SECTIONS 132600-132650 - California Statutes

PUBLIC UTILITIES CODE

SECTION 132600-132650

132600. For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) The "authority" is the Exposition Metro Line Construction
Authority created under this chapter.
(b) The "board" is the governing board of the authority.
(c) The "commission" is the California Transportation Commission.
(d) The "LACMTA" is the Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority.
(e) The "project" is the Los Angeles-Exposition Metro Line light
rail project extending from the Metro Rail Station at 7th Street and
Flower Street in the City of Los Angeles to the downtown of the City
of Santa Monica.

132605. The authority is hereby created for the purpose of awarding
and overseeing final design and construction contracts for
completion of the project.

132610. (a) The authority has all of the powers necessary for
planning, acquiring, leasing, developing, jointly developing, owning,
controlling, using, jointly using, disposing of, designing,
procuring, and building the project, including, but not limited to,
all of the following:
(1) Acceptance of grants, fees, allocations, and transfers of
funds from federal, state, and local agencies, and private entities.
(2) Acquiring, through purchase or through eminent domain
proceedings, any property necessary for, incidental to, or convenient
for, the exercise of the powers of the authority, provided the
authority shall use existing rights-of-way where feasible.
(3) Incurring indebtedness, secured by pledges of revenue
available for project completion.
(4) Contracting with public and private entities for the planning,
design, and construction of the project. These contracts may be
assigned separately or may be combined to include any or all tasks
necessary for completion of the project.
(5) Entering into cooperative or joint development agreements with
local governments or private entities. These agreements may be
entered into for the purpose of sharing costs, selling or leasing
land, air, or development rights, providing for the transferring of
passengers, making pooling arrangements, or for any other purpose
that is necessary for, incidental to, or convenient for the full
exercise of the powers granted to the authority. For purposes of this
paragraph, "joint development" includes, but is not limited to, an
agreement with any person, firm, corporation, association, or
organization for the operation of facilities or development of
projects adjacent to, or physically or functionally related to, the
project.
(6) Relocation of utilities, as necessary for completion of the
project.
(b) The duties of the authority include, but are not limited to,
all of the following:
(1) Conducting financial and environmental studies, planning, and
engineering necessary for completion of the project.
(2) (A) Adoption of an administrative code for administration of
the authority in accordance with any applicable laws, including, but
not limited to, the Ralph M. Brown Act (Chapter 9 (commencing with
Section 54950) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government
Code), contracting and procurement laws, laws relating to contracting
goals for minority and women business participation, and the
Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000)
of the Government Code).
(B) (i) The administrative code adopted under subparagraph (A)
shall include a code of conduct for employees and board members that
is consistent with Sections 84308 and 87103 of the Government Code
and prohibits board members and staff from accepting gifts valued at
ten dollars ($10) or more from contractors, potential contractors, or
their subcontractors.
(ii) The code shall require the disclosure, on the record, of the
proceedings by the officer of the agency who receives a contribution
within the preceding 24 months in an amount of more than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) from a party or participant to a proceeding, and
the disclosure by the party or participant.
(iii) The code shall provide that no officer of the agency shall
make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her
official position to influence the decision in a proceeding, as
described in Section 84308 of the Government Code, if the officer has
willfully or knowingly received a contribution in the amount of more
than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) within the preceding 24 months
from a party or his or her agent, or from any participant or his or
her agent, if the participant has a financial interest in the
decision.
(iv) Any officer deemed ineligible to participate in a proceeding
due to the provisions of this code of conduct may be replaced for the
purposes of that proceeding by an appointee chosen by the
appropriate appointing authority.
(v) Under the code of conduct, board members shall be deemed to
have a financial interest in a decision within the meaning of Section
87100 of the Government Code if the decision involves the donor of,
or intermediary or agent for a donor of, a gift or gifts aggregating
ten dollars ($10) or more in value within the 12 months prior to the
time the decision was made.
(vi) Board members, alternate members, officers, consultants, and
employees shall not be considered financially interested solely by
virtue of their holding office or being employed by the authority as
well as an appointing authority set forth in subdivision (a) of
Section 132615, and they may participate in decisions and agreements
regarding the authority and any of the appointing authorities set
forth in subdivision (a) of Section 132615. The participation
described in this clause shall not constitute a conflict of interest
under Section 1090 of the Government Code and shall not constitute an
incompatible activity under Section 1126 of the Government Code.
(3) As necessary for final design and construction, completion of
a detailed management, implementation, safety, and financial plan for
the project and submission of the plan to the Governor, the
Legislature, and the commission.
(c) The authority shall make reasonable progress, as determined by
the commission, in the final design and construction of the project.
(d) The duties and responsibilities imposed by this section shall
be contingent upon allocation of federal and local funds by the
LACMTA for these purposes.

