Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of October 13, 2006

Carried

Subrogation Claim of California Insurance Group

(Insured:  James Donald Rush)

Carried

Attorney David Miller reported that all items contained in the Attorney’s Report were informational.  He noted that, with regard to Item Nos. 6.B.1., Labor Coalition Negotiations and 6.B.2., Approve Actions Relative to Various Memoranda of Understanding with Employee Bargaining Units Whose Contracts Expire on 6/30/06 and to Non-Represented Employees (Exclusive of the Officers of the District) Regarding Salary, Health and Welfare Benefits and Other Terms and Conditions Related to District Employment, the various unions have not yet ratified the offer presented to the Union Coalition by the Advisory Committee for Labor Relations.  He further reported that this matter will be continued, and if an agreement is reached, it will be presented to the Board of Directors for action at its meeting of November 17, 2006.

Mr. Miller provided a status report relative to Item No. 6.B.3., Report on the Proposed Amendment with CalPERS to Modify Section 21354.4 (2.5% @ 55) for Local Miscellaneous Members.  The Board of Directors, by Resolution No. 2006-075 at its meeting of September 22, 2006, approved a Resolution of Intent regarding an amendment to the contract between the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Board of Administration and the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Board of Directors to increase the pension rate.  Ms. Kupersmith stated that, as a regulatory requirement, the District must disclose to the public the costs associated with the pension improvement.  She also stated that the costs of the enhanced pension rate, which is a 2.789% increase, will be paid for by the District’s employees.  Ms. Kupersmith noted that there are five units remaining to be ratified and that staff will present all contracts to the Board for approval when the District reaches agreements with all individual bargaining units in the union coalition.  She also noted that the final resolution to amend the contract with PERS will be a separate action.

ENGINEER’S REPORT

2006 APTA Transit Board Members Seminar

• Director Newhouse Segal provided a report on the proceedings of the APTA Transit Board Members Seminar held in Montreal, Canada, on July 22-25, 2006.  She stated that the seminar gave her insight in regards to her role as a Board member, as well as an opportunity to network with members of other transit boards throughout the United States.  She also stated that the Golden Gate Bridge is highly regarded in the national transit industry.  Director Newhouse Segal noted that the meetings she attended provided her with valuable information on transit- oriented development and on the capital planning and construction process.

2006 APTA Annual Meeting

• Director Newhouse Segal provided a report on the proceedings of the APTA Annual Meeting held in San Jose, CA, October 7-11, 2006.  She attended the Leadership APTA luncheon and was pleased to announce that Marketing and Communications Director Kellee Hopper was honored as a graduate and also gave honorable mention to APTA Leadership alumni Director of Planning Alan Zahradnik and Secretary of the District Janet Tarantino.  She commented that General Manager Celia Kupersmith and Secretary of the District Janet Tarantino are well respected among their colleagues at APTA.  Director Newhouse Segal noted that the meetings she attended provided her with valuable information, such as ways to foster intermodalism and balance overall transportation needs.

74th IBTTA Annual Meeting and Exhibition

• First Vice President Moylan provided a report on the proceedings of the IBTTA Annual Meeting and Exhibition held in Dallas, Texas, September 16-20, 2006.  He stated that the focus of the IBTTA meeting was on future global business and industry challenges and opportunities.  He noted that the break-out session, Stakeholders & Institutions: Using Toll Revenue for Other Transportation Projects, was moderated by General Manager Celia Kupersmith.

• President Middlebrook commented that Deputy General Manager/Bridge Division Kary Witt was installed as the Second Vice President of the IBTTA and that he is well-respected in the organization.

• Director Grosboll made the following comments and inquiries:

  • He inquired as to the reason why the selection committee did not choose the consultant with the lowest proposal price. In response, Ms. Kupersmith explained the District’s procurement process for RFPs and stated that Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., clearly demonstrated the necessary skills set and expertise needed for this project, with a fair and reasonable proposal price.
  • He inquired as to whether the second-ranked proposer filed a formal protest. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that the second-ranked proposer did not file a formal protest. She added that staff provided answers to all of the questions raised by the second-ranked proposer regarding the final ranking results. Mr. Miller commented that it is the District’s practice to brief all proposers regarding the final recommendation in an effort to resolve any issues prior to presenting the recommendation to the Committee and Board for action.
    

• Director Grosboll made the following comments and inquiries:

  • He inquired as to why the District is managing this project when the last cycle of channel dredging was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that the Corps completed the last cycle of channel dredging in 2002 and since then, the District has made several trips to Washington D.C., in an attempt to relinquish the responsibility to the Corps on a permanent basis. She noted that current federal legislation regarding the reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act includes language that calls for the Corps to take on permanent responsibility for the dredging of the Larkspur Ferry Channel.
  • He inquired as to the timeframe for project completion. In response, Mr. Mulligan stated that all the work for the dredging project has been completed.
    

Directors EDDIE/COCHRAN

Directors EDDIE/BORO

Authorize a budget increase in the FY 06/07 Ferry Transit Division Capital Budget in the amount of $700,000, as concurred with by Finance-Auditing Committee at its meeting of October 26, 2006.

Adopted