[00:00:04]
[I. Call to Order]
AFTERNOON EVERYONE.UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE DECEMBER MEETING OF THE CAPITOL METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UH, CHAIR TRILLIAN IS TRAVELING TODAY AND NOT ABLE TO JOIN US.
SO I'LL, UM, MY NAME'S ANN KITCHEN AND I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD, AND I'LL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
SO TODAY IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16TH, AND, AND THE TIME IS ABOUT 1212.
SO, UM, I ALSO WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT, UH, WE HAVE A TIME CERTAIN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT TWO O'CLOCK, UH, SO THAT THE BOARD CAN CONDUCT BUSINESS RELATED TO CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.
SO, UM, SO BOARD MEMBERS, WE WILL GET AS FAR AS WE CAN.
PERHAPS WE'LL FINISH THE MAIN AGENDA BEFORE TWO.
UH, IF NOT, THEN WE WILL ADJOURN AT, AT TWO FOR OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN COME BACK AFTER THAT.
[II. Recognition]
OUR AGENDA TODAY IS A MOMENT OF RECOGNITION.BOARD MEMBER COOPER, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD A FEW WORDS YOU WISH TO SAY.
FORGOT HOW TO OPERATE A MICROPHONE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
UH, JUST WANT TO, UH, TAKE NOTE THAT, UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, UH, UH, SEEING, UH, SUCCESSION PLANNING AND CHANGE ON OUR BOARD.
AND AS PART OF THAT, UM, TWO OF OUR LONGTIME COLLEAGUES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA AND COUNCIL MEMBER AND VICE CHAIR, UH, KITCHEN, UH, HAVE TERMS THAT WILL BE EXPIRING AND, UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, THE, UH, PROCESS WILL PERMIT THEM TO STAY FOR ANOTHER, UH, MEETING OR TWO SO WE CAN, UH, PROPERLY, UH, RECOGNIZE, UH, THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY MORE FORMALLY.
AND, AND WITH, UH, UH, AS SOMEBODY SAID HERE, HIGH CALORIE TREATS
UM, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, HERE IN DECEMBER, AS, AS THEIR OFFICIAL, UH, TERMS WIND DOWN THAT, UH, THE VICE CHAIR, UH, ANN, UH, KITCHEN HAS BEEN A BOARD MEMBER SINCE APRIL OF 2015.
SO THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON EIGHT YEARS OF FUN AND GAMES HERE AT CAT METRO
THAT'S A LOT OF MEETINGS IN THIS VERY ROOM, AND A LOT'S HAPPENED OVER THOSE YEARS.
AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RENTERIA HAS BEEN ON OUR BOARD SINCE JUNE OF, UH, 20 16, 6 AND A HALF YEARS.
AND, UH, UM, UH, SOMEBODY, UH, WAS HELPING ME PUT, UH, THE NOTES TOGETHER AND SAID, ONLY ONE BOARD MEMBER HAS BEEN AROUND LONGER, AND THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS SANITY
UH, BUT, UH, BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN AROUND, UH, THROUGH AN AWFUL LOT.
AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, PROVIDED LEADERSHIP ON.
UH, ONE IS, UH, CAP REMAP, WHICH HAPPENED, UH, FIVE YEARS AGO AND LED TO OVER TIME, UP UNTIL COVID, A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE, THE RIDERSHIP, UM, HERE AT CAP METRO.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH CONSUMED ALL OF US, UH, STAFF AND BOARD, CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF, AND, UH, A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UH, BUT IT, I THINK WILL BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.
UH, BUT FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT, BOTH ON OUR BOARD AND ON THE CITY COUNCIL BOARD AND ALL THE COUNTLESS MEETINGS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE, UH, THE HIRING OF, UH, DOTTY'S PREDECESSOR RANDY CLARK, WAS ANOTHER BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL, UH, UH, PART OF OUR HISTORY.
IT LED TO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, INCLUDING PROJECT CONNECT AND A LOT OF THE GOOD STUFF THAT WE'RE, UH, UH, PROUD OF TODAY.
AND THEN SETTING UP OF AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, WHICH ITSELF WILL BE TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND, UH, NOW, AND, UH, I EXPECT THEY'LL BE HERE FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THIS PROCESS, UH, HIRING OUR NEXT, UH, PERMANENT, UH, CEO AND THE PRESIDENT.
SO, AS A COLLEAGUE OF THEIRS FOR SIX AND A HALF AND EIGHT YEARS, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN UNWAVERING.
UM, WE HAVE DONE A LOT GREAT THINGS TOGETHER.
WE SPENT A HUGE AMOUNT OF TIME TOGETHER, ASIDE FROM A FEW LAW PARTNERS AND FAMILY, UH,
SO I PERSONALLY JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, YOUR FRIENDSHIP, AND, UH, WISH YOU THE BEST IN FUTURE UNDERTAKINGS, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE OFFICIALLY.
BUT, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS TODAY.
AND, AND I THINK YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ON THE LONGEST, RIGHT? THE ONE WHOSE SANITY IS IN QUESTION.
WELL, I WOULDN'T
IT'S, IT'S REALLY BEEN A AMAZING TIME.
[00:05:01]
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE TRANSFORMATIONAL ITEMS. UH, IT'S, WE'VE REALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER ON, ON, UH, QUITE A FEW VERY EXCITING PROJECTS.[III. Public Comment:]
ON OUR AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT.I UNDERSTAND WE HAD TWO SPEAKERS SIGN UP WITH US IN ADVANCE.
UH, WELL, WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHERS.
UH, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, IF YOU ARE WITH US, PLEASE EITHER UNMUTE YOURSELF IF YOU ARE ONLINE, UH, OR COME TO THE PODIUM IF YOU'RE WITH US HERE IN THE ROOM.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MS. NOIA JOSEPH.
MS. JOSEPH, YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON MORE THAN ONE AGENDA ITEM, SO I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE ASKED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
MS. JOSEPH, IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD, MS. JOSEPH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST MUTED YOURSELF.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR AGENDA ITEMS. ITEM THREE SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE ILLUMINATOR TECHNOLOGY GROUP.
UM, IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE INSTALLATION OF THE AIR TREATMENT SYSTEM, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU TO CLARIFY WITH STAFF IF THIS IS JUST 10 PRODUCTS FOR THE RAIL, AND IF THERE IS AN EQUIVALENT FOR THE BUSES.
IF NOT, THAT MEANS THAT THE PEOPLE ON THE RAIL WILL ACTUALLY HAVE CLEAN AIR, AND THOSE OF US ON THE BUS WILL STILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK AND HOPE WE DON'T GET INFECTED WITH WHATEVER GERMS ARE OUT IN THE, IN THE AIR.
AS IT RELATES TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, IT SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT 80 A, UM, IS WHAT I HAVE IN MY, IN MY NOTES, BUT I'M OUTSIDE, SO IT'S HARD TO SEE.
IT'S $674,000, UH, FOR A WAY FINDING AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION SERVICES.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU ADD UP ITEM THREE AND FOUR, THAT'S OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS REALLY FOR WHITE CHOICE RIDER.
PEOPLE WHO ARE TRANSIT DEPENDENT KNOW THE SYSTEM.
ALL WE NEED AT THE BUS STOP IS THE SCHEDULE, LIKE IT USED TO BE PRINTED ON THE PLEXIGLASS ON THE INSIDE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE APPROXIMATELY WHAT TIME THE BUS IS COMING.
I WILL LASTLY CALL YOUR ATTENTION THAT THE ILLUMINATOR THAT YOU HAVE NOW, THE LITTLE IPADS, THEY ARE, UH, CUTE AND THEY LOOK NICE DURING THE DAY, BUT THE ORANGE ILLUMINATED LIGHTS THAT USED TO BE ON THE BOARD WITH THE LOUD VOICE IS WHAT PEOPLE WHO ARE HEARING IMPAIRED NEED AND PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CAN SEE FROM A DISTANCE.
I WOULD ALSO CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH TALKS ABOUT AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP AND THE TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.
AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TRANSPARENCY RE REGARDING THIS ITEM, BUT MY OPPOSITION REALLY IS TO THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THE BOARD MEMBERS SPECIFICALLY.
AND I DO OPPOSE YOU PUTTING THE SAFETY, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ON CAMERON ROAD.
AS YOU KNOW, THAT'S A MINORITY, UM, AREA, AND WE REALLY DON'T NEED FOR SEVEN MORE YEARS, UM, TO HAVE POLICE STATION IN THE AREA THAT'S ALREADY POLICING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO THESE TRANSFORMATIONAL ITEMS. I JUST WANNA CALL TO, UH, CHAIRMAN COOPER'S ATTENTION THE, UH, THE VIOLATIONS OF TITLE VI.
YOU MENTIONED ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2022 IN THE FINANCE CHAIR COMMITTEE, UH, THAT YOU CHAIRED THAT YOU DON'T RECALL, UH, REDUCING ANY SERVICE IN THE EAST AUSTIN.
I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, JANUARY 28TH, 2019, YOU ACTUALLY ADMITTED THAT THERE WERE, UH, DISADVANTAGES TO THE PEOPLE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, ALONG WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, GOT A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, GRANT FOR A TRANSIT DESERT IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, I AM IN THE TRAFFIC BREAKER IN BURNETT, UH, JUST RECENTLY WHERE I ALMOST GOT HIT TRYING TO CATCH THE 3 92, AND THE DRIVER DROVE OFF.
THESE DISPARATE IMPACTS ARE REAL.
AND I LASTLY WANNA SAY TO A Y, UH, YOLA WILLIAMS, AND TO YOUR PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST STAFF, JUST GIVE ME THE INFORMATION FREE OF CHARGE.
I PUT IN A REQUEST NOVEMBER 21ST, 2022.
AFTER THE BOARD ME MEETING, I SPECIFIED DOTTY WATKINS AS IT RELATED TO MY REQUEST TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, UM, JEANETTE, THE 8 0 3 OPERATOR.
I SPECIFICALLY STATED AS IT RELATED TO THE, UM, THE BENCHES, MR. CARTWRIGHT.
AND THEN THEY SENT ME AN EMAIL SAYING, OH, WE'RE GONNA CHARGE YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANY OF THE INFORMATION I REQUESTED.
AND I SPECIFIED ON THE RECORD WHO I WANTED THE INFORMATION FROM.
AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST SAY, UM, AS IT RELATES TO PUTTING COMMENTS IN THE BOARD PACKET, THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION.
SO IF MR. EASTON UNILATERALLY MADE THE DECISION TO STOP PUTTING OUR SUMMARY OF THE
[00:10:01]
COMMENTS IN THE BOARD PACKETS, I WOULD ASK HIM TO TELL YOU ON THE RECORD, BECAUSE I PUT IN AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST AND THEY'VE GIVEN ME NO INFORMATION AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOTHING RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUEST.THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, AND I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOU'RE A VIOLATING TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO STOP PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH THE LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS, 10 TIMES LONGER THAN WHITES.
AND THOSE OF US WHO LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME.
UM, OUR NEXT, UH, UH, SPEAKER IS, UH, DEBORAH MILLER.
I'M ALSO A WRITER OF METRO ACCESS AND CAPITAL METRO.
HOW MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ACTUALLY RIDDEN THE CAPITOL METRO BUS THEMSELVES? I, I THINK WE ALL HAVE MM-HMM.
WELL, UM, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE NEW BUS IS THE 100 S.
THEY WILL NOT, UM, THE, THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE IN THEM THAT THERE IS NOT MATHEMATICALLY ENOUGH SPACE FOR THE WIDTH OF THE CHAIR AND A PERSON TO WALK DOWN THE AISLE BECAUSE THESE BUSES HAVE AN, UH, LIKE AN AISLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CHAIR, WHICH WOULD BE FOR A WHEEL HUB THAT'S NOT THERE.
SO A PERSON WHO'S LARGER AND EVEN A ROLLATOR CANNOT GO DOWN THE AISLE.
ONCE SOMEONE COMES UP ON THE LIFT, NO ONE CAN GO DOWN THE AISLE.
SO BASICALLY YOU'VE BOUGHT VEHICLES THAT ONLY ONE WHEELCHAIR CAN RIDE.
AND, AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU IN THE FUTURE TO PLEASE NOT BUY A BUS WHERE THE WHEELCHAIR PARKS IN THE DOORWAY.
YOU CAN'T GET A SECOND ONE ON SAFELY OR QUICKLY.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID RIGHT NOW ARE APPROVING WHEELCHAIRS THAT ARE NOT, THAT THERE'S HANDING OUT WHEELCHAIRS THAT ARE NOT APPROVED TO RIDE ON ANY BUS, NOT EVEN METRO ACCESS.
THE WAY THEY CONNECT IS THAT WE ARE PUTTING STRAPS UP ON THE TOP SEAT THAT IS LIKE A LAWN CHAIR.
THE PERSON'S SITTING IN WHILE THE 300 POUND BASE UNDERNEATH THEM IS NOT STRAPPED IN AT ALL.
WE HAVE TO STAND UP AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALLOWING THESE CHAIRS IN OUR TRANSIT CENTER.
THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THEY GIVE SOMEONE A WHEELCHAIR, THEY GOTTA COME BACK TO THE DOCTOR THAT PRESCRIBED IT, IF NOTHING ELSE.
UM, I TALKED ABOUT THE HUNDRED SERIES.
UM, UH, I HAVE, LET'S SEE, ONE MORE COMMENT.
WE MU AN ORDINARY PERSON SURE CAN CROSS THE STREET AND READ A MAP, BUT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ON NOW, WE NEED EXTRA HELP.
SOME OF US NEED THIS RIDE ALONG PROGRAM THAT I'M WORKING ON NOW, WHERE SOMEONE ACTUALLY RIDES ALONG, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE, UM, I D D OR ANOTHER, UM, MENTAL, UH, CHALLENGE THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT WITH MEMORY.
TALKING ABOUT, UM, HELPING WITH THE BIDEN INSPIRATION, BRINGING SENIORS BACK OUT.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE FOR A SENIOR RIGHT NOW.
THEY'VE BEEN LOCKED IN A ROOM WITH NO PHONE BOOK, NO PHONE FOR THREE YEARS.
WE HAVE TO GO IN AND REACH OUT TO THE SENIORS IN ASSISTED LIVING.
