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CALLED TO ORDER at 4:34 p.m.

ROLL CALL

*Alternates do not serve unless participating as a Member.

A quorum was not present and a Committee of the Whole was declared.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no Public Presentations.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

There were no Orders of the day.

CONSENT AGENDA

The Committee of the Whole deferred the Minutes of May 20, 2004.

The Committee of the Whole deferred the Minutes of August 19, 2004.

The Committee of the Whole received the Community Oriented Design Enhancements (CODE) Program Update – August through September 2004.

The Committee of the Whole received the Report on the Vasona Light Rail Project for the Month of August 2004.

The Committee of the Whole received the Joint Powers Board Monthly Status Report.

The Committee of the Whole received the Committee for Transit Accessibility Report.

The Committee of the Whole received the Monthly Legislative Reports.

Chairperson Cortese took his seat at 4:36 p.m. and a quorum was declared.

REGULAR AGENDA

Approved submitting a recommendation to the Board of Directors to authorize the General Manager to amend the contracts with TBE Group, Inc., and Baystate Subsurface Investigation, Inc. (BSI, Inc.) to provide coordination of utility conflicts and relocations consulting services for additional VTA projects requiring these services, but within the original contract amount of $6,200,000 previously authorized by the Board. 

OTHER

Reviewed and commented:   Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with Burson-Marsteller for community outreach, public education, and marketing services, for an amount not to exceed $7,700,000.  The contract shall be for an initial three-year period with two optional one-year extensions.    (Item referred from September 2, 2004 Board of Directors’ Agenda.)

Expressed concernregarding the item and the apparent change in strategy that has not been discussed with the Board.   Noted the lack of a definition or a description of the new strategy and requested a discussion about the new strategy at a Board Workshop.

Referredto a phrase contained in the Board Memorandum about what the Federal Government requires and what the Federal Government does not require and noted that the Board of Directors needs to know what these requirements are.

Queriedif there is any expiration date on the offer made by the successful bidder and if there is a situation similar in this case.

Expressed concern that the item was packaged as one big contract and noted the preference of the item coming forward in measurable units. 

Expressed concern regarding the cost and the need to feel more comfortable with the proposal.   Noted that the numbers seem a little out of kilter.  Noted that the Board is going to have more detailed, specific questions about the benefit of the bargain.

Expressed concern regarding the focus and noted that the first thing that needs to be done is to get an uptick in education and credibility with the public.  Recommended an accountability report that is very clear and straight forward.

Thanked staff for their efforts.

Deferred action on the item and recommended that a workshop session be conducted to describe the strategy involved, specifically layout what VTA is trying to accomplish, and not necessarily with the final proposal being rejected at the workshop.

Noted it would be important for staff to consider VTA’s next public response and make it clear that a re-evaluation is being done. Noted it is not a reactive pull back, it is a substantive pull back.

Staff notedthat the item was for review and comment.   Staff referred to VTA’s other two Standing Committees, Congestion Management Program and Planning and Administration and Finance, and noted that the Standing Committees asked a lot of information regarding the selection process and a breakdown of costs per project.

Reviewed the Committee Work Plan.

Staff noted the addition of the “Contract Amendment for Coordination of Utility Conflicts and Relocations Contracts” item, noting that the item was on today’s TP&O Committee Agenda.   Staff noted that the item entitled “Rail Rehabilitation at First Street/San Carlos Street” was moved to the October 2004 Committee Agenda and that the item entitled “Vasona Completion Contract” was added to the November 2004 Committee Agenda.

Committee Staff Report

There was no Committee Staff Report.

Chairperson’s Report

There was no Chairperson’s Report.

Determined the Consent Agenda for the October 7, 2004 Board Meeting.

CONSENT: Item #11. Authorize the General Manager to amend the contracts with TBE Group, Inc., and Baystate Subsurface Investigation, Inc. (BSI, Inc.) to provide coordination of utility conflicts and relocations consulting services for additional VTA projects requiring these services, but within the original contract amount of $6,200,000 previously authorized by the Board. 

REGULAR:  None

Announcements

There were no Announcements.

Adjourned at 5:06 p.m.