Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (CAC) QUARTERLY UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE quarterly status report on the Community Advisory Council (CAC).
Issue
ISSUE
This receive and file board report is a quarterly update on the activities of the Community Advisory Council (CAC) from March 2025 through May 2025.
Background
BACKGROUND
Per state statute, Metro has established a Citizens Advisory Committee, whose membership “shall reflect a broad spectrum of interests and all geographic areas of the county.” The CAC voted to be referred to as the Community Advisory Council to better reflects its values.
Per the CAC's bylaws, the group consults, obtains, and collects public input on matters of interest and concern to the community, as well as those assigned by the Board of Directors or Metro staff. The CAC (a Brown Act compliant committee) communicates their recommendations concerning key issues to Metro’s Board of Directors.
The CAC is currently comprised of 24 voting members. CAC members are directly appointed by the Metro Board of Directors and serve at the pleasure of their appointing Director. The CAC General Assembly meets monthly on the Wednesday evening before the Metro Board of Directors meeting. The CAC’s elected officers meet as an Executive Committee on the first Wednesday of each month.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Since the last update to the Board, the CAC General Assembly convened three times to discuss various Metro projects, programs, and agency initiatives. The CAC General Assembly also voted in November to create two subcommittees, the CAC Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Subcommittee and the CAC Planning and Programming Subcommittee to mirror analogous Metro Board committees to have greater impact and influence on key items before the Board. The subcommittees will monitor developments and issues within their respective subject areas. The subcommittees also participate in the CAC Executive Committee to inform and present to the broader CAC, who will send timely recommendations on key topics to the Metro Board.
March 2025
Due to the changes in the federal funding landscape, several CAC members expressed concerns regarding federal and state funding and requested to receive an update from Metro’s Government Relations Department. At the March 26, 2025, General Assembly meeting, Government Relations presented on state and federal legislative issues and challenges. CAC members brought up concerns about potential funding cuts to capital projects and operations/service reductions.
Metro staff discussed support for AB 939, which includes a $20 million general obligation bond, noting that two thirds of votes are needed to pass the bond into legislation. CAC members had many questions and concerns regarding AB 939 and wanted to know what operation specific funding is being requested. Metro staff shared that operations would be covered in the $2 billion request from Senator Arreguin and Assemblymember Gonzalez and that Los Angeles would receive roughly 25%. Staff added that, separately, per Metro’s Board’s direction, Metro is using SB 125 funding to continue capital projects.
CAC members had a robust conversation about concerns regarding Metro’s position on the current Administration’s push to increase federal immigration enforcement, as it would negatively impact Metro riders. Metro staff clarified that Metro cannot regulate the presence of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) on public transit and that Metro shares “Know Your Rights” information throughout the system. Several CAC members expressed the desire to make a recommendation to develop further policies/procedures regarding ICE to the Metro Board, but no motion was introduced.
April 2025
On April 2, the CAC Operations, Safety, & Customer Experience Subcommittee held their first meeting to discuss agenda topics and to select their Chair. Some of the topics that were suggested included the budget planning for FY27, new fare gates, Tap to Exit, and Station Experience. To begin, the subcommittee will meet every month before transitioning to meeting bi-monthly.
On April 10, the CAC Planning and Programming Subcommittee held their first meeting to discuss agenda topics and to select their Chair. The subcommittee will focus on making recommendations around major capital projects, such as those funded under Measure M and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ). They also plan to discuss project recommendations to inform Metro’s Board’s discussion on the Measure M decennial.
On April 16, Metro staff and parliamentarian subcontractors facilitated a training on the Brown Act and Robert’s Rules of Order for all CAC members. All CAC members were encouraged to attend to and to ask questions regarding parliamentarian procedures. A total of 11 CAC members attended the training. This was the first training of its kind specifically offered to the CAC members and in due time for their Executive Committee elections in June.