132615. (a) The authority shall be governed by a board consisting
of seven voting members who shall be appointed as follows:
(1) Two members shall be appointed by the City Councils of the
Cities of Santa Monica and Culver City with each city council
appointing one member by a majority vote of the membership of that
city council.
(2) Two members shall be appointed by the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors.
(3) One member shall be appointed by the LACMTA.
(4) Two members shall be appointed by the City Council of the City
of Los Angeles by a majority vote of its membership.
(b) All members shall serve a term of not more than four years,
with no limit on the number of terms that may be served by any
person.
(c) Each appointing authority shall also appoint an alternate
member to serve in a member's absence. If the position of a voting
member becomes vacant, the alternate member shall serve until the
position is filled as required pursuant to subdivision (a).
(d) Members of the board are subject to the Political Reform Act
of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government
Code).
(e) Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
(f) The board shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from
among the membership of the board.
(g) Each member of the board may be compensated at a rate of not
more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day spent attending to
the business of the authority. Compensation, if paid, shall not
exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per month, plus expenses directly
related to the performance of duties imposed by the authority,
including, but not limited to, travel and personal expenses.
(h) The Chief Executive Officer of the LACMTA shall serve on the
board as an ex officio, nonvoting member.
(i) Members appointed to the board may include members or
employees of the appointing authorities set forth in subdivision (a).

132620. (a) The board may appoint an executive director to serve at
the pleasure of the authority.
(b) The executive director is exempt from all civil service
provisions and shall be paid a salary established by the board.
(c) The executive director may appoint staff or retain consultants
as necessary to carry out the duties of the authority.
(d) All contracts approved and awarded by the executive director
shall be awarded in accordance with state and federal laws relating
to procurement. Awards shall be based on price or competitive
negotiation, or on both of those things.

132625. The LACMTA shall identify and expeditiously enter into an
agreement or agreements with the authority to do all of the
following:
(a) Hold in trust with the authority all real and personal
property, and any other assets accumulated in the planning, design,
and construction of the project, including, but not limited to,
rights-of-way, documents, third-party agreements, contracts, and
design documents, as necessary for completion of the project, unless
otherwise agreed upon by the LACMTA and the authority.
(b) Outline the design review, construction, and testing process
that acknowledges LACMTA's direct role in the review of the project
to ensure the final project will be compatible, functionally
connected, and operative within LACMTA's existing metro rail system.
(c) Describe the various funding sources and the obligations of
the authority to assist LACMTA obtain federal, state, and local funds
for the project, and the authority's obligations and duties upon
receipt of the funds necessary to construct the project.
(d) Describe all financial elements of the project, and the budget
approved for the project.

132635. The authority shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding with the LACMTA that shall specifically address the
ability of the LACMTA to review any significant changes in the scope
of the design or construction, or both design and construction, of
the project. For purposes of this section, the term "significant
change" means any change of mode or technology, or any other
substantive change that affects the connectivity and operation of the
project as part of the overall transit system operated by the
LACMTA, or any combination of those things. Design and construction
of a light rail project that is consistent with the current scope of
the project shall not be deemed to be a significant change in the
scope of the project and shall not require concurrence by the LACMTA.

132640. The authority shall not encumber any future farebox revenue
anticipated from the operation of the project.

132645. The authority shall not encumber the project with any
obligation that is transferable to the LACMTA upon completion of the
design and construction of the project. The design and construction
to be administered by the authority does not include rolling stock
and fare collection equipment, which is a component of the operation
of the project and shall be provided and administered by the LACMTA.

132650. The authority shall be dissolved upon completion of
construction of the light rail project. The LACMTA shall assume
responsibility for operating the project upon completion of the
project or any of its phases.