HomeMy WebLinkAboutOUTBoard minutes 0318151
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MINUTES
ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD
MARCH 18, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT: Paul Guthrie, Chapel Hill Township Representative; Alex Castro, Bingham Township
Representative; Brantley Wells, Hillsborough Township Representative; Heidi Perry, Bicycle Advocate
Representative; Ted Triebel, Little River Township Representative; Art Menius, Economic Development
Commission; Tom Magnuson, Pedestrian Access & Safety Advocate; Amy Cole, Transit Advocate;
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ed Vaughn, Cedar Grove Township Representative; Gary Saunders, CFE Representative;
Cheeks Township Representative- Vacant; Planning Board Representative — Vacant; Eno Township
Representative - Vacant;
STAFF PRESENT: Craig Benedict, Planning Director; Janice Tyler, Department on Aging Director; Nancy Coston,
Social Services Director; Janet Sparks, Child Support Enforcement Director; Peter Murphy, Transportation
Administrator; Malcum Massenburg, Assistant Transportation Administrator; Tom Altieri, Comprehensive
Planning Supervisor; Bret Martin, Transportation Planner; Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use Planner;
Eileen Nelson, Mobility Manager; Donna King, Health Dept; Tina Love, Administrative Assistant III
OTHERS PRESENT: Jeff Charles, John Rees
AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
AGENDA ITEM II: INTRODUCTIONS
Craig Benedict: Later in the agenda, we will talk about the new formation of the OUTBoard with some additional
representative that have to do with the Human Services Agencies. More specifically, the National Association of
Counties has declared April County Government and this year's theme is transportation. We have met with
internal departments and want to unfold this quickly and ask for help as move into the next month to talk about
two events. One is a County Expo on April 10 and the second event that will include a bus tour including the
commissioners on April 24. This is an afternoon event that will take the BOCC and a few select people on a
tour of one of our new routes to get an idea of individuals that will use this service.
Heidi Perry: What are the hours.
Craig Benedict: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
AGENDA ITEM III: APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR DECEMBER 17, 2014
MOTION made by Art Menius to approve minutes. Seconded by Alex Castor.
Minutes were approved by consensus.
Art Menius: There was a couple of housekeeping items in the minutes that don't seem to be on the agenda.
One was a list of roads scheduled for maintenance and the other was Heidi asked Abigail to create a history of
how projects got on the STIP.
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Abigaile Pittman: We have a presentation later on the STIP and we can discuss that.
Bret Martin: There is a maintenance schedule by DOT every year in the summer that programs where they will
repave. I have that from this past summer I can share. They won't release it until the summer.
Paul Gutherie: Let's put that on hold.
Heidi Perry: The schedule from last year, does it have things on it that have not been done.
Bret Martin: I look at it once a year to see if there are any opportunities for bikeway opportunities and there are
hardly ever any.
Heidi Perry: That was the reason we wanted to see it to see what roads were coming up.
Craig Benedict: They try to get it done before the winter. I will check into that.
Bret Martin: If you would like it to be normal practice, we could bring that every year.
Paul Gutherie: That would be a great idea.
AGENDA ITEM IV: CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
AGENDA ITEM V: REGULAR AGENDA
A.) Transportation Services, Orange County Public Transportation (OPT)
i. Introduction of representatives
ii. Review of importance of transportation services function of the OUTBoard (Peter
Murphy)
iii. Endorsement of BOCC Action: OPT Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan.
(Bret Martin and Peter Murphy)
iv. Endorsement of BOCC Action: OPT Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Plan. Title VI
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and
activities receiving federal financial assistance. Introduction to the Title VI Plan to be
provided at the meeting. (Bret Martin and Peter Murphy)
v. Information Item: National County Government Month (April) Transportation Themed
Event(s)
OUTBoard Action: Receive information, discuss and provide comments; and
endorse BOCC actions on ADA Plan and Title VI Plan
B.) Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) — Review Planning
staffs comments on the Draft STIP.
OUTBoard Action: Receive information, and provide any comments the Board may
have
Abigaile Pittman: Introduction of members. We will have a meeting with these members quarterly. The next
meeting would be February, May, September and November.
Peter Murphy: Review of importance of transportation services function of the OUTBoard.
Paul Gutherie: How do you visualize these quarterly meetings, open forums or documented topics, etc.
Peter Murphy: They have to be open to the general public in the hearing format.
108 Craig Benedict: About the expansion of the OPT system. In the past 10 years, there has not been anything new but now
109 we have new funding sources from a few different locations. Another funding source is 5311, which is a rural community
1 10 transpiration system. There are also 5307 monies.
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1 12 Paul Gutherie: The theme of your April meeting the kickoff of a large expansion in service.