At the April 23, 2025, General Assembly meeting, the CAC received an update from the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) on the Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget. Metro staff provided a comprehensive overview of what is being proposed to be funded across Metro programs and services. CAC members asked questions regarding funding allocations and the potential negative impacts from funding cuts towards maintenance, refurbishment, and improvement and whether projected revenues might be affected by the grants received or that might be cancelled under the current administration.
Members requested clarification as to whether the budget item for operations and maintenance was reflective of the financial impacts of additional transit lines coming online under Measure M. Metro staff were tasked with several follow-up action items and responded to the council’s follow-up questions within a week of the meeting.
May 2025
The CAC Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee met on May 7 to receive an update on the Metro’s Board Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience meeting discussion and to discuss Station Experience and FY’27 budget topics and identify a research workplan and the subcommittee's next steps.
A CAC member participated in and distributed CAC promotional materials at Metro’s On the Move Program’s Older Adults Transportation Expo on May 9 in Pasadena.
The CAC Planning and Programming Committee met on May 20 to receive an update on the Metro’s Board Planning and Programming Committee meeting discussion and to discuss the Measure M decennial and Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality Program funding (CMAQ).
On May 28, the CAC General Assembly meeting included a presentation by Community Relations and a discussion on the Public Participation Plan (PPP) to provide input during the PPP open public comment period in May.
Membership Update
The CAC Chair and Metro staff reached out to all Board Members’ deputy staff in February about recruitment. The 13 voting Metro board members, under AB 152, can appoint up to four CAC members each. After promoting CAC membership to constituents, in April, Director Padilla appointed two members and Director Sandoval appointed one new member to the CAC. All new members received a virtual onboarding orientation led by Metro staff.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
CAC members intentionally represent diverse ethnic and geographic backgrounds and distinct perspectives to be reflective of Metro’s ridership, which has diversified further ethnically and geographically with recent appointments. Of the 24 members who self-disclosed their ethnic background, 71% identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color, which is a 10% increase in people of color over the past few months.
The CAC is comprised of several members that ride transit and use Access services. One CAC Member has a disability, which helps inform CAC conversations with that lived experience and perspective. At present, 29% of CAC members are women.
The CAC’s increasing diversity is due to Metro staff and the CAC Chair collaborating to communicate with each Board of Directors’ deputy and reminding them of current vacancies and which demographic/geographic needs can be filled by their appointments.
Staff have worked to curate strategic, discussion driven conversations that are well integrated with subcommittee recommendations. CAC members’ concerns and feedback on various topics have helped inform Metro’s Board of Directors to make more equitably designed projects, programs, and initiatives by uplifting underserved voices.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. While this item does not directly encourage taking transit, sharing a ride, or using active transportation, it is a vital part of Metro operations, as it is a formal advisory body which provides community input on key agency priorities, projects and programs which can lead to an enhanced customer experience. Because the Metro Board has adopted an agency-wide VMT Reduction Target, and this item supports the overall function of the agency, this item is consistent with the goals of reducing VMT.
* Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 1 - Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling
Goal 2 - Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system
Goal 3 - Enhance community and lives through mobility and access to opportunity
Goal 4 - Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership
Goal 5 - Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization
The CAC’s advisory input to Metro supports Metro’s Strategic Vision Goals, as outlined above, per the State statute that created the CAC. Per the CAC’s bylaws, its purview may be broad and needn’t be specific to one agency issue area or concern.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
The CAC General Assembly will meet on June 25 to conduct their Executive Committee elections. The CAC Operations, Safety, and Customer Experience Committee will meet on June 4. The CAC Planning and Programming Committee will begin to meet every other first Tuesday of the month. Metro staff will continue to support the CAC.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Allison Mannos, Senior Manager, Community Relations, (213) 522-9952
Patricia Soto, Director, Community Relations, (213) 922-1249
Lilian De Loza-Gutierrez, Executive Officer, Communications, Community Relations, (213) 922-7479
Yvette Rapose, Deputy Chief Customer Experience Officer, (213) 418-3154
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Jennifer Vides, Chief Customer Experience Office, (213) 922-4060
