Happens at the chair. I'll be running this meeting. So I'll begin by calling the meeting to order
now our safety briefing and welcome to
Tim
Or head or thank you for taking over and
We'll look forward to a great service from you. So, thank you. Thank you and good morning vice chair and board members today
Safety briefing is a reminder that in the event of a fire alarm activation
we're gonna all muster together head out the exit downstairs that we can all
convene down on the corner outside by the Metro customer service and wait for
further instructions. In the event of an earthquake I'm gonna ask everybody to
drop take cover and wait for the shake and the stop and then we can make an
assessment if a evacuation is required. In the event of a first aid situation we
We do have first responders in the room as well as an AD device that's located out front
here by the security desk.
It's actually right across the hall from them there.
And if the first responders are not present at the time, I will provide the first aid
and ask the board secretary to alert the security desk and call 911 if needed.
In the event of an active attacker, let's remember the three key words, run, hide, and
fight.
That concludes today's safety briefing.
Thank you.
thank you sir any questions from directors
seen on thank you
i've asked director timely would you please leave the pledge of allegiance
thank you director trembling
uh... no clerk would you please call the role make sure we have a quorum
certainly
director wapner
directed to try
director marquez
ice-chair chafee
director newin
director murphy
Director Dumitrou, second vice chair Burksen,
Director Spiegel, Director Middleton,
Director Vargas, Director Tremblay,
Director Engler, Director Barger,
Director Corcoran, Director Najarian,
Director Solis, Director Hughes-Lesley,
Present.
Director O'Connor, Director Allen,
Director Presiato, Chair McCallin,
a quorum present vice chair
thank you madam clerk
do we have any public comments
i do have uh... request to speak from paul dyson
for general public comment and then again before approving consent calendar
he has a public comment on a consent calendar item
right that mister dyson would you please come forward
the board members four days in the per bank resident and vice president
of the world passengers association california
I want to talk about Connections and the proposed October timetable and those of you who know
me and know that I've been talking about Connections for the last 40 years that's 4-0.
During the 1980s, our organization RALPAC was successful in persuading Amtrak to run
some of the San Diego trains through to Santa Barbara and these through trains were immediately
successful.
When SCRA was formed in the 90s, we were hoping and expecting more of the same kind of creative
thinking.
But no, for the last 30 years, we've really had nothing but five unconnected individually
operated lines that have failed to provide any kind of a regional system.
weekday ridership plateaued.
And even with, when weekend trains were introduced, just a few trains on a few lines, it still
apparently, was just not possible to provide connections between those
trains and provide more opportunities for people to travel.
It took COVID to knock people out of their comfortable chairs and start
thinking anew. Unfortunately, COVID has found us with lacking many of the
tools needed to pivot this agency to a new way of thinking because of the lack
of investment over the years, particularly such things as LinkUS and
by the double tracking projects, but nevertheless,
management have come up with a plan for October,
which makes the very best use
of the tools that are available.
How do you make a train more productive?
Well, if it has 10 stops on its line,
that gives you 45 origin and destination pairs.
If it connects with two other routes each with 10 stops,
that gives you 30 stations, but through the math,
That actually gives you 435 origin and destination pairs.
That's the mathematics of making connections.
That's how you make your trains more productive.
So I'm here to congratulate the management on this small but significant step towards
a passenger service that can be used throughout the region.
An hourly service with time connections is not great, but it's a very good step in the
right direction.
For the first time in 30 years, this is a serious effort being made to provide true
regional mobility, and RALPAC wholeheartedly supports the operating plan and the budget.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dyson.
I appreciate your remarks.
The other comment is on an item.
Yes.
Mr. Dyson wishes to speak on item 13D, which is on the consent calendar.
Okay.
All right.
Then we come to a public hearing regarding the adoption.
Approval of the consent calendar.
Oh, we want to do the consent calendar first, get that out of the way.
All right.
Did you want Mr. Dyson to speak before approving the consent calendar?
Yeah.
Okay.
Indulgence, ladies and gentlemen.
Just really briefly, on 13-D, the consent calendar, this rail-to-rail program has been
around for some time.
It's the best of bad options and it confuses the passengers.
A lot of people are not really sure whether they can travel on particular trains,
whether their ticket might be valid or not, which timetable to look in to get where they're going.
