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ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order Chairman McCray called the meeting to order at 2:09 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present:
3. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting. Chairman McCray announced that the ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at the meeting. He advised that any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices might be removed from the meeting. He also advised that cell phones that are set on “vibrate” cause microphone interference and requested that they be placed in the “off” position. 4. Approval of Minutes On motion to approve the minutes of the March 4, 2008 Regular Meeting: unanimously approved. 5. Communications Board Secretary Boomer stated that a member of the public had requested that Item 10.2 A be removed from the consent calendar. 6. Introduction of New or Unfinished Business by Board Members
Chairman McCray appointed Vice Chairman Nolan to serve as Chairman of the Policy and Governance Committee. Chairman McCray also appointed Directors Beach and Black to the committee. Vice Chairman Nolan requested that the concerns expressed by the public at the last meeting regarding the Masonic and Fell Intersection be scheduled for discussion in order for staff to respond. 7. Executive Director’s Report (For discussion only)
Executive Director/CEO Ford introduced Amit Kothari as the Director of Off-Street Parking responsible for all parking administration. Executive Director/CEO Ford reviewed the SFMTA’s hiring efforts over the past year. This fiscal year is the first time since 2003 that the SFMTA will hire more transit operators than they lose through attrition. Executive Director/CEO Ford informed the Board that the SFMTA is working with the Board of Supervisors to transfer authority over parking and traffic regulations to the SFMTA in accordance with Proposition A. E.D. Ford announced that the Request For Proposals for Program Management & Construction Management services for Central Subway, Phase II has been advertised and noted that all communication should be directed to the person named in the RFP as the SFMTA’s contact. E.D. Ford announced that the overhead wire replacement project in the Twin Peaks Tunnel is nearing completion. The SFMTA will resume rail service on March 22 and will deploy Service Quality Teams to alert riders. Mr. Ford reviewed the efforts to upgrade the intersections at Ninth Avenue at Irving and at Ninth Avenue and Judah to improve operations and safety on the N-Judah rail. Mr. Ford reviewed fare revenue for FY08 and stated that revenues for transit fares are higher by 7.6% over FY2007. 8. Citizen’s Advisory Council Report Steve Ferrario, Vice Chairman, CAC, presented the report. 9. Public Comment None. THE FOLLOWING MATTERS BEFORE THE SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY BOARD ARE RECOMMENDED FOR ACTION AS STATED BY THE SFMTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO OR CITY ATTORNEY WHERE APPLICABLE. EXPLANATORY DOCUMENTS FOR ALL CALENDAR ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT 1 SOUTH VAN NESS AVE. 7th FLOOR. CONSENT CALENDAR 10. All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board and will be acted upon by a single vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Board or the public so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item. (10.1) Requesting the Controller to allot funds and to draw warrants against such funds available or will be available in payment of the following claims against the SFMTA:
RESOLUTION 08-047 (10.2) Approving the following traffic modifications:
RESOLUTION 08-048 Item 10.2 A regarding the establishment of stop signs at Liberty and Sanchez was removed from the agenda at the request of a member of the public. PUBLIC COMMENT: Donald Stroh stated that he had provided a memo regarding his opposition to the stop signs at Liberty and Sanchez. DPT posts notices late in the week for approval the following Tuesday. The public is unlikely to see the notice or be able to respond. The notice that was posted was very misleading to the public and unacceptable. When he came into the office to see the file, it took five people 30 minutes to find the file. Mr. Stroh requested a written response to the people who signed the petition. Bond Yee, Director, Parking and Traffic responded to the concerns expressed by Mr. Stroh. On motion to approve Item 10.2 A: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka NAYES - Heinicke (10.3) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to accept and expend $51,600,000 of FY2007-08 Public Transportation Modernization, Improvement, and Service Enhancement Account funds from the State of California for the Third Street Light Rail Project, Mission Bay Loop, Metro East Facility, overhead lines; fare box rehabilitation, automatic passenger counters for buses; an enclosure for historic vehicles, wayside fare collection and operator restroom projects. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Sonali Bose) RESOLUTION 08-049 (10.4) Approving an agreement with City College for City College to: construct a traffic signal on Phelan Avenue at the future Phelan Loop; reimburse the SFMTA for costs estimated at $141,927 to design and inspect construction of a new traffic signal at the main driveway into the West Reservoir Campus Parking Lot and modification of the existing traffic signal on Phelan Avenue opposite the main entrance, and associated curb ramps, painting and striping of Phelan Avenue at all three locations. