[00:00:05]
[I. Call to Order]
LIKE WE HAVE A QUORUM IN PLACE.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE AUGUST MEETING OF THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE ARE IN THE, HERE IN THE CAP METRO BOARDROOM.
ONCE AGAIN, THE TIME IS 12 O'CLOCK.
[II. Safety Briefing]
ON OUR AGENDA TODAY WILL BE OUR MONTHLY SAFETY BRIEFING WITH MR. TABBAN, ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS LIKE TO DO THE FRENCH, FRENCH PRONUNCIATION, TABONE.UH, BUT, UH, UH, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING? UH, THANK YOU, CHAIR ILIAN.
I SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
JUST GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE SAFETY BRIEFING.
AND SO YOU ARE LOCATED AT, UH, 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET, AND YOU ARE IN THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM.
UH, IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, YOU'LL BE ASKED TO EXIT FROM EITHER OF THESE DOORS FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE A MOBILITY CHALLENGE AND ARE ASKED TO EXIT OUT OF THAT DOOR.
WE ASK THAT YOU KIND OF HANG OUT ON THE PLATFORM RIGHT THERE UNTIL WE CAN GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE.
UH, THERE MAY BE HOPEFULLY NOT, UH, A NEED FOR A DEFIBRILLATOR.
IF THERE IS, THERE IS ONE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, RIGHT BY THE ELEVATOR.
SO YOU GO OUT STRAIGHT, YOU MAKE A RIGHT, AND RIGHT BY THE ELEVATOR, YOU WILL FIND ONE.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR SAFETY BRIEFING TODAY.
[III. Public Comment]
PUBLIC COMMENTS.I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED, UH, UP WITH US IN ADVANCE.
SO WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, UH, WOULD YOU, LET'S SEE.
IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE, IN THE ROOM, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
AND IF YOU'RE JOINING US REMOTELY, PLEASE UNMUTE, UNMUTE YOURSELF.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, UNLESS THERE'S SPEAKING ON TWO AGENDA ITEMS OR REPRESENTING A GROUP OF MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE ROOM, IN WHICH CASE THEY'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
UH, OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE LEANDER MAYOR, UH, CHRIS, UH, CHRISTINE LYLE, WHO'S JOINING US REMOTELY.
UM, AS YOU ALL MAY BE AWARE, ALREADY THE, UH, EXPANSION OF PICKUP SERVICE IS WELL UNDERWAY AND IT IS GOING TO ALL THE NEW PLACES, AND EVERYBODY'S REALLY EXCITED.
SO I FELT LIKE SINCE I'VE COME IN SO MANY TIMES AND ASKED FOR THAT EXPANSION, IT WAS FITTING THAT I COME IN TODAY AND SAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE LOVE THE EXPANSION.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO.
I DON'T SEE MR. EMERSON WITH US.
I WILL, UH, GIVE YOU A SIGNAL IF HE DOES JOIN.
I ALSO DON'T SEE MS. JOSEPH YET, SO I WILL, UH, KEEP AN EYE ON THE, ON THE FEED AND LET YOU KNOW IF SHE JOINS.
UH, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY THAT, UH, I DID NOT HAVE MY MIC ON, SO I SHOULD SAY, MS. JOSEPH, ARE YOU AVAILABLE? AND IF YOU, AND, AND IF YOU, UM, BECOME AVAILABLE, THEN WE WILL, UH, CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT PERSON ON OUR LIST IS DEB MILLER.
AND, UM, MS. MILLER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
UM, I'M A PROVISIONAL WRITER OF METRO ACCESS AND THE, AND THE, UH, FIXED ROUTE SERVICE.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW ISSUE AND IT, AND IT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S COME UP.
UH, THE FIRST OF ALL IS THE FIXED ROUTE DRIVERS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE NOT ABLE TO PUT THE TETHER STRAPS ON.
MANY OF THEM ARE EITHER OUTTA SHAPE OR ELDERLY LIKE WE ARE, OR HAVE PHYSICAL DISABILITIES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
I REALIZE WE HAD TROUBLE HIRING PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE HIRING PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO DO THE JOB WITHOUT SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS.
I URGE YOU TO LOOK FORWARD IN THE FUTURE TO MAKING SOME KIND OF PROGRAM WHERE IT IS THE DRIVERS WHO HAVE TROUBLE REACHING THE TETHERS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO REACH THEM.
UM, THE SAME DRIVER A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND
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I HAVE THE DETAILS FOR YOU LATER, TO GIVE YOU ABOUT PARTICULAR DRIVERS IN ROUTE.UM, THEY, THEY'RE JUST PUTTING TWO STRAPS ON AND THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THE ONES THAT WOULD BE SAFE ON, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST LIKE WE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA FIND NEW PROCEDURES.
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ACTIVE IN HELPING FIND A WAY TO DO THAT.
ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOU THE BOARD AWARE AS WE GO FORWARD, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY PUT WHEELCHAIRS ON THE FUTURE VEHICLES WE BUY PRIOR TO PURCHASING THESE VEHICLES AND LET OUR EXPERIENCED DRIVERS TRY AND STRAP THINGS ON AND SEE WHAT THE NEW MODELS HAVE.
THE 600 SERIES ARE TAKING TWICE AS LONG TO LOAD.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THE MODELS BEFORE, ON ONE OF THE ENDS OF THE STRAPS THAT WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE TETHER, IT SLID INTO PLACE.
NOW IT HAS TO BE ATTACHED ON BOTH ENDS, WHICH IS TAKING TWICE AS MUCH TIME TO LOAD.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A, A DESIGN ERROR.
THE OTHER THING IS, UM, YOU PUT TWO, UH, SETS OF RAILS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE DIFFERENCES IN WHICH THE CHAIRS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, BUT NOW THE RAILS ARE TOO SHORT FOR THE DRIVER TO HAVE THE ROOM TO LOCK US IN AND SAFELY LOAD US ON THE, ON THE A DA SERVICE.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD IN ADDRESSING THESE NEW PURCHASES THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR THE SERVICE, THAT WE DON'T SLOW THINGS DOWN WITH THE NEW VEHICLES.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS, I WOULD LIKE TO, WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW APP AND WITH THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE, I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE THE BOARD TO PUT ONE OF THESE TABLETS IN YOUR CAR AS IF YOU HAD AN A DA VEHICLE TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS THROUGH THE APP AND TO A DAY AHEAD BY FIVE, LIKE WHAT WE DO TO DRIVE YOUR OWN VEHICLE, AS IF IT WAS A BUS USING THE APP TO SCHEDULE THE RIDES.
AND IT ISN'T AS IF YOU ARE ONE OF OUR DRIVERS JUST GOING TO THE REGULAR PLACES YOU GO.
I FEEL LIKE IF YOU ACTUALLY SAW WHAT IT WAS LIKE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CLIENT AND THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE DRIVER, WE COULD SOLVE SO MANY OF THE ISSUES REHAB RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE YOU WOULD SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH.
THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE APP JUST FLUCTUATES IN THE TIME YOU'RE COMING.
IT COULD SAY, YOU'RE GONNA PICK ME UP AT 3 45, THEN THE BUS ARRIVES AT 2 45.
AND WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS. MS. MILLER, MS. MILLER, MS. MILLER, WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE THREE MINUTE POINT.
IF YOU NEED TO WRAP UP, IF YOU OKAY.
ANYWAY, GOING FORWARD, I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE MORE ON THE NEEDS OF THE CLIENT AND THE DRIVER BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED VERY EASILY WITH THE PROGRAMMING OF THE SOFTWARE, PARTICULARLY THE, UM, WINDOWS ARE MISSING NOW FOR BOTH THE RIDERS AND THE DRIVERS.