And really the only solution is to get rid of Losan,
provide a single agency to provide passenger service in Southern California
the system and get rid of all this confusion. Thanks. Thank you, Mr. Dyson. So
now we come to our consent calendar. These are items 13a through 13g. Is any
board member, is there an item you would like to pull and treat separately? Seeing
none, may I have a motion moved and seconded? All those in favor please
indicate by saying aye or yes. Any noes, any abstentions? Seeing none, motion carries unanimously.
Now we come to the public hearing. This is regarding our budget, an approval of annual
contract authority and a salary resolution and approval of operating forecasts for the
of four years, 2025, 26 through 2028, 29,
be presented by Arnold Hackett,
our Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Hackett.
Good morning, Vice Chair Chafee and members of the board.
Arnold Hackett, Chief Financial Officer.
The authority is required under the Joint Powers Authority
to adopt a budget for the succeeding fiscal year
no later than June 30th of each year.
This proposed FY 25 budget consists of operating state of good repair, new capital budget.
It is aligned with our goals to provide affordable, dependable, and high quality service to its customers.
A service which will provide all of southern California the transportation to meet their commuting business and
leisure needs while embracing equity, environmental consciousness, and growth of our communities and businesses.
This budget has been approved by all five member agency board of directors.
Next slide, please.
Our challenges remain the same.
Operating expenses are growing much faster than the growth of our ridership and revenue.
We continue to depend on the member agencies for 80% of our operating expenses while we
continue our focus on cost efficiencies.
Next slide.
This chart, you've seen it before, the green represents the support from the member agencies
through local funds and other funds, including grants, while the dark blue represents operating
income sources from Metrolink.
And the majority of the operating funds from Metrolink are its fare box.
Next slide.
The budget assumptions are the hybrid optimized service schedule, as we've talked about the
importance of that.
no fair increases, a 3% merit pool, a 3% COLA, support for the mini-bundle mobilization,
and support for the continuation of the Student Adventure Paths pilot program.
Next slide, please.
Our consultants, Sperry Capital and KPMG, are updating our ridership and revenue forecast
to better reflect the optimized service schedule that we are embarking upon.
FY 25 through FY 29 and we'll share that with the board as the new one comes out.
Next slide please. Next slide. So the proposed FY 25 operating budget, the
operating revenue 68 million, an increase of 26% above FY 24, our total
expenses $332 million, an increase of 8.5%. The operating expenses include the
optimized service and approximately $10 million for the estimation for the
mini bundle mobilization and support for this continuation of our student
adventure pass program. The support requested from the member agencies is
264 million, an increase of $12 million or 5% above FY24.
And remember, 10 million of that is the estimation for the mobilization of the mini-bundle.
Next slide, please.
This slide just shows a chart of the operating support required by member agency.
Next slide.
So this chart shows the operating support required by member agency in just a different
format.
Next slide.
Next slide.
So state of good repair is critical to the safety and the effectiveness of the management
of our systems operating costs.
When we don't do state of good repair and maintain that, then those costs flow to the
operating budget.
because when something happens, we didn't have the money in our capital program.
So we must, to maintain the safety of our service, we must take that money from operation.
So that's the importance of that state of good repair and making sure we continue to
fund that.
So the proposed FY25 capital program budget, the state of good repair is $160 million,
increase of $30 million above FY24 and the new capital is $5.9 million and that's a decrease
of $14 million over FY24. Next slide, please. And this chart just shows the distribution
of the capital program request by member agency. Next slide. Next slide, please. And again,
chart shows the total amount capital and operating by member agency. Next chart. And this is
an easier view of that chart. So the request is $430 million from the member agencies,
which includes both the operating and when we talk about capital, state of good repair
and new capital program. And your package has all the details of this here. And the
The important thing here is that we're funding State of Good Repair and our operating is
coming in not as high because we're including the mobilization or the mini bundle.
Next slide.
Next slide.
So included in our request for approval is the annuals and that includes $26.4 million
our contracts for the FY25 budget. This does not include our big contracts like maintenance
of way, train operators, equipment. You're going to approve those or hear the request
to approve those in a few minutes. Next slide, please.
So this budget request is 7% increase over FY25, 24, I'm sorry. The budget is introducing
really phase one of our optimized service. This budget is the beginning as
we start to transition from really focusing on commuter to really being a
regional rail system and really not only catering to those who are going to work
every day but to those who want to do leisure rides on the train. Next slide. So
The staff recommends that the board approve and adopt the FY25 budget, approve
the FY25 salary resolution, approve the annual contracts authority, and approve
the proposed budget forecast for fiscal year 26 through 29. And thank you.
