BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGULAR MEETING
MONTEREY‑SALINAS TRANSIT
August 14, 2006
1.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman
Armenta called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the Monterey-Salinas
Transit Conference Room.
Present: Michael Cunningham City of Carmel‑By‑The‑Sea
Kristin Clark City of Del Rey Oaks
Gary Wilmot City of Marina
Libby Downey City of Monterey
Ron Schenk City of Pacific Grove
James Serrano City of Salinas
Thomas Mancini City of Seaside
Fernando Armenta County of Monterey
Absent: Maria Orozco City of Gonzales (Ex-Officio)
Staff: Carl Sedoryk General Manager/CEO
Michael Hernandez Chief Operating Officer
Lyn Owens Director of Human Resources
Hunter Harvath Director of Administration
Robert Weber Transit Services Manager
Sonia Bannister Office Administrator
William Morris Contract Transportation
Manager
Brigga Mosca Marketing & Sales Manager
Dave Sobotka Controller
Tonja Posey Human Resources Supervisor
Eli
Naor VBN
Architects
Theresa
Obrist Coach Operator
Thomas
Wittman Perteet
Wayne
Donney Monterey resident
Jim
Fink Salinas
resident
Matthew
Melzer MST
Lance
Atencio MVT
Apology
is made for any misspelling of a name.
2-2. – 2-8. CONSENT AGENDA
The
consent agenda items consisted of the following:
2-2.
Adopt
Resolution 2007-02 recognizing Herb Tamanaha, Maintenance Clerk, as Employee of
the Month for August 2006.
2-3.
Disposal
of property left aboard buses.
2-4.
Minutes
of the regular meeting of July 10, 2006.
2-5.
Financial Report – July
2006.
2-6.
Ratify employment
liability insurance renewal.
2-7.
Claim rejection.
2-8.
Adopt Resolution
2007-03 recognizing Theresa Obrist for 15 years of service.
Director Downey moved to approve the
items on the consent agenda. Director Schenk seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Michael
Hernandez, Chief Operating Officer, introduced Herb Tamanaha, Maintenance Clerk
as MST Employee of the Month for August 2006. Herb provided significant help
during the development of specifications for MST’s Integrated Maintenance
Management Information System. In July of 2005, Herb willingly stepped into a
Project Coordinator role for this important project. During the past year, Herb
has provided excellent coordination between the Maximus vendor and the MST
project team. Herb has been one of the
primary contacts with the Maximus staff for the past year, and a significant
part of the project startup and implementation efforts were funneled through
him.
The
Board also recognized Theresa Ruth Obrist, Coach Operator, for her retirement
after 15 years of service.
4.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jim
Fink, Salinas resident, said customers need to have restroom facilities
available after hours. He suggested adding a safety buzzer instead of having a
security guard or maybe contacting Salinas PD to patrol the area. With regards
to the new fare zone, he stated that King City is in the center of Monterey
County. There is no way to connect from King City to areas south of King City
on public transit.
5-1 – 5-2. COMMITTEE MINUTES
The
Board accepted and filed the MST RIDES Advisory Committee Minutes – June 19,
2006; and Planning/Operations Committee Minutes – July 10, 2006.
6.
BIDS/PROPOSALS
None.
7-1. MST RIDES ZONES AND NEW FARE ZONE
STRUCTURE PUBLIC HEARING
The
MST RIDES zone structure needs to be modified in order to establish similar
zones for both fixed route and MST RIDES. The MST RIDES South County zone
change is necessary to ensure that ADA Paratransit fares remain within ADA
compliance. The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Part 37, Section 37.131
c, essentially states that the fare charged to an ADA Paratransit user cannot
exceed twice the fare for a similar trip on the fixed-route system.
Chairman
Armenta opened the public hearing to receive comments on the proposed changes.
Seeing no one wishing to comment, the public hearing was closed.
Director Wilmot
moved to adopt the modified MST RIDES fare zone structure. Director Schenk
seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
8-1. MARINA TRANSIT STATION FINAL
DESIGN
Eli Naor, VBN Architects, gave a brief overview of
the timeline for this project.
Currently, this project is in the EIR phase, which is scheduled to be
completed in October. The final design is scheduled to be completed the 3rd
week in October. In November-December this project will go out to bid. December
through September 2007 will be construction.
The project is currently divided into 3 distinct
elements and project phases: the transit portion, and two additional levels of
construction that include a combination of “mixed-use development”, which
includes commercial and residential structures.
Mr. Sedoryk, General Manager/CEO, said it is MST’s
intent to develop this property as quickly as possible.
Director Wilmot said overall the City of Marina
Planning Commission is happy with the project. This is what the City is looking
for.
No action was taken on this item.