SOME OF THEM HAVE NOT EVEN COME OUT OF THEIR ROOM IN THREE YEARS.
THEY HAVE, THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY BE IN A STATE OF MIND.
AND THAT THIS PROGRAM THAT I'M SUGGESTING WITH THE BLUE APPLE EXPRESS, WHERE MENTAL HEALTH PEER SPECIALISTS WILL GO IN ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS AND HELP PEOPLE WILL
I THINK THAT, UM, MS. WATKINS WILL MAKE SURE STAFF FOLLOWS UP WITH YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP, BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE WHEELCHAIRS.
SO SHE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, RIGHT? YES.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS IN MY APARTMENT.
UH, MS. MILLER, WE'RE AT TIME, SO WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, SPEAKER IS A EVA AZAR, WHO'S REMOTE.
CAN YOU ALL REACH, PLEASE REACH OUT.
I CAN, CAN START MY TESTIMONY.
WHY YOUR KITCHEN BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
MY NAME IS AVE HAR AND I SERVICE CHAIR FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HOWEVER, TODAY, I'M ONLY SPEAKING TO YOU IN MY PERSONAL CAPACITY AS A CAP SERVICE USER AND ADVOCATE.
I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ON ACTION ITEM NUMBER FIVE, REGARDING CHANGES TO THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD AND THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
I, FIRST OF ALL, I MUST REALLY START BY THANKING THE CAP METRO BOARD
[00:15:01]
AND THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE AND SUCCESSFUL PROJECT CONNECT AND FOR BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.WHAT WE SAW WITH THE JOINT MEETING IN NOVEMBER WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.
UM, ON THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY, I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ON THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED TO THE A D B BOARD AND THE NOMINATION PROCESS.
WE HOPE THAT THE CAP METRO BOARD CAN EITHER APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION AS IT WAS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, OR MOVE AHEAD WITH THE NOMINATION PROCESS CHANGES WHILE TAKING THE TIME TO REVIEW THE EXPANSION OF THE A T P BOARD OR POSTPONE THE ITEM AS THE WILL OF THE BODY.
I DO WANNA THANK BILL MCKINLEY AND TRANSIT FORWARD FOR WORKING CLOSELY WITH ME AND OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS ITEM IF APPROVED.
WE TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY REALLY COMMIT TO WORKING WITH OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT THIS EXPANSION LOOKS LIKE TO AN INCLUSIVE AND CONSENSUS BUILDING PROCESS.
AND, OF COURSE, ENTER THE GUIDANCE OF BOTH OUR CITY COUNCIL AND THE CAP METRO BOARD.
I ALSO WISH TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PUBLIC TRANSIT POLICE FACILITY.
LIKE MANY OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, UH, CONVERSATION, UH, REGARDING CREATION OF A HOLDING FACILITY BY CAP METRO AND DO NOT SUPPORT THE CREATION OF SUCH A FACILITY.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED, AND I HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE CLARIFIED TODAY.
AT TODAY, AT THE BOARD MEETING, AGAIN, I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK C E O WATKINS, HER TEAM, AND THE CAP METRO BOARD FOR THE COMMITMENT TO WORKING ON THESE ISSUES WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BILL LEY.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT FORWARD.
WE ARE AN AUSTIN BASED 5 0 1
UM, AS VEZ SAID, WE HAVE BEEN IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST, UH, WEEK OR SO REGARDING ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY, THE BOARD EXPANSION.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY ECHO WHAT SHEAR HAS SAID IN TERMS OF OUR RESPECTFUL REQUEST TO THE BOARD THAT EITHER A, THE FULL CITY COUNCIL LANGUAGE IS PASSED TODAY, OR IF THERE ARE B SOME DISAGREEMENTS WITH THAT, THAT THE, UH, TRANSPARENCY LANGUAGE CAN BE PASSED AND THE BOARD, UM, APPOINTMENT PROCESS CAN BE POSTPONED JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
THAT'S OUR REALLY REQUEST HERE, IS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO DO THE WORK.
UH, I'VE TALKED WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, RKA, AND AS WELL AS AVES GROUPS.
AND, AND WE'RE ALL OKAY WITH WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE STRUCTURE THAT WAS SET UP BY THE CITY, BUT WE ALL JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS EVERYONE ELSE.
SO IF WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE BY THE TIME SOMETHING IS PASSED HERE, THAT IT'S EITHER EQUAL TO THE CITY OR THAT THERE'S BEEN TIME FOR DISCUSSIONS TO TAKE PLACE SO THAT THE DIRECTION IS THE SAME FOR OUR GROUPS, WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
ALSO, UH, MADAM CHAIR AND DOTTIE, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IN TERMS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, GUARDING PROJECT CONNECT.
IT'S AN AMAZING, WONDERFUL PROCESS THAT'S GONNA GIVE THIS WORLD-CLASS, CITY, THE WORLDCLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM IT DESERVES.
AND WE'RE ALL WORKING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK Y ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, OUR NEXT, UH, SPEAKER IS ANTHONY WALKER.
HE, HE MAY HAVE TO ARRIVE LATER IN THE MEETING.
IS HE HERE? DO YOU KNOW? HE'S NOT.
THEN WE'LL TURN TO, UM, ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS.
I'M UP HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BREAK ROOM PROBLEM WE HAVE AT NORTH OPS, ALL LACK OF.
ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, OUR BREAK ROOM WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US TO BUILD THIS CHI WHIZ DISPATCH CENTER, WHICH PUT US MECHANICS BASICALLY IN A HALLWAY, CROWDED IN A HALLWAY.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE SO FAR Y'ALL'S ONLY SOLUTION IS JUST TO THROW MORE TABLES AND CHAIRS IN THERE IN AN ALREADY CROWDED SPACE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT CROSSES US.
WHEN IT'S LIKE YOU'RE TAKING A BREAK ON I 35, WHERE EVERYBODY'S JUST TRAVERSING THE USED AHEAD, GO TO DISPATCH, DO THEIR ZOOM, ZOOM STUFF, OR TALK ON THEIR PHONE SINCE THEY CAN'T DO IT IN DISPA.
WE, I'VE BEEN, WE'VE ALL BEEN ASKING FOR THIS BREAK ROOM THAT MS. WATKINS AND BACK THEN RANDY HAD PROMISED US, AND IT'S NEVER HAPPENED.
WE GET TOLD THAT IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, BUT WE DON'T SEE IT.
WE BROUGHT IT UP NUMEROUS TIMES, LMRS AND TOWN HALLS AND SUCH, AND WE, I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO PUT IT.
[00:20:04]
THANK YOU.DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? OKAY.
WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU AFTERWARDS.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AVERY.
UM, I'VE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES NOW.
UH, BEFORE I GET INTO WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, REITERATE SOME OF THE POINTS THAT MS. JOSEPH HAD BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE INEQUITIES, UH, WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, UH, IN EAST AUSTIN.
AND I WAS PRETTY, UM, DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BOARD'S REACTION, UM, TO, UH, MS. JOSEPH'S COMMENTS.
UM, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, THOSE GET TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY.
AND, UM, KA METRO IS TRANSPARENT WITH THE INFORMATION THAT SHE'S REQUESTING BECAUSE IT IS, UM, IT'S A VERY VALID REQUEST.
UM, ALSO WANTED TO COMMENT ON, UH, MS. MILLER'S, UH, REFERENCE THE HUNDRED SERIES.
I WAS ALSO A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE BOARD'S REACTION.
UM, THE 100 BUSES ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR EVEN ME AS A FAIRLY ABLE-BODIED PERSON TO GET AROUND ON.
UM, THEY'RE ABOUT THIS MUCH SPACE TO TRAVERSE.
UM, AND I'M A PRETTY SMALL PERSON.
UM, SO THOSE COMMENTS WERE VERY VALID, UH, REGARDING THAT.
UM, WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IS, UH, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ANN KITCHEN, UM, AND A FEW OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID, UH, YOU CAN'T FIX A PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT.
UM, SO I'M ONCE AGAIN REITERATING THE PROBLEM.
UM, THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE BUS PASSES FOR UNHOUSED AUSTINITES.
UM, AS YOU MAY KNOW, STREET FORUM, WHICH IS MY ORGANIZATION, WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED, UM, THE BUS PASSES IN THIS MOST RECENT FAIR.
WE'RE GIVING OUT ABOUT 500 A MONTH, UM, BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING ISSUES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST, UH, WITH BUS PASSES AND THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES THE FREE FARES PROGRAM WITH THE, THE LITTLE CARDS THAT YOU'RE ROLLING OUT.
UM, THE ISSUES ARE THAT PEOPLE, UH, LOSE THEIR BAGS.
UM, AND THEN PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, THE BURDEN OF, UH, GOING THROUGH ANOTHER SERVICE PROVIDER, WAITING IN LONG LINES, MAYBE EVEN GETTING DENIED IF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS DON'T HAVE TIME OR THEY'RE MISSING A PIECE OF INFORMATION.
AND IT'S ULT, IT'S A BURDEN TO THE, THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
IT'S A BURDEN TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A BURDEN TO THE UNHOUSED PEOPLE, UM, WHO RELY ON TRANSPORTATION TO GET AROUND.
UM, SO, UM, THE SOLUTION IS EASY.
UH, I'VE SAID IT SEVERAL TIMES NOW.
UM, ELIMINATE BUS FAIR IN AUSTIN.
UM, IT DOES NOT, WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE BUS FAR.
OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE ROLLED OUT, UH, PUBLIC FREE, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. UM, SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT, UH, MAKING A WORLD-CLASS TRANSIT SYSTEM.
WELL, THE WORLD STANDARD IS FREE TRANSIT.
UM, AND Y'ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
UH, YOU SHOWED IT IN 1989 WHEN YOU, UH, ELIMINATED A BUS FAIR FOR A YEAR.
YOU SHOWED IT IN EARLY COVID WHEN YOU ELIMINATED BUS FAR.
YOU SHOWED IT, UH, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO ON ELECTION DAY.
UM, AND YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS.
THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THIS.
UM, WE SAW, UH, DISTRICT THREE, UM, RUNOFF CANDIDATE.
UM, DANIELLA SUPPORTED A POLICY, SENT Y'ALL A LETTER.
UM, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO, UH, FOLLOW THAT.
AND, UM, YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE A COMMITMENT FROM THE, UH, BOARD TO AT LEAST LOOK INTO THAT, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
UM, OUR NEXT, UH, SPEAKER IS SALLY DECKER.
I'M CALLING, I'M COMING TO SPEAK TO YOU BECAUSE I HAVE FOUR CONCERNS IN REFERENCE TO ACCESS.
THE FIRST ONE IS ABOUT THE DRIVERS.
ON A SCALE TO ONE TO 10 BEING ONE THE WORST AND 10 THE BEST.
THE MORALE OF THE DRIVERS IS TWO.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS TO, THERE'S NO SUPPORT, NO COMMUNICATION, NO EMPATHY FOR THE DRIVERS.
I KNOW WHAT THEY DO AND DON'T DO.
AND THEY HAVE TO RUN INTO A BATHROOM QUICKLY IF THEY GET A CHANCE.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET A CHANCE.
SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GET A BREAK TO EAT.
THEY'RE EATING OUT OF A BAG AS THEY'RE DRIVING.
THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR THE DRIVERS.
AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE FOR US.
THE OTHER ISSUE IS SCHEDULING.
MY OPINION IS LIKE, YOU HAVE RANDOM DRUG TESTING, YOU NEED TO HAVE RANDOM TRAINING FOR THE SCHEDULERS SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS OUT THERE.
THE OBSTACLES AND THE ISSUES THE DRIVERS HAVE, MAYBE THEY CAN DEVELOP BETTER MANIFESTS
[00:25:01]
BECAUSE THE MANIFEST THEY'RE PUTTING OUT ARE AWFUL.AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS NO-SHOWS.
WHEN I FIRST START WORKING AT MY JOB, I PROVIDED WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO PICK ME UP AND TAKE ME TO WORK.
I GAVE IT TO THE SUPERVISOR AT THE HOWARD STATION CUZ THAT'S THE AREA I LIVE IN.
THEN I PROVIDED VERBAL COMMUNICATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS TO DISPATCH COMMON CONCERNS AND RESERVATIONS.
TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS LEFT AS A NOHOW.
I CALLED IN AND THEY TOLD ME, WELL, YOU WERE A NOHOW.
I SAYS, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE FOUR 13.
SO THEY TOLD ME, WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER WINDOW.
I WAITED ANOTHER WINDOW, NOHOW, NOBODY CAME.
AND THEN 20 MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND WINDOW, THE DRIVER COME.
I ASKED HIM, WHAT DID YOU, WHEN DID YOU GET MY ADD-ON? SHE GOES, 10 MINUTES AGO.
SO FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, I WAS NOT EVEN ON A MANIFEST.
I WAS A COORDINATOR FOR 30 YEARS.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS TO SCHEDULE AND COORDINATE.
THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT SANCTIONS FOR THE DIRECTORS OR THE DR.
SUPERVISOR OF THESE DEPARTMENTS TO USE THEM FOR THE RELATIVES TO BE HIRED.
I THINK WE HAVE C NEXT SPEAKER.
DID I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME RIGHT? YES.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TWO THINGS TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TODAY.
THE FIRST THING THAT I WANNA ASK IS THAT THE BOARD, PLEASE CONSIDER REINSTATING MASK MANDATES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
UM, THE CDC IS OFFICIALLY RECOMMENDING MASKS.
AGAIN, THERE'S NOT ONLY A CONCERN ABOUT COVID 19, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE VARIANTS OF THE FLU.
WE HAVE RSV, ALL KINDS OF AIRBORNE VIRUSES AND ILLNESSES THAT ARE GOING AROUND.
THIS IS PREVENTING DISABLED COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM BEING ABLE TO SAFELY ACCESS THE BUS.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING AIR QUALITY FILTERS ON RAILS, WE SHOULD DO THE SAME THING AS THE BUS, WITH THE BUS AS, UM, ANOTHER ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORS MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY.
