[00:00:10]
THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE MEETING OF THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I'LL CALL OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
TODAY IS MONDAY, AUGUST 30TH, AND THE TIME IS 1205.
UH, AS USUAL BEFORE WE GET STARTED A COUPLE OF LOGISTICAL ITEMS. I QUICK REMINDER AGAIN, TO KEEP YOUR MICROPHONE ON MUTE, UNLESS YOU'RE SPEAKING, PLEASE REMEMBER TO MUTE YOURSELF AGAIN.
WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED ALSO BOARD MEMBERS, WHEN OUR VOTING ITEMS COME UP, I'LL BE ASKING BOARD MEMBERS FOR A VERBAL VOTE OF YAY OR NAY ON EACH ITEM INDIVIDUALLY, AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
ALSO A ONE TO REMIND BOARD MEMBERS THAT, UH, WE NEED YOU TO KEEP YOUR CAMERA ON, UH, AT ALL TIMES IF POSSIBLE, TO COMPLY WITH TEXAS LAW ON REMOTE MEETINGS AND PARTICULARLY, UH, WHEN YOU'RE CAST IN THE VOTE.
UH, THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE LOOKED AT OUR AGENDA TODAY, KNOW WE'VE GOT QUITE A FEW ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO GET TO YOU.
UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE A FEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO NEED TO LEAVE BEFORE THE MEETING IS OVER.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, UH, AND PARTICULARLY OUR DISCUSSION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ITEM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, UM, AS WELL AS THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO AND, UH, UH, WITH YOUR INDULGENCE AS MOVE OUR AGENDA AROUND A LITTLE BIT, GO THROUGH OUR NORMAL, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, THOSE THAT WANT TO SPEAK UP FRONT AND THEN, UH, MOVE INTO THE FIRST ACTION ITEM, WHICH WOULD BE THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENDA.
SO, UH, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO THAT, THAT'S THE WAY WE'LL PROCEED.
UM, AND HEARING THEM THEN, UH, WE'LL TAKE UP OUR
[I. Public Comment]
FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH WILL BE PUBLIC COMMENT.AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, ATU, PRESIDENT PRINT PAIN, CHAIRMAN COOPER.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK, UH, TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS, UH, PRESIDENT CLARK.
AND THEN OF COURSE YOUR CHAIRMAN COOPER, UH, ATU.
I JUST WANT ON BEHALF OF ATU, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF CAPITOL METROS, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING MORE PROTECTION FOR ONE, THE RIDING PUBLIC AND FOR MY BUS OPERATORS AND MECHANICS, WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE, UH, THIS IS DEALING WITH, UH, IMPOSE TRANSIT POLICE, UH, GOING TO A TRANSIT POLICE STYLE STYLE, UH, UH, KAPLAN METROS DEFINITELY HELPED ME AND MY EXECUTIVE BOARD.
WELL-INFORMED WE'RE PART OF THE PROCESS AND ATU IS 100% BEHIND SUPPORTING THIS.
UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU PRETTY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
BUT IN THAT, NO, I'M JUST SAYING OTHER THAN THAT, I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF IT 100%.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE AS SYNOVIA JOSEPH.
AND DO YOU HAVE HER, OR SHOULD WE COME BACK TO HER VERY WELL, NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ISAIAH SMITH.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MR. SMITH.
UM, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING BUS OPERATORS AND TRANSIT PROFESSIONALS SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND ALSO ADDRESS THINGS OF
[00:05:01]
CONCERN.I HAVE BEEN A BUS OPERATOR, UM, CON WITH DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS OF CAP METRO SINCE OCTOBER, 2018 ON AUGUST 3RD.
UM, UH, FISHER WAS MY LAST STATE WORKING WITH THE COMPANY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING, UM, AS A TRANSIT PROFESSIONAL FOR TWO YEARS IN SEVEN MONTHS.
I ENJOY EVERY BIT OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, I DID NOT ENJOY IT ALL.
WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN EMPTY TRANSPORTATION TOOK OVER OPERATION.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO RESIGN WAS DUE TO MY EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
UM, A LOT OF, WELL, SOME INDIVIDUALS, UM, MV TRANSPORTATION PUT ON PART-TIME THAT ARE BUDDY BUDDIES WITH MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT.
HOWEVER, SINCE I'M A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT AND BECAUSE I'M OUTSPOKEN, UM, I WAS BASICALLY TOLD BY A MEMBER OF MANAGEMENT THAT THE COMPANY COULD AFFORD TO PUT ME ON PART-TIME.
UM, DESPITE EVERYBODY ELSE BEING ON, PART-TIME NOT BEING A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND IS VERY UNFAIR, ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M DEDICATING MULTIPLE YEARS OF SERVICE TO HELPING CUSTOMERS.
THE LAST THING, ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO RESIGN FROM MY POSITION IS YOU SORT OF PRACTICE THAT MV TRANSPORTATION IS CURRENTLY IN THE LAWSUIT RIGHT NOW, A FAIRLY PERCENTERS LAWSUIT, BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT PAY PEOPLE CORRECTLY.
AND I'M THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS, THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I REALLY DO NOT APPRECIATE WORKING MY TIME MULTIPLE YEARS.
AND WHEN THIS COMPANY COMES INTO OFFICE STAFF ALWAYS MESSED UP ON THE PEOPLE'S PATIENTS, THAT SINGLE PAYCHECK PERIOD, ALL OF US KNOW, I MEAN, I HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS, TWO WEEKS FROM ONE PAY PERIOD TO ANOTHER PAY PERIOD BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT GET MY PAYCHECK CORRECTLY.
AND THAT'S TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A ONE INCIDENT THING.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THROUGHOUT ALL THE CAP METRO THAT WE CAN NOT STAND.
AND I HAVE MET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR YEARS THAT HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE LEFT AND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND OTHER PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT DOING TO MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT AT NV TRANSPORTATION.
I REALLY DON'T APPRECIATE THEM.
AND THEY LIKE TO CAUSE FIGHTS WITH EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS ATE CORRECTLY AND MAKING SURE THAT OPERATORS GO SAFE AND COME INTO WORK.
SO THOSE ARE MY REASONS FOR RESIGNING AND BEING TOLD THAT THEY COULD AFFORD TO PUT ME ON PART-TIME, WHICH I REALLY DON'T APPRECIATE.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE CAP METRO BOARD ARE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES.
AND I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT PROJECT CONNECT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH MV TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT AT MV TRANSPORTATION THAT DO NOT, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT DO NOT TREAT EMPLOYEES CORRECTLY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE EMPLOYEES WANTING TO COME TO WORK.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE QUIT BECAUSE OF MV TRANSPORTATION OF THIS WAS WRAP THEM.
I THINK THINGS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT I CAN'T STAND THEM BE TRANSPORTATION.
AM I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT APPRECIATE THEM DELIBERATELY MESSING UP ON PEOPLE'S PAYCHECKS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU GUYS AWARE OF THAT.
UM, AND LASTLY, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT FEDERAL FUNDS, I THINK THAT THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED FRAUD BECAUSE IF YOU ACTUALLY LOOK UP THE COMPANY, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN SUED ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES FOR THESE TYPES OF TIME-SAVING SCHEMES, ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THEY'RE IN FEDERAL COURT, EVERYWHERE, AND MEMBERS OF THEIR MANAGEMENT.
DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THAT YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE PAYCHECKS OF PACIFIC EMPLOYEES, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU JUST DON'T DO, BUT THEY LOVE TO DO IT.
SO SHE DOESN'T WANT IT TO MAKE YOU GUYS AWARE OF THAT.
AND I DO THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, DONNA DIVINE.
I'M PRESENT ANY HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM GO AHEAD PLEASE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE AT THIS BOARD MEETING.
UM, I AM A BUS OPERATOR AND I'VE BEEN WITH MV TRANSPORTATION FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
AND I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL SAFETY OF BUS DRIVERS.
UM, AS YOU GUYS PROBABLY UNDERSTAND, UM, THERE'S A LOT, WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH OUT IN THE FIELD, UM, WITH ALL TYPES OF CUSTOMERS AND OCCASIONALLY WE NEED HELP.
UM, SO SAFETY IS ALWAYS A BIG CONCERN FOR ME AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT SPECIFICALLY SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
[00:10:01]
WE HAVE A, UH, NO CELL PHONE POLICY ON THE BUS, UM, IN FRONT OF THE SANDY LINE.IF WE WANT TO USE THE PHONE, WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO DISBARRED AND USE IT OUTSIDE OR SET BACK BEHIND THE STANDEE LINE.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A NO TOLERANCE POLICY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT INCLUDES CALLING 9 1 1.
SO I FELT IT WAS AN URGENCY TO PRESENT THIS TO YOU AND LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT, UM, THIS IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE OFTEN WHEN A BUS DRIVER ENDS UP IN A VERY SCARY SITUATION, UM, WHERE THEY MIGHT BE TRAPPED IN A CERTAIN AREA THAT THE INABILITY TO CALL 9 1, 1, UM, W CAN BE IN CONFLICT WITH WHAT THE DRIVER IS ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH.
SO I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I ENDED UP IN A SITUATION ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, UM, WHERE I WAS FORCED TO CALL 9 1 1, UM, FROM MY BUS SEAT.
SO, UM, THERE WAS A PATRON, UM, WHO WAS SCREAMING AND THREATENING BODILY HARM AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GET OUT OF MY SEAT.
AND SO I NEEDED TO CALL NINE 11.
I'VE BEEN PUT ON UNPAID SUSPENSION AND I'VE BEEN IN THAT STATUS FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
AND, UM, MY FUTURE IS UNCLEAR.
SO I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM MAKING ANY PERSONAL CALLS WITH A PHONE.
AND, UM, AND OF COURSE I COULDN'T FORESEE THAT I WAS GOING TO BE THREATENED OR HELP TO MY FEET.
SO I, AND IT'S A JOB THAT I, THAT I ENJOY.
I REALLY ENJOY SERVING CUSTOMERS AND DRIVING BUSES.
AND, UM, I'VE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME, MY OWN SELF RECONCILING HOW MY COMPANY IS DEALING WITH THIS.
AND, UM, MY ABILITY TO CALL 9 1 1.
SO I WANTED TO PRESENT THAT HERE TO YOU GUYS, BECAUSE THE ABILITY TO CALL 9 1, 1 IS, UM, AN URGENT SITUATION THAT I FEEL SHOULD BE AFFORDED TO EVERY BUS DRIVER.
AND I WOULDN'T WANT ANY BUS DRIVER TO BE PUNISHED FOR BEING IN THAT POSITION.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO, TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR AIR AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE LIKELY TO BUTCHER THE NAME OF WEISS AZHAR CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
DEAR CAPITAL, METRO CHAIR VICE-CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS
IN ADDITION, I'M ALSO A LIFETIME TRANSIT USER AND A DAILY CUSTOMER OF GAP.
METRO, DO THEY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO POSTPONE TAKING ACTION ON, UM, ACTION ITEM ONE ON YOUR AGENDA, THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE CAPITOL METRO TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS POSTPONEMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH JUST LIBERTY, AUSTIN, JUSTICE, COALITION, AUSTIN, URBAN LEAGUE, AND PEOPLE UNITED FIRMS AT THE ACTION.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT DECISION IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY AND TRANSIT AGENCY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.
THIS RESOLUTION WOULD ENACT COURT AUTHORIZED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAPITOL.
METRO GRAPHICS BELIEF DIRECT THE PRESIDENT AND CEO TO ENGAGE YOUR PROFESSIONALS.
TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDE IN THE CAPITAL METRO FISCAL YEAR, 2022 OPERATING BUDGETS, SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT YEAR, INCLUDING RESOURCES NECESSARY TO HIRE STAFF WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORTING BACK TO THE BOARD ON PROGRESS AT A BOARD MEETING IN EARLY 2022.
THUS, I REALLY WANT TO BE PERIOD.
THE DECISION BEING MADE TODAY IS CRITICAL AND FINAL.
IF THE BOARD VOTES IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, THERE'S LITTLE SPACE FOR THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHAPE THIS PROPOSAL.
THIS IS THE KIND OF DECISION THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING IN THE RIGHT WAY AS A COMMUNITY, NOT IN A QUICK WAY, AND IS OBVIOUS TO THEIR ASSOCIATED PERSONNEL AND POLICE MATTERS.
AND POLICY MATTERS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR BUS RIDERS ARE SAFE.
AND I APPRECIATE GAP METRO, AS OPPOSED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, INCLUDING OTHER MECHANISMS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFORE TAKING ANY DECISION ON THE CREATION OF A NEW DEPARTMENT, THE BOARD CONDUCT A TERM DATA-DRIVEN AND EQUITY FOCUSED ANALYSIS FOR THE NEED FOR CAPITAL METRO COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHILE ENGAGING WITH KEY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, TRANSIT WRITERS, COMMUNITY
[00:15:01]
MEMBERS, AND BUS DRIVERS IS ALSO CRITICAL TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THIS DECISION BEFORE CREATING A NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND ITS PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM TO THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTORS AND INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR BUS DRIVERS.I APPRECIATE FAST OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE FROM GAP METRO, BUT WE NEED TO EXPAND FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
WE HOPE THE BOARD WOULD POSTPONE THIS IMPORTANT DECISION TODAY AND TAKE THE TIME TO BUILD CONSENSUS AND INFORM OUR COMMUNITY FULLY ABOUT THIS CRITICAL ITEM.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO CHECK COOPER.
COULD I ASK, I DIDN'T CATCH IT THIS PAST SPEAKER SAID HE WAS SPEAKING FOR A COUPLE OF GROUPS.
COULD HE REPEAT THOSE GROUPS AGAIN? OKAY.
THIS WOULD BE PLANNING OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE'RE ALSO IN COLLABORATION WITH JUST LIBERTY, THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE, AND PEOPLE UNITED FROM ABILITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE STEVEN SIGMUND.
ARE YOU ABLE TO, UH, MR. ZIGMUND, UH, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
UM, I'M A, UH, URBAN PLANNER AND A PHD STUDENT AND FAIRLY REGULAR TRANSIT USER, UH, OF CAP METRO.
UM, SO FOR ME, THE, THE GOAL OF A TRANSIT AGENCY IS TO ENABLE CITIZENS TO KIND OF EFFECTIVELY ACCESS THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH LIVING IN THE AUSTIN ARITY AIR AREA.
OF COURSE, SAFETY IS PART OF THIS, BUT I BELIEVE THAT POLICE SHOULD BE SEEN AS A TRANSIT BY A TRANSIT AGENCY AS A LAST RESORT AND NOT A FIRST RESPONSE.
UM, SOME REASONS FOR THIS, UH, AS REPORTED IN THE STATESMAN OR SUPER MAJORITY OF CAP, METRO RIDERS ALREADY DO FEEL SAFE, RIDING CAP, METRO SERVICES.
UH, SO WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE INVOLVEMENT OF POLICE AND TRANSIT OPERATIONS? AND I THINK THIS IS A CRUCIAL QUESTION BECAUSE POLICE TEND TO BECOME ALL PURPOSE PROBLEM SOLVERS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE GREATER CLEVELAND RTA TRANSIT POLICE BECAME MORE AND MORE INVOLVED IN DAILY OPERATIONS THAT ARE WELL OUTSIDE THEIR SKILLSET.
AND THIS LED TO A PATTERN OF CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS AND AN EXTRAORDINARY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ORDERING THE AGENCY, SEES ITS USAGE FOR OUTPUT FOR TRANSIT ENFORCEMENT IN THE INTERIM.
THE AGENCY IS CURRENTLY PAYING NOW FOR CONSULTANTS AND LAWYERS TO IMPROVE THEIR HIRING PRACTICES OF THEIR TRANSIT POLICE HOLD DIVERSITY AND TRAINING MEDIATION TRAININGS AND REDESIGN THEIR FARE SYSTEM.
UH, THESE COSTS COULD HAVE GONE TO IMPROVING TRANSIT SERVICE AND EMPLOYEE WORK CONDITIONS, UH, AND WE SHOULD NEVER MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL LIKELY INFRINGE ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF PASSENGERS, WHICH WILL HAPPEN WHEN POLICE ARE INTRODUCED TO CONFLICTS AT A MATTER, AS A MATTER OF POLICY AND NOT AS A LAST RESORT.
UH, SECONDLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE A VISION ZERO POLICY FOR PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, AND WE SHOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THAT SAME STANDARD FOR TRANSIT PASSENGERS.
I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT OSCAR GRANT WAS MURDERED BY TRANSIT POLICE, AND WE SHOULD NEVER MAKE A DECISION.
I SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO A PASSENGER BEING KILLED BY POLICE OFFICERS.
THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS IS REAL WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF ARMED POLICE OFFICERS, DAILY SERVICE OPERATIONS.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE.
I APPLAUD CAP METRO FOR THE HUGE STEPS THAT THEY HAVE MADE TO IMPROVE TRANSIT OFFERINGS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
AND WE SHOULD TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS A COMMUNITY TO INNOVATE IN THE AREA OF TRANSIT OPERATIONS, SECURITY, WHETHER THAT'S SAFETY AMBASSADORS AND PASSENGERS, CONFLICT MEDIATOR, MEDIATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AS, AS PART OF RIDE ALONGS.
UM, THESE ARE, THIS IS AN AREA THAT THERE'S A HUGE AREA OF OPPORTUNITY TO INNOVATE.
AND I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, UH, AND LEADERSHIP AT THIS BOARD CAN OFFER.
UM, I REALLY WOULD SINCERELY ASK THAT YOU POSTPONE THIS DECISION TO APPROVE, UH, A ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRANSIT POLICE FORCE AND MORE THOROUGHLY STUDY THE IMPACTS THAT IS LIKELY TO HAVE THE PASSENGERS.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE ABENA FERNANDEZ.
WELL, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, THANKS.
UH, MY NAME IS
[00:20:01]
AND FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, CAP METRO AND ITS ONGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SPONSORSHIP, UH, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AS WE WILL ALSO PARTNER AGAIN THIS YEAR TO PROMOTE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY.AND WE'RE ALSO, UH, PLEASED TO HAVE JUST AWARDED OVER $25,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH LINE TO STUDENTS FROM MAINER AND DEL VALLEY.
AND AISB, UH, ON THE POLICE ISSUE.
UH, MY CONCERN IS, UH, THE INEQUITY OF APPLICATION ON THE POLICIES BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, UH, UH, I WROTE THE, THE RAIL TO LEANDER WITH A FRIEND OF MINE AND HIS SON JUST FOR FUN, RIGHT? AND THE IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE MASS WAS REALLY STRICT.
MY FRIEND WOULD PULL IT DOWN TO BREATHE BETTER AND, UH, THROUGH THE CAMERA, THAT PERSON WOULD COME OUT AND TELL HIM, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON OR YOU NEED TO GET OFF TO THE NEXT SPOT.
WELL, I GO TO A SOCCER GAME AND WHEN I LEAVE THE SOCCER GAME, THE REL THE TRAIN, ISN'T ONLY PACKED SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, BUT NO ENFORCEMENTS OR MASK.
SO I, THAT'S WHY I KEEP SAYING THAT THIS IS A FEAR THAT I HAVE WITH HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMING PLACE IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE INEQUITABLE AND ITS APPLICATIONS LIKE THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO SEE CONSISTENCY AND APPLICATION OF POLICIES WHERE THE PUBLIC BUY INTO OR USERS BUY INTO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF THE BUS DRIVERS, UH, BECAUSE, UH, I'M, UH, A BUS RIDER, UH, BEEN ALL MY LIFE SINCE I WAS A KID.
AND I HAVE SEEN THE DRAMATIC, UH, UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS THAT ARE PLACED IN, BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE DISCUSSION.
WE NEED MORE, UH, INFORMATION TRANSPARENCY.
THEY SAY THERE'S 13 SPOTS THAT ARE HOTSPOTS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE SPOTS ARE.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH US.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT AS CONSIGLIO AND LOU, I COUNCIL NUMBER TWO TO THREE TO FIVE IN THAT REQUEST TO POSTPONE MOVING FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A VERY BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUT IN PLACE AND THAT IT IS SAFE, NOT ONLY FOR EVERYBODY, UH, AND, UH, SO THAT THAT'S MY PLEA AND MY REQUEST.
AND AGAIN, THANKS CAP METRO FOR ITS CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT.
AND I DO WANT TO PRAISE THE ORANGE IRVINE HANDS-ON, UH, PROJECT THAT, UH, RANDY PARTICIPATED IN.
AND RANDY JUST CONTINUES TO SURPRISE ME.
MELISSA'S CAPACITY INTELLIGENCE IN RUNNING THIS, UH, TRANSIT TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
IT CONTINUES TO SURPRISE US AS WELL.
UH, OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE, UH, YASMIN SMITH.
HI, CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? WE CAN MS. SMITH WELCOME.
I ESTEEM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS YASMINE SMITH, BORN PROUD, BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE.
AND I COME TO YOU TODAY IN MY CAPACITY AS CHAIR FOR PEOPLE UNITED FOR MOBILITY ACTION, PUMA AND THE DIRECTOR OF JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY FOR THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE, A UL.
MY TESTIMONY IS IN RELATION TO THE CREATION OF THE CAPITOL METRO TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY APPRECIATION TO THE BOARD AND YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.
IN THIS MATTER, YOUR GOAL OF CREATING A SPACE FOR TRANSIT EXPERIENCE FOR ALL WRITERS.
HOWEVER, WE AT THE AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE AND PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FELLOW COALITION MEMBERS, OFTEN JUSTICE COALITION PLANNING, OUR COMMUNITY, JUST LIBERTY AND PEOPLE UNITED FROM BOOTY ACTION ASKED YOU TO TAKE A BEAT AND ALLOW FOR MORE TIME TO TRULY HONOR WHAT YOU ALL ARE ABOUT TO VOTE ON THE CREATION OF AN ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I LIKE TO DIRECT YOU TO THE PRESENTATION POSTED TODAY BY STAFF AND THE MEETING BACKUP.
IF YOU VOTE YAY ON THIS RESOLUTION, IT WILL BE BASED OFF A DATASET OF A MERE 570 PEOPLE, 406, WHICH WERE CUSTOMERS OUT OF THE 406 AND OVERWHELMINGLY 80%.
