Minutes 11 10 05
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority MINUTES OF THE CAPE FEAR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY November 10, 2005 Ms. Christine B. McNamee, Chair, Presiding MEMBERS PRESENT Ms. Christine
McNamee, Chair Mr. Jeff Bellows, Vice-Chair Mr. Robert Ronne, Secretary Ms. Nancy Pritchett Mr. William Bryden Ms. Maureen McCarthy Mr. Andrew Koeppel Mr. John Stukes, Sr. Ms. Fannie
Freeman STAFF PRESENT Mr. Albert Eby, Director Mr. Arlanda Rouse, Assistant Director Ms. Raquel Wilson, Administrative Assistant Ms. Melissa Watson, Apprentice CONTRACT MANAGEMENT STAFF
PRESENT Mr. Corey Johnson, General Manager, First Transit Mr. Andrew Olsen, Attorney at Law GUESTS PRESENT Mr. Ricky Meeks, Citizen Mr. Mike Kozlosky, Senior Transportation Planner,
City of Wilmington Mr. John Wolfe, Citizen Mr. Keith Bordeaux, Citizen Ms. Deborah Houston, NCDOT Ms. Annette Crumpton, Director, New Hanover County, Department of Aging Mr. Don Betz,
Executive Director, Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority Dr. Darrell Irwin, UNCW Ms. Lawless Bean, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, City of Wilmington CALL TO ORDER
Chairman McNamee called the meeting to order at 12:09pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion to approve the minutes from the October 13, 2005 regular meeting of the Cape Fear Public Transportation
Authority was made by Mr. Bryden. The motion was seconded by Mr. Koeppel and carried unanimously.
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Official Meeting Minutes November 10, 2005 PUBLIC HEARING Chairman McNamee opened a public hearing to hear comments concerning the proposed
fare increase. Mr. Don Betz stated that he would encourage the Authority to consider a 25 cent student fare to encourage young people to ride Wave. Mr. Betz stated that the proposed
33% to 60% fare increase would dramatically impact community members that do not have the income available to deal with the increases. Chairman McNamee asked for additional public
comment concerning the proposed fare increase. Hearing none, the Chair closed the public hearing period. PUBLIC COMMENT The Chair asked if anyone in attendance had public comment.
Mr. Ricky Meeks suggested that the poles at the bus stops could have reflectors on them making them safer at night. Ms. McCarthy introduced Mr. Keith Bordeaux. She stated that
Mr. Bordeaux volunteers seven hours per week for Wave Transit assisting with marketing. Chairman McNamee asked was there any other comment. Hearing no comment, the Chair closed the
public comment period. FARE INCREASE Chairman McNamee stated that the Authority had undertaken the three public hearings required in the adopted Authority Public Comment Policy.
Mr. Eby stated that FTA civil rights compliance concerning the fare increase had been met and staff recommended approval of the fare increase as proposed to become effective January
02, 2006. A motion to implement the fare increase as proposed was made by Ms. McCarthy. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bellows and carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Chairman
McNamee stated that the County Clerk would like the Authority to study a method to have appointments to the Authority by the county occur in the same month. Ms. Pritchett asked suggested
the item be evaluated by the Executive Committee for recommendation. The Chair concurred and the item was referred back to the Executive Committee. ROUTE COMMITTEE Chairman McNamee
recognized Ms. Freeman to present the report. Ms. Freeman presented the new route for the Downtown Trolley to serve the Wilmington Children’s Museum. Ms. Freeman stated that the
new route would begin on January 2, 2006. A motion to accept the route modification for the Downtown Trolley was made by Ms. McCarthy. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stukes and carried
unanimously. Ms. Freeman stated that the committee studied the issue concerning the length of the number 6 route. It was determined that it would require a major modification top
shorten the route.
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Official Meeting Minutes November 10, 2005 Since a major route modification will be implemented with the new transfer facility, the committee
felt too many changes would be confusing to passengers. Mr. Koeppel suggested that a notice be posted the route 6 bus to inform passengers that the Authority was aware of the inconvenience
of the length of the route and changes would be forthcoming with the route restructuring. The committee had also directed staff to investigate the possibility of the Route 5 bus going
into the hospital parking lot on both the inbound and outbound portion of the route. MARKETING COMMITTEE The Chair recognized Committee Chair Ms. McCarthy to present the report.