SO I HOPE THAT THE BOARD CAN REALLY TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE ACTIVELY BEING EXCLUDED FROM BEING ABLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THE CITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT ANOTHER NEIGHBOR BROUGHT UP TODAY.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE, UM, FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I WANT FOR US TO CONSIDER HOW MUCH CLOSER WE COULD BE IF EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY HAD ACCESS TO THE BUS.
EVERYONE IN THE CITY, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, YOU CAN GO FROM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GONNA BRING OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE WHENEVER WE HAVE FAIRS ON THE BUS.
UM, SORRY, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, SO I'M BREATHING.
SO I THINK THAT, THAT, UM, THAT WILL BRING OUR COMMUNITY CLOSER TOGETHER.
IT WILL ENCOURAGE AUSTIN TO BE MORE ECO-FRIENDLY IN GREEN CITY BECAUSE IT'LL DISCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL CAR USAGE AND HAVE ALL OF US TOGETHER ON THE BUS CONNECTING OUR CITY.
UM, IT WILL ALSO ELIMINATE ANY, LIKE, UH, WHAT'S THE WORD HERE? ANY CONFLICT ABOUT BUS FAIR BETWEEN RIDER AND DRIVERS.
UM, MAKE THE RIDE SMOOTHER FOR EVERYONE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ACTIVELY HAPPENING, AS MY NEIGHBOR MENTIONED, UM, FOR UNHOUSED FOLKS THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STREET FORUM WHO ARE DISTRIBUTING THESE BUS PASSES.
WE SHOULD GO ALL THE WAY AND ALLOW EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY BE INCLUDED IN PARTICIPATING AND MOVING AROUND OUR CITY SAFELY.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER MASK MANDATES FOR ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
PLEASE CONSIDER CLEAN AIR FILTERS IN ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
PLEASE CONSIDER FREE AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION TO ALL AUSTINITES.
UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA LYON DECKER.
UM, I WORK FOR MTM TRANSIT AND I, UH, SORRY, ON, SORRY.
ON AUGUST 31ST, I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS ON THE BUS.
I, UH, LEFT THE CLINIC IN CRUTCHES.
AND MY NEW, UH, WHAT IS HE? THE SAFETY MANAGER NEGLECTED TO SEND THE PROPER FOOTAGE OF MY FAULT.
AND HE PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN A PREDICAMENT THAT WE DIDN'T NEED TO BE IN.
I HAD TO CONSTANTLY GO UP TO MY JOB TO WATCH THE VIDEO, UM, CONTAIN PAPERWORK.
WALTER LAND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR HIS JOB, NOR DID HE GET ENOUGH TRAINING TO BE IN THE POSITION THAT HE'S IN.
HE, UH, ANYTIME I ASK FOR ANYTHING, HE HAS TO ASK MOM AND DAD FOR PERMISSION FOR EVERYTHING.
[00:30:01]
KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS JOB OR HIS TITLE.HE ALSO, UM, WHILE I WENT, I WATCHED THE VIDEO AND WHAT I SAW WAS ME AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS AND THERE'S A, A WALL THAT DIVIDES THE STAIRS AND THE LIFT ON THE PARATRANSITS.
AND WHAT I SAW WAS ME AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS AND I FELL DOWN AND I DISAPPEARED BEHIND THAT WALL.
WHEN I QUESTIONED WHERE THE VIDEO WAS, THAT FACES DOWN THE STAIRS, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE ALMOST 10 YEARS, I KNOW THERE'S FOOTAGE THAT FACES DOWN THE STAIRS.
WHEN I QUESTIONED IT, HE TOLD ME THAT THIS PARTICULAR UNIT DID NOT HAVE A VIDEO ANGLE FOR DOWN THE STAIRS, WHICH I KNOW IS A LIE BECAUSE THIS ISN'T MY FIRST TIME GETTING HURT ON THE JOB.
SO ONE DAY I WENT UP TO THE JOB TO GET MORE PAPERWORK, AND SOMEBODY APPROACHED ME AND ASKED ME, ARE YOU OKAY? YOU HIT THE HARD.
AND AT THE MOMENT, I JUST HAD A MELTDOWN.
WHEN SHE CAME IN, ASKED ME WHAT SHE HAD SAID, I SAID, WELL, I'M GLAD SOMEBODY SAW IT.
AND A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, IT, IT DAWNED WHAT SHE JUST SAID.
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? BECAUSE I SAW THE VIDEO.
THERE WAS NO FOOTAGE SHOWING MY FALL, MY ACTUAL FALL.
YOU JUST SEE ME DOWNSTAIRS AND I DISAPPEAR.
I MADE IT, THE UNION'S, UM, I MADE THE UNION AWARE, AND THEY PUT IT AS AN ETERNAL INVESTIGATION.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE UNION'S HELP, THEY WENT AHEAD AND SIT IN MY FOOTAGE ON MY BEHALF TO THE ADJUSTER HIMSELF.
AND THEY HAVE YET TO, AND I'VE MADE HER ROLE AWARE OF IT.
HE HAS YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE ADJUSTER HAS IT.
WE KNOW BECAUSE THE UNION GETS A, UH, EMAIL STATING THAT THEY'VE OPENED IT.
ALL I'VE GOTTEN FROM THE ADJUSTER IS BILL, IF, UM, IF YOU COULD WRAP UP.
I, MS. MS. WATKINS, DO YOU WANT THIS ONE? YEAH, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU TALK TO ANDY SCHABOWSKI.
ANDY, WILL YOU WAVE BEFORE YOU LEAVE SO HE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET ALL THE RIGHT DETAILS FROM YOU? BECAUSE WE, WE DEFINITELY WANNA HELP YOU OUT.
I WANT IT TO BE EXPEDITED AND TURN IT AROUND.
UM, MR. S IF YOU, IF YOU'LL TALK WITH HIM.
I THINK HE'S READY TO TALK WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M SO SORRY YOU GOT HURT.
UM, OUR NEXT, UH, SPEAKER IS LESLIE SMITH.
AND I'VE BEEN DRIVEN, I'VE DRIVEN FOR LIKE A LONG TIME NEW HERE TO AUSTIN.
AND SO MY CONCERN HERE FOR ME AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUES IS OUR SAFETY.
AND WHEN SAFETY IS BLOWN OFF, SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SUPERVISORS.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SUPERVISORS.
WHEN I NEED, UH, UM, SITUATION IS IT'S NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
AND I DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR A SUPERVISOR.
I NEED IMMEDIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AREA TO EXPEDITE THE SITUATION, TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S BLOWN OFF MANY OPERATORS.
MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THEY QUIT.
THEY RESIGNED AND THEY WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THE SAME WAY THAT, UM, UH, MV THE, THE COMPANY LIKES TO PROTECT THEIR VEHICLES.
I WANT FOR ENVY TO FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME THE WAY THEY WANT ME TO PROTECT THOSE VEHICLES.
BUT THAT'S MY, THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WANT US TO PROTECT THE VEHICLES, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT GET INTO ACCIDENTS AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, SCAN YOUR MIRRORS AND DO ALL OF THIS.
YOU KNOW, I WANT FOR THE COMPANY THAT I WANT WORK FOR TO FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME, THE WAY THEY WANT ME TO PROTECT THE EQUIPMENT THAT I GO OUT AND OPERATE EVERY DAY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, THERE'S ONE OTHER THING.
SOMETIMES WHEN THE BUSES ARE SENT OUT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY BREAKS.
THE ROUTE THAT I OPERATE RIGHT NOW, WHEN I GET TO ONE END, I'M SO FAR BEHIND.
I GOTTA TURN AROUND AND GO BACK DOWN TO THE OTHER END.
AND WHEN I GET TO ACC, THERE'S NO BATHROOM THERE.
UM, I MAY WANT TO HAVE ME A LITTLE BREAK, EAT A HALF OF A SANDWICH.
I MAY WANT TO USE THE BATHROOM, WASH MY HANDS, BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I'M 5, 6, 7 MINUTES BEHIND.
AND IF I TAKE A 5, 6, 7 MINUTES BEHIND NOW I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M 30.
AND THEN THE WAY THAT THE, MY PASSENGER LOAD IS, AND THE TRAFFIC IS, BY THE TIME I GET TO WESTGATE, I'M 15, 17, 20 MINUTES BEHIND.
[00:35:01]
I GET TO THE OTHER END, I MAY WANT TO EAT THE OTHER END OF MY SANDWICH.I MAY WANT TO GO GET ME SOME WATER, USE A BATHROOM, WASH MY HANDS.
BUT THE RUNS ARE SO SHORT AND CUT UP THAT, UM, THERE'S NO RECOVERY TIME AND I'M JUST GETTING A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE FED UP.
HOW ABOUT MAKING THE ROUTES WHERE WHEN WE DO GET TO ONE END OF THE LINE, WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF RECOVERY TIME? USE THE BATHROOM, WASH YOUR HANDS.
A C D ACC DOESN'T HAVE A RESTROOM.
AND I'M GONNA STOP RIGHT THERE AND THEN I'LL MAYBE CHECK YOU OUT NEXT WEEK, NEXT TIME.
MY NAME IS, UH, TYRONE MONROE.
I TRANSFER HERE FROM DART IN DALLAS, TEXAS TO HERE IN, IN AUSTIN.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY I'M VERY UNIMPRESSED WITH CAP METRO DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT SEEMED LIKE OUR SAFETY DOESN'T MATTER TO YOU ALL.
UM, I'VE HAD INCIDENTS TO WHERE, WELL, ACTUALLY WE ARE BABYSITTERS, NOT OPERATORS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GET ON THE BUS, SLEEP ON THE BUS, AND WE WE'RE TOLD THAT DON'T MESS WITH 'EM.
CALL FOR A SUPERVISOR AND THEY'LL COME OUT AND TAKE YOUR SITUATION.
I HAD A ROUTE LAST WEEK THAT ENDED AT MIDNIGHT.
I WAS READY TO GO HOME, BUT I COULDN'T GO HOME BECAUSE IT TOOK A SUPERVISOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET TO WHERE I WAS, TO WAKE UP THIS PASSENGER AND GET HIM OFF THE BUS.
SO THAT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF OUTTA MY TIME BEING HOME WITH MY FAMILY AT A DECENT TIME AT NIGHT.
AND, UM, I'M NOT TRYING TO CUT DOWN YOUR FREE RIDE PROGRAM, BUT WITH THE FREE RIDE PROGRAM, IT'S, IT'S GONNA ALLOW EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING ON THE BUS THAT WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH RIGHT NOW.
ESPECIALLY THE WORST PROBLEM WE HAVE NOW IS WITH THE HOMELESS PEOPLE.
IT'S LIKE THEY'RE DISRESPECTFUL.
THEY GET ON THE BUS, THEY USE A BATHROOM THAT AS WELL.
THEY COME ON THE BUS SOAKED SAGGED OUT TO WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SIT IN THESE SEATS AFTER THEY GET OFF THE BUS.
I HAD ONE INCIDENT A MONTH AGO WHERE A PASSENGER GOT ON THE BUS AND SAT AND, AND MISTAKENLY, SHE HAD A WHITE, WHITE PANTS.
AND WHEN SHE SAT DOWN IN THAT SEAT, SHE AUTOMATICALLY JUMPED UP AND I COULD SEE WHAT SHE SAT IN AND IT WASN'T WATER.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS, AS FAR AS SHE SAID ABOUT THE PADDLES, HOW WE GET NO RECOVERY TIME, WE'RE JUST GOING BACK AND FORTH.
AND THEN WHEN WE DO CALL DISPATCH, IT'S LIKE, DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND CALL US BACK WHEN YOU CATCH UP.
BUT IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, CAPTAIN METRO POLICY IS SAFETY FIRST.
IF I'M BEING RUSHED FROM MY INNER LINE TO MY NEXT INNER LINE, THAT'S NOT SAFETY.
BECAUSE I'M IN DANGER IN MY LIFE, THE PASSENGER LIFE, WHICH I'M EMPLOYED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AS FAR AS CAPTAIN METRO CONCERNED.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A BABYSITTER.
I GOT THREE KI FOUR KIDS OF MY ONLY THREE GRANDKIDS.
I SHOULD HAVE TO SIT THERE AND BABYSIT A GROWN PERSON WHILE THEY'RE SLEEPING.
AND THEN THE SUPERVISORS WILL GET ON THE BUS KNOWING THE PERSON THAT'S INEBRIATED.
GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON THE ROUTE AND TIME.
I SAY, NO, IT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M NOT A BABYSITTER.
I'M HERE TO WORK, GET YOU FOR POINT 80 POINT B SO I CAN GO HOME AT NIGHT AS WELL TO MY FAMILY.
BUT THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN AS FAR AS SAFETY WITH, UH, CAT METRO.
UM, WE, OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP IS DARYL SOLES JUST STEPPED UP DIRECTION.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR SPEAKING TODAY.
I, I, UM, SO NUMBER OF CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE HAVE RAISED AND, UM, I, I TRUST THAT MS. WATKINS AND HER STAFF WILL BE FOLLOWING UP ON THOSE.
AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE US AWARE OF THESE CONCERNS.
SO WE WILL, UH, WE'LL PROCEED.
AND THEN WHEN MR. DOR, WHEN MR. SO'S RETURNED, OH, HERE HE IS.
UH, MR. SOLES OR, AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE GO.
UH, THIS YOUNG LADY HAD HAD A, OKAY, NEVERMIND.
[00:40:02]
CAB METRO, BOARD CAB, METRO EMPLOYEES, THE AUDIENCE FROM THE CITY, ALSO MY FELLOW COWORKERS, MY BUS OPERATORS WHO I'M OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES WITH EVERY DAY.EVERYTHING THAT THEY BROUGHT FORTH TO YOU TODAY AND MY 20 YEARS, I'VE GONE THROUGH THAT.
SO WHATEV WELL, EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAID WE EXPERIENCING.
UH, BUT WHAT I REALLY CAME HERE FOR TODAY IS TO TALK ABOUT A MATTER, A WORKPLACE AND JUSTICE MATTER, A CONTRACTUAL MATTER, UH, INVOLVING MY COWORKERS, THOSE WHO REACH OUT TO OUR A T U LOCAL 10 91.
AND LET ME START OUT BY SAYING MY NAME IS DARYL CRES.
I'M A FIXED RIDE BUS OPERATOR, PROUD FIXED RIDE BUS OPERATOR FOR 20 YEARS IN GOING, I'M ALSO, UH, THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR AT T U LOCAL 10 91.
