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HAVE GOT A LENGTHY AGENDA, BUT WE'RE GONNA[Capital Metro Board of Directors Public Hearing on September 27, 2023.]
TRY TO, TO RUSH THROUGH BECAUSE SOME OF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE A HARD STOP AT THREE 15.SO, UH, LET ME CALL THE MEETING OF THE CAP METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, UH, ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023 AT 1205 IN THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM AT THE CAPITAL METRO ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
SO I'LL CALL IT TO ORDER AT 1205.
OUR FIRST ITEM IS GONNA BE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS THAT ARE SIGNED UP AND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, UH, IF YOU ARE WITH US, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF ONLINE.
UH, OR COME TO THE MIC IF YOU'RE HERE AND, OKAY.
WE ARE GOING TO START BE, BECAUSE EVIDENTLY A FEW OF US SHOWED UP TODAY, WE NEED TO HAVE A SAFETY BRIEFING.
SO, UH, GARDNER, UH, TABONE WILL TAKE US THROUGH OUR SAFETY BRIEFING.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
MY NAME'S GARDNER HALF OF, UH, CAPITOL METRO.
WE SEE THAT THERE ARE VERY, VERY MANY NEW GUESTS HERE TODAY, AND WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ANY EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, YOU'RE ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE AN EXIT RIGHT HERE.
AND FOR THOSE FOLKS, UH, IF THERE IS AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY OUTSIDE OF THAT DOOR, AS YOU WALK OUT HERE AND PLEASE MEET ACROSS THE STREET.
THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RIGHT ON A CORNER.
LIKEWISE, IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY OUTSIDE OF THIS DOOR, PLEASE USE THESE DOUBLE DOORS, UH, AS AN EXIT AND THERE'LL BE SECURITY TO GUIDE YOU IN EITHER DIRECTION NEEDED.
AND WE WILL STILL ASSEMBLE ACROSS THE STREET BY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ALSO, IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IN THIS ROOM, WHO WILL VOLUNTEER? WE NEED TWO TO CALL 9 1 1.
WE ALSO HAVE A DEFIBRILLATOR, UH, BY THE ELEVATOR WHO WILL VOLUNTEER TO GET IT IF NEEDED.
ONE, TWO, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
UM, AND THAT'S IT, THE EXTENT OF, UH, THE BRIEFING.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GARDNER.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SAFETY.
ALRIGHT, UH, AS WE HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE ORDER, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AS OUR NEXT ITEM.
MAYOR CHRISTINE DELLY IS HERE WITH US.
UH, WOULD YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.
UH, AS YOU HEARD, I'M CHRISTINE DELE, MAYOR OF LEANDER, AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL AS ALWAYS FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR GRACIOUSNESS.
WE RECENTLY HAD THE HONOR OF A PRESENTATION FROM MS. WATKINS AND STAFF AT OUR COUNCIL MEETING.
IT WAS FANTASTIC TO HAVE AN UPDATE FOR ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME BACK AND FORTH AND FACETIME.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO EXTEND A HUGE THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION TO SECRETARY ROSS AND MYSELF TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TEXT 21 EVENT.
IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME BEING THERE.
WE MADE SOME GREAT CONTACTS AND LEARNED QUITE A BIT.
UM, AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS GREAT.
THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE AND, UM, HUGE THANK YOU TO LEROY FOR REACHING OUT ON THAT.
UM, AND THEN I WANTED TO THANK YOU THE BOARD AND YOUR FANTASTIC STAFF.
AND AS ALWAYS, WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING FUTURE EXPANSIONS TO PICK UP, PLEASE KEEP LEANDER AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR THOUGHTS.
ONLY ABOUT ONE THIRD OF OUR CITY IS IN THE PICKUP ZONE, WHILE TWO THIRDS REMAINS OUTSIDE AND UNABLE TO CATCH, RISE TO THE RED LINE AND OTHER DESTINATIONS.
OUR PICKUP ZONE INCLUDES ONLY ONE OF OUR GROCERY STORES AND NONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF OUR BUSINESSES OR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS ALONG OR NEAR REAGAN BOULEVARD, WHICH DOWN IN AUSTIN YOU ALL WILL KNOW AS PALMER.
SO AS ALWAYS, PLEASE THINK OF LEANDER AS YOU THOUGHTFULLY PLAN OUT YOUR SERVICE EXPANSIONS.
AND THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR HEARING ME TODAY AND FOR ALL OF THE WORK Y'ALL DO.
I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT MEETING.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
ALRIGHT, UH, LOOKS LIKE OUR SECOND, UH, PERSON IS ZENOBIA JOSEPH.
SHE IS REMOTE AND SHE WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIR, I DON'T SEE THAT MS. JOSEPH HAS JOINED US THIS MORNING, SO WE MAY NEED TO CIRCLE BACK AND CHECK.
UH, SO NOTED, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
[00:05:01]
I'M GARY COLES.I'M CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER FOR MV TRANSPORTATION.
AND I WANTED TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE, UH, TO FIRST OF ALL SAY THANK YOU TO CAP METRO, UH, BOARD TO STAFF, UH, TO CEO DOTTIE WATKINS, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR, UH, SINCE ABOUT 2011, I BELIEVE, 2011, 2012, BOTH ON THE PARATRANSIT SIDE AND ON THE FIXED, FIXED BUS SIDE AS WELL.
UM, UH, IT'S BEEN OUR PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN.
UM, YES, IT'S DISAPPOINTING, UH, THAT THE DECISION DIDN'T GO OUR WAY IN REGARDS TO THE FIXED ROUTE BUS CONTRACT THAT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GONNA MAKE A VOTE ON LATER TODAY.
I, IT APPEARS IT'S NOT GONNA GO OUR WAY.
SO, UM, AND, AND SO AS THE MINORITY STARTED, UH, TEXAS BASED AMERICAN OWNED COMPANY, IT DOES HURT QUITE A BIT, BUT, UM, WE UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE.
I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, UH, TO, UH, SERVING THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
UH, AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IF, UH, ANY HELP IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN, UH, HELP YOU WITH, UH, WE ARE HERE FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, WE HAVE VALUED OUR PARTNERSHIP FOR THESE 12 YEARS AND WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.
ALRIGHT, UH, THE NEXT PERSON UP TO SPEAK IS DARRELL RES OR DARNELL RES.
SEE, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHETHER THOSE WERE TWO RS R AND N ON.
GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF KAPP METRO BOARD MEMBERS C E O, DODY WATKINS, EVERYBODY WHO'S PRESIDENT IN THE AUDIENCE.
I AM 21 YEAR VETERAN, UH, BUS OPERATOR.
PROUD AT WHAT I DO TO SERVE OUR PUBLIC IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I'M ALSO CURRENTLY, UH, RUNNING MY SECOND TERM FOR THE, UH, AS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION, LOCAL 10 91.
I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CAPITAL METRO SELECTING KEOLIS AS THEIR CONTRACTOR FOR, FOR BUS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES.
KEOLIS CURRENCY HAS 52 UNFAIR LABOR, PRO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGES FILED AGAINST THEM BY THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.
THEY'RE NOT LABOR FRIENDLY AS YOUR PROCUREMENT TEAM DISCUSSED.