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114 Craig Benedict: We want to rebrand OPT having it work well with all the other transit providers. As an interim measure we
115 will order generic bus signs with an Orange County symbol until we brand them with their own symbol.
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117 Bret Martin: Review of Endorsement of BOCC Action: OPT Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plan.
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119 Janice Tyler: For seniors, it was that our social work staff could approve folks for easy rider, would ya'II consider that here
120 that our team could certify someone without seeing a medical provider.
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122 Bret Martin: I can't answer that. Continued review.
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124 Tom: Magnuson Can we make changes at this late date?
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126 Bret Martin: If it is something that is definitely governed by the plan adopted by the BOCC, then the answer is no but
127 something that would result in an administrative decision, then yes.
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129 Tom Magnuson: I took issue with the appeal process. From the user standpoint, that will be uncomfortable. The people
130 who rejected me are going to evaluate the rejection.
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132 Bret Martin: We run into issues of decisions being made by people who do not meet often enough.
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134 Paul Gutherie: Is there a hearing officer independent of the operating departments?
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136 Craig Benedict: If someone disagrees with my decision, it will go to the Board of Adjustment. I would keep a record of
137 comments.
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139 Ted Triebel: The expanded service into Alamance County, was there cooperation between the two counties and is there a
140 funding source from Alamance County to OPT.
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142 Bret Martin: The answer to your second question is no. The first question is yes.
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144 MOTION made by Heidi Perry to endorse the resolution as modified by the BOCC and that we revisit the issues
145 of fairs and complaints procedures three months after the beginning of the system and three month intervals.
146 Seconded by Alex Castro.
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148 Alex Castro: You said revisit, I think subject of further study, those issues you mentioned. We need to spend
149 time looking at provision and coming up with more definitive words.
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151 Paul Gutherie: Would you accept the idea the OUTBoard would continue to look at these issues for procedural
152 and administrative changes.
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154 MOTION made by Heidi Perry to endorse the resolution as modified by the BOCC and that we revisit the issues
155 of fairs and complaints procedures three months after the beginning of the system and three month intervals.
156 Seconded by Alex Castro.
157 VOTE: Unanimous
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159 Bret Martin: Review of Endorsement of BOCC Action: OPT Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Plan. Title VI prohibits
160 discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial
161 assistance. Introduction to the Title VI Plan to be provided at the meeting.
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163 Heidi Perry: When someone completes this form, where does it go?
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165 Bret Martin: They can send the complaint to the OPT administrator or file a compliant with the Federal Transit
166 Administrators office of Civil Rights.
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168 Ted Triebel: You said something about the make up of the OUTBoard because we make important decision
169 about transpiration but as far as I know, we don't make decisions. This is not a decision making board.
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171 Bret Martin: The NCDOT state management plan, they have developed to tell FTA how they are governing their
172 sub recipients who are using their federal funding for rural transportation regarding who we are serving and how
173 we are serving in the hands of this body. The business decisions are the board of County Commissioners.
174 Malcum, can you concur?
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176 Malcum Massenburg: At the DOT level, one of the first questions before sending anything to the BOCC, has
177 their TAB board reviewed and approved that document.
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179 Paul Gutherie: We are getting this after the fact instead of before the fact.
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181 Craig Benedict: This is not a final deciding board.
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183 Bret Martin: The preference would have been for these items to come before the OUTBoard first.
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185 Heidi Perry: I am reading the charge and we do not have the final say.
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187 Bret Martin: That is true, the BOCC has said but that is not true with the State Management Plan.
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189 Paul Gutherie: This function we have just discussed is a new function for this board and we can sort that out but
190 it is a new function. We should adopt and endorse what the BOCC did and I would even welcome a second
191 resolution to ask Staff to look carefully into what needs to be done to amend the overall guidance with regards to
192 the responsibility of this board to encompass the powers that have been assigned to us.
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194 MOTION made Art Menius to endorse the action of the BOCC adopting the resolution adopting the Orange
195 Public Transportation Title Six Plan Program. Seconded by Alex Castro
196 VOTE: Unanimous
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198 MOTION made by Paul Gutherie for the committee of this board to draft revisions to the statement of
199 responsibility of this board to fit its new roles in managing of the Title Six Plan and the Americans with
200 Disabilities Act Plan. Seconded by Alex Castro
201 VOTE: Unanimous
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204 Bret Martin: Draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) — Review Planning staff's comments on
205 the Draft STIP.
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208 AGENDA ITEM VI: STAFF UPDATES
209 Bicycle Safety — Update on the BOCC petition for planning staff to work with the
210 OUTBoard to discuss bicycle safety.
211 OUTBoard Action: Receive updates
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214 Abigaile Pittman: Review Bicycle Safety. Alex, would you read the bill?
