Minutes - April 4, 2002

MEMBERS ABSENT: Ira Ruskin

STAFF PRESENT: Michael Scanlon, David Miller, Kristen Lamson, George Cameron, Roger Contreras, Jim Gallagher, Howard Goode, Chuck Harvey, Christina Jacinto, Aurora Jose, Martha Martinez, Joel Slavit

CONSENT CALENDAR

Board unanimously approved the minutes.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Chair Guingona had one comment card. The speaker, Jim Bigelow, wished to speak about Item 10.B (Measure A funds).

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT

Ken Colmen reported because of four vacancies on the CAC, the meeting did not achieve the required quorum. There was however a presentation on the Peninsula Corridor Plan concerning transit oriented development. The CAC’s concerns were the height of the residences and offices that would be constructed on the right of way, the noise factor, and the plan’s consistency from one city to the next. The Committee felt there should be adequate guidelines on these issues. The Committee also expressed great concern on the difficulty being undergone by persons with disability in going back and forth to the ticket machine in order to buy a parking ticket. They proposed providing adequate facilities for people with disabilities. The CAC also supported the resolutions that are being taken today to the Board for action.

APPOINTMENT OF CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Director Church advised that the selection committee composed of Ken Colmen and himself interviewed eight highly qualified applicants for the four vacant CAC seats. He discussed the selection process that they adopted. The committee recommended for Board approval, the appointment of: Alfred Moye, a consultant; Morton Frank, an architect; Ian Bain, a public relations director; and David Cropper, a real estate developer.

The Board, upon motion duly seconded, unanimously approved by roll call, the appointment of said individuals.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

Chair Guingona reported a visit made by him and Howard Goode, Chief Development Officer, to the Highway 92 improvement project site in Half Moon Bay. They observed the traffic condition in the area. They spoke with the San Mateo County Sheriff who patrols the highways daily and discussed traffic safety and possible solutions to some problems. The sheriff expressed support for the work being done by staff in the area.

Mr. Scanlon advised that despite efforts in trying to set up a meeting with the City Mayor and City Manager of Half Moon Bay, the agreed dates turned out later not workable. He will however, pursue and have this meeting set with the said city officials.

SAMTRANS LIAISON REPORT

Chair Guingona summarized the written report on the SamTrans Board meeting of April 10, 2002.

JOINT POWERS BOARD REPORT

Mr. Scanlon reported on the following matters taken up at the Joint Powers Board meeting held earlier in the day.

• The JPB meeting was held this morning in the City of Santa Clara. The hybrid electric vehicle was a "State of the Art". It transported attendees to the meeting from the Caltrain station to the City Hall.
• A public hearing was held on fare changes. Eight speakers addressed the Board. Also, received were three letters, four telephone calls and 77 e-mails. The public was generally supportive of the fare increase. They, however, suggested the adoption of cost cutting measures, collection of all fares, and improvement of service. One of the highlights of the fare changes is the free parking fee for people with disabilities who have on display the license plate for disabled people.
• The Board authorized him (Mr. Scanlon) to execute a three-party parking agreement with VTA and the San Jose Arena Management Corporation. The parking fees generate a significant amount or revenue for the Joint Powers Authority.
• The Board recommended modifications to the CAC’s Requirement and Policy that was being presented for approval, specifically on the proposed term limit. The policy was sent back to the CAC for consideration of said modifications, to be brought back to the Board next month for action.
• The largest JPB construction contract was awarded to Herzog Contracting Corporation and Stacey and Witbeck for the north CTX project that covers San Francisco down to Menlo Park. This project will provide express tracks for the Baby Bullet train. The work will require the shutdown of the railroad on the weekends. SamTrans will provide bus substitute service.
• Caltrain ridership continues to go down from 32,400 to 28,500. Revenue went down 10 percent. On-time performance remains very good at 95.6 percent. Shuttle ridership is 17.3 percent. An on-board physical count yielded 31,000 daily riders. The split remains at 60 percent going northbound and 40 percent southbound.
• Of the top ten trains, nine are express, depicting the popularity of express trains.
• Exhibition baseball is back up and running.
• Etiquette campaign is going very well.
• The Consent Decree that was imposed by the Court as part of a settlement of a claim filed against the JPB has now been lifted. The decree required all employees of Amtrak and JPB to undergo a sensitivity training. He commended Attorneys Dave Miller and Kristen Lamson for the great job.

On the fare increase, Director John Lee inquired if the CPI in the area was raised 20 percent since the last increase. Mr. Scanlon stated it was increased by 10 percent.

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr. Scanlon referred to his earlier report on the lack of progress in setting up the meeting with the Mayor and City Manager of the City of Half Moon Bay.

