MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTHERN REGIONAL TRANSIT TRAINING CONSORTIUM

February 17, 2016 BYD Headquarters 1800 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles, California

The Board of Directors of the Regional Transit Training Consortium (the “consortium”) held a Regular Meeting on February 17, 2016, at BYD Headquarters, 1800 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California.

Directors Chair Tommy Edwards, Vice Chair Jack Gabig, Mike Bonacio, Marion Colston, Peter Davis, Jess Guerra, Glen Hammonds, Michael Hernandez (by phone), Jane Leonard, Kenneth McDonald, Macy Neshati, Greg Newhouse (by phone), Dr. Tom O’Brien, and Cliff Thorne were present for some or all of the meeting. Director Art Aguilar was represented by proxy Jeff Shaffer, Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277. Director Kevin McDonald was represented by proxy Thomas “TJ” Nass, Maintenance and Vehicle Technology Manager at . Directors Donna DeMartino, Jannet Malig, and Joseph Niegoski were absent.

Also present were the following individuals:

Nina Babiarz (Director of Training, SCRTTC) Eddie Benson (Santa Monica Big Blue Bus) Alan L. Fox (Secretary, SCRTTC) David M. Stumpo (Executive Director, SCRTTC)

I. Welcome, Roll Call and Introductions

Tommy Edwards, Chair, called the meeting to order at 12:02 p.m., welcomed all Board members, consortium members, and related meeting participants, and thanked director Macy Neshati and BYD for hosting the meeting and the lunch which preceded the meeting. Chair Edwards requested self-introductions from those present and on the phone, and all meeting participants proceeded to introduce themselves and their affiliations.

II. Approval of Minutes.

Chair Edwards requested any comments, corrections, questions, or additions to the proposed minutes of the immediately previous Board meeting of November 12, 2015, and reminded the meeting participants that the proposed minutes are posted on the consortium website. Upon a motion by Mike Bonacio, and seconded by Tom O’Brien, the proposed minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of November 12, 2015, were approved, with Chair Edwards abstaining.

III. Secretary Report.

Secretary Alan Fox commented that he had no specific report regarding the secretarial functions of the consortium. He noted that there has been one Board resignation request, namely a communication from Board member Art Aguilar suggesting his resignation in light of his promotion to the presidency of his union local, and his additional suggestion that Jeff Shaffer stand in for him with the consortium; Fox mentioned alternatives in relation to the Board’s handling of Shaffer’s status. Fox outlined a continuing series of possibilities for the Board’s consideration of staggered terms for Board members, or term limits for Board members, both of which alternatives have been discussed by the Board in the past and which could be considered at the March Board Workshop. Fox reflected in general that the principal matters facing the consortium at the moment, in addition to the continuing conduct of training as usual, are the development of new and cutting-edge training courses covering the emerging technologies available to transit agencies, and the consequent need for funding for the development of such new training. He reminded the Board as well of the continuing opening on the Board for a Financial Vice President and Chair of the Finance Committee, and of the continuing uncertainty regarding Jack Gabig’s status as Vice Chair. Vice Chair Jack Gabig in turn suggested that a written description of the term limits and staggered term alternatives for Board members be prepared and distributed in advance of the Board Workshop, in order to promote an enlightened discussion of such options and their possible desirability for future Board governance.

IV. Management Report.

Dave Stumpo reported that a Quarterly Management Report covering the period October through December 31, 2015, had been distributed to Board members at the end of January, and he summarized the Report and its comments, noting that the consortium was the recipient of two industry awards during the period, namely the NTI’s “Achievements in Transit Training Model Program Award” in October and CTA’s “2015 Transit Innovation Award” in Pasadena in November. He noted that a total of 65,876 hours of training have been delivered, to a total of 4,587 students, through the end of December, 2015.

