Policy Advisory Committee
Thursday, January 13, 2005
4:00 PM
Conference Room B-104
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
3331 North First Street
San Jose, California
Minutes
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CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) was called to order at 4:05 p.m. by Chairperson Sandoval in Conference Room B-104, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California.
ROLL CALL
Members Present
A quorum was present.
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Minutes of December 9, 2004
M/S/C (Kennedy/Kline) on a vote of 12 ayes to 0 nays to 2 abstentions to approve the Minutes of December 13, 2004. Members Brodsky and Swegles abstained.
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Committee Staff Report
Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, reported that: 1) material regarding theTransportation Development Act (TDA) audit presentation requested by PAC for the February 10, 2005 Agenda was previously distributed and can be supplied via e-mail, and 2) the Board of Directors approved the Long-Range Transit Expenditure Plan for distribution to gather input. VTA will strive to meet with each City Council to discuss the Plan.
The Agenda was taken out of order.
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Chairperson’s Report
Chairperson Sandoval introduced Board of Directors Chairperson Joe Pirzynski who wished to acknowledge PAC and validate their mission. He noted that PAC is evolving as a significant advisory body to the Board of Directors and encouraged robust and constructive dialog culminating in new insight for the Board of Directors to use in their decision-making process. Board Chairperson Pirzynski distributed his business card and encouraged PAC Members to contact him at any time.
Board Chairperson Pirzynski stated that PAC’s role is to be the expert transportation liaison to each Member Agency and encouraged PAC to dig deeply and early into issues that need to be fully reviewed prior to Board of Directors consideration. He noted his desire to work closely with PAC Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to continue to develop a Work Plan that looks to the future. He stated that PAC is a sounding board to the Board of Directors bringing forth their communities concerns and expressed the importance of PAC, the Board of Directors, and each Member Agency to work together in unity.
Board Chairperson Pirzynski reported that the Board Workshop scheduled for April 22, 2005, will be an opportunity for the Board and stakeholders to have vibrant discussion about the VTP 2030 Transit Expenditure Plan. He reported that staff will work with all City Councils and the County Board of Supervisors to bring the draft plan forward to evaluation, discussion, and input.
Chairperson Pirzynski reported there are many items that will need to be addressed in 2005: 1) a search to replace the General Manager, 2) continued evolution of the
VTP 2030 Long-Range Expenditure Plan, 3) an in-depth review of the BART project, 4) the reconvening of the Ad-Hoc Restructuring Committee, and, 5) a review of a new sales tax initiative in 2006.
Upon query by Member Kennedy, Board Chairperson Pirzynski assured the Committee that he will work with the Committee and staff to bring items to PAC in a timely manner that will afford PAC the opportunity to provide meaningful advice.
Member Kerr noted that many funding resources will be flowing into VTA in the future and expressed his desire to put that funding to good use and to positively enhance lives. He noted that although all projects cannot be completed there are a lot of good projects coming over the next 20 to 30 years. He stated that he is hopeful that with a new General Manager coming on board a new beginning and a positive change is possible.
Upon query by Member Kerr, Board Chairperson Pirzynski stated that the process of finding a new General Manager should take about 6 months and that a committee of the Board of Directors will make the selection. He stated that VTA is an attractive agency that will draw qualified applicants. He stated his desire to have PAC provide a good evaluation of the types of characteristics desired in a new General Manager.
Member Caserta inquired how PAC can help their individual communities and councils to procure as much funding resources as possible.
Board Chairperson Pirzynski noted that the first step is to research the Federal Governments project criteria and expectations and to know the parameters regarding what funding sources the state and federal government are willing to give or hold back.
Carolyn Gonot, Chief Development Officer, suggested a Legislative Report be added to each meeting to apprise PAC of the various Transportation Bills, and, what is important to take to each city council. She stated that VTA’s 2005 State and Federal Legislative Programs will be provided to PAC.
Member Lear speaking for himself stated that he is against the sales tax and noted that the people who are paying for BART are not the ones necessarily benefiting from BART. He stated he would like to see landowners along BART and San Jose landowners who will benefit greatly from BART pay more in terms of property tax.
