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Good morning. We will go ahead and

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call the

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audit and finance committee meeting

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for friday, march 14, 2025 to order

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at 9:45 --

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9:45 a.m.

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may we please have a safety briefing.

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this will be done by

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system safety.

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>>

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good morning. We are at one gateway

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plaza at the l.a. Metro board room

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on

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the third floor. If we do need to

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evacuate the room here, we will effectively

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out to my left. We will go down the

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escalators and meet out

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at the metro customer service area.

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for accident --exiting the

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room, make sure you are aware

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of the tripping hazards, chairs, backpacks,

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things of that nature. In the event

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of

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an earthquake, we will huddle under

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the tables until the shaking stopped

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to do an

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assessment to see if we need to evacuate.

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in the event of a first-day situation,

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there is an aed across from the security

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desk. We have first responders in

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the room from internet county --san

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benito county. In the event of an

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active

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attacker, run, hide and fight. 20th

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online, make sure you're familiar

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with your surroundings. Make

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sure you're familiar with your place of

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safety and exit route. That concludes

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my briefing.

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>> thank you very much.

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with that, we are going to

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move to the pledge of allegiance.

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>>

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[ inaudible ]

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>>

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thank you very much. And now,

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madame secretary, roll call.

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>> [

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roll call ]

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we do have a quorum present.

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>> very

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good. Do we have any public

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comments today?

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>> I have not received

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any request to

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speak or any written comment.

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>> okay.

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we get to move

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to item ,

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approval of the minutes from february

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14, 2025.

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any of my colleagues have any request

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to modify

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or make any comments about it?

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if not, do we have a motion

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to approve ?

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>> I move for

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approval.

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>>

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approval by chaffee. Must be

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a separate county. Yeah.

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>> dutrey

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seconds .

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>> that

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sounds great. Thank you. Roll call please.

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>> [ roll call ]

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motion carried unanimously.

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>>

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excellent. Next will be

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fiscal year 2025 midyear operating

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budget review amendment

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presented by christine wilson,

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assistant director of finance.

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a very lovely hat and outfit for

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st. Pattie's day.

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>> thank you. Good morning,

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chairman and members of the committee. I'm

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assistant director of

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finance presenting item number 6b,

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the

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fy 25 midyear operating budget review amendment.

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it is a

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practice of metrolink to perform a review

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of the annual budget at midyear to

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identify any revisions that may be needed

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to the

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operating budget as a result of changed circumstances.

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our review indicates

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that an amendment is required this year.

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the amendment we are presenting is

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driven by the following. Changes to

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ridership, changes to the service

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schedule, a change to the cost of

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mobilization, and

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a member agency request. This slide

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shows the details of the amendment

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staff is recommending for adoption

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by the member agencies.

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the box at the top of the

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screen shows the budget as it currently

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exists. Revenue of

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68 million, expensive 332 million,

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and support of 264

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million. In the next box

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we see the

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amendments. The revenue adjustments

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consist of a reduction of the revenue

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based on

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a re-forecast of the revenue

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by capital kpmg. Because the lc top

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funding

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was not confirmed at the time we did

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the budget, the original budget forecasted

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student

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ridership in the numbers

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as a

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25% discount. This re-forecast to

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takes into account that students ride

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free.

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in addition to

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the most current changes in ridership,

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this reduced revenue by

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7.9 million. The second change

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that the revenue is to include the

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student adventure pass pilot budget

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. Once again, because we were unsure

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of funding, it was not included in

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the budget. Including the student

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adventure

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pass funding , it adds

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6.3,000,002 revenue that produces

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a net revenue change of

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1.6 million. The next amendments relate

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to expense. First we have the removal

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of four

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42 laguna trades originally included

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in the optimized

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service budget. Next, another in just

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a

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moment --adjustment is the removal

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of 20 laus

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to convene a trains replaced by the

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addition of 10

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laus to montclair trains.

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you also see here at the request of

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sp cta, the

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addition of cause for san bernardino

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sharers added to san bernardino

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county. This is funded in

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its entirety by sp cta. Finally, the

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negotiation of the mini bundle

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has

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reduced the original estimate budgeted

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for mobilization by 2.5 million

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. All these amounts create, in that,

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a reduction to member agency required

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support by $896,000.

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the boxes

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at the bottom of the slide show the

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amounts of the fy 25 budget if

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this recommended amendment is excepted.

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all the following slides show the

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proposed amended budget by category

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and member agency, including changes

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to the individual

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lines in the operating budget.

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you see here

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the individual items that have been changed.

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at the bottom, as I said, it creates

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a

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reduction to the amount we are asking

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for member agencies by

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$896,000. That concludes my report.

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can I answer any questions?

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>>

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thank you very much for the report.

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attorney to my colleagues here.

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and online. A quiet bunch

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again. Linda

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.

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>> thank you for your great explanation

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of the numbers.

