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ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION               

Conference with Labor Negotiators

[Government Code Section 54957.6]

VTA Designated Representatives:

Joseph Smith, Chief Financial Officer

Bill Lopez, Chief Administrative Officer

Robert Escobar, Manager, Office of Employee Relations

Employee Organization:

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)

RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS: This portion of the agenda is reserved for persons desiring to address the Committee on any matter not on the agenda.  Speakers are limited to 2 minutes.  The law does not permit Committee action or extended discussion on any item not on the agenda except under special circumstances.  If Committee action is requested, the matter can be placed on a subsequent agenda.  All statements that require a response will be referred to staff for reply in writing.

CONSENT AGENDA

Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 20, 2008.

Review the Report on Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Investments for the month of February 2008.  (J. Smith)

Review the Monthly Legislative History Matrix.  (Evans)

REGULAR AGENDA

Review and accept the report submitted by CRA International entitled, "Measuring Minority and Woman-Owned Construction and Professional Service Firm Availability and Utilization." Additionally approve implementation of a Race Conscious Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.    (J. Smith)

Receive the VTA Transformation Program Progress Report.  (Burns)

Adopt a support position for AB 1756 (Caballero), which requires the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency to establish the “Office of Local Public-Private Partnerships” to inform local agencies and other interested stakeholders regarding the role that public-private partnerships could play in financing, constructing and/or operating  fee-producing local infrastructure projects.   (Evans)

Adopt a support position for AB 3034 (Galgiani), which revises provisions in the existing Safe, Reliable, High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21^st Century to be submitted to the voters of California on November 4, 2008.  Specifically, this bill: (a) amends and expands the descriptions of the route segments for the proposed high-speed train system; (b) makes $9 billion in bond proceeds available for the entire 800-mile high-speed train route, rather than for just certain segments; (c) limits the amount of bond funds that could be spent on preconstruction activities; (d) requires detailed funding plans for each high-speed train system segment; and (e) establishes priorities and financial criteria for selecting construction segments.   (Evans)

Adopt a support position for AB 1815 (Feuer), which calls for creating a 14-member California Transportation Infrastructure Funding Task Force to develop a report for the Governor and Legislature on alternatives to the current system of funding transportation infrastructure in the state by taxing road users through per-gallon fuel taxes.  (Evans)

Adopt a support position for AB 2650 (Carter), which permits Caltrans to continue to participate in a federal pilot program that allows certain states to assume the responsibilities of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for a limited period of time to see if this approach would speed up the delivery of capital improvement projects on state highways without a lessening of environmental protection. Specifically, AB 2650 extends provisions in existing law that authorize Caltrans to consent to the jurisdiction of the federal courts with regard to the assumption of FHWA's responsibilities under NEPA and that waive the state's Eleventh Amendment protection against lawsuits brought in federal court for as long as Caltrans participates in the pilot program.   (Evans)

Review and accept the report submitted by CRA International entitled, "Measuring Adopt a resolution calling for a special election on November 4, 2008 to submit to the voters an advisory measure regarding the comprehensive transit program identified in Valley Transportation Plan 2035 scheduled for adoption on November 6, 2008 or amended thereafter.   (Ristow)

Recommend that the VTA Board of Directors amend the VTA Administrative Code to make the following changes to VTA’s governance structure:   1) Reconfigure the small city groupings to include a new group comprised of Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Milpitas, and move Los Altos Hills to the West Valley City Group; 2) Eliminate the concept of city groupings selecting their representative(s) through a rotation process.  Each of the city groups will “select” their representative(s) to serve as a Director on the VTA Board; 3) VTA Directors will still serve two-year terms.  However, the appointing authorities will be encouraged to reappoint representatives to consecutive terms; and 4) Include a process for selecting VTA Directors within the city groupings.  VTA Directors should have the required experience and qualifications in transportation.  (Lawson)

Authorize the General Manager to purchase insurance coverage for Excess Liability, General and Auto Liability, Public Officials' Errors and Omissions Liability,
Property/Boiler and Machinery, Inland Marine for Buses, Vans and Mobile Equipment, Inland Marine for Light Rail Vehic1es, and Flood exposures for the annual Operations Program insurance renewal for an amount not to exceed $1,831,000.    (J. Smith)

Adopt a resolution to establish the "Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority Retirees’ Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Trust”, and authorize the General Manager to transfer all assets held by VTA pertaining to the Retiree Medical Fund to the Trust. (J. Smith)

Review and accept the 2000 Measure A Program Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2007 (FY2007).   (J. Smith)

Authorize the General Manager to execute a sub-sublease (Lease) with Caffe del Doge Venezia, Inc. (Caffe) to provide a retail café operation within the Palo Alto Train Depot. Caffe will pay VTA a base rent of $1,500 per month for the approximate area of 1,289 square feet commencing with the seventh month of retail operation.    The Lease will terminate when VTA's sublease with the City of Palo Alto expires on June 30, 2013; and further, authorize the General Manager to execute a Consent Letter whereby Stanford consents to the lease between VTA and Caffe.   (Ristow)

OTHER ITEMS

Discuss the Open Government Proposal.   (Lawson)

Items of Concern and Referral to Administration

Review Committee Work Plan.  (Lawson)

Committee Staff Report (Lawson)

• Receive a Status Report on the Bond Refunding.   (J. Smith)

Chairperson’s Report (Williams)

Determine Consent Agenda for the May 1, 2008 Board Meeting.

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