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216 Alex Castro: One correction, this is a rural community of people. This is a draft bill introduced in the General
217 Assembly on March 12, House Bill 232.
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219 Jeff Charles: I find it unique that I have heard one bicyclist out of 12. A lot of concerns raised by your group in
220 Orange County were the fact there was large groups of bicyclist impede in traffic. There was wording in laws in
221 bicyclist states was that cyclist couldn't ride more than two abreast nor impede traffic. That simple statement
222 seems to do away with motorist concerns. I would hope the legislature would look to what is going on in these
223 states as we try to improve the health of our young children and adults.
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225 Alex Castro: Continued review of bill.
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227 Jeff Charles: One thing I am concerned about is motorist delays and mentioning about how bicyclists are
228 impeding emergency vehicles. It is fine to understand we may delay motorist sometimes. We have had four
229 incidents of road rage since June. We have had two deaths in the last six months. I am trying to understand the
230 weight being given to motorists. It is important to protect bicyclists.
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232 Alex Castro: My wife is a tri athlete and sometimes I am dragged with her as a trainer. One of the positive
233 things was to ask for increase law enforcement presence. I got the law enforcement community involved. I think
234 it is important to form a work group with members of this community and the cyclist and put something together
235 that is useful to improve the safety of the road.
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237 Tom Magnuson: I am the newest member and I don't understand our role in this discussion. I experience the
238 same thing as a pedestrian.
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240 Paul Gutherie: This committee generated through staff an Orange County Bicycle Route Map as one of its
241 activities. I think we can be influential in that. Jeff, you are right on target but this is an issue than is bigger than
242 one or two. Number one, we have very lousy drivers in these county and surrounding areas. Second, I think
243 some folks are unclear on the rule of the road pertaining to bicyclist. Third, many of our highways are totally
244 unsafe for bicyclist and finally, we can take a hard look at the routes we promote for bicyclist use.
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246 Heidi Perry: I ride recreationally and I do ride my bike to work daily. Roads are there for transportation and 1
247 don't think they should be closed to everyone and not just bikes. I think education is huge. When we talk about
248 motorcyclist and cyclist, let's just talk about people because we are all people.
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250 Abigaile Pittman: This is an update. I imagine Bonnie Hauser will be here.
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252 Alex Castro: Bonnie is not the primary person on this. I have taken this because of my role on the OUTBoard.
253 With regard to your comment was the suggesting routing for bicyclist on the county map. There are some areas
254 that are unsafe for cyclists.
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256 Tom Magnuson: Looking into ways of trying to change the way people see the road. Don't get close enough
257 they can't fall. The place we may want to focus on is driver's education.
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259 Abigail Pittman: I need clarity. The plan that went to the BOCC is coming back to the OUTBoard and then
260 reporting back in June and there is a different suggestion by Alex by taking it outside the OUTBoard and then
261 reporting back.
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263 Alex Castro: The point is who will do the work? Is staff taking this on? I am suggesting a group including
264 members of the OUTBoard and others can come up with suggestions and come back to the meeting.
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266 Jeff Charles: What type of meetings would these be?
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268 Paul Gutherie: As long as this body does not empower and receives a recommendation that it fully discuses in a
269 public way, that would be the cleanest way.
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271 Abigaile Pittman: It is an efficient use of time to have separate people that are looking as long as we are using
272 the same plan that went before the BOCC. If we could work within the same organization.
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274 Tom Altieri: The plan that is in your packet is a plan that has been reviewed by the county manager and
275 reviewed and this plan was laid out to reflect a process in which would be supported by your staffs resources.
276 This is the plan, staff will support the OUTBoard.
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278 Alex Castro: The outreach meeting isn't attended very well.
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280 Paul Gutherie: I think that is a presentation made to this board when we have a major agenda item to present to
281 the BOCC. We have to agenda the next two meetings. The most important thing is to pull together a list of
282 recommendations.
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284 Jeff Charles: Unfortunately, we are talking about an emotional issue and cyclist will want to show up and that is
285 why I came up with a number of about 10.
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287 Paul Gutherie: I will not support limiting access to this committee by any individual that wants to come but I am
288 advising you to come in with a consensus from your constituents.
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290 MOTION made by Seconded by
291 VOTE: Unanimous
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293 AGENDA ITEM Vil: BOARD COMMENTS
294 OUTBoard Action: Receive comments.
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298 AGENDA ITEM Vill: ADJOURNMENT
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300 The meeting was adjourned by consensus.
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304 Paul Guthrie, Chair
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