111 EAST COMMERCIAL STREET, WILLITS, MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA, USA

AND BY TELECONFERENCE AT

EUREKA DEPOT

4 WEST SECOND STREET, EUREKA, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA, USA

A. CALL TO ORDER – At 11:30 am.

B. ROLL CALL

Directors present: Chair David Ripple, Second Vice Chair Leo Sears, Robert Simonson, Daniel Opalach, and Allan Hemphill.

Directors absent: Budge Campbell and Jake Mackenzie

Staff present: Executive Director Max H Bridges, General Counsel Christopher J Neary, Property Manager Cyndee Logan, and Administrator Pamela Fishtrom.

C. AGENDA APPROVAL

Dir. Sears moved approval of the Agenda with the addition of Item F3. Response to March 12, 2002 Niemeyer letter; seconded by Dir. Simonson. Vote taken; motion carried unanimously.

D. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Kaye Strickland requested postpone closing the Eureka office until all alternatives are considered. Chair Ripple requested she, and members of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Support Coalition, submit written questions and ideas relative to this item for the next Regular Board meeting in the context of the budget item.

Fred Carmichael asked the Board to dispense with the studies and go on with the work.

Marcus Brown asked the Board to reconsider closing the Eureka office.

E. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

1. Report from the California Transportation Committee Meeting

Chair Ripple reported the California Transportation Commission (CTC) needed additional information over that which was presented. A series of meetings are scheduled with the CTC, Caltrans, and NCRA to clarify the type and presentation of information needed to address accessing the Transit Congestion Relief Program funds.

2. Approval of the Santa Rosa Effluent Pipeline Easement Agreement

The Committee met to discuss this issue at great length, and recommended the full Board approve the revised easement agreement and the resolution associated with the agreement, although the vote was not unanimous.

Dir. Simonson moved approval of the recommendation of the Committee; seconded by Dir Hemphill.

Dir. Sears expressed his dissatisfaction with Legal Consel’s action to change the license agreement to an easement agreement.

A roll call vote was taken; Chair Ripple, “aye;” Dir. Hemphill, “aye;” Dir. Simonson, “aye;” Dir. Sears, “nay;” Dir. Opalach, “aye.” Four “aye;” one “nay;” two “absent;” motion passed.

3. Response to the Niemeyer Letter of March 12, 2002

The letter was read aloud: it said Mr. Niemeyer, Principal Engineer of Niemeyer and Associates, will submit an offer to purchase the Railroad. The Directors varied in their responses to the letter.

Dir. Sears moved that this be referred to the Independent Operators Committee to compose a written response; seconded by Dir. Hemphill. Roll call vote taken: Chair Ripple, “aye;” Dir. Hemphill, “aye;” Dir. Simonson, “aye, with the understanding that it be brought to the full Board next week;” Dir. Sears, “aye;” Dir. Opalach, “aye;” motion passed unanimously.