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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - 06/17/2008 - Special L, rTh REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHOR)ry 2.02i BOARD OF DIRECTORS' SPECIAL MEETING'MiNUTES1 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008749'. ; "),\\ J1U 2003' �. t'St SUMMARY OF ACTIONS Cp r5;:2Vt�, SECRETA ,,, OFFICE 1. Held Roll Call �� 4 2. Provided Opportunity for Public Comment � ,Ny 3. Approved the Board of Directors' Minutes of June 4, 2008--Board Workshop 4. Selected MV Transportation To Provide Contracted Fixed-Route And Demand-Responsive Transportation Services And Authorized Staff To Enter Into Contract Negotiations 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: Crystal Lyons (Chair), Anna Flores, (Vice Chair); Dr. Maurice Portis, (Secretary); Mannti Cummins; John Longoria; David Martinez; Ricardo Ramon; Mike Rendon; Sara Salvide; Judy Telge; John Valls Board Members Absent: None Staff Present: Ricardo Sanchez (General Manager), David Seiler, Beth Vidaurri, Ponch Carrillo, Ed Carrion, Sylvia Castillo, Sharon Montez, Kristi Pena, Ramon • Sanchez, Elias Sissamis, Martin Trevino, Ruth Willey Public Present: John Bell, RTA Legal Counsel; Debbie Hovda, Eloy Soza, Wanda Peak, RCAT; Thomas Dreyer; Diane Lowrance, MHMR; Carlos Vargas, Nova Shields, Delilah Lazos, Jim Leach, Heather Pekar, Edna Arredondo, Dana Smith, Alex Lodde, Brenda Fernandez, MV Transportation; Chris Langmayer, Sandra Showatter, Ken Westbrook, Joe Escobedo, Veolia; Laura Salas, David Garcia, Ruben Morales, Teamsters; Abel Alonzo; Maricela DeLaFuente, RCAT and MHMR; Billy Laridis; Sarita Null; Guadalupe Salazar, Rosie Aguiar, RTAEA Call to Order The Board of Directors' meeting was called to order by Ms. Lyons at 8:35 a.m. Ms. Lyons noted that all Board Members were present for this special meeting which she felt showed the Boards' commitment. Ms. Lyons expressed concern about rumors she had heard and her desire that any rumors be addressed at this time. Ms. Lyons clarified that a decision on the selection of the paratransit contractor had not been made, and the Board's action would not be based on fear and intimidation. SCANNED L )Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 17,2008 Page 2 Opportunity for Public Comment Mr. David Garcia stated that at the workshop meeting he had heard information on the insurance policy offered by MV Transportation and questioned the numbers provided. He provided a handout with information on the insurance coverages. Mr. Garcia stated that he paid $36 per pay period to participate in the MV Transportation Insurance Plan, and was surprised when the high monthly premiums were reported at the workshop meeting. He stated that new employees paid slightly higher premiums, but they also had a $500 deductible with 100 percent coverage afterwards. He stated that there were 28 MV employees with over ten years of service that paid the $36 premium per pay period. Mr. Abel Alonzo expressed that he felt that this would be the most difficult decision the Board would be making. He expressed support for MV Transportation based on the good service they have been providing and the financial impact a change in contractors would have on the taxpayers. Ms. Maricela DeLaFuente voiced her support for MV Transportation. She stated that she works for MHMR and serves on the RCAT Committee. Ms. DeLaFuente said that the persons using the paratransit service were receiving good service from MV Transportation. Ms. Sarita Null stated that she was addressing the Board on behalf of her brother who has been a paratransit rider for several years. He works at the Lighthouse for the Blind, and uses the service to get to work. She stated that he has experienced fluctuations in service during his years of ridership, but that the current provider has been proactive in making the system work and is providing much better service. Mr. Alex Lodde, founder and majority owner of MV Transportation, thanked the community and the Board for the opportunity to serve the RTA. He stated that MV Transportation was working with the local union to improve the medical benefits offered to their employees. Ms. Brenda Fernandez handed out a letter stating that MV Transportation was addressing the concerns expressed at the June 3, 2008 Board Workshop regarding the insurance program and DBE participation. They would be working with local vendors to develop a better insurance program with lower out-of-pocket expenses for their employees and there would not be any additional cost to the Corpus Christi RTA. The local vendor would be required to have their DBE certification. Mr. Eloy Soza expressed his support for MV Transportation. He said that since MV Transportation has managed the contract there has been a dramatic decrease in complaints received from riders during RCAT meetings. Mr. Soza also felt that the added contract cost if the contract was awarded to Veolia would be better utilized in developing extended fixed-route service. )Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 17,2008 Page 3 Mr. Ken Westbrook, Senior Vice President with Veolia Transportation, acknowledged that change was usually difficult but that his company would work proactively to address any concerns. He stated that his company has held a contract with DART in Dallas, Texas for seven years. He thanked the Board for the opportunity to bid on the contract. Ms. Dianne Lowrance, Executive Director of the MHMR Center in Nueces County, and former chair of the RCAT Committee expressed her support for awarding the contract to MV Transportation. She cited MV staff's involvement on the MHMR Advisory Committee; their involvement in providing rider training; and working with the riders and their care givers which has resulted in a much better service system with a higher quality of service. Mr. Thomas Dryer stated that he has been a paratransit and fixed-route rider for over six years and remembered when the service was undependable. He stated that the current service being provided was vastly improved over prior service levels and continues to improve. Mr. Dryer expressed the opinion that riders were the best persons to advise on the service being provided. Ms. Wanda Peak stated that she serves as a volunteer during B-Line assessments and rides both the fixed-route and paratransit service. She expressed her support for MV Transportation based on the great job they were doing. Ms. Peak stated that some of the RCAT Committee members had individually declared their support to award the contract to MV Transportation. