Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Board met Jan. 8.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
Board Members Present: Gerald Bennett, Chair-representing southwest Cook County, Rita Athas- representing the City of Chicago, Frank Beal-representing the City of Chicago, Matt Brolley-representing Kane/Kendall Counties, Maurice Cox- representing the City of Chicago, Karen Darch-representing
northwest Cook County, Jim Healy-representing DuPage County, Mike Montgomery-representing the City of Chicago, John Noak-representing Will County (via tele-conference), Rick Reinbold-representing south suburban Cook County, Carolyn Schofield-representing McHenry County (via tele-conference), Anne Sheahan-representing the City of Chicago, Nancy Rotering, representing Lake County (via tele-conference), Matthew Walsh-representing west central Cook County (via tele- conference), Diane Williams-representing Cook County (via tele- conference), and non-voting member, Leanne Redden-representing the MPO Policy Committee
Also Present: Jim Savio-Sikich LLP
Staff Present: Erin Aleman, Amy McEwan, Angela Manning-Hardimon, Jesse Elam, Stephane Phifer, Gordon Smith, Austen Edwards, Jeff Schnobrich, Anthony Cefali, and Sherry Kane
Others Present: Garland and Heather Armstrong-Access Living, Elaine Bottomley and Jack Cruikshank-WCGL, Len Cannata-WCMC, Emily Daucher-McHenry County Council, John Donovan-FHWA, Emily Karry, Mike Klemens, and Joe Surdain-Lake County Council, Kendra Johnson-NWMC, Daniel Knickelbein-DMMC, Ryan Peterson and Troy Simpson-Kane/Kendall Council, Kelsey Passi-Southwest Conference, Leslie Phemister-SSMMA, and David Seglin-CDOT.
1.0 Call to Order and Introductions
CMAP Board Chair Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at approximately 9:34 a.m. and asked members to introduce themselves.
2.0 Agenda Changes and Announcements
There were no Agenda changes.
3.0 Approval of Minutes
A motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 13, 2019, as presented made by Frank Beal was seconded by Rita Athas, and with all in favor carried.
4.0 Executive Director’s Report
Executive Director Erin Aleman reported on the following: the 2019/2020 Local Technical Assistance (LTA) call for projects closed in October, which saw 82 applications from 71 applicants; the FY 2021 work plan and budget is scheduled for Board review in March, approval in April, and final to IDOT by May 1; local dues--that allow CMAP to meet its statutory obligations and provide funding for regionally significant issues that aren’t related to transportation, i.e. water--are due at month’s end. In the coming months, Aleman and staff will be presenting to the Counties and CoGs and board members are welcome to attend. Aleman also gave a recap on her testimony at a joint subcommittee hearing of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and announced the promotion of Tina Smith to Director of Innovation and Strategic Alignment, welcomed Laura Wilkison as Deputy Executive Director for Plan Implementation and Legislative Affairs, and congratulated Jake Seid as the new president of APA Illinois.
5.0 CMAP Audit and Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2019.
Jim Savio, Partner with Sikich, LLP presented the preliminary Annual Financial Report for the period June 30, 2019, and thanked the staff for their assistance during the audit process. Savio highlighted a number of schedules from the annual financial report as well as the Board communication report, reporting that an unmodified—highest level— opinion was issued. Board members are welcome to contact him with any questions.
A motion by Frank Beal was seconded by Jim Healy to accept the audit of the annual financial report for the year ended June 30, 2019, as presented. All in favor, the motion carried.
6.0 Procurements and Contract Approvals
Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administration Angela Manning-Hardimon presented the following for approval: a contract approval for the Village of Minooka comprehensive plan with Houseal Lavigne Associates for a not-to-exceed amount of $109,831.00; contract approval for estimation and enhancement of CMAP’s trip-based model with Cambridige Systematics for a not-to-exceed amount of $299,914.44; contract approval for documentation of planning approaches for equitable development and guidebook creation with Muse Community + Design for a total not-to-exceed amount of $50,000.00.
A motion by Mike Montgomery was seconded by Anne Sheahan to approve the procurements and contract awards as presented. All in favor, the motion carried.
7.0 Committee Reports
Frank Beal, the Chair of the Coordinating Committee reported that the earlier meeting consisted of a presentation from staff on the projects under consideration from the applications received during the 2019 joint CMAP and RTA call for projects. The committee spent the full hour reviewing the detail and offering feedback on the projects themselves and improving the review process. The staff recommendations will now go to the working committees with a draft presented to the board in March and approval of the program expected in April.
The Executive Director’s recommendations for CMAP’s Coordinating, UWP, and working committee membership and meeting schedule was included in the packet for approval.
A motion by Carolyn Schofield, seconded by Diane Williams to approve the recommendations as presented, and with all in favor carried.
