This is the archival website for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). It is not kept up to date. Please visit the SFMTA website for current information. SFMTA Board > April 1, 2008, minutes |
|
ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order Chairman McCray called the meeting to order at 2:06 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 18, 2008 Regular Meeting: unanimously approved. 5. Communications Board Secretary Boomer stated that Item 10.9, approving bid call for Contract No. 1231, had been removed from the agenda at the request of staff. 6. Introduction of New or Unfinished Business by Board Members None. 7. Executive Director’s Report (For discussion only)
Executive Director/CEO Nathaniel Ford presented Special Recognition Awards to Maria Contreras, PCO Supervisor; Linda Coquia, Grants Accounting Manager, Finance & Administration Division; and the SFMTA Rail Rodeo winners, Operators Chi Ki Hau and Jason Lao; and the Maintainer Team of Henry Schloz, San Gee and Joe Gauci. E.D Ford stated that the SFMTA has been working closely with Caltrans on the seismic retrofit of the West Approach to the Bay Bridge. There will be an event on April 11, 2008 from 10:00am to 1:00pm to commemorate the completion of the project. E.D. Ford announced the SFTMA service plan to AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants baseball season. The focus is on pedestrian and customer safety. The SFMTA is working closely with the Taxi Commission and the San Francisco Police Department regarding taxi access and egress. E.D. Ford invited the Board to the Pedestrian Safety Summit on Tuesday, April 8, 2008. The summit will be held in City Hall. National experts will join local staff and advocates to examine the pedestrian environment in San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District passed a resolution approving a congestion related toll which fulfills the requirement of the Urban Partnership Program grantees from the Department of Transportation. Ken McDonald, Chief Operations Officer reported an intrusion of a vehicle into the Twin Peaks Tunnel that damaged an ATCS antenna. Staff was able to normalize service and is looking at safety mitigation measures. Bond Yee, Director, Parking & Traffic, reviewed the plan for the intersection at Fell and Masonic, pending resolution of the bike injunction. PUBLIC COMMENT: Marianna Parreiras, Fix Masonic, expressed appreciation to the SFMTA for holding a hearing on the Masonic and Fell intersection. This is more than a bike issue. It’s a pedestrian safety issue. The SFMTA has power to have an emergency exemption to resolve a safety concern. The Agency’s plan is a good one but you need to take it to the next step. Dan Nguyen-Tan, North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association, expressed appreciation and support for the plan to fix Masonic. It’s a top priority. They have collected over 550 signatures, so this is an obvious problem for the neighborhood. There have been 15 reported car/bike collisions, and three pedestrian/car collisions, and at least as many near misses. Mr. Nguyen-Tan expressed hope that the court will provide relief. Susan King, Walk SF, thanked the SFMTA for its conscientious attention. This is not just a bicycle issue. This should be considered as a pedestrian and public safety issue. There is a newly refurbished playground in the Panhandle. Dozens of families use this intersection to get to the playground. People report that they don’t feel safe using the intersection. Rachel Kraai, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, expressed appreciation for the plans and stated that she is happy to see the SFMTA moving forward on injunctive relief for the Masonic/Fell intersection. She added that there is not the same support for the Market/Octavia intersection. Staff can’t drop plans if the injunctive relief isn’t granted. The collision numbers are under reported. This intersection is in a “crisis condition”. Barry Taranto stated that he has experienced bunching of trains in the underground and is concerned about how to handle bunching. Mr. Taranto is not sure if relief is needed at Masonic and Fell. ISCOTT has made changes in the past. The proposal is great and will make things better. There is no substitute for enforcement. If you reduce speed on Masonic, you will have to do traffic surveys. Katherine Roberts stated that the plan is really good. This is not just a cycling issue. There is an explosion of strollers, more than bikes in that area. There’s a senior center across the street so people in wheelchairs are on the path. It is dangerous for cyclists to use the path because of the number of others who are using the path. People don’t use the southern path because it’s not in good repair. Double left-turn lanes are unbelievably dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. Pi Ra, Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council, thanked the SFMTA for the comprehensive plan. This is not about cyclists. It’s about traffic. This is a pedestrian walkway that everybody uses. Most cars