Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) Meeting Minutes Special Called Meeting 5 August 2020 The Urban Transportation Commission convened in a meeting on August 5, 2020 via videoconference. Commission Members in Attendance: Daniel Alvarado Kelly Davis Samuel Franco Commission Members Absent: Mario Champion – Chair Daniel Hennessey – Vice Chair Alex Reyna Allie Runas Susan Somers Athena Leyton Cynthia Weatherby Michael Wilfley CALL TO ORDER Hennessey called the meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JULY 10, 2020 REGULAR MEETING The July 10, 2020 minutes were approved on a 7-0 vote with Commissioners Champion, Weatherby and Wilfley absent and Commissioner Davis not yet present. 2. NEW BUSINESS A. Project Connect transit plan funding and governance – Discussion and Possible Action Commissioner Somers proposed draft recommendation language which, after debate and amendment, read as follows: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: The Urban Transportation Commission urges Austin City Council to: • Adopt at least a 8.75% tax rollback election for the November ballot, which will serve to fund the Project Connect Locally Preferred Alternatives and $300 million for anti-displacement efforts such as land acquisition or transit-oriented affordable housing along the transit corridors; • Adopt clear language in the Contract with the Voters requiring the Republic Square to North Lamar Transit Center segment as part of the initial rail line(s); • Exclude any funding for roadway expansion. • Ensure there is broad community input on anti-displacement funding allocation and development of strategies to mitigate any potential negative effects of this project on existing communities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The Urban Transportation Commission urges Austin City Council and Capital Metro Transit Authority to: • Ensure the Austin Transit Partnership board has diverse representation and deep knowledge of the Austin transit rider experience by: o Require at least five years of experience for the professional members of the board o Expand the board with two community members to be chosen by a Community Advisory Committee o Require that the two community based board members collectively have the following expertise or experience: rides transit; interacts with and understands the needs of transit dependent individuals and families (including those experiencing disabilities); displacement mitigation; experience with labor and worker rights; and experience serving on advisory groups such as the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission, Capital Metro Customer Satisfaction Advisory Committee, or Capital Metro Access Advisory Committee o Require the board to vote on recommendations made by its Community Advisory Committee  A motion to approve the recommendation was adopted on an 8-0 vote with Commissioners Champion, Weatherby and Wilfley absent. B. Active transportation and safety infrastructure funding – Discussion and Possible Action Commissioner Alvarado proposed draft recommendation language which, after debate and amendment, read as follows: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the Safe Mobility Bond be added to the November ballot for an amount no less than $750 million, which meets the continued funding requirements for the above cited plans; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that the bond funds be spent in a manner that directly addresses systemic disinvestment in marginalized communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Urban Transportation Commission recommends that if the Safe Mobility Bond is not added to the November ballot, that the Project Connect Bond include significant funding earmarked for the continued implementation of the above cited Active Transportation plans, and not just within a close radius of new transit infrastructure. A motion to approve the recommendation was adopted on an 8-0 vote with Commissioners Champion, Weatherby and Wilfley absent. 3. STAFF AND COMMITTEE REPORTS No updates given due to time constraints. 4. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A. Austin Community Climate Plan update (Staff; September) ADJOURNMENT Hennessey adjourned the meeting at 2:30 p.m. without objection.