CALL TO ORDER

Chairperson Kishimoto called the Regular Meeting of the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) to order at 3:05 p.m. in Auditorium, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), 3331 North First Street, San Jose, California

ROLL CALL

A quorum was present. 

Orders of the Day

There were no Orders of the Day.

Public Presentation

There were no Public Presentations.

Committee Staff Report

Carolyn M. Gonot, Chief Development Officer, commented that Michael T. Burns, VTA General Manager was unable to attend the September 8, 2005 PAC Meeting due to a schedule conflict; however, Mr. Burns intends to attend the October 13, 2005 PAC Meeting.  

On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the Committee Staff Report was received.

Chairperson’s Report

Chairperson Kishimoto introduced the new Board Assistant, Jacqueline Golzio.

City Groupings Reports

Chairperson Kishimoto invited and encouraged members to attend the California Transit Association (CTA) Meeting.

Kurt Evans, VTA Government Affairs Manager, reported that the CTA Conference is geared to issues within the transit industry.   Areas of interest will be operations, maintenance, fiscal, marketing, public relations, and general management.

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

CONSENT 

Minutes of August 11, 2005

M/S/C (Ojakian/Sandoval) to approve the Minutes of August 11, 2005.

REGULAR 

Proposed Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenarios

Ms. Gonot presented an overview of the Additional 2000 Measure A Revenue and Expenditure Scenarios Report.   She reported that the Board of Directors, at their
June 16, 2005 Board Meeting, directed staff to provide a new quarter sales tax scenario.   The assumptions for this scenario were outlined in a memorandum from Board Member Gonzales.  Feedback of the scenarios from the Technical Advisory and Policy Advisory Committees will be brought to the VTA Board of Directors Workshop Meeting September 16, 2005.  

Board of Directors’ Chairperson Joe Pirzynski submitted a memo to the various community stakeholders on July 14, 2005 requesting clarification and comments on the assumptions. Chairperson Kishimoto submitted comments; the North County City Grouping submitted comments; and, comments were presented by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG).   VTA staff has addressed these comments and they are included in Attachment 2 of the Additional 2000 Measure A Revenue and Expenditure Scenarios Report. 

Run - #5: Scenario Brings BART to Silicon Valley by 2015 with a permanent quarter cent sales tax.   This scenario completes all Measure A Projects.  The scenario follows the VTA Board direction on June 16, 2005 based on a request for an additional scenario from Board Member Ron Gonzales.

Run - #6:   Scenario reflects citizen poll results taken by the SVLG in March 2005.  The poll favors a 30-year quarter cent sales tax.  This scenario would complete BART no later than 2018.  The scenario adds a Pavement Management Program, Bicycle and Pedestrian Path component, a bus rapid transit project, and two light rail extensions.

Run - #7:   Scenario favors a permanent quarter cent sales tax and is based on comments received from the North County Cities Group.  This scenario completes BART by 2018. 

While the request was to show BART completed by 2021, a six-year delay, determined that all the Measure A projects can be accomplished with BART completed by 2018.

Kelly Ferguson, Menlo Park City Council Member, representing the Committee to Save Caltrain (CSC) noted the CSC recommendation is to allocate one third of the proposed quarter cent sales tax as a permanent funding source to eliminate future deficits and to provide sufficient funds for the operating budget of Caltrain.

Chairperson Kishimoto noted the importance of Caltrain to the corridor communities and recommended Caltrain maintain a high priority in the allocation of funds.   Member Perry noted that the language “improving headways” should be included in a motion. 
Ms. Gonot responded to Member Perry’s query that the Caltrain Strategic Plan should be consulted for the levels of service and scheduled headway times for Caltrain.  Ms. Gonot noted Caltrain would be brought forward for discussion October 2005.

Member Brodsky queried why the quarter cent sales tax generates $1.8 billion in Run #5 but generates $3.5 in Runs #6 and Run #7.   Ms. Gonot advised that the first call on the quarter cent sales tax goes to operations.  This assures that the operating reserves have been met and ten percent set aside for capital needs to maintain the existing fleet and facilities.  The remainder of funds is then allocated for the Measure A Improvement Program.  Run #5 covers the BART operations subsidy earlier and reflects the dollars on the operations sheet not toward the Measure A Improvement Program.  Run # 6 and
Run #7 would have more money to put into the Capitol Expenditure Program for Measure A.  Chairperson Kishimoto noted the funds in discussion are the net available funds for Measure A.

