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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 06 12 08 Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority MINUTES OF THE CAPE FEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY June 12, 2008 Mr. Jeff Bellows, Chair, Presiding MEMBERS PRESENT Mr. Jeff Bellows, Chair Mr. William Bryden, Vice Chair Ms. Fannie Freeman, Secretary Mr. George Dolan Mr. Andrew Koeppel Ms. Christine McNamee Mr. John Stukes Ms. Laura Padgett Ms. Nancy Pritchett STAFF PRESENT Mr. Albert Eby, Director Mr. Arlanda Rouse, Assistant Director Mrs. Kathy Williams, Administrative Assistant Mr. Matthew Kunic, Planner Ms. Catherine Beasley, Finance Director CONTRACT MANAGEMENT STAFF PRESENT Ms. Valerie McElhose, Assistant General Manager, First Transit Mr. Andrew Olsen, Legal Counsel GUESTS PRESENT Mr. Joshuah Mello, Associate Transportation Planner, Wilmington Urban Area MPO Mr. Rufus Huffman, Wilmington Police Department Ms. Felicia Simpson, New Hanover County Jump Start 180 Mr. Steve Dillon, Community Foundation Mr. Anthony Pursley, Citizen Mr. David Heck, Citizen Mr. Chris Hawkins, Citizen Mr. Ricky Meeks, Citizen CALL TO ORDER  Chairman Bellows called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm  Mr. Bellows opened the meeting with a moment of silence CONSENT AGENDA  Mr. Bellows presented the consent agenda for approval  Mr. Koeppel made a motion to approve the consent agenda  Mr. Dolan seconded the motion and it carried unanimously PUBLIC COMMENT  Chairman Bellows opened the public comment period  Mr. Heck stated that passengers are not riding because it is not easy to use the new routes  Mr. Heck also inquired about incentives for employees that do not drive to work  Ms. Padgett suggested that Mr. Heck speak with Ms. Bean about park and ride options  Mr. Meeks thanked Ms. Pritchett for all of her hard work  Hearing no further public comment, Mr. Bellows closed the public comment period REQUEST FOR BUS PASSES  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Eby to present a procedure for community donations  Mr. Eby recognized Mr. Dillon to briefly describe the services provided by the Community Foundation of Southeastern North Carolina  Mr. Dillon stated that the Community Foundation is created to maintain and distribute donations to organizations  Mr. Dillon stated the authority and the foundation would work together to create the criteria for what organizations would be eligible and what organizations would be priority  Mr. Eby stated that the foundation would make sure that the organizations are using donations for their intended purpose  Ms. Pritchett made a motion for the authority to move forward setting up a restricted fund  The motion was seconded by Mr. Stukes and carried unanimously  Mr. Koeppel made a motion requesting the Community Foundation present their proposal for the fund in writing  The motion died for lack of a second  Mr. Rufus Huffman of the Wilmington Police Department requested bus passes for ex-offenders getting out of prison to introduce them into the working community  No action was taken on the request  Ms. Felicia Simpson of the NHC DMC program requested 31 bus passes to transport middle & high school students to a summer program on how to become leaders  Ms. Padgett made a motion to grant Ms. Simpson with the 31 bus passes for the summer program  Mr. Stukes seconded the motion and carried unanimously  Mr. Eby stated that staff tried to work on a policy about the donation of passes but, it should be on a case by case basis until a restricted fund could be established ROUTE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Koeppel to give the report for the Route committee  Mr. Koeppel stated that 30 new stops were added to the new routes and staff was working on installing benches and shelters  Mr. Koeppel stated that the committee was looking for help in connecting the hospital shuttle with the bus  Ms. Padgett suggested speaking with Ms. Bean  Mr. Koeppel stated that the Independence Mall site is moving forward and should be completed by June 30, 2008  Mr. Koeppel stated that some of the buses are not connecting at transfer points  Ms. McElhose stated that First Transit is now in the process of retraining all of staff and drivers  Mr. Koeppel stated that the trolley stop in front of PPD will be moved 1 1/2 blocks down the street MARKETING COMMITTEE  The committee had no report FINANCE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows recognized Mr. Eby to give the Finance Committee  Mr. Eby presented the May amended budget  Mr. Eby stated that there some line item adjustments were required to ensure that staff did not exceed their approved expenses  Mr. Stukes made a motion to accept the FY 07-08 amended budget  Mr. Dolan seconded the motion and carried unanimously  Mr. Eby stated that Mr. Bryden requested that if any board member has any suggestions on increasing the authorities income to please submit suggestions to himself or staff  Ms. Padgett suggested that the board look into express routes that could charge higher rates FACILITIES COMMITTEE  Chairman Bellows recognized Ms. McNamee to present the facilities report  Ms. McNamee recognized Mr. Eby to present the facilities report  Mr. Eby stated that Corning agreed to give the authority more land in order to redesign the retention pond at the new site  Mr. Eby stated the funding for the construction of the facility had been secured MANAGEMENT CONTRACTOR SELECTION COMMITTEE  Ms. McNamee stated that the staff and Mr. Olsen is working on the contract negotiations with PTM  Ms. McNamee recognized Mr. Eby to give the update  Mr. Eby thanked Mr. Olsen for all of his help with the contract  Mr. Eby stated that PTM received quotes about health insurance  Mr. Olsen suggested that the performance standards would be negotiated during the first six months of the contract  This includes liquidated damages and incentives  Ms. Padgett made a motion to approve the management contract with the change of negotiating liquidated damages during the first six months as suggested by counsel  The motion would also allow the Chair to sign the agreement on behalf of the authority  Mr. Stukes seconded and the motion carried unanimously STAFF REPORT  Chairman Bellows recognized Mr. Eby to present the staff report  Mr. Eby recommended the authority increase the current paratransit fares  Staff recommended a base rate of $1.37 per mile, and for every .10 fuel increase, the authority will increase its base rate by .01 per mile  Mr. Eby also stated that every .10 decrease in the cost of fuel would result in a decrease of the base rate by .01 per mile  Ms. Padgett made a motion to increase paratransit fares to $1.37 per mile and adopt the fuel escalator as recommended by staff  Mr. Koeppel seconded and the motion carried unanimously EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE  Mr. Bellows stated that the committee is proceed in closed session  Mr. Dolan made a motion to go into closed session pursuant to NCGS 143.18-11(6) to discuss the performance of the director  Ms. Freeman seconded and carried unanimously  After a fifteen minute closed session, Mr. Dolan made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting from the closed session  Ms. Pritchett seconded the motion which carried unanimously  Mr. Koeppel made a motion to grant the Executive Director a five percent (5%) annual salary increase effective July 01, 2008  Mr. Stukes seconded and the motion carried unanimously OTHER BUSINESS, SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING  Hearing no further business, Mr. Stukes made a motion to adjourn the meeting  Ms. Pritchett seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting  The motion carried unanimously  The Authority’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 12:00 pm in the Castle Street Board Room Respectfully Submitted, Albert Eby Director /kw