Minutes - February 6, 2003

MEMBERS PRESENT: Mark Church (Chair), Joe Galligan, Rich Gordon, John Lee, 

Lee Panza,

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Guingona, Ira Ruskin

STAFF PRESENT: Michael Scanlon, David Miller, Roger Contreras, Howard Goode, 

Joe Hurley, Martha Martinez, Jennifer Buhr, Rita Haskin

Chair Church called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT CALENDAR

The Board unanimously approved the following items under the Consent Calendar:

1. Minutes of January 9, 2003
2. Adoption of Financial Statements, December 2002

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None at this time.

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC) REPORT

Doris Maez, CAC Chair, reported:

• On February 4, 2003, the Committee elected Vice Chair, Larry Shane. Additionally, swore in two new members, comprising a full slate once again.
• Chair Maez instructed other CAC members to attend at least one additional meeting.
• Would like to continue working with the Board Members, especially Chair Church, and are eager to acquire the expectations from the Board pertaining to the direction that the Board would like them to take this year. Would like to set up a meeting with staff to discuss.
• Looking to consolidate the several subcommittees. Asking all the Chairs to come early next time to discuss and work out details, especially with efforts on Measure A, so that a focus of efforts can be established.
• Interested in how Bay Relations will be arranging, announcing and publicizing Focus Groups regarding Measure A reauthorization.
• In reference to the Board Agenda, CAC supports, 13 to 1, item 10(a), lowering the two-thirds vote requirement for transportation projects.
• CAC is interested in having a joint meeting with the other CAC’s and is working with the other CAC Chairs to work out details.

Lee Panza expressed curiosity regarding the Bay Relations role. Mike Scanlon said Bay Relations has been engaged but no work orders have been issued yet. The process of selection for the Focus Groups hasn’t been discussed. Further details will be reported within agenda item 10 (b). Mr. Scanlon is pleased to hear the CAC is interested in becoming involved in the Focus Groups and hoping that the CAC will be involved with the Speakers Bureau.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Nothing to report at this time. Refer to the Reading File.

SAMTRANS LIAISON REPORT

(Guingona absent- Report given by Mike Scanlon)

• Mike Guingona was elected chair of SamTrans and Mary Janney was elected Vice Chair.
• Resolution of appreciation and appropriate plaque were presented to outgoing chair Jerry Hill. The Board recognized his leadership, particularly through the challenging fiscal year, in 2002.
• Appointed three members to SamTrans CAC; Ken Feltstein representing community members, Kim Nobels representing bus riders and Alvin Scwartzboh representing multimodal riders.
• Chuck Harvey, Chief Operating Officer, presented quarterly SamTrans Performance Report. Highlights included an update of the Advanced Communication System, which includes the GPS system that will be able to tell where our busses are. Additionally, it will provide information of all the data transmitted. Mr. Harvey also announced that the Bus Training Simulator is now installed at our North Base facility. The simulator provides the opportunity to give much better training and literally go back and recreate an accident which, is something that should help improve our safety record.
• Fixed Route Ridership continues to be down, although it is leveling. Anticipating that the economic situation will improve, thus the ridership will also improve. Marketing staff also has a lot of things rolling out to help increase ridership.
• Board met in a closed session and reported a property transfer interest on the BART SFO extension to the town of Colma.

There were no questions from the Board regarding the SamTrans Liaison Report.

JOINT POWERS BOARD REPORT

Mike Scanlon, Executive Director, reported:

• We had a terribly tragic start to 2003 with five fatalities in the month of January which, is the exact number of fatalities for all of the proceeding calendar year. Although not yet ruled officially, it is believed that they are all suicides.
• Commendations were given to two civilians, BJ Wishinsky and Jamie Nichols who ride Caltrain and both live in Mountain View. Both were at San Antonio Station, in November, when BJ Wishinsky observed an individual with his legs hanging over the station. The Mayor of Mountain View and a Police Force representative also were in attendance.
• Commendations were given to Lieutenant Phillip Carr and Public Safety Officer Russell Howard, both police officers from Sunnyvale. They happened to be passing by in a fire truck when they noticed a driver stalled on the railroad tracks, on January 9^th, 2003. The Mayor of Sunnyvale along with Councilman Manny Valerio and other peace officers were here in recognition.
• Sue Lempert announced the San Mateo movie theater is now open and Caltrain’s Rail to Reels promotion is in effect. Hopes of increasing ridership are high.
• The Joint Powers Board CAC, reported a number of changes are being proposed in the Caltrain fare structure and fare collection methods. CAC also is involved in Strategic Planning for the Joint Powers Board. A projected 20-year horizon is being used to make informed investment decisions.
• Reported all 17 cars are here for Baby Bullet. Expecting first of six locomotives to be delivered in March. Construction contract, NCTX, on schedule and SCTX just starting to become mobilized.
• Ridership down about 12 percent compared to December of last year. Revenue is down about 4.6 percent and On Time Performance reported at 95.4 percent. Shuttle ridership up about 11 percent due to flexibility of shuttle routes.
• Chuck Harvey made a presentation on the Fare Study, proposed Fare Zones and Proof of Payment Rollout scheduled for fall 2003. Average tickets sold on board are down to six per each trip. Full Proof of Payment along with rollout of Baby Bullet service is anticipated by the end of the year.
• Ian McAvoy presented first draft of Vision and Guiding Principles of the Strategic Plan and a preliminary schedule of approval dates. Final plan is targeted for Fall.
• Liz Weicha gave the Quarterly Capital Program and Electrification activities.

John Lee requested clarification of ridership being down 12 percent but revenue only being down 5 percent. Mike explained that higher fares have positively affected revenues even with lower ridership. Additionally, a service cut by 4 percent, from 80 to 76 trains, further impacted ridership.

Lee Panza questioned the delivery dates of the locomotives and how they would be integrated into the fleet. Mike Scanlon responded that locomotives will be put into service right away. Three of the new passenger consist already are running with standard locomotives. New 3600 horsepower engines will power the new cars, resulting in a whole different look.

Lee Panza asked if the new Express service might be confused with existing service. Mike Scanlon responded that the Baby Bullet will be a form of "super express" in a hierarchy that includes an intermediate express with limited stops and, finally, local service. The system will be designed to respond to highest origin and destination points, followed by stations with lesser volume. Limited stops inevitably will inconvenience some patrons, but any successful business attempts to address the largest market segment. Local service may be improved in the process, because if 80 percent of riders are moved faster, remaining service will be less congested. While a major change, the Baby Bullet scenario is designed for minimal disruption. The focus is on pleasing current riders, while attracting new patrons. John Lee asked if Baby Bullet would coincide with reopening of weekend service. Mike said Baby Bullet is scheduled for December, 2003, while CTX projects are due for completion in April, 2004.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mike Scanlon, Executive Director reported:

• Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has recognized the Transportation Authority with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2001 budget. This was the first submittal and first award. This significant accomplishment represents a maturing of the organization’s financial stewardship.

PROGRAM

a) Support for Legislation Lowering Two- Thirds Vote Requirement

• Ian McAvoy, Deputy Chief of Development, reported on potential new legislation to lower the two-thirds requirement for sales tax measures. Update includes two specific bills:
  1. Assembly side: ACA 7, Lower threshold to 55 percent for transportation. (Similar to education bills of last year.) Straight 55 percent, no strings attached. Bill currently pending in the assembly transportation committee.

2. Senate side: SCA 2- Lower threshold of transportation sales tax to 50 percent +1. However, 25 percent of revenues must be used for smart growth planning. Clarification is sought on exact definition of what smart growth planning entails. Senate Transportation Committee approved the bill this week. Senate Leadership is very interested in this bill and has indicated the set aside for the smart growth is more than likely going to be removed in future amendments.

Additionally, Senator Alarcon, from Los Angeles, is also considering sponsoring a bill with many strings attached. Currently, most of the details are unknown.