tend to edge into the crosswalk. The intersection on the West side has a double or triple right turn lanes. That intersection needs to be addressed as well. HANC and SAN are happy to see this plan. Manish Champsee, President, Walk SF, stated that this is a pedestrian safety issue. Mr. Champsee expressed appreciation that staff is not pursing a double turn lane. Every street in San Francisco is a neighborhood street and we need to make pedestrian safety improvements everywhere. Chairman McCray requested that staff keep the Board informed regarding the status of the injunction and how best to make safety improvements to the intersection. Vice Chairman Nolan requested that the Board receive the Citizen’s Advisory Council’s recommendations regarding the FY09 and FY10 budgets in advance of the April 15 meeting. 8. Citizen’s Advisory Council Report No report. 9. Public Comment Barry Taranto stated that it’s important for the Board to get an update about the Taxi Commission merger at every meeting. He hasn’t heard anything but has received assurances that nothing major would go forward without public input and participation. Mr. Taranto stated that he has called to complain about transit inspectors who park in a cab stand but he can’t get a response. The public gets no response when they call to complain. The dispatchers and DPT enforcement at night are wonderful but if you call during the day, you will be placed on hold for a long time. Herbert Weiner stated that public transit gets worse day by day. The TEP recommendations will make transit worse. More buses will be added but it will result in longer travel times. Routes proposed for elimination are being justified as being for the “public good”. Blind eyes and deaf ears are ignoring the public outcry. Paratransit has been proposed as an alternative but is yet to be included in the plan. The idea of adding buses to the main runs is good but we shouldn’t sacrifice buses on other lines. Katherine Roberts stated that there has been a lack of enforcement for illegal parking city-wide for a long time. She has to call to complain about anything but street cleaning. People won’t get ticketed without a complaint. Even if you do complain, most of the time a car won’t get a ticket anyway. People who get away with breaking the law feel entitled to continue to violate the law. Howard Strassner stated that the TEP looked at distances between stops. There are many stops that are only a block apart where they should be two or three blocks apart. Buses that don’t have to stop so often can board more people in less time which can speed things up. PCO’s should look for and ticket all violations. THE FOLLOWING MATTERS BEFORE THE SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL TRANSPORTATION AGENCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 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 Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors and will be acted upon by a single vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Board of Directors 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 08-054 (10.2) Approving the following traffic modifications:
RESOLUTION 08-055 (10.3) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to accept and expend $187,600 of Regional Measure Two operating funds for Owl Bus Service on the BART corridor for Fiscal Year 2008. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Sonali Bose) RESOLUTION 08-056 (10.4) Authorizing the Purchaser to utilize the competitive procurement of the State of California to purchase 24 Type II diesel vans and five Type III diesel vans from BusWest, and five gasoline minivans from El Dorado Bus Sales, Inc./Creative Bus Sales, for a total amount not to exceed $2,217,000. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and financial plan.) (Carter Rohan) Item 10.4 was removed from the agenda at the request of a member of the public. PUBLIC COMMENT: Barry Taranto asked why purchasing vans for use by taxicab drivers weren’t included in this contract. The cost to ride a taxi cab is much less than a lift van. Purchasing a ramped vans can be very expensive. The SFMTA should loan people money or help fund the purchase of these vans. RESOLUTION 08-057 On motion to approve Item 10.4: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan, and Oka (10.5) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to approve the award of Department of Public Works Contract No. 0985J: Contract 32 Traffic Signal Modifications, to Bay Area Lightworks to modify traffic signals at 22 designated intersections for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,209,268.68. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and financial plan.) (Bond Yee) RESOLUTION 08-058 (10.6) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to execute Contract Amendment No. 3 to the SFgo Initial Phase Agreement for Professional Services and Software License with Telvent Farradyne to expand the scope and value of the contract by developing and installing various enhancements to SFgo’s central system software, for an amount not to exceed $80,877, for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,129,838. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and contract.) (Bond Yee) RESOLUTION 08-059 (10.7) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to execute the First Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding M-14396 with the Port of San Francisco for the storage of additional reserve fleet buses at Pier 7 for 45,330 square feet at a total annual cost of $380,772. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and MOU) (Sonali Bose) RESOLUTION 08-060 (10.8) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to authorize the Department of Public Works to issue a bid call for Department of Public Works Contract No. 1458J: Contract 59 New Traffic Signals to install new traffic signals at nine intersections. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and financial plan.) (Bond Yee) Item 10.8 was removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of a member of the public. PUBLIC COMMENT: Barry Taranto stated that major projects need more public notice and input. Mr. Taranto expressed concern that some of the signals are timed with other signals. Some may need to be activated only when someone actually needs it. For example, the signal at Filbert and Masonic needs to be activated only when cross traffic needs it. The signal at California and Stockton needs to be tweaked on a regular basis. RESOLUTION 08-061 On motion to approve Item 10.8: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan, and Oka (10.9) Approving the plans and specifications and authorizing bid call for Contract No.1231, Woods Motor Coach Facility – Vehicle Lifts Replacement Phase I Project. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and financial plan.) (Carter Rohan) Item 10.9 was removed from the agenda at the request of staff. (10.10) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to increase the commission from $.25 per unit of transportation payment media sold to $.50 per unit sold. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Sonali Bose) RESOLUTION 08-062 On motion to approve the Consent Calendar (Item 10.4, 10.8 and 10.9 severed): ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan, and Oka REGULAR CALENDAR 11. Presentation and discussion regarding the SFMTA’s FY09 and FY10 operating budgets. (Explanatory documents include a staff report.) (Sonali Bose) 12. Public Hearing to consider possible changes to rates, fares, charges, fines, fees, taxes and assessments. (No explanatory documents.) (Sonali Bose) Items 11 and 12 were called together. Executive Director Ford reviewed the recent budget history and actions taken by SFMTA staff to reduce expenditures and maximize revenue. Sonali Bose, Chief Financial Officer, presented the recommendations to resolve the FY09 and FY10 budget deficits. Vice Chairman Nolan requested information regarding revenue that would be received if the cash fare was increased from $1.50 to $1.75. PUBLIC COMMENT: Norman Rolfe stated that garage rates should be raised to just below the private garage rates in the vicinity. There’s been too much catering to people who can’t see past the end of their car. Staff should look at parking rates as a source of parking revenue. Myrna Lim stated that the Board is taking from poor people and ripping people off. $50 for a parking ticket takes food from a single parent. There are 8185 CCSF employees who make over $100,000 a year but we have people losing homes and jobs. This is not fair or Christian. The SFMTA staff should look at their own paychecks and overtime. Howard Strassner stated that you shouldn’t be concerned about meeting an industry multiplier for a monthly pass. You want people to have a Fast Pass. Those people will vote for more revenues for you. The Fast Pass should be increased as slowly as possible. The SFMTA should raise garage rates and meter rates at the same time. If you raise the monthly pass, there will be more emphasis on the lifeline pass. Herbert Weiner stated that Muni should pay us for riding. It’s insulting to raise the price of a Fast Pass. Every time you raise the pass, the quality of service declines. The agency shouldn’t raise the price of a Fast Pass unless there is a clear improvement in service or until the Mayor and city administrators ride Muni. Muni’s motto is “every rider left behind” or “we break it, you ride it”. Staff should look at other sources of revenue. Hilary Klein, SRO Families Collaborative expressed understanding for what staff has to juggle and is appreciative that there is not a recommendation to raise the single ridership fare. The SFMTA should look at every option possible before raising the cost of monthly passes. The agency shouldn’t touch discount fares for seniors, youth and people with disabilities. Katherine Roberts expressed opposition to raising the cost of the Fast Pass or disabled passes. Staff should look into the monthly rate at Kezar which is an underpriced amenity. Ms. Roberts stated that her biggest concern is the apparent lumping together of fine and fare increases. When you raise