DESCRIBE THE SECURITY BEING FIVE WITH LESS THAN A THIRD 32% ARTICULATING THE NEED FOR ENHANCED SECURITY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT, THIS IS ENHANCED SECURITY, NOT NECESSARILY EXPLICITLY A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT MEANS THAT YOU ARE CORROBORATING THE ASSUMPTION OF THE NECESSITY FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL THE COMMENTS OF A MIRROR, 184 PEOPLE ON A SURVEY THAT HAS MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND ITS METHODOLOGY.
YOU WOULD BE CASTING YOUR VOTE FOR THE CREATION OF A HISTORICALLY OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM BASED ON LOG METHODOLOGIES, LAID UPON AN EXTREMELY SMALL DATASET AT A TIME WHERE THE FISCAL BUDGET IS AT A DEFICIT OF $1.4 MILLION.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE GOAL OF THE CREATION OF THE ENHANCED SAFETY FOR ALL TRANSIT USERS AND PROVIDERS, WE SHOULD NOT DO SO IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT OPTIMIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DATA-DRIVEN PRACTICES.
IF YOU STILL ARE UNABLE TO DECIPHER THE BENEFIT OF POSTPONEMENT, WE ASKED YOU TO CREATE A PROCESS FOR EXPLORING THIS OPTION BASED ON DATA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AS OPPOSED TO ESTABLISHING A POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY,
[00:25:01]
YOU HEARD TESTIMONY TODAY FROM A BUS DRIVER WHO ARTICULATED SHE WOULD LIKE AN INCREASED LEVEL LEVEL OF SAFETY, BUT DERIVED IT TO AN INTERNAL POLICY THAT THIS ALLOWED HER FOR MAKING A CALL FROM WHERE SHE SAT, NOT NECESSARILY THAT SHE WANTED THE CREATION OF AN ADDITIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT IGNORING HER CORE ISSUE OF LAW AND PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES DUE TO THE LACK OF TRUE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING, AND INSTEAD CREATING WHAT YOU BELIEVE WILL ELEVATE ALLEVIATE THE SYSTEMS OF HER CORE ISSUE IS NOT SERVING HER NOR YOUR PROVIDERS, NOR YOUR RIDERS.AND UNFORTUNATELY ALIGNS WITH A FLAWED METHODOLOGY THAT IS BEING USED TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
LET US TOGETHER REIMAGINE SAFETY RATHER THAN FOLLOW A PRIUS OR ASSUMED TEMPLATE.
WE IN AUSTIN HAVE A NARRATIVE WITH BEING DIFFERENT.
I HOPE THAT WE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A NARRATIVE THAT ALSO URGES US TO BE BETTER.
THIS DELEGATION BASED ON AN ASSUMPTION, CORROBORATED BY METHODOLOGY, UH, THAT IS SQUAD TESTED UPON A MINUSCULE DATA SET IS NOT HOW WE CHART A COURSE FOR BETTER.
RATHER I'D ARGUED ONLY ASSURED THE REALITIES OF REMAINING THE SAME AND QUITE POSSIBLY MARGINALIZING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS ON OUR EXPEDITED ROUTE TO HARMFUL MEDIOCRITY, PLEASE POSTPONE.
AND IF NOT AT THE VERY LEAST MAKE THIS RESOLUTION ONE OF EXPLORATION RATHER THAN ALLOCATION, LET US INNOVATE RATHER THAN DELEGATE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE JP CONLEY.
MR. COLLIN, ARE YOU WITH US? ED? DO YOU HAVE HIM? YEAH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER WOULD BE CATHY MITCHELL.
HI, CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM WELCOME.
I AM WITH JUST LIBERTY AND I AM PART OF THIS COALITION.
THAT'S COME TOGETHER TO ASK YOU TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM A WHILE IT GETS MORE STUDY.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE EXCELLENT COMMENTS THAT YOU'VE HEARD.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF.
UH, AUSTIN TRANSIT SYSTEM CRISSCROSSES CROSSES THE CITY AND AUSTIN ALREADY IS PROTECTED BY LAYERS OF POLICE AGENCIES.
UH, WE HAVE THE SHERIFF, THE CONSTABLES APD, AND IN SOME AREAS NOW STATE TROOPERS, SINCE AUSTIN REMAINS AMONG THE NATION'S SAFEST CITIES WITH RATES OF VIOLENT CRIME, THE ENVY OF OTHER TEXAS CITY, THIS NEW TRANSIT POLICE AGENCY MAY BE A HAMMER HOPING TO FIND A NAIL.
I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE COMMENTS FROM THE BUS DRIVER WHO BASICALLY POINTED OUT THAT THE ONLY THING PREVENTING HER FROM CONNECTING THESE LAYERS OF EXISTING POLICE AGENCIES IS A CELL PHONE POLICY THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE REVIEWED AND CHANGED.
THE SAVE AUSTIN JUST ADDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO APDS BUDGET OVER AND ABOVE 2019 LEVEL.
THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS WILL GRADUATE.
THREE MORE CADET CLASSES WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECENT CITY BUDGET, EVEN SO A VALID INITIATIVE BACKED BY APA.
THEY REQUIRE THE CITY TO HIRE HUNDREDS, MORE POLICE OFFICERS, REGARDLESS OF THE HARMS OTHER CITY PRIORITIES IN THIS MOMENT.
THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED MOMENT FOR THIS ISSUE TO COME UP.
YOUR TRANSIT STAFF COMES TO YOU WITH A PROPOSAL TO APPROVE THE CREATION OF YET ANOTHER POLICE AGENCY IN AUSTIN, SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT POLICING.
THOSE WHO RIDE OUR BUSES AND TRAINS, MANY OF WHOM ARE THE SAME KIND OF LOW-INCOME WORKERS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE ALREADY OVER POLICED.
I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT DETAILS ARE TO COME, BUT THOSE DETAILS MATTER HOW MANY OFFICERS AND WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING? THIS IS A VEXING QUESTION WITH WHICH POLICE AGENCIES EVERYWHERE ARE WRESTLING.
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS NEW SET OF OFFICERS? THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT WON'T HAVE JURISDICTIONS AND CIVILIAN REVIEW PANEL WANT EITHER.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ONE OF THESE OFFICERS SHOOTS THE BUS RIDER OR A BYSTANDER? WHAT ABOUT COMMUNITY CONCERNS RELATED TO EQUITY AND ENFORCEMENT? AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE NEW AGENCY WILL NEED TO HAVE AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ITS OWN EVIDENCE SYSTEM
[00:30:01]
WILL.WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE NEW LEGAL LIABILITY THAT CAP METRO WILL FACE FOR POSSIBLE POLICE MISCONDUCT AND HOW WILL ALL THESE NEW COSTS START TO CONSTRAIN WHAT YOU CAN SPEND ELSEWHERE IN YOUR BUDGET? IT IS LIKELY THAT TO ENSURE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT, YOU WILL END UP CREATING NOT ONE AGENCY, BUT TO KEEPING OUR TRANSIT RIDERS SAFE REQUIRES A RANGE OF STAFFING AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATIONS.
POLICE SHOW UP WITH A REST AS THEIR PRIMARY TOOL AND SMALL ARMS AS THEIR PRIMARY LEVERAGE, REGARDLESS OF THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU CREATE THIS DEPARTMENT, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THESE CRITICAL DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKED OUT, THEN YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE ASKED TO FUND POSITIONS IMMEDIATELY IN THE 2022 BUDGET.
SO IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS TODAY, YOU WILL SOON HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT ON YOUR HANDS WITH ALL THAT ENTAILS.
SO WE COME TO YOU ASKING FOR YOU TO VOTE NO, OR AT A MINIMUM POSTPONE THIS DECISION UNTIL YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
UH, DO WE HAVE MS. JOSEPH'S BACK? OKAY.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, MR. CONLEY? HELLO? I'M HERE.
IS THIS, UH, JP CONLEY? YES, THIS IS
I'M THE ORGANIZING DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
WELL, YOU'LL HAVE THREE, THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO SOME COMMUNITY TESTIMONY TODAY ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
I'M HERE TO JOIN MANY VOICES WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE MANY EXCELLENT POINTS, WHICH I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO REPEAT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF POSTPONING ITEM B ONE, WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT POLICE.
NO ONE IS DENYING THE NEED FOR SAFETY FOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
THAT SAFETY IS CRUCIAL, BUT IT'S A NON-SEQUITUR TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE NEED SAFETY THAT THEREFORE, WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED RIGHT NOW IS THE ONLY, OR THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT SAFETY.
THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK AND THOUGHTS THAT NEEDS TO AND CAN GO INTO THIS.
AND MANY MORE MINDS FROM OUR COMMUNITY CAN AND SHOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THIS PROCESS.
ALTHOUGH I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE COMMISSION, I AM A MEMBER OF THE CITY'S POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION.
AND IN MY JOB AS A POLICE REVIEW COMMISSIONER, I SEE HOW DIFFICULT POLICE OVERSIGHT WORK CAN BE WITHOUT PROPER TOOLS AND REGULATIONS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU KNOW, YOU NEED THINGS LIKE A GOOD BODY CAMERA POLICY.
YOU NEED TRANSPARENT COMPLAINT INTAKE PROCESS.
YOU NEED A PROCESS TO DISCIPLINE OFFICERS WHO VIOLATE POLICIES.
IF YOUR, IF YOUR POLICE FORCE HAS VERY LITTLE OVERSIGHT AND DOESN'T HAVE A WHOLE OVERSIGHT PROCESS, THAT'S THOROUGHLY THOUGHT OUT YOUR POLICE FORCE WILL ANTAGONIZE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS WHO MAKE UP YOUR CORE RIDERSHIP IN AUSTIN.
SO THE BOARD NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT HANDING OFF ALL OF THESE DECISIONS TO STAFF, BUT THAT IT IS THOROUGHLY REVIEWING WHAT IS ON THE TABLE AND WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.
THE BOARD NEEDS TO TAKE MUCH MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS BEFORE STAMPING APPROVAL.
PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS ARE EXCELLENT.
INTERVENTION SPECIALIST PROGRAMS ARE GREAT.
UM, WE SUPPORT THOSE, BUT WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS NOT THAT WHAT IS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS THE CREATION OF AN ACTUAL POLICE FORCE, WHICH MEANS THE TAXPAYERS WILL NOW BE FUNDING.
ONE MORE POLICE FORCE IN THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW TECH PAYERS IN AUSTIN FEEL ABOUT THIS, BUT REGARDLESS OF HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT AS TAXPAYERS, WE CANNOT STAMP THE APPROVAL OF THIS BEFORE WE CAREFULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ON THE TABLE AND WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS, WHAT ARE THE DANGERS? SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HEARD THE SALES PITCH.
NOW WE NEED TO LOOK THOROUGHLY AT WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
AND THERE'S A, A DARK OF ACCURATE DATA BEING PRESENTED TO US IN A TRANSPARENT WAY, AT LEAST TO US AS A COMMUNITY, AS AN OPEN COMMUNITY.
AND SO I HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ASK DEEP QUESTIONS, TAKE A DEEP DIVE AND LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, UM, AND A REALLY THOROUGH, CAREFUL WAY, BECAUSE ONCE YOU STOP THE APPROVAL OF THIS, THERE'S NO GOING BACK.
SO TAKE DON'T WASTE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
DON'T MISS THIS CHANCE TO REALLY DO THE WORK, TO TAKE THE TIME NEEDED TO GET IT RIGHT.
[00:35:01]
CONLEY, ED, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISH TO SPEAK THAT I HAVEN'T CALLED UPON? THANK YOU.WE APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND YOU TAKING TIME TO JOIN US AND, UH, AND TO, UH, UH, MAKE YOUR THOUGHTS KNOWN TO US.
[V.1. Approval of a resolution authorizing the establishment of the Capital Metro Transit Police Department, as a component of the Capital Metro Public Safety Division, to enhance service to Capital Metro customers and public safety.]
I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO SKIP AHEAD TO OUR ITEM AGENDA AND TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER ONE, THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A COMPONENT OF THE CAPITOL METRO PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION, UH, IN ORDER TO ENHANCE SERVICE TO CAP METRO CUSTOMERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.UM, I THINK GARDNER TIBONE HAS OUR PRESENTATION STATS GARDNER.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN COOPER, BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT AND CEO CLARK, UH, PRIOR TO ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH THIS TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT, I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU AND OUR, UH, ATTENDEES WITH PRESENTATION.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHARE IT NOW AND PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU CAN SEE THE PRESENTATION.
SO AGAIN, MY NAME IS GARDNER TAYVON AND SERVICE CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
UH, PLEASE PRESENT YOU A TOTAL LOOK OF OUR CAPITOL METRO PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM, AND A BIT ABOUT OUR APPROACH.
YOU'LL SEE, IN THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'RE TAKING A THREE PRONG APPROACH, UH, TO OUR DAILY CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO DAILY OPERATIONS AT SERVICE CALLS, SPECIAL EVENTS AND CRITICAL TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO MORE ABOUT OUR THREE PRONGED APPROACH WITH SPECIFIC EMPHASIS AND FOCUS ON OUR INTERVENTION SPECIALIST.
AND I'LL GO INTO WHAT THEY DO A BIT LATER, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADOR, AS WELL AS TRANSIT POLICE, THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, AUTHORIZE LATER.
SO PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADOR WHORES, UH, THE PRIMARY INTERFACE WITH THAT CUSTOMERS ARE PREPARED TO IDENTIFY ALL SAFETY ISSUES OR POLICY VIOLATIONS, UH, RESPOND AND OR BRING IN APPROPRIATE RESOURCES, UH, HELPING CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE TICKETS, IDENTIFY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS TRIPPING HAZARDS, CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS OR CONTACTING POLICE WHERE NEEDED EMPHASIS ON WHERE NEEDED, UH, INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, UH, DISPATCH AS NEEDED TO STATION STOPS AND VEHICLES OR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, EQUIPPED WITH SOCIAL SERVICE SKILLS AND TRAINING, UH, ABLE TO CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NECESSARY SOCIAL SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED ASSISTING WITH TRAINING, OTHER STAFF AND OPERATORS, AND LASTLY TRANSIT POLICE.
THEY WILL BE DISPATCHED AS NEEDED FOR SPECIFIC ESCALATED PUBLIC SAFETY SITUATION.
THEY WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SOCIAL SERVICE SKILLS AND APPROPRIATE TRAINING AS PREPARED TO SELL A FAIR TICKET OR TO WRITE A CITATION.
IT WILL BE INVOLVED IN ONGOING TRANSIT, SPECIFIC PUBLIC SAFETY DRILLS, AND OTHER TRAINING.
THERE'LL BE A PRIMARY RESOURCE AGAINST TRANSIT RELATED TERRORISM AS WELL.
TRANSIT POLICE AGAIN, UH, THE BOARD ACTION, UH, WILL BE REQUESTED LATER TODAY, WHICH IS WHY I'M HERE.
UH, THIS FUNCTION IS CURRENTLY PROVIDED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THERE'LL BE DEDICATED AND SPECIALIZED RESOURCES, UH, TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR CAPITAL METRO MOVING FORWARD.
SO CURRENTLY OUR TOP FIVE EMERGENCY CALLS INCLUDE A GENERAL REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE.
PLEASE PROVIDE POLICE PRESENCE REQUESTED FOR, UH, A VARIETY OF
[00:40:01]
REASONS, LOITERING, UH, MISCELLANEOUS, SUCH AS NO MASK OR MASK RELATED.UH, IF THERE'S A DISTURBANCE, WHETHER IT'S VERBAL OR PHYSICAL AND IT'S TO CHECK THE WELFARE OF AN INDIVIDUAL, AN INDIVIDUAL THAT MAY BE SLEEPING, UH, AT ONE OF OUR STOPS OR, UH, INCLUDING ONE OF OUR BUSES PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES, FISCAL YEAR 2021.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON UPDATING OUR APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND IT STARTED EARLY 2020.
SO IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE HIRED TWO COMMUNITY INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS.
WE HIRED A PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADOR, UH, SUPERVISOR WE'RE HIRING WE'RE IN A PROCESS OF HIRING 15 PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS AND THE AMERICAN AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION, OR APTA CONDUCTED A PEER PEER REVIEW.
YOU'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT, BUT LATER IN PRESENTATION, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, AND WE'VE ALSO CONDUCTED AN OPERATOR AND CUSTOMER SURVEY MORE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT.
SO AGAIN, UH, APTA CAME TO US AT FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR AT OUR REQUEST, UH, TO CONDUCT A REVIEW A, UM, A PEER REVIEW STAKEHOLDER AND POLICY INTERVIEWS WERE HELD A CUSTOMER AT OPERATOR SURVEY.
AS I SAID BEFORE, WAS CONDUCTED STAKEHOLDER BRIEFINGS, UH, COMMITTEE BRIEFINGS, OUR D E N I COUNCIL XS, AND C-SAT COUNCILS WERE BRILLIANT COMMITTEES FOR BRIDGE.
SO MORE ABOUT THE AFTER PEER REVIEW, THE PEER REVIEW PANEL WAS CONVENED TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE CAPITAL METRO PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.
THERE WAS AN OBSERVATION, ONE OF MANY, THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL POLICING MODEL FOR TRANSIT AGENCIES.
METHODOLOGY INCLUDED A REVIEW OF THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AND INTERVIEWS OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING CAPITAL METRO, WORKFORCE ADVOCATES AND POLICY MAKERS.
UH, HERE'S SOME KEY FINDINGS, JUST THREE OF THEM.
UM, HAVE MANY CAPITAL METRO IS IN AN ENVIABLE POSITION TO ESTABLISH AN IN-HOUSE TRANSIT POLICE MODEL.
THAT BLENDS ELEMENTS THAT WILL ENHANCE THE PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.
THAT IS TO SAY, UH, COMMUNITY INTERVENTION, COUNSELORS, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS.
THERE WAS AN OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FROM UNION MEMBERS, CAPITAL METRO STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS, AND BOARD MEMBERS TOWARD IN-HOUSE TRANSIT POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE A PART OF THE CAPITAL METRO PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.
THE PLAN SYSTEM EXPANSION COMMUNITY DESIRE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND EQUITABLE SERVICES AND THE SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE APD OFFICES, OUR REASONS FOR CREATING A TRANSIT POLICE CONTINGENT.
SO THE PUBLIC SAFETY SURVEY, UH, WAS CONDUCTED IN SPRING OF 2021.
SO 500 TOTAL 570 TOTAL SURVEYS WERE COMPLETED.
UM, 164 WITH CAPITAL METRO OPERATORS IN FRONTLINE STAFF, 63% OF THEM OR BUS OPERATOR, 406 WITH CAPITAL METRO CUSTOMERS.
MAJORITY ARE FREQUENT FREQUENT RIDERS.
AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK, 48 ROUTES WERE REPRESENTED AND A RESPONSE ALL RIDE THE BUS AND 5% ALSO RIDE THE TRAIN.
DO YOU FIND 80% OF OUR CUSTOMERS? STATE SECURITY IS GOOD AND DO NOT SEEM TO FAULT CAPITOL METRO FOR SAFETY ISSUES.
THEY WOULD FEEL SAFER WITH MORE CAMERAS AND VISIBLE SECURITY, SYMBOLS, UNIFORM CAPITAL, METRO STAFF, AND OR POLICE OFFICERS.
63% OF FRONTLINE STAFF DO SECURITY AS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT.
STAFF FEEL UNSAFE WHILE WORKING, AND THAT'S 30% AND AT, UH, BUS STOPS AND STATIONS, 24% FRONTLINE STAFF WENT TO SEE A POLICE OFFICERS AND OR UNIFORMED STAFF
[00:45:02]
TO CREATE A SENSE OF SECURITY ON THE VEHICLES.AND AT STATION UNSAFE PASSENGER BEHAVIOR IS THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF MOST OF THE STATION CONCERNS EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS HAVE.
AND SURVEY KEY FINDINGS CONTINUED SURVEY PARTICIPANTS INDICATE CAPITAL METRO IS, SHOULD CONSIDERING FREEZING VISIBLE SECURITY MEASURES SUCH AS UNIFORM SECURITY, ESPECIALLY ON ROUTES, UH, WITH MORE CALLS FOR SERVERS.
THIS PROVIDES DETERRENCE PREVENTION AND MORE TIMELY RESPONSE WORK WITH EMPLOYEES TO IMPLEMENT BLAME, BE SURE TO INCLUDE A STRONG MARKETING PLAN TO ALERT THE COMMUNITY OF INCREASED SAFETY MEASURES.
UH, DO WE HAVE, DO WE HAVE THAT USE OF THAT? WE HAVE TO USE THE TERM POLICE.
POLICE MUST IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS POLICE FOR THE SAKE OF CLEAR IDENTIFICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO COVER THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THEIR SERVICES.
I KNOW THE QUESTION IS WHAT TYPES OF, UH, POLICIES WILL THE POLICE OFFICERS FOLLOW? IN ADDITION TO THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS, UH, TO FOLLOWING A REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE LAW, WE WILL WORK WITH CONSULTANTS, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO IDENTIFY AND SHAPE SPECIFIC POLICIES, TRAININGS, AND STANDARDS FOR THE POLICE.
SO WHAT DOES OVERSIGHT LOOK LIKE? THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD WILL APPOINT A PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THERE WILL BE AN AUDIT OVERSIGHT FUNCTION THAT REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD IN SUMMARY CAPITOL METRO'S PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM, AIMS TO PROTECT CAPITAL METRO STAFF, ITS CUSTOMERS, AND THE COMMUNITY FROM HARM USING MULTIPLE INTEGRATED STRATEGY.
