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CALLED TO ORDER at 4:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Members Present
David Cortese, Chairperson
Ron Gonzales
Joe Pirzynski, Vice Chairperson

Members Absent
Pete McHugh

Alternates Present
None

Alternates Absent
Blanca Alvarado
Dolores Sandoval
Ken Yeager, Alternate

*Alternates do not serve unless participating as a Member.

A quorum was present.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

There were no Orders of the Day.

CONSENT AGENDA

Approved the Minutes of February 19, 2004.

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize the General Manager to amend the total authorized funding for the Bianchi-Amaker Construction Agreement in an amount of $250,000 over the original contract amount for a new contract amount of $1,515,935.   The amendment is required to construct field changes discovered during construction on the Tasman East/Capitol Light Rail Project. 

Received and filed the Community Oriented Design Enhancements (CODE) Program Update February 2004 March 2004.

Received and filed the Report on the Capitol Light Rail Project for the Month of February 2004.

Received and filed the Report on the Tasman East Light Rail Project for the Month of February 2004.

Received and filed the Report on the Vasona Light Rail Project for the Month of February 2004.

Received and filed the Joint Powers Board Monthly Status Report.

Received and filed the Committee for Transit Accessibility Report.

Received and filed the Monthly Legislative Reports.

REGULAR AGENDA

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with HNTB for line segment design services for the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit (SVRT) Project in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000 for the Preliminary Engineering phase. The initial contract term will be for 24 months with future amendments to be presented to the Board for final design services once approval to enter into final design for the SVRT Project is determined.  This contract is currently 1.25 percent ($250,000) federally funded. 

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to 1) Certify the Initial Study for the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center Project (Project): a. Was transmitted and presented to the Board of Directors and that they reviewed and considered it; b. Meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and c. Represents the independent judgment of VTA as Lead Agency; 2) Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration based on consideration of the Initial Study, comments received and responses to those comments; 3) Adopt a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan; and 4) Approve the Project. 

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to approve the bus and light rail operating plans included in the Tasman East/Capitol Bus/Rail Service Integration Plan. 

Queried whether the Plan deals with the issue of integrating the actual bus stops at Capitol Avenue and McKee Road with the light rail stops.

OTHER ITEMS

Received and filed the Report on the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Demonstration Program Third Quarter, 2004. 

Received and filed the Report on Operating Cost Per Total Hour. 

Directed attention to Page 4 of 4 of the Board Memorandum and expressed concern regarding the huge increase in medical and retiree medical costs from year 2001 to 2003. 

Staff distributed a memorandum dated March 17, 2004, addressed to the VTA Board of Directors, regarding Retiree Medical Costs, noting that the issue was also raised at the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC).

Queried how the increase in medical costs compares with other agencies.

Reviewed the Committee Work Plan.

Committee Staff Report

Heard a report noting that the May 20, 2004 TP&O Meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. instead of the regularly scheduled time of 4:30 p.m. to accommodate Committee Members who will be attending City of San Jose Study Sessions. 

Chairperson's Report

There was no Chairperson's Report.

Determined the Consent Agenda for the April 1, 2004 Board Meeting.

CONSENT:   Item #5. Authorize the General Manager to amend the total authorized funding for the Bianchi-Amaker Construction Agreement in an amount of $250,000 over the original contract amount for a new contract amount of $1,515,935.   The amendment is required to construct field changes discovered during construction on the Tasman East/Capitol Light Rail Project and Item #15. Approve the bus and light rail operating plans included in the Tasman East/Capitol Bus/Rail Service Integration Plan. 

REGULAR: Item #13. Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with HNTB for line segment design services for the Silicon Valley Rapid Transit (SVRT) Project in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000 for the Preliminary Engineering phase.  The initial contract term will be for 24 months with future amendments to be presented to the Board for final design services once approval to enter into final design for the SVRT Project is determined.  This contract is currently 1.25 percent ($250,000) federally funded and Item #14. 1) Certify the Initial Study for the Palo Alto Caltrain Transit Center Project (Project): a. Was transmitted and presented to the Board of Directors and that they reviewed and considered it; b. Meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and c. Represents the independent judgment of VTA as Lead Agency; 2) Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration based on consideration of the Initial Study, comments received and responses to those comments; 3) Adopt a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan; and 4) Approve the Project.

Announcements

There were no Announcements.

Adjourned at 4:54 p.m.