KEOLIS IS LABOR FRIENDLY DURING THE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2023 COMMITTEE MEETING AND IN FACT, THEIR STATEMENT TO THE BOARD AND PUBLIC, IT'S UNTRUE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW KOLA C E O DAVID SCOREY PRETENDED HE, HE COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HIS COMPANY IS DOING AROUND THE COUNTRY TO LABOR UNIONS.
HE HAS ALREADY VIOLATED OUR C B A ARTICLES 15 C ONE DISHONESTY.
HE IS THE C E O OF 67 60 4,000 EMPLOYEES AND DOESN'T KNOW HIS DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OPERATIONS IS ABSURD.
KS HAS ALREADY GOTTEN OFF ON THE BAD, WRONG ON, ON THE, ON THE WRONG FOOT WITH US PROMISING TO CAPITAL METRO BOARD.
THEY WILL HONOR OUR C OUR CURRENT C B A FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE WERE TOLD BY OUR PRESIDENT AND AND BUSINESS AGENT, BRENT PAYNE AT OUR CHARTER MEETING THAT MR. EGG WAS QUESTIONING EITHER HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE ASSUMED AND WERE ASSURED THE HEALTH INSURANCE WOULD STAY INTACT UNTIL 2025.
THAT CONVERSATION SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD BEEN UP FOR ANY, ANY, ANYONE TO DISCUSS.
I STILL BELIEVE CAPTAIN, CAPTAIN METRO SET MV MV TRANSIT UP FOR FAILURE DUE TO HIRING A MAJORITY OF MV TRANSITS OPERAT OPERATIONS STAFF IN LATE 2021, BUT YET BLAMED MV MV TRANSIT FOR PROBLEMS. MV TRANSIT HAD TO IMPROVISE AND HIRE A NEW STAFF IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
I DO LIKE, I DO LIKE THE FACT MV CORPORATE HAD, UM, HAD BROUGHT DARREN HOVEY IN LATE OCTOBER, 2022.
ONE THING I LEARNED ABOUT DARREN IS HE'S A INNOVATOR AND A PROBLEM SOLVER.
HE DOVE RIGHT INTO THE END OF THE, TO TO, TO THE DEEP END OF THE POOL, STARTED FIXING DAMAGES THAT HAD BEEN PRIOR MADE BY THE OPERATIONS MANAGER, CAP METRO HIRED IN LATE 2021.
IN MY OPINION, I WISH NV TRANSIT HAD BROUGHT DARREN IN IN THE PLIGHT OF THE MERGE.
DARREN HOOVER WAS THE FIRST GENERAL MANAGER I LIKED OUT OF ALL CAP METRO CONTRACTORS.
WE DEVELOPED AND ESTABLISHED A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ADVISED THAT I I WAS A TR TROUBLEMAKER MV TRANSIT BROUGHT ANOTHER INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER GARY COLES IN TO REPLACE DARIEN'S
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ABSENCE.GARY COLES HAS OVER 30 YEARS IN THE TRANSIT BUSINESS AND HE WORKS VERY WELL WITH UNIONS.
I HAVE NO ARGUMENT WITH HIM AND I WISH VY CORPORATE HAD BROUGHT HIM, UH, IN, AT A, IN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MERGE.
I ALREADY KNOW NO MATTER WHAT MY OPINION IS BRENT, UH, BRENT, MY OPINION BRENT OR THE RIGHT PUBLIC IS CAPTAIN METRO HAS ALREADY HAD IT SET IN MOTION TO HAND THEIR SERVICES OVER TO THE COMPANY WHO DEFINITELY ISN'T LABOR FRIENDLY.
KEOLIS WILL HAVE TO DO A LOT OF WORK TO PROVE THEIR INNOCENCE AND TRUST BECAUSE THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR AND BACKGROUND SAYS IT ALL.
DARL LLS A T U LOCAL 10 91 VICE PRESIDENT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THANK YOU, ALLALL.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE ON SITE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK UP? ALL RIGHT, UH, LET'S SEE.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM, UH, THAT HAS JUST SIGNED UP? OH, OKAY.
UH, LOOKS LIKE MR. JOSEPH HAS MADE IT.
AND, UH, MS. JOSEPH, IF YOU WILL UNMUTE YOU WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MS. JOSEPH, CAN YOU HEAR US? MS. JOSEPH, IF YOU THANK YOU MR. OKAY.
OKAY, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR MEMBERS, I'M ENOVIA JOSEPH, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AS IT RELATES TO YOUR CONSENT.
I MENTIONED THIS DURING THE OPERATIONS MEETING AS WELL.
THIS IS THE ROUND ROCK CONTRACT AND I'M JUST REQUESTING FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS THAT YOU PUT A STOP AT MERRILL TOWN DRIVE FOR ROUTE 52 BEFORE IT GOES TO ROUND ROCK.
IT WOULD BE ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE AS OPPOSED TO FORCING THEM TO WALK ONE MILE.
AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ACTION ITEMS TWO AND THREE.
I DO BELIEVE THIS VIOLATES TITLE SIX OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, AND NATIONAL ORIGIN.
I DID PROVIDE THESE COMMENTS TO THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND WILL ALSO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE THAT THEY CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS TO HOTLINE@OIG.DO.GOV.
SPECIFICALLY THE $871 MILLION BUDGET DOES NOT IMPROVE SERVICE NORTH OF US.
AND RESPECTFULLY, MR. CHAIR, AS YOU KNOW, I'VE ASKED YOU TO RESIGN SEVERAL TIMES MARCH 27TH, 2023, MARCH 28TH, 2022.
I WOULD JUST CALL YOUR ATTENTION JANUARY 28TH, 2019.
THE FORMER CHAIR, WADE COOPER, ACKNOWLEDGED DISPARATE IMPACTS IN THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2020 19, YOU HIJACKED OUR HISTORY BY NAMING THE BOARDROOM ROSA PARKS, WHICH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A SCREEN FOR OR A COVER FOR DISCRIMINATION.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE 18 2 17 AND 3 35 HAVE BEEN REDUCED FROM 15 MINUTES TO 30, SO YOU DO HAVE MANPOWER AND RESOURCES THAT CAN BE REALLOCATED TO NORTH OF US 180 3.
I WOULD ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO INCLUDE 3 92 AND RESTORE THE ACCESS TO THE ARBORETUM AND ALL NORTHEAST WEST CONNECTIVITY AS IT RELATES TO DARRYL SORRELL'S COMMENTS.
I WOULD JUST ECHO THAT CAPITAL METRO HAS A TENDENCY TO SAY ONE THING, DO ANOTHER DOCUMENT WHAT IS SAID TO FOOL THE FEDS.
I'M LOOKING AT PAGE TWO 70 WHERE IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
AND SPECIFICALLY IT TALKS ABOUT ENABLING ALL RESIDENTS TO HAVE BENEFITS FROM SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION.
ON PAPER THIS READS WELL, BUT AS YOU ARE AWARE, I HAVE CONTINUED TO ASK YOU TO MOVE 8 0 1 SOUTHBOUND CHINATOWN STOP ID 5 8 5 7 TO C V S PHARMACY.
THIS IS NOT A SPECIAL REQUEST.
THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO THE WHITE PEOPLE AT BREAKER AND BURNETT TO GET ON THE 8 0 3 NOW COMBINED WITH 3 92 AT THE SEVEN 11, I'M SIMPLY ASKING YOU TO DO THE SAME THING FOR THE MINORITIES WHO ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY IN FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO REFUGE ISLAND FOR THEM TO CROSS THE STREET SAFELY.