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>> thank you. >>

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everybody knows what the numbers are,

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but you explained them so clearly.

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thank you

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for that.

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>> thank you. >> all right.

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with that,

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this is actually an action item.

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we need to first asked for public

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comments.

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>> mr. Chairman,

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john dutrey. I have a couple of questions.

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on the sharers contract

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, obviously, sbcta is

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covering that cost. Is that also in

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the budget?

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>> yes, that

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it started

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--added to

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the budget by this amendment.

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>> all

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right, them. I move for approval.

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>>

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okay. We do have a motion.

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before we do that, do we have any

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public comments?

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>> I have

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not received any written public comment

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or request to speak on this item.

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>> okay.

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emotion on the floor to approve. Do

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we have a second? We have a second.

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different county. [ laughter ]

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roll call, please.

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>> [ roll call

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]

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motion carried unanimously.

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>> very good.

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item one to

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six see -- 6c.

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performance audit

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, deactivation of badges for employees,

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board

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members, and idts.

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presented by the director of the audit

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department.

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>> good morning, chairman

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and committee

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members. Internal audit completed

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the deactivation the badges for employees,

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board members and

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integrated digital and technology

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services, also

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known as idts, contractors. The audit

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is included in the fiscal 25 board

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approved

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audit plan. The objective was to evaluate

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the effectiveness of the agency's

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badge deactivation process

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for secure access control for employees,

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board members and idts contractors.

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the audit

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period was january 2023 through

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july 2024. There are three findings

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and

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three audit recommendations. Management

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agreed with the findings and developed actions.

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audit will

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track the status of the corrective

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actions. This concludes my item. Happy

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to answer any

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questions.

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>> for such a long stretch

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of

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time to deal with this, that was a

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quick report. I will open it

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up to questions. I don't have

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any questions.

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any public

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comments?

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>> I have not received any

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written public comments or requests

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to speak on

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this item.

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>> okay. So then, I will

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make a few comments. I asked

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for this item to come to the audit

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committee some time ago for the mere

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fact that

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my badge was supposedly expired

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in the year 2020, and it was 2022

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or 2023 and still working just fine.

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I thought, at the time, there was

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a lot of disgruntled ex-employees

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using things like old keys or badges

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to

289
00:11:35,896 --> 00:11:37,896
get into

290
00:11:41,902 --> 00:11:42,903
other

291
00:11:42,903 --> 00:11:44,905
facilities. Not metrolink, but just, in

292
00:11:44,905 --> 00:11:45,906
general, on the news. I thought, well,

293
00:11:45,906 --> 00:11:46,907
we don't want

294
00:11:46,907 --> 00:11:47,908
people with expired badges to be able

295
00:11:47,908 --> 00:11:49,910
to come in and, you know, get

296
00:11:49,910 --> 00:11:50,911
access to our facilities to cause harm.

297
00:11:50,911 --> 00:11:53,311
and so, this started

298
00:11:53,914 --> 00:11:55,914
this process.

299
00:11:56,917 --> 00:11:58,919
I have learned that we

300
00:11:58,919 --> 00:11:59,920
have one more little tweaks we are

301
00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:01,922
going to have to add to this.

302
00:12:01,922 --> 00:12:05,926
I am still getting comments from board members

303
00:12:05,926 --> 00:12:07,861
, easy that even

304
00:12:07,861 --> 00:12:08,862
as of today, that the old badges are

305
00:12:08,862 --> 00:12:09,863
still working. What I have now

306
00:12:09,863 --> 00:12:11,865
learned over the last many months

307
00:12:11,865 --> 00:12:14,265
on this is that

308
00:12:17,871 --> 00:12:18,872
our

309
00:12:18,872 --> 00:12:20,874
badges are programmed twice, at least

310
00:12:20,874 --> 00:12:21,875
board members, and anybody who has

311
00:12:21,875 --> 00:12:22,876
access to this

312
00:12:22,876 --> 00:12:23,877
building here at union station. The

313
00:12:23,877 --> 00:12:28,770
expired badges, I believe, will not work,

314
00:12:29,883 --> 00:12:31,883
will not work

315
00:12:31,885 --> 00:12:32,886
at the wilshire building or any of

316
00:12:32,886 --> 00:12:33,887
our facilities because they have been

317
00:12:33,887 --> 00:12:34,888
turned off.