Stumpo reported that the consortium is on track to exceed its training goals for the current fiscal year. He explained for the benefit of the Board that Board member Jane Leonard is the current Chair of LA BOS, the funding source for the consortium’s current training activities. He noted that the Quarterly Management Report is intended to be a public document highlighting the activities, achievements and status of the consortium, and he encouraged the Board to distribute copies of the Report to the public, as appropriate. Peter Davis inquired whether Stumpo and the consortium leadership might create a new section within the Report covering new technologies and developing issues within the transit industry such as the emergence of the electric bus as a viable transit vehicle, and Stumpo agreed that emerging technologies could be added to the Report’s front page executive summary. Greg Newhouse added by phone that such mention of emerging technologies would as well serve as an educational guide for the consortium’s assessment needs in the future. Jack Gabig inquired of the realistic funding sources for new course development criteria and the relative likelihood of such funding, and Stumpo replied in general that statewide workforce development opportunities, followed by FTA funding opportunities, will in all probability constitute the likely funding sources for the consortium in the immediate and mid-term future.

Tom O’Brien commented on opportunities within Cap and Trade funding, asserting, with reinforcement from Nina, that there should and must be workforce development requirements for such significant potential funding sources. Marion Colston suggested that the Department of Labor will constitute another funding source, and that the consortium might look for partnering opportunities with its labor union partners and directors. Peter Davis then mentioned the significant funding available through state financial support for apprenticeship programs, which he explained would involve applications through a community college partner but which could and would be a natural and significant financial collaboration with transit agencies and the consortium. Discussion ensued regarding ongoing mentoring and fledgling apprenticeship programs through GTrans, , OCTA, and other transit agencies and colleges including Santa Ana College, and the potentially significant value in the programs’ certifications of transferable educational degrees for their students. Jess Guerra described the role of L.A. Trade Tech College in serving as lead educational agency for such apprenticeship collaborations, and outlined some of the parties and processes involved. Various Board members described individual experiences with the educational process, and the difficulties in transitioning through eras of emerging technologies and bodies of knowledge, with the recognition that the consortium must maintain its ties and cutting- edge expertise in such technologies

Educational Committee Co-Chair Greg Newhouse directed the discussion back to the immediate needs of the consortium’s training courses, citing the need for the addition of a high voltage focus in Electrical III and the advanced Electrical courses, and thanking a number of colleges, including L.A. Trade Tech College and Jess Guerra, for their contributions in updating the current course curricula. Nina emphasized the current specific need for development of Beta and Train-the-Trainer courses in such advanced electrical course work, and commented that the ultimate delivery of a finished Electrical III course will lead to development of Electrical IV and V courses. Greg Newhouse cited an ongoing general review process for a contract between San Diego Miramar College and the California Energy Commission to develop alternate fuels, which engagement will require faculty, equipment and other related components, including the potential need for workforce development. Newhouse commented parenthetically and by way of summary of his comments that he would be retiring from his position at San Diego Miramar College between September 1, 2015, and January 1st of 2016.

V. Board and Committee Reports.

A. Government Relations Committee Activities Report.

i]. Outreach Update/Funding Opportunities. Jane Leonard, Committee Chair, commenced her comments by informally labeling her presentation the “Jane and Nina Report”, and proceeded to acknowledge and compliment Nina for her “amazing web of networking”, her persistent and loyal attendance at industry meetings and workshops, and her energetic and active work on behalf of the consortium. Jane reported that the consortium flyer jointly created by the Educational and Governmental Relations Committees within the past few months already needs to be updated in preparation for current funding opportunities. She noted that since the initial distribution of the marketing flyer, the consortium has received quite a few letters of support and of commitment to the consortium’s causes, and she identified numerous sources for such support, all in connection with anticipated grant applications and funding opportunities. She mentioned a current opportunity, and distributed a flyer describing, an L.A. Metro Express Lanes Net Toll Revenue Grant Program, and planned workshops covering such program scheduled for early March, which she characterized as reinvestment grants intended to increase mobility in specified transit corridors and containing an element for alternative fuel vehicle purchases. She described an ongoing effort by the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) to develop zero emission bus guidelines, and the concomitant effort by the consortium and others through the California Transit Association to include in CARB’s programs adequate language containing descriptions of the necessary training element in the emerging technologies for zero emission vehicles. Notwithstanding apparent efforts by CARB to include transit agency committees within its outreach structure, Jane characterized the State of California, through CARB, and transit agencies in general, as being “miles apart” in how they negotiate, in their approaches to funding, and in their relative emphases on training. Macy Neshati, supported by Chair Edwards, urged the consortium’s efforts in requiring the inclusion of training in CARB’s agendas, and lively discussion ensued regarding both encouraging CARB to recognize and include training and also in how to approach CARB. Following further suggestions from Peter Davis and Chair Edwards, Nina again emphasized the importance to the State as well as to its transit industry of advancing the message that training and workforce development are all-important with regard to developing and sustaining the emerging technologies affecting transit. Chair Edwards summarized by commenting that the new technologies are coming, and the issue before the State, CARB, and the industry is how to prepare the industry’s workforce for such developing changes.

