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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 06/07/2006 • F. gid. 4.71 n72,910.1?7,) U A `��+ REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY -' BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING auu RECEIVED WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2006 CITY SECRETARY'S ' OFFICE cy'� SUMMARY OF ACTIONS 1. Held Roll Call 2. Provided Opportunity for Public Comment 3. Adopted a Resolution for National "Dump the Pump Day" on June 8, 2006 4. Heard Update on RTAC Committee Activities 5. Consent Agenda a) Approved the Board of Directors' Minutes of May 10, 2006 b) Accepted Committee Reports c) Awarded Multiple Contracts to Wood Boykin &Wolter; Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordon; and Royston, Rayzor, Vickery & Williams, LLP for Labor and Employment Law Legal Services • d) Approved the 2006 First Quarter Defined Benefit Plan Report e) Approved the 2006 First Quarter Defined Contribution Plan Report f) Approved the April Financial Report g) Approved the RTAC Membership Application Process and Criteria h) Approved 2006 Title VI Report Submittal to the Federal Transit Administration i) Approved a Temporary Services Contract for Maintenance Department Assistance 6. Approved the 2005 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Audit and Management Letter Response 7. Approved Exercising the First Option Year for Paratransit and Fixed Routes Services 8. Heard B-Line Report 9. Heard General Manager's Report The Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors met at 8:30.a.m. in the Regional Transportation Authority Facility located at 5658 Bear Lane, Corpus Christi, Texas. Board Members Present: Rolando Barrera (Board Chair), David Martinez (Board Vice- Chair), Carmen Arias (Board Secretary), John Buckley, John Longoria, Crystal Lyons, Glenn Martin, Sara Salvide • . Board Members Absent: Anna M. Flores, John Valls Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez (General Manager), John Bell, Legal Counsel; David Seiler, Beth Vidaurri, Eduardo Carrion, Fred Haley, Sylvia Castillo, Elias Sissamis, Lamont Taylor, Sharlene Sexton, Diana Jones SCANNED _ r :regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 2 Public Present: Eloy Soza; John Shepherd, Craig Mlady, Collier, Johnson and Woods; Robert DeMars; Clarissa Gomez, Rosie Aguiar, Guadalupe Salazar, RTAEA; Lisa Godwin, Tonya Webber, Porter, Rogers, Dahlman, end Gordon; Fred McCutchon, Wood, Boykin &Wolter; Brenda Fernandez, Tom Gruefe, MV Transportation Call to Order and Roll Call The Board of Directors' meeting was called to order by Mr. Barrera at 8:33 a.m. Opportunity for Public Comment Mr. Eloy Soza, commenting on the Paratransit service, stated that there was still a concern about passenger extended in-vehicle time. He stated,that he had a possible solution and would be sharing his concept with Ms. Fernandez. Ms. Clarissa Gomez stated that due to open communications with Mr. Sanchez, the majority of employee issues were being resolved without the use of grievances and lawsuits. Ms. Rosie Aguiar expressed appreciation to the Board for hearing the RTAEA's concerns and Mr. Sanchez for having an open door policy. Both of these had made RTA a positive and better place for employees. • Mr. Abel Alonzo commended Mr. Sanchez for keeping the public informed during the heavy rain episode. He also expressed his appreciation to Mr. Buckley for his service on the Board. Ms. Tonya Weber with the firm of Porter, Rogers, Dahlman, and Gordon introduced her co-worker Ms. Lisa Godwin and expressed her appreciation for the opportunity provided to the law firm to represent RTA on employment matters. Mr. Fred McCutchon, Wood, Boykin, and Wolter, expressed appreciation for RTA's past support of the law firm and assured the Board that his firm would continue to provide excellent service. Action to Adopt a Resolution for National "Dump the Pump Day" on June 8, 2006 Mr. Barrera read the resolution. MS. LYONS MADE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FOR NATIONAL "DUMP THE PUMP DAY" ON JUNE 8, 2006. MR. LONGORIA SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. VALLS AND FLORES ABSENT. i regional Transportation Authority • Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 3 Update on RTAC Committee Activities. Mr. Eloy Soza summarized the May 18, 2006 RTAC meeting. He stated that the No Show Appeals committee had upheld a 30-day service suspension; no eligibility appeals were heard in May; reports had been.presented on the May 10, 2006, Board of Directors' meeting; the approved fare changes; the May CAF report; the RTA website; and ADA eligibility process. The Committee voted in favor of recommending that the RTA Board Directors approve awarding the first option year to MV Transportation for paratransit service. Consent Agenda - a) Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Board of Directors' Minutes of May 10, 2006 