May I answer any questions? Questions from the board? Seeing none, this is a
public hearing are there any members of the public that would want to apply I
do have a written public comment and one request to speak okay would you like me
to read the written public comment first yeah let's hear that okay great yeah
okay well this is a public hearing and I neglected to say it is open it is open
so let's take our public comments now dear Metro link board I am happy about
the budget approval process for FY 25 approving the budget in time for the new
new fiscal year will begin Metrolinx transition away from its commuter focused routes into
a competent regional rail provider in SoCal.
Despite the potential fiscal cliff, I am also pleased that the fares will remain roughly
the same, easing the burden on low income and working class riders.
It is too bad that the optimized schedule could not make it in time for July this year.
Nonetheless, the new schedule will provide much more convenient service to and from LA
when it begins in October, especially on the OC line where Metrolinx correctly identified
as a major source of potential new ridership.
As the new schedule is being finalized, I do want to make one request.
Currently, even on the lines with decent service like the SB and AV lines, there is no train
service late at night and early weekend mornings.
Late night service has been heavily requested by even the current ridership for late night
events in LA.
However, I also want to request service early in the morning during the weekend to accommodate
workers with morning shifts at event venues like the crypto.com arena.
This will also make train service more consistent and easier to understand for new riders unfamiliar
with public transportation.
I wholeheartedly support the passage of the FY25 budget to begin Metrolinx transition
to a competent provider of rail transportation in Southern California, sincerely Lucas Chang.
Thank you.
Are there any more public comments?
Paul Dyson.
Once again, welcome.
Mr. Chairman, I can only add agreement with that previous comment and just make two other
points.
One is that I hope, and I'm sure you are really keeping an eye on administrative expenses.
I come from the private sector, I always remember a call I made on one of the rail car manufacturers
and the CEO had a sign on his desk that said, overhead kills.
And it really is expenditure that doesn't produce passenger miles or train miles.
The second point is just a request to all of you, and I'm sorry that's such a paucity
of the Los Angeles delegation here today, but a request to all of you that there will
be times when it seems like one county is getting more, a bigger share, than coming
out than they put in.
I ask you to leave your agency trees behind when you come here and focus on the regional
forest.
This is about a regional system and it'll only be successful if all of us put our best
effort in and not have a lot of bickering between ourselves about who gets what.
The system is what's important in the region, not individual lines and individual counties.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dyson.
Are there any further public comments?
I'm seeing none then I will close the public hearing and bring it back to the board for consideration
Mr. Chairman on the optimized
Ozo have two questions the first of all remind me again
There's additional costs and how that's being paid for and the second question is phase one
Phase one is successful. What does the phase two look like?
Well, I like your optimism
because I do believe phase one will be will be positive for the region. What we
are, the board will be hearing in the not too distant future updates on our
service growth development plan where we will be doing exactly what that next
phase, phase two will look like. It's, there are other constraints but the point
is is we'll get this out, get phase one out, see how successful it is, where we
hear feedback and where we can potentially grow so I think that that's a big part of
it. As it relates to the cost, generally we've been able to keep costs related to the optimized
service relatively flat. The revenues that, the additional revenues we need are coming
from the member agencies, but there's a recognition that for the modest increase in cost for the
system, we are seeing somewhere on the order of 20 to 30% increase in service.
So we're getting a whole lot more than what we would have done in the old days
with the way we ran the system. We're getting much more efficiency, but the
additional costs are coming from the five from the five counties to make sure
that we're able to implement the optimized service. I assume phase two, if
we get to that point, more of benefit for the own Empire counties? I think this is one of the
things we're I believe that there's going to be a market for that and I
we've certainly done the study that was that looked at all of the factors that
were out there and at some point we also have cost limitations based on pricing
but I do think there are going to be some opportunities on in lines that
serve the Inland Empire certainly we know where Bright Line West will be
coming in the not too distant future we are currently working on a study on the
Riverside on the Riverside County line to find out where we have a potential
growth and ridership there and then we are going to be taking a closer look at
the 91 corridor wolf coming from Riverside to Los Angeles but also from
the Inland Empire to Orange County so those are sort of the four principal
areas that I see as being opportunities in that next phase. Director
Perciato. Thank you for everything. Great. I appreciate the comments. I also notice the
steel wheels. I was just going to say thank you Mr. Dyson. Appreciate that.