AND IF WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH STAFF TO TALK WITH YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS, WE CERTAINLY CAN.
UH, THE NEXT PERSON WHO HAS SIGNED IN IS I, I THINK IT'S KATINA BROWN.
UH, YES, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME DOING ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, BEFORE, SO JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.
SO, UM, WHAT HAS PROMPTED ME TO COME TODAY? I HAD, UM, MORE RECENTLY AN INCIDENT OCCUR NOT THIS PAST SATURDAY, BUT THIS SATURDAY.
PRIOR TO THAT, UM, THERE WAS A PASSENGER ON THE BUS, THE LIGHT, THE LEFT TURNING LIGHT AT FIRST IN RIVERSIDE.
IT WASN'T OPERATING PROPERLY, SO IT WAS TAKING A WHILE FOR THE VEHICLES TO MAKE THEIR TURN.
THE PASSENGER, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, UM, WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS, WANTED TO GET OFF THE BUS, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, WAS VERY UNSAFE FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE.
AND HE PROCEEDED TO KICK THE DOOR AND HE STARTED CURSING.
AND THEN HE DIRECTED HIS ANGER TOWARDS ME AND IN A WAY WHERE IT GENUINELY FELT VERY THREATENING.
UM, BASICALLY IF I DIDN'T DO WHAT HE WAS DEMANDING ME TO, TO DO, HE WAS GOING TO THEN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY ASSAULT ME.
UM, THANKFULLY THERE WAS ONE BRAVE PASSENGER ON THE BUS WHO WAS WILLING TO, UM, COME TO MY, MY DEFENSE AND TRY TO DIFFUSE THE SITUATION.
UM, AND WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, I FELT THE NEED TO GIVE THIS GENTLEMAN A, A MONETARY THANK YOU.
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FELT LIKE HAD HE NOT BEEN ON THE BUS, UM, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD THAT, I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ANY PROTECTION.IT WAS A BUS FULL OF PEOPLE AND NO ONE SAID ANYTHING TO EVEN, YOU KNOW, HELP HIM IN TRYING TO DEESCALATE.
AND SO I FELT LIKE HAD HE NOT BEEN THERE, AND THIS IS WHAT I EXPRESSED TO HIM, HAD HE NOT BEEN PRESENT, I BELIEVE THAT MAN WOULD HAVE FELT LIKE HE COULD HAVE TAKEN IT FURTHER THAN JUST VERBAL INSULTS BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS GONNA DO ANYTHING.
AND I DON'T NECESSARILY BLAME THEM, BUT, UM, MY TIME IS IS ABOUT TO END.
WE'LL, WE'LL GIVE YOU THE TIME THAT YOU NEED.
UM, I BASICALLY JUST FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, A WISE DECISION TO MAYBE LOOK INTO, UM, HAVING, I KNOW WE HAVE, I'M ASSUMING RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE HIRE THAT, UH, ARE, ARE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE SOUTH YARD.
I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO MAYBE EMPLOY SOME PEOPLE TO BE ON THE BUS, AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO BE ON THE BUS AND LIKE HAVE IT IN SHIFTS.
THAT WAY IF SOMETHING DOES ARISE, UM, WE CAN FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS OUR BACK AND WE'RE GONNA BE PROPERLY PROTECTED.
AND ALSO, UM, NOT FEEL GUILTY IF A PASSENGER TAKES, YOU KNOW, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO DEFEND.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO FEELING LIKE, WELL, WHAT IF IT WOULD'VE ESCALATED AND SOMETHING WOULD'VE HAPPENED TO THEM IN TURN.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING FORWARD AND, AND GIVING US THIS STATEMENT IN THE RECORD.
UM, YOU, YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE JUST SWORE IN OUR TRANSIT POLICE AND THE ASSISTANT, UH, POLICE CHIEF AND, UH, CAPTAIN TODAY.
OH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TRYING TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE PAY ATTENTION AS, AS OUR ROUTES CONTINUE TO EXPAND TO WHAT OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE SAYING TO US, AND THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY WHAT WE DO.
THAT'S WHY THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF AMBASSADORS, UH, FOLKS THAT CAN KIND OF WATCH FOR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
MM-HMM,
SO TRYING TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRENT PAYNE, WHO IS OVER THE UNION, THE A TU.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO TALK TO US, BUT TO CONTINUE, UH, TO TALK TO YOUR UNION AS WELL.
AND, AND WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW AND, AND WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING FREQUENTLY.
AND BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE SAFE BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR EYES AND EARS ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS A BRAVE STEP AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LISTENING AND THAT WE ARE TAKING ACTION BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE.
SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBER, UH, UH, THANK YOU CHAIR, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND, AND I'M SORRY THAT, THAT THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
WHAT ROUTE WAS IT? UM, HONESTLY, I CAN'T RECALL.
UH, I, I MEAN SURE EVERYTHING WAS DOCUMENTED, I'M SURE.
'CAUSE I, I ENDED UP TAKING OFF THE REST OF THE DAY, SO NO PROBLEM.
AND AGAIN, UH, I'M SORRY THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
AND, AND, UH, DEFINITELY THE, THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF, OF BOTH OUR PASSENGERS AND OUR OPERATORS ARE, ARE PARAMOUNT.
UH, ANY, ANYBODY ELSE? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, AND LET'S STAY CONNECTED ON THIS AND, AND, UH, SO YOU FOLLOWED THE WRITTEN REPORT AND YOU'VE GIVEN US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU DIRECT FEEDBACK.
I'VE NOT, I DIDN'T GO THAT FAR.
I DIDN'T TAKE THAT ROUTE, BUT I WAS LED TO BELIEVE, UM, IT WAS INSINUATED THAT THE SUPERVISOR, THE ROAD SUPERVISOR WOULD PICK ME UP, WOULD BE DOING THAT.
SO, SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE FOLLOW UP WITH MS. BROWN.
I SEE THE BRAIN TRUST IN THE BACK IS ALREADY FIGURING OUT WHO'S GONNA TALK TO HER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, NEXT PERSON UP IS, UH, CARLOS MARTINEZ.
I'M THE SAME WAY FIRST TIME, SO TAKE YOUR TIME.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M GONNA SHORTCUT 'CAUSE I ALREADY HEAR WHAT SHE SAID.
ARE WE WAITING FOR A FATALITY TO HAPPEN ON THE BUS? I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE DON'T NOT WANT A FATALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR BUS DRIVERS.
I'VE BEEN ASSAULTED MORE THAN ONCE FOR SURE.
STORY REAL QUICK ON ROUTE THREE.
WHEN WE HAVE A SLEEPER, WE HAVE TO, WE
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HAVE TO ASSIST THEM.THAT'S NOT OUR JOB TO WAKE THEM UP TOUCHING OR ANYTHING GO NEARBY.
BUT IF THAT PA, IF THAT PASSENGER FALLS OFF THE SEAT, THEN WHAT? IT'S ALL FAULT.
THEN WE GET SUSPENDED, WE GET MISTREATED.
SO WHAT, WHERE WHERE'S THE SAFETY? SO IF WE, IF WE, IF WE DON'T GET THE SUPPORT FROM THE RADIO WHEN WE CALL AND WE GOTTA WAIT 30 MINUTES AND WHEN WE, UH, END THE LINE, WHY? SO, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, AND THAT SAME PASSENGER ON ROUTE THREE AFTER I WAS DONE, POLICE SHOW UP A PD SHOW UP.
AND THIS IS LIKE TWO WEEKS AGO, A PD SHOW UP AND I SAY, I WANT TO PRESS CHARGES BECAUSE HE RECORD ME AND HE SAID HE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING THE NEXT TIME HE SEES ME.