FINANCE

• APPROVAL OF EXCHANGE OF STIP FOR MEASURE "A" FUNDS BETWEEN THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND C/CAG IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,485,000

Howard Goode, Chief Development Officer, reported this is a fund swap, an arrangement that has been proposed by C/CAG to allow some STIP funds which they have control over to be utilized for a TA project and in exchange, an equivalent amount of TA funds would be given back to C/CAG for the support of the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) program.

Richard Napier, Executive Director of C/CAG, stated he proposed this arrangement to give a greater incentive for the TOD program and to give the State more control over the funds.

Attorney David Miller advised this exchange is within the Expenditure Plan because the purpose for which the Authority will be using the funds will be for a project within the plan.

The Board unanimously approved the proposed action (Resolution No. 2002-5).

• AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENT WITH C/CAG FOR THE PENINSULA GATEWAY CORRIDOR STUDY IN THE AMOUNT OF $125,000 AND AMENDING THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FY 2002 TO ALLOCATE $150,000 OF MEASURE A FUNDS WHICH INCLUDES STAFF COSTS OF $25,000

Mr. Goode reported this is also a C/CAG-related item that deals with the study of alternative roadway access from the south to the Dumbarton Bridge. Santa Clara County consented to proceed with the study. The San Mateo County Transportation Authority, Santa Clara County Transportation Authority and C/CAG will jointly fund the study. This item is also included in the Expenditure Plan.

Jim Bigelow, Redwood City San Mateo County and Menlo Chamber of Commerce, pointed out the tremendous amount of commuters filtering at East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park. The issue is that during the peak period, in time of emergency, fire trucks from University Avenue or from Menlo Police Station will have difficulty to respond. The south end of the county is adversely affected by the commuter traffic. He proposed positive solutions to the problem.

Also in the Bay Crossing Study, this problem is No. 6 alternative and scheduled for final considerations in the July report. He strongly urged the Board to move forward with this project.

Director Panza, as TA liaison to C/CAG expressed confidence that C/CAG will approve same action next Thursday.

The Board unanimously approved the amendment of the Capital Budget and the allocation of the funds as proposed (Resolution No. 2002-6).

• AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE "PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT" BETWEEN THE SAN MATEO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (SMCTA) AND THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Attorney David Miller, in the absence of Brian Fitzpatrick, Property Manager, who is instrumental in this project, advised that this is an amendment to an existing agreement in which SMCTA staff was authorized and certified by the State to handle real estate appraisal and acquisition-related services and when necessary, use the county staff to the extent that they may be needed on a case-by-case basis for eminent domain matters. Attorney Miller recommended approval of the amendment to provide SMCTA staff more flexibility in providing real estate service for the Authority.

The Board, by motion duly seconded, by roll call, unanimously approved the amendment.

(Resolution No. 2002-7)

PROGRAM

• AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE MASTER AGREEMENT AND FUTURE PROGRAM SUPPLEMENTS FOR STATE FUNDED TRANSIT PROJECTS

Joel Slavit, Associate Planner, reported Caltrans is in the process of developing a new Master Agreement that runs for ten years with all the different transportation agencies in the State that receive State grant funds for transit projects. The Authority has existing Master Agreement with Caltrans for State highway projects. However, they don’t have one for transit projects. The execution of this Master Agreement will allow the Authority to receive funding for the grade separation projects of the Caltrain Corridor at Linden, Poplar and 25^th Avenue in the Governor’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program.

The Board unanimously approved the execution of the Master Agreement (Resolution No. 2002-8).

• QUARTERLY REPORT

Mr. Goode presented the written Quarterly Report. He invited the Board’s attention to the SMCTA Quarterly Project Status Report, Exhibit "C", that gives an overview of the cost of TA share, budget actions that the TA had taken, to capture the TA financial status in a summary form. Individual project details are also depicted in the report. He highlighted the additional information on the Highway 92 project.

The Board found that the changes indicated on the report conform with their comments during the last meeting.

Director Gordon commented on some discrepancies between actual expenditures and budget expenditures. Mr. Goode responded there are two categories that staff is dealing with, one is where the project’s physical completion has taken place. The other category is when the project has been done but it looked like more money was spent than what was allocated and staff is looking at the cause for the discrepancy.

REPORT OF LEGAL COUNSEL

Attorney Miller announced that due to other commitments, he will not be present at the next Board meeting. Attorney Kristen Lamson will be sitting in for him.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS TO AUTHORITY

Mr. Goode commented on the last letter in the written communications packet regarding Rain Parkway Ralston Avenue Interchange from the Mayor of Redwood City. He met twice with the City Managers of Belmont and Redwood City to find a way to assist the cities in their projects. Unfortunately, they are not in the Expenditure Plan. However, staff may be able to assist the cities by using the STIP process.

ADJOURNED: 5:45 p.m.