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 > Feb. 15, 2011, minutes |
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ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order Chairman Nolan called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Cameron Beach Cheryl Brinkman Leona Bridges Malcolm Heinicke – absent at Roll Call Jerry Lee Tom Nolan Bruce Oka 3. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting. Chairman Nolan 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. Communications None. 5. Introduction of New or Unfinished Business by Board Members None. 6. Executive Director’s Report (For discussion only) Director Heinicke arrived. Exec. Director/CEO Ford reported on President Obama’s FY2012 budget that includes funding for Central Subway; a recent visit by Deputy Secretary Porcari; the February 11 Castro Station derailment; the status of SFpark and CCSF parking; Caltrain funding; maintenance work at Church and Duboce; the Chinese New Year’s parade and a recent US News & World Report that ranked San Francisco as the sixth best city in the nation for public transportation. 7. Citizens’ Advisory Council Report No report. 8. Public Comment Bob Planthold stated that the city has had a long standing policy of going beyond the ADA requirements. The Central Subway will require walks longer than 800 feet and closer to 1300 feet. There won’t be two elevators together. The Union Square elevator is down a dim alleyway, which will mean it will become a semi-informal restroom. People who have to use that elevator will have to walk 1300 feet. He urged the Board to find the money for pay for appropriate access. Roland Wong spoke about the bus stop consolidation project. Consolidating stops for savings and on-time performance won’t be effective. Seniors and people with disabilities may not be able to walk due to the eliminated bus stop. Blind and low vision people need to reorient themselves. Bunching may cause hostility by people who are anxious to board. Passengers are required to board at the front of the bus. He asked if the SFMTA had considered more limited service such as the 38 Geary-Limited Jennifer Vick spoke about the relocation of a bus stop in front of her business. There was no notification to her or her neighbors. 140 feet of curb in front of her building was painted red without notice. There are two driveways that bisect the stop. This project is associated with a building that is being constructed where the old stop was located. The relocation should have been incorporated into that construction with appropriate opportunity for public comment. Her neighbors are upset. She encouraged a public hearing on the bus stop at 3275 San Bruno. 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. SPECIAL CALENDAR 9. Presentation and discussion regarding the SFMTA’s Strategic Plan. (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation.) (Bond Yee) Tim Papandreou, deputy director, Planning, Sustainable Streets presented the report. PUBLIC COMMENT: Bob Planthold spoke about current accessibility issues with low floor vehicles. The buses don’t kneel as low as needed. At many stops, buses don’t pull to the curb so people have to walk into the street. The operators say the kneelers don’t work. The SFMTA needs to think about the geography of San Francisco where high floor buses bottom out. The planners don’t talk to the riders. Reggie McCray stated that the low floor issue isn’t new. Staff has developed data about low floor coaches. They bottom out and electric wheelchairs can’t be used on them. He stated that he is disturbed that by integrating private and public transit, private companies will be subsidized. Stakeholders should include people who are doing the work. There is a problem with service delivery and reliability. Roland Wong stated that he doesn’t like low floor vehicles because they are dangerous for people in wheelchairs. From the street level, a wheelchair ramp is steep for boarding and disembarking. He expressed hope that the SFMTA can figure out how to resolve the issue because low floor is here to stay. 10. Presentation and discussion regarding the SFMTA’s year-end financial audit. (Required Prop A training.) (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation.) (Sonali Bose) Sonali Bose, director, Finance and Information Technology and Steve DeVetter, manager, KPMC, presented the report. No public comment. 11. Presentation and discussion regarding long range financial plan, revenue options, bonding and debt policy. (Required Prop A training.) (Explanatory documents include reports and slide presentations.) (Sonali Bose) Sonali Bose, director, Finance and Information Technology; Peter Shellenberger, The PFM Group; Peter Ross, Ross Financial and Vince McCarley, Backstrom McCarley & Berry presented the report. Chairman Nolan requested additional information in advance of the Board’s consideration of the debt policy regarding the alternatives. No public comment. 