TRANSIT POLICING IS A SPECIALIZED SERVICE AND A SPECIALIZED AND DEDICATED POLICE TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NECESSARY TO BEST SERVE OUR CUSTOMERS, STAFF AND PUBLIC SAFETY AT LARGE, UH, CUSTOMERS AND STAFF HAVE INDICATED SUPPORT TO DATE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS, UH, THIS PROCESS SORT OF BOARD ACTION REQUESTED AUTHORIZES STAFF TO CONTINUE THIS WORK, UH, BRING THE COMMUNITY ALONG WITH THE PROCESS TO ESTABLISH COMMUNITY ORIENTED TRANSIT POLICE, WHICH IS ANTICIPATED TO TAKE MORE THAN 18 MONTHS.
SUMMARY OF THE RESOLUTION ENGAGE A CONSULTANT TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ENGAGED GAP.
METRO D E N I A COUNCIL AND BOARD COMMITTEE DEVELOP AND DEVELOP A PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHARTER AND APPOINTMENT, UH, PROCESS FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION DEVELOP A STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BASED ON INPUT FROM INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATE A PROCESS BY WHICH POLICE AUDITING AND OVERSIGHT IS ADDRESSED, INCLUDE FUNDING AND THE FYI 2022, UH, OPERATING BUDGET TO CONTINUE THE WORK NEXT STEPS AFTER APPROVAL, ENGAGE CONSULTANTS WITH SIGNIFICANT TRANSIT POLICING EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE, UH, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN IF Y 22 BUDGET TO INCLUDE PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS, INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, AND POSITIONS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD ON PROGRESS IN EARLY 20, 22 AND PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, CONSULTANT THAT'LL BE COMING ON BOARD UPON APPROVAL IS A FORMER CHIEF WANDA DUNHAM, AND SHE RETIRED FROM MARTA OR METROPOLITAN ATLANTA, RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
UH, THE NINTH LARGEST TRANSIT AGENCY SERVING 947
[00:50:01]
SQUARE MILES, INCLUDING, UH, CLAYTON TO CABIN AND FULTON COUNTIES.UH, SHE SERVED 14 YEARS AS AGM OR ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF OF POLICE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
SHE LED A 400 PLUS MEMBER POLICE DEPARTMENT PROVIDING SECURITY FROM MULTIPLE FACILITIES, UH, STATIONS, BUSES, MOBILITY, AND LIGHT RAIL, ACTUALLY RAIL THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA, UH, WITH A TOTAL OF 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE, FUTURE, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE WHAT WE WANT TO INFORM CUSTOMERS AND STAFF ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE DIRECTION.
WHAT TYPES, UH, WE'LL BE ASKING, WHAT TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS DO YOU SEE, UH, THAT, THAT DO YOU THINK MAKE A GOOD POLICE CHIEF? WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF POLICE TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GETTING IT RIGHT? OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW PROPOSED, UM, POLICIES AND STANDARDS, MULTIPLE FREQUENT CHECK-INS WITH DEN, I COUNSELED TRANSIT SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BROADER PUBLIC ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN MORE AND PARTICIPATE, ENGAGE PARTNERS, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO BOLSTER RELATIONSHIP AND GUIDE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT.
AND WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AND THAT MAY JUST UNSHARE THIS.
UM, SO I'M OPEN TO TAKING WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OF ME AT THIS TIME.
UM, I KNOW YOU'VE, UM, BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND YOU'VE PROBABLY ANSWERED THIS QUESTION BEFORE AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'M TRYING TO RECALL, UH, ONE OF THE, THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS RAISED, I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION IS, IS THE THINKING THAT THE, UM, THAT THE TRANSIT POLICE WOULD, WOULD BE CARRYING WEAPONS? YES.
UH, THE TRANSIT POLICE, AS THEY, AS OUR TRANSIT SECURITY CURRENTLY, DOES THEY? THEY WILL CARRY WEAPONS.
HOW MUCH DO, HOW MANY OFFICERS DO WE PRESENTLY HAVE WORKING FOR US AS POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IS OUR YEARLY BUDGET FOR? SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE OVER 100 PART-TIME THAT ARE IN, UH, A ROTATION OF SORTS.
UM, I DO NOT HAVE THE BUDGET NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME.
I CAN GET THAT TO YOU IN SHORT ORDER THOUGH.
AND, AND JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, NOT ALL 100 ARE USED, THEY ARE JUST PRETTY MUCH ON A LIST AND YOU PULL FROM THAT LIST AND YEAH, I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE RIGHT NOW ARE USING POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE ARMED AND THAT ARE APD OR WHATEVER.
ARE THERE ARE CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
THANKS, MR. TAYVON FOR A REALLY GOOD, UM, OVERVIEW AND SUMMARY.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING.
IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR, I THINK.
SO I'VE BEEN, UH, GIVEN THE AWESOME RESPONSIBILITIES SINCE ABOUT JANUARY, BUT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.
AND CAN YOU, UM, EITHER DIRECT ME TO A LIST OF THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND STAKEHOLDERS THAT YOU TALKED WITH, IS IT IN YOUR REPORT, IN THE BACKUP, OR DO YOU HAVE A SH UM, A TOP LINE YOU COULD SHARE, UH, TO SHOW THE EXPANSE OF INVOLVEMENT FROM THE COMMITTEE? YES.
UH, WE, UH, HAVE A LIST AND WE CAN, UH, PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
I HAVE A FEW FOLKS LISTENING IN THAT CAN ASSIST WITH THAT, UH, IN SHORT ORDER, BUT YES, IT WAS, UH, NUMEROUS, UH, INDIVIDUALS, UH, AROUND THE, UM, AROUND THE REGION.
UM, I UNDERSTAND ANECDOTALLY THAT THAT'S AT SOME POINTS, OUR, UH, BUS DRIVERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED
[00:55:01]
FOR THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.UM, AND THE RESPONSE TIME TO GETTING, UH, UH, APD OFFICER TO THE PLACE HAS, UM, INCREASED THE LEVELS OF ANXIETY.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND, AND KIND OF GIVE US THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THAT AND, AND THE, UH, THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND HAVING A CAP, METRO TRANSIT POLICE SLASH AMBASSADOR CONTRACT? SURE, SURE, SURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION, UH, TO, TO BEGIN WITH THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION.
UM, THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES AND I LIKE TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO APD FOR BEING A GOOD PARTNER FIRST AND FOREMOST.
UH, BUT THEY HAVE CONSTRAINTS, RIGHT? THEY HAVE LIMITATIONS AND RESOURCES BEING ONE OF THEM AS A RESULT, WHEN WE DO GET CERTAIN CALLS, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO, UM, RESPOND PERHAPS IN A TIME THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM RESPOND.
AND SO THAT'S, UM, EXASPERATES TO A DEGREE, THE ISSUES THAT MAY BE OCCURRING ON A BUS AND, OR A TRAIN OR AT ONE OF OUR FACILITIES.
SO AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT, UH, BEING ABLE TO HAVE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES.
UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, UM, INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT BE BEHAVING AS, UH, WE'D LIKE THEM TO, UH, AT ONE OF OUR FACILITIES OR BUSES.
AND WE REALLY NEED A MUCH QUICKER RESPONSE TIME.
WE NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
UH, WE REALIZED THAT THEY ARE APD OFFICERS FIRST.
AND, UH, IF THEY'RE, UM, IF THEIR ORGANIZATION REQUIRES THEM TO WORK A PARTICULAR SHIFT OR OVERTIME THAT THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO GO THERE, UH, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A DEDICATED FOR US, WHICH WILL NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE SIZE OF THEIR FORCE.
I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO HAVE NEAR THE SAME NUMBERS.
IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE, UH, UM, IT'D BE A MUCH SMALLER FORCE TRANSIT FOCUS.
WE'LL BE TRAVELING, UH, THEY'LL BE MONITORING ACTIVITIES, UH, OF OUR VEHICLES THAT GET TO, AND THROUGH VERY MANY COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND THE EMPHASIS, UH, PERHAPS IF I COULD JUST SHARE A BIT MORE WILL BE TO USE FIRST AND FOREMOST, OUR COMMUNITY INTERVENTION SPECIALIST, AS WELL AS, UM, OUR PSA'S THE PUBLIC SAFETY AMBASSADORS.
SO THAT WAY WE WON'T HAVE TO USE, UM, POLICE, UM, TO, TO INTERVENE, BUT THERE WILL BE OCCASION WHERE AN OFFICER'S NEEDED.
IT'S ABOUT PROTECTION OF, UH, PEOPLE LIKE MY MIND.
UH, WHO IS ELDERLY AND MANDATE IS THIS IT'S, IT'S ABOUT PROTECTING PEOPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, OF ALL AGES THAT RIDE OUR, OUR VEHICLES.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN FOCUS, UM, JUST TO WRAP UP.
UM, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT, UM, THAT PIECE RIGHT THERE, THE IMPORTANT, THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY FOR ALL WHO RIDE EITHER THE RAILS OR THE BUSES, UM, WILL, UM, HELP US TO ACTUALLY INCREASE THE CHANCES OF PEOPLE RUNNING OF OUR RIDERSHIP.
I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE, UM, IT'S NOT JUST THE PREDICTABILITY OF THE SCHEDULE AND, AND ITS ARRIVAL AND NOT BEING LATE AND DELIVERING YOUR, WHEN IT, WHEN THE SCHEDULE SAYS YOU WILL BE DELIVERED, IT'S ALSO ENSURING THAT, THAT YOU ARE COMPLETELY SAFE WHEN YOU ARE, UM, IN OUR CARE.
UH, I THINK, UH, BOARD MEMBER TREVELYAN YES, SIR.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU, SIR.
UM, WHEN I, WHEN I LISTENED TO THE QUESTIONS, UM, OF THE, OF THE, UH, PROPOSAL, UH, IT, IT ALMOST MADE IT SEEM AS IF THIS WAS THE END OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, GIVE YOU FEEDBACK AND GIVE AN, EXPLAIN THEIR EXPECTATIONS.
AND I WANT TO KNOW WHETHER WE CAN SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE GROUPS THAT WERE MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY, INCLUDE THEM, ASK FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND WORK WITH THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND WHEN WE DEVELOP THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WILL THEY BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR RATIFICATION? SO, SIR, AGAIN, I CAN TELL YOU, AS I STATED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THE BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE
[01:00:01]
IN LARGE PART FOR APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE, UM, TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.UH, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN TO HEARING, UH, ALL CONCERNS FROM THE VERY MANY BODIES WHO, UH, PROVIDED US WITH SOME ONE, UH, EARLIER IN THIS, UH, SESSION.
UM, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE ALREADY HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH A FEW OF THE GROUPS THAT, UH, PRESENTED AND, UH, WE ARE MORE THAN OPEN TO HAVING ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
I JUST WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO ESTABLISH, I WANT TO STICK A PIN IN, UH, THE, THE, AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER AS WE GO FORWARD, WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS BEEN CUT OFF AT THIS POINT.
UH, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS NOT, UH, BEEN CUT OFF AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S REALLY GOING TO START PICKING UP AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO NEED THEIR INPUT ON CERTAIN ITEMS, UH, TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD.
BECAUSE AS, AS I ALSO STATED IN THE PRESENTATION, IT'S GOING TO TAKE OVER 18 MONTHS TO DEVELOP.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE TURN AROUND AND WE HAVE, UH, 25 POLICE OFFICERS, UH, IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO DEVELOP WE GOING TO NEED THEIR INPUT, UM, WITH THE QUESTIONS THAT I'VE ALREADY PROVIDED IN THE PRESENTATION.
THERE'S, THERE'S, THERE'S NO SMOKE, THERE'S NO MIRRORS HERE.
WE, UH, CARE VERY, VERY MUCH FOR OUR SYSTEM AND FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND MOST OF ALL, OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCES, UH, OUR OPERATORS, FRONTLINE STAFF, CONDUCTORS, ENGINEERS, YOU NAME IT.
I JUST WANT IT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC COMMENT WASN'T ALL, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CRYSTAL.
A MEMBER OF BOARD MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, YES, I THINK, UM, UH, I, UH, APPRECIATE THAT, UM, THAT QUESTION, UM, UH, VICE CHAIR.
TREVELYAN THAT'S THAT'S WAS MY QUESTION.
UM, ALSO, UM, I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE LANGUAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION AND TO BE COMFORTABLE VOTING ON THIS RESOLUTION, I WOULD WANT THE, WANT THE STATEMENT THAT YOU JUST ARTICULATED A VICE-CHAIR 2 BILLION TO BE ACTUALLY WRITTEN INTO THE RESOLUTION.
ALTERNATIVELY, UM, PERHAPS WE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF, YOU KNOW, UH, OF A NEW DIVISION AS PART OF OUR BUDGET.
SO WE COULD TRY TO WORDSMITH RIGHT NOW TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE TO THIS RESOLUTION, OR WE COULD JUST MOVE THIS ITEM TO VOTE ON IT WHEN WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET, WHICH I THINK IS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, I DO WANT TO TELL YOU MR. DAVON, THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UM, AND, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD, SO I, I DON'T WANT TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, BUT, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CAPTURE IN WRITING WHAT YOUR INTENT IS AND WHAT, UM, MR. TREVELYAN MENTIONED.
SO CHAIR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME TO TRY TO WORDSMITH THAT ON THE DYES, OR IF, LET ME JUST ASK MR. DAVON COULD, COULD WE, IF WE POSTPONE THIS TILL, I THINK IT'S THE END OF SEPTEMBER WHEN WE ACTUALLY VOTE ON THE BUDGET, IF WE DID THAT TO GIVE OURSELVES TIME TO, YOU KNOW, WRITE THE KIND OF LANGUAGE, THAT'S THE INTENT INTO THE RESOLUTION, IS THAT GOING TO SLOW YOU DOWN? COULD YOU DO THAT? I THINK THAT'S ONLY TWO WEEKS OR SO.
UM, IT WILL PROVIDE, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE DID SOME MILESTONES THAT WE DID HAVE IN PLACE.
HOWEVER, I THINK RANDY WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME, YOU JUMP IN TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
UM, UH, PRESIDENT CLARK, IF I SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU THAT QUESTION, BUT, UH, THAT'S OKAY.
BUT REMEMBER, I, UM, I GUESS MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ARTICULATE WHAT EXACTLY YOU LIKE IN THERE, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN THE RESOLUTION, SO I CAN, THAT'S WHAT I WAS AT.
AND I, WE THOUGHT THAT THAT MAY COVER EXACTLY WHAT BOARD MEMBER TREVELYAN MENTIONED, BUT, UH, IF YOU THINK THAT IT NEEDS A SLIGHT TWEAK, WE COULD DO THAT BECAUSE IT DOES TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UH, AND AS, UH, GARDNER MENTIONED, THIS IS KIND OF, UH, INITIATING THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS MORE THAN WE'RE WE'RE CERTAINLY FAR AWAY FROM INCLUDING ANY PROCESS SO I CAN READ.
UH, IT SAYS, UH, YEAH, THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO WE HAVE TO DEVELOP A STAFF TRAINING PROGRAM, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR MEMBERS OF THE TRANS POLICE WITH INPUT FROM INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT SHALL INCLUDE INITIAL AND CONTINUOUS TRAINING.
SO THERE'S THAT WHOLE PART NUMBER FOUR SAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE AFFIRMATION ADVISORY GROUPS DEVELOP A PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
[01:05:01]
CHARTER AND ADVISORY APPOINTMENT PROCESS THAT WE WOULD BRING TO THE CAB METRO BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENTS.SO THE CONCEPT IS YOU ALL KIND OF LIKE, SEE SAC AND ACCESS WOULD FORM A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT CHARTER WOULD BE A WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT COMMITTEE AND, UH, UH, NOMINATING AND, AND PROCESS TO PUT PEOPLE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
SO THOSE PARTS ARE ALL COMMUNITY DRIVEN BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PUBLIC PROCESS THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE, TO BRING THEM BACK TO THE BOARD FOR YOU ALL, TO APPROVE A CHARTER, THEN SELECT INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD REPRESENT YOU ALL ON THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE THEN HELPS GARDNER AND, UH, THE PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM FLUSH OUT THE TRAINING AND POLICY PIECE.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE TODAY, IS YOU TELLING US, YES, WE ARE GOING FORWARD, THEN IT'S OKAY.
NOW WE CAN GET A CONSULTANT ON BOARD, START THE PROCESS WITH A JOB DESCRIPTION FOR A CHIEF, CAUSE WE NEED AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO ACTUALLY START UP THE OPERATION, GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY DIFFERENT PROCESS OF THE ADVISORY PROCESS THAT LEADS TO THEN POLICIES RELATED TO ABOUT TRAINING AND ON AND ON AND ON.
SO SOME OF THOSE MAY NOT COME TOGETHER UNTIL EVEN NEXT SUMMER, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE SPECTRUM OF THE PROCESS.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, BUT IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS WORDS RELATED TO FOUR OR FIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT MIGHT HELP FURTHER THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS REALLY AROUND NUMBER FOUR, FIVE AND SIX, ABOUT INTERNAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT TRAINING AND PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO HAPPY TO HAVE ANY SUGGESTED, UH, UH, COMMENTS RELATED TO THAT.
WELL, I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, PRESIDENT CLARK, BUT, UM, ALL THAT YOU EXPLAINED IS NOT WRITTEN INTO THIS RESOLUTION.
AND, UM, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY PUT TO WRITING WHAT THE INTENT IS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF COURSE, IS TO CREATE THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE QUICKLY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU JUST READ THE WORDS, IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T SAY WHEN THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD, WOULD OCCUR.
AND IT ALSO DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD WEIGH IN ON A BUNCH OF THESE DECISIONS.
SO OF COURSE THAT LEAVES A QUESTION MARK, IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND AS TO THE SCOPE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
SO THAT'S ONE AREA THAT I WOULD LIKE TO, TO PUT SOME LANGUAGE AROUND.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, WELL VICE-CHAIR, TREVELYAN WHEN HE GETS BACK, WELL, LET ME JUST SAVE THAT FOR WHEN HE COMES BACK.
BUT, UM, SO, SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.
THE OTHER THING IS THIS DOES MORE THAN, THAN, UH, PROVIDE, UH, MR. DUBON THE ABILITY TO KEEP ON TRACK, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I AGREE THAT HE NEEDS TO STAY ON TRACK.
IT ACTUALLY CREATES THE, UM, TRANSIT POLICE, AND IT DOESN'T COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF ANY SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS.
IT'S BASICALLY COMING BACK TO THE BOARD FOR REPORTING.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST, THIS IS A VERY, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION, WHICH I AGREE WITH.
AND AS YOU KNOW, MR. TIBURON AND PRESIDENT CLARK, I HAVE EXPRESSED MY SUPPORT, BUT I'M ALSO HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND PRO UH, KAT METRO'S POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS, UM, IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND IF THERE IS A WAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT WE'RE HEARING CONTINUE ON COURSE, BUT PERHAPS JUST GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO TALK SPECIFICALLY TO THESE GROUPS THAT COULD BE VERY IMPORTANT WHILE NOT SLOWING US DOWN.
THE OTHER THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT, UM, VICE CHAIR, TWO-BILLION ASKED A SPECIFIC QUESTION ABOUT ENGAGEMENT OF THE GROUPS THAT TESTIFIED, UM, AND THERE WERE FOUR OR FIVE SPECIFIC GROUPS THAT ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THIS LANGUAGE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT ENGAGING THOSE GROUPS.
IT ONLY TALKS ABOUT ENGAGING THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL, WHICH IS A VERY POSITIVE AND IMPORTANT GROUP OF CAP METRO, BUT IT'S NOT A PUBLIC BODY AND IT DOESN'T MEET IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.
SO I, ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT I HEAR WHAT THE INTENT IS.
I DON'T HAVE AN ARGUMENT WITH THE INTENT, BUT IT'S NOT IN THIS LANGUAGE.
SO IF, IF WE WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME DURING THE REST OF THE MEETING, I CAN TRY TO WRITE SOME LANGUAGE THAT I THINK THAT WOULD DO THAT.
OR WE COULD POSTPONE IT FOR TWO WEEKS.
I THINK IT'S TWO, MAYBE IT'S THREE WEEKS AND JUST VOTE ON IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF MONEY, WHICH WILL BE PART OF THE BUDGET, MR. STRATTON MEMBER STRET.
WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[01:10:01]
I THINK THAT, THAT, WE'RE WHAT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY DOING.WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MERITS OF ACTION ITEM ONE AND WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO AMEND ACTION ITEM ONE.
I THINK IT WOULD JUST MAKE MORE SENSE FOR US TO JUST MAKE THE MOTION, HAVE THE SECOND AND DISCUSS THIS.
AND THEN IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO MOVE TO POSTPONE IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE'RE, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY WERE HAVING SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT WHEN WE'RE NO LONGER ASKING MR. GARNER QUESTIONS, WE'RE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING AND TRYING TO TAKE ACTION ON IT NOW.
SO IF I MAY MAKE THAT MOTION FIRST, AND THEN I DO HAVE SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ABOUT IT AT THAT POINT, IS THERE A STUDENT OPTION? SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF DEBATE, I'LL SECOND.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ALTERNATE, UH, UH, A, UM, WHAT'S THE RIGHT WORD, AN ALTERNATE, A SUBSTITUTE MOTION TO POSTPONE.
UH, JUST TILL THE END OF SEPTEMBER WHEN WE'RE VOTING ON THE BUDGET.
AND THAT WOULD BE MY SUBSTITUTE MOTION AT THIS POINT.
AND, AND THANK YOU BOARD MEMBER STRATTON.
WHEN YOU, WE NEED TO DO THIS PROCESS THE RIGHT WAY.
SO, UH, THAT'S MY, UH, ALTERNATE, UM, I'M NOT USING THE RIGHT TERM.
YOU MAY HAVE TO HELP THIS HERE A SECOND TO KITCHEN.
I WANTED TO, UH, TO BE SPECIFIC THAT WE WOULD BRING IT BACK AT A SPECIFIC TIME.
SO I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST, UM, SAY THAT I WANT IT TO BE CLEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO BRING IT BACK.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, CHAIR COOPER, WHAT THE APPROPRIATE MOTION IS FOR THAT.
SO, SO ARE WE SAYING THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO ADD THE APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE NOW AND, AND, UH, AND GET THINGS MOVING? WELL, WE COULD, BUT MY THOUGHT WAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UM, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORDSMITHING.