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and agreement.) (Bond Yee) RESOLUTION 08-050 (10.5) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to execute Contract CS-154 Software Maintenance Attachment with Fourth Dimension Traffic for software for a total agreement amount not to exceed $330,696 from April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2011. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and agreement.) (Bond Yee) RESOLUTION 08-051 On motion to approve the Consent Calendar (Item 10.2A severed) ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka REGULAR CALENDAR 11. Presentation on the Transbay Terminal Project and requesting authorization to adjust service on the 5-Fulton, 6-Parnassus, 10-Townsend, 38-Geary, 38L-Geary Limited, 71-Haight-Noriega, 71L-Haight-Noriega Limited, 76-Marin Headlands, and 108-Treasure Island transit lines and minor stop changes to the 20-Columbus and 41-Union transit lines to serve the temporary Transbay Terminal. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Ken McDonald and Bond Yee) Ed Sum, Project Engineer, Transbay Joint Powers Authority, presented the Transbay Terminal Project. Bond Yee, Director, Parking and Traffic, reviewed the temporary traffic modifications that would accommodate the temporary Transbay Terminal. Ken McDonald, Chief Operating Officer reviewed the changes that would be made to transit service to serve the temporary Transbay Terminal. On motion to amend the resolution to delete “on Third St.” for the 108-Treasure Island route: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka PUBLIC COMMENT: Barry Taranto stated that it’s important to give information to cab drivers about how to move around the temporary facility and where to stage their cabs. It is important to make sure that people who need to use ramped vans be given the opportunity to be picked up and dropped off without interfering with buses. Katherine Roberts stated that she is upset about the existing terminal being torn down. It’s in a terrible state of repair but it’s a beautiful art deco building that serves its’ function. With much less money and effort, the building could be retrofitted or reconfigured. The plan to build sky scrapers will destroy the neighborhood. RESOLUTION 08-052 On motion to approve the resolution as amended: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka 12. Presentation and discussion regarding the SFMTA’s FY09 and FY10 operating budgets. (Explanatory documents include a budget book.) (Sonali Bose) Items 12 and 13 were called together. Sonali Bose, Chief Financial Officer, presented the staff report. PUBLIC COMMENT: James Muszalski stated that the newspaper said that there was a deficit of $82 million but last year Mr. Ford received a raise and a bonus. That doesn’t match up. There should be a law that requires everyone who runs the buses to ride the buses. Staff is looking in the wrong place to balance the budget. Patrick Monk stated that he was pleased to hear Board member opinions about making fare raises a last resort. Many neighborhoods, especially in the south east section of the city, suffer from displacements. The SFMTA should require the Mayor to repay the funds he took. Don’t raise fares but make downtown businesses and commuters in single-occupancy vehicles pay. Katherine Roberts stated that she’s happy to hear that the Board is hesitant about raising fares and expressed hope that fares won’t be raised until service levels rise. Ms. Roberts stated that she likes the idea of raising hotel fees and doesn’t mind calibrating fare increases to an index. The Board isn’t addressing monthly parking at the Kezar parking lot. This is an overlooked revenue source. The SFMTA wouldn’t have to raise fees if DPT did a better job of enforcement and they should enforce laws already on the books. Steph Feiring stated that she is not happy to hear that the SFMTA is considering increasing the Fast Pass fee. The people who board through the back door are cheating those who board through the front door. This increase would be unfair to people who pay. Ms. Feiring suggested that the agency hold off on increasing the cost of the Fast Pass and enforce proof of payment on the buses. Irwin Lum, President, TWU Local 250-A, stated that the SFMTA should maintain and uphold the Transit First Policy. Mr. Lum expressed support for all increases except to fares and passes and suggested that staff look at meter rates, garage rates and parking fines. One key issue that operators face is the double-parking of commercial delivery trucks in the downtown area. They are not pulling into yellow zones which impedes the ability to get around Crystal Java requested that the Board look at options to increase revenue rather than increase the cost to riders. Neighborhood parking permits, street closures and colored-curb painting fees are ways to raise revenue easily. Paul Hogarth thanked the Board for considering passes as last resort and urged more proactive steps. Bob Allen urged the Board to address the long term structural deficit and not balance the budget on the back of the riders. Razzu Engen stated that he had worked on the lifeline pass for low-income riders and had