Director Spiegel. I just wanted to do a personal comment and that is I've been on this board
humanatively for a very long time. I think Mr. Wapner probably tops as far as who's
up here. I have always been impressed. I mean we will look at the budgets and
kind of maybe in our mind say something but as far as the financial backing and
the expenses. I don't see the bickering that was just made
a comment of. I have been very proud and respectful of how everybody has come
together and supported each other's projects. Now we've, you know, if there's
conversations back at the tax or on our individual boards, they're not brought to
this table. And I just think that that shows the professionalism of this
organization the working together and you know whether we like it or not we
are a multi-county agency and we function well so thank you thank you for
that comment any further comments from board members seeing none may have a
motion so moved all right all those in favor indicate by saying aye or yes any
any abstentions? Seeing none, motion carries unanimously. Thank you. I have a second public
hearing. This is the adoption of the Arrow service budget and we have a presentation
from Christine Wilson and so let me start by opening the public hearing and then we'll
have your presentation. It's open. Good morning Chair Chafee and members of the board. I am
Chris Wilson, presenting item number 6C,
arrow proposed 25 budget,
and requested recommendation of adoption
of the proposed FY25 arrow service budget.
The arrow budget for 25 was brought
to the Audit and Finance Committee on April 12th
to recommend transmission with the stipulation
that the staff was continuing to work
with member agencies to refine the budget.
Staff did work to refine this budget,
and the budget presented to the board for transmission
reflected expenses 0.6 million less than the budget brought to the Audit and Finance Committee.
Next slide, please.
The assumptions used in developing the proposed budget for ARRO include service level with
no change from FY24, revenue and ridership based on forecasts from Sperry Capital KPMG,
fair increases student adventure pass is not included in the fair projections.
Expense only is mandated by existing contractual agreements. Next slide please.
This is the information that I just related to. Next slide please. This is the
arrow ridership projection from Sperry Capital KPMG. The line chart is a
a depiction of that forecast for FY23 through FY29.
As you see, they are predicting a significant growth through 2027 and then a leveling off.
Next slide, please.
Next slide.
The proposed FY25 operating budget for railroad reflects operating revenue at 212,000, expenses
at $15.7 million, an increase of $0.7 million or 4.9% from the continuing resolution used
in FY24, and member agency support of $15.5 million, an increase of $0.5 million or 3.4%
from the FY24 continuing resolution. Next slide. Next slide.
New capital consists of a single project of $1.5 million for the purchase of simulators
to be used in DMU training as required by the approved training plan.
As shown on this chart, the total FY25 support requested is $17.0 million, consisting of
$15.5 million in operating support and $1.5 million in new capital.
budget is a request is a 13% increase over the total operating and capital
support for FY 24 staff recommends the board conduct a public hearing on this
matter and adopt the proposed FY 25 arrow budget that concludes my report oh
I should also mention that this budget has been approved by the SBCTA board
thank you for a report this is a public hearing are there any comments from any
member of the public seeing none and we'll close the public hearing and
bring it back to the board for consideration are there any questions
from board members director Spiegel no boy the light was on the lady with the
light okay you trace seconds to motion thank you for that you need another
second rules use Leslie seconds it further comments
quick I just want to announce so we want to announce that the first zero mission
multiple unit hydrogen arrived last week in San Bernardino so it's now in town
we'll be able to share a photo of that arrival later this after later this
morning as well so thank you for bringing it up the director no no yeah
it's all yours well it's ours but you know what I mean all right we have an
item that has been moved in seconded all those in favor please indicate by
saying yes or no or aye any no's none any abstentions none item carries
unanimously we're now on our regular calendar and we have our insurance
program for the 2425 year, and Raymond Barrera will give us a report.
Good morning, Vice Chair Chafee and members of the board, Raymond Barrera, Senior Council
and Risk Manager, presenting the annual renewal of Metrolinx Insurance Program.
Also present here today is Craig Morris, our lead representative from Marsh, our long-time
insurance broker.
The authority utilizes insurance to mitigate its operating
and other major risks and board approval is needed
to renew the insurance program's policies of insurance
for fiscal year 2024-25.
Next slide.