IT'S EVEN WORSE FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, AND CANES WHO HAVE TROUBLE CROSSING THE STREET AS WELL.
I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE YOU CONTINUE TO SAY ONE THING ON PAPER AND YOU DO ANOTHER.
I WOULD JUST LASTLY CALL TO YOUR ATTENTION SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO EQUITABLE TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT THAT ON MAY 9TH, 2019,
[00:15:01]
AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ACTUALLY TABLED ANY TYPE OF SMALL AREA PLANNING FOR NORTH OF US, 180 3 TO TECH RIDGE PARK AND RIDE.SO CHARMELLA, REY OR MACEY'S INCLUSION OF NORTHMORE TRANSIT CENTER TO USE MINORITY RIDERSHIP IS DISINGENUOUS AND IT DOES NOT SHOW ANY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION.
AND SO THOSE ARE MY PRIMARY COMMENTS AND I JUST WOULD LASTLY SAY, UH, NUMBER THREE WAS THE BYLAWS AS IT RELATED TO PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND MR. CHAIR, I WOULD JUST ASK THE MEMBERS TO REMEMBER THE AUGUST 7TH, 2020 CONTRACT WITH VOTERS.
YOU SOLD THIS PLAN BASED ON EQUITY AND NOW YOU ARE ELIMINATING SOCIAL EQUITY AND THE HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED COMMUNITIES.
IT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH TITLE VI.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE IN ALIGNMENT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL ALLOW TO ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO COMMENT.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, UH, HEARING NONE, UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AS WELL BEFORE I CALL UP OUR LAST TWO SPEAKERS? ANYONE ELSE? NO ONE ELSE I WILL GO TO, UH, DAVID S GORY, THE C E O OF KEOLIS, NORTH AMERICA CHAIR TRAIAN, C E O WATKINS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD TODAY.
UM, AS THE CHAIR HAS ALREADY SAID, I'M DAVID GORY.
I'M THE C E O FOR KEOLIS NORTH AMERICA.
UM, THERE'S THREE VERY BRIEF THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
THE FIRST IS TO THANK THE CAPITAL METRO TEAM FOR THE WAY THAT THEY CONDUCTED THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THE FIXED BUS CONTRACT AND FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE FOR THAT CONTRACT AND PUTTING THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE THE BOARD TODAY TO CONSIDER AWARDING THE CONTRACT, UM, IF THAT RESOLUTION IS PASSED.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THE COLLABORATIVE, PROACTIVE, SOLUTIONS ORIENTED PARTNER THAT WE BELIEVE CAP METRO NEEDS.
WE KNOW THE CAP METRO IS A PREMIER TRANSIT AGENCY AND IS LOOKING FOR A PARTNER THAT CAN REALLY HELP SUPPORT THE EXCITING VISION THAT YOU HAVE HERE.
WE BELIEVE WE ARE THAT PARTNER AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE NEXT TWO THINGS THAT I WANT TO ADDRESS ARE AROUND EMPLOYEES AND AROUND UNIONS.
BUT BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, MAYBE IF I COULD, UH, IF YOU'D INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT, IF I COULD PREFACE MY COMMENTS WITH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
UH, I STARTED MY CAREER IN TRANSIT AS AN APPRENTICE MECHANIC, UH, AND BECAME A BUS MECHANIC.
UH, AND THEN THROUGH VARIOUS SUPERVISORY, MANAGERIAL ROLES AND SOME DIVERSIFICATION IN MY ROLE FOR THE POSITION THAT I'M IN TODAY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AN HOURLY PAID EMPLOYEE.
TO HAVE LEADERSHIP THAT ISN'T EMPATHETIC, THAT DOESN'T RESPOND WHEN YOU HAVE PERSONAL NEEDS, UH, AND DOESN'T CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR YOU TO DO YOUR BEST WORK AS THE LEADER FOR KEOLIS IN NORTH AMERICA.
THE SHADOW THAT I CAST OVER THE ORGANIZATION INFLUENCES THE WAY THAT THE ORGANIZATION FUNCTIONS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM AN EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVE, I PERSONALLY AND KEOLIS WANT TO CREATE AND ARE DETERMINED TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY EMPLOYEE HAS AN EMPATHETIC LEADER, HAS SUPPORT, IS ENABLED TO DO THE VERY BEST THAT THEY COULD DO IN THEIR ROLE EVERY DAY.
AND WE VALUE GIVING EMPLOYEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR CAREERS IN THE WAY THAT I AND OTHER MEMBERS OF MY TEAM HAVE HAD.
AND THEN TURNING TO TRADE UNIONS, I WAS A TRADE UNION MEMBER.
MY FATHER WAS A TRADE UNION SHOP STEWARD IN THE UK.
BOTH MY GRANDFATHERS WERE COAL MINERS.
I RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS.
UNIONS HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PART TO PLAY IN CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT I'VE DESCRIBED IN ENABLING SUCCESS FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY WORK WITH AND IN ENABLING SUCCESS FOR THEIR MEMBERS.
AND SO WHAT WE SEEK TO DO AND ARE DETERMINED TO DO IS TO CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE WORK OPENLY, TRANSPARENTLY, FIND COMMON GROUND AND HAVE A REALLY MATURE, PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIONS.
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DETERMINED TO DO.
IF YOU PASS THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE LOOK FORWARD TO PROVING THAT THAT IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE AND FULFILLING THOSE COMMITMENTS OVER THE MOBILIZATION PERIOD AND BEYOND.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, MIKE A UH, ALSO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR WHAT WE HOPE YOU'RE GONNA VOTE FOR IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
UM, I'M THRILLED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER IN MY OWN HOMETOWN,
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UH, TRANSIT OPERATION, A 30 YEAR CAREER.I'VE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY WORK ON THE TRANSIT ORGANIZATION IN MY HOMETOWN, SO I'M THRILLED ABOUT THAT.
MY WIFE IS THRILLED THAT I MIGHT GET TO BE HOME A LITTLE MORE OFTEN THAN I HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, LIKE DAVID, I COME FROM A UNION FAMILY.
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, MY STEPFATHER WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEAMSTERS UNION.
MY FIRST JOB WAS LOADING DOCK OR AT THE LOADING DOCK AT YELLOW FREIGHT WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF UNIONS.
WE WILL WORK WITH THE UNION, I'M SURE, I'M SURE WE CAN HELP.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA HELP, UH, MS. WATKINS AND HER GREAT STAFF CHANGE WHAT I BELIEVE IS A BEST IN CLASS ORGANIZATION TO A WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION.
ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, PRESENTING TODAY.
ALRIGHT, UH, THO THAT WILL WRAP UP OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, BUT WE WILL GO INTO OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UH, UPDATES AND MS. POWER THANK YOU HERE TO MAKE THAT PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TRILLIAN, UH, VICE CHAIR POOLE PRESIDENT, AND C E O WATKINS, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS EDNA PARRA AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE THE SEPTEMBER ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE FOR CAPTAIN METRO, UM, FOR SEPTEMBER.
ACCESS AND CSAC MET ON SEPTEMBER 6TH AND 13TH.
UM, AND ACCESS WAS UPDATED ON THE PROPOSED JANUARY, 2024 SERVICE CHANGE.
UM, TRANSIT SPEED AND RE RELI RELIABILITY UPDATE BY NADIA BAJA RAMIREZ.
