC a three-year grant to work with low-income communities and health providers in Contra Costa County to vastly improve transit and pedestrian access to health facilities.
As part of this project, we will reach out to lots of health groups to get them more involved in transportation decisions. Get suggestions on what changes they'd like to see, do some community meetings to prioritize the most important changes, and follow up by getting more community members involved in transportation decisions.
If you have ideas of people we should contact, issues we should address, please contact Sita at sita@transcoalition.org. 7) Setting TALC priorities on MTC's Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) 7:05
a) Andy Katz is leading a TALC Workgroup on Linking Transportation and Land Use through the RTP. The first meeting came up with three general categories of recommendations (regulations, incentives, and mitigations). Notes from the first meeting will be sent out soon. If you're interested, contact Andy at andykatz@uclink.berkeley.edu or Stuart at stuart@transcoalition.org.
b) RTP Projects Workgroup
For the first time ever, MTC is releasing a public call for projects. Anyone can submit a project, online, to MTC, for consideration in the RTP. Deadline is September 17, 2003, although the timeline may get relaxed a little. We'll establish a RTP Projects Workgroup, do an online survey, and come up with a set of suggestions to bring to the September Regional meeting. Following MTC's own format, we will have working groups to work on
1-LU / transportation connection
2-goals and performance measures.
8) September report releases
a) Mom, Can you give me a ride? Youth Immobility in California.
Likely release September 10. If you're interested in participating in the release, or want to help with media or distribution, contact Kristi Kimball at
kkimball@transact.org
b) TALC is finishing a report on Transportation, Air Quality, and Public Health in Contra Costa.
Likely release in mid-September, possibly mid-October. If you're interested in participating in the release, or want to help distribute it, contact Jeff Hobson at
jeff@transcoalition.org
9) Adjourn
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 17, 2003, 5:30-7:30pm
On October 15, 5:30-7:30 there will be a special dialogue with MTC instead of the regional meeting.
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