BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REGULAR MEETING

MONTEREY‑SALINAS TRANSIT

November 14, 2005

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Chairman Armenta called the meeting to order at 10:03 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

                  Libby Downey                  City of Monterey

                  Ron Schenk                  City of Pacific Grove

                  Sergio Sanchez                  City of Salinas

                  Thomas Mancini                  City of Seaside

                  Fernando Armenta                  County of Monterey

                  Maria Orozco                  City of Gonzales (Ex-Officio)

 

Absent:                  Gary Wilmot                  City of Marina

                                         

Staff:                  Carl Sedoryk                  General Manager/CEO

Kathy Medina      Human Resources Assistant

                  Michael Hernandez                  Director of Maintenance & Transportation

                  Lyn Owens                  Director of Human Resources

                  Hunter Harvath                  Director of Customer Services

                  Robert Weber                  Transit Services Manager

                  Mary Archer                  Planner

                  Dave Sobotka                  Controller

                  Mark Eccles  IT Manager

                  Deb Daniels                  Operations Supervisor

                  Fred Libert                  Accountant

                  Kathleen Chaquette                  Operations Supervisor

                       

Others:            Dave Laredo            Legal Counsel

                  Ernie Sanchez                                         Coach Operator

                  John Sigala                          MV Transportation

 

Apology is made for any misspelling of a name.

 

2-1. – 2-7.  CONSENT AGENDA

 

The consent agenda items consisted of the following:

 

2-1.          Adopt Resolution 2006-08 recognizing Ernie Sanchez as Employee of the Month for November 2005.

 

2-2.          Disposal of property left aboard buses.

 

2-3.          Minutes of the regular meeting of October 10, 2005.

 

2-4.          Financial Report – October 2005.

 

2-5.          MST Appointments to CalTIP, FORA, and TAMC.

 

2-6.          Claim rejection – Jose Luis Ramirez.

 

2-7.          Claim rejection – Erika Camacho.

 

            Director Schenk moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Director Downey seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

3. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

 

Kathy Chaquette, Operations Supervisor, introduced Ernie Sanchez, Coach Operator, as MST Employee of the Month for November 2005. On October 14, 2005, while off duty, Ernie observed an MST coach on Sanborn Road positioned with the front of the coach resting against a light pole. Operator Sanchez ran over to the coach and pried the doors open to access the driver and his passengers.  Ernie immediately noted that the driver was unable to radio the communication center. Ernie called in the emergency and stayed with the driver and passenger until help arrived. 

 

Dave Sobotka, Controller, presented a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Accounting staff. MST has received this honor for the past three years.

 

4.  PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

None.

 

5-1. – 5-2.  COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

The Board accepted and filed the MST RIDES Advisory Committee Minutes – September 19, 2005; and the Legislative Committee Minutes – October 10, 2005.

 

6. BIDS/PROPOSALS

 

None.

 

7. PUBLIC HEARING

 

None.

 

8-1. BUSINESS PLAN AND SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN

 

            The Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) is the primary planning document for MST, and it is an integral part of the MST Business Plan that guides the future direction of the agency. The MST Business Plan and SRTP provide the business justification for projects and service levels during the coming years. 

 

Director Downey moved to adopt the FY 2006-2008 Business Plan and Short Range Transit Plan. Director Mancini and the motion carried unanimously.

 

9-1. 2005 MST TROLLEY SEASON

 

Mr. Harvath, Director of Customer Services, reported a 9% increase in ridership for the summer of 2005 for the MST Trolley. The benefits of a long-term contract with the City of Monterey and its reliable funding mechanisms are demonstrated in the increase of passengers.

 

During the last two weeks of the trolley season, MST staff distributed and collected 224 passenger surveys on board the MST Trolley serving The WAVE route. The results of the survey show that customers were very satisfied with the MST Trolley service overall giving MST good or excellent ratings of 99% to 100% in Driver Courtesy, Driver Safety, Convenience and Cleanliness. The trolley has also proved to be a way of reaching non-traditional public transit riders. Of those surveyed, half do not use public transit regularly. Of these non-transit users, 81% said they would try using public transportation as a result of their experience on the MST trolley.

 

Mr. Sedoryk said this service was contracted and run by MV Transportation.

 

Director Schenk moved to receive the report on the results of MST Trolley for the 2005 season. Director Clark seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

10-1. – 10-9.  REPORTS & INFORMATION ITEMS

 

The reports consisted of the General Manager/CEO Report; TAMC Highlights – October 26, 2005; Washington D. C. Lobbyist Report – October 28, 2005; Sacramento Lobbyist Report – November 1, 2005; Letters to California Air Resources Board (CARB); Response to letter regarding MST RIDES ADA Paratransit Service; Thank you letter from California International Airshow; Thank you letter from TAMC regarding WAVE trolley service; and Final report on MST Triennial Performance Audit.

 

Mr. Harvath reported that the preliminary ridership figures for the Grapevine Express shows tremendous growth over the regular Carmel Valley route before it was marketed as the Grapevine Express. Feedback from the public on this route was favorable.

 

11. COMMENTS BY BOARD MEMBERS

 

Director Sanchez would like to see MST’s Emergency Preparedness Plan. He wants to see how public transit would work with other agencies in coordinating resources in helping to evacuate people during an emergency. Mr. Sedoryk reported that MST does work with the Office of Emergency Services to help evacuate people in Carmel and Carmel Valley and to help evacuate employees at McGraw-Hill during a bio-hazard scare.

 

Director Orzoco commented MST staff for their efforts in staffing an MST booth during the City of Gonzales’ Annual Health & Safety Fair. This is a great way to advertise and market MST service.

 

Director Clark said the Edgewater Bus stop is looking good. She thanked MST staff for providing information about MST to new residents in Del Rey Oaks.

 

12. ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Next Board meeting will be on Monday, December 19th. An MST Board Workshop will be held on January 9th in lieu of a regular MST Board meeting.

 

13. ADJOURNMENT

 

            There being no further business, Chairman Armenta adjourned the meeting at 11:02 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY: _______________________________

                                              Sonia AR Bannister