RobertB

What could be more of a non-event than the point in a board meeting where someone says "Move to approve the minutes of the last meeting"? Someone seconds the motion, it passes unanimously with little more than a nod from the assembled members -- five seconds, tops.

Not this time.

In the 8/14 Committee of the Whole meeting -- a week before the city of Dallas shook up its DART delegation -- the approval of the minutes stopped the meeting dead in its tracks. It's documented in the minutes, which were subject to approval in yesterday's CotW meeting (8/28), and are therefore part of the "DART Board Supplemental Information" available (temporarily) at DART's Board Agendas page.

Here's how the deal went down:

3. Approval of Minutes: July 10, 2007

Ms. Shaw (Assistant Secretary, Dallas, appointed 2003) made a motion to approve the July 10, 2007, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting minutes.

Mr. Strauss (Dallas, appointed 2006) interrupted the process, saying that the Minutes needed to be amended because a significant discussion involving NWROF was not included.

Mr. Strauss continued that during the discussion in question, he had inquired about the basis upon which the capital budget was created as respects to the 20 Year Forecast. Mr. Strauss and others had been told that the 20 Year Forecast was based on numbers that were two or three years old and then had been asked to approve additional costs for the Northwest Transit Facility (NWROF), which is 80% over budget. The Board had been told that they would be provided with new information concerning the basis of the forecast percentages prior to being asked to approve the 20 Year (Financial) Plan.

Mr. Strauss continued that they (the members of the Board) had not received any substantiating information concerning the basis of the formulas being used in the 20 Year Financial Plan and he had heard that no information would be forthcoming until 2008.

Mr. Strauss then summarized his concerns: 1) the 07-10-07 Minutes should be amended to include the discussion just covered and 2) how can the Board be expected to approve either the 20 Year Financial Plan or the 2008 Budget without good information on capital costs.

Mr. Enoch (Chair, FB/Garland/Rowlett, appointed 1997) redirected the focus onto approval of the Minutes only. Mr. Strauss concurred and Mr. Enoch suggested Ms. Shaw amend her original motion.

Ms. Shaw amended her motion to approving the Minutes subject to the NWROF discussion (as just discussed) being included in the Minutes.

Ms. Wilkins (Dallas/Plano/CHill/GHeights, appointed 1999) seconded the amended motion and it was approved unanimously.

The amended CotW minutes were changed from "16. Chair's Report: There was no report." to 13 full paragraphs of debate involving several members of the Board, including this doozy from Ray Noah, representing Addison, Highland Park, Richardson and University Park since 1984 -- someone who's seen the best and worst times of DART's history:

Mr. Noah joined the discussion, agreeing with Mr. Strauss' point. Mr. Noah added that all of the cost projections used in the 20 Financial Plan [sic] should be scrutinized. Mr. Noah continued that although DART has experienced some unusual obstacles in the past, the fact remained that the Financial Plan has been repeatedly amended for "just about everything". Mr. Noah said that, perhaps, the past proclivity of simply adding, multiplying by 4.4%, and putting whatever number results on a sheet is catching up with DART and this inadequate tactic is obviously not working. Mr. Noah continued that real attention must be paid to the figures in the 20 Year Financial Plan and focus should be exerted to determine exactly how accurately they portray anticipated costs.

"There was no report", indeed.

Is there any connection between this discussion of DART's basic financial position and the abrupt replacement of one of the Dallas DART reps? Hard to say from this vantage point, but it's clear that the DART board needs both leadership and consensus now more than ever. The Green Line project is being touted as the jewel in DART's already-shiny crown. If cost overruns tarnish the agency's reputation, it could have repercussions for decades.

(Update: the story has been picked up by Pegasus News.)

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