HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3752
City of Palo Alto (ID # 3752)
City Council Rail Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Meeting Date: 4/25/2013
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: Draft Letter on PCJPB Member Configuration
Title: Draft Letter on Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board Member
Configuration
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council Rail Committee recommend that the City
Council approve the attached draft letter regarding the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers
Board (PCJPB) member configuration following their review and input.
Executive Summary
In the fall of 2012, and at the direction of the Rail Committee, City staff was in the
process of preparing a draft letter to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
(VTA) on possible revisions to their current PCJPB representation structure. This action
was directed because while Palo Alto has the second busiest Caltrain station (behind
only San Francisco), the City has no direct representation on the PCJPB. At the time,
review of the draft letter was postponed because Caltrain announced they were in the
process of forming a Local Policy Maker Group (LPMG). This LPMG is comprised of
representatives from each city Caltrain runs through to provide cities with a forum to
provide input directly to Caltrain on rail issues impacting the corridor. Yet, thus far, the
LPMG is structured as a policy advisory group rather than a policymaking group.
At the present time, the PCJPB is comprised of nine representatives with three
representatives coming from each of the three counties that fund Caltrain (San
Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara). Each county has its own method for appointing
their representatives. In Santa Clara County all three representatives are appointed by
the VTA.
As an interim step, the attached letter proposes the VTA act independently and make a
City of Palo Alto Page 2
policy decision that at all times at least one of its three representatives on the PCJPB
come from VTA Group 2; which encompasses the cities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills,
Mountain View, and Palo Alto. The Palo Alto and Mountain View stations are the
second and third busiest Caltrain stations, therefore, representation from these cities
would be a positive first-step in more accurately representing Caltrain ridership.
Attachments:
A - Draft Letter on PCJPB Member Configuration_4-25-2013 (PDF)
DRAFT
April 25, 2013
Chairperson Joe Pirzynski
Valley Transportation Authority
3331 North First Street
Building B - 1st Floor
San Jose, CA 95134-1927
Re: VTA Group 2 Representation on the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
Dear Chairperson Pirzynski:
The City of Palo Alto is writing to express our interest in updating the representation structure of the
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB). As you know, the PCJPB is the owner and operator of
Caltrain, and consists of representatives from San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The
City of Palo Alto has long been interested in the PCJPB representation structure being updated to more
accurately reflect ridership levels. Specifically, the City is concerned that there is no Palo Alto
representation on the PCJPB, despite having the second busiest Caltrain station.
Last fall, Caltrain created the Caltrain Local Policy Maker Group (LPMG), comprised of representatives
from each city on the Caltrain line. The City of Palo Alto was hopeful that this would be a policy making
group, however, the LPMG has turned out to only be a policy advisory group. This policy advisory group
is positive and something Palo Alto supports but it does not give Palo Alto the opportunity to be directly
involved with PCJPB policymaking in a manner appropriate for the City’s ridership levels.
As an interim step, the City of Palo Alto is asking the VTA to act independently and designate one of its
three seats on the PCJPB to come from VTA Group 2. “Group 2” encompasses the cities of Los Altos, Los
Altos Hills, Mountain View, and Palo Alto. The Palo Alto and Mountain View stations are the second and
third busiest stations on the line so representation on the PCJPB that is more closely aligned with these
cities is a natural fit. The City of Palo Alto believes this would be a positive first-step in more accurately
representing Caltrain ridership.
Thank you for your time and we look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Greg Scharff
Mayor, City of Palo Alto
c: Palo Alto City Council
Palo Alto City Manager
California Governor Jerry Brown
California Senator Jerry Hill
California Assemblymember Rich Gordon
Peninsula City Mayors
Peninsula Cities Consortium
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board
Metropolitan Transportation Commission
California High Speed Rail Authority
Bay Area Council
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