SO HOW SHOULD I FEEL? UH, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO HOME NEXT DAY.
NOW I FEEL A LITTLE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M HERE TO DEFEND MYSELF AND SERVE THE PUBLIC.
I'M IN A TWO BY THREE CIC, RIGHT? SO A PD AND, UH, THE CENTER, A SUPERVISOR.
SO INSTEAD OF THE CENTER, A SUPERVISOR AND MAKE THE SUPPORT THAT OKAY, YOU'RE GONNA GET OFF THE BUS AND YOU TAKE YOUR YOUR WAY, WHERE YOU GOTTA GO.
INSTEAD OF THAT TAKING A VIP RIGHT TO WHERE HE NEEDS TO GO.
SO WHERE IS THE RE SUPPORT? WHERE IS THE RE RESPECT? YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO ON TOP OF THAT, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT WHEN WE PICKED OUR HEADSET, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT IT'S BUSINESS.
THEY NEED TO RESPECT US AND THEY NEED TO SEE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM.
'CAUSE SEE IF WE HAVE 15 PASSENGERS AND ONE, MISS, MISS, MISS, UM, BEHAVING, THANK YOU.
THAT PASSENGER GETS A VIP GOING BACK FURTHER AND, UH, AND UT A YEAR AGO, I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS.
A YEAR AGO I GOT A PASSENGER WHO WAS MASTURBATING ON THE BUS.
THEY SENT A FEMALE, UT A FEMALE, UH, FEMALE SUPERVISOR.
HE GOT A VIP RIDE TO WHERE HE NEEDS TO GO.
SO WHERE IS THE SUPPORT? SO, UH, NOW YOU SAID THAT WE HAVING POLICE AND TRANSIT AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE, WE NEED SOMETHING SOLID.
WHEN WE PICK THAT HEADSET, WE NEED, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW, HEY, BUS DRIVERS ARE LIKE POLICE.
IF WE TOUCH OUR UNIFORM, WE IN TROUBLE.
I ALSO WANT TO, UH, TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING AND PRESENTING TODAY AS WELL.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE FOR, UH, FOR THOSE THINGS.
UH, WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO TALK, UH, AND THAT YOU CONTINUE TO, UH, COMMUNICATE THROUGH A A TU AS WELL.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TALKING REGULARLY, WE UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE, UH, THAT ARE GOING ON SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE THINGS.
I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WHEN SOMEBODY SEEMS TO MISBEHAVE, SEEMS LIKE THAT THEY'RE TREAT, THEY, THEY GET VIP TREATMENT RATHER THAN, UH, CONSEQUENCES FOR THE BAD BEHAVIOR.
UH, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO TALK.
LET'S, UH, UH, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT YOU TALK WITH STAFF AND WANT TO DOCUMENT THINGS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT CONSISTENTLY HAPPEN AND WHERE THEY HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY.
UM, SO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP THE PERSON'S LAST NAME.
SO I WILL SAY, STACY, I AS THE NEXT PERSON.
AND IF YOU'LL, AND IF YOU'LL TELL US, SO WE READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
'CAUSE YOU HAVE REALLY BEAUTIFUL HANDWRITING THAT I CAN'T READ.
AND I KNOW THAT'S A MOUTHFUL, BUT YOU CAN JUST CALL ME STACY.
UM, I ALSO WANNA TOUCH ON WHAT TWO OF MY COWORKERS HAVE SPOKEN ON.
UM, WE FEEL UNHEARD AND, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE FEEL UNSEEN.
I AM NOT GONNA MENTION THE SPECIFICS, BUT I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE LAST YEAR.
AND I JUST CAME BACK FROM WORKERS' COMP IN MAY, MAY 1ST TO BE EXACT, EXACTLY.
28 DAYS LATER I WENT BACK ON A WORKERS' COMP BECAUSE I WAS INJURED HAVING TO JUMP OUT OF THE REAR OF THE BUS.
IT WASN'T KNEELED BECAUSE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REMOVING A WOMAN WHO IS DOING VERY UNSAFE
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BEHAVIORS WITH HER CHILD.AND I DID WHAT I WAS TOLD, WHAT I WAS TAUGHT IN TRAINING, QUOTE POLICY, GIVE THEM A CHOICE.
AND THAT'S THE EXACT SAME THING THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE.
THIS YEAR, MAY, THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY, I CALLED FOR A SUPERVISOR BECAUSE SHE HAD HER BABY LAYING IN THE BACKSEAT.
AND I SAY HER BABY, BUT HE WAS PROBABLY EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OLD.
AND I SAID, MA'AM, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET YOUR SON AND SIT HIM DOWN WITH YOU.
SHE'S SITTING IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SEAT.
I SAID, BECAUSE IF FOR ANY REASON I HAVE TO HIT THESE BRAKES, YOUR BABY'S GONNA GO FLYING AND HE'S GONNA GET HURT AND I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN.
SO SHE DECIDED SHE DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ME.
SHE TURNS HER RADIO UP FULL BLAST.
AND I SAID, MA'AM, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO TURN THE MUSIC DOWN.
WE CAN'T HAVE LOUD MUSIC ON THE BUS.
SO THEN SHE PROCEEDS TO CUSS ME OUT.
AND SUPERVISOR COMES, SHE TOLD HIM I'M LYING.
SHE WASN'T PLAYING HER RADIO AND HER BABY HAD BEEN SITTING WITH HER THE WHOLE TIME.
I STEP OUT OF THE WAY TO LET HIM GET HER OFF THE BUS.
HE COMES BACK TO ME, HE GOES, GO BACK EN ROUTE.
I DIDN'T LOOK AT HER, I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING.
I DIDN'T MAKE ANY FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.
I WAS TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE BUS.
AND AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DOOR.
I DIDN'T EVEN GET THE DOOR OPEN.
SHE COMES RUNNING THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO RUN DOWN THE AISLE AND JUMP OUT THE BACK DOOR.
AND SHE GETS IN MY FACE AND CALLS ME ONCE AGAIN, EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK AND TELLS ME, IF I EVER SEE YOU ON THIS BUS AGAIN, I'M GONNA MURDER YOU ON SITE.
AND THE SUPERVISOR, I'M NOT GONNA NAME NAMES, BUT HE TURNED AROUND AND TOLD ME, SCREAMED AT ME AND SAID, I TOLD YOU TO GET BACK ON THAT BUS.
SO THIS IS WHY I FEEL LIKE I WE'RE, WE'RE NOT TAKING SERIOUS.
AND THEN I SPOKE TO, UM, A MANAGEMENT MEMBER OF THE SUP OF THE RADIO, UM, UH, DISPATCH.
AND HE TOLD ME, THOSE SUPERVISORS AREN'T THERE TO PROTECT YOU.
THOSE SUPERVISORS ARE THERE TO KEEP THOSE BUSES BACK IN ROUTE.
IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT I'M CARED ABOUT CONSIDERING YOU WANT ME TO KEEP YOUR BUS ON THE ROAD, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY LIFE.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE DEAL WITH.
I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS AS WELL AND I'VE HAD PLENTY OF INCIDENCES ON PLENTY OF DIFFERENT ROUTES THAT ONE ON THE DAY AFTER MEMORIAL DAY WAS THE ONE.
AND WE JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH BEING DONE TO KEEP US PROTECTED.
'CAUSE WE WERE TOLD, WE'RE ALLOWED TO DEFEND OURSELVES.
BUT IN THE CONFINE OF A SEAT AND A SEATBELT, THAT PLEXIGLASS DOESN'T SAVE US.
IT'S HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED TO ME.
THEY CAN CLEARLY REACH AROUND.
SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE DONE BECAUSE LIKE HE SAID, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR ONE OF US TO GET MURDERED? BECAUSE I WOULD REALLY HATE FOR ONE OF MY COWORKERS TO LOSE THEIR LIFE OR MY, OR ME.
I HAVE A CHILD TO GO HOME TO THAT NIGHT WHEN I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE.
MY 14-YEAR-OLD HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T GET HOME TILL SEVEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING FROM THE HOSPITAL.
AND TO ME THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
AND THOSE SUPERVISORS, AND EVEN OUR FIRST LINE OF CONTACT RADIO OPERATORS, MOST OF THEM ARE RUDE TO US.
THEY TALK DOWN TO US, THEY SHOUT AT US.
EVEN OUR BUSES SAY, SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
AND WE TRY AND WE JUST GET SHOT DOWN.
SO, SO IT'S CLEAR, UH, THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER WHERE WE'RE, UH, WHERE WE'RE TALKING TO STAFF AND, AND WE REALLY HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND THAT WE REALLY TAKE CONCRETE STEPS, UH, TO BE HELPFUL.
SO, UM, I CAN HEAR YOUR CONCERN AND YOUR PAIN AND UH, AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RESOLVE IT HERE TODAY.
UH, BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE DIRECT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AND HOW BEST WE CAN RESOLVE IT BECAUSE, UH, WE WANT YOU TO FEEL SAFE AT WORK AND, AND, UM, SO WE'LL MAKE, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE ALL OF US, UH, SIT DOWN WITH PROPER STAFF AND THAT WE DEVELOP
[00:25:01]
A PATH FORWARD SO THAT, THAT IS A COMMITMENT.I'M SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH, UH, WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH.
UH, NEXT PERSON IS, UM, LET'S SEE.
I'M NOT NEW TO THIS, UH, NOT MY FIRST TIME EVER SPEAKING ON THIS TOPIC.
I HAVE COME TO THIS BOARD MEETING.
THANK YOU CAPTAIN METRO FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I JUST WANNA LET Y'ALL KNOW MY NAME IS DARRYL RES.
I'M A 22 YEAR VETERAN OPERATOR HERE.
WHAT I DO OUT THERE EVERY DAY WHEN I'M OUT THERE, WHEN I'M NOT ENGAGED IN CONCERTED ACT, CONCERTED PROTECTIVE ACTIVITY, REPRESENTING MY MEMBERS FOR A TU LOCAL 10 91.
AND I INTELLECTUALLY UNDERSTAND ALL WHAT MY COWORKERS ARE SAYING BECAUSE I'VE EXPERIENCED IT.
EVERYTHING THEY'RE SAYING IS A HUNDRED PERCENT SPOT ON.
YOU ARE AWARE THAT I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO IN EFFORT IS GETTING THE POLICE STARTED.
I SUPPORT THE, UH, SAFETY AMBASSADORS.
AND WE NEED TO GET FULL FLEDGED.
WE'RE, WE'RE BOASTING AND PROUDLY SAYING THAT WE'RE A 24 OPERATION 365 BUSINESS A YEAR.
THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T THERE TO SUPPORT US.
UM, I'M ONE OF THEM OPERATORS THAT'S BEEN HIGHLY TRAINED FROM STAR TRAIN.
I HAVE MY RECEIPTS TODAY FROM EIGHT ONE TO 8 22 ALL IN MY HAND.
JUST THE OTHER DAY I CONTACTED YOUR SAFETY DIRECTOR, MR. GARDNER AVON.
WHAT I HAD SEEN, A LADY AT WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER GOT ON MY BUS FRIDAY, THURSDAY NIGHT, SAID THAT A GUY HAD A MACHETE, YOU KNOW, AND HE SWUNG AT HER WITH A BASEBALL BAT.
I IMMEDIATELY CALLED LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO.
UM, SEVERAL TIMES PEOPLE GET ON THE BUS.
THAT GUY RIGHT THERE JUST ASSAULTED A LADY ON THE 8 0 3.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SERIOUS THEY TAKE OUR SAFETY.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SUPERVISORS.
THEY'RE THEY POSITION AS JUST AS WORSE AS BUS OPERATORS.
THEY, THEY'RE EASY TARGETS TOO.
AS OPERATORS, WE GOTTA PUT THINGS IN LINE TO PROTECT THEM.
WE, WE GOTTA PUT SOMETHING IN INTERIM BEFORE YOU GET YOUR POLICE ESTABLISHED.
BECAUSE I WENT TO THE MEETING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I LOOKED AT THE PROJECTED TIMEFRAME THAT YOU HOW MANY OFFICERS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, ON THE GROUND BY 2025 TO 2029.
I'VE SEEN THE PROJECTIVE ON THAT.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE.
AND WE BROUGHT SOLUTIONS LIKE TEMPORARY SECURITY OFFICERS AT THESE BUS STOPS.
'CAUSE NOW THESE PASSENGERS, THEY KNOW WHEN YOU'RE BUS INSPECTORS, THEY LEAVE.
THEY KNOW, THEY KNOW WHEN THEY COME, THEY KNOW THEY LEAVE AT NINE O'CLOCK.
AT WESTGATE, I OPERATE A I I OPERATE A ROUTE THAT'S AT, UH, FROM TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER TO 11 O'CLOCK, UH, 10 45 TO BE EXACT.
I OPERATE THE THREE 10 ON SATURDAY AT THE SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER.
I'VE SEEN MANY PEOPLE GET ASSAULTED.
I'VE REPORTED IT MONEY AT TIMES TO DOTY GARDNER MILES.
NOT SAYING THAT THEY WERE GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
BUT IN, IN DEFENSE OF THE PASSENGERS, THE CITIZENS THAT ARE AT THESE BUS STOPS, THEY NEED SUPPORT TOO.
OKAY? THEY, I'VE SEEN PEOPLE GET ASSAULTED.
WOMEN GET, A WOMAN JUMPED ON MY BUS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
A GUY WAS AT THE BUS STOP AND I SENT GARDNER THE PICTURE.
HE GRABBED HER AT THE BUS STOP.
SHE DON'T RIDE MY THREE 11 ANYMORE.
OKAY? THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE EITHER.
THEY'RE GONNA GO, THEY'RE GONNA EITHER RIDE UBER, UBER OR THEY'RE GONNA GET ANO.
THEY'RE GONNA GET THEIR OWN VEHICLE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? OUR SAFETY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY.
SO THAT'S ALL I SIMPLY ASK TODAY IS LET'S JUST STOP HIDING BEHIND, UH, CURTAINS AND LET'S DO, DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
WE NEED TO GO FULL FLEDGED, FULL THROTTLE.
DON'T LET PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN ON THE THROAT, OKAY? PERIOD.
AND AS MILES SAY, MILES TURPEN, AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT MILES 100%.
I'M GONNA BACK HIM UP BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN THE ONLY LEADER IN MY 22 YEARS HAS EVER BEEN OUT THERE ON THE, ON, ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THE OPERATORS AND SEEING WHAT WE DEAL WITH.
'CAUSE HE HAVE HAD OPERATORS DIE AT OTHER TRANSIT LOCATIONS THAT HE WORKED AT.
SO I'M WITH MILES AND I STAND WITH HIM IN SOLIDARITY.
SOMETIMES WE DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE ON THINGS, BUT THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, THAT'S MY BABY.
[00:30:01]
STAND WITH HIM WITH THAT.SO I THANK MILES, GIVE HIM KUDOS.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, MY TIME IS UP.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN.
