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 > Jan. 29, 2010, minutes |
|
ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order Chairman Nolan called the meeting to order at 10:03: a.m. 2. Roll Call Present:
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. Approval of Minutes On motion to approve the minutes of the January 19, 2010 Regular Meeting: unanimously approved (Beach, Heinicke, McCray-absent). 5. Communications Board Secretary Boomer announced that that an overflow room had been established in the South Light Court. Speakers would be allowed time to come to Room 400 to address the Board. Chairman Nolan stated that Items 11 and 12 would be called after the report from the CAC Chairman and that the Board would take a break. 6. Introduction of New or Unfinished Business by Board Members None. 7. Executive Director’s Report (For discussion only)
Directors Beach, Heinicke and McCray arrived. Executive Director/CEO Ford presented Special Recognition Awards to Henry Gong, senior administrative analyst, Revenue Section, Finance and Information Technology; Kathleen McEvoy, Manager, Color Curb Program, Sustainable Streets; Lewis Ames, Finance Manager, Central Subway Project, Capital Programs and Construction. 8. Citizens’ Advisory Council Report No report. 9. Public Comment Mark Gruberg asked that the taxi issue be pushed down the road or scheduled for a special meeting. This will permanently tie up industry revenues in a mountain of debt that won’t result in benefits for drivers. He will provide his objections in writing. Jane Bolig stated that this process has been more than fair. Issues were aired in front of everybody and at least one of Mr. Gruberg’s ideas has been incorporated into the proposal. The industry is on board with the plan. Mark Gleason, Local 665, stated that they are supportive of proposals to remove free parking in garages. He invited the Board to a press conference. David Pilpel questioned whether the Board had been apprised of the revenue generating proposals presented over the years. He urged the SFMTA to bring forward possible ballot measures so there is time to consider them. He also noted that there will be a number of senior employees who will be retiring soon which will result in a loss of leadership and knowledge about the system. Barry Taranto stated Ms. Hayashi had done a fantastic job of uniting the taxi industry and coming up with proposals that many can live with. The proposal provides an exit strategy. He expressed concern over the transfer of oversight of the taxi detail from Ms. Hayashi to Jim Dougherty. Craig Martin stated that he doesn’t understand how the process for the contract for garage management has changed. It appears that a current garage operator influenced the process. It was a fair and open process and the contracts should be awarded. Charlie Walker asked what the process was for the garage contract and that the matter be agendized. Muni promised off-street parking on Third Street. Things happen when black people are involved. Fred Bekele stated that had his company been well connected they would have been awarded the garage contract. If added that if he had known that there would have been prejudice, he wouldn’t have bid on it. The item should be put on the agenda. 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 San Francisco 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 10-016 (10.2) Approving the following traffic modifications:
RESOLUTION 10-017 (10.3) Approving the plans and specifications and authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to award Contract No.1230 Cable Car Propulsion System DC Motor Drives Upgrade, to Shimmick Construction for a contract amount of $5,085,000 and a term not to exceed 550 days. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and financial plan.) (Carter Rohan) RESOLUTION 10-018 (10.4) Authorizing the Executive Director/CEO to execute the First Modification to Contract No. 1222, Job Order Contract, with Power Engineering Contractors, to exercise the option of increasing the contract amount by an additional $1,500,000, for a total Contract amount of $4,500,000 to perform additional work related to infrastructure and facility enhancement and maintenance. (Explanatory documents include a staff report, resolution and modification.) (Carter Rohan) RESOLUTION 10-019 (10.5) Approving the issuance of a transit pass at no cost for use by registered transit and transportation professionals and attendees of the 2010 Institute of Transportation Engineers District 6 Annual Meeting (Explanatory documents include a staff report and resolution.) (Bond Yee) RESOLUTION 10-020 No public comment. On motion to approve the Consent Calendar: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, McCray, Nolan and Oka REGULAR CALENDAR 11. Presentation and discussion regarding the FY10 year-end budget including changes to Muni service. (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation.) (Sonali Bose) Sonali Bose, chief financial officer, and Julie Kirschbaum, manager, Service Planning, presented the staff report. PUBLIC COMMENT: Bob Planthold stated this is a war against people with disabilities and seniors and it’s unconscionable to double the price of a fast pass when those living on limited incomes don’t get cost of living increases. The Board is not being good stewards and is not showing thought or analysis in public. Going from $15 to $30 will reduce mobility. Both buses today had broken fare boxes. The SFMTA should go after drivers. Jazzie Collins stated that every year there’s a deficit that the public has to pay for. Neither riders nor employees are at fault. When someone’s monthly income is $800 and rent is $600, a fast pass isn’t affordable. He urged the Board to reduce their salary. David Keck asked the