Directors STROEH/EDDIE moved approval of the Consent Calendar. All items were approved by the following vote of the Board of Directors:

AYES (14): Directors Brown, Cochran, Dufty, Grosboll, Kerns, Moylan, Newhouse Segal, Sanders, Snyder, Sobel and Stroeh; Second Vice President Eddie; First Vice President Reilly; President Boro
NOES (0): None
ABSENT (5): Directors Campos, Chu, Elsbernd, McGlashan and Pahre

Board of Directors meeting of July 24, 2009 and June 26, 2009.

Carried

Claim of Marisa E. Fernandez

Carried

Claim of Kelly Reyes

Carried

Announcements

Ms. Kupersmith informed the Board that Executive Assistant to the General Manager Amorette Ko had a baby son who was named Cody Aiden Wong, and that Amorette and baby Cody are doing well.

Ms. Kupersmith introduced David Rzepinski, General Manager of Marin Transit. She stated Marin Transit is a key partner, and that the District provides services under contract to Marin Transit. She stated that the relationship between the parties is exceptional, stating that the two work very well together and that the District looks forward to a continued relationship.

Discussion by the Board of Directors

Discussion ensued, including the following comments and inquiries:

• Director Grosboll inquired as to whether sending out fifteen requests for proposals had resulted in only one being returned. In response, Ms. Mantony stated that some subcontractors had requested opportunity to respond and the District sent documents to them. She also stated that since Bluebird had gone out of business during the past year, MCI is now the only bus manufacturer available for these types of purchases.

• Director Cochran commented that the Board of Directors should receive an accounting of how contingency funds are used. Ms. Mantony stated that a report would be prepared for the Board of Directors accounting for the use of contingency funds.

Action by the Board of Directors

Directors BROWN/SOBEL
Resolution No. 2009-073 approves actions relative to the award of Contract No. 2009-BT-1, Forty-Five Foot Diesel Inter-City Configuration Coaches, as follows:

Authorizes a budget increase in the FY 09/10 Bus Transit Division Capital Budget in the amount of $2,453,650.00, to be funded with $1,962,920.00 FTA funds and $490,730.00 District reserves, as concurred with by the Finance-Auditing Committee at its meeting of September 10, 2009.

Adopted

Approve Actions Relative to the Award of Contract No. 2010-BT-6, Thirty-Five Foot Hybrid Buses, to New Flyer on behalf of the Marin County Transit District

Directors BROWN/SOBEL
Resolution No. 2009-074 approves actions relative to the award of Contract No. 2010-BT-6, Thirty-Five Foot Hybrid Buses, as follows:

Authorizes a budget increase in the FY 09/10 Bus Transit Division Capital Budget in the amount of $295,000.00, as concurred with by the Finance-Auditing Committee at its meeting of September 10, 2009.

Adopted

Public Comment

David Schonbrunn stated his concern about low ridership on Ferry shuttles resulting in a decision to cancel Ferry shuttles. He stated that free parking at terminals discourages use of shuttles, and that ridership could be encouraged by a parking fee charged at the terminals. He urged the District to provide a comprehensive plan to manage and price parking at Larkspur by using modern techniques and principles.

Action by the Board of Directors

Directors STROEH/KERNS
Resolution No. 2009-075 authorizes the General Manager, or her designee, to execute and submit an application, related assurances and allocation request with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for Regional Measure 2 funds in the amount of $1,655,000.00, to support implementation of the Advanced Communications and Information System Project.

Adopted

Authorize the Filing of an Application with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for FY 09/10 Transportation Funds to Support the Larkspur Ferry Shuttle Service Operations

Discussion by the Board of Directors

Discussion ensued, including the following inquiries:

• Director Grosboll made the following inquiries:
  • He inquired as to how the shuttle route was chosen and the reasoning behind providing shuttle service that had low ridership in the past. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that in 2003 all shuttle service was eliminated due to financial reasons, and that the current choice of shuttle route was made because this route was the most successful of the routes provided in the past. She added that this application is the second one the District has submitted.
  • He inquired as to the expected ridership and the level of ridership that would be considered successful. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that, historically, ten to fifteen riders per bus could be expected and that would be considered successful for this route at this time.

• Director Newhouse Segal made the following inquiries:
  • She inquired as to whether the grant would be competitive. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that the grant would be competitive.
  • She inquired as to whether the possibility of charging a fee for parking at the terminal would be included in the grant application. Ms. Kupersmith stated that the issue of parking fees at the Larkspur Ferry Terminal was being reviewed at the request of the President of the Board of Directors and that this matter would come forward soon.

Action by the Board of Directors

Directors STROEH/KERNS
Resolution No. 2009-075 authorizes the General Manager, or her designee, to file applications and execute funding agreements with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for the FY 09/10 Transportation Fund for Clear Air Grant Program, to support a two-year peak period ferry shuttle service between Fairfax/Sir Francis Drake and the Larkspur Ferry Terminal, for an estimated operating cost of $352,270.00 per year.

Adopted

Presentation by San Francisco County Transportation Authority

Lee Saage, Deputy Director, Capital Projects, San Francisco County Transportation Authority, provided an update on the status of planning the project and the traffic management plan. He stated that all movement across the Golden Gate Bridge into the City will remain in place throughout the project. Traffic will stay on a detour until the new facility is ready to open. He stated that the project is a challenge, being a two-year design project that is to be completed within six months. The project must achieve seismic safety quickly and qualify for federal funding. He stated that, as part of the acceleration process, eight different construction packages are included.