318
00:12:34,888 --> 00:12:38,892
but what if it turned off are the

319
00:12:38,892 --> 00:12:39,893
access to this building here by ellie

320
00:12:39,893 --> 00:12:40,894
metro. Somehow we

321
00:12:40,894 --> 00:12:45,694
have got to communicate to ellie metro that

322
00:12:47,901 --> 00:12:48,902
--l.a. Metro, that when board members

323
00:12:48,902 --> 00:12:49,903
change out

324
00:12:49,903 --> 00:12:51,905
or expired badges, et cetera, anybody

325
00:12:51,905 --> 00:12:54,908
who has access to this building,

326
00:12:54,908 --> 00:12:55,909
they should be

327
00:12:55,909 --> 00:12:56,910
notified to deactivate those badges

328
00:12:56,910 --> 00:12:57,911
as well. I think that is the one thing

329
00:12:57,911 --> 00:12:58,912
we

330
00:12:58,912 --> 00:13:00,914
have to add to this to make sure that

331
00:13:00,914 --> 00:13:01,915
gets accomplished, and we should

332
00:13:01,915 --> 00:13:06,715
be good. I will leave it at that.

333
00:13:08,856 --> 00:13:09,857
this is a receive and file. Appreciate

334
00:13:09,857 --> 00:13:10,858
the audit

335
00:13:10,858 --> 00:13:11,859
department's long-term deal to get

336
00:13:11,859 --> 00:13:12,860
this resolved and figured out. It

337
00:13:12,860 --> 00:13:14,860
will

338
00:13:15,863 --> 00:13:18,863
lead to the much safer

339
00:13:18,866 --> 00:13:20,866
work environment for

340
00:13:25,873 --> 00:13:27,875
all of the metrolink family. With

341
00:13:27,875 --> 00:13:28,876
that, we moved to item 6d,

342
00:13:28,876 --> 00:13:30,878
financial results for the first seven

343
00:13:30,878 --> 00:13:32,878
months of

344
00:13:36,884 --> 00:13:37,885
fiscal year

345
00:13:37,885 --> 00:13:38,886
2025 through january 2025 ridership,

346
00:13:38,886 --> 00:13:39,887
revenue and operating results. Presented

347
00:13:39,887 --> 00:13:40,888
by christine wilson, assistant director

348
00:13:40,888 --> 00:13:41,889
of finance.

349
00:13:41,889 --> 00:13:42,890
>> good morning, again.

350
00:13:42,890 --> 00:13:44,890
this slide

351
00:13:45,893 --> 00:13:47,893
shows the actual

352
00:13:50,898 --> 00:13:51,899
versus forecast ridership by month.

353
00:13:51,899 --> 00:13:54,899
the redline is the budget,

354
00:13:54,902 --> 00:13:55,903
the columns are actual

355
00:13:55,903 --> 00:13:56,904
with the blue portion regular ridership

356
00:13:56,904 --> 00:13:57,905
in the orange portion the student

357
00:13:57,905 --> 00:13:58,906
adventure

358
00:13:58,906 --> 00:14:00,908
pass ridership. As you can see, where

359
00:14:00,908 --> 00:14:03,308
below the forecast ridership.

360
00:14:03,911 --> 00:14:04,912
much of this has

361
00:14:04,912 --> 00:14:06,914
to do with the devastating fires in

362
00:14:06,914 --> 00:14:09,914
the month of january. Reductions

363
00:14:11,919 --> 00:14:12,920
went from 2.5% on the ventura line to

364
00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:14,920
9%

365
00:14:15,923 --> 00:14:18,923
on the antelope valley line.

366
00:14:18,926 --> 00:14:19,927
this graph shows the

367
00:14:19,927 --> 00:14:21,929
current ridership forecast for the

368
00:14:21,929 --> 00:14:24,932
entire year. Looking at the most

369
00:14:24,932 --> 00:14:26,932
recent month,

370
00:14:28,936 --> 00:14:29,937
january is historically a recovery from

371
00:14:29,937 --> 00:14:30,938
december holidays. This year was different.

372
00:14:30,938 --> 00:14:32,938
the fires

373
00:14:33,941 --> 00:14:36,341
had a real effect

374
00:14:40,948 --> 00:14:42,950
. Through january, ridership was forecasted

375
00:14:42,950 --> 00:14:43,951
at 4.2 million or 60% while actuals

376
00:14:43,951 --> 00:14:45,953
work 4.3 or 62%. The student adventure

377
00:14:45,953 --> 00:14:48,953
pass pilot provided 1.3 million writers

378
00:14:48,956 --> 00:14:51,356
--riders year to date.

379
00:14:51,959 --> 00:14:52,960
we see here a graph of farebox revenue

380
00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:54,962
by month and the current forecast

381
00:14:54,962 --> 00:14:56,964
for the rest of the year.

382
00:14:56,964 --> 00:14:57,965
through the month of january, revenue

383
00:14:57,965 --> 00:14:59,965
was budgeted at

384
00:15:03,971 --> 00:15:05,971
24.4 million or 54% recovery,

385
00:15:05,973 --> 00:15:06,974
while the actual is 23. 4 million

386
00:15:06,974 --> 00:15:08,974
or a 52% recovery.

