DES MOINES AREA MPO. Policy Committee Meeting. January 21, 2016

Transcription

1 DES MOINES AREA MPO Policy Committee Meeting January 21, 2016

2 January 21, 2016 Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. VOTE: Approval of Agenda 3. VOTE: Approval of Meeting Minutes 4. CONSENT and VOTE: Approval of December Financial Statement 5. VOTE: Election of 2016 Executive Committee 6. PRESENTATION: Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership 7. REPORT: FFY Transportation Improvement Program Amendment Request 8. REPORT: FFY 2020 STP and TAP Application Scores 9. REPORT: FY 2017 Unified Planning Work Program and Budget Development 10. REPORT: FAST Act Summary 11. REPORT: Transit Performance Data 12. REPORT: Water Trails and Greenways Plan Update 13. INFORMATION: Walnut Creek Watershed Management Plan 14. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee 15. Next Meeting Date Wednesday, February 18, :00 p.m., Des Moines Area MPO Office 16. Adjournment

3 Election of 2016 Executive Committee CY 2016 Nominating Committee: Kyle Mertz, Steve Gaer, and Gary Mahannah Slate of Candidates: Tom Hockensmith, Polk County Chair Tom Armstrong, City of Grimes Vice Chair Steve Gaer, City of West Des Moines Secretary/Treasurer Angela Connolly, Polk County At Large Joe Gatto, City of Des Moines At Large Ruth Randleman, City of Carlisle At Large Chris Coleman, City of Des Moines Ex Officio

4 Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Goal: Create A Connected Conservation Community To garner broad support for conservation, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service must provide a reason, and opportunities, for urban residents to find, appreciate, and care for nature in their cities and beyond. Therefore, engaging our urban neighbors, and fostering a sense of stewardship, reflects the heart of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program.

5 Working with Urban Communities With 80% of the U.S. population currently residing in urban communities, the challenge to ensure our natural resources are conserved and valued by the American people has become complex. To ensure that we nurture a new conservation constituency, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service must promote strategies to engage these audiences in meaningful, collaborative ways that build sustainable, broad-based support for the their mission.

6 The Challenge: With 80% of Americans living in cities, how do we connect urban America with our wild places, such as national wildlife refuges? How do we teach a new generation to love the land when pavement is what they usually see? How do we help children find inspiration in nature all around them when they spend so much time indoors and plugged in? Americans have much of their direct contact with nature in urban settings, thereby shaping the nation s conservation values, ethics and priorities, and requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reach beyond our boundaries.

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9 Urban Wildlife Refuge Program Goal and Standards The goal of the Urban Wildlife Refuge Program (Program) is to engage urban communities as partners in wildlife conservation. Excellence may be achieved through the eight standards that serve as a framework for collaboration among the Service and urban communities, whether such collaboration is on or off Service lands. The eight standards are: 1. KNOW AND RELATE TO THE COMMUNITY 2. CONNECT URBAN PEOPLE WITH NATURE VIA STEPPING STONES OF ENGAGEMENT 3. BUILD PARTNERSHIPS 4. BE A COMMUNITY ASSET 5. ENSURE ADEQUATE LONG-TERM RESOURCES 6. PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS 7. ENSURE VISITORS FEEL SAFE AND WELCOME 8. MODEL SUSTAINABILITY

10 Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships Where the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Community, and Partners come together to promote conservation

11 Overlap With the Tomorrow Plan: Tomorrow Plan GOAL 2: Improve the Region s Environmental Health and Access to the Outdoors It has been said that the human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. While it is easy to understand how this holds true in our rural wild places, it is easy to forget that this is equally important in our urban spaces. Wild places are as important to urban dwellers as they are to the bird and the deer and the squirrel. These places cool our air, clean our water, and provide refuge at no expense to us. In turn, we are provided with places to escape the noise and bustle of the city, if for a short walk, a long bike ride, or a relaxing picnic lunch. These places are more than just recreational amenities; they are corridors to the greater natural world that bring life and resources into the urban fabric of our cities. Ryan Ellsworth OPN Architects Goal 2 Strategies: C. Build a region-wide greenways system E. Expand tree canopy and regional park capacity acres, facilities, programs, and connections

12 Overlap With the Tomorrow Plan: INITIATIVE 2 GREENWAYS Build a fully-connected system of natural resource areas by selectively expanding the existing network of parks, conservation areas, open space, and trails. 1. DEVELOP COLLABORATIONS AND CHAMPIONS 2. COMPLETE A NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY (NAI) TO IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE NATURAL AREAS IN THE GREENWAYS 5. LEVERAGE THE TRAILS NETWORK AND THE REGION S DISCONNECTED PARKS TO FILL IN GAPS IN THE TRAIL SYSTEM. 6. IDENTIFY FUNDING MECHANISMS TO COMPLETE AND MAINTAIN THE REGIONAL NETWORK OF NATURAL LANDS AND CORRIDORS. 8. DEVELOP CONCEPTS FOR ECOLOGICAL BUFFERS 10. DEVELOP A NATURAL RESOURCE OVERLAY DISTRICT 11. ASSESS AND PLAN FOR THE NEED OF PARKS AND OPEN SPACE 13. ENHANCE THE REGIONAL TREESCAPE INITIATIVE 4 REGIONAL COOPERATION Reach across jurisdictional boundaries to manage systems, including utilities and infrastructure.