UH, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR OPERATORS, UH, NOT ONLY FEEL SAFE, BUT ARE SAFE AND, UH, AND, AND WE ARE GONNA WORK HARD, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UH, TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
WE'LL CONTINUE, UH, TO, TO WORK AND PLAN AND, AND, AND HOPEFULLY PUT A SOLUTION IN PLACE THAT WE CAN ALL FEEL GOOD ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
SO, UM, MR. CHAIR, I BELIEVE, UH, MR. EMERSON AND MS. JOSEPH HAVE NOW JOINED US.
SO, UH, MR. EMERSON WAS SIGNED UP FIRST.
SO, MR. EMERSON, YOU'VE GOT THREE MINUTES.
JUST TO CONFIRM, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? YES.
SORRY, I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME MICROPHONE ISSUES LATELY.
I'VE BEEN A CAP METRO WRITER SINCE EIGHTH GRADE.
UM, I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY, UM, AND FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SEVERAL OPERATORS WHO'VE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY IN THEIR PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY.
IS IT, IT QUITE CONFIRMS MY EXPERIENCE ON CAP METRO THROUGHOUT THE SEVERAL YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN SINCE 2018.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THOSE OPERATORS WHO SHOWED UP TODAY AND GAVE THOSE COMMENTS.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR THAT CERTAIN OPERATOR WHO I WILL LEAVE A NAME FOR THEIR SAFETY.
UM, WHO TOLD US ABOUT THE WHOLE PERSON TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCED.
UM, I HAVE TO SAY THE BOARD, IF OPERATORS AREN'T SAFE, I'M NOT SAFE AS A PASSENGER.
UH, I'VE BEEN RIDING THE SYSTEM SINCE 2018 AND SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES.
I SAY THIS AS A PASSENGER AND ALSO AS A FORMER BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR CAT METRO THROUGH A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR.
UM, AND I CAN CONFIRM THAT SUPERVISORS ARE VERY HANDS OFF AND VERY, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I, I WOULD JUST SAY HANDS OFF ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION OF SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN A SAFETY INCIDENT COMES ABOUT.
UM, THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
WE'RE THE 11TH BIGGEST CITY IN AMERICA.
WE'RE GROWING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE CAN'T, THAT APPROACH DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
WE'RE BECOMING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE AND MORE AND MORE OF THESE.
SO I, I HEAR YOUR COMMITMENT, UM, MR. ILIAN, I BELIEVE YOUR NAME IS.
UM, BUT, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR IT.
AS SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, WORKS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS QUITE OFTEN, ESPECIALLY FROM THE CITY, IT'S VERY HARD TO GET A FIRM COMMITMENT ON ANYTHING.
SO I WANT TO COMMIT TO YOU FOR THAT.
UM, BUT WE NEED A SOLUTION LIKE YESTERDAY, WE CAN'T WAIT TILL 2025 ANYMORE.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF SOLUTION THAT BRIDGE THE, THAT BRIDGES THE GAP FROM NOW TO WHEN TRANSIT POLICE GETS FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
UM, BUT WITH THAT, THAT'S NOT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MY COMMENT TODAY.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF MY COMMENT TODAY IS, UM, I WANT TO COMMEND THE BOARD ON GETTING BIKE SHARE.
I COULD GO ON ALL DAY, I'LL SPARE YOU, BUT IT'S GREAT.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, IS THAT ONE TIME I HAD TAKEN A RIDE FOR OVER AN HOUR AND I HAVE A 31 DAY PASS, WHICH IS $12 A MONTH.
I'VE TAKEN IT FOR OVER AN HOUR AND FOR SOME REASON THE CHARGE DECLINED ON MY CREDIT CARD, UH, DEBIT CARD ACTUALLY.
SO I CALLED UP CUSTOMER SERVICE.
APPARENTLY BIKE SHARE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PHONE NUMBER.
THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH INACCESSIBLE BY FRONTLINE STAFF, FRONTLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF, EXCUSE ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S LIKE HAVING SOMEONE STANDBY FOR BIKE SHARE NINE TO FIVE OR SOMETHING, BUT HAVING THEM ACCESSIBLE BY EMAIL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, CUSTOMER SERVICE HAVING TO SAY TO ME, OH YEAH, YOU'RE JUST OUT OF LUCK FOR HOWEVER MANY HOURS UNTIL BIKE SHARE REACHES OUT AND FIXES IT.
UM, THAT LED ME TO SPEND ABOUT $30 ON BIRD SCOOTER RIDES, UM, WHICH IS $30 I COULD HAVE SPENT ON LITERALLY ANYTHING ELSE LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOOD, SHELTER, WHATNOT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE GOTTA FIX THAT SOMEHOW.
AND ALSO, APPARENTLY YOU CAN'T HAVE A DEBIT CARD ON FILE.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT DISENFRANCHISES, A LOT OF AUSTINITES INCLUDING ME.
SO, SO MR. MR. EMERSON, UM, LET'S SEE.
UH, THE TIME IS UP, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR ISSUE AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF TO ADDRESS, UH, YOUR CONCERNS AND SEE IF THERE IS A WAY TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
ABSOLUTELY, AND WE, UM, I BELIEVE
[00:35:01]
WE'RE AWARE OF MR. EMERSON'S CONCERNS PRIOR TO TODAY, UM, BECAUSE I WAS BRIEFED THAT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE.OUR VENDOR IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE ISSUE WITH DEBIT CARDS.
UM, AS, AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, WE RECENTLY ROLLED OUT THE NEW, UM, CAT METRO BIKE SHARE PROGRAM WITH A NEW VENDOR.
THIS IS ACTUALLY, UM, OUR DEPLOYMENT IS THEIR FIRST DEPLOYMENT IN THE US.
THEY PREVIOUSLY HAD DEPLOYED THAT APP, THAT APP IN CANADA, BUT WE'RE THE FIRST IN THE US AND SO WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY HAVING TO HELP THEM IRON OUT SOME OF THE WRINKLES.
BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT AS AN ISSUE, UM, AND ARE LOOKING TO ADDRESS IT.
I WILL ALSO COMMENT THAT AS WE ROLLED OUT OUR NEW BIKE SHARE SYSTEM, WE HAVE TRANSITIONED THE SUPPORT TO OUR GO LINE, OUR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER TO BE THE FRONT LINE OF SUPPORT FOR BIKE SHARE SO THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE AVAILABLE, MORE HOURS OF THE DAY THROUGHOUT THE WEEKENDS.
UM, AND SO IT DOES SOUND LIKE WE'VE MAYBE NOT QUITE MADE THAT AS SEAMLESS AND PERFECT AS WE'D LIKE IT TO BE.
UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, SO, UH, JUST WANTED TO, WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE AWARE AND THAT WE ARE TAKING THE APPROPRIATE STEPS AND YOU'LL BE INFORMED AS THINGS MOVE FORWARD.
OKAY? THANK YOU MR. THANK YOU MR. EMERSON FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, SO IS MS. IS MS. JOSEPH AVAILABLE? ALRIGHT, UM, MS. JOSEPH, YOU'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MY COMMENTS, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE, ARE IN THE CONTEXT OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, WHICH PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OUR NATIONAL ORIGIN.
RESPECTFULLY, MR. CHAIR, I REQUESTED YOUR RESIGNATION MARCH 28TH, 2022.
A YEAR LATER I REQUESTED IT AGAIN.
I'M ASKING YOU ONCE AGAIN TODAY TO RESIGN.
YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
YOU ARE CLEARLY AWARE OF THE CORY BELLINGER ASSAULT THAT I ENDURED.
YOU'RE CLEARLY AWARE OF THE STABBING THAT I REPORTED TO THE BOARD AND YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING.
YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND NEITHER IS DOTTIE WATKINS.
