Ernest Gutierrez, Chairman Carol Herrera, Diamond Bar, SGVCOG Phil Marcellin, Industry Bob Bagwell, Montebello Harry Baldwin, San Gabriel Paul Eaton, SANBAG Staff Rick Richmond, Chief Executive Officer Joe Silvey, Legal Counsel Sharon Neely, staff Lou Cluster, staff Girish Roy, staff Bruce Armistead, staff Cynthia Ambrose, staff Deanna Stanley, staff Chip Conway, staff

Guests Jack Yoshino, City of Walnut David Varnam, Congressman Gary Miller Laura Cornejo, City of Montebello Donna Lee, Southern California Edison Shafi Sharifan, IDC

II. Pledge of Allegiance

Member Bagwell led the pledge of allegiance.

III. Approval of Minutes of March 26, 2007

A motion was made to approve the meeting minutes of March 26, 2007.
M/S/C: Baldwin/Herrera/Unanimous

IV. Public Comment

There were no public comments.

V. Chairman’s Report

Chairman Gutierrez reminded the Board of the May 16 legislative meeting in Sacramento. Chairman Gutierrez referenced a copy of a letter in support of SB 974 sent to Senator Alan Lowenthal, Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He also indicated the importance of the COG’s continued recognition of the magnitude of the ACE Project in San Gabriel Valley and suggested staff put together a CD of construction photos to be available to the COG Board.

VI. Chief Executive Officer’s Report

Mr. Richmond reminded the Board that the quarterly construction environmental mitigation reports were included in the agenda, which now included the Sunset Avenue project. Mr. Richmond also reported that project site construction tours have been extended to new members of the legislature. A tour was provided to Assemblyman Dr. Ed Hernandez and an upcoming is scheduled for Assemblyman Portantino. Lastly, Mr. Richmond invited the Board to tour the Temple Avenue train diversion project that could follow a meeting held at the construction trailer.

Bruce Armistead, Senior Project Manager reviewed progress photos for the Temple Avenue train diversion, and East End Avenue projects. Girish Roy reviewed the progress photos of the Brea Canyon Road grade separation project. Lou Cluster reviewed the progress photos of the Sunset Avenue grade separation project.

VII. Approval of Revised Staffing Plan

Mr. Richmond advised the Board that based upon the approved project work level and upcoming construction moving forward the Senior Project Managers’ schedules were being challenged. He indicated with the impending San Gabriel Trench along with other potential projects there was a need for an additional Senior Project to oversee management of ACE Projects. He reviewed the importance of oversight of the projects and indicated a division of two projects per Senior Project Manager was more manageable. He requested the Board approve an additional position to be funded with direct charges to the project.
A motion was made to approve a revised staffing plan to add one Senior Project Manager staff position to manage the design and construction workload.
M/S/C: Baldwin/Marcellin/Unanimous

VIII. Approval of Contract with SV-CON, LLC for Special Consulting Services on the San Gabriel Trench Project

Mr. Richmond reviewed the elements of the San Gabriel Trench project. He reviewed its uniqueness offering challenges not yet experienced on the current construction projects. He indicated staff, in preparing for the upcoming Trench project, has researched similar projects and found that the City of Reno’s Retrac Project was most similar to the trench. Staff has visited the Retrac project and discussed at length design, UP negotiations, planning and construction issues with Steve Varela, the City’s former Director of Public Works and Engineer who has been credited for the success of the project. Mr. Varela managed the lowering of 2.25 miles of the Union Pacific’s mainline track trough in downtown Reno. Mr. Richmond indicated that Mr. Varela has retired from the City and has formed SV-CON, LLC specializing in project support which staff feels would benefit ACE in the preliminary engineering phase of the San Gabriel Trench project. Member Baldwin indicated the City of San Gabriel was provided a tour by Mr. Varela and he was very impressed with Mr. Varela’s expertise and the Project. Mr. Richmond reviewed the scope of work through the initiation of preliminary engineering and an estimated cost for this phase of $50,000. Mr. Richmond stated an overall contract value would be limited to the amount delegated by the Administrative Code of $250,000 but if any additional authorizations were necessary it would require Board approval. Mr. Richmond indicated that the required Statement of Determinations and Findings for the non-competitive procurement was provided in the agenda.