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve the Board of Directors' Minutes of June 4, 2008 Board Workshop MS. FLORES MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MINUTES OF JUNE 4, 2008 BOARD WORKSHOP. MR. VALLS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Discussion and Possible Action to Award a Contract for Contracted Fixed- Route and Demand-Responsive Transportation Services Ms. Lyons requested that new information be presented to the Board since the members had reviewed the material supplied by RTA staff in their packets. There was discussion on whether all proposers had been advised of the meeting. Mr. Sanchez stated that a timeline had been provided and the agenda posted. 1 �\ Regional• Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 17,2008 Page 4 Mr. Seiler stated that the Board had copies of the PowerPoint presentation which included charts for each individual criterion and the questions posed at the workshop had been answered as part of the packet material for today's meeting. Responding the Ms. Lyons, Mr. Seiler stated that the most revealing information was regarding the insurance benefits and premiums provided by MV Transportation based on tenure. He also stated that Mr. Taylor had included additional information on DBE participation in the packet. Mr. Seiler stated that the Review Committee had convened and chose not to adjust any of their rankings. Mr. Valls expressed the opinion that the option years should not have been included as part of the total value since the Agency could choose not to exercise the option years. Dr. Portis questioned why a change in providers was needed. He stated that he was impressed with the type of service being provided by MV Transportation. Mr. Valls reported an incident where a co-worker called him and asked him to help him find his son who was being transported on the B-Line service and had been unable to locate him for three hours. Also, his fiancé has told him about clients at the clinic where she works who are left waiting for a pick-up after the clinic closes. He acknowledged that the current contractor wanted persons with positive comments to attend this meeting. Mr. Valls expressed the opinion that the Board's decision should also take into consideration what is in the best interest of the contracted employees as it relates to their benefits package. Ms. Salvide expressed concern about the increased cost to the Agency. She cited transition costs associated with a change in providers, at a time when the Agency was dealing with a budget deficit due to rising fuel costs. Ms. Salvide felt that both the immediate and long-term cost impact to the Agency should be considered. Ms. Telge expressed her support for selecting Veolia Transportation based on their professionalism and research she had done on the current paratransit operations. Mr. Rendon acknowledged that health insurance benefits were an important benefit to provide to employees. He commented that MV Transportation exceeds the current as well as the proposed passenger per hour service standard. Mr. Rendon cited the rising fuel costs that will negatively affect the RTA's budget. He noted that the customer comments have indicated that they are satisfied with the service being provided by the current contractor, and the RCAT Committee members had endorsed MV Transportation. He questioned the logic in spending approximately $900,000 within the next three years if the change were made to Veolia Transportation. He asked that a business decision be considered. Regional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 17,2008 Page 5 Mr. Longoria, referencing the health insurance benefits provided by MV Transportation, acknowledged that Mr. Garcia had the lower premium but that was because he has been employed by the paratransit provider for ten years. Mr. Longoria stated that the intent was to provide increased wages and better benefits for persons working for the company providing the paratransit service for the RTA. He referenced the importance of benefits by virtue of weight of 30 points for this criterion. Mr. Longoria stated that MV Transportation had not properly responded to this section. He stated that staff had followed the established process and had recommended Veolia Transportation, that he felt that the Board should support staffs recommendation. Mr. Longoria stated that the Board was adopting a program of work, not approving the cost of the contract. Ms. Lyons expressed the opinion that the riders as well as the employees were important. She questioned the length of time that MV Transportation had been performing satisfactorily. Ms. Lyons felt that providing insurance coverage that few employees could afford was not in the best interest of the employees. It would be better to provide coverage that a head of household could afford to provide for their family. She stated that employee benefits and retention should also be taken into consideration. There was a general discussion on the selection of the contractor and contract negotiations. Mr. Bell stated that the companies had submitted their "best and final" offer and that their pricing should be pretty firm, but in contract negotiations both sides could make adjustments. MR. LONGORIA MADE A MOTION TO SELECT VEOLIA TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE CONTRACTED FIXED-ROUTE AND DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. MR. VALLS SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION FAILED. RAMON, PORTIS, FLORES, RENDON, MARTINEZ, AND SALVIDE VOTING AGAINST. LONGORIA, CUMMINS, VALLS, AND TELGE VOTING IN FAVOR. MR. RENDON MADE A MOTION TO SELECT MV TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE CONTRACTED FIXED-ROUTE AND DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. MS. FLORES SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED. RAMON, PORTIS, FLORES, RENDON, MARTINEZ, SALIVDE, AND TELGE VOTING FOR. LONGORIA AND VALLS VOTING AGAINST. CUMMINS ABSTAINING. Mr. Sanchez stated that the negotiated contract would be presented to the Board at a future date. egional Transportation Authority Board of Directors Meeting Minutes June 17,2008 Page 6 Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 a.m. may MAAW1/17L_.:Y I ? r.Board Secretary ,J1,eif do° e ate