fines, you raise the cost of doing something that is illegal. The SFMTA should make people pay a price for breaking the law. If they don’t like it, then they have a choice to not break the law. Raising fares should be a last resort but unless you have adequate enforcement, none of this matters. Barry Taranto stated some people will be able to afford increased fines and some won’t, but if you increase enforcement, you will make more. Raising fines will discourage people from shopping. The SFMTA should increase fines for people who double park and who use public streets for private benefit, such as construction. Mr. Taranto stated that the SFMTA Board shouldn’t deal with taxi fees since it doesn’t have the legal right to do so at this time. Belle Yan, San Francisco Youth Commissioner, stated that the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to create a transitional youth fast pass. Ms. Yan suggested a transitional youth pass for 18-24 year olds at $45 and raising the cost of a Fast Pass for people over 24 to $55. Transitional youth can’t afford $45 now and definitely can’t afford a $55 pass. Manish Champsee, Walk SF, complimented the SFMTA and staff for going through a difficult decision about how to raise revenues and cut expenses to balance a budget. Nobody wants to pay more for anything however as a “Transit First” city that has prioritized transit, bikes, and pedestrians over the automobile, what staff has come up with is reasonable. If we’re going to ask people to pay more, it has to come from people who drive rather than people who use transit. Susan King, Walk SF, stated that the SFMTA should look into the high cost of free parking. Free parking is undervalued and is a hidden subsidy. Parking fines are a way to modify behaviors. People who park illegally have an impact on transit and business. People who slow the city down should be fined heavily. Ms. King suggested doubling or tripling fees for households with multiple cars. Staff should look at establishing a downtown transit assessment district and not to balancing the budget on the back of people who take transit. Raising the youth, senior and disabled pass is cruel. David Pilpel expressed support for the staff recommendation and thinks that staff has done a good job in looking internally to cut expenses. Making adjustments for cost recovery should be done every year. Mr. Pilpel stated that the multiplier that was discussed is a good one. Mr. Pilpel requested that the SFMTA reinstate the use of metal tokens and stated that he was unaware if any review by CEQA had been done. Sharon York stated that it’s not a matter of Muni against car drivers. If you’re going to enforce laws, also enforce laws for bus users who don’t pay. It seems to be an acceptable behavior to hop onto the back of the bus without paying. Car drivers are not necessarily any wealthier than a bus rider. The Board took a short recess. 13. Supporting Caltrans’ recommendation to lower the speed limit on 19th Avenue between Eucalyptus Drive and Martin Luther King Jr Drive in Golden Gate Park from 35 MPH to 30 MPH. (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Bond Yee) PUBLIC COMMENT: Howard Strassner stated that reducing the speed limit will be useful. The other improvements are also a good step. Manish Champsee, Walk SF, commended the SFMTA and Caltrans on reducing the speed limit. 19th Avenue is the most dangerous road in San Francisco mostly due to speeding cars. Speed has a major impact on whether a person lives or dies. Slower vehicles are less likely to crash. Mr. Champsee also expressed appreciation for count down signals and bus bulbs. Sylvia Johnson stated that signals would make a difference. This is a good idea to slow down the traffic. RESOLUTION 08-063 On motion to approve: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan, and Oka 14. Presentation and discussion of the FY2009-2013 Capital Investment Plan and the annual appropriations of the FY09 and FY10 Capital Improvement Budgets. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, capital plan and budgets.) (Carter Rohan) No public comment. Brenda Walker, Manager, Capital Asset Management Program, presented the staff report. 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 5:55 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present:
Also present:
3. 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 attorney‑client matters in the following case: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Existing Litigation:
ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION AND RECONVENE OPEN SESSION - The closed session was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.
16. Announcement of Closed Session. Chairman McCray announced that the SFMTA Board of Directors met in closed session to discuss Coalition for Adequate Review vs. CCSF with the City Attorney. The Board of Directors took no action. 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 6:06 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. |
©2000-2013 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. All rights reserved. |
311