AGENDA #10
MEMORANDUM
TO: Town Council
FROM: Kevin Foy, Mayor
SUBJECT: Chapel Hill-Carrboro-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Long Range Transit Plan Transit Study Committee
DATE: September 11, 2006
This memorandum provides an update on the status of the Long Range Transit Plan and recommends a structure for the Transit Study Committee, which will oversee the completion of the plan.
Adoption of the attached resolutions would create the Transit Study Committee and appoint Chapel Hill representatives to the Committee.
BACKGROUND
On June 26, 2006, the Council approved the proposed request for qualifications and related scope of work. The Council also discussed the composition and structure of the Transit Study Committee, which is expected to oversee the selection of a consultant and completion of the plan (Attachment 1). On June 26, 2006, the Council took no final action on the Transit Study Committee but discussed several possible configurations for the composition of the Committee. The request for qualification was released on July 15, 2006 and proposals were submitted on September 8, 2006.
DISCUSSION
Throughout the summer the Town and University engaged in discussions concerning the composition of the Transit Study Committee. I believe that the Transit Study Committee should be organized so that Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University each can appoint up to four representatives to the Committee. For purposes of voting within the Committee, I propose that the University be allotted one vote and that the Chapel Hill/Carrboro delegation be allotted one vote. Under this unitary voting procedure for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro representatives there must be agreement among both Chapel Hill and Carrboro representatives for the single vote to be cast. If there is no agreement among the representatives from Chapel Hill and Carrboro no vote can be cast. I propose that no action can be taken by the Committee unless there are two affirmative votes.
I believe this organizational structure will ensure that all parties are adequately represented on the Committee and that broad consensus between Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the University will be necessary prior to any formal actions being taken.
I also believe that this organizational structure will be acceptable to the University.
NEXT STEPS
The schedule below was included in the request for qualifications.
· July 28, 2006: RFQ released
· Week of August 14-18, 2006: Pre-submittal Conference
· September 8, 2006: Proposals Due
· September 13-22, 2006: Proposals Reviewed and Finalists Selected
· Week of October 2-6, 2006: Interview of Finalists
· October 9, 2006: Selection of Preferred Contractor
· October 10-13, 2006: Negotiations with Preferred Contractor
· October 23: Contract Awarded
· November 1, 2006: Project Initiation
With the delay in creating the Transit Study Committee we now anticipate that the Committee might be able to undertake an initial review of the proposals during the week of September 18, 2006 and be in a position to follow the schedule as outlined.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolutions A [2006-09-11/R15a] and B [2006-09-11/R15b], creating the Transit Study Committee and appointing four representatives from Chapel Hill.
ATTACHMENTS