funds, the connectivity funds have been vetoed twice by two different governors in terms of distribution to recipients by formula that have been specified early on in the process. that has had an effect, not just on the project, but on the program that has had to supply the funds to make sure the project can't contin continue mg forward. there are a number of activities we see coming up. as you all know, there has been a significant amount of activity, even in the bay area, with the mayor's interest in the topic, but we also have a significant amount of activity going on in san francisco with the legislature. the legislature is getting ready to consider the next version of the draft business plan proposed by the high-speed rail

authority, and will continue to advocate for the investment of high-speed drill funds into a starter segment that we call fast start in the san francisco bay area, in particular on the peninsula corridor between the transbay terminal and this station in san jose. we're talking about the extension into downtown from for thinking and separations along the way. in terms of related topics, there is the advocacy on increase flexibility on project delivery. the idea there is more than one way to deliver projects, and the focus should be on on-time delivery, reduction of risk, on- budget delivery, so that the electric can support revenue- generation measures for transportation, and also for the case of cost reduction and scheduled certainty. we have come as guidance from

this body, to continue on the implementation measures related to climate change, and also, as it relates to how climate change or communities may shift the discussion about regional governments into any of the to discussions that involve changes in representation in and governors in the region. our legislative advocate from sacramento is here. he will be able to give you more detail on any of these things as you wish. on the federal program, i want to touch lightly on the fact that we're still looking at the six-year transportation act. you have all been following the developments in washington. we have at this point of marked

up bill in the house that was announced, but we do not know if that is going to make it to the finish line. when you boil it right down, there are couple of factors that continue to be the stumbling blocks to agreement, and one of them is the origin of any additional funding that is needed in order to make the bill hold, because we continue to have a position on any new revenues, and on the distribution side, there is the late-breaking but very significant issue of taking money away from transit operations, and also from bicycle and pedestrian projects. it is having a tremendous affect on the ability of congress to have a productive conversation on this topic. i have predicted to you before

that we will probably not need a transportation service act until after the presidential election. i think if we see one in the next month or so, it will be a miracle. i continue to believe we will see low efforts until after the presidential election. one of the things we will continue to advocate for is the tipia program. we have a number of people that agree with our motion in that sense in washington. the house bill had increased the program to $1 billion, which is very, very good. the other topic that we are very interested in a course is expedited project delivery through public/private partnership. any method that would maintain eligibility for reimbursement, and at the same time give us more freedom of the local level to get projects finished quickly. that is our legislative program for the year.

there is a matrix of specific bills at the state level, and i would invite to marc watts to give quick points on that. commissioner wiener: one thing i do not see is ceqa the form of the state level. i know ceqa and some of the issues are rounded top pretty dramatic impact on transportation projects, and i am very much of the view that transportation agencies should be taking a lead in that conversation on how to take a lead on that without necessarily delaying and increasing cost. i am sure at some point you been involved in those conversations, but i would encourage the agency to be at the table. >> we are not as involved, but

we have been a leader in that topic as well. -- not just involved, but we've been a leader in that topic as well. the most important topic has been the main metric for the valuation of impacts on the transportation system. that is a topic where the highre have already been statewe repercussions from it. we have a great deal of interest in sacramento on how this effort is going to turn out. yes, absolutely. in addition to that, we are involved with the group that brings together the transportation authorities, the sales tax authorities around the state, in an effort to engage caltrans especially on product delivery time lines and ways in which we can have ceqa

interpretation to get projects done much for quickly. thank you for the comment. -- get done much more quickly. commissioners, as i said, marc watts is here to talk about the specific legislation that is pending before the legislature in sacramento. >> thank you. marc watts, on behalf of smith, what, and martina's. -- smith, watts, martiniz. ez. commissioner wiener: this is technically item nine. if the clerk to call item no. 9. >> state and federal legislative update. we are on item number 9. >> i think it was highlighted on the matrix, a footnote that list

the number of measures we were watching carefully last year that have been dispensed with. the recommendation was to delete those from the matrix going forward. they were either approved by the governor or fail to make it through the legislature by january 31. that is the record of those bills. a new measure that we are taking a position on or recommending a position on is found on page 7. it is aba19 in deals with bike ways and caltrans. author has struggled in allowing the county to have approval on class four bikeways. i think he is finally hit on something. we are recommending support. the bill did make it out of the state assembly by january 31, so it is still a viable measure,

