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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04 10 08 Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority MINUTES OF THE CAPE FEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY April 10, 2008 Mr. Jeff Bellows, Chair, Presiding MEMBERS PRESENT Mr. Jeff Bellows, Chair Mr. William Bryden, Vice Chair Ms. Fannie Freeman, Secretary Mr. Don Betz Mr. Andrew Koeppel Ms. Aileen Mair Ms. Laura Padgett Ms. Nancy Pritchett Mr. John Stukes STAFF PRESENT Mr. Albert Eby, Director Mr. Arlanda Rouse, Assistant Director Ms. Cathy Cole, Finance Director Mr. Matthew Kunic, Planner CONTRACT MANAGEMENT STAFF PRESENT Mr. Lamont Jackson, General Manager, First Transit Mr. Bobby Hunter, Operations Manager, First Transit Mr. Sam Baxter, Maintenance Manager, First Transit Mr. Michael Crittenden, First Transit Mr. Josh Mello, Associate Transportation Planner, WMPO Mr. Andrew Olsen, Attorney CALL TO ORDER  Chairman Bellows called the meeting to order at 12:06 pm  Mr. Bellows opened the meeting with a moment of silence PUBLIC COMMENT  (See Attachment A) CONSENT AGENDA  Mr. Bellows presented the consent agenda  Ms. Pritchett stated that she wanted to ensure that both the City and County officials knew that Wave Transit had the responsibility of evacuating citizens in case of an emergencies  Ms. Pritchett stated that she would add Mr. Eby to the agenda for the County Commissioners meeting on April 21, 2008 so he could outline Wave’s responsibilities  Mr. Betz made a motion to approve the consent agenda  Ms. Padgett seconded and carried unanimously EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows stated that the committee did not meet  Mr. Bellows stated that the Board Retreat was scheduled for May 8, 2008 at 9:00 am at the New Hanover County Government Center  The retreat would last three (3) hours  He stated that each board member should choose five (5) agenda topics from the lists posted around the room and to give their selections to Mr. Eby as topics of discussion during the retreat  Mr. Eby then gave a brief overview of each of the agenda topics  Ms. Padgett recommended that the retreat have a facilitator, and then recommended that Ms. Bean serve as the facilitator  Ms. Bean then agreed to serve as the facilitator  Mr. Bellows asked staff to work with Ms. Bean while the planning agenda ROUTE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Koeppel to give the report for the Route Committee  Mr. Koeppel stated that the committee met on Tuesday April 8, 2008  Mr. Koeppel asked the staff to compile a list of issues from passengers regarding the route changes and to present the list to the route committee during the next meeting  Mr. Koeppel stated that the committee will continue to work on route issues, and that the situation at Independence Mall parking lot was being addressed  Mr. Eby then stated that not only was the Mall parking lot a concern, other parking lots around the city were also concerns  He stated that anytime a Wave enters a parking lot, there was an increased liability due to pedestrian traffic, cars queuing from parking spaces, and people coming out of stores  Ms. Freeman stated that she also rides the bus, and that she has experienced longer ride times Ms. Freeman then recommended that staff member gather opinions from bus drivers regarding the new routes  She then recommended that all board members ride the routes in order to see the routes from the passengers’ perspective  Mr. Bellows stated that because our previous public meetings were so poorly attended that the Route Committee needed to hold additional public meetings  Ms. Padgett suggested that the Route Route Committee hold two public meetings before the next board of director’s meeting  Mr. Bryden recommended a question and answer type of meeting format  He stated that this type of format would help to address some concerns from the passengers  Mr. Koeppel recommended holding the public meetings on Thursday April 24 & Thursday May 1, 2008 at 12:00pm  He asked the staff to make the information about the meetings available to the public as soon as possible MARKETING COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Betz to give the Marketing Committee report  Mr. Betz stated that the committee did not meet and had no report FINANCE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Bryden to give the Finance Committee report  Mr. Bryden presented the Federal Urban Grant Project, Facility Grant Project, and Expansion Bus Grant Ordinances for approval on behalf of the Finance Committee  Hearing no discussion, Mr. Bellows called for a vote and the Ordinances were approved by a unanimously FACILITIES COMMITTEE  Chairman Bellows recognized Mr. Eby to present the facilities report in the absence of Ms. McNamee  Mr. Eby stated that the committee met with engineers and that the Corning has allowed the extension of Cando Street to drain into their private retention pond  He stated that he was still working with Corning officials regarding the “hold harmless” language in the agreement MANAGEMENT SELECTION COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Betz to present the report for the Management Selection Committee in the absence of Ms. McNamee  Mr. Betz stated that the committee held contractor interviews on March 24, 2008  He stated that the committee prepared a questionnaire and Ms. McNamee presented the questions to each of the contractors in a similar manner  Mr. Betz stated that after the interviews were complete, the committee sent out follow-up letters to each of the contractors requesting additional information on group health insurance  Mr. Betz then made a motion on behalf of the Management Selection Committee to enter into contract negotiations with Professional Transit Management (PTM)  Mr. Bellows asked for the members who made up the Selection Committee  Mr. Betz stated that the committee consisted of himself, Ms. McNamee, Mr. Bryden, NHC Risk Manager, Ms. Anne Brown, and the entire Authority staff  Mr. Betz stated that safety was a prevailing issue in the selection of PTM as the contractor  Mr. Bellows asked if any members wished to have a discussion regarding the selection  Ms. Padgett asked if the committee assessed the firms ability to be innovative and solve problems by looking at future plans  Mr. Betz stated that each of the companies touched on how they could offer a progressive approach to transportation  Mr. Betz then gave an assessment regarding the selection criteria for the firms  He stated that there were 900 points available and PTM captured 791 points, McDonald 747 points , and First Transit 674 points  Mr. Bellows then called for a vote to begin contract negotiations with PTM  The motion passed unanimously NOMINATING COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows stated that the nominating committee consisted of himself, Ms Freeman, and Mr. Stukes and asked if any additional members wished to join  He then stated that the committee will meet after the board meeting to prepare a slate of candidates STAFF REPORT  Chairman Bellows recognized Mr. Eby to present the staff report  Mr. Eby stated that there would be a public hearing at the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen tonight regarding bus service to the beach  Mr. Eby then spoke about legislation in General Assembly which could help Wave by offering additional funding options OTHER BUSINESS  Mr. Crittenden stated that First Transit would continue to work with Wave officials and the incoming transit firm in order to ensure a smooth transition SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING  Hearing no further business, Mr. Betz made a motion to adjourn the meeting  Mr. Bryden seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting  The Authority’s next meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2008 at 12:00 pm in Room 601 of in the New Hanover County Government Center Respectfully Submitted, Albert Eby Director /ar