The Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District) met in regular session in the Board Room, Administration Building, Toll Plaza, San Francisco, California, on Friday, November 17, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., President Middlebrook presiding.

Directors Present (15): Directors Ammiano, Brown, Cochran, Dufty, Eddie, Grosboll, Hernández, Martini, McGoldrick, Murray, Newhouse Segal, and Stroeh; Second Vice President Boro; First Vice President Moylan; President Middlebrook

Directors Absent (4): Directors Kerns, Pahre, Reilly and Sandoval

Staff Present: General Manager Celia G. Kupersmith; District Engineer Denis J. Mulligan; Auditor-Controller Joseph M. Wire; Secretary of the District Janet S. Tarantino; Attorneys David J. Miller, Jerrold C. Schaefer and Allison M. Woodall; Deputy General Manager/Bridge Division Kary H. Witt; Deputy General Manager/Ferry Division James P. Swindler; Public Affairs Director Mary C. Currie; Marketing and Communications Director Kellee Hopper; Capital and Grant Programs Manager Gayle S. Prior; Executive Assistant to the General Manager Amorette Ko; Assistant Clerk of the Board Patsy Whala; Captain Michael Locati

Visitors Present: Susan Deluxe, Tiburon Resident; Kevin Bartram, Sponsorship Strategies, LLC; David Lynch, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local No. 21

PUBLIC COMMENT

Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of October 27, 2006

Carried

Claim of Mitchell Hughes

Carried

Subrogation Claim of CSE Insurance

(Insured: Nancy Brookshire)

Carried

PURCHASE

DATE

MATURITY

DATE

ORIGINAL

COST

PERCENT

YIELD

Accept the Investment Report for September 2006 prepared by Public Financial Management.

Adopted

General Manager Celia Kupersmith highlighted an item in the General Manager’s Report regarding the implementation of TransLink®, the Bay Area universal transit fare payment system. She reported that on November 17, 2006, the District will begin the six-month pre-launch testing period, in which up to 500 Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry customers will be recruited to test the TransLink® in a live transit environment. She stated that staff will solicit feedback from these customers as to any problems or challenges they encounter while using TransLink®. She noted that Golden Gate Transit and Golden Gate Ferry, as well as AC Transit, are the first Bay Area transit operators to begin implementation of TransLink®. She mentioned that each Director has been provided a brochure and commemorative pin relative to this project. Further, she commended the hard work of the many District employees who had contributed long hours and extraordinary effort to the development and roll-out of the TransLink® system.

Discussion ensued, including the following:

• Director Murray inquired as to the types of customers being recruited for TransLink® testing. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that staff would be actively recruiting potential TransLink® testers from a wide range of geographic origins and types of transit usage, including both regular commuters and casual transit users.
  

ENGINEER’S REPORT

Directors EDDIE/HERNÁNDEZ

with the understanding that requisite funds (100% District) are available in the FY 06/07 Bridge Division Capital Budget.

Adopted

Directors STROEH/BORO
Resolution No. 2006-087 authorizes a budget increase in the FY 06/07 Bridge Division Capital Budget, in the amount of $622,723, to be funded by the Presidio Trust, relative to Contract No. 2007-B-2, Merchant Road Improvements and Realignment.

Adopted

Directors STROEH/MARTINI
Resolution No. 2006-089 receives the Independent Auditor’s Reports, Financial Statements and Memorandum on Internal Controls for the year ending June 30, 2006, as submitted by Macias, Gini & O’Connell, LLP.

Adopted

Authorize a project budget increase in the FY 06/07 Bus Division Capital Budget in the amount of $70,000, to be funded with $56,000 in existing Federal Transit Administration grant funds and by a budget transfer in the FY 06/07 Bus Division Capital Budget from the Capital Equipment line item to the Contract No. 97-BT-8 Project Budget line item in the amount of $14,000.

Adopted

Directors BROWN/STROEH
Resolution No. 2006-091 approves adoption and submittal of the District’s Mini Short-Range Transit Plan for regional bus and ferry service for Fiscal Years 2007 through 2016 to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Adopted

• Director Ammiano expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to serve as a member of an advisory committee for the corporate sponsorship program. He also expressed some skepticism regarding the concept of seeking corporate sponsors for the Golden Gate Bridge, but stated that he looks forward to participating in the process.

