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A quorum was present.

CLOSED SESSION at 9:06 a.m.

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265

Robert Escobar, Manager, Office of Employee Relations

[Government Code Section 54957]

CLOSED SESSION REPORT

A.  Conference with Labor Negotiators

[Government Code Section 54957.6]

Employee Organizations:

County Employees Management Association (CEMA)

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 715

Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects (TAEA)

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 265

Kaye L. Evleth, Chief Administrative Officer

Scott Buhrer, Chief Financial Officer

Robert Escobar, Manager, Office of Employee Relations

There was no reportable action taken during Closed Session.

B.  Public Employees Release

[Government Code Section 54957]

There was no reportable action taken during Closed Session.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved the Regular Meeting Minutes of April 17, 2003.

Received and filed the Report on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Investments for the month of March 2003 and quarter ending March 2003.

Received and filed the Third Quarter FY 2003 Report of Workers’ Compensation Claims Activity.

Received and filed the Third Quarter FY 2003 Report of Public Liability/Property Damage claims Activity.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize the General Manager to submit a grant application and execute a grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2003 Section 5309 New Starts Funds in the amount of $245,920.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize the General Manager to execute contract with Color Copy Printing, the lowest responsible bidder, for the printing of VTA’s public timeguides in the amount of $514,727 for the initial three-year term of the contract.  Additionally authorize the General Manager to exercise two one-year renewal options for an additional $343,151.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve amending the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) bylaws as indicated; and amending the VTA Administrative Code, as indicated, in order to permit certain specified modifications to the BPAC and PAC bylaws.

(Removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Regular Agenda.)

Approve an allocation for VTAs share of the Route 25 Environmental Review Process from the Local Program Reserve of $900,000 for FY 2003 04, $800,000 for FY 2004 05 and $300,000 for FY 2005 06 for a total not to exceed $2.0 million and authorize the General Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with San Benito County Council of Governments (San Benito COG) the project sponsor; and further approve the submittal of an AB 3090 funding request to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) that enables VTA to advance local funds for the Environmental Review Process of the Route 25 Project and establish a repayment plan or replacement project using 2002 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Funds from the program year 2006 07.   Authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and San Benito COG to implement the financing arrangements.

(Removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the Regular Agenda.)

Recommend that the Board of Directors program $5,965,597 in Local Program Reserve funds as outlined in the memorandum and authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to implement the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Feasibility Study.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to adopt a resolution authorizing filing of applications for Transportation Fund for Clean Air “60 percent” Regional funds to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and authorize the General Manager to execute the Funding Agreements upon receipt from BAAQMD.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to adopt a support position for AB 427 (Longville) - Duration of local transportation sales taxes, AB 467 (Dutra) - Ticket vending machine accessibility, AB 1409 (Wolk) - Bike racks on commuter buses, AB 1410 (Wolk) - Surplus property, AB 1500 (Diaz) - Petroleum Pollution Clean-Up and Preventive Act and adopt an oppose position for AB 875 (Wyland) - Allocation of transportation funds.

REGULAR AGENDA

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve an allocation for VTA’s share of the Route 25 Environmental Review Process from the Local Program Reserve of $900,000 for FY 2003 - 04, $800,000 for FY 2004 - 05 and $300,000 for FY 2005 - 06 for a total not to exceed $2.0 million and authorize the General Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with San Benito County Council of Governments (San Benito COG) the project sponsor; and further approve the submittal of an AB 3090 funding request to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) that enables VTA to advance local funds for the Environmental Review Process of the Route 25 Project and establish a repayment plan or replacement project using 2002 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Funds from the program year 2006 - 07.  Authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and San Benito COG to implement the financing arrangements.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to recommend that the Board of Directors program $5,965,597 in Local Program Reserve funds as outlined in the memorandum and authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to implement the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Feasibility Study.

Discussed the Service Reduction Plan Update.

Requested that staff look into the impact on the students at Gunderson High School regarding the Service Reduction Plan.

Ms. Applegate expressed concern regarding the Service Reduction Plan. Ms. Applegate stated that ADA accommodations were not made for public meetings.

Sam Ho-Kimsanh, San Jose City College Immigrant Leadership Forum, noted concern regarding the service reduction plan. Mr. Ho-Kimsanh inquired on the number of the population in routes impacted, why certain areas were impacted and the efficiency of the system.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve $14,105,000 and $14,387,000 for FY 2003 - 04 and FY 2004 - 05 to provide Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s share of Caltrain operating support; and further approve in concept VTA’s use of $1,486,000 Federal Section 5309 funds in lieu of the local match requirement for FY 2003 - 04 capital support.

Queried on share of cost for the Baseball Service shuttle program.

Discussed Phase III of the Paratransit Service Business Practices Improvement Plan, which includes modifications to the minimum account balance policy, implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defined service area and hours, a modified door-to-door/curb-to-curb program and premium service pricing.

Noted appreciation for the modified door-to-door program premium service included in the Phase III of the Paratransit Service Business Practices Improvement Plan.

Ms. Applegate expressed concern regarding ADA service issues.  Ms. Applegate requested to make a presentation at a future Board of Directors Workshop on ADA.

Thanked staff for their diligent work on the fare modifications.

Requested that staff look into increasing the Youth Fare fees; therefore, decreasing the Senior/Disabled Fare fees.

Noted the financial impact on the Senior/Disabled.