The operating general liability tower of insurance
makes up more than 50% of the insurance program's costs
and protects the authority in the event
of a catastrophic incident causing injury
and or property damage to third parties.
In our marketing to underwriters,
we highlighted Metrolinx commitment to safety
through its use of positive train control,
use of crash energy management cars
and the pervasive safety culture
that includes ongoing training, testing
and monitoring of operators and crew members.
Here's a depiction of the liability coverage tower.
At the bottom is the primary layer of insurance
on top of the $5 million self-insured retention
of $5 million and then followed by six excess layers
of insurance totaling $347.5 million in coverage.
Various market factors listed here have created
a challenging environment for procuring insurance,
notably a lack of new insurer participants
in the market, inflation and nuclear trial verdicts pushing up claims.
Despite these conditions, we have successfully constructed the operating general liability
tower at a flat rate with a total premium cost of $9,100,215.
Additional liability coverages include terrorism, employment practices, and pollution.
liability coverage came in at $263,000 and 11% increase in premium.
Employment practices liability at a cost of $301,000 and pollution liability at a cost
of $91,000 approximately.
Employment and pollution fared much better premium wise.
They came in essentially what we were at last year.
Firstly, since the committee's meeting on this matter, we have finalized the property
coverage favorably below the Notice to Exceed amount at a cost of $6,664,000, an 8.3 percent
increase in premium.
Governmental coverages are standalone terrorism.
Coverage for $10 million in coverage at a cost of approximately $90,000 and boiler and
machinery coverage at a cost of $94,000 and an 18% increase in premium.
Other insurance coverages include fleet automobile, workers' compensation, public officials, errors
on a mission, crime insurance, cybersecurity and privacy risk insurance, fleet auto was
notably higher at a 6% increase in premium, workers comp a 19% increase in premium, public
E&O came in flat, crime insurance was a decrease of 33% to expiring premium and cybersecurity
and privacy risk came in at a decrease from last year, 29%.
The total premium for these coverages is $1,340,269.
Next slide.
It is recommended the board authorize
the chief executive officer to purchase insurance
for the 2024-25 insurance year,
or a total premium cost of $17,289,376,
consisting of liability-related insurance
at a cost of $9,100,216, property-related insurance
for a total cost of $6,848,892.
And other insurance coverages identified
at a cost of $1,340,269.
The total premium cost for the insurance program is 5.3%.
The total premium cost for the insurance program
is 5.3% higher than the expiring total premium cost and is accounted for in the proposed
fiscal year 2425 budget. Thank you. That concludes my presentation. Any questions?
I've always wondered have we ever done a look back on how much we're paying and how much
I don't want to say we're getting because it means we've got a problem. But is there
a comparison that we've paid less than we've recouped back or what it would have been if
we wouldn't have had insurance that kind of a whoever done that evaluation or is that
too scared to do it?
The insurance is in place before anything bad happens
and so we're protected in the event
something catastrophic should occur.
So that's the goal of the insurance,
to have that protection in place,
to allow Metrolink to continue operating
should that type of event occur.
looking at it that way, analysis that you've asked.
It can be done, but it's, uh,
not worth it.
You can say it.
Listen, I, again, I just was in a hit and run car accident
last Sunday, and it was, I mean, you're glad you have
the insurance, which is sure that guy didn't have insurance
that ran, so I don't know.
And one serious question is, on the errors in a mission,
And those of us who, I know a lot when I was here,
for a period we didn't have it.
And if you know that history, I know Don does.
Kind of got scary because we assumed it was there.
What exactly does that cover?
I mean, we have no access to the funds,
so it can't be any of that.
What does Aerosmith and Mission really cover?
I'm gonna defer that question to our marsh representative
who can give you a probably a better explanation of that.
Craig Morris.
The board, my name is Craig Morris.
I work with the March.
We are able to answer your question.
So public officials' errors and omissions
covers acts of the board
and the decisions that the board makes.
Most of the time, what's going to be covered
underneath that policy is gonna be the defense of a matter
when there's an allegation made against the board,
but it does cover those negligent acts of the board
and the errors that they make in the decision.
Is that only the elected official?
Is that also the senior?
It goes to senior management as well.
Because he's the one that tells us what to do, you know.
Yeah.
Now I just want to make sure we were all aware
is that that really is solely on our behalf
to make sure that if in fact we ever go down a bad path.
Any further questions from directors?