• Director Murray expressed her support for the corporate sponsorship program, noting that it is fiscally prudent and responsible for the District to explore this revenue enhancement opportunity. She noted that there is a great deal of misinformation being circulated by the public regarding the role of the District and the possible elements of a corporate sponsorship program, and she emphasized the need for the District to correct those misconceptions.
  
• Director Grosboll stated that he shares Director Ammiano’s concerns about pursuing a corporate sponsorship program, but understands the importance of investigating the revenue potential of such a program. He described the discussion that had taken place on this matter at the November 9, 2006, meeting of the Governmental Affairs and Public Information Committee, and he requested that Kevin Bartram, representing Sponsorship Strategies, LLC, make a statement to the full Board of Directors regarding the corporate sponsorship program.

• Kevin Bartram addressed the Board of Directors, providing assurance that his company would approach the development of a corporate sponsorship program with a significant amount of sensitivity, social responsibility and environmental stewardship. He described similar work that Sponsorship Strategies, LLC, had undertaken for other governmental agencies, municipalities, universities and non-profit organizations, for which the use of corporate signage or garish corporate representation is not appropriate. He emphasized the creative and collaborative process that will be followed in developing a corporate sponsorship program, and that any concerns on the part of the Board of Directors or the public will be addressed during the process. He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to develop this program for the District.

• Director Boro noted that the advisory committee for the corporate sponsorship program will take an active role in the process, working cooperatively with staff and the consultant.

• Ms. Kupersmith clarified that the action proposed at this time is to embark on Phase I of the corporate sponsorship program, to develop an analysis of what such a program would look like. She emphasized that the Board of Directors would make a separate decision whether or not to pursue an actual corporate sponsorship program after that six-month analysis is completed. She further noted that the advisory committee being formed will not have the authority to make any decisions, but that all decisions will be brought to the Board of Directors with many opportunities for public input, discussion and reporting out during the next six months.

• President Middlebrook expressed her support for the corporate sponsorship program, noting that the Board of Directors clearly understands the sensitivity of the project.
  

Directors BORO/MARTINI
Resolution No. 2006-092 authorizes execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Sponsorship Strategies, LLC, Novato, CA, in an amount not to exceed $89,920, relative to Request for Proposals (RFP) 2007-D-2, Consultant to Provide Development and Implementation of a Corporate Sponsorship Program, for Phase I of the Corporate Sponsorship Program, the asset identification and program development phase, with the understanding that Phase II of the Program will not be undertaken unless specifically approved by a separate action of the Board of Directors.

Adopted

Attorney David Miller, at the request of President Middlebrook, stated that the Board of Directors would meet in closed session, as permitted by the Brown Act, to consider the following matters: 1)  labor coalition negotiations; 2)  performance evaluations of Officers and associated negotiations involving compensation; and, 3)  a matter of pending litigation listed on the agenda as Darrell Breedlove vs. Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (District).  Mr. Miller also stated that the Board of Directors would then convene in open session for possible action regarding these matters.

Directors STROEH/MOYLAN
Resolution No. 2006-094 approves a 4% wage increase for all non-represented District employees, other than Officers of the District, effective November 6, 2006, the first day of the pay period in which this Board action is taken; approves implementation of modifications to medical benefit plans pursuant to Board Resolution No. 2006-093 and effective July 1, 2007; approves a 2.5% at age 55 pension to be fully funded by employees once all steps necessary to implement such a benefit level have been successfully concluded; and, authorizes the General Manager, with the concurrence of the Attorney, to amend the Human Resources Guide to incorporate a modification of the Bereavement Leave Policy and to provide for pro-rated retiree medical benefit service credit for 30-hour or more regular part-time employees.

Adopted

Attorney Miller stated that the Board received a report from the Advisory Committee for Review of Officers of the District (Advisory Committee) regarding the performance evaluations and associated compensation of the General Manager, the District Engineer, the Auditor-Controller and the Secretary of the District.  He further reported that Chair Boro would present the Advisory Committee’s recommendation relative to those performance evaluations.

Chair Boro presented the following recommendation for action:

Directors BORO/MARTINI
Resolution No. 2006-095 approves a 4% wage increase for the General Manager, Engineer, Auditor-Controller and Secretary, effective November 6, 2006, the first day of the pay period in which this Board action is taken; and, approves a one-time supplemental payment in the amount of $6,000 for the General Manager, $5,000 for the Engineer, $4,000 for the Auditor-Controller and $3,000 for the Secretary, which may, at the election of each officer, be allocated in whole or part, into the Deferred Compensation Plan administered by the District.

Adopted