12. Presentation and discussion regarding public meeting laws. (Required Prop A training.) (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation.) (Julia Friedlander) Mariam Morley, deputy city attorney, presented the report. PUBLIC COMMENT: Bob Planthold complimented the legal team for the most impressive, thoughtful training that he has ever seen. He wishes that it could be the template for the City’s training. John Haley, director, Transit Services presented the report. Exec. Director/CEO Ford stated that he would be reconvening the TEP Policy Body and would need appointees from the Board to participate. Director Heinicke requested information regarding how much the SFMTA was subsidizing per route per rider. Vice Chairman Lee requested information regarding the impact that the TEP had on service cuts and whether the theories were effective or not. Director Beach requested information regarding the cost per passenger on a fixed route vs. paratransit. PUBLIC COMMENT: Bob Planthold suggested that the TEP Citizens Advisory Group also be reconvened. The TEP CAG didn’t discuss turn backs. The way it was done is not effective or efficient for passengers. The proximity of time isn’t relevant if the next bus that arrives is full. There is no information provided to riders regarding whether the passenger load of the next bus will be adequate to pick up those who were dropped by the short turning train. 14. Presentation and discussion regarding pedestrian safety. (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation.) (Bond Yee) Tim Papandreou, deputy director, Planning, Sustainable Streets presented the report. PUBLIC COMMENT: Elizabeth Stampe, Walk SF, stated that she was glad to see this getting attention as between 700 and 800 people are hit by cars every year. Fatal collisions are avoidable. WalkSF is interested in sharing about funding for enforcement. They want to work with the SFMTA and the SFPD to improve accountability, have better enforcement and expand the red light camera program. It would be great to approve the pedestrian action plan earlier than December. Manish Champsee, WalkSF, expressed appreciation but noted that 800 pedestrians are hit every year. The SFPD doesn’t take a report on an injury unless an ambulance is requested. The SFMTA doesn’t take pedestrian safety as seriously as it should. For example, with the removal of the 26 Valencia, there was a great opportunity to add bulb outs. The SFMTA agreed to add one at 16th and Valencia but that was it. Valencia Street is more dangerous to pedestrians than it needs to be. There are great examples in other cities and countries that can be done cheaply, such as traffic circles. Traffic circles didn’t work on Page street because we didn’t follow best practices. They need to be a certain width to be effective. John Lowell complimented the presentation. Several city departments are engaged in this process. Federal, State and Local agencies need to cooperate. The State is missing as source of legal responsibility for Van Ness and 19th Ave funding. The fines from tickets need to be retained by the city and used to fund pedestrian safety. Bob Planthold stated that the Senior Action Network started the pedestrian safety network long before the SFMTA got involved. The graph that shows a 25% reduction over 10 years takes the homogenization approach. There is a separate study that shows that danger to seniors has remained constant over the years. Supervisor Kim will be holding a hearing in her district. There have been efforts to press the California Highway Patrol to revise the collision investigation form to include information about pedestrians but there has been no response. Megan Wier expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work on this important issue. It is disproportionately weighted towards the serious and fatal injuries at a cost of over $15 million to the city. The reduction of air pollution is an additional benefit. There is international evidence that can inform the process. They have a citywide database of senior residences. 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 SPECIAL MEETING AND CONVENE CLOSED SESSION CLOSED SESSION 1. Call to Order Chairman Nolan called the meeting to order at 2:20 p.m. 2. Roll Call Present: Cameron Beach Cheryl Brinkman Leona Bridges Malcolm Heinicke Jerry Lee Tom Nolan Bruce Oka Also present: Nathaniel Ford, executive director/CEO Roberta Boomer, board secretary Julia Friedlander, deputy city attorney Carter Rohan, deputy executive director Debra Johnson, director, Administration, Taxi and Accessible Services Sonali Bose, director, Finance and Information Technology John Haley, director, Transit Services Rumi Ueno, manager, Labor Relations Carole Stevens, attorney 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 or __X__ As plaintiff 4. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6(a) and Administrative Code Section 67.8, the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors shall meet in closed session for: CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR CCSF Representative: Debra Johnson and/or her designees Employee Organizations: TWU, Local 250-A and TWU, Local 200 To discuss: _X_ Wages _X__ Hours _X__ Benefits _X__ Working Conditions _X__ Other ADJOURN CLOSED SESSION AND RECONVENE OPEN SESSION - The closed session was adjourned at 2:58 p.m. 16. Announcement of Closed Session. Chairman Nolan announced that the SFMTA Board of Directors met in closed session to discuss labor negotiations. The Board of Directors took no action. There was no discussion of anticipated litigation. 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 2:59 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 |
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