CHINATOWN MIDBLOCK 5 8 5 7, THE SOUTHBOUND STOP AND YOU HAVE UNILATERALLY CREATED A CVS PHARMACY BREAKER STOP FOR THE NUMBER ONE SOUTHBOUND ONLY LEAVING THE MID-BLOCK STOP OPEN, WHICH ENDANGERS LIVES DAILY.
CHARMELLA MUKERJEE DID THE REPORT.
PEOPLE TRAVERSED IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC.
YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
I WANT YOU TO RESTORE THE KRAMER NORTH LAMAR, STOP AND MOVE THAT CHINATOWN STOP TO CVS PHARMACY BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED.
AND TO THE OPERATORS, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SOME OF US PASSENGERS DO SEE YOU.
THE PLEXIGLASS THAT YOU HAVE IS A RESULT OF A MEMO THAT I TYPED TO MR. BARNES WHEN HE WAS ACTUALLY THE DEPUTY, THE, THE CEO OF YOUR PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR.
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, LAST WEDNESDAY, I GOT OFF THE 3 83 BECAUSE IT APPEARED THAT A MAN IN THE BACK OF THE BUS PULLED OUT A GUN.
AND I TOLD PETER, WHO IS AN EXCELLENT DRIVER.
SO KUDOS TO PETER WHEN HE PICKED ME UP ON THE NEXT BUS THAT IT WAS CRAZY.
THIS MAN WANTED TO GET ON THE WAY.
A HOMELESS MAN WAS PUTTING HIS ITEMS ON THE BUS AND THE MAN IN THE BACK GOT IMPATIENT.
I DIDN'T EVEN CALL THAT ONE IN BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY.
WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES.
IT WAS EASIER FOR ME TO JUST GET OFF THE BUS THAN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF MAN REALLY HAD A GUN OR NOT.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW ONE OF THE REASONS THAT YOU HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS ON THE BUS IS BECAUSE OF THIS FAIR SYSTEM.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO MAKE THE FAIR FREE FOR EVERYBODY.
'CAUSE WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS THAT YOU'RE FOCUSING ON PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO PAY.
AND THEN THOSE WHO DON'T PAY SIMPLY GET ON.
LIKE IT'S A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO CONSENT.
AGENDA ITEM TWO, THAT'S THE $484,395 CONTRACT FOR YOUR LONG RANGE PLAN.
I'M IN OPPOSITION TO THAT BECAUSE RUSS CHISHOLM TOLD YOU WITH THE $466,000 PLAN THAT PLEASANT VALLEY WAS NOT READY FOR THE ROUTES THAT YOU ARE NOW TRYING TO SELL TO THE PUBLIC.
AS THE NEW METRO RAPID FOR PLEASANT VALLEY, IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING.
YOU HAVE DEFRAUDED THE TAXPAYERS AND I WANT YOU TO STOP.
[00:40:01]
UNLESS THERE'S OVERSIGHT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE LOOKED AT THE OFFICE OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
TITLE SIX PROHIBITS IN PART SELECTING A SITE OR A LOCATION WITH THE PURPOSE OF ENACTING OR AFFECTING DISCRIMINATION.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE STILL DISCRIMINATING AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING 60 MINUTES FOR THE BUS.
CRAIG WOOD CALLING PARK, THE BUS STOPS AT SIX O'CLOCK ON SUNDAYS.
MR. CHAIR, HAVE YOU TRIED TO GET ANYWHERE BEFORE SIX O'CLOCK? I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS IT RELATES TO ITEM NUMBER THREE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, $350,227,000 OR $227.
I ASKED DURING THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AS IT RELATES TO DATA AND MARKETING CLOUD, HOW LONG THE INFORMATION WILL BE STORED.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC.
THE EXAMPLE THAT I GAVE WAS GOING TO THE POST OFFICE AND ASKING ABOUT THE GREEN CARD VERSUS THE CLOUD.
AND AT THAT TIME I HAD FILED A COMPLAINT, A MISCONDUCT COMPLAINT AGAINST AN ATTORNEY AND WANTED TO KNOW IF I NEEDED TO GIVE THE GREEN CARD OLD FASHIONED.
AND THE CLOUD ONLY STAYS THERE ABOUT 90 DAYS.
SO COULD YOU PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW LONG YOU'RE KEEPING THE INFORMATION? AND ARE YOU STORING THE INFORMATION FROM VIDEOS OR IS THIS JUST THE INFORMATION THAT WE CALL IN TO THE GOAL LINE OR SEND VIA EMAIL? THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
AND LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY, UM, I DO APPRECIATE THAT THE OPERATOR SPOKE.
I'VE GIVEN YOU THE COMPLIMENT ON PETER.
THERE ARE SOME GOOD OPERATORS OUT THERE.
BUT I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE 8 0 1 IS LIKE RIDING THE PSYCH WARD ON WHEELS.
SO WHILE YOU'RE SAYING YOU CARE ABOUT SAFETY AND YOU WANNA PUT AMBASSADORS ON THE BUSES, THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY STOPPED WAS WHEN THE FAIR WAS A DOLLAR MORE AND YOU HAD FAIR ENFORCEMENT ON THE BUS.
AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO RAISE THE FAIR $1 AND RESTORE THE SERVICE AS IT WAS BEFORE 2017.
AND I THINK YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE A CHANGE.
AND LASTLY, I'LL JUST ASK YOU TO PUT THE SHELTERS ALL ALONG ROUTE 3 92 BECAUSE PUTTING THE STOPS THE SHELTERS AT THE STOPS THAT I BOARDED THE MOST IS NOT AN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE RESOURCES I DO APPRECIATE.
3 0 8 7 5 3 2 3, THE PREPARED SHELTER.
BUT, UM, MR. CHAIR, I JUST NEED TO LET YOU KNOW, I DID SEND MR. EASTON A ONE SLIDE, ONE PAGER.
UM, THERE'S A LADY WHO HAS CANCER OVER AT ST.
JOHN'S AND I 35 AT THE AFFORDABLE UNITS THERE YESTERDAY.
I HELPED HER BRING HER GROCERIES.
AND THE WAY THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS IS BY REMOVING THE STOP.
THIS LADY WAS SHUFFLING ALONG AND COULD BARELY WALK.
PLEASE RESTORE THAT STOP ACROSS FROM THOSE APARTMENTS BECAUSE THESE ELDERS THAT LIVE THERE, THEY CAN'T WALK THAT HALF A MILE.
JOHN'S AND CHEETO VELA NEEDS TO DO MORE.
IT IS LITERALLY ABOUT A MILE OR TWO BEFORE THE BUS STOPS, AFTER IT GOES TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND I GET IT, YOUR SURVEYS FROM 2016 FAVOR THE WHITE CHOICE RIDERS.
AND THAT IS WHAT THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DO AND IS WORKING.
MS. JOSEPH, JOSEPH, COULD YOU, COULD YOU WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE? I'LL GLADLY ANSWER THEM AT THIS TIME AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE SO EXTENSIVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, MS. JOSEPH.
ALRIGHT, UH, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP BUT WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? ANYONE ELSE IN THE, IN THE ROOM? ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM? HEARING NONE.
[IV. Advisory Committee Updates]
TO, UM, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.UH, WE HAVE OUR ADVISORY, UM, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, LEADER, MELISSA ORTIZ.
COULD YOU, UH, COULD YOU, UH, BRIEF US ON WHAT THE, UH, COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN DOING? GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR BILION, VICE CHAIR POOL, AND CEO TO PERKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND I'LL BE PROVIDING TODAY'S COMMITTEE UPDATES THIS MONTH AS KELSEY LAIE IS OUT TODAY.
