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City and County of San Francisco FINAL MINUTES
Thursday, February 7, 2008, at 5:30 p.m. 1. Call to Order / Roll Call SFMTA CAC members present at Roll Call: Daniel Murphy (Chairman), Steve Ferrario (Vice Chair), Mary Burns, Art Cimento, Joan Downey, Griffith Humphrey (departed at 8:12 p.m.), Bruce Oka, Norman Rolfe and Daniel Weaver. SFMTA CAC members present, but absent at Roll Call: Greg Riessen arrived at 5:35 p.m. and departed at 7:35 p.m., Dorris Vincent arrived at 6:00 p.m. and departed at 7:10 p.m., and Dan Weaver arrived at 5:35 p.m. SFMTA CAC absent: Emily Drennen, Cesar Perez, and Jamison Wieser. SFMTA staff: Sonali Bose (CFO/Director of Finance and Administration), Roberta Boomer (Board Secretary), John Funghi (Project Manager, Central Subway), Diana Hammons (Senior Manager, Revenue), Bree Mawhorter(Revenue Policy Analyst) and Debra Reed (CAC Secretary). Other staff present: Joan Kugler (Department of City Planning-Central Subway) and Luis Zurinaga (Transportation Authority) 2. Adopt minutes of January 29, 2008: On motion to adopt minutes: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Vincent, Drennen, Perez and Wieser 3. Public Comment concerning any issue within the jurisdiction of the Council and not noted on the agenda: none 4. Report of the Chairman: Daniel Murphy Chairman Murphy is planning dates for special CAC meetings in February and March of 2008. 5. Staff Report (Discussion/Action) Roberta Boomer Ms. Boomer reviewed highlights from the staff report. Joan Downey had questions regarding the Forward Facing Camera program on buses. Chairman Murphy assigned the topic to the EMSC for further discussion. Dan Weaver wanted to know the circumstances of accidents he asked about at the January 14, 2008 SFMTA CAC meeting. Ms. Boomer agreed to list accidents in the staff report as recorded in the SFMTA Board Communications Received file. Greg Riessen asked if it is a moving violation when a car is stopped by a red light while trying to make a right turn from a transit lane. Mr. Riessen asked if there were any studies to redesign the diamond stencil used to indicate transit only lanes. Norman Rolfe asked were any of the substations and feeders affected by the storm. Dan Weaver asked about the lack of ATMs or advance-fare pay machines at the Civic Center Garage. 6. Central Subway Draft EIS/EIR (Discussion/Action) Joan Kugler and John Funghi Mr. Funghi reviewed the Central Subway history and proposed plan. Mr. Funghi said that the project team is asking the SFMTA Board of Directors to reaffirm and adopt the Fourth-Stockton alignment 3B alternative. Dorris Vincent asked if the forecast of future ridership included passengers from the upcoming Hunters Point housing development. Mr. Funghi said that the database for ridership will be updated. Steve Ferrario expressed concern that the Central Subway platforms would not be able to expand beyond berthing two-car trains. Mr. Funghi stated that they would continue to study the expansion of the platforms to accommodate three-car trains for the final design. Mr. Ferrario expressed concern regarding the Moscone and Chinatown entrance locations. Mr. Funghi said that feasibility reports were available on alternate exits. Other factors included the ability to acquire private property and other obstacles such as utilities and infrastructure. Mr. Funghi stated that they would study alternate entrances further. Public Comment Luis Zurinaga said that the resolution is too strong. The project is recognized as one of the best in the nation. The Transportation Authority is looking at ways to develop and improve the project. He urged the CAC not to delay the project. David Pilpel felt that the Central Subway is a bad project and that the CAC recommendation is not strong enough. He is concerned that the project steps ahead of the Geary project. He prefers that the SFMTA Board of Directors kill the project. Phil Chin said that the Central Subway project draws much support from the Chinese and Pilipino communities. David Chew, a member of Central Subway Community Advisory Group, said that the CAC recommendation touches on important questions that were already thoroughly vetted by the community. The Chinatown community is very supportive of project. He urged the CAC not use the recommendation to delay the project. Steve Ferrario said that none of the CAC members are suggesting that the project be killed. The CAC is interested only in addressing the concerns outlined in the recommendation. 7. Fare Media (Discussion/Action) Diana Hammons Ms. Hammons reviewed the SFMTA’s fare media. She said that reducing fare media will decrease operating costs and opportunities for fraud. It will improve customer service, facilitate the enforcement of fare rules and simplify the revenue collection process. Translink will eliminate almost all fare media. Chairman Murphy said that fare media will be discussed at the FAC. Public Comment David Pilpel said that there are many policy issues regarding fare media. He believes that people should always be able to use cash regardless of Translink. 