UM, FOR ACCESS SPECIFIC, THEY RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON FARES AND, UH, ADAPTABILITY WITH METRO ACCESS, UM, BY DANNY SPATH AND MYSELF.
UM, AND ALSO THE NORTH FACE DEMAND RESPONSE FACILITY IN CENTRALIZED WAREHOUSE.
UM, PLUS THE SELF-EVALUATION AND A D A TRANSITION PLAN BY KIMLEY HORNE SUPPORTING STAFF, UM, FOR P SS A C.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL COMMITTEE MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER, BUT THEY WILL BE HAVING THEIR SUPPLEMENTAL MEETING THIS FRIDAY, UM, TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING, UM, WITH THE POLICE, UH, FACILITY UPDATES OR POLICIES.
AND WE'LL HAVE A MEETING NEXT MONTH IN OCTOBER.
AND WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH MR. EASTON ON THE APPOINTMENTS FOR P SS A C.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL THE UPDATE I HAVE, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
HEARING NONE, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, WE WILL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES AND LET'S SEE, HAS ERIC MADE IT YET? OKAY.
IF ERIC HASN'T MADE IT, THEN I WILL PRESENT THAT COMMITTEE.
WE MET ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH AT 1230 IN THIS ROOM.
UH, WE, UH, WE APPROVED THE, UH, MINUTES AND WE HAD A NUMBER OF ACTION ITEMS. I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD 16, AND YOU'LL SEE SEV SEVERAL OF THEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE ALSO HAD PRESENTATIONS ABOUT, UH, SERVICE CHANGES FOR 2024 AND A MONTHLY OPERATIONS UPDATE.
UH, ALSO WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, TO, UH, CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEYS ABOUT THE PROPOSED OLAS CONTRACT.
WE STARTED EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 1 21.
WE WERE, WE ENDED IT AT TWO O'CLOCK AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT THREE 12.
SO, ALRIGHT, SO THAT IS THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT.
UH, CHAIR HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT? THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, THE FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MET ON, UH, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH AT 10:00 AM UH, THE TWO ACTION ITEMS WERE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR MEETING, AND THEN A, WE HAD A BUDGET PRESENTATION AND VOTE TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD THE APPROVAL OF THE 20, UH, 2324, UH, OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
UH, WELL, WOULD YOU, OKAY, THERE IS ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, UH, VICE CHAIR.
I WANTED TO, UM, ALSO ADD TO THE REPORT WITH, UM, UH, FROM F A A THAT A T P IS COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY, AND TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ON A FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT FOR A T P.
AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LISTENING IN TO THAT REPORT, UM, YOU CAN DO THAT THROUGH A T X N OR ATTEND THE MEETING IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
AND THAT WOULD BE 9:30 AM UH, WEDNESDAY MORNING THIS WEDNESDAY.
[00:25:01]
ALL RIGHT.UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, UH, COULD YOU GIVE US THE CAMPO UPDATE? UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, THE CAMPO BOARD MET, AND FORGIVE ME, I DON'T HAVE MY CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I THINK IT WAS, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO MONDAY.
AND, UH, CONSIDERED A NUMBER OF ACTION ITEMS PRIMARILY RELATED TO, UH, THE I 35 CORRIDOR PROJECT.
AND THEN RECEIVED AN UPDATE, UH, AND CONSIDERATION ABOUT, UH, AMENDMENTS TO, OR NOT REALLY AMENDMENTS, BUT CLARIFICATION ON WHAT PORTIONS OF VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION ITEMS, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COULD TAKE WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT BRINGING THE ITEM TO THE FULL BOARD.
AND THIS WAS REALLY MORE TO HANDLE ADMINISTRATIVE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL, MI MINOR TECHNICAL CHANGES TO VARIOUS PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO, UH, EXPEDITE THOSE PROGRAMS THROUGH, UH, THROUGH THE PROCESS.
UH, AND THE, THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS, UH, FROM THE BOARD, BUT IN GENERAL, THE BOARD WAS SUPPORTIVE OF JUST THE CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, MR. JOHNSON IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, MADE, MADE A, A STRONG POINT TO SAY THAT ANY ITEM THAT HE FELT NEEDED TO COME TO THE BOARD, EITHER FROM A TRANSPARENCY STANDPOINT, IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION WITH WHETHER OR NOT IT FIT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES, HE WOULD BRING IT TO THE BOARD ITSELF.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT ON THAT.
AND THE, UH, THE FINAL COMMITTEE REPORT WILL BE THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP UPDATE.
I I SERVE ON A, ON THE A T P BOARD, SO I WILL MAKE, UH, THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THAT MEETING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, PROVIDED UPDATES ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL, UH, STRUCTURE AND CAPACITY.
UH, IT ASSESSED, UH, GOVERNANCE ISSUES, MISSION VALUE AND, AND VARIOUS INITIATIVES AS WELL.
A BRIEFING WAS GIVEN ON THE AUSTIN LIGHT RAIL IMPLEMENTATION, UH, AND, UH, THE FEDERAL PROCESS FOR NEFA AND FOR, FOR F T A AND ALSO FOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS AS WELL.
UH, THE KEY ITEM WAS THE APPROVAL OF THE A T P F Y I 24 BUDGET, WHICH TOTALS $115 MILLION.
UH, THE CLEARLY THE BUDGET ADDRESSES THE TOP PRIORITIES.
ADDITIONAL ACTION ITEMS, UH, WERE, UH, PUT, UH, WERE DISCUSSED TO, UH, TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO APPROACH, UH, F T A AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND PROJECTS, UH, BECOME, UH, AVAILABLE TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THERE WAS ADDITIONAL ACTION TAKEN ON FILING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR A BRIEFING AS IT RELATED TO THE TASK ORDER REVIEW PROCESS AND, UH, THE PROTOCOL, UH, FOR THE, UH, F Y 24 AUDIT PLAN.
AND, AND, UH, AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE THAT REPORT.
NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE OVER TO THE CONSENT, UH, AGENDA.
WE'RE POSTED, UH, FOR ACTION ON 15 ITEMS TODAY.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THESE ITEMS AND, AND IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM OR TO HAVE IT PULLED OFF OF THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA, UH, FOR, UM, FOR REGULAR ACTION, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN NOW.
IF, UH, HEARING NONE, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, VICE CHAIR WITH THE MOTION.
AND BOARD MEMBER, UH, VELO WITH, WITH THE SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED, UH, THAT WE APPROVE ALL ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA, UH, ONE THROUGH 15.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, I'LL LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING I OPPOSED SAY I, AYE, UH, HEARING, HEARING NO OPPOSITION, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
AND, AND LET'S SAY FOR THE RECORD, LET'S SEE, I HEARD BOARD MEMBER HARRIS.
I DID NOT HEAR BOARD MEMBER ROSS.
BOARD MEMBER ROSS IS AN I AND THAT WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
RIGHT? ALRIGHT, SO WE WILL MOVE ON, UH, TO, UH, LET'S SEE.
UH, THERE ARE GONNA BE THREE REMAINING ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA, INCLUDING THE CONTRACTED BUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
UH, THIS IS GONNA BE A LARGE CONTRACT THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE MAJORITY OF OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
UH, SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, UM, REARRANGE THE PRESENTATION SLIGHTLY SO THAT WE CAN, UH, HEAR OUR PRESENTATION ON THE ITEM.
