The MST Board adopted Resolution
2007-06 recognizing Grace Casey, Coach Operator, as MST Employee of the Month
for October 2006. Grace is recognized as an Above Standard employee and was
promoted to Line Instructor and Behind the Wheel Trainer shortly after being
hired. Her dedication and efforts in the training department did not go
unnoticed as she was recently selected out of many candidates to become a
Certified Department of Transportation Trainer (DOT). Grace has made safety a
priority in the workplace and in July of 2006 received the MST Safety Award for
“11 years of safe driving”. Most
recently, Grace was instrumental in the training and implementation of the new
Line 55 Express to San Jose.
The MST Board approved and
accepted the July 26, 2006 resolution by
the TAMC Board Of Directors designating MST as Monterey County’s Consolidated
Transportation Services Agency. (CTSA).
Consolidated
Transportation Service Agencies were created in 1979, when the California State
legislature passed Assembly Bill 120, "The Social Services Transportation
Improvement Act." The vision behind
creating this model was to promote the benefits of coordinated transportation
among specialized transportation providers. These agencies are charged with the development and implementation of
regional coordination of services and improvement of transportation services to
seniors, persons with disabilities, the young, and the low-income
disadvantaged.
The MST Board adopted the
CalPERS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan.
CalPERS
457 Deferred Compensation Plan is a supplemental retirement savings program
available to public agency employees. Monterey-Salinas Transit believes that
the CalPERS 457 Plan and the investment options available will provide valuable
benefits
to its employees. The cost to MST employees would be less than one percent per
year of the assets in the plan. In addition, CalPERS offers retirement
education and full trust protection.
The MST Board adopted the
revised rate of $33 for school field trips effective November 1, 2006.
MST offers school field
trip transportation (on a space‑available basis) for public and private
schools from the pre‑school level through high school. Field trip
transportation is provided during non-peak hours on weekdays from 9:15 a.m.
until 2:30 p.m. and all day Saturdays and Sundays. The school field trip program
is offered only in conjunction with regular MST bus service and must be open
door to the general public and stop at designated stops along established MST
bus routes. Group size for a school
field trip is limited to a total of 33 people.
The MST Board approved the
Pollution Legal Liability Insurance: Self-Insured Retention (SIR) Agreement for
MST’s properties on the former Fort Ord.
For the past 22 months,
FORA, its land use jurisdictions, and other property owners such as MST have
been covered by Pollution Legal Liability Insurance for damages and injuries
related to unexploded ordnance as well as other hazardous materials remaining
on the former Fort Ord. To date, no claims have been filed. As the property of
the former Fort Ord continues to be redeveloped, FORA legal counsel has advised
the Named Insureds that there may be circumstances in which the SIR of the
Pollution Legal Liability insurance policy must be allocated among the Named
Insureds. Such a circumstance would affect multiple Named Insureds, requiring
cooperation in paying for the $1 million [for Munitions and Explosives of
Concern (“MEC”) claims] or $500,000 (for non-MEC claims) SIR before accessing
insurance benefits.
The MST Board approved the
letters of support for State Proposition 1A Transportation Investment Fund and
Proposition 1B Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, Port Security
Bond Act of 2006.
Proposition 1A limits loans
of Proposition 42 transportation funds and thereby ensures a more reliable and
stable source of funding for transportation. Proposition 42, restricted the use of sales tax on
gasoline to transportation projects, but contained a loophole that in times of
fiscal crisis the government can use those funds for general budgeting
purposes. Proposition 1A allows for an early payback of Proposition 42 funds
and would limit the ability of the State to borrow Proposition 42
transportation funds in the future.
Proposition 1B would give a
significant boost to transportation funding, including approximately $4 billion
for public transit statewide. Should
Proposition 1B pass in November, MST would be eligible to seek millions of
dollars of capital funds through various mechanisms, including some guaranteed
direct payments on a formula basis.
The MST Board awarded a
$72,000 two-year contract to JEA & Associates for state legislative
consultant services.
MST
has a continuing need for consultant services at the state capitol in
Sacramento. The consultant stays
abreast of current and potential changes in the financial and legislative
climates that affect transportation and transit funding.