Board to consider alternates before increasing the price for the disabled and seniors. Eric Chase stated that while he is sympathetic to the state stealing transit funds, this budget is putting too much of the burden on riders and not enough on drivers. There is $17.5 million available from the Airport Connector funds. The Board is violating it’s discretion by not exploring parking meter hours. Mayor Newsom has a poor understanding of the Transit First policy. Irwin Lum expressed opposition to fare increases and reductions to service. Buses will be more crowded and people will be passed by. Street cleaning, work orders, extending parking meter hours should be reconsidered. He stated that layoffs will result in less reliability and more breakdowns. Service will be killed in the long run. Marc Christensen stated that he is opposed to increasing fares, reducing service and increasing the cost of residential parking permits. Instead, he suggested that the SFMTA look at enforcement and cut backs in management costs. The use of cell phones should be curtailed and all unnecessary overtime should be cut. The cost for parking citations should increase. Bruce Allison stated that the proposal to increase discount fares is a 300% increase in one year. If this passes, the SFMTA may be an increase in artificially made passes. Non-residents who go to nightclubs should be charged. Tom Rubens spoke in opposition to increases to the pass for seniors and disables. Ernestine Patterson stated that doubling the amount of the senior discount pass removes the feeling of independence and flexibility. It is thoughtless to ask people who are visually impaired to pay more. Don’t raise fares Randall Glock stated that wait times will increase and wheelchair users will have a tough time. Frank Lara addressed the Board in Spanish. Forrest Schmidt stated that there must be tough decisions made. This is a model for how to wreck a transit system. Seniors will have to pony up double the amount of money. The rich aren’t paying their way and are being bailed out. The poor and working class are paying more. Kathleen Mayeda stated that people recognize that these are difficult times but the $30 cost should be reconsidered. Seniors can’t afford it and won’t buy food or medicine as a result. They will be isolated and will rot at home. It is crucial to figure out an alternative. John Connolly stated that he can’t afford to pay the proposed increases. Briana Beker stated that this is a crisis and she can’t afford to pay the proposed increases. Lisamaria Martinez stated that these actions will take away her independence. People with disabilities depend on public transit. She urged the Board not to increase fares Patricia Jones stated that it would be impossible to pay for the increases. Salaries should be cut. Bobby Bogan stated that the nation is in an economic crisis that is far from over. These proposals should be stopped today and realistic solutions need to be presented, such as high salaries. Raymond Vega urged the Board to freeze the cost of passes and to repair the stuff that the SFMTA has now rather than build new things. This is no way to live. Jeanne Lynch stated that these proposals are genocide for the elderly and disabled. Seniors can’t shop now because the SFMTA stopped running the Ocean Beach bus. She urged the Board to re-examine this budget and eliminate what is being done to seniors and the disabled. Elizabeth Dawson stated that transportation is a collective resource and right. Seniors and people with disabilities need affordable transportation. The SFMTA will be judged by how it treats the most vulnerable citizens. Robert Weber stated that doubling the fares will make vulnerable people bear the brunt of the lack of foresight by the financial sector. These actions will encourage criminal behavior. He urged the Board to have compassion for those less fortunate before balancing the budget on the backs of those who can’t afford it. Clifford Phillips asked the Board not to raise the cost of the fast pass. The increase is too much. Francesca Rosa stated that they try to help people become independent. The disabled pass helps them help their disabled clients live a better life. Please do not raise this rate as it would affect disabled clients in a serious way. Those on fixed incomes are having a tough time in this economy. Oscar Faramidan stated that this is not the right time to increase fares. People are suffering and their daily lives are affected. The voice of the people is the voice of god. Lolita Tanner wondered why there is a problem with a budget. The poorest people are always the first to be impacted. Ms. Tanner invited the Board spend a week with their clients and seniors and see how hard it is for them to use public transportation. Increasing fares will make it more difficult for them and will negatively impact their pockets. Day Chionsini asked the Board not to raise the price for seniors, kids and people with disabilities. James Chionsini expressed opposition to fare increases for seniors and people with disabilities. People rely on Muni and must decide whether to buy food, medicine or a fast pass. Seniors are already hurting. These proposals are disproportionately hitting seniors and people with disabilities. Donna Willmott stated that the outpouring of sentiment from affected consumers should convince the Board that these proposals are unconscionable. They will impact people’s lives, health and safety and basic essentials for living. Tripling the cost of the pass is beyond the pale and should be reconsidered. Gena Lynn Luna stated that it’s not fair to raise fares. The SFMTA needs to crack down on people who board through the rear door. Buses are overcrowded. The SFPD should focus on crime on the streets and not on Muni. Thomas Luong stated that Muni