AND THEN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT PRESENTATION, UH, WE, WE WILL DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS A BOARD OR NOT
[00:30:01]
AND, AND CONSULT WITH OUR ATTORNEY ON ANY LEGAL ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE PRESENTED.AND THEN, UH, AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'LL COME BACK TO TAKE A VOTE ON THAT ITEM.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO TAKE OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PRESIDENT AND C E O OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH AQUILAS TRANSIT SERVICES, L L C FOR CONTRACTED BUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES.
I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT HERE AT CAT METRO HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ON OUR, UM, CBO M OUR, UM, CONTRACT FOR OUR FIXED ROUTE SERVICES.
AND WITH THE HELP OF MOHAMMED AND MILES WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION AND THEN I'LL BE BACK UP TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR IAN, PRESIDENT, C E O WATKINS AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M MOHAMED ABDULLAH, VP OF PROCUREMENT AND CHIEF ING OFFICER.
TODAY WE ARE GONNA SHARE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF, UH, HOW WE REACHED THIS DECISION.
SO I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER THESE SLIDES AND AT ANY POINT, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU FEEL LIKE ASKING, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME.
SO THIS IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW WE WANTED TO GO OVER, UM, HOW WE, THE ROLE OF CAP METRO AND SERVICE PROVIDER.
WHAT PROCESS DID WE, UH, HAD FOR THIS PROCUREMENT AND PROPOSERS, WHAT WERE THE EVALUATION FACTORS? AND THEN FINALLY THE RECOMMENDED FIRM, BUT IS OLIS MILES.
AGAIN, BOARD MEMBER, C E O WATKINS AND THE BOARD, UH, SHERIFF TRIVI.
UH, AS MOHAMED HAS STATED, UH, THIS IS JUST SOME KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF FROM THE CAB METRO SIDE AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER'S, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL.
UM, ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF CAP METRO SERVICES ON BEHALF OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
UH, AND, AND THAT'S ON THE CAP METRO SIDE.
WE'RE, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SERVICE QUALITY.
UM, I WON'T GO OVER ALL THESE BULLET POINTS, BUT JUST SOME KEY ONES THERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE, THE, THE DRIVING DIRECTION AND SOLUTIONS TO ENHANCE OR IMPROVE SERVICE TO OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
IT'S AN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR VISION IN OUR GOALS FOR, FOR CAB METRO.
UH, AND THEN, UM, MANAGE, UH, ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES TOWARDS SERVICE, UM, RECOMMENDING CANDIDATES FOR HIRE.
THESE ARE ALL THINGS, THE INVOICING, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, UNIFORMS, PURCHASE VEHICLES.
UM, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT IS DONE ON THE CAP METRO SIDE.
UH, CONVERSELY FOR THE SERVICE PROVIDER, UH, ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGING THE WORKFORCE SAFETY AND SERVICE RELIABILITY.
UH, AND THEN AGAIN, UM, WE WANT TO DRIVE AND MAINTAIN THE BUSES AND FACILITIES, UH, MONITOR SERVICE WITH PROACTIVE LEADERSHIP AND, AND SCHEDULE ADHERENCE, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
UH, AND THEN, UM, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED KIND OF ON THE PERIPHERY, BUT NEGOTIATE A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH C V A AND MAINTAIN A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE A T U.
UH, SO THAT IS KIND OF, OF OF THE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES IN A, IN A HOLISTIC NUTSHELL KIND OF A SITUATION.
AND THEN JUST SOME OTHER KEY, UH, UH, ITEMS. CURRENTLY, THE BARGAIN EMPLOYEES ARE A LITTLE OVER 1200 FOLKS.
BUS OPERATORS ARE 900, UH, A A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
THERE'S OUR ROAD SUPERVISORS 2113.
UM, AND THEN THE, THE MAINTENANCE ASPECT OF IT.
AND THEN ON THE LEADERSHIP PIECE, YOU'LL SEE, UM, 36 INDIVIDUALS STATED THERE, UM, FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER, VP POSITION, UM, OPS MANAGERS, ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH SAFETY, MAINTENANCE, UM, LABOR RELATIONS.
AND OF COURSE THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT FOLKS IS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ALONG WITH OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
SO THIS WAS THE PROCESS BEGINNING IN MARCH.
UM, SOMETHING OF THIS COMPLICATED, UH, PROJECT TAKES ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO.
AND NOW HERE IN SEPTEMBER, WE ARE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD REQUESTING FOR AN APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT.
TODAY, WHEN WE CLOSE THE R F P, WE RECEIVED THREE PROPOSALS FROM OLIS, M T M,
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WHO IS ALSO OUR SERVICE PROVIDER FOR PARATRANSIT MEDICAL ACCESS SERVICES AND M V, WHICH IS THE INCUMBENT FOR OUR FIXED ROCK SERVICES TODAY.THESE WERE THE FOUR EVALUATION FACTORS.
EVALUATION TEAM REVIEWED ALL PROPOSALS BASED ON THESE FACTORS.
UH, WHILE THEY WERE REVIEWING THE TECHNICAL PART OF THE PROPOSAL, THERE WAS A SEPARATE PRICING TEAM LED BY A CONSULTANT, NANCY EDMONDSON AND CAPITAL METRO TEAM MEMBERS.
THIS WAS THE FINAL SCORE WHEN THE EVALUATION TEAM FINISHED THEIR EVALUATION, THIS WAS THE FINAL PRICING FROM ALL THREE.
AND FROM THOSE NUMBERS, UM, THE RECOMMENDED FIRM FOR R F P 8 0 2 0 1 7, UM, UH, WAS KILIS BASED ON THE, THE PRESENTATIONS AND THE SOLICITATION PROPOSED LEADERSHIP TEAM HAD A STRONG TRANSIT EXPERIENCE OF, OF PRIMARILY UP TO 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH ELECTRICAL FLEET, BBBS, AND OF COURSE, UM, OUR B R T SERVICE THAT'S ONGOING AND IN THE FUTURE.
UM, AND WE'LL PROVIDE 40 CORPORATE VISITS, UH, ANNUALLY, UH, AND THEN DEMONSTRATED A REAL GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAP MERUS HYBRID BUSINESS MODEL.
UM, WE'RE KIND OF UNIQUE TO A LOT OF OTHER AUTHORITIES, UH, UH, IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY AND, AND HOW OUR MODEL IS.
BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT PROCESS VERY WELL.
UH, A DETAILED MOBILIZATION PLAN AND TRANSIT TEAM, UM, THAT THEY'RE BRINGING TO THE TABLE.
AND OF COURSE, GOOD CLIENT RATINGS OF PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR CONTRACTS AND OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES.
SIMILAR, UH, IN SIZE TO CAP MITCHELL.
AND THEN THE, THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS OUR MOST VALUED ASSET IS OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND THAT PEOPLE FIRST APPROACH, UH, EMPLOYEE FACING PROGRAMS, UM, THAT THEY PLAN TO BRING, UH, ALSO FALLS INTO ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT WE DO HERE, UM, AT CAP METRO.
AND THEN, UM, THE COMMIT, THE COMMITTED, THE COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE, OF OUR TRANSIT MODEL.
