Thank you, chairwoman brown. I now recognize mr. Gardner, you may proceed. Mr. Gardner thank you, chairman lipinsk lipinski, the Ranking Member, and thank you for the opportunity to testify today Service Transportation boards key role in enabling amtrak to effectively serve the nation. Strongly support the s. T. B. Needs ieve the board updated authority for Passenger Rail so we can achieve the ontime evels and erformance your constituents deserve. Ongress took amtrak on for the job. Common carrier obligations for assengers and the associated operating losses for passenger service, the freights agreed to whereverrak to operate and whenever it wanted over their lives. Trains with trak dispatching preference over freight and to empower what is the s. T. B. To ensure amtraks access to the rail network. 50 years since the Freight Railroads agreed eagerly to this bargain and yet many of our host railroads fall short in ulfilling some of these key obligation obligations. Mr. Gardner, if youll
[roll call] clerk we have a quorum. Madam president , i want to make a couple of announcements. First, i want to let everybody know that closed session will not be heard today. Due to the covid19 Health Emergency and given the Public Health recommendation issued by the San Francisco department of Public Health and that Governor Newsom and mayor breed have lifted on teleconference, this meeting is being televised on sfgovtv. Please note that there is a delay between live and what is being viewed on sfgtv. If you wish to make Public Comment on an item, dial 14156550001, meeting i. D. 1467101398, pound, pound. To raise your hand to speak, press star, three. Please limit your Public Comment to the item that is under consideration. Im going to ask the commission and staff to mute their microphones if they have not already done so. Madam president , your first order of business is to approve the minutes of the meeting of october 27, 2020. Commissioners, do i have any questions or discussion
It is still open today. In this hourlong program, curator sarah levit shows us what architecture can reveal about how the mentally ill were cared for over time. We decided to do this exhibition for many reasons, one of which i think its a real important moment to be talking about the role of the federal government in providing Public Health and providing healthcare for the mentally ill. And what that role has been over time. I think this is an interesting time to talk about that. Also, right now, at st. Elizabeths in d. C. , its really a time where theyre looking to develop the land. Its now split into two halves, the federal government owns half of it and it will become the department of Homeland Security, which is something thats happening right now and also development is really starting on the east campus, which is owned by the city of washington, d. C. , its a really interesting time to Start Talking about that since theyre really moving forward and starting that development proce
[indiscernible] being held via teleconference. For those watching the live stream be aware theres a brief time lag between the live meeting and what is being viewed on sf gov tv. Id like to extend our appreciation to the staff for their assistance during the meet. If you wish to make a Public Comment dial 1415655001 [audio digitizing] ill ask asking to keep muted and item 19 has been removed from the agenda and we will not hear closed session item 19 the other closed session item will remain on the calendar. The first order of business is the annual election of officers. At the first regular meeting of the commission after the first day of october each year the members shall elect a president and Vice President of the commission to serve a oneyear term. Commissioners you, will first nominate the elected position and elect the position of Vice President. Public comment will be taken separately on each. [indiscernible] members of the public who wish to make two minutes of Public Comment
Can you please call the roll . [ roll call ] clerk you have a quorum. Announcement of prohibition of sound producing devices during the meeting. Approval of the minutes from the october 6 regular meeting. Can we open up the line for Public Comment on the minutes from the october 6 meeting. You have zero questions remaining. Well pause 20 seconds. If no one comes on the line, well move along. Clerk if members of the public wish to address the board on the meeting, please dial 10 to join the queue. And the number is available on the screen, should anyone want to join. You have zero questions remaining. Then well close Public Comment. Directors, are there any additions or amendments to the minutes . If not, may i hear a motion. Motion. Is there a second . A second. Please call the roll. [ roll call ] clerk 50. Item 5, communications. Due to the covid19 emergency, this meeting is being held virtually and all members of the public and staff are participating via video conference. This will