pages: TransportationCommission/2007-10-17.pdf, 7
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TransportationCommission | 2007-10-17 | 7 | and that it was unfortunate that the first public hearing in Alameda about taking over these ferries occurred after the law was signed into being. He wanted to ensure that while the clean-up legislation process was proceeding, that it is remembered that more money had been spent than specific grants that could have been used elsewhere than the ferry, and that the City does not lock itself into that number early on. He added that depending on the term limits bill, Senator Perata would not be in the Senate indefinitely, and the City did not know who would be in charge. He believed that in the event of a Tom McClintock governorship, the ferry services may be in jeopardy; the head of the Senate Rules Committee, the head of the Assembly, and the Governor all may come from Orange and Riverside Counties. He did not believe that, in that case, they may not be concerned with ferry service in Alameda. He believed that during the clean-up language process, the two services being rolled into the new body should have seats on the Board. He agreed with Commissioner Schatmeier's question why it needed to change, and it may be that 11 people were too many. Chair Knox White noted that with respect to the sustaining services, Regional Measure 2 had language for money for Alameda services, in order to increase and enhance the services. He recalled Mr. Smith's comment that the voters of the Bay Area passed that measure, and he believed the clean-up language and plans going forward should acknowledge that. He noted that this was not the continuation of service until three years afterwards, and added that this measure, passed three years ago, was being changed even before money had been distributed. He believed there should be some agreement regarding long-term maintenance service, and did not believe anyone expected the service to run empty all day and all night. He believed there should be some good-faith assurances with respect to maintaining service, which may be difficult if Alameda were to be written out of the funding. Chair Knox White stated that he had not heard anyone disagree with the need for a regional emergency plan, and added that Alameda was an island city that had no lifeline- rated links to Oakland. According to Caltrans, all the bridges and tubes connecting Alameda to Oakland will go down in a major earthquake. He added that there was no money to fix that, and noted that the ferry was the only lifeline to Oakland. He noted that Alameda was the only large island community in the Bay Area, and must have a priority for emergency service. Chair Knox White understood that there was a public hearing at the ferry building, and that the issues most critical to Alameda were not the focus of that meeting. He was surprised to see the comment made by Senator Perata in the newspaper, stating that "no one should have been blindsided, and that they all knew it was coming. He noted that he made a number of calls, and discovered that they didn't know these discussions were occurring until four days before the vote. He believed the residents of Alameda deserved a better outcome. He hoped that Senator Perata would hold a hearing in Alameda once the clean-up language was written, so that the people affected by the change could give input in Alameda, rather than having to travel to Sacramento. Commissioner Ratto concurred with Chair Knox White's comments, and he understood Special Meeting of the Page 7 of 8 10/17/07 Transportation Commission | TransportationCommission/2007-10-17.pdf |