In summary, major transportation finance issues abound. There is motivation from Sacramento to try to work these issues out by looking for local transportation projects with opportunities to raise funds. Currently, it is unclear which will be the final bill.

John Lee questioned the likelihood of a 50 percent transportation vote requirement, with school measures at 55. Ian McAvoy said prospects are uncertain, but the State fiscal crisis could influence a move toward 50 percent.

John Lee noted the 25 percent "smart growth" requirement is significant. Ian McAvoy responded that Senator Torlaksen is a noted supporter of smart growth, and his bill may attract leadership support. John Lee said C/CAG voted to support the 55 percent bill with no strings attached.

Mike Scanlon said staff is seeking authorization to support the lower-threshold bill with the best chance of success. Action would provide an opportunity for appropriate advocacy efforts.

Joe Galligan commented that the move toward 50 percent could be an effort to enhance local fundraising in the face of one percent sales tax action at the State level.

Lee Panza observed that constitutional amendments often require more than a single session for success, so it is possible resolution will not occur this year. C/CAG has discussed both 55 and 50 percent requirements, but it is important to remember that either will result in a better opportunity for sales tax passage.

The Board unanimously carried the support for legislation lowering two-thirds vote requirement.

b) Update on Measure A Reauthorization

Executive Director Mike Scanlon said the TA hired Bay Relations for to accomplish two primary objectives:

1. Help conduct a public education effort on projects completed since the 1988 election;

2. Outreach within the community to establish desired projects for the Expenditure Plan renewal. Currently, the plan is a blank sheet of paper.

Howard Goode, Chief Development Officer, reported on a meeting with C/CAG some two weeks ago, with the focus on range categories of programs. The next step is to solicit input from various communities. Mr. Goode showed the process in building block form, beginning with basic foundation pieces, then moving on to specifics. Objectives for such a measure are set forth both in the statute providing for its establishment, and within the C/CAG Countywide Transportation Plan. The C/CAG effort, which is about two years old, also addresses and identifies the kinds of projects required to address congestion. Additional work must be done with the Technical Advisory Committee to establish criteria for prioritizing the projects.

One of the main ingredients in putting together an expenditure plan would be to include which categories are to be covered. At some point the division of resources between the categories needs to be clarified. The current measure provides roughly half going to transit and half going to highways and then some further subdivisions. Another part of the task is making decisions about whether we are going to approach funding on a program basis or a project basis. There are hopes for involvement with C/CAG TAC because of their understanding of the transportation system within the county. Finally, based on criteria, there needs to be priority within the array of proposed projects because the expectation is that the list of projects and programs is going to outweigh the anticipated funding sources available.

The intention for tonight is only to give an introduction to the breadth of the categories that we have under consideration; thus, this is an information only item. Then the TAC, at an upcoming meeting, would take an adoption action on the preliminary categories for the purposes of sending it forward for consideration by both CCAG and this board.

Joe Hurley, Director of Transportation Authority, mentioned a meeting with C/CAG Technical Advisory Committee on January 16, called to stimulate the thought process of categories for the upcoming reauthorization. Discussed were streets and highways, grade separations and other programs.

Mike Scanlon mentioned that there have been meetings over the last couple of years regarding the Water Transit Authority. Very recently they have said they are interested in trying to get consideration under Measure A. Mr. Scanlon reported that he took a supportive position in regards to their efforts to receive bridge toll funds. The Transportation Authority also is slated to get money from the Dumbarton Bridge out of any toll increases.

Similarly, Peninsula Interfaith Action (PIA), another group under Transit Oriented Development, first approached us back in 2001for money from Measure A. PIA has an interest in producing affordable housing specifically along the transportation corridor which, could supplement the ridership along the transit system.