and it will be moving to the senate. two other bills i want to bring to your attention. one is directly to your point about ceqa reform. a little history real quickly. last session there was focus on legislation to facilitate farmers field, the nfl project in southern california. what they came up with was a host of a modest improvements in the timing and guarantees of how to process ceqa documents. assembly member fuehr but that might be a way to approach reform for transit. i attended a meeting at his request this week, and he wants to take a little bit different approach. he wants to look at actual administrative processing elements that could be speeded up or eliminated without waiving

or doing any damage at all to the underlying premise of ceqa. he is looking at the administrative elements, and we will also take a close look at some of the judicial release elements. commissioner wiener: i think there are major process issues, but also the broader issue of public transportation projects in pedestrian projects -- and pedestrian projects are inherently beneficial to the environment. i think there is a unique perspective that we're trying to improve the environment, and it is ironic when this makes it more expensive and longer to do. >> i will be mindful to look for those opportunities and make sure we represent those perspectives in that discussion. the last bill i want to bring to your attention, possibly taking a position on later in the year,

the speakers bill. right now it is a place holder measure. it would did his update the cap and trade auction revenues that will be flowing this summer potentially under the card cap and trade process. this was set up an allocation process for the revenues. the governor intends half of the revenue backfills from the general fund, and has also signaled willingness to have sustainable transit investments be funded from this source. the speaker is interested in that as well. we will be watching this very closely. my partner and i have been engaged in a series of conversations. we're trying to come up with the allocation process related to that. there will be a lot of work to do on this bill this year. with that, i would conclude my remarks. i am recommending support on that one measure. commissioner wiener: colleagues,

any questions or comments on item eight or nine? we will open it up to public comment on items 8 and 9. seeing one, public comment is closed. -- seeininng none. that will be the order. item 10. >> item 10, prevent -- preliminary fiscal year 2012- 2013 annual budget and work program. this is an information item. >> good afternoon, commissioner. cynthia fong. due to the sake of time, and to the fact that this is the first preview before the committee, i will freeze by this slides pretty fast. i will take part of the first presentation, in the authority

executive director will walk you through the authority annual work program. i should also note you typically see the budget in april of each fiscal year, but this year i will take maternity leave time in april and bring you before -- bring the budget before you this month in anticipation of approval. commissioner wiener: congratulations. >> thank you. i would like to let you know this item starts on -- in your packet. you have attached ment, which is year 2013 annual budget. you have attached it bhment b, e budget plan. and the analysis of how we came to the numbers. of the nexn the next slide is ae

chart. it is about 83% here. on the next slide, i would like to bring to your attention the sales tax revenue and how it has recovered. there is an all-time high in fiscal year 2007-2008. we're slowly recovering back in fiscal year 2012-2013. the next is expenditures for the transportation authority. capital project expenditures make of the bulk of the authority's expenditures. it is 94%. personnel is only 33 percent. these are established positions established back in 2007. i would like to know we have debt service cost of 2.5 million. this is a cost to maintain the

current commercial paper program, and we're also including a 2950 million dollar debt and bond issuance. with that, i will turn it over to jose to walk you through the annual work program. >> commissioners, the description of the work program starts on page 52 of your packet. i am only going to touch on the highlights in your power point presentation, starting with the slide #8. we have four sections. planning section, capital section, and programming. we are looking at a full year with allocation request for prop k amendments to the by-your

prioritization programs. the strategic plan for prop k. we are dealing also with funding strategies of support of the projects, central subway, transbay project, and also the allocation of funds for clean air and the new transportation improvement, known as a prop aa, which was approved by the voters in november the year before last. the other area of focus of policy and programming is state and federal funding. the entire process of the state and local partnerships, as well as the block grant program. the sustainable community

strategy provides a bridge book to read this section and the planning section to collaborate on that strategy -- provide a bridge between at this section in the planning section to collaborate on that strategy. the project section has a significant task just with the oversight of the program categories, and in addition to that, providing either support or lead role on major projects like the parkway and ramps you heard about earlier, and a coordination role in the agency for the california high-beat real program approach to san francisco and the san francisco peninsula. other projects that will be supported and overseen as part of the year's work are of course

central subway and transbay coming in there are a number of smaller projects. there will be engineering support for our own planning efforts. balboa park station. prop k projects and studies, as well as bike studies. the planning section has a full plate with two brt efforst ots e the way. the 19th avenue transit corridor and as the study, which you heard about earlier. about the move of metro line to the west side of the street. parking regulations steady.