b) Action to Accept Committee Reports d) Action to Approve the 2006 First Quarter Defined Benefit Plan Report e) Action to Approve the 2006 First Quarter Defined Contribution Plan Report f) Action to Approve the April Financial Report g) Action to Approve the RTAC Membership Application Process and Criteria h) Action to Approve 2006 Title VI Report Submittal to the Federal Transit Administration i) Action to Approve a Temporary,Services Contract for Maintenance Department Assistance • MS. ARIAS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 6a, b, d, e, f, g, h, AND i. MR. LONGORIA SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. VALLS AND FLORES ABSENT. c) Action to Award Multiple Contracts to Wood Boykin & Wolter; Porter, Rogers, Dahlman & Gordon; and Royston, Rayzor, Vickery &Williams, LLP for Labor and Employment Law Legal Services Mr. Buckley expressed concern about the feasibility of maximizing synergy among the firms to provide effective representation. Mr. Longoria replied that review of this service had started about one year ago. The Administration Committee had based its recommendation to use all three firms that had submitted proposals since all proposed lead attorneys were board certified in employment law, a retainer was not required, each employee claim would be considered a new claim and could be addressed by one of the selected firms on a rotational basis, and the contract amount was only for$27,000. He expressed support for this decision since it would provide a diverse group to handle RTA's employment issues. • tegional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 4 A brief discussion ensued. Another alternative, according to Mr. Longoria, would be to hire an employment law attorney on a case-by-case basis. MR. LONGORIA MADE A MOTION TO AWARD MULTIPLE CONTRACTS TO WOOD, BOYKIN & WOLTER; PORTER, ROGERS, DAHLMAN & GORDON; AND ROYSTON, RAYZOR, VICKERY &WILLIAMS, LLP FOR LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW LEGAL SERVICES: MS. SALVIDE SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. SALVIDE, LONGORIA, LYONS, ARIAS, MARTINEZ, AND MARTIN VOTING FOR. BUCKLEY VOTING AGAINST. VALLS AND FLORES ABSENT. Action to Approve the 2005 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Audit and Management Letter Response Mr. Sissamis introduced John Shepard and Craig Mlady with the firm of Collier, Johnson, and Woods who conducted RTA's 2005 financial audit. Mr. Mlady stated that the 2004 CAFR had been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and that the 2005 CAFR, after approved, would be submitted. He noted that theirreport was an unqualified opinion on the basic financial statements of the Authority. The financial highlights for 2005 were that the net assets exceeded its liabilities by $47,920,635; of the amount in the unrestricted category, $19,925,305 or 41.6% could be used to meet obligations to citizens and creditors; total net assets decreased by $402,413 from the end of 2004; and the net pension obligation of$875,245 was paid off • which reduced the Authority's liability and changed the Defined Benefit plan funding obligation. Continuing with the report, Mr. Mlady informed the Committee that under the category of cash, cash equivalents, and investments there had been a change in focus on disclosures. Instead of reporting categories, different risks were now being reported. The biggest risk to the Authority was the interest rate. • Commenting on the Management Letter, Mr. Mlady said that the two findings were not material. They were for missing documentation in new hire and retiree personnel files. Mr. Sissamis explained that included in the financial audit was a review of internal controls. The two findings were in this area and had been addressed as explained in RTA's response to the Management Letter. • MS. LYONS MADE A MOTIONTO APPROVE THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (CAFR), AUDIT AND MANAGEMENT LETTER RESPONSE. MR. MARTIN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. VALLS AND FLORES ABSENT. • Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 5 Action to Exercise the First Option Year for Paratransit and Fixed Routes Services Mr. Abel Alonzo voiced his support for approving the option year with MV Transportation. He reported that any identified issues with the service were being addressed. He expressed the opinion that operational savings should not be expected based on the efforts to transition B-Line riders because more persons with severe • disabilities would now be transported. Mr. Seiler reported that an update on eligibility assessments w6uld be presented at the June Operations meeting and had been presented at the May 2006 RTAC meeting. He also reported that the Purchased Transportation Coordinator position would be filled and would provide stringent overview of the service. Regarding the contract extension, Mr. Seiler, using a PowerPoint presentation, stated that staff was recommending