ii] Legislative Updates. Jane Leonard provided a brief overview of legislative matters currently being considered at both the state and federal levels, and referred the Board to the Governmental Relations Committee activities and focus as described in Dave Stumpo’s most recent Quarterly Management Report. She mentioned funding opportunities, including Cap & Trade Project Funding, an Air Quality Improvement Program, Zero Emissions Bus Pilot Program being administered by CARB, a Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP), and a LoNo Emission Vehicle Deployment Program being administered by the FTA.

iii]. Legislative Conferences. Jane reported on and identified a number of conferences affecting legislation scheduled for the near and intermediate future in which the consortium can contribute to the dialogue and emphasize the role of workforce development, including the CTA legislative conference scheduled for May, 2016. Chair Edwards reiterated that updating the flyer recently produced by the consortium’s Government Relations and Educational Committees could be a good thing, and he emphatically thanked Jane Leonard for her hard work as Chair of the Governmental Relations Committee.

Macy Neshati raised the subject of the consortium’s role and anticipated contribution to training in relation to the training necessarily provided by original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) such as BYD. He emphasized that OEMs will continue to provide training but that the transit industry must step up its training in emerging technologies in order, in combination with the basic training offered by the OEMs, to provide the world class training desired and ultimately required by the transit industry. Chair Edwards commented that the consortium cannot allow the OEMs to drive the training or the technology involved in the training, and that ultimately it must be a partnership between the OEMs and organizations such as the consortium to provide the ultimate training required for new transit vehicles. Ken McDonald agreed with the comments offered, emphasizing that effective coordination and ultimately world class training is especially important when there are changes in technology, such as with the introduction of electric buses. Neshati advised the consortium to have transit industry partners include specialized training as a required element to be priced out on bid sheets. All agreed that training should not be a bargaining chip or a line item that can be negotiated and potentially dismissed.

B. Finance and Budget Committee Report.

Dave Stumpo, delivering the report in the absence of a Committee chair, reported that membership invoices were initially sent in August, and that all member transit agencies except one have paid their current membership fees. He explained that Roaring Forks Transit Authority had not yet paid its fee and may drop out, although he and they are continuing to discuss participation. He as well noted that the community college members have been slow in forwarding their payments. Stumpo reported that the consortium’s finances are on target in accordance with its annual budget in relation to its deliverable responsibilities, and that in instances such as the present when it is not operating pursuant to an active grant, it can and does rely on the LA BOS fixed grant.

C. Administration Committee Report.

Dave Stumpo in Committee Chair Jannet Malig’s absence commented that the Strategic Plan would be revisited at the next Board meeting’s Board Workshop. He noted that the consortium has been having problems in the development of the desired public-private partnerships.

D. James A. Ditch Education Fund.

Stumpo reported that a total of $9,000 in scholarships had been mailed to Ditch Fund scholarship recipients in late November, and that many have “thanked” the SCRTTC with expressions of appreciation by the recipients. He again complimented Paula Faust and Ralph Merced on the outstanding organizational effort and leadership they contributed to the successful Ditch golf tournament in November. He noted that the 2016 CTA annual meeting at which the golf tournament is traditionally played is scheduled for Oakland, and that preliminary plans are already underway for another successful golf outing. Jane Leonard inquired of the reserve policy in the Ditch Fund in terms of determining the maximum payout in scholarships in any given year, to which Stumpo responded that the consortium intends to maintain 90% in reserves in the Fund itself before fixing specific scholarship allocations. He reported that the financial reconciliation following the tournament indicated that the tournament generated approximately $18,000 in net profit for the Ditch Fund.