participation in better market street. in as well as a number of other initiatives, including the new role as treasure island mobility management agency, and a coordination role as the lead partner in the transportation amendment partnership project. we are also very involved in the long-range transportation -- san francisco transportation alal plan. and several other efforts in the county, including oakdale caltran ridership in mobility solution study. of course, a significant amount of involvement from representatives of the stable community strategy and update of

the station planned. the technology services section deals with the modeling needs of the agency, but also provides the services bureau for other agencies and private sector users to support a number of major initiatives. it also deals with land use growth allocation model, which is a fairly unique tool in san francisco linking travel demand forecasting and land use, and deals with the i.t. development and support of office, including the web site, which is becoming a major tool for interaction with prop k grantees. the finance administration section deals with budget development, accounting, contract procurement and the needs of the agency, and this year all of the capital financing.

you heard earlier about the cp program. we're looking at the issues of long-term debt to support the capital program, and that will keep cynthia quite busy as well. that is a very brief bird's-eye view of the activities that are involved in this year's budget. i would be happy to answer any questions. this is an information item this time. >>commissioner chiu: this is the prof and sa preliminary look ate budget, but when you anticipate to come back before us? >> hopefully next month. i also wanted to take a minute to point out to your question on the cost of the line of credit and so on. that is actually included in the budget discussion. 2.5 million now. we're hoping to reduce that

radically with the new line of credit. probably to half. close to that anyway. commissioner wiener: any additional questions or comments? we will open it up to public comments. seeing none, public comment is closed. no action is needed. item 11. >> internal accounting report an investor report for the six months ended december 31, 2011. >> cynthia fond. -- fong. this is here for you to read at your leisure. i am more than happy to answer any of your questions due to the sake of time. commissioner wiener: any questions or comments? public comment? public comment is closed. we will move on to item 11, introduction of new items. any introductions? any public comment on this item?

public comment is closed. item 13. >> public comment. commissioner wiener: in the general public comment? we are returned. -- are ajourned.

>> feel like it really is a community. they are not the same thing, but it really does feel like there's that kind of a five. everybody is there to enjoy a literary reading. >> the best lit in san francisco. friendly, free, and you might get fed. ♪ [applause] >> this san francisco ryther created the radar reading series

in 2003. she was inspired when she first moved to this city in the early 1990's and discover the wild west atmosphere of open mi it's ic in the mission. >> although there were these open mics every night of the week, they were super macho. people writing poems about being jerks. beatty their chest onstage. >> she was energized by the scene and proved up with other girls who wanted their voices to be heard. touring the country and sharing gen-x 7 as a. her mainstream reputation grew with her novel. theses san francisco public library took notice and asked her if she would begin carrying a monthly reading series based

on her community. >> a lot of the raiders that i work with our like underground writers. they're just coming at publishing and at being a writer from this underground way. coming in to the library is awesome. very good for the library to show this writing community that they are welcome. at first, people were like, you want me to read at the library, really? things like that. >> as a documentary, there are interviews -- [inaudible] >> radar readings are focused on clear culture. strayed all others might write about gay authors. gay authors might write about universal experiences. the host creates a welcoming

environment for everybody. there is no cultural barrier to entry. >> the demographic of people who come will match the demographic of the reader. it is very simple. if we want more people of color, you book more people of color. you want more women, your book more women. kind of like that. it gets mixed up a little bit. in general, we kind of have a core group of people who come every month. their ages and very. we definitely have some folks who are straight. >> the loyal audience has allowed michelle to take more chances with the monthly lineup. established authors bring in an older audience. younker authors bring in their

friends from the community who might be bringing in an older author. >> raider has provided a stage for more than 400 writers. it ranges from fiction to academics stories to academic stories this service the underground of queer fell, history, or culture. >> and there are so many different literary circles in san francisco. i have been programming this reading series for nine years. and i still have a huge list on my computer of people i need to carry into this. >> the supportive audience has allowed michele to try new experiment this year, the radar book club. a deep explorationer of a single work. after the talk, she bounces on stage to jump-start the q&a. less charlie rose and more carson daly.

>> san francisco is consistently ranked as one of the most literate cities in the united states. multiple reading events are happening every night of the year, competing against a big names like city arts and lectures. radar was voted the winner of these san francisco contest. after two decades of working for free, michelle is able to make radar her full-time job. >> i am a right to myself, but i feel like my work in this world is eagerly to bring writers together and to produce literary events. if i was only doing my own work, i would not be happy. it is, like throwing a party or a dinner party. i can match that person with that person. it is really fun for me. it is nerve wracking during