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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 01/24/2008 Y BOARD OF DIRECTORS' PLANNING SESSION THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2008 The Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors met at 8:30 a.m. at Holiday Inn- Emerald Beach, Beachcomber Room, 1102 S. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas, 78401 Board Members Present: Crystal Lyons (Board Chair), Anna Flores (Board Vice Chair), Dr. Maurice Portis (Board Secretary), John Longoria, Ricardo Ramon, Mike Rendon, Judy Telge, John Valls Board Members Absent: Mannti Cummins, David Martinez, Sara Salvide Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez (General Manager), David Seiler, Ed Carrion, Sharon Montez, Lamont Taylor, Beth Vidaurri Public Present: Bryan Gentsch; Association Strategies; Hyattye Simmons, DART Legal Counsel; Rosie Aguiar, RTAEA; Anna M. Garza; Fanny Chirinos, Corpus Christi Caller Times, John Bell, RTA Legal Counsel Call to Order Ms. Lyons called the meeting to order at 8:37 a.m. Board Governance Ms. Lyons introduced Mr. Hyattye Simmons, legal counsel for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART); he was invited to address the Board on Board Governance. Mr. Simmons distributed a CD that he had compiled which contained various reference materials such as the TCRP report on "Public Transit Board Governance Guidebook:" Administrator James Simpson's speech on Board Governance; information on Robert's Rules of Order; Attorney General's handbook on Open Meetings; sample policies related to Board Governance; and a speech on Ethics given by Dr. Robin Lovin. Mr. Simmons noted that his presentation was being provided as general education and not as legal advice. The Board heard Dr. Robin Lovin's speech given to the DART Board of Directors entitled "The Function and Importance of Ethics in Governmental Policy Making." A varied discussion ensued regarding what constitutes a governmental entity, elected versus appointed Board Members, and ensuring that policies were comparable or exceeded the standards set by other local entities. Mr. Simmons stated that all governmental organizations should develop a culture of ethical behavior. FY 2008 Board Goals SCANNED I Mr. Bryan Gentsch, managing director of Association Strategies, a public affairs firm based . in Austin, Texas.was introduced by Ms. Lyons as the facilitator for the discussion on Board. Goals. Mr. Gentsch referred to the 2008 Board Goal survey results. He stated that the general criteria to identify goals were based on the magnitude of the problem, the consequences if the problem were not addressed, and how feasible it would be to address the goal. There were two types of criteria that could be used and they were objective and subjective. An extensive review of the ten short-term goals identified at the May 29, 2007 Board Planning Session resulted in the consensus to present the following Board Goals for approval at the February Board meeting: Goal A Develop a Board policy that will actively advocate for the goal of 100% ADA compliance Goal B Implement a Senior Level Management Development Program as an integral component of succession planning Goal C Increase public transportation ridership in FY 2008 Goal D Develop working draft of a strategic plan Following a brief discussion on governance versus administration, the Board Members present directed General Manager Ricardo Sanchez to conduct an organizational confidential survey that addressed organizational values based on the vision and shared values. The results of this survey would be reviewed by the Executive Committee. Mr. Gentsch recommended creation of a Board Member job description: Ms. Lyons stated that the Board Executive Committee, consisting of the Board Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Administration Committee Chair, and Operations Committee Chair, would be responsible for reviewing the Code of Ethics Policy and developing a Board Member job description. Ms. Lyons expressed the need to develop.a strategic plan that would incorporate the Financial Assessment Report conducted by Sharon Greene; the ADA Accessibility Assessment Study conducted by Ken Hosen; the Disparity Study conducted by Dr. Lee; and the Comprehensive Operational/Service Analysis (COA) that would be conducted in 2008 by Connetics: Regarding ADA compliance, Mr. Simmons stated that DART had adopted an Accessibility Service policy which he had included in the CD distributed to the Board. Proposed 2008 Ad-Hoc Committee Structure It was the consensus of the Board, after deliberation of the Chair's recommended changes to the existing Ad-Hoc Committee structure, that the following structure be presented for confirmation by the Board at the February Board meeting: Small Cities Subcommittee and Governmental Relations Subcommittee that would meet on an as-needed basis; Marketing Subcommittee, and Development Subcommittee that would meet bi-monthly thirty minutes prior to the Operations Committee meeting; Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Subcommittee and Audit, Finance, and Health Insurance Subcommittee that would meet bi- monthly thirty minutes prior to the Administration Committee meeting. Ms. Lyons stated that the General Manager's office would poll the Board Members as to which subcommittee they would like to be a member. Mr. Gentsch distributed a survey "How does the board measure up?" that each Board Member present completed. Board Issues a. 2008-2009 Legislative Priorities The consensus was to amend the 2009 Federal Appropriations priority list to include seeking funding through the Ferry Boat Discretionary (FBD) Program to allow RTA to purchase a vessel or capitalize the cost of the Harbor Ferry service. d. Other Ms. Lyons mentioned that the appropriate Conflict of Interest forms were being processed regarding the contracts entered into between the RTA and Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living. b. Travel Policy c. Code of Ethics Policy Ms. Lyons stated that the General Manager had expressed some reservations about approving Board travel requests and had requested that he not be the designated approver. Ms. Lyons proposed that the Board Chair be the designated to approve travel requests. She also recommended implementing the use of a travel report form as part of the Board travel policy. The consensus was to forward the Travel Policy and the Code of Ethics Policy to the Executive Committee for review and Board recommendation. Next Steps Mr. Sanchez summarized that the Board Goals, approval of the committee structure and meeting calendar, and amending the legislative priorities would be presented at the February Board meeting for approval. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1 p.m.