2015-02-26 Development & Transportation

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,%W 4. FUTURE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ETAC) {Strategic Plan No. 5,41 Taig Higgins noted ETAC serves as an advisory body on issues related to trees in the right of way as well as transportation, solid waste & resources and in 1999 the city adopted an ordinance that narrowed the scope of responsibilities to tree planting, removal and associated duties. Staff met with an Ad Hoc Committee of ETAC to discuss roles and responsibilities and possibly re- establish some of those roles such as establish planting trees in the public right of way, establish trees for blocks and neighborhoods, and be involved in major transportation programs such as the Circulation Element and Complete Street Standards. Noted the next step is to receive the recommendation from the Ad Hoc Committee, incorporate those with staffs, and present to Mayor and Council. Vice Chair Martinez noted the importance of an advisory board or commission to the Council, requested once the ETAC Ad Hoc Committee submits their suggested roles and responsibilities to compile it with staff's suggested roles, review by staff and City Manager and then forward to the Mayor and Council to augment, add or omit responsibilities. She noted she wanted to make sure they have the right roles within transportation planning process, adding the Capital Improvement Program should be reviewed by ETAC, to play a vital role in Active Transportation, as well as the Climate Action Plan in making sure the goals & objectives are met which is mandated by the Sustainable Communities Strategy and tied to the Regional Transportation Plan by the State. Noted she sits on the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) who is responsible for distributing $31 million for private action and reduction of greenhouse emissions whose funds come from vehicle registration fees and mandated by the State legislature, inquired how much the City is receiving in funding and what we are doing with those funds and how we can leverage and match those to meet our goals and objectives within our Climate Action Plan, noting when dealing with the environment there are monies being brought to the city, and wanting to make sure ETAC's role is one of importance. Chairman Sarmiento noted he is supportive of expanding ETAC's roles and responsibilities, noted the importance of the Commission structure and value of public input on transportation and environmental issues, noted he'd like to see item come back for further discussion. Carl Benninger, ETAC Vice Chair and member of the Ad Hoc Committee, noted the Committee met on February 16 and will be submitting their recommendations to the city for Council review and comment. Tom Morrissey, ETAC Member and member of the Ad Hoc Committee, noted the value of the Committee and the benefits to the city including at their urging they changed the landscaping on Bristol Street to drought tolerant landscaping as opposed to artificial turf. Development & Transp. Council Committee Minutes 3 February 26, 2016