HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 05/04/2005 - Workshop f JV
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JUN no5 R •IONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
F;+F BO D OF DIRECTORS' PLANNING SESSION
CITySE"IvED MAY 4, 2005
OFFICE
The Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors met at 12 p.m. at the Museum
of Science and History, 1900 N. Chaparral Street, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401.
Board Members Present: Mike Rendon, (Board Chairman); Wayland Simmons;
Carmen Arias (Board Secretary); Davie Cissna; Joe Benavides; Roland Barrera; Crystal
Lyons; John Buckley; John Longoria
Board Members Absent: Anna M. Flores (Board Vice-Chair), David Martinez
Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez, General Manager; Beth Vidaurri
Public Present: Dr. Richard Lewis, Michelle Escamilla, Roundtop Consulting; Abel
Alonzo; Matt Sturdevant; John Bell
Call to Order
Mr. Rendon called the meeting to order at 12 noon.
Introduction and overview of Session
Mr. Rendon expressed appreciation to each Board Member for attending the planning
session. He introduced Dr. Richard Lewis, planning facilitator, and his assistant Ms.
Michelle Escamilla. He explained that Dr. Lewis would be guiding the Board in
identifying, setting and prioritizing Board goals for the next twelve months. Mr. John
Bell would be talking about the roles and responsibilities of Board Members. The
session would conclude with the Board identifying a follow up strategy or next steps.
Mr. Sanchez presented a brief environmental scan outlook based on historical trends
and developments of the agency noting that ridership would experience only nominal
increases; service levels would trend with ridership levels; operating expenses would
decrease because of controlled agency spending; within five years, 56 vehicles would
• need to be replaceed; capital, requests to fund bus stop improvements and facilities
would steadily increase; during the next ten years approximately one-third of the RTA
workforce would retire; FTA formula funding would increase by about 5%; and Nueces
County population was expected to increase by 13% by 2010.
Development of a Board Vision
Dr. Lewis divided the Board Members into two groups; each group was assigned to •
develop a vision for the agency. These were discussed and merged into one vision
statement. The final vision statement developed was read as follows:
By 2010, the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority, as an innovative
organization, will have strong public support; created a better transit environment
increasing ridership; become more fiscally responsible; have high employee
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morale; created a pedestrian friendly environment; and have a �r
transportation plan.
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Board Members, through a brainstorming activity, identified the organization values
necessary for achieving the organizational vision. They were accountability, proactive;
safe environment; honesty; ethical environment; commitment, diversity, just and
fairness, focus, decisiveness, knowledge, pride, full disclosure, fun, longevity (among
board members and employees); trust; faith; and teamwork.
Organizational barriers or impediments which would hamper the agency from realizing
its vision were identified by the Board as lack of communication (within the
organization); current public negative perception of the RTA; employee perceptions of
the Board of Directors; Board of Directors' perceptions of employees; lack of training for
employees; lack of training for employees; attitude of"if it's not broke, don't fix it";
ignorance; lack of leadership; lack of Board dedication and commitment;=poor Board
Member attendance and involvement in the RTA; geographic size of the RTA service
area; fear of criticism and change; lack of resources; number of personalities to deal
with (diverse opinions); lack of Board unity; lack of a focus or organizational vision; and
fear of negative feedback from both the public and employees.
Mr. Rendon recessed the meeting at 1:45 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at
2 p.m.
Identification and Prioritization of RTA Short-Term Goals
Lead by Dr. Lewis, the Board Members identified twenty-five short-term goals. Using a
six-point voting system, the goals were divided into first order and second order goals.
First order goals received at least three votes and second order received two or less.
A total of ten first order goals were identified. Two goals - improve board travel policy
and implement a board ethics policy—were identified as requiring Board of Directors'
action. The remaining eight goals were identified as key components of the General
Manager's performance evaluation and the RTA's report card for 2005-2006. They
were listed as follows (vote totals included):
• Conduct an independent accounting report on where the RTA is now (place
emphasis on depreciating grants). (7)
• Evaluate ADA compliance of fixed routes. (6)
• Improve board travel policy. (6)
• Implement a board ethics policy. (6)
• Get right with compensation and benefits program. (6)
• Establish a wellness program. (5)
• Look at the size of buses we need. (5)
• Take action on bus fares. (4)
• Creation of board library that involves all active plans and policies active in the RTA.
(3)
• Redesign the RTA web site. (3)
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Fifteen second order goals were identified. They were as follows (vote totals included) :
• Develop legal services evaluation process. (2)
• Enhance public relations. (2)
• Make sure the board follows up with the General Manager on short-term goals. (2)
• Increase employee training. (1)
• Hire accounting personnel. (1)
• Establish a board plan for.contributions. (1)
• Educate the community on the importance of a transit-oriented environment. (1)
• Evaluation paratransit certification and qualification process.(1)
• Establish a safety plan.
• Review current procurement policies.
• Create a team of public officials to improve a transit-oriented environment."
•- Achieve design consistency.
•. Look at innovative changes of service.
• Improve and enhance sensitivity training and customer service.
•. Review employee evaluation procedures.
There was a brief discussion. Dr. Lewis stated that RTA staff needed to develop
detailed action steps on the short-term goals. He would provide a recommendation on
the procedure for Board follow-up on the General Manager's progress in implementing
the Board's goals.
Mr. Buckley recommended that policies regarding travel, ethics, and community
contributions be presented at the next Administration Committee meeting for review.
Also identified were long-term goals that would be addressed systematically in a future
strategic planning session. They were as follows:
• Develop an extensive transit education program.
• Develop a master transportation plan.
• Complete the streetcar project.
• Enhance public relations.
• Examine the development of a pedestrian friendly environment.
• Build relationships with the city, county, port, MPO, and downtown with respect to a
transportation plan.
• Enhance the RTA percentage of the sales tax.
Board and Staff Relationships
Mr. Bell distributed a handout on Board and staff relationships. He reviewed excerpts of
Chapter 451 of the Transportation Code that governs RTA operations. He noted that
fare increases were required to be approved by a Fare Approval Committee.
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There was a brief question and answer period. Mr. Bell clarified that RTA could issue
bonds and State law governed the procedure for removal of a Board Member for
violating a board policy.
Mr. Rendon recessed the meeting at 3:30 p.m. He reconvened the meeting at
4 p.m.
Some Board/Staff issues were identified as: 1) sometimes the staff drives the agenda;
2) the Board receives information with not enough notice and not enough information to
make an informed decision; 3) information is not provided in time for addressing
deadline information; 4) staff generally does a great job of providing information; 5)
staff/board relations need to be more efficient and effective; and 6) staff needs to
provide information in a timely manner.
Next Steps -
The Board of Directors identified the following items as actions they would like to see
happen as a result of the planning session: 1) creation of a six-month board agenda; 2)
review of current board structure and operation; 3) quarterly reports from the General
Manager on the short-term goals; 4) development of a forum for Board discussion of
transit issues; 5) General Manager to draft a short-goals implementation plan within 30
days and report back to the Board; 6) board goals involving travel, ethics, and
community contribution placed on the Board's Administration Committee agenda.
After a general discussion, Mr. Sanchez noted that he would strive to meet expectations
set at this meeting. However, he noted that he would be working with Dr. Lewis in
• conjunction with RTA Staff to develop a goal implementation strategy within a
reasonable timeframe.
It was the consensus of the Board to conduct a follow up strategic planning session in
September 2005. Dr. Lewis stated that the session would last approximately two hours.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5 p.m.
;•14 adeta/U,0Carmen Arias
Board Secretary
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Date
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