Ms. McCarthy stated that the Authority was partnering with Cumulus Broadcasting for a holiday “stuff the bus campaign” for the Holiday Smiles Toy Drive coming up on December 2nd and
3rd. Ms. McCarthy stated that the Authority would decorate a bus and hoped to have Seamore present. She stated the UNCW’s homecoming would be on January 28, 2006 and the committee
would like to have Seamore there to help do some promotions. Ms. McCarthy stated that the WAAV Panel of Experts would be in March and April of 2006 and they would be broadcasting live
for the day on transportation issues. She recognized Wave Transit marketing consultant TalkPR for receiving a Silver Microphone Award for the Wave Transit jingle. The award was selected
from over 40,000 entries. She stated that the Grand Opening of the Children’s Museum would be early in 2006 and the Authority would be present at the event. Ms. McCarthy stated that
on December 11, 2005 the trolley would be participating in the Downtown Christmas Parade. She stated that the Business to Business Brochure has been approved and would be printed.
Ms. McCarthy stated that the Chamber Fall Business Expo would be November 17, 2005 and the committee was investigating the possibility of participating. Ms. McCarthy recognized Mr.
Eby to present the Wave Transit PowerPoint. FINANCE COMMITTEE The Chair recognized Committee Chair Mr. Bryden to present the report. Mr. Bryden stated that staff had asked the committee
to review the use of passes on the Brunswick Connector and the upcoming Columbus Connector. Mr. Bryden stated that the committee recommends that the fare on the Brunswick Connector
be cash only. No modifications to the fare of $1.50 were recommended. He stated that when the Columbus Connector begins service the fare would be a cash only fare of $3.00 each way.
Mr. Bryden stated that staff would consider a multiple ride pass for the Connectors upon evaluating the cash only fare structure. Mr. Bryden stated that the committee thinks would
also like staff to review the charge for transfers from the Connectors to Wave Transit fixed route service. A motion for a $3.00 one way cash only fare for the Columbus Connector and
a cash only fare for the Brunswick Connector was made by Mr. Bryden. The motion was seconded by Ms. Freeman and carried unanimously. FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Official Meeting Minutes November 10, 2005 The Chair recognized Committee Chair Mr. Bellows to present the report. Mr. Bellows stated that
the Authority was still waiting for the review appraisal from NCDOT right of way. Mr. Eby stated that the Authority had issued a RFQ for real estate legal services to hire an attorney
to prepare the conditional offer and perform the title work and legal services required in real estate acquisition. Mr. Olsen reviewed the RFQ which was distributed to local real estate
attorneys. Quotations were due Tuesday November 15, 2005. The Authority would be prepared to begin legal work associated with the land acquisition once the review appraisal was complete.
STAFF REPORT Chairman McNamee recognized Mr. Eby to give the staff report. Mr. Eby introduced an update to the lease agreement between the Authority and New Hanover County. He
stated that at the request of NCDOT, the Authority was required to enter into a separate agreement with New Hanover County for vehicles. He stated that the document would take the
vehicle lease provision out of the agreement that was approved in September. The proposed agreement would cover only buildings and equipment. A motion to approve the updated New Hanover
County Lease Extension Agreement with the necessary changes was made by Mr. Bellows. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stukes and carried unanimously. Mr. Eby recognized Mr. Rouse to
present the EDTAP fare structure. Mr. Rouse stated that a review of the process of collecting fares revealed some inconsistencies in the amounts paid and the amounts invoiced to EDTAP
passengers. Staff was proposing to sell prepaid fare tickets for $2.50 per trip for the clients for the elderly and disabled program. The proposal would ensure equity in the program
and allow additional passengers access to subsidized transportation. A motion to accept the proposed EDTAP Fare Structure was made by Mr. Bellows. The motion was seconded by Mr.
Bryden and carried unanimously. Mr. Eby stated that the next item was the FY 2004-2005 OPSTATS Report. Mr. Rouse stated that the report was an overview of Paratransit operational
statistics from fiscal year 2004-2005. He stated that staff was currently waiting on New Hanover County to finish reviewing the report. Mr. Eby stated that the Columbus Connector
contract was in the process of being finalized. Mr. Eby stated that the goal was to implement the Connector shortly after the New Year. SCHEDULING OF NEXT MEETING Hearing no further
business, a motion was made by Mr. Ronne to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stukes and carried unanimously. The next meeting of the Authority was scheduled for December 08,
2005 at 12:00 pm in the Wave Transit Conference Room. Respectfully Submitted,
Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority Official Meeting Minutes November 10, 2005 Albert Eby Director /rw