Transit- Meeting Agenda (12/18/1997)

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the Marion Cou~ty Courthouse regarding Courthouse Square and will be televised. _ __ The Courthouse Square Public Forum held on November 19 was very well attended by Board members, and she felt good about responses to questions raised by those in attendance. She noted that she has copies of all the questions asked if Board members would like to have them. Director Wieprecht said both the Joint Work Session with the City of Salem and Marion County on Decembe~ 1 and the Joint Public Hearing with Marion County on December 4 regarding Courthouse Square are important, however, he will be on vacation and wiil not be able to attend them. He said that he hoped other Board members would attend in his absence. President Caraballo said he would be out of tovm dealing with family issues, but ~ce-President Kelley would be present. Board Representative/ Liaison Director Kelley said the COG Board had not met since her last report to the Board. Mid Willamette Vailey Council of Govemments She said that she attended the COG's Growth Summit Volunteer (COG) Board Committee meeting on November 17. Salem/Keizer Area Director Newton said he had received a packet of materials from the Transportation Study SKATS indicating that additional info~rnation and a calendar would follow, (SKATS) Policy Committee however, he has not yet received that. He said that he is looking forvvard to the first meeting, whenever that may be. . Mid Willamette Valley Director Kelley said Commissioner Pearmine is Chair of this group. Some Area Commission problem-solving was done as an exercise as they were refining the ways on Transportation they are going to add~ess transportation issues and how they are looked at. Willamette River Bridgehead Director Swenson said that this Committee is going to study the Engineering Study Citizens' engineering aspects of the bridgeheads for six months. That is all it is Advisory Committee going to do, and it does not seem to be of huge importance to the Transit Distri~t. They are a part of another committee that is going to study bridges, traffic, etc. and will talk about bus service from Independence and Monmouth He said that he did not know if there was transit representation on that committee, but they will really talk about the issues involved. He suggested that staff call the COG to inquire about the composition of the larger committee. Courthouse Square Liaison Director Wieprecht said that he received a budget for the Courthouse Square project last night and went through it. He had seen a previously budget and had concems about the contingency figure. That concem was dispelled with his more recent budget review. Contingency is a safety valve figure in the project that is included in case of unfo~eseen surprises. As a project becomes mare defined the contingency figure usually decreases because it is less likely there will be surprises. The project is in a stage where he felt a larger contingency was needed. Unfortunately, increasing that figure increases the County's square footage cost to $1.30. However, he has no doubt that when the final drawings are done the square footage cost will decrease to close to $1.20. He feels that the project is viable and is going to make it. BOARD MEMBER ISSUES President Caraballo said that he wished to compliment his colleagues for Minutes of the Boa~d of Directors Meeting Salem Area Mass Transit District November 20, 1997 - Page 21