HomeMy Public PortalAbout09 September 15, 2021 Executive
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
DATE: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20, (March 18, 2020), the meeting will only be
conducted via video conferencing and by telephone.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jan Harnik, City of Palm Desert – Chair
V. Manuel Perez, County of Riverside, District 4– Vice Chair
Bob Magee, City of Lake Elsinore – Second Vice Chair
Ben J. Benoit, City of Wildomar – Past Chair
Lloyd White, City of Beaumont
Brian Berkson, City of Jurupa Valley
Lisa Middleton, City of Palm Springs
Matt Rahn, City of Temecula
Karen Spiegel, County of Riverside, District 2
Chuck Washington, County of Riverside, District 3
Jeff Hewitt, County of Riverside, District 5
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Reviews and makes final decisions on personnel issues
and office operational matters.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
9:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20, (March 18, 2020), the meeting will
only be conducted via video conferencing and by telephone. Please follow the instructions below
to join the meeting remotely.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION
Join Zoom Meeting
https://rctc.zoom.us/j/81504226915
Meeting ID: 815 0422 6915
One tap mobile
+16699006833,,81504226915# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
For members of the public wishing to submit comment in connection with the Executive
Committee Meeting please email written comments to the Clerk of the Board at
lmobley@rctc.org prior to September 14, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. and your comments will be made
part of the official record of the proceedings. Members of the public may also make public
comments through their telephone or Zoom connection when recognized by the Chair.
In compliance with the Brown Act and Government Code Section 54957.5, agenda materials distributed
72 hours prior to the meeting, which are public records relating to open session agenda items, will be
available for inspection by members of the public prior to the meeting on the Commission’s website,
www.rctc.org.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Government Code Section 54954.2, Executive Order
N-29-20, and the Federal Transit Administration Title VI, please contact the Clerk of the Board at
(951) 787-7141 if special assistance is needed to participate in a Committee meeting, including
accessibility and translation services. Assistance is provided free of charge. Notification of at least
48 hours prior to the meeting time will assist staff in assuring reasonable arrangements can be made to
provide assistance at the meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Executive Committee Meeting Agenda
September 15, 2021
Page 2
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Under the Brown Act, the Board should not take action on or discuss
matters raised during public comment portion of the agenda which are not listed on the
agenda. Board members may refer such matters to staff for factual information or to be
placed on the subsequent agenda for consideration. Each individual speaker is limited to
speak three (3) continuous minutes or less.
5. ADDITIONS/REVISIONS – The Committee may add an item to the Agenda after making a
finding that there is a need to take immediate action on the item and that the item came to
the attention of the Committee subsequent to the posting of the agenda. An action adding
an item to the agenda requires 2/3 vote of the Committee. If there are less than 2/3 of the
Committee members present, adding an item to the agenda requires a unanimous vote.
Added items will be placed for discussion at the end of the agenda.
6. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – JULY 14, 2021 MEETING
7. AGENDA LANGUAGE REGARDING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Overview
This item is for the Committee to:
1) Authorize staff to add clarifying language to the Commission agenda to read under
Commissioner Comments “This item provides the opportunity for brief
announcements or comments on items or matters of general interest;” and
2) Authorize staff to create an additional agenda item for an Executive Director Report.
8. ADJOURNMENT
AGENDA ITEM 6
MINUTES
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
MINUTES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
1.CALL TO ORDER
The Special meeting of the Executive Committee was called to order by Chair Jan Harnik
at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom Meeting ID: 860 2403 9354. Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive
Order N-29-20, (March 18, 2020), the meeting was conducted via video conferencing and by
telephone.
2.ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent
Ben J. Benoit
Karen Spiegel*
Lisa Middleton
Chuck Washington
Jan Harnik
Jeff Hewitt
Bob Magee
V. Manuel Perez
Matt Rahn
Lloyd White
Brian Berkson
*arrived after the meeting was called to order
3.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Ben J. Benoit led the Executive Committee in a flag salute.
4.PUBLIC COMMENTS
There were no public comments.
5. ADDITIONS/REVISIONS
There were no additions or revisions.
6.APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES – MAY 12, 2021
M/S/C (White/Perez) to approve the minutes of May 12, 2021 as submitted.
1
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2021
Page 2
7. POLICY DISCUSSION REGARDING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Chair Harnik stated at the last Commission meeting during commissioner comments there
was a more than ten-minute comment that was questionable when it came to the Brown
Act as it became a discussion that was not agendized. The intent of the Brown Act is to
ensure that the public is included in discussions which was not possible due to the fashion
in which the comments were brought forward. She noted the comments were more than
ten minutes long at the end of the meeting when some people including the public have
left which isn’t the best interest of any subject or topic that RCTC needs to address. Chair
Harnik stated she appreciates and welcomes any comments from Commissioners on this
issue, suggesting consideration of a time limit on the final commissioner comments,
similar to public comments.