I THINK, UM, THE, UH, THE TEAM AND, UH, UH, THROUGH THE EVALUATION PROCESS, WE WERE LOOKING FOR THE, THE BEST FIRM THAT COULD FIT THE GROWTH AND THE CURRENT, UM, TRANSIT SYSTEM AND MODEL THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND, UH, KEOLIS, UH, CAME AS THE, THE LEADING PROVIDER TO DO THAT.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
IF NOT, WE'LL LET ANDY, UM, WRAP UP.
IF YOU, IF I WAS JUST UP HERE FOR ANY OPEN QUESTIONS AND MAYBE A DECISION IF WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UM, EXEC SESSION, HAVE ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION? NO, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, EVEN IF, UH, ONLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY'D LIKE BEFORE WE GO IN.
SO DON'T SEE ANY, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
UH, BUT LET ME GO AHEAD AND READ US, UH, INTO, UH, INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS WE WILL RECESS THE, UH, BOARD MEETING OF, OF, UH, CAP METRO TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 FOR CONSULTATION WITH OUR ATTORNEY REGARDING LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO A PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH OLAS TRANSIT SERVICES, L L C FOR CONTRACTED BUS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR A BASE PERIOD OF THREE YEARS PLUS TWO ONE YEAR OPTIONS WITH A 5% CONTINGENCY IN A, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $753,651,081.
I'M RARELY ACCUSED OF TALKING TOO LONG.
UH, BOARD IS OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, WE WILL COME BACK TO ORDER, UH, WITH TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, UH, I WANT TO OFFICIALLY READ IN THE RECORD, UH, THAT, UH, LET'S SEE THAT, UH, WE'VE GOT A BOARD MEMBER WHO HAS JOINED US AND, AND, UM, AND, AND WILL WANT TO BE ADDED, UH, AS AN EYE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
UH, SECOND ITEM IS THAT WE WILL, UM,
[00:40:01]
WE ARE NOW THAT THAT WOULD BE BOARD MEMBER STRATTON FOR THE RECORD.UH, WE WANT TO OFFICIALLY ADD HIM TO THE, UH, TO THE VOTE, UH, FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND, AND NOW WE WILL GO BACK TO, UH, CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION OF ACTION ITEM ONE.
UH, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, UH, BOARD MEMBER BILL, UH, MR. SCIA, IN THE DISCUSSIONS THAT, THAT WE'VE HAD WITH, UH, REGARD TO THE CONTRACT, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MENTIONS OF HOW CAPITAL METRO, UH, SETS THE FLOOR FOR THE WAGES FOR OUR MECHANICS AND OPERATORS AS PART OF THE, THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE, UH, ABOUT TO, UH, VOTE ON.
AND, UH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.
UH, IN OUR MODEL, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PASS TRUE COSTS THAT ARE PART OF THE CONTRACT.
THOSE PASS TRUE COSTS ARE FOR ITEMS SUCH AS WAGES OR BENEFITS.
AND SO WHEN YOU GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH AND TO SET THAT WAGE RATE MOVING FORWARD IN ANOTHER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, WHAT CAP METRO DOES IS PROVIDE FOR THE, THE SERVICE PROVIDER, THE FLOOR, MEANING THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT, UM, AS A GOOD WORKING OR A GOOD WAGE RATE FOR OUR WORKFORCE.
AND WHAT WE'VE RECENTLY DONE IN THE LAST CONTRACT, THE BENEFIT LEVELS ACTUALLY MATCHED THOSE OF CAT METRO EMPLOYEES.
AND SO NOW OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CAT METRO, THE BENEFIT LEVELS ARE ALL SET.
WE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE THE RISK IS BACK ON CAP METRO, SINCE IT'S A PASS THROUGH COURSE, WE TELL 'EM, OH LISTEN, WE WE'RE PAYING THIS, YOU'RE JUST GIVING US THE BILL ONCE A MONTH.
AND THAT, UM, SINCE IT'S A PASS THROUGH COURSE, WE SET THAT FLOOR FOR THEM.
AND SO THAT PART OF NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN BE A LITTLE BIT CONTENTIOUS, THAT DOESN'T OCCUR BECAUSE, UM, CAP METRO IS SETTING THAT LEVEL.
AND IS THAT A, IS THAT A TYPICAL MODEL IN THE INDUSTRY OR NO, NO.
WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE MODEL HERE.
UM, WE MOVED TO IT BACK WHAT WE CALL PIVOT 22 BACK IN JANUARY OF 2022.
UM, WHAT IT, UM, WHAT I THINK IT DOES IS IT GREATLY IMPROVED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US, THE SERVICE PROVIDER AND A T U, AND ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE SERVICE SURETY OF EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO BE ON THE STREET, UM, WHAT WE PUT ON THE STREET.
UM, AND ALSO HELP US SET A WAGE RATE IN WHICH WE CAN GET OPERATORS AND MECHANICS TO COME WORK HERE FOR CANADA.
WELL, I'M GLAD, MY SENSE WOULD BE THAT THAT WOULD MAKE IT A, A LESS CONTENTIOUS, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, THERE'S NOT A ONE PIE THAT EVERYBODY'S FIGHTING OVER.
IT'S, IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MORE OPEN-ENDED, OBVIOUSLY, THAT THAT'S NOT AN UNLIMITED PIE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL METRO ULTIMATELY IS SETTING KIND OF A, A, A BASE RATE.
TYPICALLY WHEN YOU'RE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS, YOUR, YOUR MOST CONTENTIOUS ITEM OBVIOUSLY IS WAGE RATE AND BENEFITS.
SO SINCE WE ARE TAKING THAT RISK ON AND WE'RE SETTING WHAT WE COULD COMPARED TO MARKET IS A REASONABLE OR A GOOD WAY OF TREATING OUR FRONTLINE STAFF, THAT, THAT IT, IT'S NOT, IT, IT BECOMES A NON-ISSUE DURING NEGOTIATIONS.
WELL, UH, I, I, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION.
I, I THINK THAT'S A, A REALLY INTERESTING AND AN INNOVATIVE MODEL AND, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY ONE THAT'LL, THAT'LL SERVE CAPITAL METRO WELL IN THE COMING YEARS.
UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION, UH, HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
BOARD MEMBER STRATTON, THAT, THAT, THAT ELUSIVE BOARD MEMBER.
SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER BENGALS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE ALL, UM, IN FAVOR LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
AND BOARD MEMBER ROSS DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
A AND THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
SO ITEM NUMBER ONE HAS BEEN APPROVED.
UH, NOW WE MOVE UP TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF A FI OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, OPERATING IN CAPITAL BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
KEVIN CONLIN WILL BE MAKING THAT PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR PAVILION, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AND C E O OF WATKINS.
I'M THE DEPUTY C F O FOR CAP METRO, AND TODAY THIS RESOLUTION IS TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS $871,033,690 FOR OPERATING AND CAPITAL EXPENSES.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD, SENIOR LEADERSHIP, CAPRA STAFF, AND OUR WONDERFUL BUDGET TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK AND PUTTING THIS BUDGET DIRECT TOGETHER.
THIS RESOLUTION CAPTURES THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET THAT THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU AS A BOARD HAVE
[00:45:01]
SET FOR THE AGENCY AND MAKES INVESTMENTS BASED ON YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN.THE BUDGET IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND BALANCE AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO MEET ALL OF OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENTS WITH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE'RE IN GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION AND OPTIMISTIC FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT WE REMAIN GUARDED WITH THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, HIGH PETROLEUM PRICING, UM, LINGERING LABOR AND SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, AND NECESSARY FUNDING FOR MANY LARGE PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON.
