Approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of January 26, 2007

Carried

Subrogation Claim of Allstate Insurance Company (Insured: Eric Roos)

Carried

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

Adopted

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association

General Manager Celia Kupersmith announced that the District has been honored with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Ms. Kupersmith stated that for the first time in the history of the District, the District’s budget document has been recognized by the GFOA, a national association of government finance professionals, as meeting nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. She noted that this award represents a significant achievement by the District, demonstrating how much progress the District has made over the past ten years to improve its budget document. She publicly commended Auditor-Controller Joseph Wire and the following Auditor-Controller staff members who are primarily responsible for preparing the budget document: Budget and Program Analysis Manager Jennifer Mennucci, Capital and Grant Programs Manager Gayle Prior, Budget Program Analyst Joanne Leone, Budget Program Analyst Rick Driscoll, Business Process Analyst Alice Ng, Capital and Grant Programs Analyst Lynne Yu and Administrative Assistant Jeff Dion. Ms. Kupersmith also acknowledged the leadership of the Board of Directors and the Executive Team for providing the guidance and necessary documentation to create a successful budget that also concurrently serves as a policy document, a financial plan and an operations guide that effectively communicates the District’s financial health.

Joseph Wire recognized the General Manager’s commitment to improving the budget document and also acknowledged the contributions of the Deputy General Managers and other management staff in preparing the sections of the budget document pertaining to work plans and accomplishments.

Presentation of Employee of the Month Award for February 2007 to Neil Hurley, Deckhand, Ferry Division

President Moylan presented the Employee of the Month Award for February 2007 to Neil Hurley, Deckhand, Ferry Division, and expressed his congratulations on behalf of the Board of Directors.

Announcement Regarding Timing of Potential Toll Increase

Celia Kupersmith reported that the Board of Directors, at its September 8, 2006 Joint Board of Directors Meeting/Workshop, directed staff to begin the process for a potential toll increase on the Golden Gate Bridge in early 2007, as one of the strategies to address the District’s remaining $87 million five-year shortfall. Ms. Kupersmith stated that another key deficit reduction strategy, the development of a Partnership Program, is currently underway. In light of the fact that the Partnership Program is not yet fully developed, Ms. Kupersmith advised that, after consulting with President Moylan, it was determined that further action regarding a potential toll increase should be deferred until more is known about the possibility of a Partnership Program and its potential to help reduce the District’s remaining shortfall. Ms. Kupersmith stated that a meeting of the Corporate Partnership Advisory Committee was held February 8, 2007, and she briefly explained the status of Phase I of the Partnership Program. She noted that the preliminary in-depth analysis currently underway does not involve naming rights or other advertising strategies that are not being considered by the District, but may include identification of District assets appropriate for partnership opportunities. She further stated that it is anticipated that the Partnership Program consultants will present their findings to the Board of Directors in May 2007, after which the Board of Directors will discuss whether to proceed with Phase II, the implementation of a Partnership Program.

Discussion ensued, including the following:

• Director McGoldrick inquired as to how much of the five-year shortfall of $87 million would be solved by the Partnership Program and how much would be solved by a potential toll increase. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that at the September 8, 2006 Joint Board of Directors Meeting/Workshop, the Board discussed several toll increase options which would generate $75 million to $80 million in revenue over a five-year period. She stated that staff is seeking more information in order to determine how much revenue can be generated by the Partnership Program, as well as by other deficit reduction strategies. She noted that it is assumed that other deficit reduction strategies, in addition to a potential toll increase, will be needed to address the $87 million shortfall.

• Director Grosboll expressed his concerns about adequate moneys being raised by a Partnership Program in lieu of a potential toll increase. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that the Partnership Program is not intended to take the place of a potential toll increase, but would be just one of several strategies that the District will undertake to address the shortfall.
  

No written report was presented by District Engineer Denis Mulligan.  A written report is presented to the Board of Directors by the District Engineer at the second Board meeting of the month.

At the meeting, Denis Mulligan reported that on January 31, 2007, the District advertised Contract No. 2006-B-1, Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Phase IIIA, North Anchorage Housing and North Pylon.  He noted that the advertisement of this contract is a significant milestone for the District, and he commended the leadership of Deputy District Engineer Ewa Bauer and the efforts of other key Engineering Department staff, the attorneys and the consultant team regarding this project.  He stated that the contract is 100% grant funded, and it is anticipated that the bid opening for Contract No. 2006-B-1 will take place on May 1, 2007.

Authorize Execution of an Agreement with the County of Marin Department of Public Works to Operate the Third Year of the Muir Woods Shuttle Bus Demonstration Project

Directors BROWN/KERNS
Resolution No. 2007-008 authorizes execution of an agreement with the County of Marin Department of Public Works to operate the third year of the Muir Woods Shuttle Bus Demonstration project, beginning Saturday, May 5, 2007, through Sunday, September 30, 2007, at an approximate cost of $249,475, with the understanding that the County of Marin will reimburse the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District for providing said service.

Adopted

AYES (14): Directors Brown, Cochran, Dufty, Eddie, Grosboll, Kerns, Martini, McGlashan, McGoldrick, Middlebrook, Newhouse Segal, Pahre; First Vice President Boro; President Moylan
NOES (0): None
ABSENT (5): Directors Hernández, Reilly, Sandoval and Stroeh; Second Vice President Ammiano

Approve Two Capital-Funded Positions to Support Major Technology Projects

Directors MARTINI/KERNS
Resolution No. 2007-009 approves the following actions relative to staffing changes:

with the understanding that: 1) the Senior Applications Support Specialist position will be 65% grant funded, with the remaining 35% monies to be derived from the District Division Operating budget, for the first 12 months, and with the further understanding that following the 12-month period, monies for this position will be included in the District Division Operating budget; and, 2) the Communication Systems Project Manager position will be 80% grant funded with the remaining 20% monies to be derived from the Bus Division Operating budget, for the first 12 months, and with the further understanding that following the 12-month period, this position will be funded in the Bus Division Capital budget for the life of the Radio Replacement and Intelligent Transportation System project, which is anticipated to last three to five years and, at the end of the project, it is anticipated that monies for this position will be included in the Bridge Division Operating budget.

Adopted

AYES (14): Directors Brown, Cochran, Dufty, Eddie, Grosboll, Kerns, Martini, McGlashan, McGoldrick, Middlebrook, Newhouse Segal, Pahre; First Vice President Boro; President Moylan
NOES (0): None
ABSENT (5): Directors Hernández, Reilly, Sandoval and Stroeh; Second Vice President Ammiano

Approve an Amendment to Rule III of the Rules of the Board Relative to Bringing Forward Actions by a Committee to the Board of Directors for Consideration

Directors MARTINI/KERNS
Resolution No. 2007-010 approves an amendment to Rule III, COMMITTEES, Subsection D, Committee Reports and Agenda, of the Rules of the Board, by replacing the third paragraph in its entirety to read as follows:

“Matters calendared for Committee meetings resulting in recommendations for action by the Board shall be presented at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, unless otherwise decided by the Committee Chair.”

Adopted

AYES (14): Directors Brown, Cochran, Dufty, Eddie, Grosboll, Kerns, Martini, McGlashan, McGoldrick, Middlebrook, Newhouse Segal, Pahre; First Vice President Boro; President Moylan
NOES (0): None
ABSENT (5): Directors Hernández, Reilly, Sandoval and Stroeh; Second Vice President Ammiano