387
00:15:09,910 --> 00:15:11,910
1.1

388
00:15:15,916 --> 00:15:16,917
1.1 million

389
00:15:16,917 --> 00:15:18,919
under budget. What are we so far under

390
00:15:18,919 --> 00:15:21,919
forecast? The 25% monthly pass discount

391
00:15:21,922 --> 00:15:24,925
offered systemwide for the poor on-time

392
00:15:24,925 --> 00:15:26,925
performance account

393
00:15:27,928 --> 00:15:29,930
--accounts for 170,000 of the shortfall.

394
00:15:29,930 --> 00:15:30,931
the reduction of the student adventure

395
00:15:30,931 --> 00:15:32,931
pass reimbursement

396
00:15:33,934 --> 00:15:34,935
to

397
00:15:34,935 --> 00:15:36,935
25% accounts for another 600,000.

398
00:15:36,937 --> 00:15:38,937
free rides for

399
00:15:39,940 --> 00:15:41,940
fire victims added

400
00:15:42,943 --> 00:15:43,944
to the reduction in revenue. There

401
00:15:43,944 --> 00:15:44,945
were fewer

402
00:15:44,945 --> 00:15:49,145
passengers as a result of the fire.

403
00:15:51,952 --> 00:15:52,953
for total financial results in january,

404
00:15:52,953 --> 00:15:54,955
before san clemente, total expenses

405
00:15:54,955 --> 00:15:57,955
were under budget by 17.6 million

406
00:16:03,964 --> 00:16:04,965
, and member agency support is in

407
00:16:04,965 --> 00:16:05,966
surplus

408
00:16:05,966 --> 00:16:06,967
by 21 point 4. Total operating revenue

409
00:16:06,967 --> 00:16:08,902
is 37.6, less than

410
00:16:08,902 --> 00:16:11,902
0.1 million under budget. Total expenses

411
00:16:23,917 --> 00:16:24,918
at 169.8 million are 17.6 million

412
00:16:24,918 --> 00:16:25,919
under budget. Categories under

413
00:16:25,919 --> 00:16:27,921
budget hour as shown on the slides.

414
00:16:27,921 --> 00:16:28,922
these expenses, I remind you, are

415
00:16:28,922 --> 00:16:30,922
based on

416
00:16:30,924 --> 00:16:31,925
accruals, not actuals. This slide

417
00:16:31,925 --> 00:16:33,925
shows

418
00:16:33,927 --> 00:16:35,927
that we had

419
00:16:39,933 --> 00:16:40,934
passed two receivables of

420
00:16:40,934 --> 00:16:42,936
almost 40 million. In truth, by now,

421
00:16:42,936 --> 00:16:43,937
we actually have received 30 of it.

422
00:16:43,937 --> 00:16:45,937
this

423
00:16:45,939 --> 00:16:48,942
is way out of date, --

424
00:16:48,942 --> 00:16:49,943
, just because we have received the

425
00:16:49,943 --> 00:16:50,944
money. This

426
00:16:50,944 --> 00:16:55,744
is the operating cash that we are presenting

427
00:16:57,951 --> 00:16:58,952
our cash position at metro. As you

428
00:16:58,952 --> 00:16:59,953
know, there

429
00:16:59,953 --> 00:17:00,954
is a $50 million threshold we are

430
00:17:00,954 --> 00:17:02,954
to maintain

431
00:17:02,956 --> 00:17:06,556
. You see here that the threshold

432
00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:09,360
, the amount we're at

433
00:17:09,897 --> 00:17:11,897
right now, is 86.1.

434
00:17:15,903 --> 00:17:17,903
moving to

435
00:17:18,906 --> 00:17:21,906
arrow. This is the ridership

436
00:17:21,909 --> 00:17:23,909
by month.

437
00:17:27,915 --> 00:17:28,916
through january, the

438
00:17:28,916 --> 00:17:29,917
ridership was forecasted at 81,000

439
00:17:29,917 --> 00:17:30,918
and actual ridership is at 85,000.

440
00:17:30,918 --> 00:17:31,919
over forecast by 4000.

441
00:17:31,919 --> 00:17:33,921
year to date, the student adventure

442
00:17:33,921 --> 00:17:38,121
pass attributes over half of the ridership.

443
00:17:48,936 --> 00:17:49,937
this is the arrow farebox revenue

444
00:17:49,937 --> 00:17:50,938
by month compared to budget. Through

445
00:17:50,938 --> 00:17:51,939
january, farebox revenue was budgeted

446
00:17:51,939 --> 00:17:52,940
at 113,000 and the

447
00:17:52,940 --> 00:17:54,942
actual is 217,000, over budget by

448
00:17:54,942 --> 00:17:55,943
102,000. With the student adventure

449
00:17:55,943 --> 00:17:57,943
pass contributing half

450
00:17:57,945 --> 00:18:00,345
of the revenue. Financial

451
00:18:00,948 --> 00:18:02,948
results for

452
00:18:06,954 --> 00:18:07,888
arrow through january show operating

453
00:18:07,888 --> 00:18:09,890
revenue at 365,000, or 264,000 over

454
00:18:09,890 --> 00:18:11,890
budget.

