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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 