SO ALSO WITH ME IS CHAIR HUNT WITH OUR ACCESS COMMITTEE AND I WILL GO THROUGH MY UPDATE AND THEN WE'LL PASS IT ALONG, UM, TO HIM FOR UPDATES AS WELL.
ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS, UM, ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH, AS WE HAVE, UH, A RECESS IN JULY FOR COMMITTEES.
THERE ARE NO PSAC COMMITTEE UPDATES AT THIS TIME.
WE DID HAVE A PROGRAM STRATEGIES AND POLICIES COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON AUGUST 15TH, WHERE WE DISCUSSED THE SIXTH ROUND OF POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND FEEDBACK PERIOD FOR THESE POLICIES CLOSED ON AUGUST 22ND.
ALL MATERIALS FOR OUR SUBCOMMITTEES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE CAP METRO PUBLIC INPUT WEBPAGE@PUBLICINPUT.COM
[00:45:01]
SLASH CAP METRO PUBLIC SAFETY.WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE PAGE, UH, WITH FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES AND MEETING UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
OUR RECENT ACCESS AND CSAC MEETINGS WERE HELD ON AUGUST 7TH AND AUGUST 14TH, AND THEY BOTH RECEIVED INFORMATION ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET REVIEW BY EMMANUEL TOTEN, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND FINANCIAL PLANNING.
AND THEN ACCESS, RECEIVED A SPARE UPDATE BY ART JACKSON, VICE PRESIDENT OF DEMAND RESPONSE.
CSAC RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON THE 2024 COMPLAINT STATISTICS BY BRIAN ALEJANDRO, DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER CARE.
THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.
AND I WILL PASS IT ON TO CHAIR HUNT, UM, TO SHARE ANY UPDATES YOU WOULD LIKE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR TRIVIAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WELL, UM, I DID NOT MAKE THE, UM, AUGUST ACCESS COMMITTEE MEETING BECAUSE I WAS IN MICHIGAN ENJOYING TEMPERATURES IN THE SEVENTIES.
WE HAD A, A GOOD VISIT WHEN WE WERE, WE WERE OUT THAT I WAS OUT THAT DAY.
UM, BUT I HAVE SOME, SOME FEEDBACK.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, SAFETY CONCERNS.
I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES ON METRO ACCESS BUSES.
SO I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS MYSELF.
BUT I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WHEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES ARE OFTEN SITTING DUCKS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE, UH, THINK OF A RAINSTORM.
ALRIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE DOWNTOWN AND THE CLOUD AND YOU'VE GOT A BUS THAT'S COMING IN MAYBE FIVE OR 10 MINUTES, ALL RIGHT? AND THE RAIN COMES DOWN POURING.
WHAT CAN A REGULAR PERSON DO? THEY CAN RUN IN AND HIDE UNDER A, A AWNING, OR THEY CAN RUN IN AND HIDE IN A BUILDING AND THEY CAN, WHEN THEY SEE THE BUS COMING, THEY CAN DASH OUT AND GRAB IT.
UM, SIMILAR SITUATIONS HAPPEN WITH, IF A PERSON'S BEING ASSAULTED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO RUN OR DEFEND OURSELVES.
SO I JUST WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UM, WE, ON THE ACCESS COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN, BEEN BEING, WE HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE, UM, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S, UH, IT'S GOOD THAT IT'S HAPPENING.
UM, AND, BUT I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR DRIVERS ARE, AND OUR OPERATORS ARE, ARE SAFE AS WELL.
AND I WANNA THANK THE DRIVERS THAT TAKE CARE OF US EVERY DAY.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY HELP ME OUT A LOT WHEN I'M ON BUSES AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THEY DO.
UM, MS. MILLER MADE SOME INTERESTING, UH, COMMENTS.
UM, SHE COMMENTED ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT THE, UM, ABOUT THE STRAPS ON THE BUSES.
NOW I'M NOT SURE HOW THE RESTRAINTS WORK EXACTLY, UH, AND THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT ASIDE FROM MS. WAT, MS. WATKINS, I THINK I PROBABLY THE MOST, MOST EXPERIENCED PERSON ON THE CALL TODAY.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ACCESS SINCE AND USED TO BE THE, THE, UH, BUILDING, UM, PAIRED SERVICE COMMITTEE THAT CALLED MISAC COMMITTEE BACK IN THE 1990S.
I WANNA GIVE YOU SOME HISTORY.
THERE WAS A TIME, THERE WAS A TIME THAT WHEN NEW VEHICLES WERE BEING PURCHASED THAT THE ACCESS COMMITTEE WEIGHED IN.
WE USED TO ACTUALLY EXAMINE THE VEHICLES.
WE USED TO ACTUALLY TRY THEM WITH ERROR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY, BECAUSE THERE WAS A TIME, AND IT'S POLITICAL.
UM, AND I, SO I JUST, 'CAUSE YOU GUYS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF ALL THIS THAT HAPPENED, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT, UM, THAT WERE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THEY CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE BETWEEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAPITAL METRO AND, UM, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
WE ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM THAT.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS, BASICALLY WHEN, UM, WHEN RELATIONSHIPS ARE, WHEN, WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING WELL IS THAT WE JUST GET REPORTS, AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING NOW IS WE SHOULD BE GETTING PROCEDURES IN PLACE SO THAT WE, ON THE COMMITTEES, THE ACCESS COMMITTEE CAN HAVE THESE BUSES CHECKED OUT WITH ACTUAL WHEELCHAIRS, WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES THAT USE 'EM EVERY DAY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD APPOINT SOMEBODY WHO IS A WHEELCHAIR USER ON THE COMMITTEE.
UM, AND WE NEED IS ONE THAT DOES THE ONE THAT RIDES THE FIXED THROAT AND RIDES, UM, UM, METRO ACCESS SO THEY CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE THE FEEDBACK THAT'S NECESSARY.
UM, MS. MILLER WAS TALKING ABOUT SPARE APP.
I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THE APP WORKS VERY WELL, I WILL TELL YOU.
AND, UM, ACCESS IS AWARE OF THIS.
[00:50:01]
THIS, THAT THE APPOINTMENT TIMES ARE SCHEDULED, THE TRIPS ARE SCHEDULED QUITE TIGHT, AND SOMETIMES WE WORRY ABOUT MISSING OUR APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE, UM, THE SCHEDULE IS TOO TIGHT.SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO, WE CAN TO DO WORK AROUND LIKE, WE'LL, WE'LL SET OUR APPOINTMENTS EARLIER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS AN ISSUE AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT ALSO BECAUSE THE DRIVERS DON'T HAVE WINDOWS ANYMORE.
THEY DO GET TO OUR PLACES EARLY.
UM, SOMETIMES IS A CON, THERE'S CONFUSION BECAUSE THEY GO TO A PIN, A PARTICULAR PLACE IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO.
SO THAT SPARE WILL LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE.
UH, MANY OF THE DRIVERS BYPASS THE PINS BECAUSE THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING, AND SO THEREFORE THEY GET THERE EARLY AND DON'T REALIZE.
AND ALSO SOME OF THE DRIVERS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THEY'RE, THEY'RE, IT'S STILL A CONTINUING TRAINING ISSUE.
SO, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF, OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL.
UM, AND AGAIN, STAFF IS AWARE OF IT AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THESE ISSUES.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE UPDATE, WHAT HAPPENED.
I LOOKED AT THE NOTES AND THE NOTES BASICALLY SAID THERE WAS AN UPDATE, BUT DIDN'T SAY WHAT THE ISSUES THAT WERE DISCUSSED.
I KNOW IT'S LONGER THAN USUAL AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO AND ESPECIALLY YOU DRIVERS OUT THERE IF YOU'RE STILL LISTENING.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
WELL, UM, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR, UH, MAKING YOUR REPORT TODAY AS WELL.