8.0 Unified Work Program (UWP)
Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administration Angela Manning-Hardimon reported that federal funding of approximately $18.8 million, with matching funds of approximately $4.7 million is anticipated for the UWP Program in FY 2021, an increase of just about 3% ($813,804) over FY 2020. Hardimon reviewed the schedule for the approval of the program beginning with the call for projects on January 2, 2020, presentation and ranking of the proposals, adoption of the program by the UWP Committee, and review by the Transportation Committee, CMAP’s Coordinating Committee, a draft of the UWP to IDOT, concluding with the presentation and approval of the program by the CMAP Board and the MPO Policy Committee in June.
9.0 Federal Performance Target Development
Deputy Executive Director for Policy and Programming Jesse Elam gave background on the setting of transportation performance measures—congestion, state of good repair on the transit system, pavement and bridge condition and highway safety are a few--targets for their performance, timelines for updates, and requested approval of the staff recommendation on highway safety targets for calendar year 2020. The targets mirror those of the State of Illinois which are well aligned with the city of Chicago’s goals under the vision zero program and actually represent a pretty aggressive vision of safety improvement. Regrettably, traffic safety isn’t getting better and was the topic of discussion at the Transportation Committee that may result in a safety focused group established here at CMAP. Elam also reported that another set of safety targets for transit are expected from US DOT that may have CMAP hosting a meeting with the transit service boards to regionalize the performance measures.
After a bit of discussion by the board, on the importance of traffic safety and developing strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities, a motion by Mayor Darch, was seconded by Carolyn Schofield to approve the traffic safety performance measures as outlined and recommended by staff. All in favor the motion carried.
10.0 ON TO 2050 Implementation: Traded Industry Clusters Analysis
Senior Policy Analyst Austen Edwards, presented CMAP’s Traded Industry Clusters analysis, explaining that industry clusters– groups of interlinked businesses that benefit from their proximity and interactions–are a longstanding focus of academic research and regional economic development. They propel the regional economy and provide better jobs. Traded clusters account for around one-third of the region’s total jobs but more than half of its wages, paying on average $15,200 more per year than industries serving local customers. However, most traded clusters are not keeping up with peer regions and national averages, losing a total 144,000 regional jobs (9 percent) during 2001-17. ON TO 2050 calls for prioritized investment in our traded clusters to restart regional growth. Building on the plan’s recommendations, CMAP is providing new baseline data across clusters and incorporating the plan’s principles of Inclusive Growth and Resilience. A new technical report will summarize these findings as well as initial steps for adopting a regional, cluster-based approach.
11.0 2020 Federal Agenda and Reauthorization Principles
Senior Policy Analyst Jeff Schnobrich presented the draft 2020 Federal Agenda and Surface Transportation Reauthorization Principles for discussion today and approval by the Board in February. Schnobrich also gave an update on two federal policies: the federal rescission that was to go into effect in September was repealed, and Congress passed a full year appropriations bill in December.
Schnobrich briefly reviewed the five principles in the surface transportation reauthorization document—sustainable funding, reform funding to achieve national goals, support for goods movement, the transportation system’s role in climate change (new), and a stronger role for regions—reporting that more detailed recommendations are presented in the 2020 Federal Agenda that are most analogous to the chapters of ON TO 2050. Differences include references to climate change, Buy America waivers, and the importance of grade crossing blockage data.
12.0 State Legislative Update, 2020 Draft State Agenda, Legislative Framework, and Principles for Illinois Transportation Funding
Government Affairs Senior Anthony Cefali presented drafts of the 2020 Legislative Agenda for the 101st Illinois General Assembly, the ON TO 2050 Legislative Framework, and the Principles for Illinois Transportation Funding for board approval. Cefali reported minimal changes in the Legislative Framework document that suggests the need for more investment in transportation (both at federal and state levels), covered a few key points from the Agenda—dedicated funding, the importance of TNC data, and the funding gap that remains (even after Rebuild Illinois) particularly related to transit—and described the principles essential to any transportation revenue proposal.
A motion by Mayor Matt Brolley, seconded by Rita Athas, to approve the documents as were presented, and with all in favor carried.
13.0 Other Business
A state supported safety summit scheduled for February 19, 2020 was announced—more details to follow.
14.0 Next Meeting
The CMAP Board is scheduled to meet next on February 12, 2020.
15.0 Public Comment
Garland Armstrong-Access Living, addressed the board regarding the need for improvement at the Cumberland Circle with drivers rushing in the mornings, right turns, and the signs for left turn onto a one-way street that cannot be seen in the dark. Heather Armstrong-Access Living, suggested that the State of Illinois ban plastic products—bags, bottles, etc.—and make a move toward boxed water and cardboard cartons.
16.0 Adjournment
At approximately 11:32 a.m., a motion to adjourn by Jim Healy, seconded by Mayor Rick Reinbold, and with all in favor, carried.
https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/1105743/DRAFTBoardMinutes01-08-2020.pdf/a413675c-cdd1-eb3e-58fb-93e27dd65cb5
Alerts Sign-up