At this time, Commissioner Spiegel joined the meeting.
Commissioner Magee noted on the Board of Supervisors agenda, the final comments
portion of the agenda states, “Board Member Comments – 5 minutes” and suggested the
Commission do the same. He also noted the Commissioners need to rely on Council when
discussions start to go astray if the Chair doesn’t gavel it down.
Steve DeBaun, Legal Counsel, stated it is a balancing act as to when to jump in and
interrupt as he is never looking to stifle conversation. He noted one Commissioner can
speak because it is not a discussion but when other Commissioners respond he can then
interject to discourage a conversation.
Commissioner Benoit suggested adding language that states Commissioners please limit
your comments to what’s needed to generate a future agenda item.
Commissioner Spiegel expressed reservations about printing a time limit on the agenda
and might be better presented in direct communication to Commissioners.
Commissioner Hewitt concurred with Commissioner Spiegel, stating the Chair has a lot of
latitude in what they can do. He prefers being more informal rather than modifying the
language or adding a time limit and encouraged the Chair and legal counsel to interject
when necessary.
Commissioner Perez agreed with his colleagues that this should be handled internally by
having the Chair and legal counsel interject when necessary.
Commissioner White stated a five-minute limit makes sense as few Commissioners make
comments. He stated legal counsel can jump in if any other Commissioners attempt to
respond.
2
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2021
Page 2
Chair Harnik read what is currently listed on the agenda under commissioner comments
and suggested maybe the language could be made clearer.
Mr. DeBaun volunteered to look at that language and make suggestions. Chair Harnik
stated that language could be brought back to the Executive Committee for review and
possible adoption.
Commissioner Hewitt suggested the language not be sanitized too much so the Chair can
continue having latitude.
Chair Harnik agreed and stated they also don’t want to discourage comments or requests
as they want to ensure people are heard and their voices are validated.
Commissioner White stated the current language on the agenda that states “any other
Commission related activities” opens the door for anything to be said so perhaps that’s
where the language can be modified. He agrees with noting announcements and future
agenda items.
Chair Harnik stated Mr. DeBaun can bring back some language changes for consideration
at the next meeting or they can decide no changes need to be made.
Executive Director Anne Mayer stated many Commissioners have been contacted directly
regarding the Downtown Riverside Station project and there may be public calling in to
the Commission meeting later that morning. Staff will continue to communicate with the
groups in that neighborhood to provide accurate information.
8. ADJOURNMENT
There being no other items to be considered, the Executive Committee meeting
adjourned at 9:24 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Mobley
Clerk of the Board
3
AGENDA ITEM 7
Agenda Item 7
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
DATE: September 15, 2021
TO: Executive Committee
FROM: John Standiford, Deputy Executive Director
Lisa Mobley, Administrative Services Manager/Clerk of the Board
THROUGH: Anne Mayer, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Agenda Language Regarding Commissioner Comments
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for the Committee to:
1) Authorize staff to add clarifying language to the Commission agenda to read under
Commissioner Comments “This item provides the opportunity for brief announcements
or comments on items or matters of general interest;” and
2) Authorize staff to create an additional agenda item for an Executive Director Report.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
At its July 14, 2021, meeting, the Executive Committee discussed the Commissioners/Executive
Director Report section of the Commission agenda and the possibility of modifying the language
in an effort to minimize the opportunity for non-agendized discussions. The Committee
directed staff to bring back recommendations to modify the language on the Commission
agenda regarding Commissioner Comments. Currently, the agenda has a heading that reads
“Commissioners/Executive Director Report.” Staff recommends separating the Executive
Director Report from the Commissioner Comments and having two separate agenda items.
Additionally, staff recommends adding the following clarifying language to the agenda under
Commissioner Comments: “This item provides the opportunity for brief announcements or
comments on items or matters of general interest.”
With these changes, this portion of the agenda would read as follows:
Executive Director Report
Commissioner Comments
This item provides the opportunity for brief announcements or comments on items or
matters of general interest
4
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
ROLL CALL
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Present Absent
County of Riverside, District II X
County of Riverside, District III X
County of Riverside, District IV X
County of Riverside, District V X
City of Beaumont X
City of Jurupa Valley X
City of Lake Elsinore X
City of Palm Desert X
City of Palm Springs X
City of Temecula X
City of Wildomar X