Yes, please go ahead.
Dr. Blackmore.
Boiler and machinery insurance.
Is that kinda like when we get coverage in our refrigerator
and it breaks down to get it fixed,
or what does that cover?
Mechanical breakdown.
So really it covers any large piece of equipment
that at one point in time breaks down.
It's not gonna cover wear and tear of an item,
but if you have a sudden and accidental event,
could be an air conditioner unit,
of equipment, things like that even covers computers, cost of computers are much lower
today than they were years ago, but all of those pieces of equipment are considered objects
that would be covered underneath that cabinet.
What would be the deductive on that coverage?
The deductive is 10,000.
Director Allen.
Yes, I was surprised to see a decrease in cyber security at that premium.
So I'm always concerned about having enough coverage because of the items associated with
it.
So, I mean, that's good, but I'm hoping that we do have appropriate coverage.
Now, there's been a lot of attention given over the past, and those controls have improved
over the years.
That risk has improved.
That's great.
That means that we're doing really well with our measures for cybersecurity.
that's that's great. Any further questions? Seeing none, may I have a motion please? I'm sorry,
yes. Oh yeah, are there any public comments on this item? None, okay. May I have a motion on this item?
Move for approval. Director Tremblay has a comment he'd like to make. I just I wanted to say briefly
Thank you, Raymond. Thank you, Mr. Morris. Just as with the budget, and I'm looking at
finance staff, this item takes an extraordinary amount of time to put
together, and I want to recognize and thank you both for doing it. And I know
this was your first go-round on this one, so thank you very much. It's really
appreciated. Insurance market is tough, but we say that every year, but it just
continues to get tougher so thank you thank you mr. chair thank you for
comment so I think we got a motion okay moved and seconded I'm sorry who made
the motion okay thank you all right those in favor please indicate by saying
aye or yes any opposed any abstentions motion carries unanimously now we're
Coming to a series of annual contract items
and with the permission of legal counsel,
may we do them as a bundle?
That'd be items eight B,
H, C and D and E.
Yes, you can consolidate those items
at the Chair's discretion, yes.
Thank you, counsel.
So we'll start with the first one, eight B
and then just go right through his staff presentations
one after the other and then take any public comments
on that and then bring it back to the board
for a single vote.
All right, we have our first presenter.
Who is Laura or Markey?
Members of the board, my name is Laura Lamarck
and I'm here to present item 8B, exercise of option year
and increase in annual contract authority
for transit America services, Inc. or TASI.
In order to continue to operate the arrow service in fiscal year 2025, it is necessary
to exercise the final option year and approve annual contract authority.
Next slide, please.
Therefore, it is recommended that the board authorize the CEO to exercise the remaining
option year and increase contract authority by $4,198,142.04 which is included in and
contingent upon approval of the FY25 budget.
That concludes my presentation and I'm happy to answer it.
Thank you.
We have the next presenter.
Morning Vice Chair, members of the board, my name is Rod Bailey, Deputy Chief Operations
Officer with Metrolink of course.
Our presenting item 8C, which is the annual contract authority
for contract OP-151-21,
Metrolink train operator services by Amtrak.
Staff recommends that the board authorize the chief executive
officer to approve the FY24-25 contract authority
for contract number OP-151-21,
Metrolink train operator services
with the National Passenger Corporation Amtrak
for a not to exceed amount of 48,163,321.85.
Sorry, please, thank you, and any questions?
Thank you for your presentation.
Our next item is Immanuel Villas.
Is that right?
I say that correctly, how do you say your last name?
Bias, sir.
Okay.
I'm one of the Vice Chair, members of the Board.
I'm here to discuss AD, Annual Contract Authority,
for contract number OP 137-17 for equipment maintenance services to provide the equipment
maintenance services for the Metrolinx system by Alston. Next slide please. Next slide please.
It is recommended that the board authorize the chief executive officer to approve the
annual contract authority for contract number OP 137-17 for equipment maintenance services
With awesome transportation and not to exceed amount of thirty four million six hundred and thirty nine thousand four hundred sixty six for FY
right and
our next presenter is
Our two more head. I think good morning again vice chair and members of the board
This is for the contract MS 289 track and signal infrastructure contract funding authorization
Base maintenance service includes inspection test and reporting management
replacement and repairs attract and signal structures for the authorities property and the proposed FY 24 25 budget consists of a
38 million four hundred thirty one thousand three hundred and seven
As recommended that the committee recommend sorry that the board
Authorize the chief executive officer to approve the twenty four twenty five contract
Authority for base maintenance services for a not to exceed amount of thirty eight million four hundred thirty one three. Oh seven
Thank you
Madam clerk, do you have any public comments on any of these items? I have not received any public comment on this item
Thank you board members any questions on any of these items?