VI. New Business/Open Items/Discussion/Questions/Answers.

A. New Technologies. Peter Davis suggested that the consortium does not want to miss, or “trip over”, new technology in unanticipated areas which tend to support good technologies otherwise relevant to the consortium’s mission. By way of example, Davis mentioned 1) energy storage, and consideration to reviewing the kinds of storage needed to accommodate the economic requirements generated by the new technologies; and 2) online fuel cell technology education.

B. Resolution #R16-0217-A Regarding Resignation of Art Aguilar. Dave Stumpo advised, as previously mentioned, that Director Art Aguilar has tendered his resignation as a consortium director as the result of his recent promotion to the presidency of his union local, and that the consortium should officially accept Aguilar’s resignation. Upon motion by Jane Leonard, and seconded by Macy Neshati, Resolution #16-0217-A accepting the resignation of Art Aguilar as consortium director was unanimously approved. Stumpo reviewed the alternatives available to the Board in proceeding following such resignation, and Aguilar’s suggestion of Jeff Shaffer, Treasurer of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1277, as Aguilar’s possible replacement. Chair Edwards suggested that the Board simply elect Jeff Shaffer to the Board in Aguilar’s absence. Upon motion by Macy Neshati, and seconded by Peter Davis, the Board unanimously elected Jeff Shaffer to the Board of the consortium.

C. Stumpo presenting at CalACT March 29th 10:30 to Noon---San Diego Dave Stumpo announced that he will make a presentation on behalf of the consortium at the CalACT (“California Association for Coordinated Transportation”) meetings in San Diego (Torrey Pines) as part of a 1-1/2 hour panel on March 29th, and will address the consortium’s successes.

D. Annual Board Workshop---March 23rd---9am to 3pm--Location: TBD. Stumpo discussed what subjects the consortium will develop for consideration at the Workshop, and commented that there is not currently a “gigantic” list of items to cover, especially in the absence of an active financial grant. Expanding on the lack of an agenda for the Workshop at the present time, he inquired, almost rhetorically, “Why meet to meet?” or, alternatively, should the Board consider meeting for only half a day? Following upon his thought process, he suggested that perhaps the Board should consider taking the time it would devote to the March Workshop, utilize such time for a few hours of discussion on the scheduled morning of the Annual General Meeting on May 25th, and in essence combine the Workshop and the Annual General Meeting into one expanded meeting day. Discussion regarding Stumpo’s thoughts and reasoning followed, with Chair Edwards and Jess Guerra in particular suggesting adopting Stumpo’s idea of a combined meeting day. General agreement among the Board members ensued.

Peter Davis described a potential “windfall” of $200 million being anticipated for the community colleges through state-wide grants, with Greg Newhouse, Jess Guerra, and Glen Hammonds being aware of and participating in a brief description of the monies, their timing and sources, and a somewhat complicated system for distribution of the monies through geographic districts and regions. Each participant noted that such funds would be distributed based on proposed budgets submitted by the applicant colleges, and in turn emphasized the importance of stressing transit training in the proposed budgets. Davis estimated that there will probably be no such funding until the new academic year starts 2017-2018.

E. Next Board Meeting: AGM---May 25th, 2016. Chair Edwards resumed discussion of the next Board meeting, and the possible combination of the Workshop and the Annual General Meeting into one meeting on May 25th, commenting that the discussions which might otherwise have taken place in the Workshop don’t necessarily have to be in a retreat-type environment and could function like a subcommittee of the Education Committee. Chair Edwards declared that he and Dave Stumpo will work offline about the details of the meeting, and will communicate such details to the Board as they develop. Marion Colston commented that the consortium needs to incorporate users of the intended training, meaning maintenance people to be trained, in the training discussions.

Chair Edwards again thanked the meeting host, BYD, and Macy Neshati, for the lunch and meeting space.

At Chair Edwards’s suggestion, the Board observed a few moments of silence in memory of Brian Haskins, of the Culver City Transportation Department.

The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Alan L. Fox Secretary