8. FY09 and FY10 Budget (Discussion/Action) Sonali Bose Ms. Bose said that the SFMTA needs to think of innovative ways to handle the structural deficit. Recommendations from the Transit Effectiveness Project and the Revenue Panel will be presented to the SFMTA Board of Directors on March 4, 2008. Ms. Bose suggested that the FAC review the recommendations after March 4th. The SFMTAB will take action at the March 19, 2008 meeting. Joan Downey asked about fast pass and fare increases. Ms. Bose said that automatic fare increases are being considered. There have been discussions regarding whether the cost of the fast pass is under priced. Art Cimento felt that it is the responsibility of SFMTA management to handle the deficit. The SFMTA keeps taking on projects such as the Central Subway. Fares are low when compared to the rest of the country, yet the SFMTA is not aggressive enough with collecting fares. The deficit is a major form of frustration. Ms. Bose said that the SFMTA provides a complicated and costly service. Joan Downey wants the FAC to focus on other Agency costs such as funds paid towards the Mayor’s staff and the $10 million paid to the SFPD. Public Comment David Pilpel said that the SFMTA should raise the base fare, make equity changes and decrease service in areas that are not as busy. 9. Committee Reports: None. 10. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action) Motion 080114.01 WHEREAS, The Central Subway project is the SFMTA’s highest priority capital project and is currently budgeted to cost more than $1 Billion; and WHEREAS, The Citizens Advisory Council is chartered to provide advice and recommendations to the SFMTA Board, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the SFMTA CAC urges the SFMTA Board to consider some of our serious concerns and misgivings about this project which include; a) Station placements and more importantly the number of entrances and exits and their precise locations, with regard to pedestrian safety in crossing busy streets to get to the stations; b) The accuracy of the ridership projections, c) Pedestrian connection between the Powell Street and the proposed Union Square Stations requires a four and a half minute walk, including exiting and reentering the fare gates, d) The length of station platforms are designed only to accommodate a two-car train and are therefore too short, and will limit future capacity. This is a safety concern and will limit future capacity for potential projects such as the Hunters Point Navel Shipyard development. Dan Weaver moved to amend the resolution to remove the words “some of,” and “and misgivings” and to add two additional resolved clauses. RESOLVED, That the SFMTA CAC urges the SFMTA Board to consider the following serious concerns about this project which include: Further RESOLVED, That the SFMTA CAC supports the proposed Central Subway alignment alternative 3B. Further be it RESOLVED, That the SFMTA CAC recommends to have the SFMTA continue to investigate light rail service to Fisherman’s Warf. On motion to amend the motion to remove words and add the resolved clauses: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser Mary Burns moved that item a) concerning pedestrian safety be amended as follows: a) Station placements and more importantly the number of entrances and exits and their precise locations, with regard to pedestrian safety in crossing busy streets; On motion to amend item a) regarding pedestrian safety: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser Joan Downey moved that item b) concerning the accuracy of the ridership projections be deleted. On motion to delete item b) regarding the accuracy of the ridership projections: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen and Weaver Nays – Rolfe Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser Joan Downey moved that item d) concerning the platform length be modified as follows: d) The length of station platforms are designed only to accommodate a two-car train and are therefore too short. This is a safety concern and will limit future capacity for ridership from potential projects such as Hunters Point Navel Shipyard development and future rail extensions. On motion to modify item d) regarding platform length: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser On motion to approve the final resolution as amended: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser 11. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action) Motion 080114.02 RESOLVED, The SFMTA CAC supports the concept of the proposed Divisadero Street peak-hour transit lane tow-away zone, bus, and landscape improvements as part of the Greater Streets Program and urges the SFMTA to move forward with the proposed testing. On motion to approve: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser 12. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action) Motion 080128.03 RESOLVED, The SFMTA CAC recommends that the SFMTA Board consider a wide range of options for additional advertising on Muni including advertising on SFMTA non-historic vehicles and infrastructure, and fare media, if such advertising can raise significant revenue for the Agency. On motion to approve: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser 13. Recommendation from a CAC Committee (Discussion/Action) Motion 080128.04 WHEREAS, The SFMTA annually pays out between $9 million to $12 million in injury and death lawsuit settlements; and WHEREAS, The City’s Controller’s Office and City Attorney’s Office are currently responsible for managing the collection, investigation, and settlement of SFMTA claims, now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the SFMTA CAC urges the City to develop business practices whereby the SFMTA receive adequate information about claims filed within a much shorter turn-around time and in a format that is most useful for analysis to prevent future incidents. On motion to approve: ADOPTED: Ayes – Burns, Cimento, Downey, Ferrario, Humphrey, Murphy, Oka, Riessen, Rolfe and Weaver Absent – Drennen, Perez, Vincent and Wieser 14. Questions from CAC members None 15. Agenda Planning for the Next Regular Meeting Tentatively Scheduled: Next regular meeting: March 6, 2008 at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, Conference Room 3074, at 5:30 p.m. TEP 16. Adjournment: 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: |
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