455
00:18:12,893 --> 00:18:15,893
expenses are 8.9 million, or 1.1 billion

456
00:18:21,902 --> 00:18:22,903
--million over budget. Support is

457
00:18:22,903 --> 00:18:24,903
required at 8.6

458
00:18:24,905 --> 00:18:25,906
million, or in surplus by 1.3 million.

459
00:18:25,906 --> 00:18:27,908
this is the student

460
00:18:27,908 --> 00:18:30,908
adventure pass update. As you

461
00:18:30,911 --> 00:18:33,914
can see, this slide shows the

462
00:18:33,914 --> 00:18:36,314
amount of the student

463
00:18:36,917 --> 00:18:39,917
adventure pass ridership that we

464
00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,920
have obtained both through tvd

465
00:18:42,923 --> 00:18:45,323
and the mobile app.

466
00:18:45,926 --> 00:18:48,929
as you can see, it has added

467
00:18:48,929 --> 00:18:49,930
1.4 million riders to the system,

468
00:18:49,930 --> 00:18:51,930
including

469
00:18:51,932 --> 00:18:53,932
arrow.

470
00:18:58,939 --> 00:18:59,940
this is an update on the fy 26

471
00:18:59,940 --> 00:19:01,942
budget development schedule. We have

472
00:19:01,942 --> 00:19:03,942
,

473
00:19:04,945 --> 00:19:06,945
thus far,

474
00:19:09,883 --> 00:19:10,884
the budget presented to member agency

475
00:19:10,884 --> 00:19:11,885
cfos three

476
00:19:11,885 --> 00:19:12,886
times, and to the membership agency

477
00:19:12,886 --> 00:19:16,486
ceos on february 21. We continue to

478
00:19:16,890 --> 00:19:19,893
be in daily discussions with the member agencies

479
00:19:19,893 --> 00:19:21,893
on fy 26 budget

480
00:19:21,895 --> 00:19:22,896
, and we feel that we are on track

481
00:19:22,896 --> 00:19:24,896
to bring

482
00:19:25,899 --> 00:19:28,902
a budget as required to this

483
00:19:28,902 --> 00:19:30,902
committee next month.

484
00:19:33,907 --> 00:19:34,908
that concludes my report. May I answer

485
00:19:34,908 --> 00:19:35,909
any

486
00:19:35,909 --> 00:19:36,910
questions?

487
00:19:36,910 --> 00:19:37,911
>> did any of the agencies

488
00:19:37,911 --> 00:19:38,912
that you have been --of

489
00:19:38,912 --> 00:19:40,914
the member agencies have any issues

490
00:19:40,914 --> 00:19:41,915
with what the 26

491
00:19:41,915 --> 00:19:42,916
budget is looking like?

492
00:19:42,916 --> 00:19:43,917
>> at the

493
00:19:43,917 --> 00:19:45,917
beginning, but

494
00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:47,921
by now, almost everyone is --

495
00:19:47,921 --> 00:19:49,923
there are certain things we still

496
00:19:49,923 --> 00:19:50,924
have to work out.

497
00:19:50,924 --> 00:19:52,924
>> no

498
00:19:52,926 --> 00:19:54,926
huge hurdles

499
00:19:55,929 --> 00:19:56,930
that will cause any --

500
00:19:56,930 --> 00:19:57,931
>>

501
00:19:57,931 --> 00:19:58,932
we will work them out.

502
00:19:58,932 --> 00:19:59,933
>> any questions

503
00:19:59,933 --> 00:20:00,934
or comments by anybody? Okay. This

504
00:20:00,934 --> 00:20:01,935
one is receive and file. Do we have

505
00:20:01,935 --> 00:20:03,935
any

506
00:20:04,938 --> 00:20:07,338
public comments on that

507
00:20:07,875 --> 00:20:08,876
?

508
00:20:08,876 --> 00:20:09,877
>> I have not received any

509
00:20:09,877 --> 00:20:10,878
written public comments or request

510
00:20:10,878 --> 00:20:11,879
to speak on that item.

511
00:20:11,879 --> 00:20:12,880
>> okay. Our

512
00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:13,881
most

513
00:20:13,881 --> 00:20:16,881
favorite part of the day

514
00:20:16,884 --> 00:20:17,885
, ceos report.

515
00:20:17,885 --> 00:20:18,886
>>

516
00:20:18,886 --> 00:20:19,887
I will make sure it is brief so it

517
00:20:19,887 --> 00:20:20,888
stays your favorite. Very quickly,

518
00:20:20,888 --> 00:20:21,889
we

519
00:20:21,889 --> 00:20:24,892
mentioned this in the executive committee meeting

520
00:20:24,892 --> 00:20:25,893
. I think it is important to share

521
00:20:25,893 --> 00:20:27,893
here

522
00:20:28,896 --> 00:20:29,897
today as well as it

523
00:20:29,897 --> 00:20:31,899
relates to some financial issues.

