September 2, 2014 

Meeting called to order by President Vince at 12:30 pm

Pledge: Yesenia P.

Thought of Day: Rich Persoff shared with us this axiom - As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters all be pointing in the right direction.

Guests: Karena Pushnik, Regional Transportation Commission; Lowell Hurst, Watsonville City Council

Visiting Rotarians: Constantin Gehriger [Santa Cruz Sunrise]

Announcements & Correspondence:

- Constantin G. noted his club’s upcoming annual bicycle ride that takes place in early October.

- Steve B. Second Harvest Foodbank annual barrel wrap Saturday, September 27 in the morning. Also, September 18 is the Second Harvest Foodbank annual dinner ($225). Plus, September is Hunger Awareness Month and Second Harvest Foodbank is promoting the “CalFresh Challenge.” 

- Jeanie K. announced the Santa Cruz County Fair and the Opening Night Gala (September 9 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Tickets are $75 a piece and Rotary will get $25 per ticket on tickets purchased through the club.)

- Vince G. noted that the Watsonville Rotary Club has Lewis Burger Night at the fair September 8.  Also 2014 Rotary Day with the A’s is Saturday, September 20, 2014, 1:05 p.m. A’s vs. Philadelphia Phillies

- Ron S. talked about the upcoming Interact Fall Leadership Conference.  

WHEN: September 28, 2014      WHERE: Independence High School 

Detective: conducted by reluctant Yesenia P. $5.00 for Labor Day Trivia - Davina, Dan, Fred. $3.00 to everyone going to the A’s game in support of RYLA (Yesenia says everyone should be going to the Giant’s game at San Diego)

Raffle - No raffle today.

Guest Speaker: Speaking to us today about the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) is Karena Pushnik (kpushik@sccrtc.org). Karena joined the Regional Transportation Commission in 1990, when the agency was still part of the County Planning Department. She is currently a senior transportation planner. She has dual majors in Economics and Environmental Studies/City Planning. Over the years, she was the rideshare program manager, the Highway 1/17 Interchange Merge Lanes project manager, the staff liaison for the Transportation Funding Task Force, part of the Rail Acquisition Team and Passenger Rail Study. She has also co-hosted the quarterly RTC’s Transportation Café show on Community Television. Before coming to the RTC, Karena worked for a large Bay Area engineering consultant firm on projects such as alternatives analyses for major transportation projects in California and Colorado, and design of the Guadalupe Light Rail Corridor in San Jose. The RTC considers all forms of transportation. The RTC publishes a Regional Transportation Plan every five years. Recent projects have included the Hwy 1 / Hwy 17 interchange. Future projects include various forms of Hwy 1 expansion and rail trail options. The Regional Transportation Plan identifies $5.5 billion worth of potential projects through 2035. The available revenue through 2035 is currently $2.8 billion. To generate additional revenue, the RTC is contemplating a 0.5 cent sales tax and a vehicle registration tax however a sales tax increase requires a two-thirds majority vote. RTC recommends to fund projects locally because “local funding = local control.” 

Questions and comments for the speaker included issues of funding, the use of the rail line to convey goods (treated and untreated wastewater for example) and for public transit.

Adjournment: 1:30 PM