WE COULD PUT THIS ASIDE AND COME BACK TO IT WHILE I TRY TO WORK ON SOME LANGUAGE, AS LONG AS WE GET THE WORD SMITHING DONE.
AND YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH THE GENERAL COUNCIL.
I MEAN, SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEGINNING OF PROCESS AND, AND, UH, WE WANT TO BEGIN THE PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD GET THE LANGUAGE DONE TODAY AND GET STARTED TODAY.
UH, THAT WOULD BE, UH, THAT WILL BE, UM, WITH EVERYONE'S SATISFACTION.
THEY'VE ALREADY, THAT MAY PUT US OFF.
THE QUESTION IS YOU MADE A MOTION THAT I'LL CALL A HIGHER PRIORITY MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO REMEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION TO THE MAIN NUMBER POOL, MR. CHICKEN, MAYBE IT'S TO ASK IF THERE'S A SECOND TO MEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION.
I HAD A QUESTION AND DEPENDING ON THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION, I WAS GOING TO DECIDE ON WHETHER TO MAKE THE SECOND.
UM, WHEN REMEMBER TREVELYAN SECONDED THE MAIN MOTION.
I, I HAD MY HAND UP BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE WHAT I HOPED WOULD BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WE WOULD INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE AND THE DIRECTION FROM MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT DIRECTION.
AND I THINK IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT WRITTEN TODAY WITH, UM, HIS GLAAD SERVICE ASSISTANCE, UM, WHICH IS WHAT VICE CHAIR TREVELYAN IS, IS INCUR STU, THEN I THINK WE MIGHT BRING ALL THESE SIDES TOGETHER AND HAVE A REALLY ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE MOTION, UM, OF THIS SCHOOL.
SO THAT WOULD BE THE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY MADE WITH THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTION THAT SUMS UP THE CONCERNS THAT MEMBER KITCHEN HAS RAISED.
I SUGGESTION MIGHT BE THAT WE WITHDRAW MEMBER KITCHEN'S MOTION AND HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHERE NEXT TO GO PART WITHDRAWAL FOR THE TIME BEING, DO WANT ME TO SPEAK TO THAT OR, OR, OR ALTERNATELY, IF THERE'S NOT A SECOND, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION THEN DISCUSS THAT.
SO LET'S GO BACK TO THE MAIN MOTION.
REMEMBER STRATTON, YOU'VE GOT YOUR HAND UP.
I JUST, WHAT I WANTED TO NOTE ON THIS IS I, I UNDERSTAND, AND I'M, I'M, I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE COMMENTS ALL AROUND ON THIS AND, AND I WENT BACK AND I TOOK THE TIME WAS TAKING THE TIME ALSO TO JUST REREAD THE LANGUAGE MYSELF AND SEE IF I COULD KIND OF THINK THIS THROUGH, BASED ON WHAT SOME OF, SOME OF THE CONCERNS I'M HEARING ARE.
UM, AND WHAT I, WHAT I'M GATHERING HERE IS THAT'S IS I'M RELOOKING AT THIS.
THERE IS WITHIN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF,
[01:15:01]
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE ALREADY HAS IN, WITHIN IT TALKS ABOUT, UM, ENGAGING THE STAKEHOLDER PROCESS, CAPITAL METRO'S STAKEHOLDER PROCESS WE HAVE WITHIN CAPITAL AND EVEN CREATING AN ADDITIONAL VEHICLE FOR STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT.WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR FORD ADVISORY COMMITTEES THAT WOULD BE A CUSTOMER ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE, UH, THE, THE, UH, THE ACT, THE, THE CS CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THOSE TWO BOARD COMMITTEES.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL, UM, THAT ARE PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION THAT ARE DESIGNED TO, TO, TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WE DO HERE AT THE BOARD, THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SPOKEN TODAY, AND, AND WE'VE HEARD COMMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD, WE HEARD INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE THERE WERE OPERATORS, AND THEN WE HEARD INDIVIDUALS FROM THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT SPOKE AS WELL.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE C SAC AND ALSO AT THE AAC AND AMONG US AND, AND OUR BOARD COMMITTEES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE INHERENTLY, I THINK WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS GETTING AT, AT LEAST THE WAY I READ IT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, MR. TAYMAN OR, OR, UH, RANDY WANTS TO CLARK WANTS TO JUMP IN, TELL ME IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING HERE.
THE RESOLUTION WAS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS SPECIFICALLY CAPITOL METRO'S, CURRENT AND PROPOSED, UM, STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK MECHANISMS THAT ARE INHERENTLY BUILT WITHIN, UM, SECONDARILY TO THAT, AS I WAS HEARING THE FEEDBACK AND DIALOGUE IN THE QUESTIONS FROM, UH, VICE CHAIR TOURBILLION, UH, WITH MR. TAYVON, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT WITHOUT TRYING TO SINGLE OUT ANY ONE GROUP THAT HAS BEEN, THAT TESTIFIED TODAY, OR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS BEFORE THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT TO ENGAGE IN INDIVIDUALS FROM THESE GROUPS AND LEADERSHIP OF DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST, YOU KNOW, 18 MONTHS, NEARLY TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS THROUGHOUT THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE PROCESS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME TODAY THAT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO CALL OUT OR NAME ANYBODY, BUT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE MR. TAYVON, THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE NOTING, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I HEARD, THAT WE HAVE A LIST, THERE IS A LIST THAT'S OUT THERE AND ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE REGISTERED BEFORE US AND SAID BEFORE THAT, AND PROVIDED FEEDBACK WITHIN THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
AND SO, BUT, BUT, BUT WHAT I'VE NOTED IN THE PAST, WHEN WE HAVE PASSED RESOLUTIONS AND MOVE THINGS FORWARD, WE DON'T TYPICALLY NAME OUTSIDE ENTITIES OR GROUPS SPECIFICALLY SAYING, GO OUT AND GET FEEDBACK FROM, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, ACME, WIDGETS, OR ABC OR XYZ.
WE, WE TEND TO STAY PRETTY FOCUSED TO JUST PROCESS RELATIONS AS IT COMES TO THE, THE, THE COURSE OF LANGUAGE WITHIN OUR RESOLUTIONS, FOR THE MOST PART.
AND, AND, AND THAT BEING THE CASE, I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT, THAT THIS IS IN HERE LIKE THAT, BUT THE RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN VERY PROCESS-BASED LAYING OUT OPERA.
YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PROCESS IS THAT THERE ARE CLEAR EXAMPLES OF STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK WITHIN OUR OWN PROCESSES, AND EVEN IDENTIFYING THE CREATION OF NEW STAKEHOLDER MECHANISMS WHERE THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT SHOWED UP TODAY THAT HAD SHOWED UP BEFORE CAN CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND BE A PROCESS AS WELL.
UM, IF I'M MISSING SOMETHING, MR. TAYVON, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE INTENT OR RANDY, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE INTENT HERE WAS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
BUT AS I READ THIS, I SEE LANG THAT'S MY VIEW OF WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS WHY I'M I'M, YOU KNOW, I, I PERSONALLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M OKAY WITH PASSING IT AS IS, UH, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, AGAIN, THIS IS ABOUT CAP METROS AND, YOU KNOW, PROCESSES BEING NAMED, NOT GOING OUT AND LOOKING AT PROVIDING OTHER OTHERS SPECIFIC OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, AND THE RESOLUTION MR. CHAIR MEMBER TREVELYAN, AND THEN A MEMBER MITCHELL.
UM, LET ME SAY THAT, UM, I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF CONFIDENCE, UH, HERE IN OUR CEO AND, AND ALSO IN OUR VP, UH, MR. TOBOGGAN, IT'S NOT A QUESTION ABOUT CONFIDENCE IN THE PROFESSIONALS, IN THE OPERATION.
IT IS A QUESTION OF THE MOMENT THAT WE FIND OURSELVES AND IN THIS COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, I'M AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN
[01:20:01]
PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER, UH, IN THE SOUTH WORKING.AND I'VE HAD A GUN PULLED TO MY HEAD BY, BY A POLICE OFFICER.
UM, AND ONE TIME WHEN MY SON WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORD POLICE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SAYING, BUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GET A GROUP THAT IS NOT LIKE WHAT YOU CALL OUR USUAL POLICE.
WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS.
WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENGAGE PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS.
WE WILL HAVE, UH, WE HAVE, WE'LL HAVE OFFICERS TOO, IF THAT NEED COMMS, BUT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE BEST TYPES OF ESCALATION ARE TAUGHT, EVEN.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY SAYING, I DON'T KNOW WHO TO TRUST.
THEY ARE DIFFICULT FOR ME RIGHT NOW, AND I WANT TO BE ENGAGED WITH YOU, AND I WANT TO BE INVOLVED WITH YOU.
AND I WANT TO SEE HOW THE BREAD IS BEING BAKED.
I THINK THAT OUR EXISTING PROPOSAL AS 95% OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT THE BOARD IS ASKING FOR, IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE THAT IS FRIENDLY, THAT THAT ENSURES COMMUNITY, THAT, THAT THEY WILL BE ENGAGED AND THEY WILL BE INVOLVED SPECIFICALLY.
I THINK THAT WILL BUILD TRUST.
I THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE THEM SEE US AND SAY, WE WERE MOVING IN ONE DIRECTION.
WE ARE, AND WE WANT TO HEAR MORE OF YOU.
WE DON'T, WE DON'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN THIS PROCESS BECAUSE, UH, THIS, THIS PROCESS IS BEING CONDUCTED PROPERLY.
AND WE WANT YOU TO SEE THAT IT'S BEING DONE IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER.
AND I THINK TRUST IN THIS COMMUNITY IS WHAT WE WANT.
AND I HAVE A QUESTION FOR PRESIDENT CLARK.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING HERE, IT'S THAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING THE PROCESS IS PROCEEDING ALONG AND IT'S PROCEEDING ALONG WELL, BUT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE INPUT OF ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM THAT IS SET UP IS, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS STATED, THE ART, BUT, BUT ADDRESSES THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS THEY PRESENTLY EXIST.
AND SO TO THE EXTENT WE NEED TO ADD LANGUAGE, THAT WOULD SAY, YES, WE ARE GOING TO, TO INCLUDE THESE PEOPLE IN THIS PROCESS, AS WE, AS WE GO THROUGH AND TALK TO OUR CONSULTANTS, GET FEEDBACK FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, TALK TO OUR OWN EMPLOYEES THAT YES, THESE PEOPLES, THESE GROUPS AND GENERATIONS WILL ALSO BE VALUED AND CONSIDERED.
I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF US MOVING FORWARD.
I GOT A QUESTION FOR PRESIDENT CLARK THAT I HAVE A MEMBER STRAT AND A MEMBER POOL, ACTUALLY TWO QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU, UH, PRESIDENT OF CLARK, SPEAK TO MEMBERSHIP ON THE CAP, METRO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL.
AND THEN SECONDLY, WHEN WE SAY CAP METRO ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO BE ENGAGED, WOULD THAT INCLUDE THE, TO BE FORMED? YEAH.
AND I CAN SHARE I'LL TAKE THE LATTER FIRST.
SO YES, UH, TO BE ENGAGED WOULD BE THE NEW CAB METRO, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THAT YOU ALL WOULD APPROVE OF A CHARTER AND APPROVE OF THOSE MEMBERS.
SO THEY'D BE YOUR MEMBERS THAT ARE REPRESENTING YOU AND APPROVING THOSE DOCUMENTS TO THE FIRST, UH, I DON'T HAVE THE ROSTER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN NAMED TODAY, ORGANIZATIONS ARE ON THAT DNI COUNCIL.
AND I THINK ASHLEY, UH, MAY HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO, UH, MENTION SOME OF THOSE.
BUT, UM, I'M, I'M VERY CONFIDENT THAT MOST OF THE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TODAY ARE REPRESENTED IN THE DNI COUNCIL.
AND IF WE'RE NOT, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THE MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE D AND I COUNCIL.
SO IF ASHLEY IS ABLE TO READ THAT A CHAIR, I WOULD DEFER THAT'S OKAY.
THAT IF SHE HAS THAT AVAILABLE, I'M LOOKING TO PULL UP THE LIST OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
UH, CHAIRMAN COOPER, UH, GARDNER, GO AHEAD.
IF I, IF I MAY, THERE WAS A QUESTION POSED EARLIER, I DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWER AT THE TIME, BUT I LIKE TO PROVIDE IT NOW, WHICH IS A LIST OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN ENGAGED.
[01:25:02]
GO AHEAD.AUSTIN AREA, URBAN LEAGUE, AUSTIN, NAACP, AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, UH, BAPTIST MINISTER UNION, UH, THE MAYOR OF MAYNOR AND, UH, HOUSTON TOWSON'S PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS ACCESS COMMITTEE AND, UH, THE DNI COMMITTEE.
AND ACTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A LIST ACTUALLY THAT I DON'T HAVE AVAILABLE.
SO OUR A D AND I COMMITTEE IS A Y AZHAR WHO IS DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, OUR COMMUNITIES.
KATHLEEN, ARE WE FAIR? I'M AWAITING TITLE ONE VOICE OF CENTRAL TEXAS, DON BURNSIDE, WHO WAS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY, CHARLES BYRD, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF JUMP ON IT, AUDREY DIUS, WHO IS A PUMA BOARD MEMBER AND COMMUNITY MEMBER ACCESS COMMITTEE, UH, QUINCY DUNLAP, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE AUSTIN URBAN LEAGUE, GIVING A FERNANDEZ WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT CEO OF LEAGUE OF LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS, LULAC NELSON LINDER, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP AUSTIN BRANCH, MICHAEL LAWSON, WHO WAS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTH HARVEST FOUNDATION.
UM, T ROWAN MARTINEZ, WHO WAS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE AUSTIN GAY AND LESBIAN CHAMBER AND CEO OF THE CYBER WAR FIGHTERS, HANNAH ROWE, WHO IS A PROGRAM AND EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE GREAT OSS, GREATER AUSTIN, ASIAN CHAMBER, VJ TAYLOR.
WHO'S THE VICE CHAIR FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, SHALENA TUNSTALL, WHO IS THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, UM, MEGA PAUL, WHO IS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR SEVEN SEVA AND ASPIRE TO AGE MITZI WRIGHT, WHO WAS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE COLONY PARK ASSOCIATION.
RICHARD'S EVOLLA WHO IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE DOVE SPRINGS PROUD.
AND LAURA IS ZUNIGA THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FINANCIAL LITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL SEXIST.
I'VE GOT MEMBERS STREP, A MEMBER POOL THAN MEMBER NUMBER ROSS, AND THEN I'VE GOT A COMMENT.
SO REMEMBER STRATTON THE FIELD.
GO AHEAD AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WAS GONNA, UH, AS, AS, UH, VICE CHAIR TREVELYAN WAS TALKING, I HAD KIND OF AN AHA MOMENT JUST LISTENING TO ALL IN PARTICULAR, WHAT HE WAS SAYING AND, AND POSITING WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT.
WHAT IF WE TOOK UNDER RESOLVED ACTION ITEM, NUMBER TWO, WHERE IT SAYS ENGAGE THE CAPITAL METRO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL AND CAPITAL METRO BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO ADVISE STAFF ON ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT.
WHAT IF OF THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT POLICE? WHAT IF WE INSERTED THE WORD AND THE WORD COMMUNITY SUCH THAT IT SAID ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, COMMA CAPITAL, METRO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL.
AND WOULD THAT KIND OF BRING TOGETHER WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING AND MOVE THE BALL FORWARD A LITTLE BIT, IF, IF SUCH AN AMENDMENT WERE OFFERED.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT PUTTING IT FORWARD.
I'M POSITING A QUESTION FOR CONSIDERATION CHEW ON IT LIKE YOU DO WITH IT AS YOU WILL REMEMBER POOL.
THANK YOU FOR READING THE LIST OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS, UM, THAT WERE PART OF THE DISCUSSION OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
I KNOW FROM THE COUPLE OF THREE BRIEFINGS THAT I'VE HAD WITH MR. GARDNER, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN REALLY INCLUSIVE, THAT THAT WAS SOME OF WHAT I WAS ASKING, UH, INCLUDE, HOW CAN WE, UM, PRESENT THIS NEW INITIATIVE APPROPRIATELY IN OUR COMMUNITY, GIVEN THE CONTEXT THAT WE ARE LIVING IN AT THIS TIME.
AND I FELT VERY, UM, UH, UH, CONFIDENT THAT THE WORK THAT MR. GARDNER IS DOING, UM, AND THE STAFF HAD KEPT METRO THAT, THAT THEY WERE GETTING THERE.
AND THERE WAS A CLEAR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF, OF THE CONCERNS THAT UNITY HAS WATCHED OVER THE LAST, UH, YEAR PLUS, UH, WITH REGARD TO HOW WE, UM, MANAGE, UH, UNCIVIL BEHAVIOR FROM SOME FOLKS AND THE CONCERNS WHICH RISES, UH, SAFETY ISSUES, PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR OUR RIDERSHIP.
AND THEN ALSO ON THE OTHER SIDE, PEOPLE WHO, UM, HAVE BEEN, UM, UM, FREQUENTLY TARGETED FOR REASONS THAT DON'T RELATE TO THEIR ACTIONS.
[01:30:01]
THAT WE HAVE TO BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.WE NEED TO LAY THAT ON THE TABLE WITH THIS DISCUSSION HERE, UH, TO ASSURE PEOPLE LISTENING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE UNDER.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THAT THIS WORK HERE, THE AMBASSADORS TYPE APPROACH, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I ASKED HIM, CAN WE CALL THESE OFFICIALS SOMETHING OTHER THAN POLICE? AND THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED HERE TODAY.
AND THE ANSWER IS NO, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE CALLED THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME OF THE AUTHORITIES THAT THEY WILL NEED TO HAVE, BUT IT'S THE TRAINING THAT GOES INTO THIS, THAT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
AND SO WE EXPLORED THAT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. GARDNER.
AND AGAIN, I CAME AWAY ASSURED AND CONFIDENT THAT CAP METRO IS CLEAR CONCEPTS.
AND SO I THINK, UM, REMEMBER STRATTON, WHICH YOU HAD OFFERED TO PUT A SPECIFIC MENTION OF COMMUNITY, UH, STAKEHOLDERS TRACKS WITH WHAT I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD DO.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SECOND THAT AMENDMENT TO, UM, UH, VICE-CHAIR TRILLIONS AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION THAT RIGHT.
BUT I, I, I AM HEARING EVERYTHING THAT, THAT THE GOOD FOLKS WHO ARE CALLING IN ARE ASKING, I ASKED THOSE SAME QUESTIONS MYSELF, AND, UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US IN THIS REGARD, BUT WE, BUT THE POINT IS WE DO HAVE THAT WORK AHEAD OF US.
THAT WORK HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETED.
WE'RE AT THE OPENING PHASES AND STAGES.
AND THAT IS WHY I AM CONFIDENT IN, IN THE, UH, THE PLAN AND AM WILLING TO, UM, TO VOTE, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TODAY.
THANK YOU, MEMBER CALLED MEMBER KITCHEN, A MEMBER.
SO FIRST MY QUESTION ABOUT THE DEI, UM, COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL, SORRY.
UM, IS THAT, UH, IS THAT COUNCIL, UM, PUBLIC IN THE SENSE THAT, UM, PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THE MEETINGS ARE, AND THEY CAN WATCH IT, RANDY, A 10 YARD, AND I KNOW I'LL HANDLE THAT ONE FOR YOU.
UM, I CAN GET YOU THAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION BOARD MEMBER KITCHEN.
I BELIEVE THAT IS NOT THE CASE THE WAY, UH, JACKIE IS RUNNING THAT WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I THINK THE CONCEPT IS THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE A FORM THAT IS OPEN, AND SO THEY CAN HAVE A FRANK OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT TOPICS.
I REALLY, THAT WAS THE STRUCTURE OF, OF HOW THAT GROUP, UH, NOT ONLY WAS STRUCTURED, BUT THEY, UH, THEY, THEY WANT TO OPERATE.
I'D LIKE THAT I'D HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY HAPPEN OR ANY OF THAT.
SO SECOND THEN HERE'S MY COMMENT.
UH, I THINK I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT THE VALUE OF, OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AND CAUTIONED BY THE WORDS OF VICE CHAIR TO CIVILIAN.
AND I THINK AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE BUILDING IN, WE ARE PART OF A LARGE COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT, UH, TO BUILD A, AN AMAZING TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WE SHOULD BE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO, TO, TO BUILD TRUST AND RESPECT THE VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE KNOW MR. DAVON, THAT WE KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE, AND WE KNOW THAT YOU TALKED TO DEI, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S QUESTION WE HAD, WHAT WAS IT? FOUR OR FIVE MAJOR COMMUNITY GROUPS ARE ASKING US FOR A BIT MORE TIME THAT TELLS ME THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WE'VE DONE, THAT TELLS ME THAT THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS.
THEY DID NOT, THEY DID NOT TESTIFY AND SAY, WE HATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
THEY DID NOT SAY, UM, I MEAN, THEY, THEY SAID OUT OF RESPECT FOR THEM, GIVE US A LITTLE MORE TIME.
AND TO MY MIND, I AM NOT HEARING ANYTHING THAT TELLS ME WHY IT MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.
WHETHER WE VOTE FOR THIS TODAY, OR WE VOTE FOR THIS IN A FEW WEEKS, THE, THAT OUR STAFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE, THE, TAKE THE ACTION SO FAR.
I'M NOT AWARE THAT THEY NEED OUR AUTHORITY THIS DAY TO CONTINUE THAT ACTION.
I JUST THINK THAT I JUST REALLY THINK THAT RESPECTING OUR COMMUNITY VOICES IS IMPORTANT TO TRUST.
AND, UM, WHEN GROUPS STAND UP, WHEN THIS MANY GROUPS STAND UP AND SAY, AND I WROTE DOWN THE LIST WHEN THIS MANY GROUPS STAND UP AND SAY, SO, SO WE HEAR THAT THEY'RE PART OF THE D E N I COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY WHATEVER HAPPENED IN FRONT OF THE DEA AND I COUNCIL WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.