WE'VE ALSO COMPLETED OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS ON OUR BUDGET AT THE LAKELINE STATION PARK AND RIDE REPUBLIC SQUARE, WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER, AND THE NORWOOD TRANSIT CENTER.
WE HAVE AN ONLINE WEBINAR ON THE BUDGET POSTED ON YOUTUBE AS WELL THAT'S PRESENTED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
WE ALSO HAVE A COPY OF CAP METRO'S BUDGET DOCUMENT AVAILABLE IN MORE DETAIL AND POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH THE BOARD WAS PROVIDED A LINK TO.
AND THAT'LL CONCLUDE MY, UM, PRESENTATION THIS MORNING.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S ENGAGEMENT OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS ON THE BUDGET AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UM, CHAIRMAN, ANY ATTEND THE MOTION? OKAY.
UM, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS IS MOVING TO SECOND IT.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED, UH, THAT WE APPROVE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FOR THE RECORD? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
AND, AND THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
OUR THIRD ITEM WILL BE, UH, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISED BYLAWS FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND C E O OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT OF, UH, TO THE JOINT, UH, PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAB METRO AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
UH, CHEYENNE KRAUS WILL BE MAKING THAT, THAT, UH, PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AND C E O UH, WATKINS.
I AM THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CAP METRO AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ACTION ITEM THREE, RELATING TO THE BYLAWS FOR THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SO, UH, THE C A C WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2020, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY AND CAP METRO TO SUPPORT PROJECT CONNECT.
THE C A C HAS PROVIDED A TON OF VALUABLE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT OVER THOSE TWO YEARS, WE'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS THE STAFF SUPPORTS FOR THE C A C TO OBSERVE THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER SUPPORT THE C A C AS THEY CONTINUE THEIR WORK FOR PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, MYSELF, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, CITY STAFF, UH, CAP AND A T P STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER ALONGSIDE THE C A C AND THEIR, IN PARTICULAR, THEIR GOVERNANCE WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW THE BYLAWS IN IT'S IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND, UM, PRESENT OR PRESENT SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE THEIR WORK.
UM, SO THE BYLAWS BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED BY THE C A C AND HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND THE A T P BOARD, UM, DURING THEIR MEETINGS LAST WEEK.
UM, THE J P A AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THE WORK OF THE BYLAWS AND OF THE C A C STRUCTURE INTO ONE DOCUMENT.
RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO DOCUMENTS AND WE WANNA MAKE IT MORE CLEAR AND MORE TRANSPARENT.
SO TODAY YOU'RE, I'M ASKING FOR ACTION FROM YOU ON THE C A C BYLAWS AS WELL AS AUTHORIZING US TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND, AND, UM, A T P RATHER TO AMEND THE J P A TO MAKE SURE THOSE BYLAWS ARE EFFECTUATED.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE.
IS THERE A SECOND BOARD MEMBER? ALICE? ALRIGHT, THAT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THE RESOLUTION IN ACTION ITEM NUMBER THREE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
AND, AND, UH, FOR THE RECORD, UH, BOARD, UH, MEMBERS HARRIS AND ROSS WILL REFLECT.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[00:50:01]
ALRIGHT, UM, LET'S SEE.WE ARE NOT POSTED FOR ANY FURTHER ACTION OR DISCUSSION ITEMS TODAY.
SO OUR FINAL AGENDA ITEM IS GOING TO BE THE MONTHLY UPDATE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND C E O.
WE HAVE HAD A VERY BUSY SEPTEMBER.
IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, UM, BUT HERE WE ARE.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS TO REPORT ON THIS MONTH.
UM, FIRST OFF, AS WE MENTIONED AND AND RECOGNIZED IN PERSON AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, UM, OUR OWN TED WARD WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE PARATRANSIT DIVISION AT THE 2023 C T A A RODEO.
UM, TED IS A TWO TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION AND HAS BEEN HONORED AS THE OTIS REED DRIVER OF THE YEAR TWICE.
UM, TED'S EXCELLENCE IS EXTENDS BEYOND THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
HE HAS PLACED SECOND IN THE 2023 CAP METRO RODEO AND HAS SECURED MULTIPLE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE VICTORIES.
UM, TED IS QUITE FRANKLY THE BEST OF THE BEST AND THERE'S NO GETTING AROUND IT.
HE GENEROUSLY SHARES HIS EXPERTISE BY SERVING AS A TRAINER FOR NEW TRANSIT OPERATORS AND A BEHIND THE WHEEL TRAINER FOR OUR PICKUP SERVICES.
UM, HE'S ALSO A PASSIONATE SPORTS FAN, A VERY SNAZZY DRESSER.
UM, WHILE HE LOOKS QUITE SHARP IN HIS UNIFORM, YOU SEE THE MAN IN HIS SUNDAY BEST AND YOU'LL NEVER SEE A MORE COLOR COORDINATED AND FANTASTIC DRESSER IN YOUR LIFE.
UM, AND, AND HIS DEDICATION TO HIS WORK IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
SO, UM, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET GOOD PICTURES BEFORE THE LAST MEETING TO SHOW YOU, UM, THE VEHICLE.
BUT THIS VEHICLE, UM, HIGHLIGHTING TED, UM, AS THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR, UM, HAS BEEN WORKING ITS WAY AROUND OUR SERVICE AREA.
AND I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY PERSONAL AND HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO TED WARD, UM, AS THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR.
UM, HE'S BEEN THE DRIVER, OUR DRIVER OF THE YEAR IN OUR HEARTS, MANY, MANY YEARS RUNNING.
NEXT UP, I WAS, UM, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL OF AUSTIN'S YOUNG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CLASS.
UM, THIS CLASS CONSISTS, CONSISTS OF YOUNG LEADERS IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY WHO PARTICIPATE IN A YEAR LONG PROGRAM, UM, UNDER RICA'S GUIDANCE.
AND THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM THEY LEARN ALL ABOUT CRITICAL ISSUES SHAPING AUSTIN.
UM, THIS MONTH THE FOCUS WAS ON TRANSPORTATION AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT CAP METRO SERVICES, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UM, AND OUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, IT WAS A DOUBLE BONUS TO HAVE CAP METRO BOARD MEMBER AND RICA'S, C E E O, DIANE BENGAL JOIN US.
UM, AND UH, SHE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME GREAT INSIGHTS TO HELP UM, THESE YOUNG REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND WHY THEY SHOULD CARE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.
UM, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INVITATION.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF, UH, REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION.
I CAN GIVE THAT SPEECH EVERY DAY IF I NEED TO.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR TEAM RECENTLY BROUGHT 19 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FROM ST.
EDWARDS TO A TRI TRANSIT PRESENTATION.
THEY TOOK THE ROUTE ONE TO THE CAPITAL STATION AND ENGAGED IN A SCAVENGER HUNT WHILE THEY WERE DOWNTOWN, UM, AND ALSO HAD LUNCH DOWNTOWN.
UM, THE STUDENTS HAD A FANTASTIC TIME AND WERE THRILLED TO LEARN JUST HOW EASY IT IS TO USE PUBLIC TRANSIT IN AUSTIN.
SO THANKS TO OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM FOR LEADING THAT EFFORT.
A FEW TEAM MEMBERS WE'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THE LAST MONTH.