I JUST GOT ANOTHER TERM, A THREE YEAR TERM.
UM, BUT I FOLLOW A LOT OF GRIEVANCES.
I SIT IN A LOT OF MEETINGS WITH A LOT OF CAP METRO INDIVIDUALS AND WE HAVE LABOR MANAGEMENT MEETINGS.
I FELT THAT PLATFORM AT THIS TIME.
ON DECEMBER 7TH OF THIS YEAR, I REACHED OUT TO HARPER.
SHE'S OUR CORPORATE HR DIRECTOR OR REGIONAL DIRECTOR, HER POSITION.
BUT I'M GONNA READ YOU MY EMAIL.
UM, MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO BE APPROVED TO CONSUME AS MUCH TIME AS I SHALL TILL I, SO I CAN GET THIS COMPLETE? I KNOW YOU HAVE A TIMELINE HERE.
WHAT I HAVE TO SAY IS I'M TALKING FOR MY GROUP, SO I NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME.
DONNA ATU U LOCAL TEN NINETY ONE.
JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER PHONE CALL FROM BRITA MARSHALL STATING SHE'S NOT BEING PAID FOR EAST GREEN DELAY.
FORMER GENERAL MANAGER JEFF CARDY, ASSURED ATT U LOCAL 10 91, UH, MV TRANSIT WOULD PAY EMPLOYEES FOR EAST GREEN DELAYS.
BRITTLE SOLD HER VACATION IN SICK HOURS.
SHE COULD, SHE COULD JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET A U LOCAL 10 91 WOULD LIKE TO REMIND M V T AGAIN, THE EMPLOYEES MEDICAL EXAMINERS PASS THEIR HEALTH TO PERFORM THEIR SAFETY SENSE OF DUTIES.
EAST GREEN IS OVERRIDING AND OVERRULING EMPLOYEES WORK STATUS BY ILLEGALLY DEFERRING THEM.
BRITTA HAS NO INCOME AND HER HEALTH IS STELLAR.
YOU GUYS OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES FOR ALLOWING THIS WORKPLACE AND JUSTICE CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
PLEASE, IF YOU OR YOUR CORPORATION LEGAL SUPERIORS SHOULD OPEN UP OUR CONTRACT TO ARTICLES 13 A SUBSECTIONS ONE THROUGH THREE.
IF M V T IS FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYEES' PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS, THEN I'LL SHUT UP AND LEAVE THIS ALONE.
EACH SCREEN IS NOT THE EMPLOYEE'S MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR ANOTHER THING.
THE D O T MEDICAL EXAMINER, M V T DISLIKES IS LEGIT DOCTOR UNDER F M C A DATA BASED TO PERFORM D O T PHYSICALS.
I I CALLED AND GOT CLARIFICATION FROM, UH, THE F M C S A MYSELF.
YOU'RE PAYING OTHER EMPLOYEES TO COME IN ON THEIR DAYS OFF AND PAY THEM FOR DOUBLE TIME PAY WHEN YOU CAN CONTINUE TO ALLOW THESE EMPLOYEES FOR EACH GREEN, EACH SCREEN TO WORK.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE HOW M V T AND CAB METRO IS RUNNING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM INTO THE GROUND.
PLEASE ASSIST BRITTA MARSHALL AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OUT ON INRE DELAYS.
THIS IS CHRISTMAS AND EMPLOYEES ARE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD.
BOTH AGENCIES ARE TO REACH OUT TO EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT ON LEAVE AND ASSIST THEIR NEEDS.
IT'S A DAMN SHAME THAT IT'S A DAMN SHAME TO HEAR THESE E-SCREEN VICTIMIZED EMPLOYEES TELL ME THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER MEANS OF EMPLOYMENT WHILE THEY AWAIT FOR E-SCREEN TO RELEASE THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT TO, THEY'RE NOT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.
I ADVISED THEM TO APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD STAMPS TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR INCOME.
EVEN NEW HIRES HAVE PERFECTLY GOOD D O T MEDICAL CARDS AND E-SCREEN TOLD HIM TO GO GET A D O T MEDICAL CARD.
ASK YOURSELF, DONNA, DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU? THE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE D L T MEDICAL CARDS ONLY ANSWERS TO FED ANSWER TO THE FEDERAL, FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS VT AND CAPARI WILL SUFFER BECAUSE GOD HAS HIS EYES ON THIS INJUSTICE.
YOU, YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY AND SLEEP WELL.
RESPECTFULLY, DARRYL SORES ATT U LOCAL 2 91 PRESIDENT.
I WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW I'M MR. MR. SOLS.
UM, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO SHARE, UH, SHARE THE LETTER WITH US.
WELL YOU, YOU WILL, YOU GUYS WILL NOT HEAR THE END OF THIS.
THIS IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION UPON THIS.
[00:45:01]
INJUSTICE.WHAT Y'ALL DOING TO THESE EMPLOYEES? IT'S WRONG.
NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UH, MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE OH, OKAY.
SO IF YOU COULD, UH, JUST RECOGNIZE ANYONE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH OKAY.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP? YES.
IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD, MAN, IF Y'ALL COULD PLEASE SIGN UP.
THAT WOULD BE, THAT HELPS US KEEP TRACK.
AND WE HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR EACH PERSON IF YOU WOULD GO AHEAD AND TELL US YOUR NAME.
DARRELL'S TALKING ABOUT CUZ IT AFFECTS ME.
MY NAME IS STACY BEN BUK AND I'M ONE OF YOUR OPERATORS THAT HAS BEEN ON LEAVE FOR WAY TOO LONG.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF A DOCTOR, A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SIGNS A PIECE OF PAPER SAYING THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO DO YOUR JOB, HOW DARE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY COME IN AND SAY THAT I'M NOT QUALIFIED.
EAST GREEN TOOK MY LIVELIHOOD.
EAST GREEN TOOK AWAY MY MONEY.
I CAN'T EVEN LIVE, I'M ABOUT TO BE EVICTED.
I HAD TO GO SWALLOW MY PRIDE AND FILE FOR FOOTSTEPS JUST TO EAT, JUST TO FEED MY SON.
I HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE MARCH AND IT IS NOT FAIR.
I HAD JUST COME BACK FROM BEING ON LEAVE BECAUSE I WAS INJURED.
AND THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER GRIEVANCE IN ITSELF BECAUSE THE WAY MP TRANSPORTATION HAS TREATED ME IS HORRENDOUS.
I'M A 50 YEAR OLD WOMAN AND NEVER IN ANY OF MY YEARS AND I'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD, NEVER IN ANY OF MY YEARS HAVE I EVER BEEN TREATED SO POORLY BY ONE COMPANY.
E GREEN HAS TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME.
I'M A GOOD DRIVER AND THERE IS NO REASON WHY ERE SHOULD SAY THAT I'M NOT QUALIFIED.
A DOCTOR, A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL SIGNED MY D O T AND SAID I WAS GOOD TO GO.
ERE STEPPED IN AND SAID NO, SHE NEEDS TO GO BACK AND GET SOMETHING ELSE.
HOW DARE THEY? AND WHY IS ANYBODY ALLOWING ERE TO DICTATE WHAT A LICENSED DOCTOR SAYS? ERE IS NOBODY.
THEY'RE A COMPANY, THEY'RE A PRIVATE COMPANY.
IT SHOULD BE A FEDERAL JUDGE OR THE DOCTOR HIMSELF THAT SHOULD OVERRIDE A DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE AND NOBODY ELSE.
I AM NOT THE ONLY VICTIM HERE.
THERE ARE TONS OF OPERATORS, GOOD OPERATORS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR CAREERS, THEIR LIVELIHOODS BEHIND E-SCREEN AND ENV TRANSPORTATION IS TURNING THEIR EYE, THEIR, THEIR NECK TO THE SIDE AND ACTING AS IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
HE HAS REACHED OUT TO EVERYBODY.
HE HAS REACHED OUT TO EVERYBODY IN HR AND NOBODY'S RESPONDING.
I AM JUST SOMEBODY IN THE WIND.
I NO LONGER EXIST TO ENVY AND IT IS NOT FAIR THE WAY WE ARE TREATED.
UM, I THINK I SAW TWO OTHER PEOPLE.
IF YOU WANTED TO GO AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THAT.
UH, I WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS LIKE THIS LADY FOR TWO WEEKS.
I HAD TO WAIT TO BE CLEAR BY E-SCREEN.
I HAD TO SEE ANOTHER DOCTOR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANNA LET ME GO.
UH, I HAD A DOCTOR RELEASE ME AND I HAD TO FIGHT IT, BUT THANK GOD THAT I GOT RELEASED.
SO ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAD WAS, UH, I DID A NIGHT OWL.
THEY GAVE ME 10 MINUTES TO GET FROM UH, SIX IN CONGRESS TO
I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO USE THE RESTROOM.
IT WAS VERY HARD FOR ME CUZ I'M A FEMALE AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO RESTROOMS OPEN AFTER 12 O'CLOCK ANYWHERE DOWN RIVERSIDE.
UNLESS I GO INTO THE GARAGE AND YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME I GET OUT, GOD ONLY KNOWS WHO'S GONNA GET ON MY BUS.
SO I WAS ASKING Y'ALL IF Y'ALL COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO THAT E-SCREEN BECAUSE THAT'S TERRIBLE AND WHOEVER MAKES THOSE SCHEDULES, CAN YOU PLEASE TRY TO GIVE US SOME TIME SO WE CAN GO INTO THE RESTROOM? MM-HMM.
I THINK I SAW ONE OTHER PERSON.
WAS THAT OKAY? SO, UM, YOU'LL BE OUR
[00:50:01]
LAST SPEAKER AND YOUR NAME WAS, I HAVEN'T GIVEN IT YET.FIRST, I GIVE THANKS TO MY HEAVENLY FATHER FOR ALWAYS PROVIDING, I HAVE TWO CONCERNS HERE.
SAFETY WORKER'S COMP AND E-SCREEN.
THEY HAVEN'T ALL AFFECTED ME, BUT I STAND INTERCEDING FOR MY MY COWORKERS BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO THEM DRIPS DOWN INTO ALL OF US.
I'M GONNA START, FIRST OF ALL WITH SAFETY.
THEY TELL US THAT SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN.
SO SAFETY HERE IS LIKE A PIECE OF CRAP UP UNDER MY FEET.
I HAVE BEEN THREATENED WITH A GUN.
I'VE BEEN THREATENED TO HAVE THE BUS BLOWN UP.
THESE THINGS I'VE CALLED IN THE RADIO.
I'VE BEEN ASKED, HAVE YOU SEEN THE GUN? DO I LOOK LIKE A FOOL? I'M GONNA ASK THE PERSON TO LET ME SEE A GUN.
IT'S NOT JUST LATE NIGHTS, BUT IT'S PEOPLE IN DAYTIME.
YOU BRING IN PEOPLE YOU CALL AMBASSADORS.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE WORKING DURING THE DAY, MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS OCCUR AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S DARK AND THINGS HAPPEN.
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET THEM RIDE, YOU GOTTA F**K A STATUS.
WHY DO I NEED TO SAY I'M SICK IF I'M HELPING? BECAUSE SOMEONE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY.
I'VE BEEN HERE WITH THIS CONTRACTOR, I WAS HERE WITH THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR AND I WAS WITH THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR BEFORE THAT.
NEVER EVER HAVE I EVER FELT UNSAFE.
AND I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC IN A LARGE CITY IN THE MIDWEST SINCE I WAS 16 YEARS OF AGE.
I'VE NEVER FELT UNSAFE UNTIL I CAME HERE.
I'VE HAD JOBS TAKING PEOPLE'S HOMES AWAY.
NEVER WAS I EVER THREATENED LIKE I AM HERE.
NEVER WAS I TO WORRY ABOUT EACH DAY ABOUT MY HEALTH BECAUSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
YOU GET, OH, YOU GO TO WORK, YOU COME HOME, YOU'RE STRESSED OUT, YOU GO IN, YOU TALK TO YOUR COWORKERS, YOU'RE STRESSED OUT.
YOU HAVE COWORKERS THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH E SCREEN, BUT THESE AREN'T MEDICAL DOCTORS AT E SCREEN.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO USE ONLY THE DOCTORS THAT CAPITAL METROS PAID.
THESE DOCTORS HAVE GONE AND GOTTEN THEIR DEGREES, NOT EACH GREEN.
WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO DO THAT? THEN YOU SEND PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT ON WORKMAN'S COMP, THAT'S STILL HURT, THAT ARE BEING SENT BACK TO WORK BECAUSE CONCENTRA SAYS, SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND DECADES DEDICATING THEIR LIVES AND THEY'RE STILL DEDICATING THEIR LIVES AND THEY ARE IN PAIN, BUT WHERE ARE THEY? THEY'VE BEEN FORCED IN ORDER TO EAT, TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD AND HAVE CLOTHES ON THEIR BACKS TO GO BACK TO WORK.
WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY HERE, SHE'S AN ELDERLY LADY, I WON'T GIVE HER NAME, BUT SHE IS THE SWEETEST LADY YOU'VE SEEN HERE.
BUT WHERE SHE, SHE'S BEEN FORCED TO GET ON THE BUS AND GO DRIVE WHEN SHE SHOULD STILL BE UPSET.
SHE STILL GO, SHOULD BE OUT THERE BECAUSE SHE'S IN HER IN NEED OF BEING OFF THAT BUS.
BUT SHE'S BEEN FORCED TO GO BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
OH, WAS THERE ONE MORE PERSON? I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU EARLIER.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND LISTENING TO ME.
UM, I'VE BEEN A DRIVER FOR CAPITAL METRO FOR FOUR YEARS, ALMOST, WELL, A LITTLE BIT OF FOUR YEARS.
AND I'VE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE ATTEMPT HIJACKING, THEY TRIED TO TAKE MY BUS.
THEY DID NOT TAKE IT BECAUSE I PROPERLY SECURED THE BUS, BUT AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO TRAINING.
THERE WAS NO, ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU, THIS IS HOW WE NEED TO HANDLE IT.
UH, THEN RECENTLY, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I HAD TWO INCIDENTS.