524
00:20:31,899 --> 00:20:33,899
we are all

525
00:20:35,903 --> 00:20:37,905
looking towards 2028 in our ability

526
00:20:37,905 --> 00:20:40,905
to be ready to move

527
00:20:40,908 --> 00:20:45,108
so many people for the olympic games.

528
00:20:49,917 --> 00:20:50,918
the most

529
00:20:50,918 --> 00:20:51,919
--most recently, we had an earmark

530
00:20:51,919 --> 00:20:52,920
in a senate appropriations bill that

531
00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:53,921
was going

532
00:20:53,921 --> 00:20:55,923
to set aside $200 million to the region

533
00:20:55,923 --> 00:20:57,923
4 --region for

534
00:20:57,925 --> 00:20:58,926
olympics preparedness. And 25 million

535
00:20:58,926 --> 00:20:59,927
was identified

536
00:20:59,927 --> 00:21:01,929
for metrolink. With what is expected

537
00:21:01,929 --> 00:21:05,529
to happen today in the senate,

538
00:21:06,934 --> 00:21:07,868
that they will act on the house's

539
00:21:07,868 --> 00:21:09,868
version of the

540
00:21:10,871 --> 00:21:12,871
continuing resolution

541
00:21:13,874 --> 00:21:14,875
, that will effectively

542
00:21:14,875 --> 00:21:15,876
eliminate the earmarks that were identified

543
00:21:15,876 --> 00:21:16,877
in that senate appropriations package

544
00:21:16,877 --> 00:21:18,877
in the

545
00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:21,880
appropriations bill.

546
00:21:21,882 --> 00:21:22,883
besides losing the money, the other

547
00:21:22,883 --> 00:21:24,883
element it did

548
00:21:24,885 --> 00:21:25,886
is that that action, that earmark,

549
00:21:25,886 --> 00:21:27,886
was creating a

550
00:21:28,889 --> 00:21:30,889
special account for

551
00:21:31,892 --> 00:21:33,894
the olympic games so there

552
00:21:33,894 --> 00:21:34,895
was this place you could put money

553
00:21:34,895 --> 00:21:36,895
over the

554
00:21:36,897 --> 00:21:40,497
next appropriations cycles. The action where

555
00:21:45,906 --> 00:21:46,907
the cr will eliminate the ability

556
00:21:46,907 --> 00:21:47,908
of having that

557
00:21:47,908 --> 00:21:49,910
account also available for us for

558
00:21:49,910 --> 00:21:50,911
future efforts. Where now --the royal

559
00:21:50,911 --> 00:21:51,912
we,

560
00:21:51,912 --> 00:21:52,913
collectively, will have to identify

561
00:21:52,913 --> 00:21:54,915
another way of securing funding

562
00:21:54,915 --> 00:21:58,515
from the federal government. Is a

563
00:21:58,919 --> 00:21:59,920
big deal.

564
00:21:59,920 --> 00:22:01,922
is a huge disappointment. We had other

565
00:22:01,922 --> 00:22:02,923
earmarks in both house and senate

566
00:22:02,923 --> 00:22:03,924
packages,

567
00:22:03,924 --> 00:22:04,925
as probably some of your own home

568
00:22:04,925 --> 00:22:06,927
agencies had. On top of

569
00:22:06,927 --> 00:22:07,861
that, we've also lost other earmarks

570
00:22:07,861 --> 00:22:09,861
as well

571
00:22:12,866 --> 00:22:17,666
through what is happening in washington d.c.

572
00:22:19,873 --> 00:22:20,874
thought I would share that with the

573
00:22:20,874 --> 00:22:21,875
group is

574
00:22:21,875 --> 00:22:22,876
the only other item is that I want

575
00:22:22,876 --> 00:22:23,877
to call back your attention to the

576
00:22:23,877 --> 00:22:25,879
announcement I made earlier this week

577
00:22:25,879 --> 00:22:26,880
that on friday of last week our chief

578
00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:27,881
financial

579
00:22:27,881 --> 00:22:28,882
officer let me know that he was going

580
00:22:28,882 --> 00:22:31,882
to be moving on to

581
00:22:31,885 --> 00:22:33,885
new activities

582
00:22:34,888 --> 00:22:36,888
, new things. He

583
00:22:36,890 --> 00:22:37,891
is going to be leaving us here at

584
00:22:37,891 --> 00:22:40,291
metrolink in early april.

585
00:22:40,894 --> 00:22:41,895
this is why

586
00:22:41,895 --> 00:22:42,896
christine wilson felt so confident

587
00:22:42,896 --> 00:22:43,897
in saying we will have the budget

588
00:22:43,897 --> 00:22:44,898
all worked out.

