Measure A Workshop and Public Hearing

Minutes - February 28, 2004

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Joe Galligan

STAFF PRESENT: Michael Scanlon, Joan Cassman, David Miller, Rita Haskin, Howard Goode, Roger Contreras, George Cameron, Joe Hurley, Martha Martinez, Jennifer Buhr

Chair Church called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Congressman Tom Lantos stated that he is proud of the work that has been done by the TA and the people throughout the county on behalf of transportation. Congressman Lantos commented that he is going back to Washington D.C. next week and will continue to put transportation at the top of his agenda.

Chair Church expressed gratitude on behalf of the TA for the work that Congressman Lantos has done to bring back the transportation dollars to this county.

PUBLIC HEARING

Chairman Church reported that the purpose of the public hearing was to discuss the Measure A draft Expenditure Plan and provide members of the public with an opportunity to comment on the plan. Before receiving public testimony Chair Church asked Board Secretary Jennifer Buhr to review the steps that have been taken to inform the public of the issues involved and to incorporate any correspondence from the public to be incorporated into the record.

Ms. Buhr reported that the Transportation Authority’s official public information campaign to announce the public hearing included advertisements for the workshop and public hearing in the San Mateo County Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Dailies. The public hearing was also publicized through the District’s printed agendas, the Hiller Aviation electronic message board, a mailing of 4,000 postcards, six TA open houses, 13 city council visits, 16 community presentations, and information placed on the TA and TransitInfo websites. In addition, two news releases announcing the draft Expenditure Plan have been circulated to local media. All of the comments received at the three public workshops held in Pacifica, Daly City and Redwood City have been incorporated into the record and are available for review upon request.

Chair Church reported that in 1988 the County’s congestion issue was addressed by passing Measure A, which is a 20-year half-cent sales tax dedicated to local transportation projects. With the passage of Measure A, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority was created to administer the funds that were collected from this half-cent sales tax. The TA is governed by a board of directors comprised of elected officials representing all geographic areas of the county. Measure A expires in 2008 and unless the voters authorize renewal the TA will no longer receive these funds to help cope with the transportation challenges. There is an opportunity to reauthorize Measure A with a two-thirds vote.

Howard Goode, Chief Development Officer, focused on the process that has been followed from the technical transportation planning and engineering side of the development of the plan. The process included utilizing the existing Measure A accomplishments, the Countywide Transportation Plan and the expertise that resides in the County with the technical staff who deal with transportation issues on a daily basis. Public input obtained from workshops was also taken into account.

Rita Haskin, Chief Communications Officer, reported that the public outreach and input process began 10 months ago. The information obtained from the six countywide focus groups was used as a foundation to help get information out about the plan and how to construct the plan. There were also three countywide workshops to learn what people wanted in the plan. Ms. Haskin referenced a binder that contained all the public comment that was obtained from the workshops, which staff has reviewed. Many of the comments have been incorporated into the plan. There were also six open houses, 13 city council visits, 16 presentations to service organizations, chambers of commerce, homeowners associations and other stakeholders. Ms. Haskin reported that there were news releases, which generated news articles, and there have also been newspaper ads regarding the open houses and today’s workshop and public hearing. Information was also available on the website and the Hiller Aviation electronic message board.

Mr. Goode made a presentation on the key elements of the Draft Expenditure Plan which included economic and population growth related to congestion, maintaining control of our County’s transportation future, TA investments, leveraging Measure A funds, putting Measure A money to work, the Measure A outreach & reauthorization process, project requests, allocations of new measure funds, comparison of Measure A program funds, the emerging project list, the transit program, the local streets & roads program, grade separations and proposed pedestrian/bike projects.

Mr. Goode reported that in March the TA will be asked to consider formal adoption of the Draft Expenditure Plan and with that action, forward it to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). MTC will evaluate the plan for consistency with the Regional Plan. The plan then must be sent to every city council in the county and must be approved by a majority of the cities representing a majority of the county’s population, which is a supermajority voting rule. The Board of Supervisors also will need to approve the plan. With both the cities and Board of Supervisors approval, the Expenditure Plan will be placed on the ballot, which is an action that needs to be taken in early August in order to have it placed on the November 2004 ballot.

