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CALLED TO ORDER at 4:37 p.m.

ROLL CALL:

Members Present: Blaylock, Elias, Fletcher, Hashimoto, Morando, Rogers, Stuchinsky, Tripousis

Members Absent: Sausedo, Schulter, Zimmerman, Zimmermann

A quorum was not present and a Committee of the Whole was declared.

Chairperson Blaylock announced that Committee Member Mas Minami passed away on Friday, April 2, 2004, and requested a moment of silence in his memory.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

James Wightman, interested citizen, queried what light rail plans there are in the Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030).

Chairperson Blaylock stated that Carolyn M. Gonot, Chief Development Officer, was absent from the meeting and noted that Joanne Benjamin, Policy and Program Manager, was present in her place.

The Committee of the Whole received the Summary Minutes of March 10, 2004.

Committee Staff Report

There was no Committee Staff Report.

Chairperson's Report: The Committee of the Whole heard a report regarding vacancies, recruitment, retainment, and attendance of Members of the Citizens' Advisory Committee (CAC).

Distributed Citizens Advisory Committee Nomination Forms to CAC Members for persons they know who might be interested in a seat on CAC.

Requested that Members provide vacations plans to the Office of the Board Secretary.

Requested that the Office of the Board Secretary send a reminder, including a deadline, to CAC Members requesting information regarding vacation plans.

Suggested that a letter be sent to CAC Members with poor attendance indicating that they may lose their seat on the Committee due to absences.

Staff noted that a letter has been drafted regarding the absence rule that would be sent to seated Members of CAC. Staff noted further that Members who have been habitually absent would be asked whether they wish to retain the seat.

Queried whether the day, time, or location of the CAC Meeting might be changed.

Requested that CAC Members provide the days and the times for CAC Meetings that would work best for them.

BUSINESS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/

The Committee of the Whole reviewed and commented on the proposed transit and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) fare modifications for implementation January 1, 2005.

Staff provided a summary of comments provided by the public regarding proposed transit and ADA fare modifications. Staff noted a reduced price in the proposed Senior/Disabled Monthly Pass that had initially been $27.50 to $26.00. Staff noted further that a proposal has been made to extend the deferral of the surcharge for out-of-service-area-service on the ADA Paratransit Service in the South County area for another year. At that time a study would be conducted regarding the Paratransit Service Model in the South County.

The Committee of the Whole reviewed and commented on the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Congestion Management Program Draft Work Program and Amended Budget that will be distributed to Member Agencies for review and comment.

Commented that a study of highway corridors for transportation improvements is not a requirement, but a choice, noting that if funds are not used on highways, they could be put to better use in transit.

The Committee of the Whole reviewed and commented on the final staff recommendations for Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030) program allocations and project priorities.

Staff reported that VTP 2030 is a county-wide transportation plan which includes all modes of transportation and is a planning document updated every three years, not a programming document.

Commented that when the public voted for the sales tax and BART in 2000, it didn't know that BART would be at the expense of the rest of the transit system. Noted that economic conditions have changed and stated that it should be put to a vote again asking voters if they want all of the money to go to BART or whether they want the money saved to improve transit.

Stated that Environmental Equity, one of the Transit Project Prioritization Criteria, should be called Social Equity, not Environmental Equity. Staff responded that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) refers to this item as Environmental Justice and reported that this comment would be forwarded.

The Committee of the Whole reviewed and commented on the proposed Tier 2 Bicycle Project List for the Santa Clara Countywide Bicycle Plan/VTP 2030.

Staff distributed Attachment A, Tier 2 Projects submitted for VTP 2030/Countywide Plan update.

Staff stated that the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee would be requested to prioritize these projects and stated that an update of the final Tier 2 list would be provided at the Board of Directors Workshop of April 23, 2004.

OTHER

Announcements

Distributed the San Jose Mercury News obituary of Member Minami.

Staff reported that a letter of condolence is being prepared for the Minami family which would be available at the May 12, 2004 CAC Meeting for Member signature.