UM, ON THE LEFT THERE IS NADIA BARRERA RAMIREZ, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF CROSS-AGENCY PROGRAMS, UM, TRANSIT AND MOBILITY.
AND SHE WAS HONORED BY W T S, WHICH IS THE WOMEN'S TRANSPORTATION SEMINAR, HEART OF TEXAS CHAPTER GALA.
UM, THIS PAST MONTH AS A WOMAN ADVANCING TRANSPORTATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN CENTRAL TEXAS, UH, NADIA DOES FANTASTIC WORK, SO NOT SURPRISING BY ANY OF US TO SEE THAT HONOR.
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR OWN LAWRENCE TREVINO COORDINATOR IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS WAS RECENTLY ACCEPTED INTO THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HISPANIC AUSTIN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
AND THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES BUSINESS LEADERS AND PROFESSIONALS AND OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP CIVIC AWARENESS IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE LAWRENCE NOT ONLY REPRESENT US, BUT ALSO GET THAT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AS WAS MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING BY OUR PUBLIC SPEAKER MAYOR LYLE, UM, IT WAS OUR HONOR TO HOST TEXT 21.
THEIR STATEWIDE QUARTERLY MEETING WAS IN AUSTIN THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.
UM, T 21 IS A MEMBER ORGANIZATION UNITING VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVOCATE FOR IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION THROUGHOUT TEXAS.
UM, SPECIAL GUEST INCLUDED DR.
LLOYD POTTER, THE STATE DEMOGRAPHER, UM, WHO MAKES DEMOGRAPHY INTERESTING.
HE'S A FANTASTIC PRESENTER AND SPEAKER.
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AN EASY THAT IS NOT ALWAYS AN EASY TASK.UM, FORMER TEXAS SECRETARY OF STATE, DAVID DEAN, UM, AUSTIN MAYOR KIRK WATSON JOINED US AS WELL AS LANDER MAYOR.
UM, CHRISTINE LYLE AND OUR OWN, UM, BECKY ROSS, UH, LANDER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND CAT MIRE BOARD MEMBER.
UM, YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE, WE ORGANIZED TOURS OF OUR NORTH OPS RAIL AND BUS MAINTENANCE AND CHARGING, UM, STATIONS TO HELP FOLKS UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE ABLE TO HOLD A ROUND STATION DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TOPICS.
UM, AND I PARTICIPATED ALONGSIDE, UM, THE C E O AT HOUSTON METRO, UH, DALLAS, THE DALLAS AREA, RAPID TRANSIT, UM, DART, AS WELL AS CORPUS CHRISTI R T A.
SO IT WAS, UM, A GREAT GATHERING AND WE WERE QUITE HONORED, UM, TO HOST HERE IN AUSTIN.
NEXT UP, UM, AS YOU LIKELY KNOW, IN MID-SEPTEMBER WE KICKED OFF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AND OUR VERY OWN MELISSA ORTIZ, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON SPECTRUM ONE NEWS.
UM, SHE, UH, WAS JOINED BY CARLA RENDON OF MOSQUE TOURA TO TALK ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE CAP METRO VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO, UM, SHARE PHOTOS OF THE STAN, EXCUSE ME, HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH BUS, UM, THAT WAS REVEALED AT FIESTA AUSTIN EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO OUR ART ON THE BUS PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF AND WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE HIGHLIGHTED, UM, BY THIS LOCAL MEDIA AGENCY.
UH, WE RECENTLY HELD CAPROS FALL FRONTLINE GRADUATION EVENT.
WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT AS WE CELEBRATED OUR MOST RECENT BUS OPERATORS, UM, MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS AND SAFETY AMBASSADORS.
UM, YOU SEE SOME PICTURES HERE OF MANY OF THEIR SMILING FACES, UM, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL A PUBLIC WELCOME TO THE CAT METRO FAMILY.
UM, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE SO MANY NEW SMILING FACES ON BOARD AND WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR THE NEXT SET OF SMILING FACES.
SO, UM, MY SHAMELESS PLUG FOR RECRUITING CAP METRO.ORG/JOBS.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GREAT FOLKS TO JOIN THE TEAM.
SO, UM, IT'S NOT JUST A JOB, IT'S A CAREER.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.
NEXT UP, UM, LAST WEEK WAS RAIL SAFETY WEEK ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE DID SOME SPECIFIC OUTREACH HERE IN AUSTIN, UM, AT RUTLEDGE AND RIDGETOP ELEMENTARIES AND THE HIGHLAND CAP CAP METRO RAIL STATION.
UM, THESE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE NEAR OUR RAIL CROSSINGS AND THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME LEARNING ALL ABOUT RAIL SAFETY.
UM, WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF CUSTOMERS STOP BY TO GET INFORMATION ON RAIL, UM, SAFETY AS WELL.
UM, YOU'LL SEE THERE ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE WRAPPED WITH RAIL SAFETY, UM, CAMPAIGNS THAT INCLUDE THE UM, C TRACKS THINK TRAIN LOGO, UM, FROM OPERATION LIFESAVER, WHICH IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES RAIL SAFETY.
UM, WE'RE ALSO THRILLED THAT THESE, UM, TRAINS CONTINUE TO FEATURE OUR, UM, SAFETY IS APPEALING.
SO A LITTLE BIT OF A FUN PLAY ON APPEALING, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE MUST SAY SAFE ON TRANSIT.
IT'S MY FAVORITE PUN WE EVER MAKE IS THAT SAFETY IS APPEALING.
WE LOVE DAD JOKES AROUND HERE.
UM, WE RECEIVED THIS AWARD FOR OUR WORK IN THE ELECTRIFICATION OF OUR BUS FLEET.
SO WE APPRECIATE THAT RECOGNITION.
UM, AND THANK ROB AND DAVID FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB.
NOT ONLY LEADING THOSE EFFORTS BUT REPRESENTING US AT THAT EVENT.
AND THEN LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, YESTERDAY, AURA AND TRANSIT FORWARD JOINTLY ORGANIZED A TRANSIT CELEBRATION AT PLAZA SALTILLO WITH DISTINGUISHED SPEECHES, SPEAKERS SUCH AS MAYOR KIRK WATSON, UM, US REPRESENTATIVE LLOYD DOGGETT AND TEXAS STATE REP JOHN BUSEY.
ALONGSIDE AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING OF MORE THAN A HUNDRED DEDICATED TRANSIT USERS AND SUPPORTERS, IT WAS A BIT WARMER THAN WE HAD HOPED IT WOULD BE.
UM, BUT THIS EXCEPTIONAL EVENT SERVED AS A JOYFUL COMMEMORATION OF THE REMARKABLE STRIDES THAT THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY AND CENTRAL TEXAS HAVE MADE IN ADVANCING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM OVER THE PAST YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, VICE CHAIR POOL FOR ALSO ATTENDING AND DOING A GREAT JOB OF REPRESENTING BOTH CAP METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, AS WE CELEBRATED THE GREAT WORK THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN TRANSIT IN THIS REGION, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE GREAT WORK YET TO COME.
SO MANY THANKS TO AURA AND TRANSIT FORWARD FOR HELPING US, UM, KEEP THE BAND TOGETHER AND EXCITED ABOUT SUPPORTING PUBLIC TRANSIT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESIDENT'S
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REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER.UH, THANK YOU DOTTIE, AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING IN AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED OFFICIALLY AT 1 38.