[01:35:01]
I DON'T THINK THEY JUST MADE UP THAT THEY HAD QUESTIONS.SO ANYWAY, I HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING, AND I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROCEED.
UM, I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN DOING.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WORK, BUT I DON'T SEE THE DOWNSIDES OF HEARING THE PUBLIC AND SAYING TO THEM, YES, WE HEAR YOU.
AND YES, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE OF, YOU KNOW, A FEW MORE WEEKS.
SO I GUESS MORE OF A COMMENT HERE IN, IN BEING THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK AND NOT KNOWING THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HAD OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, BUT FROM THE LIST THAT WERE READ OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS THUS FAR, UM, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR, UM, US TO REACH OUT TO THOSE GROUPS AND TO SEE ABOUT ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND HAVING A CONVERSATION.
BUT I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY THAT WAS JUST THAT THEY HAD MADE A COMMENT BECAUSE THE DECISION ISN'T IN THE DIRECTION THEY WANT IT TO BE IN.
AND SO IT'S A WAY OF JUST KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
SO IN AN EFFORT OF MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD, UM, I WOULD BE MORE IN FAVOR TO MOVE IT FORWARD, UM, AND TRY TO REACH OUT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE GROUPS FOR ANY DECISIONS, OR MAYBE IT'S JUST A CLARIFICATION.
UM, AND THEN, UH, AND MAYBE IT'S CHANGING THINGS, ADDING THE WORD COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY OKAY.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INTO HAVING TO TOUCH BASE WITH VERY SPECIFIC GROUPS ON SPECIFIC ITEMS. I THINK THAT'S A REALLY BAD PRECEDENT TO SET.
I HAVE A COMMENT AND THEN I WANT TO INVITE ASHLEY TO GIVE US SOME LANGUAGE.
I KNOW SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT TOUCH SOME OF THESE SPACES.
MY COMMENT IS SIMPLY THIS IN RESPONSE TO MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, I THINK WE HAVE AN IMPERATIVE AS A POOR TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR FRONTLINE PERSONNEL.
AND WE'VE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME THAT WE HAVE, UH, PUT THEM IN HARM'S WAY IN MANY RESPECTS.
AND WE HEARD TODAY, THE FIRST SPEAKER WE HAD AN OPEN COMMENT WAS FROM, UH, BRENT AND ATU SAYING THAT ARE ENDORSING THIS AND HEARD INSTANCES ASKED WHERE OUR BUS DRIVERS IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO THINGS THAT NO EMPLOYEE, UH, AND NO PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
SO I'M, UH, FOR ONE IN FAVOR OF MOVING, UH, MOVING THIS ALONG, I'M CERTAINLY COMFORTABLE THE MEMBER STRATTON'S, UH, ADDITION.
I'M ALSO COMFORTABLE THAT THE PROCESS WE HAVE IN PLACE, UH, WILL GIVE US THE FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED AND THAT WE, AS A BOARD DO NOT SURRENDER OUR ULTIMATE AUTHORITY TO GOVERN THIS.
AND I THINK ASHLEY, UH, HAD WORKED ON SOME LANGUAGE THAT MIGHT TRY TO GET US ALL IN A PLACE WHERE I'LL INVITE HER TO SHARE THAT NUMBER.
DID YOU WANT ME TO, OH, I'M SORRY.
DID YOU WANT ME TO GO FIRST OR HAVE ASHLEY GO FIRST? ASHLEY, PLEASE.
SO LOOKING AT THE SECOND BULLET POINT, IT COULD READ, ENGAGE THE CAPITAL METRO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL, CAPITAL METRO BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES, AND THEN INSERT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND CAPITAL METRO STAFF TO ADVISE ON ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT POLICE.
UM, I THINK THAT THAT IS GOOD LANGUAGE.
I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST, UM, THAT ON, I THINK IT'S OUT OF NUMBER FOUR, ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WE PUT A DATE ON THAT I THINK THAT WOULD PROVIDE SOME ASSURANCE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE FORMED IN A TIME PERIOD THAT THEY CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE.
SO I, I WOULD ASK PRESIDENT CLARK WHAT HE THINKS APPROPRIATE THERE, BUT MY INITIAL THOUGHT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO, TO, UH, WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? NUMBER FOUR TO ME IS TO, UM, THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP A CHARTER AND AN APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE BACK BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ALL COULD DO THAT BY, UM,
[01:40:01]
AT LEAST BY THE END OF OCTOBER OR PERHAPS SOONER? UM, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT PRESIDENT CLARK? YEAH.UM, YEAH, I THINK THE KEY AGAIN, IS THIS BALANCE OF MAKING SURE THAT WE ENGAGE, UH, LIKE I MENTIONED, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WE WANT TO GET THIS RIGHT, BUT STAFF WILL COMMIT THE EFFORT NEEDED.
UH, AND ESPECIALLY TODAY'S ACTION IS HELPFUL BECAUSE WE CAN BRING ON OUR CONSULTANT WHO IS A FORMER TRANSIT POLICE, CHIEF, AS GARDNER MENTIONED FROM ATLANTA.
AND SHE COULD HELP US FORMULATE SOME OF THAT STUFF, UM, AS WELL.
SO, UM, YEAH, WE, WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO BRING THIS BACK BY THE END OF OCTOBER, IF THAT IS THE BOARD'S DIRECTION.
I THINK THAT GIVES US THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ENGAGE THOSE, THOSE, UM, ADVISORY GROUPS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UH, A PUBLIC, UH, VIRTUAL MEETING KIND OF SCENARIO BECAUSE OF COVID AND GET THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL SKILL SET ON BOARD.
AND THEN WE MEET WITH ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THAT.
SO THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, SO I THINK THAT, THAT, THAT LANGUAGE SAID, UM, THAT ASHLEY READ OUT AND ALSO WITH THE TIMELINE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, MR. CLARK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I DO WANT TO ASK JUST, I DIDN'T FINISH ASKING MY QUESTIONS BEFORE I APOLOGIZE, BUT ON THE WAY THAT THE DEI COUNCIL WORKS, UM, DID THEY, DID THEY ACTUALLY, UM, TAKE A VOTE OR HOW DID THEY EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ON, UM, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING THAT IS BECAUSE I HEAR US SAYING THAT WE CONSULTED WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, SO I HEAR THAT ON THE ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND, I HEAR THE COMMUNITY SAYING THAT THEY, THAT THEY HAVE CONCERNS.
SO IT WOULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS OF CONSULTING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IF I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THAT COUNCIL IS ONE, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT OPERATES, IT MIGHT NOT BE SET UP TO DO THIS, BUT IF THAT COUNCIL IS ONE THAT OPERATES IN A WAY TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF FORMAL, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS OR APPROVAL TO, TO THE STAFF, DO THEY DO THAT? OR HOW DO THEY PROVIDE INPUT? IT'S A, IT'S AN ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, A BOARD MEMBER FOR QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S NO FORMAL, UH, ACTION ASPECT RELATED TO THAT.
THE IDEA IS WE WANT TO FORM A PROACTIVELY TO BE EVEN MORE LEANING INTO OUR D AND I, UH, OBLIGATIONS AND VALUES AS AN ORGANIZATION, BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY.
AND SO THERE'S AN INTERNAL PART AND THEN AN EXTERNAL PART.
AND NOW WITH OUR DIRECTOR OF D AND I JACQUELYN EVANS, UH, THE IDEA IS TO REALLY TAKE THAT FORWARD, UH, FTA OR SORRY, APTA JUST ANNOUNCED A NEW DNI KIND OF, UM, PROCESS AS WELL FOR THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE JUMPING, UH, UH, IN ONE OF THE EARLY AGENCIES IN, IN GETTING IN THAT AS WELL, WHICH I THINK JACQUELINE WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT AT SOME POINT, OKAY, WELL THEN THE LAST THOUGHT IS THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OFF TOPIC, BUT FOR MY, FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, THE, WHAT THE DEI COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY DOING, I WOULD LIKE TO, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME MECHANISM TO S TO SEE WHAT THEIR COMMENTS ARE SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEIR MEETINGS ARE.
AND, AND AS YOU EXPLAINED EARLIER, THEY'RE NOT OPERATING IN A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN SEE.
UM, I JUST NEED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW I CAN SEE WHAT THEIR COMMENTS ARE.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW, MR. CLARK.
BUT, UM, IF YOU COULD LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR COMMENTS ARE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE CONSULTED THEM ON THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY SAID.
SO YEAH, WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL WORK ON BETTER, UM, KIND OF ENCAPSULATING WHAT HAPPENS AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING, UH, IN A WAY THAT THOSE MEMBERS ARE APPROPRIATELY OKAY.
WITH, AND TO GET BACK TO THE BOARD.
WE'LL TAKE THAT AS A, AS AN ITEM TO FOLLOW UP ON BOTH DONNA AND JACQUELYN ARE STRATTON.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION ACTION ITEM, WHERE IT SAYS PRESIDENT CEO IS DIRECTED TO, AND THEN AMEND ACTION ITEM, NUMBER TWO TO READ.
AND ASHLEY HELPED ME OUT HERE ENGAGE THE CAPITAL, METRO DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION COUNCIL CAP, AND CAP, METRO CAPITAL, METRO ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AND THEN COMMA MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, COMMA, COMMUNITY, STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, AND CAPITAL METRO STAFF.
SO, AND STARTING THAT LANGUAGE.
AND THEN IT WILL CONTINUE TO READ, TO ADVISE ON ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAPITAL METRO TRANSIT POLICE NECESSARY POLICIES.
WELL, SO WE HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, UH, BY THE PROPONENT AND, UH, AGREEABLE TO THE PROPONENT AND, UH, TO THE SECOND.
SO THAT WILL BECOME OUR MOTION.
UM, REMEMBER KITCHEN, YOU MUTED, YOU'RE MUTED.
UM, MEMBER STRATTON, DID YOU INCLUDE, I DIDN'T CATCH THE LAST PART OF WHAT YOU SAID.
[01:45:01]
YOU INCLUDE THE, THE, THE DEADLINE FOR NUMBER FOUR TO OUR TARGET DATE FOR NUMBER FOUR, TO, TO BRING THAT BACK BY THE END OF OCTOBER TO THE BOARD? I DID NOT.I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TO ADD WHAT I THINK IS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE TO THE END OF NUMBER FOUR.
UM, AND LET'S SEE, UM, MAYBE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME WITH SOMETHING TO BE BROUGHT TO THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENTS BY OCTOBER 31ST, I THINK IS WHAT WE WERE SAYING.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? PRESIDENT CLARK? UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WERE, I WAS BEING RESPONSIVE, UH, BOARD MEMBER TO THE CHARTER PART.
I THINK THE APPOINTMENT, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DON'T SET A DATE OF OCTOBER, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
SO, SO THE CHARTER AND ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE CAPITAL METRO FORD BY OCTOBER 31ST FOR APPROVAL.
YEAH, I REMEMBER, YEAH, I KNOW I HATE TO DO THIS, BUT I, NOW, I, THE ONLY, THE ONLY DATE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE IN THE CURRENT RESOLUTION IS THE CEO SHALL REPORT BACK AT A BOARD MEETING IN EARLY 22.
AND I, MY CONCERN IS, IS THAT IF WE PUT A DATE ON THIS THING, WE ACTUALLY COULD BE TYING OR BINDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE STAFF'S ABILITY TO DO THINGS WITH THE CONSULTANT AND WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THIS WITH THE FLEXIBILITY, JUST KNOWING THAT WE'RE GIVING THE STAFF THE GUIDANCE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO I'M LESS INCLINED TO PUT AN ACTUAL ON IT MYSELF, BUT I MEAN, WE WANT TO SPLIT THE QUESTION THEN, BUT I WOULD NOT BE AS INCLINED TO ACCEPT IT AS FRIENDLY.
BUT THE REASON I'M MAKING IT IS, IS AGAIN, THIS IS A TRUST FACTOR WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT SOME KIND OF DATE, UH, ALL I'M DOING IS CAPTURING THE INTENT, UH, WITHOUT SOME KIND OF DATE HERE, YOU COULD, YOU COULD DECIDE MATE, ALL MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THIS, UH, HOW THIS, UM, FUNCTION WILL BE SET UP AND THEN APPOINT YOUR COMMITTEE AFTER THAT.
AND IF I AM SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY, I DON'T HAVE ANY ASSURANCE OF THE INTENT BECAUSE THE WORDS THAT WE'RE ALL SPEAKING ARE ALL FINE AND GOOD.
AND I TRUST I TRUST WHAT YOU ALL INTEND, BUT IF I'M SOMEONE SITTING IN THE COMMUNITY, I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THAT WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
AND IT'S JUST WHY WE PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
IT'S WHY WE PUT THINGS IN WRITING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY, UM, UM, I WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED AND I'M NOT SURE THAT LEAVING IT OPEN-ENDED REALLY IS, IS HELPFUL.
MR. CHAIR, IF I, IF I MAY LET'S, I, I WOULD SAY I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE RESOLUTION DOES HAVE THE INFORMATION IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE, THE, THE BOARD, THE, UM, THE, THE COMMITTEE ITSELF AND THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THAT BASED ON THE TIMELINE AND THE STRUCTURE THERE, THINGS CAN'T HAPPEN WITH THE MOVING ON WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNTIL THE COMMITTEE IS, IS, UH, IS, UH, CHARTERED AND APPOINTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
BUT, UM, I, I THINK I'M SORRY, WHERE, WHERE DOES THIS CAUSE IT, CAUSE IT DOES SAY THAT, UM, UH, THAT TO ADVISE STAFF ON ASPECTS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAP, METRO TRANSIT, UH, TRANSIT POLICE, NECESSARY POLICIES, THAT'S AN ITEM TOO.
UM, AND THEN IT SAYS THAT THE D AND, UH, DEVELOP THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHARTER AND ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENTS, AND IN FIVE DEVELOP THE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE TRANSIT POLICE WITH INPUT, FROM INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT SHALL INCLUDE INITIAL AND CONTINUOUS TRAINING.
SO YOU, THE WAY I READ IT IS THAT YOU, YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE YOUR, THE POLICIES UNTIL YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO, BUT I WOULD SUBMIT THAT SINCE YOU WERE PROPOSING IT AS A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, I WOULD SAY, NO, IT'S NOT FRIENDLY TO ME.
W WE NEED TO DIVIDE THE QUESTION.
SO I'VE GOT JEFF AND I HAVE AGREED TO THE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS TO PUT THE LANGUAGE ON ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS.
AND THEN ANNE COULD PUT FORTH THE, THE TIMELINE ON THE, UH, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF SHE WANTS TO AS A SEPARATE AMENDMENT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
I THINK I'M PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND IF IT, IF IT'S NOT ACCEPTED, IT'S NOT, BUT WE HAVE TO VOTE MY AMENDMENT FIRST.
UH, AND YOU WERE OUT ON WHERE I HAVE, THIS IS WE HAVE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT THAT WAS APPROVED BY BOTH THE PROPONENT AND THE SECOND.
[01:50:01]
SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.WELL THEN I'M MAKING AN AMENDMENT, AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.
I SEE WHERE IT GOES TO THE AMENDMENT, WHICH THE LANGUAGE, THIS WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION IS OUR SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT, TO THE MAIN MOTION AND PROPOSAL.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE, THERE'S A SECOND TO THE AMENDMENT, TO THE MAIN MOTION TO ADD ANS LANGUAGE ON ITEM FOUR, ANY DISCUSSION OF THAT? JUST REPEAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT, TO THE FIRST AMENDMENT, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES, WE HAVE A MOTION THAT HAS BEEN BY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AMENDED, BUT ASHLEY'S LANGUAGE.
SO WE HAVE A MAIN MOTION, AND WE NOW HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO ADD A DATE ON ITEM FOUR.
SO REMEMBER KITCHEN, IF YOU WANT TO SPELL OUT WHAT YOUR AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION.
UM, AND, UM, PRESIDENT CLARK, I THINK I'M CAPTURING WHAT YOU AND I JUST TALKED ABOUT, BUT IT WOULD SAY, UM, LET'S SEE, DEVELOP A PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHARTER AND ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE CAPITAL METRO TO BE BROUGHT TO THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD BY OCTOBER 34 FIRST FOR APPROVAL.
IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK THAT CAPTURES IT.
IF THE BOARD ADOPTS THAT, THEN YES, WE WILL.
SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERED THE QUESTION THAT, SO IT'S ADDING THE LANGUAGE ON THE END OF NUMBER FOUR.
THAT'S THE MOTION IT'S BEEN SECONDED.
IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTIONS.
THIS IS PERTAINING TO THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
I I'M JUST, UH, I'M ASKING THIS, UM, LET'S SEE.
UM, RANDY, YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF THE LANGUAGE IS, IS ADDED, IT IS ACHIEVABLE OR ARE YOU SAYING
IS THIS GIVING ME SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, WHAT I'M COMMITTING IS IF THE BOARD ADOPTS OR NUMBER, SORRY, I HAVE LOST WHAT NUMBER WE'RE AT HERE FOR TO SAY, HAVE THAT ACT, THAT PARTICULAR ACTION, WHICH IS BASICALLY HAVE THE CHARTER DONE FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
WE WILL HAVE THAT DONE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE END OF OCTOBER.
UH, WE WILL NOT OBVIOUSLY HAVE APPOINTMENTS READY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT THAT, THAT IS STEP TWO AFTER STEP ONE.
ANYWAY, AND YOU ARE QUESTION BOARD MEMBER.
WE PLAN ON BRINGING BACK UPDATES PROBABLY ON A MONTHLY OR CERTAINLY EVERY OTHER MONTH BASIS RELATED TO THIS, UH, PROGRAM UNDER THAT SCENARIO, MR. CHAIR, UM, MAYBE THIS ITEM RATHER THAN BEING A COMPETING ITEM MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A COMPLIMENTARY ITEM THAT MAY BE THE MO MAKER OF THE MOTION WOULD RECONSIDER AS FRIENDLY.
WELL, RATHER THAN UNRAVELING EVERYTHING, IF WE, IF WE ADD THIS AS FRIENDLY, THEN, UH, THEN WE WOULD GET ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SOUGHT ACHIEVED AT ONCE AND THAT THE MAKER AND NOT ACCEPTED AS FRIENDLY WERE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION.
UH, DO YOU, I DON'T WANT, BUT I WANT TO BE SURE THAT VOTING ON THIS DOES NOT REPLACE THE LANGUAGE OF IT IS NOT COMPETING.
THIS WOULD NOT REPLACE THE LANGUAGE AND AN ASH SLATE, UH, OKAY.
AND THAT YOU AND, AND MISS, UH, MEMBER STRATTON, EXCEPT THAT AS THE MAIN MOTION, DOESN'T REPLACE IT, I'M FINE.
UH, AND WE'RE VOTING THE NEXT VOTE WILL BE ON THIS AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION.
WE WILL THEN HAVE TO VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION, EITHER AMENDED OR NOT.
I MEAN, AS I READ THIS, WHAT THIS MOTION DOES IS JUST GIVES US SOME CERTAINTY ON
[01:55:01]
OUR PROCESS FOR GETTING THE, UM, THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED.SO IT CAN'T BE CREATED UNTIL THE CHARTER AND THE, UH, APPOINTMENT PROCESS ARE BROUGHT BACK TO US FOR APPROVAL.
SO IT'S SIMPLY A STATEMENT TO THE PUBLIC IS SIMPLY PUTTING IN WRITING, WHICH I THINK IS A TRUST ISSUE.
UH, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC, WHAT PRESIDENT CLARK SAYS THAT HE CAN DO, UH, WHICH IS TO BRING US BACK, UH, FOR THE, THE BOARD APPROVAL AT THE END OF OCTOBER, CALL THE QUESTION.
UH, I HAVE A QUICK COMMENT, WHICH IS THIS, I THINK, UH, MEMBER TREVELYAN SAID IT RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING, WHICH IS, I DON'T THINK THIS AMENDMENT TO THE MAIN MOTION DOES ANYTHING THAT ADAMSON'S, THAT'LL GET APPROVED IN DUE COURSE, AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, IF WE HIT THAT, IT MEANS THE WHOLE THING, THE WHOLE TIMELINE WE HAVE HICCUPS.
SO I'D BE A PROPONENT OF REJECTING THIS AMENDMENT AND APPROVING THE MOTION THAT MEMBER STRATTON PUT BEFORE THE BOARD MEMBER STRATTON.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT THE, WHAT THE ACTUAL AMENDMENT LANGUAGES ARE, WHERE THE AMENDMENT LANGUAGES AT THIS POINT IN TIME, IT WAS TO ITEM FOUR, TO ADD A DEADLINE.
WHERE, WHERE IS IT AT THE ACTUAL, THE VERBIAGE ITSELF? IT'S, WHERE'S IT GOING TO GO? AND YOU'LL HAVE TO REPEAT THAT.
YEAH, YOU COULD JUST REPEAT IT.
IT IS IT, THE DATE IS MODIFYING THE CHARTER AND ADVI ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
SO WHETHER THAT CLAUSE GOES AFTER CHARTER ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS BY OCTOBER 31ST OR WHERE EXACTLY GOES, I DON'T, I DON'T CARE.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WORDSMITHS AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE TALKING, BUT THE INTENT IS THAT THE CHARTER AND ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS COMES BACK FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL BY OCTOBER 31ST.
REMEMBER, STRATTON, WERE YOU DONE WITH YOUR COMMENT? WELL, I, I JUST, I JUST NOTICED ANOTHER THING ABOUT THIS, THAT, I MEAN, THIS IS AGAIN, JUST A PRACTICALITY, IS IT THAT THE WAY THE RESOLUTION LANGUAGE IS WRITTEN CURRENTLY, BECAUSE IT WAS MORE BROAD TO GIVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO STAFF THE WAY THAT IT WAS WRITTEN, IT WAS DESIGNED AND KIND OF TWO PIECES.
