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BART earthquake program seeks members for Citizens' Oversight Committee

BART earthquake program seeks members for Citizens' Oversight Committee

BART is seekinginterested applicants for participation on its Earthquake Safety Program Citizens' Oversight Committee. The role of the Committee is to verify that BART properly spends the bond revenues that voters authorized under Measure AA on earthquake safety retrofits. The current committee's term expires February 2008, and a new committee must be in place by January 2008.

On November 2, 2004 voters of Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties passed Measure AA, a general obligation bond, to fund BART's Earthquake Safety Program. The program will upgrade the original BART system operating facilities to ensure that they can return to operation shortly after a major earthquake.

Measure AA requires the BART Board of Directors to establish and appoint members to a Citizens' Oversight Committee, which the Board has done.

Purpose of Committee The role of the Committee is to verify that BART spends the bond revenues as promised on earthquake safety retrofits. Specifically, the duties and responsibilities of the committee are to:

  1. Review scheduling and budgeting of projects to be funded by the bond measure,
  2. Confirm that work is completed and bond funds are expended in accordance with the bond measure,
  3. 3. Inform the public concerning expenditures of bond revenues.

Committee Members
The Earthquake Safety Program Citizens' Oversight Committee will be a five (5) member committee. The BART Board will select one committee member and one alternate for each seat. The Committee will consist of:

  1. One member with expertise in seismic retrofitting;
  2. One member with expertise in auditing;
  3. One member with expertise in engineering;
  4. One member with expertise in public finance or project management; and
  5. One member shall represent the community at large.

Citizens' Oversight Committee members and their alternates are required to be citizens of the BART District (Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco counties) who are neither elected officials of any government nor employees of BART. Neither the member of the Citizens' Oversight Committee nor the firm in which they are employed or have an ownership interest in will be eligible to bid on BART Earthquake Safety Program work. Please read the Standing Rules and Application and Appointment Procedures carefully for restrictions on membership.

Length of Term
Members shall serve two-year terms without compensation, although the District shall provide administrative assistance and reimbursement of expenses. The Committee will meet bi-annually or more frequently if the committee chooses to increase the frequency.

Contact
If you have any questions about the Earthquake Safety Program Citizens' Oversight Committee or application process, please contact Molly McArthur, BART Manager of Community Relations for Capital Projects, at 510.874.7478 or [email protected], or visit http://www.bart.gov/earthquakesafety to obtain an application.