A motion was made to approve a Statement of Determination and Findings for non-competitive procurement of special consulting assistance on the San Gabriel Trench project and authorized the Chief Executive Officer to execute a contract with SV-CON LLC for the purposes and amount as described in the agenda.
M/S/C: Herrera/Bagwell/Unanimous

IX. Approval of Amendment for Design Services During Construction for the Sunset Avenue Grade Separation Project

Mr. Richmond reviewed the previous board authorizations for the Sunset Avenue grade separation. He explained that the unanticipated extensive third party design changes required depleted current authorization. In addition, design support during construction was needed for attending field meetings, reviewing shop drawings, and reviewing submittals for conformance to design specifications in the field.

A motion was made to authorize the Chief Executive Office to amend the Sunset Avenue grade separation design contract with HNTB Corporation to increase the contract amount by $439,272 to a new contract value of $5,003,787 to add additional funding for engineering services during construction.
M/S/C: Herrera/Baldwin/Unanimous

X. Approval of Task Order for Construction Management services for the 4th Track for the Temple Avenue Train Diversion Project with PB Americas, Inc.

Mr. Richmond reviewed the background of the Temple Avenue 4th track project. He reminded the Board that PB Americas is the construction manager for the Temple Avenue train diversion project and the task order for the 4th track at Temple Avenue was incorporated into their current scope. He reviewed the details of the scope required by the addition of the 4th track component. The task is anticipated to run through November 2008 and PB would provide a 21% DBE participation goal.

A motion was made to authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute Task Order No. 4--Construction Management services for the Temple Avenue Fourth Track Infrastructure Project with PB Americas, Inc (PB) for the not-to-exceed amount of $1,383,524, bringing the total contract value to $8,745,396.
M/S/C: Marcellin/Gutierrez/Unanimous

XI. State Legislation Update

Sharon Neely distributed a legislative matrix summarizing the status of state bills which are of interest to the Authority. She indicated that SB 9, SB 19, SB 974 and AB 660 are of particular interest to the Authority.

XII. Quarterly Project Progress Report

Mr. Richmond indicated there was an increase of $300,000 in the cost of the project since last quarter. The increase was due to Union Pacific Railroad utility relocations for the Temple Avenue train diversion project of $200,000 and right of way costs for the Sunset Avenue grade separation project of $100,000. He reviewed the accomplishments for the past quarter. An April 2 dedication was held for the Reservoir Street grade separation. The shoofly cutover was completed and construction began of the UPRR bridge for the East End Ave. grade separation. Bridge piles were completed and center bridge piles formed for the Ramona Blvd. grade separation. A majority of track embankment was completed and grading was done at the Temple Avenue train diversion project. Relocation of MWD lines, pile driving on west side completed, continued relocation of SCE lines and installation of storm and sewer lines and began construction of the temporary Metrolink platform station for the Brea Canyon Road project. California Ave was closed to begin excavation for storm drain relocations for the Sunset Avenue grade separation.

Lastly, Mr. Richmond reviewed anticipated contractor claim estimates due to various schedule delays. He indicated contractor delay claims were forthcoming and summarized the causes for each. He reported that on the Ramona Blvd. grade separation delays in SBC/ATT utility relocations, UPPR and Metrolink shoofly construction the project has experienced a 200-day delay at an estimated contractor cost of $1M. In addition, at the East End/Reservoir project, delays in UPRR signal installation and Verizon line relocation resulted in an estimated 270-day project delay at an estimated contractor cost of $1.25M. Mr. Richmond advised the Board that these items would be reviewed for consideration of approval soon.

XIII. Quarterly Financial Progress Report

Chip Conway, Finance Manager, reviewed the quarterly budget versus accrued actuals, cash expenditures by project, expenditures versus receipts by project and investment information for the quarter. There were no questions.

XIV. Closed Session

Mr. Silvey announced that the Board would adjourn to closed session pursuant to Government Code 54956.8 for conference with real property negotiators. The Board returned from closed session and Mr. Silvey announced there were no actions taken to be reported.

XV. Adjournment

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 3:14 PM in memory of Bruce Armistead’s father, George C. Armistead.