RESCUE MUNI / SPUR vs. NEW MUNI TASK FORCE

RESCUE MUNI / SPUR vs. New Muni Task Force

Updated 3/20/99

These two proposals have quite a bit in common, but there are sufficient differences for Rescue Muni to oppose the New Muni Task Force draft as written. The fact that they have basic structural elements in common should, however, provide food for thought for policymakers at City Hall; we believe that supporters of the New Muni Task Force proposal can feel confident that they will not lose anything of substance by adopting ours instead.

Key Differences

There are several important areas in which the New Muni Task Force draft differs from that of Rescue Muni and SPUR. The following is a partial list.

item Rescue Muni/SPUR New Muni Task Force Status Quo

Agency Municipal Railway, Parking and Traffic, Parking Authority Municipal Railway only None

Agency Board Removable only for cause; transit experience required Can have "managerial" experience; no mention of removal (serve at pleasure of the Mayor?) At pleasure of Mayor; minimal qualifications

Bargaining Units Can't have one unit represent managers & their employees No provision No provision

Base Level of Service Must be at the level scheduled in April 1996 timetable Must adopt new Base Level (approximately 4.5 million hours) by 2001 None

Board staff Not specified Auditor, General Counsel, Secretary serve the board Secretary only

Budget Adequacy Not specified Must meet "Base Level of Service" or service reductions are required; must be audited by a third party None

Budget Adoption Supervisors can reject but not modify Adopted in normal budget cycle Adopted in normal budget cycle

Detailed Service Standards
85% on time

98.5% service delivery

1.5% crush loaded
None None

General Manager Hired by Board; runs Muni and DPT Hired by Board; runs Muni In fact hired by Mayor

Incentive Pay Required, based on detailed standards above None None

Passenger Advisory Council 11 by Supervisors, 2 by Mayor, 2 by agency board; disability representation required 11 by Supervisors, 4 by Mayor None

Protected funding Fixed share of city expenditures Share of the business tax (38%); can increase by 1% per year, up to 38%, if farebox recovery is >36% (= fares/revenue go up) None

Salary Formula Removes the salary formula (cap) in the Charter Retains it (Cap at the average of the two highest-paid transit systems in the nation) Retains it

Transit-First Policy Significantly strengthened Not specified Weak

Work Rule Reform No unexcused absences

Must be able to dispatch trains in order, run weekend service, implement proof of payment No provision No provision

Key Similarities

Since these two proposals derive in part from similar policy recommendations, there are many areas in which these are similar. Most of these are in the area of governance. The important similarities are:

item Rescue Muni/SPUR New Muni Task Force Status Quo

Agency Board 7 members, staggered, fixed terms, confirmed by Board 7 members, staggered, fixed terms, confirmed by Board 5 members, at Mayor's pleasure

Autonomous Transit Agency Yes Yes No

CAC 15 members 15 members None

Civil Service Exemptions Any managerial employees "deemed appropriate" Any managerial employees "deemed appropriate" Relatively few

Contracting Out Requires Supervisors' approval by ordinance Requires Supervisors' approval by ordinance Unclear

Municipal Transportation Fund A "Base Amount" plus revenues from Muni and DPT A "Base Amount" plus revenues from Muni and DPT None

Personnel System Agency runs its own civil service system Agency runs its own civil service system Run by CSC and DHR

Service Standards Must develop & publish Must develop & publish Informal only

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item	Rescue Muni/SPUR	New Muni Task Force	Status Quo
Agency	Municipal Railway, Parking and Traffic, Parking Authority	Municipal Railway only	None
Agency Board	Removable only for cause; transit experience required	Can have "managerial" experience; no mention of removal (serve at pleasure of the Mayor?)	At pleasure of Mayor; minimal qualifications
Bargaining Units	Can't have one unit represent managers & their employees	No provision	No provision
Base Level of Service	Must be at the level scheduled in April 1996 timetable	Must adopt new Base Level (approximately 4.5 million hours) by 2001	None
Board staff	Not specified	Auditor, General Counsel, Secretary serve the board	Secretary only
Budget Adequacy	Not specified	Must meet "Base Level of Service" or service reductions are required; must be audited by a third party	None
Budget Adoption	Supervisors can reject but not modify	Adopted in normal budget cycle	Adopted in normal budget cycle
Detailed Service Standards	85% on time 98.5% service delivery 1.5% crush loaded	None	None
General Manager	Hired by Board; runs Muni and DPT	Hired by Board; runs Muni	In fact hired by Mayor
Incentive Pay	Required, based on detailed standards above	None	None
Passenger Advisory Council	11 by Supervisors, 2 by Mayor, 2 by agency board; disability representation required	11 by Supervisors, 4 by Mayor	None
Protected funding	Fixed share of city expenditures	Share of the business tax (38%); can increase by 1% per year, up to 38%, if farebox recovery is >36% (= fares/revenue go up)	None
Salary Formula	Removes the salary formula (cap) in the Charter	Retains it (Cap at the average of the two highest-paid transit systems in the nation)	Retains it
Transit-First Policy	Significantly strengthened	Not specified	Weak
Work Rule Reform	No unexcused absences Must be able to dispatch trains in order, run weekend service, implement proof of payment	No provision	No provision