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CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chairperson Blaylock in Conference Room B-104, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California. 

ROLL CALL

Members Present                             Members Present

Stephen C. Blaylock, Chairperson       Gaye Morando
Don Burnett                                          Margaret Okuzumi
Chris Elias                                            Sally Probst
Ellen Fletcher                                       Connie Rogers
Ray Hashimoto                                     Martin Schulter, Vice Chairperson
Irene Hsu                                              Laura Stuchinsky
Roberta Hughan                                   Noel Tebo
Luiz Mendez

Members Absent

Patricia Sausedo

A quorum was present.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

Member Fletcher informed the Committee that she provided the e-mail on the table regarding BART.

Committee Staff Report

John Ristow, Programming & Project Development Deputy Director, reported that the Board of Directors deferred the decision on the VTA Scenario to February 2006.  Mr. Ristow stated that the VTA Scenario cannot be discussed at today’s meeting, but noted that it will be agendized for CAC’s January 2006 meeting. 

Chairperson’s Report

Chairperson Blaylock announced Diane Tripousis’ resignation.   He requested that staff send an appreciation letter to Ms. Tripousis and note in the letter that she would be welcome to be part of the CAC in the future, if she so wishes. 

Member Okuzumi suggested that someone with a financial analysis background fill the vacancy.  She noted that it will be helpful to the Committee as it embarks on the role as the Watchdog Committee for Measure A.

Stephen Flynn, Senior Management Analyst, noted that the appointment to the seat is at the sole discretion of the appointing authority.  He added that staff is soliciting other entities that could send a representative to CAC to fill the seat of  Member Sausedo next year.

ember Rogers expressed support of Member Okuzumi’s comments.  She inquired about the possibility of redefining the seat of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (Member Sausedo).  She also inquired about  requesting the City of  San Jose to consider the financial analysis background as a desirable qualification in their selection to fill Ms. Tripousis’ seat.

Members Elias and Stuchinsky took their seats at 4:41 p.m.      

In response to Member Probst’s inquiry, Mr. Flynn noted that staff is evaluating the date, time, and venue of the CAC Meeting to address its new role as the Watchdog Committee.

Chairperson Blaylock thanked the Members for participating in the Nominating Committee’s survey and thanked the Nominating Committee for their hard work.

BUSINESS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/GENERAL MANAGER

Minutes of November 9, 2005

Member Rogers noted correction on Agenda Item #16., Announcements, Page 8 of 9, to reflect January 2006.

Member Fletcher referred to Agenda Item #7., Proactive CMP Reviewed and Approved Quarterly Status Report, Page 3 of 9, to note that there is a need for more bicycle parking.

Member Elias noted a formatting correction on the Member Present section.

M/S/C (Probst/Hughan) to approve the Minutes of November 9, 2005.

Vasona Light Rail Line Ridership Update – October 2005

Sam Lau, Operations Planning Deputy Director, stated that in response to CAC’s request, staff is providing a report on Vasona ridership.  Vasona Light Rail operation commenced October 1, 2005.  Staff mailed out pamphlets with four free passes, valid from October 6-9, to residents within a half-mile of the Vasona Corridor. 

Mr. Lau reported that VTA did not conduct ridership checks on the days that free passes were valid.  Staff conducted ridership checks on October 4, October 27, and November 1, 2005.  The last two ridership checks showed a positive increase of 1.6 and 9.9 percent, respectively.  Fare inspector reports were used to evaluate the number of riders who used the free pass during the October 6-9.  It showed that approximately 17.3% of all passengers showed the free passes as their fare during that timeframe.

Mr. Lau advised the Committee that staff is in the process of installing the automatic passenger counters (APCs) on 20 percent of the light rail fleet, which will enable VTA to transition from the current manual data collection process to an automated system.  This technology will be operational late February 2006 or March 2006. 

On order of Chairperson Blaylock, there being no objection, the Vasona Light Rail Line Ridership Update for October 2005 was received.

