Title
Creation of South Central Transit-Oriented Development Steering Committee
Report
Summary
This report requests the creation of the South Central Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Steering Committee.
In 2016, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the city of Phoenix a $2 million Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) grant, supported by a $400,000 local match, to assist in planning efforts for the South Central light rail extension. The grant targets two key areas: (1) develop a proactive, early action business assistance program; and (2) plan for TOD adjacent to the South Central Light rail extension. The proposed Steering Committee is critical to help guide the TOD planning process. Based on work with the Mayor and Council Districts 7 and 8, the Steering Committee will be comprised of cross-sector champions from the Central City South and South Phoenix communities, and will meet approximately 10 to 12 times over the duration of the grant. Steering Committee members will be active participants in the planning process by providing advice on the creation of a TOD policy plan specific to the South Central corridor, which will serve to attract, guide, and prioritize strategic investments in infrastructure, housing, economic development, and other areas to realize a shared vision for the future.
Membership
The steering committee for the South Central corridor will be comprised of a variety of stakeholders, including residents, business owners, non-profits, schools, neighborhood groups, Village Planning Committee (VPC) members, and property owners. Committee members' terms will be three years. Steering committee members will either reside in, or represent a business, non-profit, school, institution, VPC, or real estate holding proximate to, the South Central corridor. In addition, members will be committed to participating in the duration of the planning grant and sign a commitment to act in a fair, civil, and respectful manner that allows a diversity of opinions throughout the process. The Steering Committee will be comprised of 17 members.
Roles and Responsibilities
The primary role of Steering Committee members is to collaborate with City staff and the project team. Committee members will:
Provide advice on the creation of a TOD policy plan for the South Central light rail extension.
Assist in the development of strategies to implement the plan.
Advocate for or play a direct role in implementing the strategies.
Serve as community leaders by representing their stakeholder groups (e.g. neighborhood group, non-profit organization, place of worship, school, community-based organization, business owner, etc.).
Steering committee members will be responsible for the following:
Serving as a liaison with city staff, consultants, and other participants.
Promoting South Central TOD planning process, meetings and events to stakeholder groups and encouraging community involvement through existing networks.
Contributing to the generation of ideas, concepts, developing a vision, and strategies through meetings, workshops, or other public events throughout the planning process.
Promoting meetings, workshops, or other public events to stakeholder groups.
Reviewing and providing recommendations on maps and documents.
Understanding the grant-funded effort has a limited scope and timeframe within which to complete the required work.
Positively promoting South Central TOD planning process at meetings of the Village Planning Committees, Planning Commission, City Council Subcommittee, and City Council related to the South Central TOD planning process.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Planning and Development Department.