Ms. Applegate expressed concern regarding the Senior/Disabled Fare fees.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve a non-competitive contract for $300,000 with Karen Antion Consulting, LLC to develop a Technology Strategic Plan, and to implement the recommendations from the Information Technology Department Assessment Report.  The term of the contract will end June 30, 2004.

Staff noted the term of the contract will end June 30, 2004, for the non-competitive contract with Karen Antion Consulting, LLC to develop a Technology Strategic Plan and to implement the recommendations from the Information Technology Department Assessment Report.

OTHER ITEMS

Chairperson’s Report:  Heard a report, noting the appreciation for staff’s diligent work.

CONSENT: Agenda Item #12., Authorize the General Manager to submit a grant application and execute a grant agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2003 Section 5309 New Starts Funds in the amount of $245,920; Agenda Item # 13., Authorize the General Manager to execute contract with Color Copy Printing, the lowest responsible bidder, for the printing of VTA’s public timeguides in the amount of $514,727 for the initial three-year term of the contract.  Additionally authorize the General Manager to exercise two one-year renewal options for an additional $343,151; Agenda Item # 14., Approve amending the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) bylaws as indicated; and amending the VTA Administrative Code, as indicated, in order to permit certain specified modifications to the BPAC and PAC bylaws; Agenda Item # 15., Authorize the General Manager to amend the contract with Ruth & Going, Inc. for additional services in connection with the final design of the Route 87 North High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Widening Project increasing the approved contract value by $660,511 for a new contract value of $5,997,693; Agenda Item # 16., Approve an allocation for VTA’s share of the Route 25 Environmental Review Process from the Local Program Reserve of $900,000 for FY 2003 - 04, $800,000 for FY 2004 - 05 and $300,000 for FY 2005 - 06 for a total not to exceed $2.0 million and authorize the General Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with San Benito County Council of Governments (San Benito COG) the project sponsor; and further approve the submittal of an AB 3090 funding request to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) that enables VTA to advance local funds for the Environmental Review Process of the Route 25 Project and establish a repayment plan or replacement project using 2002 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Funds from the program year 2006 - 07.  Authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and San Benito COG to implement the financing arrangements; Agenda Item # 17., Recommend that the Board of Directors program $5,965,597 in Local Program Reserve funds as outlined in the memorandum and authorize the General Manager to execute agreements with the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to implement the Dumbarton Rail Corridor Feasibility Study; Agenda Item # 18., Adopt a resolution authorizing filing of applications for Transportation Fund for Clean Air “60 percent” Regional funds to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), and authorize the General Manager to execute the Funding Agreements upon receipt from BAAQMD; Agenda Item # 19., Adopt a support position for AB 427 (Longville) - Duration of local transportation sales taxes, AB 467 (Dutra) - Ticket vending machine accessibility, AB 1409 (Wolk) - Bike racks on commuter buses, AB 1410 (Wolk) - Surplus property, AB 1500 (Diaz) - Petroleum Pollution Clean-Up and Preventive Act and AB 875 (Wyland) - Allocation of transportation funds; Agenda Item # 20., Authorize the General Manager to enter into an amendment to the Agreement with Ritter Project Management (RPM) for Litigation Support and Document Analysis to add $40,000, for a new not-to-exceed contract value of $240,000; Agenda Item # 27., Authorize the General Manager to execute Sublease Agreements with the Utah Transit Authority and Sacramento Regional Transit District for the sub-sublease of 50 UTDC Light Rail Vehicles; with aggregate prepaid rent in the amount of $9.3 million; and, further authorize the General Manager to execute a Parts Distribution Agreement for the sale for UTDC spare parts for approximately $5.4 million; Agenda Item # 28.B., Continue the Contractor and Sub-contractor Pre-Qualification Program under the current Pilot Program procedures with the following change:  Pre-qualify sub-contractors for a two year period from the date of their initial pre- qualification; Agenda Item # 29., Approve a non-competitive contract for $300,000 with Karen Antion Consulting, LLC to develop a Technology Strategic Plan, and to implement the recommendations from the Information Technology Department Assessment Report.  The term of the contract will end June 30, 2004 and Agenda Item #30., Adopt an oppose-unless amended position for SB 916 (Perata) - Bay Area bridge tolls.

REGULAR:  Agenda Item #22., Approve $14,105,000 and $14,387,000 for FY 2003 - 04 and FY 2004 - 05 to provide Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s share of Caltrain operating support; and further approve in concept VTA’s use of $1,486,000 Federal Section 5309 funds in lieu of the local match requirement for FY 2003 - 04 capital support; Agenda Item #23., Authorize the General Manager to execute a Cooperative Service Agreement with the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency for continued VTA funding of Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) commuter rail service in the amount of $3,960,000 in Fiscal Year 2003 - 2004 and $4,034,000 in Fiscal Year 2004 - 2005; Agenda Item #25., Adopt a finding that a fare increase is necessary to meet operating expenses and to fund capital projects necessary to maintain service within the existing service area, while maintaining minimum required financial reserves; Invoke a Statutory Exemption under CEQA, P.R.C. §21080(b)(8) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15273(a) (Rates, Tolls, Fares and Charges) for the purpose of modifying and increasing fares; and Adopt a resolution establishing new rates and fares for VTA bus, light rail, and paratransit services effective August 1, 2003 and Agenda Item #26., Adopt a resolution approving the FY 2003 - 2004 and FY 2004 - 2005 Recommended Biennial Budget.

There were no Announcements.

ADJOURNED at 11:55 a.m.