is important to the disabled community. Reducing schedules and increasing fares will affect lives. They can’t afford it and have already suffered from the recent cuts. Jamie Wong stated that people need to spend their money on rent and groceries and they can’t afford the increase. Don’t increase the passes for people with disabilities and seniors. Sue Vaughan stated that the Mayor implored the Board to not expand the hours of meter operation but he is wrong. The status quo is not sustainable. We are at the beginning of the economic crisis and based on a report to the Board of Supervisors, we are going into an economic contraction due to the change from reliance on hydrocarbons. Bonita Abram stated that she doesn’t want her budget to be cut. She needs her money to pay her other bills. John Coulter stated that it’s hard to take the 14 Mission and he is sick and tired of budget cuts. Patrick Flannery stated that he can’t afford to pay the increase. While he wants to operate within the realms of the law, if forced to, he will ride illegally. Integrity is lacking in these decisions. Anthony Castro stated that buses are overcrowded, operators are rude and people ride for free but his main concern is the increase to the discount fare for people with disabilities. They can barely afford to pay $15. Doubling it will force people to board without paying and to steal transfers. Don Baker stated that cuts to the 17 Park Merced line will strand students who attend evening classes and people who work the swing shift. The discount fare is being tripled in a short amount of time. Staff should look somewhere else. Barry Taranto stated that the SFMTA needs to look for more revenue and not look to cuts. The report on Parking Control Officers and the number of citations issued was very interesting. He urged the Board to look at the deployment structure and to put PCO’s on Muni routes and where people are double parking in the evenings. Meter hours should be extended. It is unfair to charge a transaction fee for people who go to the Customer Service Center. Lionel Sanford stated that his only means of transportation is Muni. He stated that increasing the discount pass to $30 is unfair and outrageous. Those who are lowest on the economic ladder shouldn’t bear the burden. Mr. Ford should be asked to give back at least half of his salary raises. He asked the Board to take old people into consideration. Tom Lam stated that he can’t afford an increase to the cost of a pass because he has to pay rent and buy food and clothes. It is hard to pay for bus fares. He urged the Board to not raise fares. Mark Gruberg asked the Board to feel the pain of the previous speakers and put themselves in those shoes. Walter Paulson stated that Muni is not on time and that the budget cuts are unconscionable. The fares should be priced lower. Muni has plenty of money and should just put a better line out. Ann DuFrane stated that she is disappointed with the proposals. She empathizes with those who spoke previously and wondered how many discount passes there are versus the number of parking permits. The cost for a residential parking permit is only $8 per month and she stated that she would be willing to pay more. Brian Browne expressed concern that if fares are increased by one percent that there will be less revenues than there are now. One speaker made her comments in sign language. Nini Phuah stated that she works with developmentally disabled clients who can’t afford to pay more for a disabled sticker. Most of her clients don’t have jobs. Ms. Phuah urged the Board to find a solution to keep the pass reduced so her clients have access to activities. Her clients are dependent on Muni. 12. Presentation and discussion regarding the SFMTA’s Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012 budgets. (Explanatory documents include a slide presentation) (Sonali Bose) Sonali Bose, chief financial officer, presented the staff report. PUBLIC COMMENT: David Pilpel stated that the staff proposal doesn’t bring additional ideas beyond what was in the FY10 package. The future year deficit is more significant. Ideas should be brought forward now so choices can be carefully weighed. Mr. Pilpel stated that he has presented at least four ideas that should be reconsidered. There should be more detail provided. Eva Savarlia stated that San Franciscans use Muni. Ms. Savarlia doesn’t have a car because the cost to own one isn’t affordable. She can’t live on $800 per month. She asked the Board not to increase the cost of the discount pass. 13. 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 Nolan called the closed session to order at 1:25 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 and take action on attorney‑client matters in the following case: CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL Existing Litigation:
RESOLUTION 10-021 On motion to approve: ADOPTED: AYES – Beach, Black, Heinicke, Lee, Nolan and Oka NAYES – McCray 4. 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 5. 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, SEIU Local 1021 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 2:03 p.m. 14. Announcement of Closed Session. Chairman Nolan announced that the SFMTA Board of Directors met in closed session to discuss the Crosley case with the City Attorney. The Board of Directors voted to settle the case with Vice Chairman McCray opposed. The Board also discussed anticipated litigation and labor negotiations but took no action. 15. 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 2:05 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; 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, SF, CA 94102-6027 or the web site: sfgov.org/ethics. |
©2000-2013 San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. All rights reserved. |
311