See none may have a motion for all of those items as eight B HC AD and 80 move it Murphy
moved and seconded. All those in favor, please indicate by saying aye or yes.
Aye. Any noes? Any abstentions? Motion carries unanimously. Now we come to that report. We
all look forward to from our CEO. Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair. A couple of items before I
get into what we're going to put up on the screen. First of all, I want to recognize
few folks that are in our audience today. I've shared with the board that we have
been recognized by the Construction Management Association of America for
some of our work. Most recently we were recognized as the owner of the year in
Southern California. One of the reasons for that is the fact that we have very
much engaged in an internship program with the Construction Management
Association. So this morning in the audience we have four members of the
interns that are going to be working for us this summer that are college students
so they're shy as you can tell I'd like to ask them to stand up these are four
students that are generally represented they come I think from Cal Poly Pomona a
couple of community colleges they'll be working for Aaron Acevedo who is there
to the groups left our left and so I just want to say thank you guys for
being a part of our program we know you're gonna learn a lot you're gonna
a great summer helping us and continue to just grow in your education and get some real world
experience. So thank you very much for being a part of us. I'm going to shift gears real quick to
some announcements from earlier this week. Probably through your agencies at the county
level you heard that the House Transportation Housing and Urban Development Committee issued its
appropriations bill. There are several different earmarks that Metrolink has received still
early. This is not money we're going to go put in the bank yet. But Representative Julia
Brownlee requested half a million dollars for the installation of Fiber Network between
Simi Valley and Moorpark. Representative Tony Cardenas requested $750 million for the installation
of wireless grade crossings in Sylmar San Fernando Station. Representative Adam Schiff
requested $250,000 for the installation of wireless grade crossing technology at Burbank
Airport and then as was not a request of ours but a request of RCTC representative Mark
Takano requested $850,000 to for additional funding for the Marino Valley to Paris Metrolink
double track project all told that's about 2.3 $2.35 million that are in the it is in
the House Appropriations T-Hud bill as it's referred to.
The Senate still has to act, so we have not heard on that.
We're expecting that in the next couple weeks.
And as we've all been in this business before,
we see a House package, we see a Senate package,
it ends up in conference, and then whatever comes out
at the end, we'll see what that'll look like.
Transit is a little bit concerned with the T-Hud bill,
and that is the fact that right now,
it is 22% lower than the authorized amounts under IIJA.
So that is, there's a bit of a call to action at AP,
at APTA to try to correct that through the Senate side,
but that's where we stand today.
So that's some of the information.
Our thanks to those representatives
that made the requests on our behalf.
Hopefully that amount will stay in place.
And then, last, before I get to the slide deck,
this is relatively new information.
Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority Board of Directors
took an action to start its own law enforcement program.
So it's been in the media.
The plan is, it's not gonna happen overnight.
It's gonna take a few years with, I think,
ultimate implementation of five years from now but starting that change over
the course of the next couple years we continue to have our service through our
contract with the LA County Sheriff's Department. We will be evaluating as we
understand more about where LA Metro will be we will be evaluating how we move
forward but didn't want to be unrecognized that that's a fairly
significant move as it relates to the fact that again LA County Sheriff's
Department has been a major provider for LA County Metro and we have I think
probably in some fashion benefited from those relationships. So we're gonna have
to do some research on our own and I don't know just know that we are aware
of it and we'll be paying close attention to it. Now if I could go to
the slide deck. So very exciting news starting this weekend you can see
Director Trembly participating in the X Games on the skateboard. That's that
that's him right there on the half pipe. We are serving our trains are serving
the Ventura County line trains this weekend are serving the X Games they're
going all the way to the Ventura the Ventura downtown station which is at the
Ventura County Fairgrounds and we have a couple of round trips for our trains
and then some Amtrak trains will be accepting our tickets not all
unfortunately but the whole idea of trying to provide transit to get to the
X Games so we're excited to be a part of that we'll be watching that over the
course of this weekend I think the big news is is that it again normally our
trains only go to the east Ventura station which is where our trains
normally park in this case we're going to be going all the way to the fair
grounds without having to stop at the east Ventura station so some cool
stuff going on. Again, really trying to get people, as we've talked about under our Metrolink
Reimagined, moving beyond the commuter, moving to experiences and trips for other purposes,
and here's a perfect example of that. Next slide.