589
00:22:44,898 --> 00:22:46,900
it is because arnold has committed

590
00:22:46,900 --> 00:22:47,901
to making sure it is done before he

591
00:22:47,901 --> 00:22:49,901
rides

592
00:22:49,903 --> 00:22:52,303
off into the sunset.

593
00:22:57,911 --> 00:22:58,912
that is why christine said, sure,

594
00:22:58,912 --> 00:22:59,913
we have got no problem. In any

595
00:22:59,913 --> 00:23:01,915
event, I said it earlier, my thanks

596
00:23:01,915 --> 00:23:02,916
to arnold for his service here at

597
00:23:02,916 --> 00:23:03,917
metrolink. He

598
00:23:03,917 --> 00:23:04,918
has been --it has been six or seven

599
00:23:04,918 --> 00:23:07,318
years he served in

600
00:23:07,855 --> 00:23:09,855
various capacities.

601
00:23:10,858 --> 00:23:11,859
he has helped us to get

602
00:23:11,859 --> 00:23:13,861
through this challenging time of coming

603
00:23:13,861 --> 00:23:14,862
out of covid and metrolink reimagined

604
00:23:14,862 --> 00:23:16,862
and a

605
00:23:16,864 --> 00:23:17,865
few other elements. It took his steadfast leadership

606
00:23:17,865 --> 00:23:19,867
in that regard to

607
00:23:19,867 --> 00:23:22,267
help us navigate that

608
00:23:31,879 --> 00:23:32,880
, and working with

609
00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:34,882
her member agencies. My thanks, again,

610
00:23:34,882 --> 00:23:35,883
to arnold for his service. You will

611
00:23:35,883 --> 00:23:36,884
hear me

612
00:23:36,884 --> 00:23:37,885
talk about this. We have a couple

613
00:23:37,885 --> 00:23:38,886
more meetings where I get to embarrass

614
00:23:38,886 --> 00:23:39,887
him

615
00:23:39,887 --> 00:23:40,888
in public. You will hear more on that

616
00:23:40,888 --> 00:23:41,889
too. They could, mr. Chair. That

617
00:23:41,889 --> 00:23:42,890
concludes my remarks.

618
00:23:42,890 --> 00:23:43,891
>> appreciate

619
00:23:43,891 --> 00:23:44,892
your comments. Follow-up question

620
00:23:44,892 --> 00:23:45,893
for you. With the cr, is

621
00:23:45,893 --> 00:23:46,894
it passes today, that keeps the government

622
00:23:46,894 --> 00:23:47,895
open for a couple more months. What

623
00:23:47,895 --> 00:23:49,895
about,

624
00:23:49,897 --> 00:23:50,898
at that point, are these earmarks

625
00:23:50,898 --> 00:23:52,898
potentially able to

626
00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:57,100
be put back into a final resolution

627
00:23:58,906 --> 00:23:59,907
? How does that work?

628
00:23:59,907 --> 00:24:00,908
>> so what

629
00:24:00,908 --> 00:24:01,909
we're hearing, in fact, the timing

630
00:24:01,909 --> 00:24:04,912
right now is that the members are,

631
00:24:04,912 --> 00:24:06,912
many members

632
00:24:13,921 --> 00:24:14,922
from southern california, are now putting

633
00:24:14,922 --> 00:24:15,923
out the notice that

634
00:24:15,923 --> 00:24:16,924
we are accepting new earmark requests.

635
00:24:16,924 --> 00:24:17,925
we have a few already lined up that

636
00:24:17,925 --> 00:24:18,926
we

637
00:24:18,926 --> 00:24:19,927
will be looking at. This 200 million

638
00:24:19,927 --> 00:24:20,928
one was a movement of funding from

639
00:24:20,928 --> 00:24:22,928
one

640
00:24:23,931 --> 00:24:24,932
program that was

641
00:24:24,932 --> 00:24:25,933
stepped back and put this 200 million

642
00:24:25,933 --> 00:24:27,935
into the special account. I think

643
00:24:27,935 --> 00:24:29,937
we will go back after it. We will

644
00:24:29,937 --> 00:24:30,938
be looking at fy 26. The appropriations

645
00:24:30,938 --> 00:24:31,939
package that was being done today,

646
00:24:31,939 --> 00:24:35,943
that will be done today, was actually

647
00:24:35,943 --> 00:24:37,943
fy 25

648
00:24:38,946 --> 00:24:39,947
, the year we are in right

649
00:24:39,947 --> 00:24:40,948
now, and the can has been kicked down

650
00:24:40,948 --> 00:24:41,949
the street a few different times.

