TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE & TRANSIT COORDINATING COUNCIL JOINT MEETING
Friday, May 11, 2007 Administrative Center – Room 3220
10:00 a.m.
COUNTY TCC MEMBERS PRESENT: Audrey Kader, Don Bina, Steve Johnson, Keith Carlson, Thomas Padesky, Richard Running, Noreen Kuroski, Chris Sander. COUNTY TCC MEMBERS EXCUSED: None. COUNTY TCC MEMBERS ABSENT: Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Marge Antoniewicz, Ron Neinast. LAPC TCC MEMBERS PRESENT: Audrey Kader, Keith Carlson, Thomas Padesky, Don Bina, Steve Johnson, Richard Running, Sandy Sechrest, Richard Hanley, Peter Fletcher, Chris Sander, Noreen Kuroski, Mark Johnsrud. LAPC TCC MEMBERS EXCUSED: None. LAPC TCC MEMBERS ABSENT: Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz,Jim Gausman, Dennis Manthei, Fred Buehler, Marge Antoniewicz, and Mike Poellinger. STAFF & GUESTS: Jim Tenuta, John Medinger, Jackie Eastwood, Tom Faella
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Audrey Kader, Committee Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Audrey Kader asked that the sentence “Sandy Sechrest commented that the snow gets piledin such a way that a pedestrian can’t reach the walk button” be changed to include the modified statement, “…a pedestrian can’t reach the crosswalk button.”
MOTION by Bina/Padesky to approve the joint committee meeting minutes of March 16,2007 as amended. Motion carried unanimously; Jean Meyer excused; Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Chris Sander, Noreen Kuroski, Ron Neinast, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz, Jim Gausman, Dennis Manthei, Mark Johnsrud, and Mike Poellinger absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT None requested.
MOTION TO RECOMMEND TO LAPC TO ADOPT TDP MOTION by Bina/Padesky to recommend the Policy Board adopt the 2008-2015 Transit Development Plan for the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility. Motion carried unanimously; Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Ron Neinast, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz, Jim Gausman,Dennis Manthei, Fred Buehler, and Mike Poellinger absent.
Keith Carlson stated that Jackie Eastwood had presented the recommendations to the MTUBoard, which has decided to proceed with some of the recommendations right away. The recommendations for the route changes to the south-side alignments would not be implemented until the transit center opens. Audrey Kader asked if the MTU Board could reconsider implementing those changes right away because a lot of people were very excited about the proposed changes.
RTA PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED BY JIM TENUTA OF THE ALLIANCE OF CITIES Jim Tenuta introduced himself as a lobbyist for the Alliance of Cities. His group along withthe Wisconsin Urban & Rural Transportation Association (WURTA), the Wisconsin League of
Municipalities, and the Wisconsin Counties Association have been working on a proposal over the last 5-6 months to allow municipalities and counties to form regional transportation authorities (RTAs). The proposal, which was somewhat modeled after a law in Michigan, would allow RTAs to generate revenue through the sales tax (1/2-cent). The process of forming an RTA would include: 1) negotiating an authorizing resolution (must be identical if more than one entity were involved) and 2) conducting a public hearing. The public hearing would inform the public about the authorizing resolution itself and the method of approval (simple majority, 2/3 vote, or referendum) for the authorizing resolution.
Jim Tenuta stated that La Crosse was important strategically because the speaker of the assembly (Mike Huebsch) was from here and members of the community should let him know of their support in the RTA.
Keith Carlson asked Tom Faella to brief the committee and Jim Tenuta of the Policy Board’s stand. Tom Faella started by explaining the role of the TCC which included providing a vehicle for coordination among transit providers and providing advice to the Policy Board. The Policy Board had previously considered an RTA as part of the TDP process, but would not take a position without seeing the legislation first. When the legislation was drafted, the LAPC would reconsider the issue.
Noreen Kuroski asked what an RTA would mean to the transit utility? Jim Tenuda responded that they should be integrated. The proposal does have a provision that says if a county has a city with more than 20 percent of the county population, the county and city must have the same resolution—assuming county-wide interest.
John Medinger noted that La Crosse County generates more than $9M per year on its ˝cent sales tax. Don Bina added that some officials have concern over giving taxing authority to another entity
MOTION by Padesky/Running to recommend to the LAPC to endorse RTA legislation. Motion carried unanimously; Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Ron Neinast, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz, Jim Gausman, Dennis Manthei, Fred Buehler, and Mike Poellinger absent.
UPDATE ON MTU AD HOC COMMITTEE John Medinger stated that the proposal for the County to take over MTU was not going well. There are just too many questions to be answered. Audrey Kader said it is important to bring Shared Ride into the mix because the concept developed would be more useful and the proposal would get a broader base of support.
John Medinger stated the next ad hoc committee meeting would involve a briefing on the other systems outside of MTU.
Audry Kader asked John Medinger if he could get another ad hoc member to participate on the TCC. Chris Sander suggested Brad Pfaff since he is on the ad hoc as well as a member of the Health and Human Services Board—from which a representative has not yet been appointed to the TCC. Noreen Kuroski stated she has solicited the Board on a number of occasions, but has not gotten any takers.
Noreen Kuroski discussed the STRAP grant and conducting focus groups with transportation payers and providers. A $180,000 STRAP implementation grant would help the Aging Unit utilize the information from the focus groups. Noreen Kuroski would like to see rural transportation options increased through coordination with urban transportation providers
(i.e. shared ride).
VISION STATEMENT FOR COORDINATED TRANSPORTATIONMOTION by Padesky/Bina to adopt the vision statement, “The vision for this transportation planning process is to provide a coordinated and seamless transportation system that will be reliable, easy to understand and use, and promote independence for all.” Motion carried unanimously; Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Ron Neinast, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz, Jim Gausman, Dennis Manthei, Fred Buehler, and Mike Poellinger absent.
Peter Fletcher will be responsible for integrating the vision statement into his “coordinated public transit-human resources transportation plan.”
NEXT MEETING Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.
ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Padesky/Sander to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously; Nancy Schmidt, Lyell Montgomery, Ron Neinast, Antonio Re, Mark Seitz, Jim Gausman, Dennis Manthei, Fred Buehler, and Mike Poellinger absent. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Jackie Eastwood, Recorder