ONE INCIDENT WHERE A PASSENGER WAS SEXUALLY DOING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR TO THEMSELVES WITH OTHER PASSENGERS ON THE BUS.
I IMMEDIATELY, IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, TOLD 'EM TO GET OFF THE BUS.
THE OTHER LADIES, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I CALLED IT IN, I DID ALL THE PROPER PROCEDURES, REPORTED IT TO EVERYBODY.
I ALSO INCLUDED DOTTY WATKINS IN IT BECAUSE NOTHING WAS GETTING DONE.
SO BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE VIDEO OF THAT INCIDENT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
IT WAS RERECORDED OVER FOR SOME REASON.
SO SOMEBODY WASN'T DOING THEIR JOB.
MAYBE SOMEBODY HAD TOO MUCH PAPERWORK ON THERE THAT THEY COULDN'T GET TO IT, BUT THAT ISSUE.
THEN AFTER THAT I HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH ALSO SEXUAL DEVIANT BEHAVIOR.
HE DID SEE THE VIDEO, BUT HE WAS, HAD A BLANKET OVER HIM.
SO I'M LIKE, ARE YOU GOING TO PUT OUT HIS PICTURE? LET WOMEN KNOW SO THAT MY ISSUE IS SAFETY ISSUES.
[00:55:01]
NIGHT.AND UM, ALSO WITH THE SLEEPERS.
I ASK TWICE, CAN I HAVE DISPATCH? CAN I HAVE THE SAFETY AND BATTER SUITERS RIDE MY BUS AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK.
I DRIVE THE 8 0 1 A 10 HOUR SHIFT.
UH, THAT'S EATEN UP BY TRAFFIC CONSTRUCTION WHEELCHAIRS, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THEIR MONEY.
AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE FREE FAIR, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT GONNA HELP IT.
BUT I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
BUT AS FAR AS LAYOVER TIME AND ADDING THESE COURTESY STOPS, I UNDERSTAND TOTALLY.
BUT THESE PEOPLE WANT A NUMBER ONE STOP.
SO YOU'RE TURNING AN 8 0 1 BUS RAPID BUS INTO A NUMBER ONE STOP MAKING ME LATE TO GET OFF OF WORK WHEN YOU COULD HAVE JUST WAITED FOR THE NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN, UM, WELL THOSE ARE MY SAFETY INSURANCE SECURITY NEEDS TO BE AMPED UP.
THESE SECURITY PEOPLE, BASICALLY THEY'RE SAYING THEY GET PAID AN HOUR FOR LUNCH, THEY DO 10 HOUR SHIFT, THEY GET OFF AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.
I HAD TWO SAFETY AMBASSADORS RIDE WITH ME YESTERDAY.
THIS IS, THIS NEEDS TO BE THE STREETS OF FOR THE BUSES ARE HORRENDOUS.
THEY NEED TO BE, I GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR NOW BECAUSE OF THE, THE SEATS OF THE BUS.
THE, THE, THE RU THE STREETS ARE ON.
I THINK THAT WAS IS THAT EVERYBODY OKAY? OKAY.
SO, UM, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
[IV. Advisory Committee Updates]
UP WE'LL UH, HAVE OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE CHAIR, KITCHEN CEO AND PRESIDENT WATKINS AND MEMBERS OF OF THE BOARD.
I'M HERE TO PROVIDE THE ACCESS AND CSAC, UH, UPDATE.
I AM THE, UH, STAFF LIAISON FOR THE COMMITTEES AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER.
UM, I ALSO HAVE CHAIR TAYLOR WITH US.
UM, I'LL DO THE GENERAL UPDATE AND THEN PASS IT ON TO CHAIR TAYLOR.
UH, THIS MONTH, UH, BOTH COMMITTEES WERE UPDATED ON E T O D BY ROSE LISKA AND ALSO CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF.
UM, THEY WERE ALSO UPDATED ON JANUARY, 2023.
SERVICE CHANGES BY ROBERTO GONZALEZ.
UM, THEY HELD OFFICER ELECTIONS, UM, BOTH CHAIR HUNT FROM ACCESS AND CHAIR TAYLOR FROM CSAC ARE REELECTED AS CHAIR.
AND WE HAVE, UH, MS. GLENDA BORNE AS VICE-CHAIR FOR ACCESS AND DAVID FOSTER FOR CSAC, UM, ONLY ACCESS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING UP DATES, UH, COUNT BASED MOBILE ACC, UM, APP ACCESSIBILITY AND CAP METRO WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY TRAINING BY DANNY SPATH AND BRANDON GUIDRY.
UM, THEY WILL CONTINUE THEIR MEETINGS IN JANUARY 4TH AND 11TH.
UM, AND I'M GONNA LET, UH, CHAIR TAYLOR GO INTO DETAIL OF ANY CONCERNS OR UPDATES FROM CSAC.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE ONGOING WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO RETURN SERVICE LEVELS, UM, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE NATURE OF RIDERSHIP IN OUR CITY IS CHANGING AS A RESULT OF CHANGES IN HOW PEOPLE GO TO WORK, WHEN PEOPLE WILL GO TO WORK AND THE IMPACTS OF COVID.
THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS AROUND WHAT BAT METRO'S CON COMMITMENT IS TO MAINTAINING LEVELS OF SERVICE ACROSS THE RIDERSHIP ZONES AND AREAS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, I'VE REFERRED TO MEMO NUMBER TWO FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING, WHICH INVOLVED THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TITLE SIX REVIEW FOR THE 18TH TWO 17 AND THE 3 35.
UM, AS YOU ARE AWARE, UM, SEPTEMBER, 2021 SERVICE WAS NOT RESTORED TO THOSE WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES AS PART OF CAPARI MAP.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN SLOWED DOWN THE 18 AND 3 35 TO 30 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
THESE ARE CROSS TOWN CONNECTORS WHERE THE ORIGINAL PLAN, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT FOR CAPRI MAP, WAS TO IMPROVE CROSSTOWN CONNECTIVITY BY HAVING HIGH FREQUENCY ROUTES THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO TRANSFER FROM NORTH SOUTH RUNNING ROUTES TO EAST WEST RUNNING ROUTES.
THE 18 AND THE 3 35 BOTH SERVICE A NUMBER OF HOSPITALS AND ACCESS
[01:00:01]
TO FOOD, VARIOUS HEBS, RANDALLS, ET CETERA.REDUCING FREQUENCY ON THOSE ROUTES MAKES IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE EAST TO GET TO THOSE SERVICES.
UM, I KNOW THAT AT THIS POINT THOSE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT I WOULD ASK THAT WITH THE REVIEW.
I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND, AND I'VE ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION FROM CAT METRO ON HOW THOSE STATISTICS AND HOW THOSE ANALYSIS WERE DONE, OR DISPROPORTIONATE BURDEN AND ATE IMPACT, THE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE THERE'S NO 2% CHANGE, WHICH IS THE THRESHOLD FOR REVIEW AND MITIGATION.
MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM SIMPLY UM, DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION FROM CENSUS DATA, BECAUSE THOSE ROUTES HAVEN'T CHANGED ALIGNMENT OR LENGTH, ALL THAT'S CHANGED IS SERVICE FREQUENCY, THAT YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY CAPTURING THE IMPACT ON PEOPLE THAT ARE UTILIZING THOSE SERVICES IN THOSE ROUTES.
UM, SO I, I HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ANALYSIS TEAM AND GET SOME BETTER CLARIFICATION.
I WOULD ADD THAT THE METHODOLOGY LINK FOR THE WEB TOOL THAT WAS UTILIZED, UM, IS NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.
THAT LINK IS BROKEN, IS PROVIDED IN THE LETTERER, UM, FOR REMIX TRANSIT TITLE SIX METHODOLOGY.
THAT ONLINE LINK IS, GOES TO A BROKEN WEBPAGE.
SO I'VE ALSO ASKED THAT THAT BE PUBLISHED OR AT LEAST PROVIDED AS PART OF REVIEW FOR THE PUBLIC.
UM, THE OTHER NOTE ON E T O D, UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT PROJECT CONNECT AND THAT E T O D TEAM ARE WORKING ON MAKING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS.
MY CONCERN THERE IS THAT POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS DON'T ACTUALLY CHANGE ZONING REGULATION OR HAVE THE IMPACT NECESSARY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THOSE.
SO I WOULD ASK, AND I CONTINUE TO ASK, THAT WE MAINTAIN A VISION INTO WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE FOR E T O D.
WE CAN HAVE, WE CAN SET POLICY, AND IF WE IMPLEMENT POLICY, THAT'S GREAT, GREAT.
BUT IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON POLICY, THEN WE REALLY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING AND WE REALLY HAVEN'T AFFECTED ANY CHANGE.
AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT CITY OF AUSTIN ATTP AND CAP METRIC CAN CONTINUE TO WORK FORWARD ON EQUITABLE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON EQUITY AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MEASUREMENTS IN PLACE GOING FORWARD AND THE RIGHT AGENCIES AND PEOPLE ARE PUT ON SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE MAKING AN IMPACT AND ARE HAVING A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THIS PROGRAM.
WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND FOLLOW UP WITH ANYONE ON BOARD.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE, UM, ON THE EAD.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL POSTPONED THE ITEM THAT WAS ON OUR AGENDA, SO IT SHOULD BE TAKEN UP HOPEFULLY AT THEIR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, THAT ITEM TO BE TAKEN UP, INITIATES CODE AMENDMENTS, IT, IT'S AN ITEM TO ADOPT THE POLICY AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY INITIATE CODE AMENDMENTS.
THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS, AS YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR ON THE CITY SIDE ONCE THE, UH, COUNCIL INITIATES CODE AMENDMENTS, IT DOES TAKE A NUMBER OF MONTHS ONCE THEY'RE INITIATED.
BUT THAT, THAT WAS HOW THE ITEM WAS STYLED ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA.
AND WHEN IT COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL, I EXPECT THAT'S HOW IT'LL BE.
AND WHEN IT COMES UP AGAIN, THAT I EXPECT THAT'S HOW IT'LL BE.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ON THE CITY SIDE THAT THAT'S IN PROCESS.
UM, AND FOR THE SERVICE CHANGE PART, I MET WITH ROBERTO AND HIS TEAM YESTERDAY.
AND WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH CHAIR TAYLOR BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS AND GREAT.
AND THEN FOR THE UPDATE FOR CSAC, WE'LL PLAN THAT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING FURTHER? NO.
UM, AND THAT WAS FOR BOTH CSAC AND THE ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE? YES.
[V. Board Committee Updates]
OUR REGULAR BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES, UM, BEGINNING WITH AN OPS, UH, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT.I WAS THE ACTING CHAIR ON THE MEETING THAT DAY.
AND SO, UM, CHAIR STRATTON, SHALL I, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE THAT REPORT.
I ASSUME I I SEE HIS, I SEE HIM, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S SPEAKING.
I'M, I'M NOT IN A POSITION YET TO, UH, TO OFFICIALLY JOIN
SO, UM, THE OPS COMMITTEE, WHEN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MET ON DECEMBER 7TH,
UH, THEY'RE ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, AGENDA TODAY, EITHER AS ON THE ACTION ITEM AGENDA OR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO WE ALSO GOT A PRESENTATION AND AN
[01:05:01]
UPDATE ON THE OPERATIONS REPORT, UM, SHOWING US PROGRESS ON THE CHALLENGES THAT, UM, CAP METRO'S BEEN DEALING WITH, UH, WITH REGARD TO PARKS, UH, PARKS, EXCUSE ME, AS WELL AS, UM, AS WELL AS, UM, HIRING WITH MECHANICS AND BUSES.SO NEXT WE'LL HAVE THE, UH, COMMITTEE UPDATE FROM CHAIR COOPER FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE.
THE, UH, FAA COMMITTEE MET ON DECEMBER THE SEVENTH.
UH, WE HAD, UH, ONE ACTION ITEM, UH, OTHER THAN APPROVAL OF MINUTES, AND THAT WAS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVED THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR TERRY FOMER, OUR VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT.
UH, WE'RE PLEASED TO, UH, GIVE, UH, MR. FOMER AN EXCEEDS, UH, CLASSIFICATION AND, UH, EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS SERVICE.
IN THAT, OF THE INTERNAL AUDIT TEAM, WE HAD A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS, ONE OF WHICH HAD TO DO WITH OUR INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE.
AND THOUGH THERE ARE MANY NEGATIVES TO HIGH INTEREST RATES, ONE OF THE GOOD ASPECTS OF HIGH INTEREST RATES IS THAT WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CASH DEPOSITS, WHICH ARE NOW EARNING, UH, A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A SUBSTANTIAL SOURCE OF INCOME FOR US NOW.
PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A MEETING IS WE HAD A TWO HOUR, UH, WORK SESSION THAT STAFF ORGANIZED, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD JUST IN TERMS OF BENCHMARKING THE NEW NORMAL AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE GO FORWARD WITH WHATEVER THE NEW NORMAL IS, UM, HERE AT CAMP METRO.
AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE WORK SESSIONS LIKE THAT, CUZ WE THOUGHT IT WAS SUPER PRODUCTIVE.
UM, OUR CAMPO UPDATE, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS.
OUR, OUR LAST MEETING WITH CAMPO WAS ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH.
AND I THINK I, WE'VE REPORTED BACK YEAH, THE FA THE, THE SUBSEQUENT, UH, CAP METRO MEETING.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SINCE THEN.
UM, ATP UPDATE WITH CHAIR, UH, TRAVEN TRAVELING.
UM, MS. WATKINS, OUR INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO, DOTTIE WATKINS.
WITH THE, UM, HOLIDAYS, OUR BOARD SCHEDULES HAVE GOTTEN A BIT OUT OF ORDER.
TYPICALLY, THIS BOARD MEETS AFTER THE ATP BOARD.
UM, BUT THEY'LL BE MEETING NEXT WEEK.
UM, THEY'LL BE CONSIDERING A FEW ACTION ITEMS, UM, OF INTEREST.
ONE OF THEM IS THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT REQUIRES ATP TO CERTIFY THAT ALL PROJECTS BEING IMPLEMENTED ON THE PROGRAM ARE MEETING ALL OF THE RIGHT WORKER PROTECTIONS AND USING CERTIFIED, UM, PERSONNEL TO DO SO.