Near and dear to Director Wapner's heart, we're really excited that now on all of our
ticket vending machines, we have the ability to have a single ticket for the ONT Connect
allows and makes it very clear that you can purchase the ticket and on a
Metrolink train and catch the train I catch a the ONT Connect at the Ranch
of Cucamonga station for what about a five-minute drive down to the Ontario
Airport something that in that neighborhood so once again we've been
trying to focus on our connections related to air travel we have some great
connections at Burbank Airport of course at LA Union Station you can transfer to
the fly away, and now we'll have that same opportunity at ONT.
So I'm pleased to have launched that.
And the next slide, please.
So Mr. Chair, I'm going to ask if you don't already have it in your notes that when we
do adjourn our meeting today, we do it in recognition of Maria Carrasco.
We shared with the board a couple weeks ago that, not Metrolink related, but Maria Carrasco,
who is a senior customer relations representative.
Oftentimes spends a lot of time,
had spent a lot of time in our tunnel at LA Union Station.
Passed away tragically in an automobile accident
on Memorial Day.
Maria was regularly in the tunnel,
and I see all of our customer relations representatives
because, as you all know, I take the train.
And all of them, many of them anyway,
are, oh boy, here comes the CEO,
and they get really, you can see them get anxious.
Maria just would light up and be happy and just relaxed and I you know it's
like having kids you love all your kids I love all of our customer relations
representatives but there was something special about Maria so when I heard this
news that's when I was on vacation I heard this I was absolutely gutted so
Thank you board if you will Mr. Chair I would humbly ask that you recognize as we close
the meeting if we do so in memory of Maria.
That concludes my remarks Mr. Chair.
Now come to board member comments any comments any board member would like to make.
Director Spiegel.
I just have a couple of quick questions and this one is probably for Don.
I was just curious, I know that we vote on items
on the agenda and give authority to the CEO
to make the signatures on contracts.
Quite often in our cities and our counties,
the chair of the board does that.
So I was just curious how we have the CEO
on such large contracts, even though the board
has voted on it, I'm just curious how that works.
That authority is consistent with our governance documents,
both our JPA and our bylaws.
The board has delegated that authority to the CEO to execute all contracts to negotiate
consistent with board approval as to the terms and conditions of those agreements.
And refresh my memory, what is the threshold that he doesn't have to bring it to the board?
I believe it's 500,000.
Okay.
My second is to you.
I've noticed more variety of pictures, but there's still one picture, figure out which
one it is that is up there a lot on all of our presentations, but I really like how we
try and get different areas throughout our system to show with the reports. I really
enjoy that, so it keeps you a little more interested watching.
Director Wapner.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple things. First, we talked about the ONT Connect. I
really appreciate the two agencies metronically coming together along with SBCTA, and remember
That's just a precursor to our tunnel project that's still moving forward that will take you directly from the Rancho station to
to Ontario Airport via a tunnel with some
electronic autonomous
Pods, I think they're called on the second thing. I believe Darren that you have a photo
Oh, there it is right there of our new DMU which by the way is the first in that country to use on
The attack she's called a cmu. I think that's supposed to resemble a zebra is what I think it's supposed to be although
I remember zebra's having stripes
anyway, again, we appreciate the partnership between sbcta and
Metro Lincoln operating this on particular train
Thank You director, whoop very any further comments, just just one quick word to the interns
Thank you and congratulations and I particularly there's two alumni from Cal Poly sitting up here
I just want you to know that we appreciate the work you do
My only comments are the 4th of July is coming up
be careful enjoy enjoy your family and friends and
With that we now come to closed session and mr. Del Rio. Would you take over please?
Yes, the board will now go into closed session on items 11a. I'm sorry
12a and 12b as described in today's agenda. Thank you chair
No recess to closed session
All right, we're back from our closed session at mr. Del Rio. Do you have anything to report out?
So with that we're going to adjourn the meeting and in memory of Maria Carrasco
She provided tremendous service for us and is dearly missed with that we are adjourned