approval of the one-year contract extension with MV Transportation. He noted that RTAC's recommendations for consideration in 2008 were to require an upgraded monitoring of customer service, trip scheduling practices, and daily operations. Continuing with his report, Mr. Seiler reviewed the prior contract rates as well as an assessment of MV Transportation's compliance with performance measures over the term of the contract He stated that rider focus groups consisting of fixed route and paratransit service riders would be formed. Video and audio cameras would be placed on all new paratransit vehicles. As an added value, Mr. Seiler commented that MV Transportation has shared its resources in specialized areas at no expense to the RTA. In response to Ms. Lyons, Mr. Seiler stated that the Purchased Transportation position had been vacant since April 2005 and would be filled in approximately two weeks. Ms. Lyons expressed concern that the timeline for accomplishing the proposed improvements in the paratransit service would not be met. She noted that there was concern with various areas of the service being provided by MV Transportation and the lack of current oversight of the contractor. She also questioned the rationale that comparisons could not be made between on-time performance and in-vehicle time over the entire term of the contract with MV Transportation because of the increase in ridership. Mr. Seiler stated that the improved monitoring would be implemented by September 2006. Mr. Seiler stated that in 2007 the paratransit service contract would be brought for Board's consideration in March. Mr. Barrera requested that the new Purchased Transportation Coordinator present a report on the B-Line performance measures sixty days after being hired. negional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 6 MS. LYONS MADE A MOTION TO EXERCISE THE FIRST OPTION YEAR FOR PARATRANSIT AND FIXED ROUTES SERVICES. MR. BUCKLEY SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. VALLS AND FLORES ABSENT. Ms. Fernandez thanked the Board for extending the contract and challenging them to continue providing exceptional customer service. Ms. Fernandez introduced Mr. Tom Gruefe, Senior Vice President for Safety at MV Transportation. She stated that Mr. Gruefe would be working with Mr. Sanchez and RTA staff to review RTA's risk management program. Mr. Gruefe commented on the importance of sharing knowledge. He stated that he was the current chairman of APTA's Bus and Paratransit Safety Committee.and APTA's Bus Standards Training Task Force. Mr. Sanchez asked that his appreciation be conveyed to Mr. Alex Lodde for allowing Mr. Gruefe to assist RTA. B-Line Report Ms. Fernandez, reporting for April 2006, stated that ridership was 14,366.and had decreased by 7.2% compared to April 2005; compared to the previous month ridership had decreased 10.1%; there were 2,740 wheelchair boardings; 556 personal care attendants; zero denials; passengers per hour was 2.61 which was above the contract standard of 2.5; on time performance was 97.9%, also above contract standard, and Customer Assistance Forms (GAF's) had increased by six. She noted that the standard for miles between road calls had been met for the 12 month rolling timeframe but not for the monthly mileage. General Manager's Report Mr. Sanchez reported that the Local Government Fare Review Committee had met and approved a fare increase for RTA; ridership for the TAMU-CC service through April 2006 had been exceptional; the wheelchair securement policy would be implemented by the end of June 2006; RTA employees, chosen by lottery, would be participating in a fishing tournament sponsored by Big Brothers, Bid Sisters on Friday, June 23, 2006; the Community Bus had been used for transportation shuttle for the tall ship (La Gloria) activities; six entries hadbeen submitted for the APTA Ad Wheel competition; a Father's day event would be held on June 16 in the Operators' ready room; 10,529 persons had been transported during the Beach to Bay event in four hours; and despite the heavy rains on Thursday, June 1, 2006, the RTA hosted the Mayor's Interagency meeting onboard the Harbor Ferry; and there would not be an Administration Committee meeting in June. He also stated that Mr. Buckley and Mr. Cissna would be recognized for their service to the RTA at the July 5, 2006 Board meeting. Mr. Barrera commented on the "Lunch Express" service and the benefit it was providing in the downtown area. Regarding a resort area development at Padre Island and • • • regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 7,2006 Page 7 heresay about the potential use of the RTA tram by the developer, he clarified that a commitment had not been made to the developer concerning use of the RTA tram. Mr. Barrera expressed his appreciation to Mr. Buckley for his eight-year service on the RTA Board. Adjournment There being no further comment, the meeting was adjourned at 9:54 a.m. .l Carmen Arias Dat