8-2. PENINSULA AREA SERVICE STUDY
The Peninsula Area Service Study
(PASS) evaluated how well MST’s bus service in and around the Monterey
Peninsula area (coastal communities from Big Sur to Watsonville) is meeting
passenger demand with regards to on-time performance, safety and convenience
and examined present and anticipated development and travel patterns. As a result
of this analysis, a series of new and adjusted bus routes that would better
serve existing and future public transit customers as well as increase overall
ridership have been proposed.
Thomas Wittman, Perteet, gave a presentation on the
details of the PASS. He discussed the following alternatives: New Marina, CSUMB
service to Monterey; direct all-day service in Seaside to Carmel; direct
service from Seaside to Ryan Ranch; using smaller buses in Asilomar; new route
using smaller buses operating between downtown Carmel and Carmel Rancho; and
Carmel Rancho to Monterey operating all day.
The
study evaluated how well MST’s bus service in and around the Monterey Peninsula
area is meeting passenger demand with regards to on-time performance, safety
and convenience, and examined present and anticipated development and travel
patterns. As a result of the analysis, a series of new and adjusted bus routes
that would better serve existing and future public transit customers as well as
increase overall ridership has been proposed.
Jim
Fink, said he uses the MPC Library on Sundays during the school year. The
proposed change would not allow him to use this resource.
With
regard to line 22 Big Sur, Mr. Fink said he has spoken with employees in Big
Sur and there is adequate ridership to warrant year-round service. Mr. Harvath
said he contacted businesses in Big Sur
and the business community said they prefer twice as many trips during the
summer. There is not sufficient demand to require year-round service.
Director Cunningham moved to authorize
staff to schedule public hearings and to appoint Hearing Officers to receive
comments on the Peninsula Area Service Study. Director Mancini seconded and the
motion carried unanimously.
9-1.
INTENT TO PURCHASE/NEGOTIATE BUS PURCHASE
Michael Hernandez, Chief Operating Officer, said the
CNG fleet continues to negatively impact MST’s ability to provide reliable
service due to mechanical failures. MST has the ability to procure new buses in
conjunction with Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) in Johnstown, PA.
Based on service requirements and to remain
compliance with FTA spare ratio requirements, MST will purchase only 15 buses
to replace the 17 CNG buses to be retired. CamTran has provided MST the
opportunity to purchase 15 vehicles from their contract with Gillig
Corporation; however, they require a letter of intent in order to reserve these
vehicle options. Gillig also requires an official letter of intent, which can
be cancelled if negotiations for financing are not successful. Once an order is
placed, the current delivery time is estimated to be at least 12 months.
Municipal Service Group (MSG) arranged the financing
for MST’s acquisition of 40 buses and six trolleys in 2001. MST has proposed
restructuring the debt to finance an additional 17 vehicles over their 12-year
life at a blended interest rate of 4.44%. There is adequate cash flow from
local transportation funds, anticipated federal formula funds and other state
transit assistance for the debit service. Staff estimates that the additional
interest costs will be more than offset by the reduced operating costs
resulting from retirement of the CNG vehicles within six years.
Director Cunningham supports the purchase; however,
he would like staff to hold off as long as possible before entering into this
procurement.
Director Schenk
moved to: 1) authorize MST to exercise the option to purchase 15 buses through
the Cambria County Transit Authority’s contract with Gillig Corporation; and 2)
authorize the GM/CEO to negotiate a financing package with Municipal Services
Group for this procurement. Director Wilmot seconded and the motion carried
unanimously.
10-1. – 10-5. REPORTS & INFORMATION ITEMS
The
reports consisted of the General Manager/CEO Report; TAMC Highlights – July 26,
2006; Washington D. C. Lobbyist Report – July 28, 2006; Update on State Transit
Assistance Program; and Letter to Jim Fink in response to comments made at July
10 Board meeting.
11. COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS
Director
Downey reported that she represented the MST Board on a panel on Succession at
the APTA Board Members Conference in Montreal. Director Mancini gave a brief
report on the conference. He talked briefly about the transit system in
Montreal. Chairman Armenta talked about the Transit Board Member’s Handbook. He
also sat on a panel to discuss trials and tribulations with regards to planning
a transit center. He recommended other Board members attend future APTA Board
member conferences.
12. ANNOUNCEMENTS
California
Transit Association Annual Conference,
13.
CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to Closed Session to meet with legal
counsel regarding the performance evaluation of the General Manager/CEO and
potential litigation.
Upon returning to
open session, Mr. Laredo reported that no reportable action was taken on either
matter.
13.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chairman Armenta
adjourned the meeting at 12:20 p.m.
PREPARED BY:
_______________________________
Sonia AR Bannister