13 Proposed Core Partners: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Army Corps of Engineers City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation Polk County Conservation Iowa Department of Natural Resources Potential Supporting Partners: Des Moines Public Schools Des Moines Water Works The Nature Conservancy Ducks Unlimited Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Pheasants Forever Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Iowa State University The Audubon Society Iowa River Revival American Rivers The Sierra Club Blank Park Zoo

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23 Potential Funding Sources US Fish and Wildlife Service Urban Programs Funding Available: Approximately $360,000 is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to fund projects that engage urban neighbors and foster a sense of stewardship where there are Fish and Wildlife Service lands or offices nearby (within approximately 25+/- miles). Priority areas could also include locations where there are existing Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships or with established Urban Bird Treaty Cities with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Proposals should articulate tangible ways the Fish and Wildlife Service can become an asset to the community. Examples of asset building would include: providing technical assistance in fish and wildlife issues, providing pathways for youth employment or community education and recreational enjoyment. Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnerships engage communities in conservation on easilyaccessible lands that the Service does not own. They involve residents in place-based outdoor experiences that foster connections with fish, wildlife and their habitats. Proposals should address the Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership priorities (partnerships, measurable results, sustainability) and demonstrate how the project will meet at least one of the Standards of Excellence for Urban Wildlife Refuges and Partnerships (located at Urban Bird Treaty projects should have an emphasis on enhancing urban habitats for birds, engaging citizens in bird conservation and connecting diverse and youth audiences to birds and bird conservation. Proposals should address three or more of the Urban Bird Treaty goals (see: antreaty.html) and participating cities are expected to be designated as an Urban Bird Treaty City after receiving a grant. Since it began in 1999, the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program has supported more than 750 projects in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than $8.5 million in federal funds and $7 million in private and corporate contributions have been leveraged with $60 million in matching funds at the local level. The program is administered by the NFWF, National Association of Counties, Wildlife Habitat Council and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Service contributed $540,000 to this year s projects. Other funding partners in the 2015 Five Star grant program include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service, FedEx, Southern Company, Bank of America, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

24 QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

25 Contacts Scott Rolfes Army Corps of Engineers , ext 6508 Lance Koch U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

26 FFY TIP Amendment Request The City of Pleasant Hill, with the support of the City of Des Moines In the City of Pleasant Hill, SE Connector: At Pleasant Hill Blvd and Vandalia Road Intersection Federal Aid Amount: $3,378,400 Total Cost: $4,223,000 Type of Funding: STP Change: Add project to the TIP for FFY 2016 by subtracting the corresponding STP funding amount from the City of Des Moines SE Connector: From SE 30th to US 65 project.

27 FFY 2020 STP and TAP Application Scores Applications due December 1, Submitted Applications 16 Roadway 1 Transit 2 Bridge 8 TAP STP Requested = $45,505,000 TAP Requested = $2,435,710

28 FFY 2020 STP and TAP Application Scores STP Scores Ranged from points out of 100 Average score of 43 points TAP Scores Scored by TAP review committee All projects scored the required 50 points to move on to the presentation stage

29 FFY 2020 STP and TAP Application Scores STP/TAP Presentations on February 10, 2016, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. STP Funding Subcommittee Recommendation February 23, 2016

30 FY 2017 UPWP and Budget Development MPO s scope of work for next fiscal year Work elements and activities Committees Costs Proposed work activities are tied to the MPO s federal requirements Draft due April 1st - Final due June 1st

31 FY 2017 UPWP and Budget Development MPO Requirements per US Code Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Public Participation Plan (PPP) Additional MPO Requirements Congestion Management Process (required of TMAs) Must have decision making bodies (e.g., MPO Policy Committee) Administer STP funding process

32 FY 2017 UPWP and Budget Development MPO staff soliciting input on additional tasks for FY 2017 Plans Studies Research Technical assistance to communities Membership survey distributed last week

33 FAST Act Summary New transportation bill passed in December 5-year bill Nearly all funding levels increased from MAP-21 Minimal changes to existing programs

34 FAST Act Summary STP changes Now called the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program Formula split between locals and states changed from MAP-21 MAP-21: 50/50 split FAST: 51 local/49 state split; local increases 1% each year However, pre MAP-21 levels were 62.5 local/37.5 state split TAP now called the STP Set-Aside

35 FAST Act Summary MPOs must now consider/include in planning process: Intercity bus and bus facilities Tourism and natural disaster risk reduction Ways to reduce or mitigate stormwater impacts of transportation Freight Focus Creates national freight network and freight-related funding programs

36 FAST Act Summary Complete Streets and Design Standards Amends US Code to say that designs for highways shall consider Built and natural environment Impacts on environment, aesthetics, community, etc. Cost savings by using flexibility in design guidance Access for other modes of transportation Adds clarification that local communities may use design standard different from that used by the state DOT

37 Transit Performance Data

38 Transit Improvements Expanded service Technology tools Increased ridership DART Central Station

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40 Water Trails and Greenways Existing Conditions State of the Rivers Report Up for review by the end of January Submit comments and questions

41 Walnut Creek Watershed Management Plan Draft plan completed Presentations being made to WMA member communities Final plan in spring Draft plan and community presentations available at

42 January 21, 2016 Agenda 1. Call to Order 2. VOTE: Approval of Agenda 3. VOTE: Approval of Meeting Minutes 4. CONSENT and VOTE: Approval of December Financial Statement 5. REPORT: Election of 2016 Executive Committee 6. PRESENTATION: Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership 7. REPORT: FFY Transportation Improvement Program Amendment Request 8. REPORT: FFY 2020 STP and TAP Application Scores 9. REPORT: FY 2017 Unified Planning Work Program and Budget Development 10. REPORT: FAST Act Summary 11. REPORT: Transit Performance Data 12. REPORT: Water Trails and Greenways Plan Update 13. INFORMATION: Walnut Creek Watershed Management Plan 14. Other Non-Action Items of Interest to the Committee 15. Next Meeting Date Thursday, February 18, :00 p.m., Des Moines Area MPO Office 16. Adjournment