AND SO THEY WILL BE, UM, AFFIRMING THAT THE WORK WE ARE DOING ON THE METRO RAPID PROJECT DOES IN FACT MEET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THEY ARE ALSO, UM, LOOKING TO APPROVE A CONTRACT RELATED TO REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION SERVICES, UM, AND, UH, TO APPROVE ADDITIONAL, UM, COOPERATIVE PURCHASING PROGRAM, UM, WITHIN THEIR PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
SO, UM, WE ALSO EXPECT TO GET AN UPDATE FROM THE ATP INTERNAL AUDITOR ON SOME OF THE WORK SHE'S BEEN DOING.
UM, AND, UH, A LIGHT UPDATE LIKELY ON THE LIGHT RAIL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
GIVEN THE RECENT TRI-PARTY MEETING ON NOVEMBER 30TH, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF BRAND NEW INFORMATION TO REPORT OUT.
[VI. Consent Items:]
NEXT UP WE'LL HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SO THIS MONTH WE HAVE, UH, FOUR ITEMS, UH, RELATING TO, UH, THE MINUTES RELATING TO THE LEASE, UH, WITH THE CAMERON CENTER, UM, RELATING TO THE, UM, TREATMENT SYSTEMS WITH THE STALER RAIL FLEET AND RELATING TO WAYFINDING.SO, MS. WATKINS, I KNOW YOU HAVE, UM, SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO.
I THINK IF YOU WANNA MAKE THOSE, WE CAN KEEP THAT ON CONSENT UNLESS ANY BOARD MEMBER WANTS TO, UH, TO PULL IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
UM, THE, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE, ON THE INTERNET AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, ABOUT ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF A LEASE, UM, FOR THE, UM, INITIAL SPACE, THE TEMPORARY SPACE.
EVENTUALLY WE'LL GET THEM INTO A PERMANENT OWNED SPACE, UM, FOR WHAT WILL ONE DAY BECOME OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE ARE WORKING TO ESTABLISH A POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT MEETS ALL OF THE STATE REQUIREMENTS TO EVEN ESTABLISH A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, ONE OF THE CONCERNS CAME UP THAT CAME UP, UM, SURROUNDED A DISCUSSION THAT I THINK, UM, WE WEREN'T PROBABLY CLEAR ENOUGH AT, UH, ABOUT WHEN WE HAD THE DISCUSSION AT THE OPS COMMITTEE.
AND THAT WAS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL HAVE A HOLDING CELL, UM, IN THIS FACILITY.
WE WILL NOT HAVE A HOLDING FACILITY AT THIS FACILITY.
UM, WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE IN THIS FACILITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE SPACES IF WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS DISRUPTIVE OR OTHERWISE, SH SHOULD REASONABLY BE SEPARATED FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THAT WE HAVE A SAFE PLACE, UM, WHERE WE CAN PROTECT THEIR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF IN PUBLIC.
BUT WE WILL NOT BE, UM, HAVING A HOLDING
[01:10:01]
FACILITY.IF WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS TO BE IN LONGER TERM CUSTODY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WILL PARTNER WITH A LOCAL ENTITY, UM, TO, TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AND TRANSPORT THAT INDIVIDUAL THERE.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IF YOU, IF I MAY, I CAN GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE.
THE QUESTION, UM, CAME UP ABOUT WHAT, WHY WE WEREN'T INSTALLING AIR TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY ON OUR BUSES.
UM, WE ACTUALLY INSTALLED, UM, AIR TREATMENT EQUIPMENT ON OUR BUSES ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
IT TOOK US A LITTLE LONGER TO GET THE TRAIN GOING.
UH, THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AROUND INSTALLATIONS ON TRAINS IS MORE COMPLICATED.
UM, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO FINALLY GET THEM ON THE DMU, BUT ALL OF OUR BUSES ARE ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH AIR TR UM, AIR TREATMENT SYSTEMS. OKAY.
ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT ITEM NUMBER TWO RELATED TO THE NEXT STEPS IN THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING.
ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SHARE.
SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE BUILDING ITSELF, UM, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS REMINDED THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO, UM, DEFINING A TRANSIT APPROPRIATE AND CUSTOMERCENTRIC FOCUS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO INSTITUTE POLICING AT CAP METRO.
WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE GONNA BUILD OUT THIS FACILITY AND WHAT THAT PHYSICAL SPACE WILL MEAN IN TERMS OF ITS REFLECTION OF OUR, UM, APPROACH TO POLICING.
WE WILL ALSO THEN TAKE THAT FEEDBACK AND BRING TOGE BRING THOSE PLANS TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE OF THIS BOARD, AND ULTIMATELY TO THE FULL BOARD TO KEEP EVERYONE INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING IN GETTING THAT DONE.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA? A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER POOL SECOND BY, UM, BOARD MEMBER COOPER, UM, STRATTON.
DID YOU SECOND ALSO? UM, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
UH, WE'LL NOW CONTINUE ONTO OUR
[VII.1. Approval of a resolution authorizing the Interim President & CEO, or their designee, to finalize and execute a contract with Holt Renewables, LLC for the design and construction of bus electrification infrastructure at CapMetro’s North Operations bus yard at 9315 McNeil Road (North Ops) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $33,391,544 plus $3,339,154 (10%) contingency for a total not to exceed amount of $36,730,698.]
ACTION ITEM AGENDA.WE'RE POSTED FOR ACTION ON SIX ITEMS TODAY.
OUR FIRST ITEM WILL BE A CONTRACT FOR ELECTRIC BUS INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE NORTH OPERATIONS FACILITY.
KEN CARTWRIGHT IS HERE TO PRESENT FOR THAT.
UM, MADAM VICE CHAIR, UH, I NEED TO READ IT RIGHT.
WELL, I JUST DIDN'T, I WANT TO NOTE FOR THE RECORD, I INTEND TO RECUSE ON THIS SMALL STEP.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ THE ITEM ALSO.
SO THIS IS ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND C E O OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH HOLT RENEWABLES, LLC FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BUS ELECTRIFICATION INFRASTRUCTURE AT CAP METRO'S NORTH OPERATIONS BUS YARD AT 93 15 MCNEIL ROAD, IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 33,391,544 PLUS THREE 3,339,154, WHICH IS 10% CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AN AMOUNT OF 36,730,698.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE CHAIR KITCHEN BOARD MEMBERS, UH, PRESIDENT CEO WATKINS.
I'M KEN CARTWRIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES, AND THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THAT RESOLUTION.
UH, BEFORE WE DO PROCEED, I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT, UH, HOLT RENEWABLES, WE ESTABLISHED A 12% DB GOAL FOR THEM, AND THEY HAVE, ARE PROPOSING TO EXCEED THAT WITH A 12.31%.
BUT I DID WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST A FEW SLIDES ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
SO, A FEW RECALL AT, UH, LAST MONTH'S BOARD MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, THE FACT THAT THE AGENCY IS IN THE, UH, TRANSITION PERIOD FOR, UM, UH, ZERO EMISSION, UH, UH, FLEET, UH, BY THE YEAR, UH, 2035.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'RE INSTALLING ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE AT OUR, UH, OPERATIONAL FACILITIES.
LAST MONTH, UH, YOU AWARDED A CONTRACT TO ADD ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO THIS OPERATING FACILITY AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET.
AND AT THIS FACILITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE CHARGING OF 40, UH, 48, UH, BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.
THEN OUR OTHER MAIN OPERATING FACILITY AT NORTH OPS, UM, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF TODAY'S RESOLUTION.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING OUT THE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE AT THAT, UH, PARTICULAR FACILITY.
SO ULTIMATELY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO POWER 238 VEHICLES.
SO WE HAVE, UH, PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED PHASE ONE OF THAT INSTALLING NINE CHARGERS AND 12 DISPENSERS TO SUPPORT OUR CURRENT ELECTRIC FLEET.
AND THEN WE ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON WHAT WE CALL ARRAY H IT'S A ROW OF CHARGERS, UH, LETTERED H UM, THAT WE, UH, ARE UNDERWAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE JUST RECEIVED THOSE CHARGERS TO BE INSTALLED HERE SHORTLY, AND THOSE WILL BE IN SERVICE, UH, JUST IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO BUILD THAT, THAT BUILD THAT OUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT IS TO, UM, COMPLETE THE IN INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, UM,
[01:15:01]
FOR THAT PARTICULAR FACILITY.SO WE'LL BE ADDING A CHARGING CAPACITY FOR ANOTHER 222 VEHICLES.
AND THROUGH THIS CONTRACT WITH, UH, HOLTER RENEWABLES, UH, WHICH I WILL MENTION IS AN AUSTIN BASED COMPANY.
BUT THEY ARE, UH, UH, THEY IMPLEMENT, THEY DO DESIGN, BUILD, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN SOLAR, UH, POWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE, THE COUNTRY AND ARE RECOGNIZED FOR DOING THIS.
UH, THEY WILL BE, UH, INSTALLING, UH, 74 HELIOX BRAND CHARGERS WITH 222 SHK BRAND PANTOGRAPH DISPENSERS.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER IS THE PICTURE OF THE CHARGER UNIT ITSELF.
AND THEN THE TOP RIGHT IS THE ACTUAL PANTOGRAPH THE, UH, DEVICE THAT DROPS DOWN ON TOP OF THE BUS TO ACTUALLY CHARGE IT.
SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE WILL BE, UM, CONSTRUCTING AN OVERHEAD TO SUPPORT THOSE PANTOGRAPH CHARGERS.
AND BY HAVING THAT OVERHEAD STRUCTURE, IT ALLOWS US TO INSTALL SOLAR PANELS, WHICH WILL HAVE A VERY LARGE, UH, SOLAR ARRAY, UH, AS PART OF THIS, UH, PROJECT, UH, ABLE TO GENERATE FOUR POINT, UH, THREE FIVE MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR POWER.
UM, THIS IS A, A LOCALLY FUNDED PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING THIS, UH, PARTICULAR CONTRACT.
UM, I'M NOT SEEING ANY QUESTIONS.
CAN I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM? NUMBER ONE, MOVE.
MOVE BY, UH, MEMBER HARRIS, SECONDED BY MEMBER POOL.
LOOKS TO BE, UH, UNANIMOUS ON THE DIOCESE AND BOARD MEMBER.
UM, COOPER HAS RECUSED HIMSELF.
[VII.2. Approval of a resolution authorizing the Interim President & CEO, or their designee, to finalize and execute a lease with Met Phase I 95, Ltd. for five years for 20,822 rentable square feet of storage space at 9715-A Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78758 in an amount not to exceed $2,850,000, plus a $440,000 allotment option for build out, for a total not to exceed amount of $3,290,000.]
ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AND CEO OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A LEASE WITH MET PHASE 1 95 L T D FOR FIVE YEARS FOR 20,822 RENTABLE SQUARE FEET OF STORAGE SPACE AT 97 15, A BURNETT ROAD IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO 2,850,000 PLUS AN ALLOWANCE TO BUILD OUT AND FURNISH THE SPACE FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 440,000 FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF 3,290,000.SO, MR. CARTWRIGHT, THANK YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING THAT ITEM.
AND AGAIN, I DO HAVE A FEW SLIDES FOR, UH, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ACTION ITEM.
SO, UM, THE AGENCY HAS IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO, UM, CREATE A CENTRAL WAREHOUSE FACILITY.
UH, WE ARE LITERALLY BURSTING AT THE SEAMS IN TERMS OF THE STORAGE AREA THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF OUR PARTS AND EQUIPMENT TO, UM, STORE FOR OUR VARIOUS SERVICES, BUS, RAIL, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, WITH THE TRANSITION OF THE FLEET, WE'VE CREATED AN ADDITIONAL NEED FOR STORAGE RELATED TO THE BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.
SO THE OPERATIONS GROUP WITH, UH, ANDY SKALSKI HAS IDENTIFIED AN EFFICIENT WAY TO, UH, HOUSE ALL OF OUR PARTS, UH, FOR THESE VARIOUS SERVICES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR HOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PARTS AND EQUIPMENT FOR OUR SERVICES.
THIS WILL ALSO, UH, UH, BE, UH, SERVICE, UH, SHARED BY OUR FACILITIES GROUP, OUR IT, OUR METRO BIKE PROGRAM.
AND, UH, PROCUREMENT, UH, WILL ALSO, UH, U UTILIZE THIS STORAGE SPACE.
THE, UH, LOCATION, THE, AND, AND I SHOULD SAY THAT WE, UH, ARE IN PARALLEL IDENTIFYING A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS AND ULTIMATELY INTEND TO BUILD A CENTRAL WAREHOUSE.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE DO HAVE AN URGENT NEED TO, UH, CREATE THIS FACILITY.
SO, UH, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A, UH, LOCATION TO LEASE.
IT'S, UH, AT, AT THE ADDRESS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILE NORTH OF OUR CURRENT NORTH OPS FACILITY.
SO VERY CONVENIENT TO THAT FACILITY.
WE HOPE TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING, UM, EARLY IN THE, THE CALENDAR YEAR, 2023.
AND SO, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS 20,822 SQUARE FEET ALONG WITH 20 PARKING SPACES.
THE AVERAGE TERM OVER THE LIFE OF THE LEASE IS $2 AND 25 CENTS.
THAT'S FULL, FULLY INCLUDED OF OPEX.
UH, BUT WE DO, UH, HAVE A 30, UH, EXCUSE ME, A THREE YEAR EARLY OUTLAW.
UH, SO IF WE HAPPEN TO HAVE OUR PERMANENT FACILITY IN PLACE, WE CAN EXIT THIS LEASE.
UM, AT THAT TIME, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE RENTAL RATE, UH, SO THAT THE ACTUAL MONTHLY RENT IS A DOLLAR 33 A SQUARE FOOT.
THE, UH, IT INCREASES BY, UH, APPROXIMATELY 4% PER YEAR.
THE, UH, MONTHLY OPEX IS ABOUT 35 CENTS ADDITIONAL PER SQUARE FOOT.
UH, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE, UH, AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING SYSTEM, MAINTENANCE, JANITORIAL UTILITIES AND TAXES.
AND WE, UH, WILL BE ASKING THE OWNER IF THEY CAN BUILD OUT AND PROVIDE THE RACKS NECESSARY FOR THIS WAREHOUSE IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $440,000.