IT SEEMS LIKE BECAUSE IT WAS THE TO DEVELOP THE PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHARTER AND ADVISOR APPOINTMENT PROCESS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD FOR APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENTS.
AND UNLESS I'M MISREADING IT, IT WAS THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE MAYBE TWO SEPARATE THINGS.
ONE WAS TO APPROVE THE PROCESS AND THE OTHER WAY LATER COME BACK TO US AND WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS.
SO THAT, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO SANDWICH YOUR LANGUAGE IN YOUR DATE AND TO ONE PARTICULAR SPACE.
IT'S JUST, I HEAR, I THINK IT'S YEAH, YEAH.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, ERIC AND I GET THAT.
UM, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO WORDSMITH THAT RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY I JUST STATED WHAT THE INTENT WAS.
AND I, MAYBE I SHOULD ASK ASHLEY IF SHE UNDERSTANDS WHAT I DO.
I THINK WE WOULD PUT IN TO BE BROUGHT BY THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD FOR APPROVAL, NOT LATER THAN OCTOBER 31ST, AND THEN FOR SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS, BY OCTOBER 31ST, WE WILL BRING BACK THE CHARTER AND THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE THE APPOINTMENTS.
BUT I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE, BOARD MEMBERS SHOT.
AND IS THAT THE, THE FOR APPROVAL AND APPOINTMENTS SANDWICHING THE 31ST AND THERE WAS A LITTLE HARD, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
AND THAT'S THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION? I'M GOING TO ASK A QUESTION AFTER WE DO THE VOTE.
IF THERE ARE NONE, CHERYL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE QUESTION AND HAVE A VOTE ON THIS.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND THE MAIN MOTION TO ADD ANNE'S PROPOSED LANGUAGE, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING I WOULDN'T CALL IT UPON A MEMBER POOL.
I REMEMBER TREVELYAN UM, REMEMBER STRATTON, NAY.
UH, REMEMBER ROSS, REMEMBER MITCHELL? I'M SORRY.
THAT WAS AN, I REMEMBER KITCHEN.
[02:00:01]
I REMEMBER MARIA.AND IF, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, I NEED YOU TO TURN YOUR CAMERA ON.
OUR CAMERA HAD BEEN ON ALL THE TIME OR YOU'RE A I OR A NE UH, COOPER'S A NAY.
THE MOTION CARRIES 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, UH, FAVOR AND THREE AGAINST.
SO NOW WE'RE ONTO THE MAIN MOTION AGAIN AS AMENDED, UH, A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT AND BY MEMBER KITCHENS, AMENDMENT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MAIN MOTION? ALL RIGHT.
UH, IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN WE'LL PUT THAT TO A VOTE ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MAIN MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, WHEN, UH, CALLED UPON MEMBER POOL.
I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT I SAID EARLIER STAINS.
REMEMBER, RENTER RHEA COOPER TONIGHT.
OCEAN CARRIES WAS SEVEN IN FAVOR AND ONE ABSTENTION, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
AND THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT ON THIS, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TO ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
UM, AND I KNOW ONE THAT RANDY HAS, UM, UH, AM WORKING ON IT AS A STAFF FOR A GOOD LENGTH OF TIME.
AGAIN, WE'RE UNDER A LITTLE TIME PRESSURE.
[VIII. Executive Session]
FOR US, UH, IF THEY'RE STANDING OBJECTION INSTEAD OF THE DISCUSSION ITEM TO MOVE DIRECTLY INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE GOT TO GO, BUT, UH, LIKE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, UH, STAY CONNECTED.AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THIS LINK OPEN FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN WE'LL ALL GO TO THE SEPARATE, UH, LINK WE'LL HOP OFF THIS LINK.
NOW GO TO THE SEPARATE LINK THAT YOU PROVIDED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, AND THEN COME BACK TO THE SLIDE NUMBER POOL.
YOU JUST HAD A QUICK QUESTION.
DO WE HAVE ANY MORE ACTION ITEMS? UM, I AM ONE OF THE ONES, UM, WE HAVE THE STATE OF THE CITY IS SCHEDULED FOR FOUR O'CLOCK AND SINCE I'M AT HOME, I HAVE TO GO DOWNTOWN.
SO I'LL BE LEAVING ABOUT THREE 30.
I HAD ALREADY, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THAT CAUSE I LET MR. INSTINCT NOW.
YEAH, WE'RE UNDER TIME AND UNDERSTAND A NUMBER OF YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.
SO WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH KENT? THANK YOU.
I'LL SEE YOU OVER AT EXECUTIVE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION TIME NOW IS 2 54.
WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED AGENDA AND THE ORIGINAL, WELL, UH, WE'RE GOING TO JUMP AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE DISCUSSION ITEM A AND THEN OUR ACTION ITEMS. UM, SO, UH,
[VI.1. Bus Operations Update]
LET ME SKIP OVER TO DISCUSSION ITEM, UM, NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS BUS OPERATIONS UPDATE.NOW THAT STUDY WATKINS TO GIVE US THAT NOW, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THEN THE ACTION ITEM MENTIONED THE OTHER ACTION ITEM AGENDAS.
UM, CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT CEO.
I'M THE CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR CAPITAL METRO.
UM, AND I, I KNOW THAT WE ARE ON A VERY TIGHT SCHEDULE, SO I'LL DO MY BEST TO KEEP THIS BRIEF, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADVISE YOU OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ANY OF THE PUBLIC THAT ARE WATCHING TODAY, IF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED IN BUS EXPERIENCING IN BUS OPERATIONS.
UM, AND IF YOU CAN PROCEED TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
UM, SO CURRENTLY OUR BUS SERVICE QUALITY IS CLEARLY, IT'S JUST NOT MEETING OUR STANDARDS AND YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE HERE, UM, A PICTURE OF A TWEET THAT WE PUT OUT, UM, RIGHT AT A WEEK AGO, UM, APOLOGIZING TO OUR CUSTOMERS, UM, FOR NOT ONLY HAVING SERVICE QUALITY ISSUES, BUT ALSO FAILING TO PROPERLY COMMUNICATE ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AS THEY WERE HAPPENING.
UM, THESE ARE BEING DRIVEN IN LARGE PART TO A STAFFING SHORTAGE.
UM, AND SO, UM, I WANTED TO GO THROUGH WITH YOU JUST BRIEFLY WHAT THAT SHORTAGE IS, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO, UM, I'LL ALSO GIVE YOU A HIGH-LEVEL
[02:05:01]
VIEW OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO TO STABILIZE SERVICE.SO, UM, THERE IT IS, OUR STAFFING SHORTAGE IS, UM, NOT UNIQUE TO CAPITAL METRO.
IN FACT, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE VARIOUS HEADLINES THAT WE CAPTURED HERE, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO AUSTIN, IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO TRANSIT.
UM, THE WORK FORCE AS A GENERAL, THE NATIONWIDE WORKFORCE, UM, HAS CHANGED A GOOD BIT OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
UM, AND OUR, OUR CURRENT SHORTAGE IS REALLY IN CRISIS.
UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY TODAY 100 BUS OPERATORS SHORT OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO OPERATE THE SERVICE LEVELS THAT WE COMMITTED FOR.
UM, THE CURRENT SERVICE PERIOD, WHICH STARTED AUGUST 19TH.
UM, THE, THIS THAT IS IN TOTAL HEADCOUNT ON TOP OF THAT IS SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 20 TO 25 PEOPLE EVERY DAY.
ADDITIONALLY, ABSENT, UM, FOR COVID RELATED REASONS, WHETHER IT IS SOMEONE WHO THEY THEMSELVES HAVE COVID OR THEY ARE QUARANTINED DUE TO AN EXPOSURE TO COVID.
AND THAT IS ALSO ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF IMPACT, UM, TO OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE.
UM, SO NEXT SLIDE, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO, UM, TO APPROACH THIS ISSUE, UM, THE FIRST IS MINOR SERVICE REDUCTIONS.
AND SO OUR GOAL IS TO RIGHT-SIZE OUR SERVICE COMMITMENTS TO OUR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY.
UM, LATER THIS WEEK, WE'LL RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE ROUTE BY REP DETAILS OF OUR PLAN, BUT WE ARE CURRENTLY PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON A PLAN, UM, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 19TH, UH, TO REDUCE OUR SERVICE FREQUENCIES ON SOME ROUTES.
UM, THE ONLY ROUTES WE HAVE SUSPENDED, WE ACTUALLY SUSPENDED LAST WEEK, THE EBUS ROUTES, THOSE ARE LATE NIGHT SERVICE ROUTES, UM, DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO SERVE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.
UM, THOSE ROUTES RUN IN PARALLEL WITH OUR NIGHT OWL ROUTE SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO THAT GIVEN THAT THEY ARE DUPLICATIVE LATE NIGHT ROUTE SERVICE, UM, WE SUSPENDED THAT SERVICE LAST WEEK.
THAT IS THE ONLY SERVICE BEING PROPOSED TO BE SUSPENDED.
OTHERWISE WE WILL BE, UM, REDUCING FREQUENCIES, UM, ON A TEMPORARY BASIS WHILE WE, UM, TAKE THE TIME TO STAFF UP.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS WHEN SERVICE IMPACTS OCCUR.
BUT THE PRIMARY REASON FOR MAKING SERVICE REDUCTIONS IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS A RELIABLE SERVICE RIGHT NOW, QUITE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE BUS IS GOING TO COME BECAUSE YOU CAN CHECK THE SCHEDULE, BUT IF 10% OF THE BUSES ON THE SCHEDULE JUST AREN'T RUNNING TODAY, YOUR, YOUR ODDS OF BEING ABLE TO RELY ON THAT SERVICE ARE PRETTY LOW.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S ABOUT WHERE WE'RE SITTING SOME DAYS WORSE.
UM, AND SO WE NEED TO, RIGHT-SIZE OUR COMMITMENTS TO OUR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY.
AS WE GET STAFFED UP, WE WILL BE, UM, ADDING SERVICES BACK IN.
WE WILL BE SUPPLEMENTING WITH BUSES WHERE WE'RE SEEING CROWDS, UM, BUT EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 19TH, WE WILL PULL BACK SO THAT WE CAN, UM, RETURN TO A STATE OF GIVING OUR COMMUNITY RELIABLE SERVICE.
UM, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR DOTTIE, REMEMBER KITCHEN.
IT'S JUST A REQUEST, UH, WHEN YOU RELEASE THOSE, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND JUST THE, UM, UM, THE IMPACT OF THEM.
YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'RE DOING AN ANALYSIS OF THE, OF THE IMPACT ON WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH ASPECTS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, UH, ARE IMPACTED BY THOSE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, AND IF YOU COULD SEND THAT TO ME AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU'RE RELEASING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO BE, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE DOING THIS, WE WANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE LOOKING ACROSS THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND REALLY BEING, YOU KNOW, CAREFUL ABOUT WHO WE'RE IMPACTING.
AND I'M, I TRUST THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING THAT.
I JUST WANT THE INFORMATION SO THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND IT IF I GET ANY QUESTIONS, ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO US.
WE SAW PUBLIC APOLOGY BY SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IN THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE BECAUSE OF LABOR SHORTAGES AS WELL.
SOME OF THE OTHER AIRLINES, UH, NONETHELESS, UH, I THINK WE DO WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE TRUST THAT WHEN WE SAY WE'RE RUNNING A BUS, WE'RE RUNNING A BUS AND, UH, UNDERSTAND TO AMBER KITCHEN'S POINT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME QUICK DECISIONS AND TRY TO DO THE BEST COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WE CAN TO SERVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT FREQUENCY.
BUT, UH, IT'S A, IT'S A, UH, A CHALLENGE.
UH, WELL, NOT TRUST WE'LL DO OUR BEST FOR, BUT
[02:10:01]
WE'LL ALL BE INTERESTED HOW WE GO FORWARD.UH, REMEMBER, UH, I'M SORRY, PRESIDENT CARTER.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE QUICK COMMENT ON THAT.
I JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE A QUICK MOMENT AGAIN.
IT'S STARTING TO MENTION, I DO, I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN'T RUN THE SERVICE THAT WE AS STAFF WOULD LIKE TO RUN.
IT'S ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING IS RIDERSHIP IS COMING BACK FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UH, THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE REALLY STARTED.
WE SEE RIDERSHIP HEAVILY, BUT I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT AND THANK DOTTIE, THE ENTIRE BOSS MANAGEMENT TEAM, ALL OF OUR FRONTLINE STAFF, I CAN'T OVERSTATE TO THE PUBLIC.
YES, WE ARE NOT DELIVERING AS GOOD AS WE WOULD LIKE TO, BUT THE EFFORT IS ALL IN AND DOTTIE AND HER TEAM.
I WORK AT SIX, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
UH, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, A LOT LONGER THAN 12 HOUR DAYS, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY BURNT AND I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW PUBLICLY HOW MUCH, UH, I PERSONALLY THANK THEM.
AND I KNOW YOU AS THE BOARD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY BIG SUPPORTERS OF ALL THE FRONTLINE STAFF AND THE, AND THE BUS TEAM OUT THERE.
SO, UH, JUST WANT TO JUST TAKE THAT MOMENT.
AND THAT IF YOU WANT TO HELP US GET UP AND RUNNING, GET YOUR VACCINE, WEAR YOUR MASK.
LET'S BE SAFE OUT THERE AND, UH, UH, BE RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT'S HAVING SICK BUS DRIVERS DOESN'T HELP OR SICK FRONTLINE DEPLOYS, DOESN'T HELP SICK PASSENGERS DOESN'T HELP.
SO LET'S ALL DO OUR SHARE HERE.
NO GROUP IN THE COUNTRY HAS WORKED IN THE HARDER THAN OUR FRONTLINE PEOPLE THROUGH PANDEMICS AND FREEZES AND, AND, UH, TRYING TO GET PROJECT CONNECT UP AND RUNNING.
UH, PEOPLE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD, SO KUDOS AND THANKS TO ALL OF THEM, UH, WITH THAT, LET'S MOVE TO OUR, UH, ACTION ITEMS.
[IV. Consent Items]
FIRST, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA, UH, CONSENT ITEM.NUMBER ONE WOULD BE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 19TH, 2021 CAP METRO BOARD MEETING NUMBER TWO WOULD BE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPOINTING FANG TO LOU TO THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION POINTING MICHAEL MANIA TO THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR WOULD BE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HIS DESIGNATE TO FINALIZE AN EXECUTED CONTRACT WITH UNUM FOR BASIC LIFE AND, UH, A D AND D INSURANCE LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE AND FMLA ADMINISTRATION PAID BY KAT METRO AND VOLUNTARY LIFE LONG-TERM DISABILITY BUY-UP ACCIDENT, A LIFE AND CRITICAL ILLNESS PAID BY EMPLOYEES AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,752,882.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND WILL BE BROUGHT BACK AT A LATER DATE ITEM NUMBER SIX APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HIS DESIGNATED FINALIZED AND EXECUTED, AND OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN FOR BEST SERVICES AND FAIR PROGRAMS FOR AN ESTIMATE AND REVENUE OF 21 MILLION, 50,000 FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS STARTING SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT CEO OR HIS DESIGNATE TO MODIFY THE HERZOG CONTRACT INCORP CONTRACT NUMBER 2 0 0 6 5 5 FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FOUR BRIDGES INCREASING THE ORIGINAL BOARD AUTHOR AUTHORIZED A MAP BY 200, $1,923 FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE OX, CULPRITS ITEM.
NUMBER EIGHT IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HIS DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AN EXECUTED ANALYTICAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FOR PROVISION OF RESEARCH, IN A VARIETY OF AREAS TO FACILITATE CAT METRO'S DELIVERY OF TRANSIT SERVICES ON AN AS-NEEDED BASIS AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO, TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THEN THE FINAL ITEM NUMBER NINE IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HIS DESIGNATE TO EXTEND AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
AND WITH TRAVIS COUNTY FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSIT PASSES FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR 21 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2022.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS MOTION CHAIR THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
IT, IF THAT IS, UM, PUT IN PLACE BY A BOARD MEMBER POOP, UH, RECORD, UH, MEMBER POOL WITH THE MOTION AND MEMBER LAST YEAR, 2 BILLION WITH THE SECOND.
AND I THINK MS. JOSEPH'S WANTED TO BE HEARD ON THIS IF SHE HAS COME BACK ON THE LINE.
[02:15:20]
YES, THIS JOSEPH'S WELCOME.YOU'LL HAVE THE THREE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIR MEMBERS COMES IN OBU, JOSEPH, MY COMMUNIST SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO ITEM EIGHT, WHICH IS A $2.5 MILLION CONTRACT WITH TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RESEARCH.
MY OPPOSITION IS TO CAPITAL METRO SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR RESEARCH SAKE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS SPECIFICALLY, THERE WERE THE 2009 NORTH LAMAR PEDESTRIAN STUDY.
IT'S JANUARY 7TH, 2009 BY JOAN HUDSON AND LINKING.
AND I READ THIS INTO THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I'LL NEED IT, READ IT AGAIN FOR 20 MONTHS, THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING PROGRAMS, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND CAPITAL METRO NET TO DISCUSS DATA COLLECTED AND SHARE IDEAS.
AND THEN THAT SAME REPORT ON PAGE 75, IT'S SPECIFIED THAT MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS IS WHERE PEDESTRIANS GET KILLED THE MOST.
AND SO, AND SO I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IT WAS ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 23RD, 25TH, 2019.
WHEN CEO CLARK ACTUALLY DID THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR 8 0 1 FAIRFIELD MID-BLOCK AND IT WAS MAY 2ND, 2019.
WHEN DAVID JOHN MADRONA WAS KILLED, MID-BLOCK TRYING TO GET TO WORK OR ON 6:00 AM IN THE MORNING.
AND SO IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO CAPITAL METRO TO DO THE STUDY, HAVE THE REASONS, AND THEN TURNED A BLIND EYE.
THERE'S ALSO, MID-BLOCK CROSSING CHINATOWN THAT I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT REPEATEDLY.
AND THEN THERE'S ONE OVER BY THE METRO PARK ON NORTH MEMORIAL AS WELL.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH DOING RESEARCH, TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE DOES A GOOD JOB, BUT JUST SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR THE SAKE OF SPENDING IT WITHOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE AND APPLYING THE RESULTS IS WHAT IS PROBLEMATIC TO ME.
AND THEN I WOULD JUST SAY, UM, AS IT RELATES TO KEVIN TO, UH, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, I KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT IF THEIR RIDERSHIP ISN'T INCREASING, THEN I THINK YOU OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE HERDERS IN THE SERVICE AREA THAN MINORITIES THAT STILL NORTHERN IRELAND, 180 3 DON'T HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION THAT WE NEED.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER THAT SEPTEMBER 19TH BEFORE YOU MAKE THE REDUCTIONS TO LOOK ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO MAKE MY COMMENTS.
SO, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS? NONE.
AND I'LL REMIND YOU JUST WHEN LEACH ON CAMERA TO VOTE.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S AWAY FROM THE SNAPS.
I THINK HE WAS, UH, OFF OUT OF THE MEETING A MEMBER POOL.
I REMEMBER MITCHELL COOPER'S AYE.
MOTION CARRIES, UH, SIX IN FAVOR, UH, TO NOT PRESENT AND, UH, 65 OR TO NOT PRESENT.
[V.2. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or his designee, to finalize and execute a contract for health plan administrative services for a three-year base period and three one-year options with United Healthcare in an amount not to exceed $15,384,283 for administration of third-party administration services and stop loss insurance for the Capital Metro self insurance health and dental plans.]
TO OUR REMAINING ACTION ITEMS. UM, ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HIS DESIGNATE A FINALIZED AND CONTRACT FOR HEALTH PLAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THREE-YEAR BASE PERIOD IN A THREE-YEAR THREE, ONE YEAR OPTIONS WITH UNITED HEALTHCARE AND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 15 MILLION, $384,283 FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AS STOP-LOSS INSURANCE FOR THE CAP, METRO SELF-INSURANCE HEALTH AND DENTAL PLANS.DONNA SIMMONS, LIKE OUR STAFF PRESENTATION, DON TO THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN COOPER OR MEMBERS AND PRESIDENT CLARK.
I'M DONNA SIMMONS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION
[02:20:01]
AND DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION OFFICER.UM, I KNOW WITH THAT, I STARTED TIMEFRAME REMAINING FOR THE MEETING TODAY, BUT I'VE GOT A REALLY BRIEF PRESENTATION THAT I JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OUR HEALTH PLAN IS JUST A COUPLE OF SLIDES.
AND IF YOU COULD GO AHEAD, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON OUR CLAIMS HISTORY, GOING BACK TO 2016, THAT SHOWS I THINK THE MAIN THING IT SHOWED THAT OUR, OUR HEALTH COSTS HAVE BEEN PRETTY STABLE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, EXCEPT FOR YEAR FOUR.
WE'VE HAD SOME, UM, HIGH COST CLAIMS, INDIVIDUAL HIGH COST CLAIMS THAT ARE, THAT ARE CONSIDERED, UM, CATASTROPHIC CLAIMS ABOVE OUR STOP-LOSS, UM, AMOUNT.
SO WE CARRY A STOP LOSS AT $150,000 PER PARTICIPANT IN THE PLAN FOR A YEAR.
UM, AND EXCEPT FOR THOSE YEARS WHERE WE HAVE SEEN, UM, SOME OF THOSE HIGH COST CLAIMS ARE OUR COSTS HAVE REMAINED, HAVE REMAINED PRETTY STABLE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT IS WHAT THE PLAN IS COSTING OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND I'LL COVER THAT, IT'S BEEN VERY, VERY, VERY STABLE FROM 2017 THROUGH 2021.
UM, AND IN 2021, WE MADE THE DECISION, UM, EVEN THOUGH OUR HEALTH PLAN COSTS WERE, DID, DID GO UP OVERALL A LITTLE BIT.
WE DID NOT PASS THAT, UH, INCREASED COSTS UNDER OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE AS WE WERE IN THE PANDEMIC AND WE KNEW EMPLOYEES WERE, UM, ALREADY UNDER A LOT OF STRAIN BECAUSE OF THAT, WE DECIDED NOT TO INCREASE THE HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS FOR EMPLOYEES AND 2021.
