HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 07/14/2005 .18
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REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PLANNING SESSION
AUG 2005
JULYI4, 2005 ' RECEIVED
\r- CITY SECRETARY'S
The Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors met at HolidarInn, En1rald cI
Beach, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401. .. •
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Board Members Present: Mike Rendon, (Board Chairman); Anna M. Flores (Board-
Vice-Chair); Carmen Arias (Board Secretary); Roland Barrera; Joe Benavides; Crystal
Lyons; David Martinez; Wayland Simmons
Board Members Absent: Davie Cissna; John Buckley; John Longoria
Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez, General Manager;-David Seiler; Ed Carrion; Sylvia
Castillo; Vangie Chapa;fred_Haley;_Sharon_Montez; Sharlene Sexton; Stuart Sher;.
Elias Sissamis; Lamont Taylor; Beth Vidaurri; John Bell, Legal Counsel
Public Present: Dr. Richard Lewis, Michelle Escamilla, Roundtop Consulting; Jamie
Powell, Corpus Christi Caller Times; Abel Alonzo; Julio Garcia Jr.
Call to Order
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Mr. Rendon called the meeting to order at 12:40 p.m. He announced that he would be
excusing himself later in the meeting to attend and participate in a vote at the
Metropolitan Planning Organization,meeting and would return shortly afterwards.
RTA Staffs Short Term Goal Development
Mr. Sanchez introduced Dr. Richard Lewis and his assistant Michelle Escamilla who
would be facilitating the session. •
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Dr. Lewis stated that this was the Board's second planning session. •The Regional
Transportation Authority's (RTA) senior staff had been invited to attend the session to
•provide an update on the short-term strategic goals implementation plan created by
them based on the goals established by the Board at the first planning session. Then
Mr. John Bell would moderate the discussion on the three Board issues identified at the
first planning session.
Mr..Sanchez, with,the assistance of staff assigned to the specific goals, reviewed the
staff goal report on each of the eight identified Board assigned goals and two goals
created by staff. They reported on Goal #1 —Conduct an independent financial and
operational assessment; Goal #2 — Evaluate ADA compliance needs for all RTA
services, revenue vehicles and facilities; Goal#3—Create a more positive working -
environment to support the needsl of our internal and external customers (Get right with
compensation and benefits program); Goal #4— Define and implement an effective and
innovative wellness program; Goal #5 — Establish effective fleet size composition; Goal
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July 14, 2005
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#6 —Take action on fares; Goal #7.—Create,a.Board library that includes all active plans
and policies in the RTA; Goal #8- Redesign RTA website; Staff Goal #1 — Establish an
effective marketing plan; and Staff Goal #2!- Improve"the accuracy of agencidata.
•Board Ethics Policy '
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Mr..Bell explained.that Board Members were covered under Chapter 171 of the Texas
Local Government Code. He outlined,some of the topics addressed by the Code and
by most codes of ethics that are adopted:
After a brief discussion, the consensus was that the RTA Code of Ethics should address
special privileges,,gifts, conflicts of interest,,and separation of authority.. Also, that
meeting attendance requirements for both Board and_Committee meetings should be
drafted.
Board Travel Policy
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An overview of the current Board travel policy that was amended on April '3, 2002 was
given by Mr. Bell. After discussing the current policy, the consensus was to table a
detailed discussion on this policy until more Board Members were present.
Board Contributions Policy
Mr. Bell reminded,the members that as a governmental entity, the RTA was prohibited
by the Texas Constitution from making charitable donations or gifts to any private entity.
Funds could be expended from marketing use of the transportation system. He
summarized the total three-year expenditures made by the RTA for this purpose. After
a brief discussion, the consensus was.that:the current Community Marketing program
did not need to be revised.
Next Steps
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As a result of the session, the following next steps.were identified by Board'Members:
1) staff would develop a budget for theagency wellness program; 2) a focus for the
RTA's ADA program and determination of its status would be identified before,going into
collaborative discussion with potential regional partners (the County, the City of Corpus
Christi, suburban and regional cities/town); 3) determine how the initial ADA status
study would be financed; 4) rework the short-term goal regarding fleet composition
(Goal #5) and roll it into a goal related to marketing or educating the public
transportation; 5) add the County to ADA compliance needs;.6) add private sector
benefits analysis and comparison to Goal #3 and create a more positive working
environment to support the needs of our internaland.external customers; 7) staff should
continue with the implementation of short-term goals; 8).assemble and prioritize long-
term goals- Dr. Lewis would conduct this with Board members through a facilitated e-
Regi{ Transportation Authority
Board of Directors Planning Session Minutes •
July 14, 2005
Page 3
mail process; 9) the marketing plan (staff goal) completion date would be changed from
November 2006 to March 2006; and 10) Dr: Lewis.would provide a general manager
performanceappraisal form with weighted short-term goals for Board consideration.
The consensus was that over the next two months, Mr. Bell would draft an ethics policy
that would be presented for approval by the Board of Directors.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Carmen Arias
Board Secretary
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