[01:20:02]
UH, BUT WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC LEASE.ANY QUESTIONS? I, I GOT CONFUSED, KEN.
THE, THE RENTAL RATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WOULD BE WHAT? ALL IN? YES.
UHHUH,
YE, UH, THAT INCLUDES THE, THAT'S TOTAL OPEX INCLUSIVE, SO THAT'S THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT, THE 2.85 MILLION OVER THE ENTIRE SPAN OF THE LEASE.
UM, SO IT'S THE RENTAL PLUS, PLUS THE OPEX IS 2 27 SQUARE.
SO YES, ON A ANNUAL BASIS, 48, UM, 50 BUCKS.
IT, IT'S, UH, THE 2 27 PER MONTH WORKS OUT TO ABOUT $27 AND 24 UH, CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT PER YEAR.
UH, MEMBER HARRIS, YOU HAVE YOUR LIGHT ON.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OH, NO, I'M
UM, I'M NOT SEEING ANY OTHER, OTHER QUESTIONS, SO, UM, CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? OKAY.
THAT'S, UM, MEMBER COOPER MOVED.
[VII.3. Approval of updates to Capital Metro’s Long Range Financial Plan Policy.]
IS ITEM NUMBER THREE, APPROVAL OF UPDATES TO CAP METRO'S LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN POLICY, AND CATHERINE WALKER.UH, CHAIRWOMAN KITCHEN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, INTERIM PRESIDENT AND ZMA WATKINS.
UH, MY NAME IS CATHERINE WALKER.
I'M CAPITAL METRO'S E EV P, CHIEF FINANCIAL AND RISK OFFICER.
TODAY I'M COMING FORWARD WITH AN UPDATE TO OUR LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN POLICY.
IT IS OUR GOAL THAT EVERY YEAR OR EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE WILL BE RENEWING EACH OF OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND BRING THOSE FORWARD.
THIS ONE WAS LAST UPDATED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, SO IT MERITED A LOOK.
UM, OTHER THAN SOME WORD CHANGES, WHICH YOU'LL SEE IN THE RED LINE VERSION TODAY, UH, THE PRIMARY CHANGE FOR THE POLICY THAT WE DEEMED WAS APPROPRIATE, THEN INSTEAD OF USING A SEVEN YEAR TIME HORIZON FOR OUR LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN, WE'VE INCREASED THAT TO 10 YEARS.
SO WHEN WE LOOK FORWARD TODAY BEING, UH, CLOSE TO THE END OF 2022 AND GOING INTO 23, THE LONG-RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN, WHICH WE WILL PRESENT TO YOU IN JANUARY, BOARD MEETING, UH, WOULD GO TO 2033.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE LONG RANGE FINANCIAL PLAN, BUT I KNOW THAT WE ALSO PRESENT THIS ANNUALLY TO YOU, SO YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH IT.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD? OKAY.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[VII.4. Approval of a resolution affirming the Real Estate Transaction Policy.]
FOUR, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION POLICY.GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE CHAIR, KITCHEN.
INTERIM CEO WATKINS, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS IOLA WILLIAMS. I'M DEPUTY COUNSEL CAB METRO, AND I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION POLICY.
UM, THIS POLICY IS BEING REVIEWED AS PART OF THE BOARD BYLAWS REQUIREMENT TO REVIEW BOARD POLICIES EVERY FIVE YEARS CYCLE.
UM, SO THIS POLICY, THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION POLICY WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN 2014, UM, AND IT AUTHORIZES THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR THEIR DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS UNDER TERMS CONSISTENT WITH MARKET RATE, UM, AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS FOR TRANSACTIONS THAT HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM IMPACT ON CAT METRO AND FOR AMOUNTS LESS THAN 150,000 PER AGREEMENT.
SO THAT MEANS THAT THE BOARD APPROVES REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS THAT ARE STRATEGIC REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, INCLUDING ALL PURCHASE AND SALE OR DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY, AND ANY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS THAT EXCEED 150,000 PER YEAR.
AND THIS IS HOW WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR THE PAST, UH, UH, EIGHT YEARS.
UM, WE HAVE NO CHANGES TO THIS POLICY AT THIS TIME, AND IT'S FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
[01:25:01]
QUESTIONS, ANYONE? OKAY.UH, UH, I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, BOARD MEMBER, UH, COOPER MOVES BOARD MEMBER POOL SECONDS.
UM, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UH, PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[VII.5. Approval of a resolution recommending adoption of amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the Austin Transit Partnership to add two additional Directors to the board and to make changes to the selection process to increase nominating process transparency for board members.]
NUMBER FIVE.I'M GONNA LAY OUT THIS ITEM AND THEN SEE HOW PEOPLE WANT TO PROCEED.
WE HAD SOME TESTIMONY EARLIER ON THIS ITEM.
UH, THIS IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO THE, TO ALLOW THE APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE CAPITAL METRO AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
THIS ONE, NUMBER FIVE IS THE ONE TO ALLOW THE APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATE CAPITOL, METRO AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DIRECTORS TO SERVE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE APPOINTED DIRECTOR.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE, AND SO IT'S NOW IN FRONT OF US TO TAKE ACTION ON.
DO I HAVE ANY, UH, LET'S TAKE A MOTION AND, UM, A SECOND FIRST, AND THEN WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S DISCUSSION.
UH, BOARD MEMBER STRATTON MOVES THE ITEM.
HAVE A SECOND BOARD MEMBER,
SO ANYONE WANNA SPEAK TO THIS ITEM OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM? PARDON? ERIC, DID YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
THIS IS THE ITEM FOR THE ALTERNATE FOR THE ALTERNATES, CORRECT? YEAH.
UM, AND I'M GLAD THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBER KITCHEN, UH, BROUGHT THIS BEFORE US INTO OUR ATTENTION.
I KNOW THAT, UH, SHE AND I HAVE BEEN, UH, TALKING ABOUT THIS AND I'VE, I'VE, UH, UH, MENTIONED THIS CONCEPT, UH, KIND OF TO, TO DIFFERENT FOLKS.
UM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD BEHIND THE SCENES, PRIVATELY, QUIETLY, UH, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND STUFF ABOUT THIS CONCEPT BECAUSE, UM, UH, PUTS AN AWFUL LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE, THE, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE ATTP BOARD MEMBER, UH, THE, OR THE, THE, UH, THE CAP METRO BOARD MEMBER.
UM, AND IF THAT PERSON CANNOT ATTEND A MEETING FOR WHATEVER REASON, FAMILY EMERGENCY, UM, OTHER CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION, UH, ANYTHING THAT MAY COME UP THAT TAKES THAT PLAYER OFF THE PLAYING, UH, OUT OF THE PLAYING FIELD.
AND THAT'S A CRITICAL VOTE BECAUSE, UH, AS WE ARE AWARE, CITY COUNCIL AND CAP METRO ARE THE TWO MAJOR FUNDING SOURCES AND PARTNERS FOR, UH, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION THAT, UH, WAS CREATIVE THAT IS ATP TO CR TO MAKE THE PROJECT CONNECT HAPPEN.
I THINK THIS IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
I DON'T PERSONALLY DO THIS AS BEING ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, CONTROVERSIAL.
I THINK THIS IS KIND OF MORE ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA THAT THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BACKUP, A STAND IN, UM, A, A A SECOND PERSON, UH, JUST TO, TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ALWAYS ENSURE CONTINUITY FOR EACH OF THE FUNDING BODIES BEHIND, BEHIND ATP.
ALWAYS HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD, AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO KNOW IN TERMS OF PROCEDURALLY THEN, ARE WE GOING TO SELECT AN ALTERNATE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE? YES.
IS THAT, IS THAT THE MECHANISM THERE WILL BE A DESIGNATED ALTERNATE IF, IF THE PRIMARY CANNOT ATTEND? YES.
AND NOW, I, I ALSO WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ACTUAL CHANGE TO THE, UH, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
UM, SO I LOOK TO MS. BUTCHER, BUT TO, TO, UH, TO LET ME KNOW IF I GOT THIS RIGHT.
UM, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NOT YET VOTED ON THE ALTERNATE.
SO THIS WILL, THIS ITEM WILL HAVE TO GO BACK OVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND AFTER THEY VOTE ON IT, IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL GO BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT THEIR NEXT MEETING.
UH, IN WHICH CASE, AFTER THAT POINT IN TIME, IT'D BE EFFECTIVE.
AND YOU ALL CAN APPOINT, UH, AN ALTERNATE.
IS THAT RIGHT, CARRIE? THEN? UH, YES.
AFTER BOTH BODIES APPROVE IT, WE THEN HAVE TO ACTUALLY AMEND THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND FILE THAT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
AND WHEN I SAY WE, I DON'T MEAN WE, UH, ATP GOES THROUGH THAT PROCESS TO AMEND THE ARTICLES AND THEN THE ACTION CAN TAKE PLACE.
SO AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY NOT THE LONG FUTURE, BUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, YES.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THIS BODY WOULD, UH, APPOINT AN ALTERNATE.
[01:30:01]
YEAH.IT ALSO OCCURS TO ME THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD MOVE, UM, WITH REGARD TO SUCCESSION PLANNING.
SO WHOEVER IS ALTERNATE POTENTIALLY COULD THEN TAKE OVER THE SEAT.
NOT NECESSARILY, BUT IT, IT ALLOWS FOR CONTINUATION OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND, AND ESPECIALLY AS ATP IS PRETTY TECHNICAL, AND IT'S STILL IN ITS KIND OF EARLY YEARS, UM, I THINK BEING ABLE TO HAND OFF THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO BUILD ON IT AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE ITEM TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO AMEND THE, THE, UH, ATP ARTICLES TO ALLOW FOR APPOINTMENT OF AN ALTERNATE.
UH, SO ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
I THINK THAT'S UNANIMOUS ON ITEM NUMBER FIVES.
[VII.6. Approval of a resolution recommending adoption of amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the Austin Transit Partnership to allow the appointment of Alternate Capital Metro and Austin City Council Directors to serve in the absence of the appointed Director.]
SIX.ITEM NUMBER SIX IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD AND TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE SELECTION PROCESS TO INCREASE NOMINATING PROCESS TRANSPARENCY FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
SO THIS IS THE ITEM, UH, THAT WE HAD TWO, UM, TWO FOLKS TESTIFY ABOUT.
AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN AND HOW TO PROCEED WITH IT.
SO, UM, DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE ANY MOTIONS RELATED TO THIS RIGHT NOW? I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROCEDURALLY APPROPRIATE.
BUT, UM, I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE CHAIR AND I KNOW WHO IS OUR CURRENT DESIGNEE ATP, AND I KNOW THAT HIS PREFERENCE IS THAT WE TAKE SOME TIME TO WORK ON THIS AND TABLE IT.
I WOULD SUGGEST A MOTION TO POSTPONE.
WOULD THAT BE THE, WOULD THAT DO IT? YEAH, THAT WILL WORK AS WELL.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A MOTION TO POSTPONE WAS, BUT
IF WE NEED A DESIGNATED, CAN WE JUST SAY THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN YOU CAN GO FROM THERE? YES.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO SECOND, UH, POSTPONE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING OF THIS BOARD.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY, UM, MEMBER, UH, COOPER AND A SECOND BY MEMBER POOL TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT MEETING.
UM, UH, BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, I WANNA MAKE A FEW, FEW QUICK COMMENTS ABOUT IT.
UH, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO THIS.
UH, ONE RELATING TO, UM, UH, THE TRANSPARENCY WITH REGARD TO THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
UM, AND THE THINKING THERE IS TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE TO OUR NOMINATING COMMITTEE.
UH, YOU KNOW, OUR NOMINATING COMMITTEE HAS NOW TWICE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING, UM, UH, ATP BOARD MEMBERS.
AND NEITHER PROCESS, UH, WAS, WAS THE COMMITTEE HAD ANY PARTICULAR GUIDANCE, YOU KNOW, ON HOW TO HANDLE THE QUESTION OF TRANSPARENCY.
TRANSPARENCY MEANING, UH, THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, UH, ABOUT WHO MIGHT HAVE APPLIED OR WHO MIGHT BE INTERVIEWED, UM, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO, UM, UH, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S GONNA BE IMPORTANT TO PURSUE.
UM, I AM READY TO VOTE ON THAT ASPECT.
SO I RE I CERTAINLY RESPECT POSTPONING, BUT I'LL, I'LL PROBABLY ABSTAIN ON TODAY'S POSTPONEMENT JUST BECAUSE OF THAT.
UM, THE SECOND ASPECT OF THIS IS THE, UM, APPOINTING TO, UH, NEW MEMBERS TO THE ATP BOARD.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT, THAT'S ALL IT DOES.
AND IT DOESN'T SAY, IT ALLOWS FOR A PROCESS FOR DETERMINING A DISCUSSION PROCESS, UH, TO DETERMINE CRITERIA FOR, UH, NEW BOARD MEMBERS, TWO, TWO ADDITIONAL BOARD MEMBERS TO THE ATP BOARD.
AND ALSO, UM, A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SELECTION CRITERIA.
IT CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE TO ME TO POSTPONE THAT ITEM, UH, THAT PORTION OF THE ITEM CUZ THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION TO BE HAD.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE, UH, WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED INITIATED A DISCUSSION PROCESS, AND YOU HEARD FROM BOTH T F A EARLIER AND, UM, UH, UH, AVE WHO'S, UH, AZAR, WHO'S CHAIR OF THE C AAC.
SO I EXPECT THAT THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THEY'RE TWO KEY STAKEHOLDERS, THAT VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS WILL, STAKEHOLDERS WILL BEGIN SOME DISCUSSION PROCESS.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE TIME NEEDED.
UM, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR, UM, DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, THE EXTENT TO WHICH, UH, BOTH BOARDS THE CITY COUNCIL AND THIS AND THIS BOARD ARE, ARE, ARE DESIRING TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS AND OPPORTUNITY TO, TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S A LEVEL OF CONSENSUS OF
[01:35:01]
WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.SO I DO AGREE THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO POSTPONE THAT ITEM.
SO, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBER POOL.
AND I'D ALSO NOTE THAT WE DID PASS THIS ITEM AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 8TH OF DECEMBER.