SO THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT INPUT EMPLOYEES PAY ON A PER PAY PERIOD BASIS.
FOR OUR BUY-UP PLAN, WE HAD THREE PLANS THAT WE OFFER AND THE BIO PLAN IS THE PLAN THAT OFFERS THE MOST RICH BENEFITS I WANTED TO MENTION, UM, AS PART OF HOW WE ARE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AWARDING THIS CONTRACT TO UNITED HEALTHCARE.
SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS THAT THEY PROVIDE TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS.
ONE OF THOSE IS THE RALLY HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT REWARDS EMPLOYEES FOR TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH, COMPLETING A HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT THAT IDENTIFIES AREAS IN THEIR LIFESTYLES THAT MIGHT, UM, THAT THEY MIGHT CONSIDER CHANGING IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.
THEY OFFER A REAL APPEAL PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED VIRTUAL WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM.
THEY ALSO PROVIDE A TREATMENT COST ESTIMATOR SO THAT EMPLOYEES CAN GO ONTO THE UNITED HEALTH CARE WEBSITE.
UM, IF AND ESTIMATE WHAT A PROCEDURE IS LIKELY TO COST BOTH, UH, CAPITAL METRO AND THE EMPLOYEES, AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN IN NETWORK, THEY OFFER SOME FREE PREVENTATIVE MEDICATIONS THROUGH THEIR PRESCRIPTION PLAN.
SO SOME OF THOSE FOR EXAMPLE, ARE PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE PREVENTIONS FOR, UM, DIABETES, FOR, UM, COLONOSCOPY PREP FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
UM, THE KINDS OF, UM, THINGS THAT CAN BE, UM, VERY DEVASTATING IF EMPLOYEES DON'T DON'T KEEP THOSE HEALTHCARE ISSUES UNDER CONTROL.
THEY'RE ALSO OFFERING NEXT YEAR ENHANCED TELEMEDICINE OFFERINGS WITH A BIG PART OF THAT BEING, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, A BIGGER FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, I THINK WE'VE FOUND DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO USE TELEMEDICINE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVELY.
AND SO UNITED HEALTHCARE IS ENHANCING THEIR OFFERINGS, UH, IN TELEMEDICINE.
NEXT SLIDE, AS TIMMY MITCHELL MENTIONED, OUR ACTION THAT IS REQUESTED IS TO APPROVE THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO UNITED HEALTHCARE FOR THREE BASIS PERIODS AND THREE, ONE YEAR OPTIONS.
UM, THEY TOTAL BASE CONTRACT AMOUNT IS 4 MILLION, 866,000 2 75.
UM, AND THEN WHEN, INCLUDING THE OPTION YEARS IS ABOUT $15.3 MILLION.
UM, THE BULK OF THAT COST IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE STOP-LOSS INSURANCE, UH, WHICH IS INCLUDED UNDER THIS CONTRACT AS WELL.
UM, UNITED HEALTHCARE ACTUALLY, NO HEALTHCARE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE, UM, STOP LOSS ESTIMATES FOR ANY MORE THAN AT ONE YEAR AT A TIME.
SO WE BASED THIS ESTIMATE ON WHAT WE SAW, UM, IN OUR INCREASE IN STOP-LOSS PREMIUMS FOR THIS CURRENT YEAR, AND THEN PROJECTING THAT FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THE PROPOSED CONTRACT, THE, UM, UNITED HEALTHCARE HAS ALSO MADE A COMMITMENT TO A 5%, UH, SB EAGLE FOR PRINTING.
SO THAT GOAL WILL BE APPLIED TO ONLY THE, UM, THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, NOT THE, NOT THE COST OF THE STOP-LOSS.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE GOT IT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT AS SOON ON THE STOP LOSS.
AND I THINK YOU TOLD ME THIS IN INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING, BUT, UH, WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY
[02:25:01]
TO GO BACK OUT TO THE MARKETPLACE.IF WE'RE UNHAPPY WITH THE, ANY OF THE QUOTES WE DO.
AND ALL OF THE STOP-LOSS CARRIERS WILL ASK FOR AT LEAST 18, 18 TO 24 MONTHS OF PRIOR HISTORY.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL BASE THEIR PREMIUMS ON THAT.
WE HAVE A SELF-INSURED BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT ADMINISTERS THIS PLAN, AND THAT INCLUDES MEMBERS OF OUR, UM, GIVEN RESOURCES TEAM, AS WELL AS OUR FINANCE TEAM.
UH, WE TAKE A LOOK EVERY YEAR AT THOSE QUOTES, UM, TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHAT THE LEVEL OF STOP-LOSS IS THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HOLD WHETHER WE SHOULD INCREASE THAT OR NOT.
AND THAT'S JUST, THAT'S BASED ON, UH, A COMPARISON OF WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE PAYING OUT IN CLAIMS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE LEVEL OF STOP-LOSS.
UM, SO THIS PAST YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES WHO, UM, WHOSE HEALTHCARE EXPENSES ARE QUITE HIGH AND, UM, AND WE HOPE AND EXPECT THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL BE WITH US A LONG TIME.
UM, BUT BECAUSE THERE'S CLAIMS THAT SHOW UP IN OUR HISTORY IS, IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE STOP LOSS PREMIUMS HAVE BEEN GOING UP.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DONNA AND THEN A CHAIR WILL WELCOME A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ACTION ITEM.
NUMBER TWO, WE HAVE A POTION BY A MEMBER OF MITCHELL, SORT OF SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY MEMBER TREVELYAN ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE.
UM, REMEMBER ROSS, DO YOU MIND TO TURN YOUR CAMERA ON QUICKLY? YOU KNOW, IT IS ON, OKAY.
UM, REMEMBER RENTER MARIA, YOU MUTED, YOU MUTED MY SPACE BAR THEN WENT TO WORK.
REMEMBER, STRATTON IS ABSENCE NUMBER POOL.
I REMEMBER MITCHELL HOOPERS AND I AS WELL.
A MOTION CARRIES THAT A SIX TO ZERO WITH TWO, NOT PRESENT.
[V.3. Approval of a resolution adopting a Board Operating Procedures Policy and amending the Capital Improvement Program Policy.]
NEXT ACTION.ITEM IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
I'M SORRY, BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES POLICY AND AMENDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM POLICY.
AND I ONLY WILLIAMS FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION WELCOME.
CHAIR COOPER, BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT CEO, CLARK.
MY NAME IS IOLA WILLIAMS. I'M THE STAFF ATTORNEY, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT PROPOSED REVISIONS TO POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD.
STAFF IS PRESENTING TWO POLICIES FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION.
THE FIRST IS THE BOARD OPERATING PROCEDURES POLICY.
THIS IS A NEW POLICY THAT CONSOLIDATES SIX FORD ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES INTO ONE DOCUMENT.
ATPS BOARD DID SOMETHING SIMILAR AND WE BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD EFFICIENT RECORD KEEPING PRACTICE.
THE SIX POLICIES ARE THE BOARD FINANCIAL STATEMENT POLICY, THE PUBLIC COMMENT, POLICY AND PROCEDURES, THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT POLICY, AND THREE POLICIES RELATED TO BOARD TRAVEL OR TRAVEL POLICY BOARD, MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, AND THE FLORIDA STIPEND POLICY.
THE POLICIES ARE GENERALLY UNCHANGED EXCEPT AS FOLLOWS.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING TWO CHANGES TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
FIRST STAFF IS RECOMMENDING EXPANDING THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO COMMENT AT CAPITAL METRO BOARD MEETINGS, OPEN MEETINGS BY ALLOWING REMOTE PUBLIC COMMENT VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING TO SIGN UP FOR REMOTE COMMENTS.
INDIVIDUALS MUST RESERVE TIME BY EMAIL OR PHONE BY 9:00 AM ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING.
AND OF COURSE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY CONTINUE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON SECOND TO COMPLIMENT THE EXPANSION OF WAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT OUR OPEN MEETINGS, UM, AND TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF TECHNICAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR DURING THE COURSE OF THE MEETING.
GIVEN REMOTE COMMENTING STAFF IS RECOMMENDING IMPLEMENTING A SINGLE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OPEN MEETING WHERE SPEAKERS WOULD RECEIVE UP TO FIVE MINUTES, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT THEY WISH TO ADDRESS
[02:30:01]
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A COUPLE OF CHANGES TO THE BOARD TRAVEL POLICIES.FIRST TO ALLOW EXCEPTIONS TO BE MADE BY THE CHAIR.
CURRENTLY EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE BY THE FULL BOARD AND OTHER CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED TO ALIGN WITH CAPITAL METRO FINANCE DEPARTMENT POLICIES ON TRAVEL.
FOR EXAMPLE, EMPLOYEES AND BOARD MEMBERS NO LONGER NEED TO SUBMIT TRAVEL REQUESTS 14 DAYS IN ADVANCE.
SO WE MOVED THAT FROM THE POLICY, UM, MOVING ONTO THE SECOND POLICY, THAT'S UP FOR CONSIDERATION.
THAT'S THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM POLICY, UH, CAPITAL METRO IS REQUIRED BY STATUTE TO ADOPT A FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AND THIS POLICY LAYS OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PLAN AND IS INTENDED TO GUIDE FUNDING DECISIONS DURING THE CAPITAL BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS, THE ENTERPRISE PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE PPM COMMITTEE OVERSEES THIS PROCESS HERE AT CAPITAL METRO.
AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES IS POLICY THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING.
FIRST STAFF IS DELETING LANGUAGE THAT WAS REFLECTIVE OF A SPECIFIC SOFTWARE THAT CAPITAL METRO USED TO USE THE IS CALLED DECISION LENS, AND THAT SOFTWARE WOULD PERFORM INVESTMENT ANALYSIS.
UM, BUT DUE TO SOFTWARE LIMITATIONS, WE HAVE RETIRED THAT SOFTWARE AND WE CURRENTLY DO THESE ANALYSIS, UM, USING EXCEL PRIORITIZATION OF THE PORTFOLIO AND ALL OUR INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS THAT STILL CONTINUES.
IT STILL GOES THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS.
UM, YES, SO THAT ANALYSIS STILL CONTINUES.
IT GOES THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS AND IT IS OUTLINED IN THE REMAINDER OF THE POLICY.
WE ALSO DELETED LANGUAGE THAT SPEAKS TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AND THE BOARD PRESCRIBING A FORMAT FOR ANALYSIS.
THIS IS JUST NOT A FUNCTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR THE BOARD.
AND IT IS A PROCESS THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UM, WITH INPUT FROM THE PPM COMMITTEE, SECOND STAFF REORGANIZED THE CRITERIA THAT IS USED TO DETERMINE PROJECT PRIORITY.
HOWEVER, WE CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE SAME FACTORS SUCH AS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, SAFETY REGULATORY, WHICH INCLUDES ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND THESE CHANGES ALIGN WITH RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE APPM COMMITTEE.
THOSE ARE THE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS ON THE, UM, UM, ON THE, THE SECOND POLICY, THE, UM, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN POLICY.
SO, UM, THE CHANGES THAT RELATE TO THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS.
COULD, COULD YOU GO OVER THAT AGAIN? AM I, MY DOCUMENT DOESN'T REALLY SHOW RED LINE.
SO CAN YOU, UH, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING THERE, WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE CHANGES TO THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS? YES.
UM, THOSE CHANGES, WHAT WE REALLY DID WAS, UM, WE ORGANIZED THE CRITERIA, THE FACTORS THAT WE LOOK AT.
UM, SO ALL OF THE FACTORS ARE THERE.
WE STILL CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC SAFETY, REGULATORY ISSUES, SUCH AS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, UM, CUSTOM QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
THOSE ARE ALL FACTORS THAT WE CONSIDER.
WE'VE JUST REORGANIZED THEM TO ALIGN WITH THE PPM COMMITTEE WE ORGANIZED.
DOES THAT MEAN CHANGE THE PRIORITY OR JUST RE VV WROTE THEM.
SO IT'S A WEIGHTING FACTOR AMONGST THE PRIORITIES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? NO, IT'S NOT.
SO IT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE.
IT'S MORE OF A, JUST A LANGUAGE CHANGE.
YEAH, I'M LOOKING AT THAT HERE.
SO WHAT SUBSTANCE CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROCESS? I MEAN, TO THE NOT CANADIAN VOMIT, I'M SORRY TO THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN POLICY, REALLY, UH, JUST ONE, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE REMOVED, WE'VE REMOVED ANY LANGUAGE THAT RELATED TO A, UM, AN ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE NO LONGER USE THE SYSTEM.
UM, REALLY ALL ARE DOING REALLY IS ALIGNING WITH OUR CURRENT PROCESS.
[02:35:01]
WE MADE IN THAT POLICY IT'S TO ALIGN WITH HOW WE CURRENTLY DO THE ANALYSIS, UM, AND HOW WE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THE FACTORS ARE THERE FOR THE PRIORITIZATION.SO SUBSTANTIVELY, NOT THAT MUCH.
WELL, I'M JUST ASKING FOR SPECIFICS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A RED LINE VERSION IN MY PACK.
SO, UH, SO, AND REALLY, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT LANGUAGE CHANGES TO MOVE THINGS AROUND REALLY, JUST MORE, MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IF THERE, IF THERE'S A SUBSTANCE CHANGE AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME IDENTIFYING WHAT THE CHANGES ARE AND THAT PARTICULAR.
SO IF I'M HEARING YOU, OKAY, GO AHEAD.
THEY'RE REALLY, IN MY OPINION, TWO SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES ONE, THE ONE WE DISCUSSED WHEN YOU KIND OF YOU AND I KIND OF AGREED, IT WASN'T AS SUBSTANTIVE AS, AS IT IS.
UM, AND THE SECOND WAS DELETING LANGUAGE, UH, THAT RELATED TO A SYSTEM THAT WE NO LONGER SUBSCRIBE TO AND REMOVE LANGUAGE THAT, UM, STATED THAT THE CEO AND THE BOARD WOULD PRESCRIBE A FORMAT FOR THE ANALYSIS, UM, THAT IS JUST NO LONGER, THAT'S NOT THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD THAT IS STAFF'S RESPONSIBILITY.
AND SO I REMOVED THAT WAY AND BY FORMAT.
DOES THAT JUST MEAN WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE? UH, WHAT, I MEAN, IT'S NOT A SUBSTANCE THING.
IT'S MORE OF HOW INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
UM, I HAVE, UH, TWO OTHER QUESTIONS, BUT CHAIR, IF YOU'D LIKE TO CALL ON SOMEONE ELSE FIRST, THAT'S YOU WANT TO DO THAT? OR SHOULD I GO AHEAD? I DON'T THINK, UH, I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS.
WE NEED TO GET TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR, AND I KNOW A NUMBER OF YOU WANT TO GET TO THE STATE OF THE CITY.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE A LOT THAT MAYBE WE TABLE THIS ONE AND GO TO FOUR, WHILE WE HAVE A QUORUM AND COME BACK TO THIS ONE, UM, HOW REAL IT IS.
ONE OF THEM WAS JUST A QUESTION WHICH I'LL LEAVE TILL LATER, THEN I'LL JUST ASK ONE QUESTION AND THAT HAS THAT'S THE, UH, THE TRAVEL POLICY.
SO THERE'S A SUBSTANCE CHANGE TO HAVE THE CHAIR, NOT THE FULL BOARD APPROVE, UH, UM, CHANGES TO TRAVEL FUNDS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL BOARD MEMBER.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NO REFLECTION ON OUR CURRENT CHAIR, SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY, BUT IT'S JUST, UM, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT THE REASON FOR THE CHANGES, I GUESS I CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
I THINK I REMEMBER THE ONLY PURPOSE WAS IT'D BE EASIER TO DO SOMETHING WHEN THE BOARD WASN'T AVAILABLE TO MEET.
AND SO IF THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THAT IS OKAY WITH THAT, THAT WE WERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THINGS.
HAS IT BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST? I KNOW I ALLOW ANYONE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I THINK THE, AGAIN, THE IDEA WAS TRYING TO MORE CONSISTENCY ACROSS DOCUMENTS, BUT AGAIN, JUST, JUST TRYING TO STREAMLINE AND MAKE THINGS EASY IF THE BOARD NEEDS THAT WELL, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT UNLESS WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE A PROBLEM.
AND SO I THINK IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO JUST LEAVE IT WITH THE FULL BOARD, UNLESS THERE'S A PROBLEM THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A, UH, A LOT OF ISSUES RELATED TO TRAVEL.
IT'S ONLY COME UP ONCE IN MY SEVEN YEARS, I WOULD SAY, I'M NOT SURE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
I DON'T CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
UH, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S A GREAT DEROGATION OF MY POWERS NOT TO HAVE TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE FULL BOARD DEALING WITH A $1,500 $50 ITEMS. SO THINK THAT'S SORT OF A WASTE OF EVERYBODY'S TIME MYSELF.
I, I HEAR THAT MY CONCERN IS IT'S TOTALLY A PROCESS CONCERN.
AND JUST THINKING FROM A PROCESS PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE WHAT IT SAYS IS IT GIVES THE CHAIR, THE DISCRETION TO MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO THE AMOUNT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN INCUR FOR, FOR TRAVEL.
AND IT JUST SEEMS TO ME, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A CHAIR WOULD WANT TO KNOW.
ONE PERSON WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
THAT'S NOT A HILL I'M GOING TO DIE ON, BUT, UH, IF YOU DON'T WANT ATTENTION.
I JUST DON'T SEE, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IT'S BETTER TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A DECISION THAN OTHERS, BUT LIKE I SAID, UM, I DON'T SEE A REASON FOR MAKING THAT CHANGE, BUT JUST PART OF MY CREEPING EXPANSION OF POWER OVER THE, UH, I DIDN'T THINK YOU'D BE, WOULD CATCH IT, BUT, UH, WELL, YOU KNOW, CHAIR THAT I'M NOT BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
AND SO I NOTICED STUFF LIKE THAT.
[02:40:04]
WELL, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I WOULD JUST KEEP IT THE SAME.IF, IF PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY WANT TO CHANGE IT, THEN THAT WILL CHANGE IT.
IT IS MYSELF TOO, AND WE CAN MAKE IT EFFECTIVE FOR THE NEXT STEP BOARD CHAIR, UH, JUST TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE BOARD.
I DON'T THINK THE WHOLE BOARD NEEDS TO DEAL WITH IT MYSELF.
I MEAN, IF IT'S MAYBE A COMFORT LEVEL OF A, PUT SOME SORT OF DOLLAR MOUNTAIN CEILING, I WANT THAT DISCRETION IS, BUT I DO THINK IT'S SORT OF A WASTE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BOARD FOR SOMETHING PRETTY MINOR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? I THINK, UH, I THINK WE STILL HAVE A MS. JOSEPH'S ON THE LINE TOO.
YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS AS WELL BEFORE WE GET TO THE MOTION.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AS IT RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT CHANGES FIRST, LET ME THINK.
COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN FOR HER COMMENTS EARLIER AS SHE ADVOCATED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PUBLIC.
AND I WANT TO THINK MS. WILLIAMS AS WELL, THE PROCESS CAN WORK AND DOES AT TIMES I MADE COMMENTS AS IT RELATED TO NUMBER TWO, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO REQUIRE 24 HOUR ADVANCE NOTICE FOR THE MEETINGS.
AND NOW IT SAYS 9:00 AM ON PAGE 22 OF YOUR BOARD PACKET.
SO I JUST WANT TO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION ONCE AGAIN.
I'M NOT SURE WHY 9:00 AM IS THERE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT LEAVES THE PHONE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN AND INDIVIDUALS CAN CALL IN THROUGHOUT THE MEETING.
AND SO IF YOU NEED TO LIMIT THE TIME, I WOULD JUST ASK IT BE MAYBE 30 MINUTES BEFORE, IF THAT WOULD HELP MR. EASTON ACTUALLY INFORMED THE CHAIR OF WHO ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE CALLING OTHERWISE, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO JUST ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO CALL IN.
AND JUST AS YOU DID TODAY, TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON THE LINE, OR IF YOU CAN SEE THE PHONE NUMBERS, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMEONE IS ON THE LINE.
PAUL WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE CONSOLIDATED POLICIES ON PAGE 1 22 IS PROBLEMATIC.
THIS POLICY WAS FIRST BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT THERE.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL IT WAS TIME FOR THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
I WOULD NOT LOOK UNDER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SUCH A DRASTIC CHANGE, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC OR ELSE.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO PUT THE CODE ON THE NOTICE PHONE NUMBER AND THE TOADS, JUST LIKE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WOULD ALLEVIATE HAVING SOMEONE ACTUALLY HAVE TO EMAIL OR CALL.
AND THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH IT IS YON IS BANKS BACK ON JULY 8TH, 2020 FOR THE C-SAT COMMITTEE MEETING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT TOOK ME 20 EMAILS.
AND EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT HIS AREA TO ASK IF HE WOULD INTERVENE.
AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE COMMENTS AGAINST THE PROJECT CONNECT RESOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE STAFF SHOULD BE A BARRIER, ARE GATEKEEPERS FEATURELESS, LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.
AND SO I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT POSTED ON THE NOTICE.
I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO ALLOW, UM, I SAID TO CALL IN, BUT THE RECORDING OF THE MEETING, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT C-SAT DID VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT ON PAGE 12 OF YOUR PACKET.
AND I WOULD ASK THE POLICY TO ACTUALLY REFLECT THAT IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT PROCESS.
SOMETIMES I USE AN MP3 PLAYER AND THEN YOU JUST UPLOAD IT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES THAT AS WELL.
UM, WAY BACK THAT THEY HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THE VISITOR IMPACT TASK FORCE OR SOMETHING, ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS ARE JUST RECORDED AUDIOS.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FIVE MINUTES IS PROBLEMATIC AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.
WE HAVE TO TEST THE FLOW ON ONE DEAL AT A TIME, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES.
SO I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE MEETING BY 23 HOURS, BUT I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A PROTRACTED DISCUSSION, AS YOU DID TODAY, THEN IF SOMEONE TESTIFIED AT THE BEGINNING, THEN THEIR COMMENTS WOULD PROBABLY BE LOST BY THE TIME YOU GOT TO THAT ACTION ITEM.