Chairperson Sandoval thanked Board Chairperson Pirzynski for his report and commended PAC noting that good strides were made in the past year. She noted that City Groupings have been strengthened, and, the importance of the PAC Chairpersons reports at the Board of Directors Meetings.
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BUSINESS REFERRED TO COMMITTEE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ GENERAL MANAGER |
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Nominating Committee Report for Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for 2005
The Nominating Committee (Kennedy, Kline and Glickman) proposed the following slate of candidates for 2005: Yoriko Kishimoto for Chairperson and
Steve Glickman for Vice Chairperson.
Chairperson Sandoval opened nominations from the floor and Member Brodsky nominated Member Perry for Vice Chairperson.
M/S/C (Kerr/Caserta) to accept the Nominating Committee Report and close nominations from the floor.
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Elect a Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for calendar year 2005 to complete the election process
M/S/C (Kerr/Caserta) to elect Member Kishimoto as Chairperson for 2005 on a white ballot.
Chairperson Kishimoto took control of the meeting.
M/S/C (Caserta/Kennedy) on a vote of 10 ayes to 4 nays 0 abstentions to elect Member Glickman as Vice Chairperson for 2005. (Members Brodsky, Lear, Perry, and Kerr did not support the motion)
M/S/F (Brodsky/Lear) on a vote of 4 ayes to 10 nays to 0 abstentions to elect Member Perry as Vice Chairperson for 2005. (Members Caserta, Furtado, Kennedy, Kishimoto, Ojakian, LeZotte, Glickman, Kline, Swegles, and Sandoval did not support the motion)
The Agenda was taken out of order.
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Chairperson’s Report (continued)
Newly elected Chairperson Kishimoto thanked outgoing Chairperson Sandoval for her service on PAC. Chairperson Kishimoto requested PAC Members provide a list of their top priorities for the 2005 Work Plan at the February 10, 2005 Meeting and expressed her desire for a new member orientation.
Member Sandoval reported that during her PAC report at the January 6, 2005 Board of Directors Meeting, specifically regarding revisions to the PAC Bylaws, the Board expressed concern regarding PAC’s definition of a quorum (a majority of the cities represented or a majority of members present.)
Vice Chairperson Glickman noted that each city representative has an alternate and stated that it is very important to keep the alternates well informed.
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Member Kennedy reported that the Milpitas, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill (MGM) Group met prior to the January 6, 2005, Board of Directors Meeting to discuss an item going before the Board to Conduct a Study Phasing the BART to Silicon Valley Project. Morgan Hill and Gilroy voted to support the study and Milpitas voted against pursuing the study. Member Kennedy stated that he perceives the split as a defect or flaw in the way the cities structure is set up.
Member Sandoval left the meeting at 5:00 pm.
Chairperson Kishimoto reported that the North County City Group met and discussed the Bicycle Plan and identified a segment they would like to work on together. She reported that the next meeting is on January 28, 2005, and the group will begin to discuss the city groupings and restructuring issue, and the Main Street Silicon Valley project.
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the City Groupings Reports were received.
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Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for October to December 2004
John Sighamony, Transportation Planner II, provided brief overview of the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for October to December 2004.
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the Programmed Projects Quarterly Monitoring Report for October to December 2004, was received.
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Valley Transportation Plan 2030 (VTP 2030)
Ms. Gonot reported that the VTP 2030, Santa Clara County’s Long-Range Countywide Transportation Plan, was started early in 2004. The Board of Directors conducted a series of Workshops in 2004 where a project list was developed for the10 program areas in the VTP 2020 Plan. She reported that much headway has been made in each of the program areas, particularly local streets and roads, where staff worked with Member Agency staff to identify a set of projects. She reported that the Bicycle Program Project List has been updated and that the County led a study for the expressway system that provided a good set of projects to include in the plan. She reported that staff is currently offering presentations to Member Agency’s and that to date Gilroy, Morgan Hill, and Sunnyvale have expressed an interest in receiving the presentation. Ms. Gonot reported that the Board of Directors adopted the project list in April 2004. She reported that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) also has their Transportation Plan out for comment and expect to adopt their plan by the end of February 2005.