ALL ALL IN FAVOR? UH, ADAM MADAM CHAIR? YES.
I, I JUST WANTED TO, TO, TO CHIME IN.
UM, I REALIZED THAT THIS IS, UH, MOST LIKELY YOUR LAST, UH, CAP METRO BOARD MEETING, AND I THINK THAT THAT WAS YOUR LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING TOO, COME, UH, THAT, THAT YOU'D HAD.
AND I JUST WANT TO, TO RECOGNIZE AND, AND THANK YOU, UM, CHAIR KITCHEN FOR, FOR YOUR, UH, LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
UM, I KNOW THAT THIS ENTIRE, THE ENTIRE CAT METRO BOARD HAD EXPRESSED SOME VERY STRONG FEELINGS BACK LAST SUMMER WHEN WE INITIALLY AMENDED THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION IN RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS GOVERNANCE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED AT ATTP IN RELATION TO, UM, MOVING THE PRESIDENT AND C E O OF CAP METRO OVER TO, UH, TO BECOME THE, UM, EX OFFICIO MEMBER AND, AND HAVE EQUALITY WITH THE AUSTIN CITY MANAGER BECAUSE THE, THE, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS NOW GONNA BE SEPARATED.
AND WE EXPRESSED AT THE TIME THAT WE THOUGHT THAT WE WANTED TO SEE SOME CH SOME CHANGES, SOME POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS, UH, DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND, UM, UH, WE EXPRESSED THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE PASSED IT, AND THEN IT WENT OVER TO THE CITY AND, UM, THE, THE CITY AND LARGELY THROUGH, THROUGH WHAT YOU HAD DONE, UH, ON THE DIAS HAD HAD DONE SOME GREAT THINGS TO, TO HELP KIND OF MOVE THAT, THAT CONVERSATION ALONG.
AND THEN IT, IT KIND OF STALLED.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES AND YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR A WHILE, AND I REALLY WANTED TO JUST RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET THE BALL ROLLING AGAIN AND MOVE THIS FORWARD.
UM, I, I DO THINK WE HAVE, UH, SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS NEED TO BE HAD ABOUT THIS.
I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH ALL THE, THE, THE, THE DETAILS OF THIS MM-HMM.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT A, A, A PLACE WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TO WORK OFF OF.
IN TERMS OF LIKE THE, THE, THE EXPANDING THE BOARD, UM, TALKING ABOUT WHERE THAT, THE DIRECTION THAT THAT'S GONNA GO IN AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
UM, AND THEN AS FOR THE, THE TRANSPARENCY ISSUES HAVING BEEN ON THE OUTSIDE
I, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME, SOME THINGS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, FEEDBACK DIFFERENT THINGS, DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS THAT I MAY HAVE.
BUT AGAIN, I, I SEE THIS AS A STARTING POINT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT GETTING US HERE BECAUSE, UM, HAVING SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE, THERE WERE TIMES THAT I'D BE SITTING THERE GOING, CAN I TALK ABOUT THIS? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO, I DON'T KNOW.
AND, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND AND GREATLY DO VALUE AND APPRECIATE THE POSITION THAT THE, THAT A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS PROCESS, AND A LOT OF OUR, UH, A LOT OF THE, UM, THE PUBLIC FE FELT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I FELT THAT WAY TOO.
I'M SITTING THERE KIND OF SHRUGGING MY SHOULDERS, ASKING STAFF, WELL, WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT CAN WE DO? I KNOW THAT ON THE COMMITTEE, THAT MANY OF US WERE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER KIND OF GOING, HOW DO WE DO THIS? AND WE WERE KIND OF LOOKING BACK TO, TO THE PREVIOUS COMMITTEE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE DOING IT AND SCRATCHING OUR HEADS.
SO I DO BELIEVE THAT BRINGING CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PROCESS WILL BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND AGAIN, I WHAT IT SPECIFICALLY LOOKS LIKE, I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S STILL SOME DEVIL IN THE DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT ON, ON THAT POINT TOO, JUST LIKE NEED TO BE WORKED OUT ON ANY POSSIBILITY OF, OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IF WE, YOU KNOW, WERE TO INCREASE THE BOARD.
BUT, UM, I, I, I JUST, I, I, I WANT IT TO GO, I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO HELP MOVE THIS BALL FORWARD, TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION PUBLICLY SO THAT WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO, TO EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE, UH, HONESTLY, AND SIX MONTHS AGO THAT THIS, THIS WAS JUST A, IT, IT, IT, IT LOOKED LIKE THAT THIS WASN'T GONNA GO ANYWHERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND, UH, APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS CONVERSATION AND TALKING TO THE CAC AND, UM, UH, TRANSIT FOR AUSTIN AND THE, YOU KNOW, CHAMBER AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SEE THE SAME COALITION THAT BUILT THIS AND GOT PROJECT CONNECT OVER THE FINISH LINE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THOSE FOLKS TO SAY, OKAY, NOW THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, WHAT SHOULD THIS LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD? IF WE NEED TO MAKE SOME TWEAKS TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROCESS HERE, AND THEN, UM, TAKING IT FROM THERE.
SO ARE WE READY TO VOTE OR ANYBODY WANNA SAY ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, UH, THE MOTION IN FRONT OF US IS A MOTION TO, UH,
[01:40:01]
I THINK I MENTIONED BEFORE, MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO THE NEXT, UH, NEXT MEETING.UH, JUST SHOW ME ABSTAINING ON THIS.
UM, SO THAT ONE PASSES ON A 6 1, 6 1, UM, A SIX WITH ONE ABSTAINING.
OUR FINAL AGENDA ITEM TODAY BEFORE WE HEAD INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WILL BE THE MONTHLY REPORT.
[VIII.1. President & CEO Monthly Update]
AND WE HAVE TO HEAD INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT TWO O'CLOCK.SO, UH, MS. WATKINS, YOU MAY BE AS QUICK AS YOU WOULD LIKE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY YOU GUYS WERE INVOLVED WITH THE JOINT MEETING BETWEEN THE AUSTIN TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP, THE CAP METRO BOARD, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THAT, UM, EFFORT AND WE WERE, UM, THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AT THAT MEETING, UM, OUR TWO, UM, SOON TO BE DEPARTING FROM US BOARD MEMBERS, UM, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, KITCHEN IN VENT.
SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, AND THERE WILL BE LOTS MORE TO COME IN THE NEW YEAR, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO CONTINUING TO MOVE THAT PARTNERSHIP FORWARD.
WE, EVERY YEAR, UM, ON DECEMBER 2ND, WHICH IS THE ANNIVERSARY OF, UM, ROSA PARKS, UM, DECIDING TO KEEP HER SEAT ON THE BUS IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, UM, WE HAVE AN EVENT.
WE ALWAYS, UM, POST INFORMATION ON OUR BUSES ON THE TOP RIGHT THERE, YOU SEE WHAT WE POSTED THIS YEAR, UM, WHICH WAS SETTING ASIDE A SEAT IN RECOGNITION OF ROSA PARKS AND THE, UM, HER COURAGEOUS ACT TO KEEP HER SEAT AND REALLY TRIGGERING, UM, A, A LARGE, UM, PORTION OF THE ENERGY THAT WENT INTO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
UM, CAT METRO'S STAFF AND SOME OF OUR, UM, STAKEHOLDERS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TAKING A BUS TOUR, UM, WITH JAVIER, WHOSE LAST NAME I'M GOING TO FORGET FROM BLACK AUSTIN TOURS.
I HAVE BEEN AN AUSTINITE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE CITY I GREW UP IN.
WE WILL LOOK TO BE REPEATING THIS, UM, LIKELY IN FEBRUARY ON ROSA PARK'S BIRTHDAY.
UM, IT WAS A, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SENIOR EXECUTIVE TEAM, SOME OF OUR OTHER MANAGERS, UM, AND SEVERAL OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO REALLY JUST STOP AND REFLECT ON THE CITY'S HISTORY AND, AND HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER CITY IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.
SO IT WAS REALLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
UM, CAPITAL METRO THIS YEAR PARTNERED WITH BALLET AUSTIN TO HELP PROMOTE THE NUTCRACKER.
SO THIS IS THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NUTCRACKER.
UM, THE PART OF THAT PARTNERSHIP INCLUDED THIS BUS WRAP THAT YOU SEE HERE IN FRONT OF THE LONG CENTER.
UM, I WILL POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE PUT IN NUT CRACKER ON A BUS, AND ALSO THE FIRST YEAR IN ITS HISTORY THAT BALLET AUSTIN HAS SOLD OUT EVERY SINGLE SHOW WITHIN NU CRACKER.
SO YOU TELL ME
UM, WE ALSO, THE, THE FIRST, UM, REAL COMMUNITY EVENT WITH THE BALLET, ACTUALLY THE NIGHT BEFORE THEIR OPENING NIGHT IS THEIR COMMUNITY NIGHT WHERE, UM, THEY BRING IN MEMBERS OF VARIOUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO WATCH WHAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE LAST DRESS REHEARSAL OF THAT SHOW.
UM, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS MOTHER GINGER DURING THE SECOND ACT OF THAT PERFORMANCE.
SO, UM, ON THE LEFT THERE, YOU SEE ME WITH ABOUT EIGHT LAYERS OF MAKEUP ON.
UM, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND JUST, UM, A GREAT HONOR TO REPRESENT CAPITAL METRO IN THAT WAY.
UM, NEXT UP TEXT 21, WHICH IS A, UM, CONSORTIUM OF TRANSPORTATION, NOT JUST TRANSIT, BUT TRANSPORTATION ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT COLLABORATE TO, UM, MOVE THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY TO THE 21ST CENTURY.
MET IN SAN ANTONIO EARLIER IN THE MONTH, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO SPEAK ON A PANEL WITH THE CEOS FROM, UM, SAN ANTONIO HOUSTON AND CORPUS CHRISTI, JUST TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AS A STATE, UM, TO BETTER COORDINATE, UM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND ON THE RIGHT, ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR, ACTUALLY, THE LA THE LEANER, UM, CHRISTMAS PARADE.
ACTUALLY, THEY CALL IT A HOLIDAY PARADE, NOT CHRISTMAS PARADE.
UM, WE TOOK ONE OF OUR PICKUP VEHICLES OUT THERE, WHICH YOU SEE BEHIND US, THE PICKUP VEHICLE HAD ITS SANTA HATS ON, AS DID MUCH OF OUR STAFF THAT WERE OUT THERE HANDING OUT GOODIES TO, UM, THE FOLKS OUT IN LANDERS.
SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE, MY FAVORITE PARTS OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA STREAM, OR WHEN WE GET TO PUT OUT PICTURES OF US PUTTING STUFF ON THE GROUND.
UM, SO WE WERE REALLY EXCITED RECENTLY TO INSTALL A NEW METRO BIKE STATION ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE UT CAMPUS.
THE UNIVERSITY POPULATION DRIVES A LOT OF OUR, UM, METRO
[01:45:01]
BIKE RIDERSHIP.THIS IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST, UM, TYPE OF STATIONS WHERE, UM, EACH OF THOSE, UH, DOCKS CAN BE REPLACED INDIVIDUALLY OR PLACED AS A UNIT.
UM, SO THESE ARE THE CREWS OUT THERE.
UM, WE WERE, THOSE TAKE ABOUT A DAY TO INSTALL, AND THEY'RE FULL OF BIKES THE NEXT MORNING.
SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN, UM, TO START TO SEE SOME OF THE EXPANSION OF THE METRO BIKE PROGRAM.
AND I THINK, OH, OH, THERE'S A, MY FAVORITE BUS SHELTER.
SO THIS HERE IS THE PROTOTYPE BUS SHELTER FOR OUR NEW METRO RAPID PROJECT.
WE SENT A TEAM UP TO, UH, THE MANUFACTURER TO DO FIRST ARTICLE INSPECTION AND, AND SEE THE, THE SHELTER ITSELF.
SO THESE SHELTERS WILL HAVE SOLAR PANELS, THEY'LL BE HAVE CAMERAS INCORPORATED WITH THEM.
YOU'LL SEE ON, WE HAVE ON THERE THE PERFORATED PANELS THAT ALLOW YOU TO SEE THROUGH THE SHELTER, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN BE SEEN AND THERE ARE NO SAFETY CONCERNS, BUT PROVIDING WEATHER PROTECTION AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHADE.
UM, GIVEN THAT THE SUN IS THE MOST DIFFICULT WEATHER THAT WE DEAL WITH HERE, PRIMARILY IN AUSTIN, UM, AS WELL, AS WELL AS HAVING BUILT INTO IT A LOCATION FOR OUR REALTIME BUS INFORMATION.
SO, UM, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE, UM, A NUMBER OF SHELTERS THAT ARE BUILT FOR, UH, THE TWO NEW METRO RAPID LINES, THE EXPO AND PV LINES.
UM, AND WE HOPE AND EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR TO BE, UM, FINALIZING OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION ON THOSE LINES AND BRINGING NEWS ABOUT THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS EVERY YEAR.
CAPITAL METRO PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS AS D SCHOOLS FOR YEARS AND YEARS, IT WAS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET UNTIL THAT SCHOOL CLOSED.
UM, THIS YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, TO PROVIDE CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM A SECRET SANTA OF SORTS WHERE STAFF VOLUNTEERED TO BUY GIFTS, UM, A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO FULFILL THE NEEDS OF A LOW INCOME STUDENT WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEIR FAVORITE WISH FOR ITEM FOR CHRISTMAS.
AND SO YOU SEE HERE A SMATTERING OF THOSE GIFTS AND OUR STAFF THAT WE'RE THRILLED TO GO, UM, DELIVER THOSE TO SANTA ELEMENTARY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW OUR STAFF LOOKS FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR AS A MEANINGFUL WAY TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
THAT CONCLUDES THE OPEN PORTION OF OUR MEETING TODAY.
[X. Executive Session of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code:]
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO EXPECTED ACTION WHEN WE RETURN EXCEPT TO ADJOURN.THE BOARD WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 51 0.074 FOR PERSONNEL MADS RELATED TO PRESIDENT AND CEO CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS.
UM, THE BOARD HAS NOW CONCLUDED OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME TODAY.
WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT FOUR O'CLOCK.