Mr. Saage stated that the next major event would be the first weekend closure. Traffic will be on the detour, being built north of existing Doyle Drive. He stated that once traffic is on the temporary detour, demolition of Doyle Drive can begin. Following the second weekend closure, traffic will go off the detour onto Doyle Drive. He stated that on the detour route between Sunset and Marina, traffic will distribute over the grid system. People familiar with the area will choose their own detours, with Lincoln Boulevard-Presidio-Lombard seeing more additional traffic.

Discussion by the Board of Directors

Discussion ensued, including the following comments and inquiries:

• Director Reilly made the following inquiries:
  • She inquired as to the ramps that will be closed. In response, Mr. Saage stated that northbound Park Presidio to southbound Doyle and northbound Doyle to southbound Park Presidio would be closed to accommodate construction. The signed detour will be along Van Ness and Geary Boulevard. A back-up detour is planned northbound onto Lincoln Boulevard.
  • She inquired as to the length of delay for those traveling Sunset to Marina. In response, Mr. Saage stated that the length of delay will depend largely upon the route chosen, for example, Sunset to Marina could produce a fifteen-minute delay while Lincoln to Park Presidio may produce only a two-minute delay. Ms. Kupersmith added that, once ramps close, there will be a two-lane exit from Doyle Drive to Park Presidio to improve traffic flow and travel times.

• President Boro made the following comments and inquiries:
  • He inquired as to the length of time detours will last. In response, Mr. Saage stated that the horseshoe ramp will be closed for the duration of the project. The shorter ramp will be closed for approximately eighteen months, during Contracts 3 and 4.

• Director Sobel made the following comments and inquiries:

  • He inquired as to whether any analysis has been done to define the number of minutes’ delay that can be expected. In response, Mr. Saage stated that analysis has shown an increase of approximately 14 seconds for Doyle Drive, so that commuters will experience minimal impact.
  • He inquired as to whether the cascading effect of people slowing down to look at construction was part of this analysis. In response, Mr. Saage stated that the model did consider such effect because minor reductions in speed can result in a greater reductions farther back in traffic.
  • He stated that public outreach will be critical to success. In response, Mr. Saage stated that advertising has already been purchased.

• Director Stroeh made the following inquiries:
  • He inquired as to whether traffic control workers will be utilized. In response, Mr. Saage stated that there will be new pedestrian crossings, pedestrian signals and traffic control officers for safety. He stated that the increase in traffic on Park Presidio would likely be greater than increases elsewhere.
  • He inquired as to whether the left turn lane on Lombard will be closed. In response, Mr. Saage stated that there is resistance to closing that left turn lane but it has not been ruled out.

• Director Snyder inquired as to whether roads within the Presidio were modeled. In response, Mr. Saage stated that Presidio roads have been modeled. In some of those areas, no detectable increase in traffic was seen. The Arguello, Lincoln Boulevard and Presidio entries showed slightly greater increases. He added that the new detour will be five lanes, with a movable barrier providing a 3-2 traffic arrangement that can be moved to accommodate morning traffic and afternoon/evening traffic. The five lanes of the detour will be much wider than the present lanes. Traffic will flow more smoothly and the movable barrier will provide safety.

• Director Sanders made the following inquiries:
  • She inquired as to whether southbound drivers would be able to travel Park Presidio. In response, Mr. Saage stated that southbound Park Presidio traffic will be unaffected. Of the four connectors, two will remain open throughout construction.
  • She inquired as to the location of the new movable barrier. In response, Mr. Saage stated that the movable barrier will be located on the temporary facility, not on the new Doyle Drive.

Public Comment

Norman Rolfe stated his concern about damage to the Presidio and the cost of the project, noting that in the past, high cost caused rejection of a similar project. He stated his hope that media will investigate, and believes this project to be a mistake.

Dr. Herbert Korckoff inquired as to why Doyle Drive cannot be repaired rather than replaced. In response, Mr. Saage stated that a nine-year study was done. He further stated that the current roadway has reached the end of its useful life as a reinforced concrete structure built to 1930’s standards and cannot be repaired. A new roadway must be built to modern standards.

Gerald Cauthen stated he is convinced Caltrans can maintain free traffic flow, although it will be very costly. He stated that other bridges require seismic upgrade, but those projects are not being funded. He stated his opinion that twenty-eight feet of shoulder added to a tunnel is not reasonable.

Jerry Grace stated his concern that travelers will experience confusion because of the ramp changes, and inquired as to the speed limit on detours. In response, Ms. Kupersmith stated that traffic control workers will be on site and signage will be in place. She added that speed limits will be approximately ten to fifteen miles per hour.

Action by the Board – None Require

Attorney’s Report

Attorney David Miller, at the request of President Boro, stated that the Board of Directors would convene in closed session to discuss the following matter: Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation, Significant Exposure to Litigation, Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b)(1): One Potential Case, listed on the Agenda as Item 6.B.

After closed session, President Boro called the meeting to order in open session with a quorum present. Attorney Miller reported that the Board of Directors met in closed session, as permitted by the Brown Act, to discuss the matter listed above. Mr. Miller reported that no action was taken on the matter.