Wednesday, December 11, 2002

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

* NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, January 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Sierra Club ________________

1. Announcements No notes taken

2. Initiative Updates and Discussion 
a. VTA bus cuts/$6 billion deficit 
VTA is experiencing $6-billion deficit, and must make cuts by February. In response, TALC organized a meeting with its members and created Rescue VTA. Rescue VTA’s position is: no bus/light rail cuts, produce a balanced budget, and identify new long-term funds. 

VTA came up with 3 scenarios: #1 ends up with a $130 m. deficit, #2 cuts bus service by 70%, and #3 slows down capital programs (except BART). 

- MTC will bring up RTEP update. (FTA’s vote is to release money to BART to San Jose) 
- Write a letter! TALC/Rescue VTA supporters are encouraged to write a letter to VTA. Sample letter is available online: http://www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_trans_c/vta/vta.html  
- VTA is spending $5-10 million per month from reserve 
- $4 billion of their shortfall is ‘economy-caused’


b. TALC’s new TEACH project 
Roadblocks to Health Report has been released. Report is available online at: http://www.transcoalition.org/library/reports/roadblocks/roadblocks_home.html  
-Anyone who wants to give copies of the report out, contact Jeff/Sita: sita@transcoalition.org or 510.740.3150. 
Jeff explained that "access" was defined in the report as meaning a facility was within a 1/2 mile walk, or 30 min. transit ride of the low-income neighborhoods in the report.


3. Bridge Toll Increase
MTC came up with a matrix for spending projects (project list). All of TALCs comments were adopted and listed in this matrix. The highway people were upset about this. TALC comments were then removed.
 
November meeting was held; plan for first 30 yrs was written.

All of the projects that TALC opposed were NOT included in the proposed list. All the projects TALC listed as "strong support" WERE included, and all but one of the projects TALC listed as "support" WERE included. The one exception was City CarShare, because of uncertainty about the nexus with bridge use. New stats on City CarShare are available from a TALC member group, so Stuart will bring to a Friday meeting at CMA. 

Project list will be commented on by bridge toll advisory committee, then list will be sent to Sacramento legislature by Senator Perata. No money has been attached yet to these projects. TALC needs to lobby, both for individual projects and for good funding for those projects! 

If Senator Perata feels toll increase support is strong, then he will have legislature vote and not the general public. There will be a 50% vote in the legislature if the toll is considered a fee, not a tax, or 2/3 majority if it is considered a tax.
Ezra Rapport/Perata asked the committee to come back this Friday to either support project list or not (TALC is committee member) 
 
“Do we support this project list?” 

      VOTE: Motion to support, second. Subject to the following: TALC supports the Tier 1 list and encourages the addition of the City CarShare program to the list, subject to satisfactory demonstration of a nexus with bridge usage. 
      Ayes unanimous.


4. Best and Worst Report
TALC needs to plan a strong release for this report. It could get a lot of media release. 
TALC is planning a release/press conference in February. 

- SF worst is questionable, look for another one? 
- Make an emphasis on good developments. 
- Press event: Outskirt areas would be difficult; weekend event would be difficult. 
- Tie-in with development that other groups worked on. 
- Have event at all 9 best developments. Member groups would have to organize. 
- Send memo to member groups to see who can take lead in their county. 
- Have one main event in SF or Alameda. 
- SF have parking garage/Tenderloin be worst/best


5. Sixth Annual Summit
-Senator Boxer may be available March 29, 10:30 am. If not, event could also be on March 22. Location: Laney College, since there are no objections.
Stuart will send out email to members for theme, breakout group, award ceremony ideas.

6. Organizational Briefing 
a. 2003 Staff overview: Sita Chokkalingam hired as Outreach Coordinator for the Transportation Equity and Community Health project. Amber Crabbe is coordinating Transportation for a Livable Region (TLR) project. Alice Watson (office manager) and Seth Schneider (project manager/tech support/misc.) will be leaving by the end of December. Interns and Volunteers are in service, and will help to relieve the workload. 

b. Grants: TALC recently received two grants from the San Francisco Foundation, one to examine transportation-related air quality impacts in Contra Costa County, the other to support the TLR project.

c. House Parties: Anyone interested in hosting or participating in a fundraising house party this coming spring, please contact us at: info@transcoalition.org, or 510.740.3150.

7. Adjourn to celebrate, and honor Rachel Peterson as outgoing TALC Board President