previously addressed the Board about his disappointment that Revenue Panel hadn’t come up with a final report. Mr. Engen urged the SFMTA to find funding mechanisms other than fare increases. The Agency needs to look at options that encourage transit use and not those that discourage transit use. Barry Taranto stated that taxi permit fee increases were happening without any involvement by the Taxi Commission. Staff should look at increasing meter rates. There is income to be had by enforcing double-parking, construction permits and space fees. Sharon stated that she has heavy equipment that needs to be transported which requires her to use her car. She stated that the current price of a parking ticket is already outrageous. The fee to park in her own driveway is outrageous. We have to find ways to resolve this where everybody shares a little bit. There has to be a limit to increases to parking tickets. Norm Rolfe stated that he advocates raising monthly rates and other rates at city-owned garages to rates slightly below the rates at private garages nearby. The hourly rate shouldn’t be changed since those people are shoppers. Mr. Rolfe expressed opposition to a Transit Impact Development Fee on residential structures and support for increasing fines for traffic violations and more enforcement. Dave Snyder, SPUR, commended staff for getting close to balancing FY09 budget and not increasing transit fares. The FY10 budget looks like a status quo budget with just a five percent increase over FY09. Mr. Snyder stated that he would love to see a much stronger budget for FY10 and staff should look at the revenue panel recommendations and city-wide resources and prepare a very luxurious budget for FY10. 13. Public Hearing to consider possible changes to rates, fares, charges, fines, fees, taxes and assessments. (Explanatory documents include a staff report.) (Sonali Bose) Items 12 and 13 were called together. 14. Presentation and discussion of FY08 Second Quarter Service Standards Report. (Explanatory documents include a staff report.) (Debra Johnson) Debra Johnson, Chief of Staff/Director of External Affairs, presented the staff report. Ken McDonald, Chief Operating Officer, reviewed the SFMTA’s On-Time Performance. PUBLIC COMMENT: Steph Feiring stated that she has watched traffic congestion get worse and worse in the city. It takes time for seniors and people in wheelchairs to board buses. While she always has her money ready, there are people who stand at the fare box looking for money. People who do the schedule should ride the buses so they can see what goes on and take those items into account. 15. Discussion and vote pursuant to Administrative Code Section 67.10(d) as to whether to conduct a closed session and invoke the attorney‑client privilege. On motion to invoke the attorney-client privilege: unanimously approved. RECESS REGULAR MEETING AND CONVENE CLOSED SESSION CLOSED SESSION 1. Call to Order Chairman McCray called the closed session to order at 5:50 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present:
Also present:
3. Pursuant to Government Code Sections 54956.9, and Administrative Code Section 67.8 (a) (3) the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors will meet in closed session to discuss attorney‑client matters in the following case: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Anticipated Litigation: ___X___ As defendant _____ As plaintiff Also present:
4. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 and the Administrative Code Section 67.8 (a) (3), the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors will meet in Closed Session to discuss and possibly act on attorney‑client matters in the following cases: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Existing Litigation:
RESOLUTION 08-053 On motion to approve: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka Also present:
ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION AND RECONVENE OPEN SESSION – The closed session was adjourned at 6:33 p.m. 16. Announcement of Closed Session. Chairman McCray announced that the SFMTA Board of Directors met in closed session to discuss the Coalition for Adequate Review and Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates cases with the City Attorney. The Board of Directors voted unanimously to settle the Coalition for Adequate Review case and took no action on the Bayview Hunters Point case. The Board also met in closed session to discuss anticipated litigation with the city as defendant. The Board took no action on that matter. 17. Motion to disclose or not disclose the information discussed in closed session. On motion to not disclose the information discussed: unanimously approved. ADJOURN – The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. A tape of the meeting is on file in the office of the Secretary to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors. Roberta Boomer The Ethics Commission of the City and County of San Francisco has asked us to remind individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [S.F. Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 2.100 et seq.] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 415-581-2300; fax: 415-581-2317; 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, SF, CA 94102-6027 or the web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
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