Ms. Gonot reported that regional projects submitted must have some air quality work included in the model. The projects in the VTP 2030 Plan are included the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and an air quality conforming analysis is done on the overall plan which is the only way the project can receive federal funding. Ms. Gonot noted that there is a process to amend the VTP 2030 and it gets updated every 3 to 4 years. She reported that the goal is to establish a set of projects to be completed in the next 25 years and then begin to get them underway, it is the city’s responsibility to deliver some of the projects however the Congestion Management Agency (CMA) will assist in locating necessary funding, in other cases CMA and Caltrain are responsible for delivering the projects.
Member Swegles distributed for the record copies of Sunnyvale staff comments on the VTP 2030, he reported that the Sunnyvale City Council supports North County transit improvements as a high priority for VTP 2030 and request that priority and allocation amounts be listed accordingly. Priority should be given to the bus rapid transit, Caltrain Service Upgrades, Dumbarton Rail, Caltrain Electrification, and the Palo Alto Transit Center. All projects should be considered as “allocated” projects. Member Swegles noted that Sunnyvale has developed a local impact fee-funding program to enhance the VTP 2030 funding.
Member Furtado noted that many of the individual projects start with input from the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which consists of representatives from each city. He suggested that it is very important that projects that city’s are particularly interested in procuring funding for from regional, state, or federal sources, be brought to TAC early.
Member Brodsky noted that only $14 million will be spent over the next 25 years to aid congestion on Route 280 and Route17 in the Stevens Creek Area, he also noted that he did not see Community Bus Lines in the VTP 2030. Ms. Gonot responded that a study is proposed for the Route 880 Corridor to look at US 101 through Route 280 to identify projects. She reported there will be a future rail corridor study and that Bus Rapid Transit will also be considered.
Member Perry suggested it would make more sense to craft a plan for the money that is available rather than planning for our dreams only to set ourselves up to find the money we expected is not all there.
Chairperson Kishimoto suggested staff sponsor presentations to provide more information on projects that will be considered in future.
Member Kerr expressed his desire that PAC have the opportunity provide input regarding Rengstorff improvements. Ms. Gonot stated that the Long-range Expenditure Plan will include a master plan for improvements within the County that will include the Ringstorff project.
Upon query by Member Kennedy, Ms. Gonot responded that a Route 152 toll project will be added into the VTP 2030.
Member Brodsky suggested PAC should have the opportunity to look at projects from other transit agencies, perhaps have a design caret day, some diamonds in the rough may be available.
Vice Chairperson Glickman reported that thanks to Carl Guardino, Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, who arraigned a presentation where the new Caltrain Director was introduced, the new Caltrain Director, Will Kempton, publicly committed to consider a process of fast-tracking projects which were fairly obviously going to be approved at the request of the Mayor of Los Gatos who raised the issue of safety on Route 9. He noted that if this becomes an official Caltrain policy and should circumstances like the safety issues on Route 9 arise PAC Members might want to take advantage of the opportunity.
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the VTP 2030 was received.
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Draft Policy Advisory Committee Work Plan
Ms. Gonot noted that the Long-range Transit Expenditure Program that will be mailed to the Member Agencies this month, the TDA Audit Presentation, the PAC Bylaws and the Administrative Code must all come before PAC in February or March 2005.
Chairperson Kishimoto requested a discussion regarding reconvening the Ad-Hoc Restructuring committee be added to the Work Plan.
Member Kline requested discussion of a possible 2006 sales tax be added to the Work Plan.
Member Kerr suggested discussion of a possible 2006 sales tax be looked at in broader terms. Not just a sales tax plan but a revenue enhancement plan to allow discussion of other ways to raise funding that may be easier to pass and more equitable on a regional basis.
Member Kennedy suggested that the information gleaned at the Ad-Hoc Financial Stability Committee be provided to PAC.
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the Committee Work Plan was received, and on general consensus, approved for placement on all future Policy Advisory Committee agendas.
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Announcements
There were no Announcements.
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Adjournment
On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara R. Box, Board Assistant
VTA Board of Directors
NOTE: M/S/C MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
NOTE: M/S/F MEANS MOTION SECONDED AND FAILED
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