Before proceeding to public comment Chair Church thanked the League of Women Voters for their work and co-sponsoring today’s workshop. Chair Church also thanked staff for participating in this process.

Mr. Scanlon also thanked the League of Women Voters and also complimented the community on the receptivity to the plan.

Public testimony was received by 22 people. Speakers included Jim Kelly, Clen Molony, Rick Gomez, Pedro Gonzalez, Steve Morrison, Jim Bigelow, Dale Edwards, Pat Dixon, Tom Carney, Mike Pacelli, Linda Ashbury, Margaret Okuzumi, Doris Maez, Eric Gilbertson, Rob Gaughlan, Steve Van Pelt, Jeff Carter, Paul Shepherd, Arthur Lloyd, Ken Feldstein, Mike Giari and Greg Greenway.

Following completion of testimony, David Miller, Legal Counsel, reported that a formal public hearing had been completed in accordance with the enabling legislation that governs the Transportation Authority. Therefore, the legal requirements have been satisfied. This matter will be back before the board on March 18, with any further input from the public or the board, at which the Board will be asked to adopt the measure.

The motion to close the public hearing passed unanimously.

Chair Church commented that he has heard many comments in regard to extending the life of Measure A and asked staff to comment.

Mr. Scanlon responded that currently the draft plan envisions a 20-year life. Mr. Scanlon noted that staff has heard suggestions from the community at large that the TA consider making the measure longer. Staff will review and report back to the board at the March 18 meeting to discuss the potential benefits of a measure with a longer term.

Director Lee urged the public to communicate that this will be a reauthorization of an existing half-cent sales tax and is not a new tax. Director Lee suggested looking at a 30-year plan because he feels so much more can be planned if there is a dedicated income stream. Director Lee reiterated that 20 percent of the funds would go towards the cities to fix streets. Without that 20 percent, every city would be in desperate trouble. Director Lee opined that the trains with Dumbarton rail should have been running a long time ago and in regard to paratransit, Director Lee stated that it is critical to bring it to 4 percent from the previous 3 percent.

Director Panza commented in regard to a 30-year term by stating that although he hears that it would give more time to acquire the funds to do the projects, it also pushes out the time before new projects can be added for needs that aren’t yet identified in the measure. In regard to the BART portion of the funding, Director Panza commented that it would probably sit better with a lot of people if there was more emphasis on enhancing the BART that already exists and as a secondary issue, considering the study down the peninsula. Director Panza also stated that the language needs to be clear that the TA is not promising any of the projects. Lastly, Director Panza commented that he has not seen any of the language in regard to the flexibility of the measure.

Mr. Miller responded that Legal Counsel fully agrees that the flexibility component is vital. The language regarding Implementation Guidelines and how the board would be administering the plan in a flexible way is nearing completion. The issue of extending duration of the tax to 30 years may be more attractive in light of provisions to be incorporated giving ability to the board to deal with changing circumstances in a way that comports with the law. Mr. Miller stated that even if there are significant changed conditions, the statute itself will continue to govern. If there is a need for a wholesale change, outside of the boundaries of the flexibility to be provided, there is an amendment process available without having to reauthorize the tax. Mr. Miller stated that these are factors that will be brought back to the board prior to the next meeting to allow for further discussion.

Chair Church reiterated that the TA will not be able to do everything in the measure. The total cost of the suggested projects is more than $3.5 billion. However, the projected income of an extended Measure A, based on a 20-year period, is only going to be about $1.2 million billion.

DATE/TIME OF NEXT MEETING:

The next regular meeting will be held on March 18, 2004 at 4:30 p.m. at the San Mateo County Transit District Administrative Building, 1250 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos, CA 94070

ADJOURNED: 11:48 a.m.