Fiscal Year 2006-2015 Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP)

Kevin Connolly, Transportation Planning Manager, provided a brief powerpoint presentation on the SRTP.  Mr. Connoly stated that the SRTP is a biennial planning document that presents an overview of VTA’s transit services, plans, and programs for a ten-year period.  The draft of the SRTP is available in the VTA website, www.vta.orgfor review. 

The SRTP is a requirement of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) as it serves as the primary planning justification for receipt of federal and state grants. 

Mr. Connolly discussed VTA’s Transit Services and reported that 430 buses on 69 routes are operated while light rail has 42 miles of track.  Mr. Connoly noted that historical studies determined that VTA ridership is closely tied to the job growth in Santa Clara County.  Under service and ridership reductions, Mr. Connoly reported that the annual revenue hours of bus and light rail has declined 18 percent  and annual ridership has also declined 32 percent since FY 2000.  On the other hand, VTA’s financial stability has improved.  Farebox Recovery has increased 15 percent and operating expenditures have decreased 12 percent since FY 2003.

Mr. Connolly noted that VTA’s Operating Financial Plan realizes budget deficits in       FY 2006 and FY 2008.  Reserves will be used in FY 2006 to address the deficit.  In 2008, the deficit will be caused by a reduction of Federal Preventive Maintenance revenues.  The Operating Reserve Ratio will decrease until 2011 but will increase to 9 percent by 2015.

The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in the SRTP contains a summary of key projects recently completed or nearing completion, a baseline capital program, and the 2000 Measure A Sales Tax Program.  Mr. Connolly noted that Measure A projects are not presented, as there are still uncertainties on the Board level regarding the expenditure plan.  The near-term CIP projects include:  paratransit vehicles and facility, Guadalupe Platform Retrofit Program, Real Time Information System, and De Anza College Transit Center.

Mr. Connolly discussed the review and approval process of the SRTP which include the following:  1) Staff development and review on May to June 2005, 2) submission of draft to MTC on July 2005, 3) Final Staff Review on August 2005, 4) VTA Advisory Committees Discussion on December 2005, and lastly, 5) VTA Board of Directors approval on January 2006.

Member Okuzumi expressed appreciation for the summary and presentation. She suggested that the slides be included in the draft plan to make it easier for readers to understand. 

Member Okuzumi expressed concern on the swapping of dollars between maintenance and operations. She stated that using maintenance   monies for operations may create more problems in the future as VTA buses are getting older.

Member Tebo took his seat at 5:07 p.m.

Member Mendez stated that the issue of quality of service should be added to Chapter 3 of the SRTP.  Member Mendez stated that ridership is affected by the accessibility and quality of bus stops and expressed that an improved and high quality bus stop may create more ridership.  He encouraged VTA to improve the bus stops.

Upon inquiry of Member Elias, Susan Stark, Controller, explained that there will be a sudden drop in the operating reserve ratio in FY 2008 because FY 2007 will be the last year that VTA would use its maintenance funds for operations.

As a response to Member Fletcher’s inquiry, Mr. Lau noted that the Rapid Bus is doing very well with about 5,384 boardings per day, representing more than a six percent increase from the previous month. 

Member Fletcher referred to Page 52 of the SRTP and noted that the Palo Alto Bus Transit Center is completed.   

John Bacon, Interested Citizen, stated that it would make more sense if the proposed route for the BART Extension Project will be changed to ensure that people would not make any connections, shorten the distance, and encourage ridership.

Chairperson Blaylock referred to the relationship of ridership and job growth and noted that figures were not parallel.  He noted that an additional explanation must be added to avoid confusion.

On order of Chairperson Blaylock, there being no objection, the Fiscal Year 2006-2015 Short Range Transit Plan was reviewed and discussed.  

Nominating Committee Report

Member Tebo noted that the Nominating Committee surveyed all CAC Members regarding their: interest in serving as either Chair of Vice Chair for CAC in 2006; opinions on the role of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, suggestions on goals, work plan, meeting environment; and preferences on meeting date, time, and duration.