651
00:24:41,949 --> 00:24:42,950
now --

652
00:24:42,950 --> 00:24:44,952
they want to appropriate, appropriators

653
00:24:44,952 --> 00:24:47,352
want to appropriate --

654
00:24:49,957 --> 00:24:50,958
the fact that the cr will move forward

655
00:24:50,958 --> 00:24:51,959
means we keep things

656
00:24:51,959 --> 00:24:52,960
business as usual. Then we will likely

657
00:24:52,960 --> 00:24:53,961
see some level of continuing resolution

658
00:24:53,961 --> 00:24:55,961
as we

659
00:24:56,964 --> 00:24:59,964
get into federal fiscal year

660
00:25:00,968 --> 00:25:02,970
, september 30. We will see what happens

661
00:25:02,970 --> 00:25:04,970
as to whether

662
00:25:04,972 --> 00:25:05,973
we see continuing resolutions for

663
00:25:05,973 --> 00:25:07,973
fy 26

664
00:25:08,909 --> 00:25:10,909
as well.

665
00:25:11,912 --> 00:25:12,913
theoretically, congress should

666
00:25:12,913 --> 00:25:13,914
act over the summer, and we should

667
00:25:13,914 --> 00:25:14,915
have a full appropriations package

668
00:25:14,915 --> 00:25:15,916
by the

669
00:25:15,916 --> 00:25:17,918
end of september. That has not happened

670
00:25:17,918 --> 00:25:19,918
emma doesn't

671
00:25:20,921 --> 00:25:21,922
happen all the time. So

672
00:25:21,922 --> 00:25:25,522
we will likely see some continuation

673
00:25:25,926 --> 00:25:26,927
of the fy 26, but we will all be making

674
00:25:26,927 --> 00:25:27,928
requests, and

675
00:25:27,928 --> 00:25:30,928
certainly metrolink will be through

676
00:25:34,935 --> 00:25:35,936
earmark requests in future appropriations

677
00:25:35,936 --> 00:25:36,937
packages.

678
00:25:36,937 --> 00:25:38,937
>>

679
00:25:38,939 --> 00:25:39,940
okay. Thank you.

680
00:25:39,940 --> 00:25:41,942
committee member comments. Anybody

681
00:25:41,942 --> 00:25:44,942
have anything on their mind?

682
00:25:49,950 --> 00:25:50,951
pam? But I just want to add about

683
00:25:50,951 --> 00:25:51,952
arnold. In addition

684
00:25:51,952 --> 00:25:52,953
to his technical abilities, he has

685
00:25:52,953 --> 00:25:53,954
always been a very genial and kind

686
00:25:53,954 --> 00:25:54,955
person. I

687
00:25:54,955 --> 00:25:55,956
appreciate that.

688
00:25:55,956 --> 00:25:57,956
>> anybody else?

689
00:26:08,902 --> 00:26:09,903
you ought to see him when the

690
00:26:09,903 --> 00:26:10,904
member agencies aren't cooperative.

691
00:26:10,904 --> 00:26:11,905
that he is not so congenial.

692
00:26:11,905 --> 00:26:12,906
>> that

693
00:26:12,906 --> 00:26:13,907
is because he

694
00:26:13,907 --> 00:26:14,908
knows when to pull his punches and

695
00:26:14,908 --> 00:26:15,909
be the tough guy.

696
00:26:15,909 --> 00:26:16,910
>> you've got it.

697
00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:17,911
absolutely.

698
00:26:17,911 --> 00:26:18,912
>> but to still maintain

699
00:26:18,912 --> 00:26:19,913
good relationships.

700
00:26:19,913 --> 00:26:20,914
>> no doubt. Are

701
00:26:20,914 --> 00:26:21,915
right. Chair's comments.

702
00:26:21,915 --> 00:26:22,916
arnold, I hope this is a retirement,

703
00:26:22,916 --> 00:26:23,917
not l.a. Metro stealing somebody else

704
00:26:23,917 --> 00:26:24,918
from

705
00:26:24,918 --> 00:26:29,718
us . I will also point out that, before

706
00:26:29,923 --> 00:26:30,924
darren, you filled

707
00:26:30,924 --> 00:26:32,926
the shoes as the ceo, interim ceo

708
00:26:32,926 --> 00:26:35,929
for a bit. You have had a variety

709
00:26:35,929 --> 00:26:37,929
of roles

710
00:26:37,931 --> 00:26:38,932
. You know, your reports are always

711
00:26:38,932 --> 00:26:40,932
very

712
00:26:41,935 --> 00:26:43,937
well presented . We appreciate all

713
00:26:43,937 --> 00:26:44,938
that you have done here at metrolink.

714
00:26:44,938 --> 00:26:47,938
hopefully, you are going fishing

715
00:26:47,941 --> 00:26:48,942
and not fishing for something down

716
00:26:48,942 --> 00:26:50,942
the

717
00:26:50,944 --> 00:26:52,944
street. [ laughter ]

718
00:26:55,949 --> 00:26:56,950
we will have to find that out. All right.

719
00:26:56,950 --> 00:26:59,000
with that, we're going to go ahead and adjourn.