Alternate Member Kennedy noted his support of a no new sales tax scenario and suggested the concept as a starting point.   Member LeZotte stated that the VTA Board of Directors is seeking input from PAC on the presented quarter tax sales scenarios.  Member LeZotte advised the Committee that a valuable opportunity will be missed by PAC if scenarios #5, #6, and #7 are not discussed and explored in this forum.

Member Kline directed the Committee’s attention to the fact that the voters overwhelmingly passed Measure A.   Member Kline noted due to the dip in the economy; VTA Board of Directors is moving to request additional funds from the voters to complete the remaining projects in Measure A.  Member Kline advised the Committee that scenarios #5, #6, and #7 prioritizes the projects and supports the Board of Directors on the path of the quarter cent sales tax giving direction to Run #6.  Member Kline reminded the Committee that PAC serves as an advisory position to the Board of Directors and should utilize that position on the presented scenarios. 

M/S/F (Perry/Brodsky) on a vote of 3 ayes to 10 nays to 0 abstentions to advise the Board of Directors not to move forward with the Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario until an expenditure plan for the no new sales tax scenario is presented.  Members Caserta, Glickman, Hernandez, Kennedy, Kerr, Kishimoto, Kline, LeZotte, Sandoval, and Swegles opposed.

M/S/C (Kline/ Glickman) on a vote of 10 yes to 3 nays to 0 abstentions to recommend to the Board of Directors to endorse the Quarter Cent Sales Tax Scenario to finish Measure A projects with a thirty-year sunset and to include funding for local transit planning.  Members Perry, Brodsky, and Ojakian opposed.

Member Kennedy left the meeting at 4:20 p.m.

M/S/C (Kishimoto/ Ojakian) on a vote of 12 yes to 0 nays to 1 abstention to recommend that Caltrain service receive the same high priority as BART.  Member Kline abstained.

Member Sandoval stated that the People Mover should be a direct access from Caltrain to the airport, bypassing the airport parking lot.   Member Sandoval noted the airport district should support the cost of moving people from the parking lot to the airport.   Ms. Gonot noted the People Mover is not fully funded in Measure A.

Member Brodsky noted that alternative modes of transportation for the People Mover such as suspended guideway transit capable of traveling underground and suspended guideway aerobus should be considered.

M/S/C (Sandoval/Ojakian) on a vote of 13 ayes to 0 nays to 0 abstentions to recommend that the Santa Clara Caltrain Station to San Jose International Airport Terminal People Mover be a direct access.

Member Caserta expressed his support for Run #6 and noted the motion reflects the will of the voters and the commitment made to them in 2000 with Measure A.  Member Caserta stated Run #6 contains components important to Santa Clara.  He favors the sales tax 30-year sunset, funding for local government, the People Mover, environmental issues, and electrification.

Member Perry noted highlighting specific issues in the motion.  Member Perry stated the motion mentions specifics and not stated in blanket terms.

Member Glickman noted the VTA Board of Directors has presented the PAC with three scenarios for review and that is the task at hand for the PAC.

Member Swegles expressed concern that the schedule for Dumbarton Rail had been moved back.  Ms. Gonot noted Dumbarton could be moved up.

M/S/C (Kline/Kerr) on a vote of 13 ayes to 0 nays to 0 abstentions to recommend that quarter cent sales tax scenario run 6 comes the closest to what the PAC Committee finds acceptable with the ability to comment on specific items in future meetings. 

Member Perry suggested an additional motion is needed to specifically include Caltrain, the People Mover, and move Dumbarton Rail schedule forward.  Chairperson Kishimoto concurred that Caltrain, the People Mover, and Dumbarton Rail should be mentioned in the motion.

M/S/C (Kline/Caserta) on a vote of 12 ayes to 1 nays to 0 abstentions to recommend that of the three quarter cent sales tax scenarios Run #6 comes the closest to what the PAC Committee can support, with the ability to comment on specific items in future meetings and incorporates the three previously made motions, including Caltrain, the People Mover, and to move up Dumbarton Rail.  Member Brodsky opposed.

Members Caserta and Kerr left the meeting at 4:40 p.m.

Chairperson Kishimoto suggested a motion and recommendation to the VTA Board of Directors to consider hybrid technology as a ZEB alternative.

M/S/C (Kishimoto/Perry) on a vote of 11 ayes to 0 nays to 0 abstentions to recommend that the Board of Directors consider hybrid as a ZEB alternative.

OTHER

Review the Committee Work Plan. 

On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the Committee Work Plan was reviewed.

Announcements

There were no Announcements

Adjournment

On order of Chairperson Kishimoto, there being no objection, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,             

Jacqueline F. Golzio, 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 THE MOTION FAILED.