Members Mendez, Okuzumi, and Tebo distributed the copies of the Nominating Committee Report and survey results to the Members.   Member Tebo provided a brief summary, highlighting that Members expressed concern on the time, date, venue of meeting, and cancelled meetings.   Member Tebo noted that the Nominating Committee nominate Member Schulter as Chairperson and current Chairperson Blaylock as Vice Chairperson in 2006.  He noted that there is value in rotating the Chair and Vice Chair seats.

Member Mendez thanked all the Members for their participation in the survey and noted that their responses were very helpful in preparing the recommendations.

Member Rogers and Fletcher thanked and expressed appreciation to the Nominating Committee for their work, for being proactive, and noted that the report that they have provided was very helpful to all Members.

Chairperson Blaylock thanked the Nominating Committee for their efforts on the survey and the report.   He noted that the report should be open and state the names of the Members who commented.   He encouraged the Members to participate actively.  

Member Okuzumi urged all Members to read the summary of the feedback that the Nominating Committee prepared. 

Member Okuzumi suggested inviting Jeff Davis of Santa Clara County to the CAC Meeting. She noted that Mr. Davis can share his experience about the roles and responsibilities of a Watchdog Committee and provide information as to how much time should be allotted for the discussion.

Member Tebo proposed that an agenda item be allotted in January or February 2006 for Mr. Davis to make a presentation to CAC.

Member Elias thanked the Nominating Committee.   He noted that as the Watchdog Committee, the CAC Chairperson next year would have a more public role.   He inquired about term limits/rotation of the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson in the CAC Bylaws.

Mr. Flynn explained that the bylaws do not have provision on term limits of either the Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson.   He noted that the floor is still open for nomination until January 2006, before the Committee elects its new Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. 

Member Rogers commented that it is not necessary to change the bylaws as the Committee has the chance to vote on who they want to be Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

Chairperson Blaylock encouraged Members to nominate other Members as Chairperson or Vice Chairperson. He noted that he wants to see more people participate as either Chairperson or Vice Chairperson.

Member Mendez stated that the survey indicated that Chairperson Blaylock is doing a good job.

Member Probst expressed concern on the ambiguity of the language in the Nominating Sub-Committee Report, Item IV. A., - “Serve as ambassador to Board of Directors representing the will of the committee rather than personal agenda.   Actively participate in VTA Board Meetings as necessary.   She noted that the language may be misleading. 

Member Okuzumi explained that the Policy Advisory Committee Chairperson reports out to the Board of Directors Meeting every month.  She noted that if CAC wants to provide more input to the Board of Directors, it might be a good idea to do the same.

Chairperson Blaylock requested that the Nominating Committee Report be discussed at a future agenda. 

On order of Chairperson Blaylock, there being no objection, the Nominating Committee Report was received.

Cooperative Agreement with the County of Santa Clara to develop and Administer a Lifeline Transportation Program in Santa Clara County

Amin Surani, Senior Transportation Engineer, noted that MTC has a lifeline transportation program to improve mobility for low-income individuals.   There is  $4 million available over the next three years for this program.  VTA and Santa Clara County will partner and the agreement suggests establishing a “Joint Lifeline Transportation Committee” that will develop the program, implement program select projects, and recommend transportation projects to VTA Board and County Supervisors for approval and adoption.  The timeline for call for projects is on March 2006, project list will be established on Spring 2006, and submitted to MTC by June 2006. 

Upon inquiry of Member Elias, Mr. Surani noted that CAC would receive a report regarding the project implementation and projects selected.  

Member Rogers suggested that the Joint Lifeline Transportation Committee have low-income representation from South County.

On order of Chairperson Blaylock, there being no objection, the Cooperative Agreement with the County of Santa Clara to develop and Administer a Lifeline Transportation Program in Santa Clara County was reviewed and discussed.

CAC Work Plan

OTHER

Announcements

ADJOURNMENT

On order of Chairperson Blaylock, there being no objection, the Meeting was adjourned at 6:04 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine F. Baltao, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors

NOTE:    M/S/C MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.