AND THEN IF I COULD MISS THE CHAIR JUST FROM MR.
[02:45:01]
50 ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE LISTED DURING THE PEDAL SAFE TRY ANY, WHERE DO YOU, SO THERE ARE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LISTED BY NAME.AND SO I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE EXTENSIVE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A SHORT TIME PERIOD RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
AND JUST ASK YOU TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MR. BANK SINCE 14 DAYS INTO HIS EMPLOYMENT AT CAPITAL METRO.
SO IT DOES FEEL LIKE WE'RE GIVING OUR INPUT AND, AND GOES INTO A BLACK HOLE AT TIMES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
THERE QUESTIONS FOR MS. WILLIAMS. IF NOT THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE, THERE'S MOTION, NO MOTION.
THE CHAIR WILL MOVE TO, UH, APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE, SECOND, STREP DISCUSSION.
I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR THE 9:00 AM I, OUR SPEAKER ASKED ABOUT 9:00 AM.
UH, HAVING THAT AS A DEADLINE IS THAT CAN, CAN STAFF JUST PROVIDE ME WITH SOME BACKGROUND ON THE THINKING BEHIND, UM, SETTING THAT AS A, AS A DEBT? YES.
UM, WE SAID 9:00 AM ON THE DAY OF THAT ALLOWS TIME FOR AD EASTERN TO INFORM THE CHAIR FOR SPEAKERS, WISHING TO PROVIDE COMMENTS VIRTUALLY.
UM, AND IT ENSURES THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET SPEAKERS ONLINE AND CONNECTED TO THE MEETING.
UM, AND SO JUST FOR PREPARATION PURPOSE, THE EASE OF DOING THE MEETING, UM, FOR EVERYBODY AND TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS HEARD.
IS THERE, UM, ONE CHAIR, IF I MAY ONE QUICK FOLLOW-UP SURE.
I, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHY IT TAKES THREE HOURS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE, WHAT, WHAT ALL THE TASKS ARE THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED DURING THAT TIME.
SO I JUST THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ALLOW THE, THE PUBLIC SOME MORE, UH, TIME PERIOD BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, SOMETIMES THEY FIGURE THINGS OUT, YOU KNOW, THEY, WEREN'T NOT AWARE OF THINGS, UH, AND THEY MAY DECIDE THEY WANT TO, UM, COMMENT.
SO, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT TASKS HAVE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BETWEEN NINE AND 12.
IF IT'S JUST A MATTER OF LETTING THE CHAIR KNOW, THEN I'M NOT CERTAIN IF WE NEED THREE HOURS, IF THERE'S MORE TO IT FROM A TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE THAN, UH, I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT THAT IS.
SO IT'S WILLIAMS. ONCE WE GO BACK TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, ASSUME PEOPLE STILL CAN COME TO THE MEETING AND SIGN UP OUTSIDE THE DOOR.
SO THIS WOULD PRIMARILY DEAL WITH THOSE WANTING TO SHOW UP AND DO VIDEO CALLS.
THE ONE THING I WILL SAY IS WE'RE EXPANDING THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE STILL, IF YOU COME DOWN, YOU CAN SIGN UP OUTSIDE THE DOOR AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL DO THAT.
BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA THAT NOW PEOPLE, WHETHER WE'RE REMOTE OR NOT OURSELVES, THEY CAN APPEAR REMOTELY.
SO THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME IS.
THE THREE HOURS IS PROBABLY NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK RANDY, UH, CHAIR.
AND AGAIN, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, I DEFINITELY WOULD HOPE WE DON'T LOSE THE QUORUM.
UM, I WAS JUST TOLD JUST FOR JEFF, JUST FOR COMPARISON SAKE, I'M NOT SAYING ONE'S RIGHT OR WRONG AT THE CITY.
IT'S 20, IT'S ALMOST 24 HOURS.
SO WE WILL BE AT THREE IN THE CITY.
IT'S 24 HOURS JUST FOR COMPARISON SAKE FOR IT.
I ALWAYS LISTENED TO THE COMPARISON TO THE COUNTY.
I DON'T PARTICULARLY AGREE WITH THE CITY'S DEADLINE, BUT, UM, AGAIN, IF THERE'S A CONCERN AND THERE'S A REASON FOR IT, THAT'S FINE.
TAKE, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IF THERE'S NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING, AYE, A MEMBER ROSS.
SO YOU'RE STILL WITH THIS LOT OF LOST.
I REMEMBER POOL LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT'VE LOST MEMBER POOL.
[02:50:02]
I REMEMBER TEACHING.I REMEMBER MITCHELL, I COOPERS AND I MOTION CARRIES A SIX AND FAVOR NONE AGAINST IT TO NOT LIKE OF CHAIR.
CAN I MAKE A VERY, VERY QUICK TEN SECOND REQUEST? I ASK, UH, PRESIDENT CLARK TO, AS WE PROCEED WITH THIS PROCESS, AS WE LEARN FROM IT, CAN YOU GET BACK TO US AND IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC MORE TIME THAN I'D LIKE TO DO THAT? YEAH, OF COURSE, BUT DEFINITELY WHEN A BOARD MEMBER
[V.4. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or his designee, to finalize and execute a contract with Modern Railway Systems, Inc., for the construction of the Lakeline to Leander Double Track Project, plus optional McKalla special track components for a total not to exceed amount of $8,301,404, which includes a 20% contingency. ]
FINAL ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT CEO OR HIS DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AN EXECUTED CONTRACT WITH MODERN RAILWAY SYSTEMS, INC FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAKELAND TO LEANDER DOUBLETRACK PROJECT PLUS OPTIONAL CALLOUT, SPECIAL TRACK COMPONENTS FOR A TUNNEL, NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 8 MILLION, 300, $1,404, WHICH INCLUDES A 20% CONTINGENCY THAT MR. CARTWRIGHT IS WITH US TO MAKE THE PRESENTATION.GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR COOPER, UH, BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT CEO CLARK, I'M KEN
AND THANK YOU FOR READING THAT A RESOLUTION.
I DO HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK SLIDES.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW, ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET AND NSBE GOAL OF 19.7% WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THIS AND MODERN RAILWAY SYSTEMS IS PROPOSING TO EXCEED THAT PROVIDING 23.9% SP UH, COMPLIANCE.
AND I WILL MENTION THAT THIS ITEM WAS, UH, PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OPERATION PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING AND WAS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE HEAD SO VERY QUICKLY.
UM, KADIMAH METRO HAS CONTINUED TO STUDY LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE SERVICE, RELIABILITY AND FREQUENCY AND OUR, UH, ON OUR RED LINE REGIONAL SYSTEM.
AND ONE OF THE ITEMS, UH, THE LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED WAS OUR LONGEST SPAN OF TRACK SINGLE TRACK, WHICH IS BEHIND BETWEEN THE LAKE LINE AND LEAK AND OR STATIONS.
AND WE HAD IDENTIFIED THAT WE NEED TO ADD A SECTION OF DOUBLETRACK THERE TO ALLOW FOR A TRAIN PASSING THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE IMPROVED RELIABILITY AND FREQUENCY, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO OUR RAIL SERVICE TO THE END, OR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF OUR NEW SECTION OF TRACK, THE REALIGNMENT OF OUR EXISTING SINGLE TRACK, AS WELL AS SOME DRAINAGE AND BRIDGE WORK ALSO MENTIONED IS PART OF THE LEAD LONG LEAD TIME ITEMS FOR OUR MCCALLA RAIL STATION PROJECT.
THE REASON THESE ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROJECT IS THOSE PARTICULAR ITEMS CAN TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO MANUFACTURER.
SO BY ADDING THESE INTO THIS, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, UH, WE CAN, UH, UM, FACILITATE THE TIMELINE FOR THE MACALLAN RAIL STATE RAIL STATION PROJECT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.
SO THAT'S WHY THOSE WERE ADDED.
SO THE TOTAL FOR THE DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT IS JUST OVER 6.5 MILLION, THE, UH, COMPONENTS FOR THE MACALLAN RAIL STATION OR $390,800 AND A CONTINGENCY OF JUST OVER ONE POINT OR JUST UNDER 1.4 MILLION ARE REQUESTED FOR A TOTAL OF THAT 8.3 MILLION.
UM, THAT THE CHAIR MENTIONED IF THIS IS APPROVED TODAY, WE WOULD BEGIN THE PROJECT, UH, IN SEPTEMBER AND COMPLETED IN APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS PROJECT.
THANK YOU, KEN, ANY QUESTIONS FOR KEN? OKAY.
I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.
UM, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN AROUND, UH, INVOLVED IN THE RED LINE SINCE ITS INCEPTION, WHAT 18, 17, 18 YEARS AGO, IT IS NICE TO SEE US GROWING UP THIS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INTO A REAL RAIL LINE.
THIS IS NOT A VERY SEXY, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ITEM OR ONE THAT'S FUNCTIONALLY WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND THE, AND THE USEFULNESS AND THE, AND THE ABILITY OF THIS RED LINE TO DELIVER ON THE PROMISES MADE MOM WILL GO.
SO I'M PERSONALLY PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, AS MUCH AS YOU CAN GET EXCITED ABOUT THE SECOND SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS.
UH, BUT I THINK THIS, UH, THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT IN YEARS TO COME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR KEN, IF NOT, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR, MOVE APPROVAL APPROVAL OF ACTION ITEM MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU GOT A MOTION BY THE VICE CHAIR AND A SECOND BY MEMBER STRAP.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTION HERE REAL QUICK, BECAUSE
[02:55:01]
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.THIS IS A WELL NEEDED CHANGE, BUT I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT REALLY WEREN'T EVEN NECESSARY FOR THE SAKE OF THIS MEETING, BUT IF SOMEONE COULD REACH OUT TO ME, UM, THAT I'D JUST WOULD LIKE SOME CLARIFICATIONS ON JUST SOME HISTORY AND THAT SORT OF THING, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MR. CHAIR, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I, THAT I'VE BEEN REALLY KEENLY INTERESTED IN AWARE AND FOR SOME TIME NOW, REALLY SINCE THE, THE SHORTLY AFTER I GOT ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REPRESENTING WILLIAMSON COUNTY, UM, BEFORE LEANDER ACTUALLY, UH, RECEIVED, UH, AN OFFICIAL SEAT AT THE TABLE AS THE, UH, SMALL CITIES REPRESENTATIVE, UM, I RECEIVED LOTS OF FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS IN THE LANDER AREAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT COULD WE DO TO IMPROVE THE, UH, THE RELIABILITY OF SERVICE TO, UH, TO LEANDER, UM, FOR THE RED LINE.
AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP, A VERY HUGE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I KNOW THAT HAVE, UH, THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN SOME HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY, UH, TO YOUR POINT, UH, CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN COOPER, UH, THERE WERE SOME PROMISES MADE AND THERE WERE PROMISES THAT WERE NOT KEPT FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE HERE IN CABINET AND METRO IN THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN HAPPENING, THE RESPONSIVENESS THAT THIS BOARD HAS SHOWN AND THAT RANDY'S LEADERSHIP AND THAT, UM, MEMBERS OF THE STAFF HAVE SHOWN TO, UM, LISTEN TO ME WHEN I GOT ON BOARD AND STARTED BRINGING SOME OF THESE CONCERNS TO THEM.
UM, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, WE UNDER ITSELF ACTUALLY HAD A VOICE ON THE BOARD, UM, HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE, AND IN A REAL, A REAL EXPLANATION OF THE, UH, THE, THE, THE SUPPORT THAT, THAT, UH, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.
I REALIZED THAT THERE'VE BEEN SOME HICCUPS ALONG THE WAY, YOU KNOW, POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL, FEDERAL MANDATES, THAT WE CANNOT CONTROL THAT WE HAD TO SPEND MONEY ON.
WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN SOME OF THE SERVICE AND SLOW SERVICES DOWN TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND THEN COVID WHO KNEW THOSE THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, BUT THIS, THIS IS, THIS IS A REALLY BIG STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND, UH, BETWEEN THIS AND PROJECT CONNECTS, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG THING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF LEANDER AND, AND FOR, UH, THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW FOLKS TO GET FROM LEANDER TO OTHER PARTS OF, OF, UH, AUSTIN AND TO THE AIRPORT.
AND BEYOND ONCE WE GET PROJECT CONNECT UP AND RUNNING.
BUT EVEN BEYOND THAT, I THINK THIS IS BASED ON WHAT I'M SEEING, THAT WE, ANDREW IS WORKING ON.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP TO LANDER AND DO THINGS AS WELL.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS AND ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE, AT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, THIS PROJECT WILL BE DONE.
THAT'S PRETTY FRICKING EXCITING.
THANK YOU, RANDY CLARK, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HERE, UH, THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN SERVING WITH FOR THE LAST, UH, ALMOST THREE YEARS NOW, WHO'S BEEN RESPONSIVE TO, TO THIS AND TO, TO OUR CONCERNS, AND IT HELPED BRING THIS ALONG AND GET US TO THIS POINT.
REMEMBER STRESS WELL WITH THE, WITH THE BYPASS AND THE NEW DOWNTOWN STATION, WE'VE TAKEN THE TWO GREAT STEPS INTO MAKING THIS REALLY ABLE TO RUN AND BY DIRECTIONS AND PROVIDE THE FREQUENCY OF SERVICE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS GOING TO WANT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION, IF NOT, THEN, UH, PLEASE, UH, UH, VOTE IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR, IF YOU'RE AGAINST, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, UH, MEMBER ROSS, I CAN REMEMBER ANSWER MARIA, UM, AND NOT PRESENT.
REMEMBER STRATTON HIGH NUMBER POOL, I THINK IS NOT PRESENT IN HER KITCHEN.
I REMEMBER TREVELYAN I ACUTE MEMBER MITCHELL, I HOOPERS AND I AS WELL, A MOTION CARRIES SIX IN FAVOR TO NOT PRESENT.
THEN SOMEBODY VOTED AGAINST A MEMBER.
WHAT'S YOUR SUGGESTION WITH RESPECT TO THE UPDATES AND REMAINING DISCUSSION.
I CAN, UH, I WOULD SAY CHAIR, UH, IF IT'S OKAY.
WE COULD BRING BACK THE REMAINING DISCUSSION ITEMS BASED ON, I KNOW SOME MEMBERS HAVE TO LEAVE, UH, VERY QUICKLY, UH, AND THERE'S NOTHING THAT IT PERTAINS A SENSE OF URGENCY THAT NEXT MONTH WE COULDN'T HANDLE THOSE, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU ALL.
AND I COULD, UH, DO A TRUNCATED PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF RECOGNITIONS.
I REALLY, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT TO PUT OUT THERE IF THAT'S OKAY.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD, BUT REMEMBER KITCHEN?
[03:00:01]
UH, I THINK THAT'S FINE.UM, I ASKED FOR, UH, UH, A BRIEFING ON THE ITEM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME FORWARD THAT INCLUDED THE, UM, OAK HILL AND MEN CHAKA EXPANSION.
SO I CAN DO THAT OFFLINE AND, AND YOU CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE FULL BOARD NEXT WEEK.
AND I THINK OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A SLIDE DECK AND A MEMO FOR THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC AND ANY, ANY, ANY BOARD MEMBER THAT WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE NEXT MONTH.
UH, AND THEN BRIAN CARTER COULD COME AND DO THE 20, 21 PERCEPTION SURVEY IF THAT WORKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT ALSO, BUT I CAN DO THAT OFFLINE.
[VII. Report]
WITH THAT CHAIR, I CAN QUICKLY DO MY PRESENCE REPORT.I KNOW IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY LONG MEETING AND, UH, WE, UH, AS ALWAYS APPRECIATE OUR BOARD MEMBERS, UH, DOING THAT.
UM, FIRST I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF RECOGNITIONS, NUMBER ONE, UH, VERY EXCITING NEWS LAST WEEK.
UH, THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE RECOGNIZED PROJECT CONNECT.
AND SO THAT'S OUR TRI AGENCY OR TRY ORGANIZATION AS I'M KIND OF REFERRING IT TO, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE A THIRD PART OF THAT, WHICH IS BASICALLY CAP METRO AND THE CITY COMING TOGETHER WITH THEM IN WHAT THEY CALL THE NEXT BIG IDEA.
SO A REALLY KIND OF COOL AWARD WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT, UH, PUT UP FOR THE CAP METRO BOARD ROOM, UH, ONE FOR THE ATP BOARD ROOM, AND WE'LL MAKE WE'LL, UH, GIVING ONE OVER THE CITY AND THE CITY WILL OBVIOUSLY DISPLAY WHERE THEY DECIDE THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE OVER THERE.
UH, COMMISSIONER TREVELYAN WAS THERE, APPRECIATE HIS, UH, UH, VICE CHAIR, TOURBILLION.
I GET THE, I FORGET WHAT ORGANIZATION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, BUT THE VICE CHAIR WAS THERE APPRECIATED AND, UH, VERONICA, CASA, DEBRA WHO'S, THE CHAIR OF ATP WAS ALSO THERE, UM, AND JUST GOES TO THE GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND WORK FOR EVERYONE.
AND, UH, I JUST, IT, IT REALLY FEELS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SUCH A BIG, UH, A BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT.
SO, UH, THAT WAS ONE NUMBER TWO.
I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE ONE AND ONLY JACKIE NUREMBERG AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, JACKIE, UH, THERE'S NOT MANY PEOPLE THAT PUT IN THE TIME AND THE HARD WORK AND THE DEDICATION OF THE COMMUNITY LIKE JACKIE AND, UH, WTS, UH, UH, THE HEART OF TEXAS CHAPTER EVERY YEAR ON THEIR ANNUAL ANNUAL, UH, MEETING.
UH, THEY SELECT A WOMAN OF THE YEAR AND JACKIE RECEIVED THAT THIS YEAR FOR HER EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY, LEADING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THE LARGEST PROGRAM, UH, THAT THE REGION WILL EVER SEE.
AND SHE'S PUT IN JUST COUNTLESS HOURS, NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, YOU NAME IT.
UM, AND IT JUST REALLY PROUD OF JACKIE AND REALLY HAPPY FOR HER, UH, ON THIS AMAZING AWARD, UH, CHAIR.
I DO HAVE AN UPDATE ON, ON THE FEDERAL, UH, COMPONENTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN DC, BUT I THINK I'LL SKIP THOSE JUST FROM A TIME POINT OF VIEW.
UH, UH, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN DC, HOPEFULLY BY SEPTEMBER, I'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GIVE A LITTLE MORE CLARITY OF WHAT ACTUALLY GUYS GET PAST, BUT, UH, EVERYTHING IN DC IS SEEMINGLY POSITIVE FOR OUR PROGRAMS MOVING FORWARD.
SO WE'LL WAIT AND SEE HOW THEY FIND IT.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO MENTION PICKUP SERVICE.
SO, UM, THIS MONTH WE LAUNCHED THE, THE SOUTH CHEKA ON AUGUST SIX AND THAT, THAT IS OFFICIALLY, UH, UH, UNDERWAY.
AND THAT'S IN THE SLAUGHTER LANE, YOU KNOW, WESTERN MANCHESTER, UH, AND BRODY LANE AREA.
AND I BELIEVE A BOARD MEMBER OF KITCHEN AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS DID A RIBBON CUTTING THERE.
THE NEXT ONE IS NORTH OAK HILL.
AND TOMORROW I BELIEVE IS OUR OFFICIAL LAUNCH ON THAT.
AND THAT IS THE AREA KIND OF TWO 90, THE PARKWAY, TRAVIS COOK ROAD THAT, THAT KIND OF AREA.
AND THAT GOES WITH THE OTHER TWO ZONES THAT WE LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE DESKTOP ZONE.
UM, AND THE, UH, ESCAPING ME RIGHT NOW, THE OTHER ZONE THAT WE JUST LAUNCHED NORTH, UH, NORTH I'LL KILL THE SOUTH MAIN CHECK AND THE DESKTOP AND THE DESKTOP IS THE ONE WE JUST LAUNCHED THAT ALSO SORT OF GOES INTO THE ADDITIONAL SERVICE HOURS.
WE ALSO PUT INTO LEANDER AND A COUPLE OF ZONES ON SATURDAY SERVICE AS WELL, UH, BETTER CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NETWORK.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN, COVID STILL PRETTY HEAVILY, OBVIOUSLY.
SO RIDERSHIP ON, UH, WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO GROW ON THOSE, BUT REALLY KUDOS CHAD, UH, SUSIE, UH, JAMES AND THE ENTIRE PICKUP TEAM, AND A REALLY GREAT TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO, UH, GET THAT KIND OF, UH, THOSE MORE DIFFICULT AREAS, BUT WITH CONDUCTIVITY, SO SHARED LOTS GOING ON AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE MY, THANKS TO THE STAFF.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY, DESPITE, UH, SOME SERIOUS HEADWINDS OF, UH COVID AND OTHER OTHER THINGS, BUT, UM, THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE MISSION AND, UH, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CLARK, UH, THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF, UH, KUDOS TO JACKIE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR HEROIC EFFORTS THIS YEAR, BUT NONE MORE DESERVING THAN THAT, JACK, FOR ALL THE WORK SHE PUT INTO PROJECT CONNECT AND BEING OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES, ANSWERING QUESTIONS, TALKING TO PEOPLE, AND REALLY DID A FANTASTIC JOB
[03:05:01]
AT KUDOS, AS WELL AS STAFF TO STANDING UP THESE PICKUPS ON SO QUICKLY.IT'S GREAT TO SAY THAT THE, THE, UH, GOOD PROGRESS ON PROJECT CONNECT AND THE, WE DIDN'T GET THE REPORT TODAY, BUT I'M SUPER PROUD AND EXCITED OF WHAT ALL IS GOING ON WITH PROJECT CONNECT.
SO LOTS GOING ON VERY TOUGH ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ALL, UH, BE SAFE OUT THERE AND GET YOUR VACCINE, WEAR YOUR MASK AND, UH, UH, SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW, UH, COMMUNITY