Karyl Eldridge, Realtor with Coldwell Banker and a volunteer leader with PIA, reported a proposal to help solve transportation and also to assure the reauthorization of Measure A. The proposal entails earmarking 10 percent of Measure A revenue to build affordable workforce housing strictly focused along transit lines. The funds would be administered by the newly created Housing Endowment fund for San Mateo County. Coordination with housing and transportation will promote public transportation and decrease congestion in commutes. The Redwood City Center project is a model project of how coordination with transit is quite successful. Transportation and housing are the two major problems within this area. For the housing element process the county and the city all had to quantify the need for homes and the gap between what we had and what we need is huge. As a result, enormous numbers of people have been displaced from San Mateo County yet, a lot of these people are traveling to San Mateo County to get to and from their jobs. Thus, building housing along the transit lines can help in two different ways. First, we can keep people here. If we narrow the distance between where they live and where they work we shorten the commutes and we ease the pressure on the roads. The second way it works is to encourage public transit use. Housing along transit corridor has the demonstrated ability to help get people out of their cars and on to busses and trains.

A couple of years ago C/CAG approved its Countywide Transportation Plan 2010. A key outcome in preparing this plan was the realization by C/CAG that just building a transportation infrastructure could not substantially reduce congestion. This learning led to the award winning TOD incentive program where cities receive cash awards when they build higher density projects along rail lines. This program is now being replicated and it derives from the understanding that housing is another critical tool in the effort to reduce congestion.

Because of the relationship between congestion and affordable housing, we can actually work on solving both problems at the same time by creating more affordable workforce homes and reducing congestion on our freeways and roads which will appeal to individuals to support Measure A.

George Koffman, Pacifica resident and co-chair of PIA, said achieving a majority vote is possible but two-thirds majority requires something really extraordinary. PIA believes that a partnership between transportation and housing provides just that. PIA also believes they have the powerful resources that will enable us to achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to reauthorize Measure A. PIA represents 17,000 families throughout the Peninsula. These families are connected to each other through a network of relationships. This network connects them to influential public, private and religious leaders throughout the Peninsula. PIA’s greatest resource is the commitment of members in creating positive change within their communities fueled by the desire to promote the changes that are so important to them. These leaders supported the affordable housing trust fund in San Mateo County and Proposition 46, the State Housing Bond. These same leaders are willing to work with us with the reauthorization of Measure A so it will succeed in passing.

Mike Scanlon reiterated the necessity of getting on the technical track that Howard Goode presented for getting this program together. Simultaneously, on a parallel track, there are needs to go out to the public at large. We are not quite ready for that yet because we are in a committee with the Board of Supervisors, Samceda, P3 and C/CAG, along with the TA. This committee is in final stages of negotiations with Public Affairs Associates. Once that is concluded, that firm will go out and raise private money. There are hopes to raise sufficient amount of private money so that within the next couple of years they can go out and advocate for plans. What will be required for the advocacy consultant, and possibly out of our consultant, depends largely on how we get out of the current financial crisis. It may be necessary to do more polling because the questions may change. In the final analysis, what will be in the program categories is what two –thirds of the people will actually vote for.

Joe Hurley said many organizations have wanted to meet with the Transportation Authority because they feel a decision will be made within the next 60 to 90 days. Mr. Hurley said that we are at least a year away from any decisions.

Mike Scanlon added that there are numerous individuals and organizations that have their hearts in the right place but we are not able to make any decisions quite yet. Given the State situation we will assume we will need two-thirds vote in November of 2004 but anything can change. The only thing that may be undertaken in the next 60 days is possibly some Focus Groups, but only to put together preliminary surveys.

REQUESTS FROM THE AUTHORITY

None at this time.

REPORT FROM LEGAL COUNSEL

David Miller stated that Joe Hurley and Howard Goode are working with the Redwood City staff relative to the disposition of proceeds that should work their way back to the Authority as a result of a litigation that was initiated by the city. The TA should benefit in regards to the Jefferson Avenue Grade Separation and hazardous materials clean up. The city has successfully settled with certain defendants, if not all of them, and now there will be meetings to determine the allocations of funds.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION TO AUTHORITY

The communications packets were distributed to the Board members.

ADJOURNED: 6:45p.m.