UM, CERTAINLY A LOT OF THINGS, UH, THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU DEDICATE AND, AND, UH, THAT YOU GIVE US THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO, UH, TO INTERACT MORE DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE TAKEN.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY, UH, HEARING NONE, UH, LET'S SEE.
NOW THAT IS ALL, THAT'S ALL THREE OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.
UH, MS. ORTIZ, I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL FOR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
[V. Board Committee Updates]
BE OUR REGULAR BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES, AND WE'LL START WITH OUR OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIR ELLIS, UH, WHO PRESIDED OVER THE AUGUST MEETING, UH, WILL GIVE US THAT REPORT.
ON MONDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 2024, THE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MET, UH, WE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 12:37 PM ALL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT.
UH, CHAIR STRATTON WAS REMOTE, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AS CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE.
WE HAD ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE APPROVED OUR MINUTES AND WE APPROVED ONE CONTRACT THAT YOU WILL SEE AS CONSENT ITEM NUMBER THREE TODAY.
AND THEN WE RECEIVED A PRESENTATION AND WE ADJOURNED AT 1:11 PM SO IT WAS A PRETTY SHORT AND SWEET, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE HAD.
UM, THE NEXT UPDATE WILL BE FROM THE, OH, WELL, LET ME ASK WHETHER THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FIRST.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
LET'S GO TO, UM, TO THE FINANCE AND AUDIT AND AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE WITH CHAIR HARRIS.
CHAIR DAVIAN, UH, THE FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MET AT 10:00 AM ON MONDAY, AUGUST THE 12TH.
IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES, UH, WE ALSO TOOK ACTION ON A CONTRACT, UH, RELATED TO, UM, OUR LONG RANGE, UM, AGENCY VISION, WHICH IS YOUR ITEM NUMBER TWO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
UH, IN ADDITION, WE HAD PRESENTATIONS, UH, ON THE 2024 FINANCIALS, UH, THROUGH JUNE OF 2024.
UH, INTERNAL AUDIT DEMAND RESPONSE, UH, PRESENTATION, AND ALSO AN INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT ON THE BULK TRANSIT PASS CONTROLS AND ALSO ON THE AUDIT PLAN STATUS.
AND THEN WE HAD A DISCUSSION, UH, WITH, UH, CATHERINE WALKER, UH, AND DONNA SIMMONS WERE JUST SOME UPDATES, UH, WITH JUST EXECUTIVE, UH, UPDATES, UH, TO THE COMMITTEE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS? THE THIRD TIME, I'M, I'M, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT YOU, UH, BACK THE BOARD MEMBER ON, ON ONLINE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COVERED AS WELL, SO, ALRIGHT.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CAMPO UPDATE, HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT MEET IN JUNE.
UH, SO, UM, THERE WILL BE NO PRESENTATION THERE.
THE NEXT ONE IS FOR THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP UPDATE ON, THAT'S A BOARD THAT I SIT ON.
UH, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY THE MEETING HAPPENED ACTUALLY AUGUST 7TH, AND IT WAS ONLY A BUDGET WORK SESSION, SO IT WAS NOT A TRADITIONAL MEETING.
UH, SO, UM, ALL OF, AND ALL OF THE ITEMS, UH, THAT WE WENT THROUGH IN THAT MEETING ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
[00:55:01]
CAN LOOK AT IT BY VIDEO ONLINE TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED.SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
[VI. Consent Items]
I'LL READ OUR CONSENT, UH, ITEM AGENDA, AND WE'RE POSTED FOR THREE, UH, CONSENT ITEMS TODAY.I HOPE I'VE, I HOPE THAT YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS. UH, AND IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND HAVE IT CONSIDERED UNDER THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM ITEMS, UH, NOW'S THE TIME TO SAY THAT.
IF, IF NOT, LET ME READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND IN, UM, LET'S SEE, UH, INTO THE RECORD.
ITEM NUMBER ONE IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE JULY 22ND, UH, 22ND, UH, 2024 BOARD MEETING.
UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT WITH FOUR SQUARE INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION PLANNING INC.
TO DEVELOP THE CAP METRO LONG RANGE AGENCY VISION OVER A PERIOD OF 265 CALENDAR DAYS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED, UH, $484,395.
AND, AND, UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE WOULD BE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR LICENSING AND HOSTING SERVICES FOR ADDITIONAL SALESFORCE, UH, FOR THE ADDITIONAL SALESFORCE MODULE, DATA AND MARKETING CLOUD FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR IN AN, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 350 $1,227.
UH, THE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OKAY, THAT MOTION IS BEING MADE BY, UH, BY BOARD MEMBER ELLIS AND SECOND.
UH, SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THE, UM, CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, UH, HEARING NO OPPOSITION.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VII.1. Approval of a resolution appointing Catalina Berry and Marcel Garza to the Project Connect Community Advisory Committee (CAC).]
LEADS US UP TO OUR ONLY ACTION ITEM TODAY, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPOINTING TWO MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY, UH, COMMITTEE.AND I BELIEVE MS. ORTIZ IS HERE TO PRESENT, UH, THIS ITEM.
AND, UM, LET ME READ THE ACTION ITEM IN AS IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION APPOINTING, UH, UH, KATINA BERRY OR CATALINA BERRY AND MARCEL GARZA TO THE PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IAN, VICE, VICE CHAIR, POOL AND PRESIDENT, AND CEO OF WATKINS.
SO, I'M MELISSA ORTIZ, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND I'M HERE AS THE STAFF LIAISON FOR PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND HERE TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPOINTMENT TWO PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TWO COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE CAC IS APPOINTED BY ALL THREE BODIES, CAP METRO AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO AID ALL THREE ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT CONNECT.
THE CAC FOLLOWED SECTION 3.7 OF THE UPDATED CAC BYLAWS THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CAC TO MAKE A MIDTERM VACANCY RECOMMENDATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL BY THE A TP BOARD, CAP METRO BOARD AND AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO REACH THIS RECOMMENDATION, THE CAC CREATED AN APPOINTMENT WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS FROM THE RECENT CAC APPLICANT POOL AND CONSIDER, UM, THE CURRENT EXPERTISE ON THE CAC AND POTENTIAL GAPS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE CURRENT, UM, VACANCY.
AND THE CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATION WAS THEN REVIEWED AND VOTED ON BY THE FULL CAC AT THE JULY 11TH AND AUGUST 8TH REGULAR MEETING.
FOLLOWING THIS PROCESS, THE CAC IDENTIFIED AND RECOMMENDED CATALINA BERRY AND MARCEL GARZA TO FILL TWO VACANCIES.
AND THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE INCLUDED FOR YOUR REFERENCE IN YOUR BOARD PACKET ALONG WITH A CAC, SORRY, ALONG WITH A LETTER FROM THE CAC UM, CHAIR.
SO IF APPROVED FOR APPOINTMENT, CATALINA BERRYS AND MARCEL GARZA'S TERM WILL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2027.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
[01:00:01]
ANY QUESTIONS THIRD TIME? ANY QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE, UM, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE, UH, MADE BY, UM, BOARD MEMBER VELA AND SECOND BY BOARD MEMBER ELLIS.ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING I IF YOU APPROVE THIS ITEM.
IF YOU DO NOT HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
WITH, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS BEING OFF THE, UH, DAIS, UH, BOARD MEMBER.
HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO WEIGH IN ON THIS? ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, IT, SO, UH, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS WILL MAKE THAT UNANIMOUS.
UH, JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
NO, THANK YOU, UH, MS. ORTIZ, AND, AND, UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING.
[VIII.1. President & CEO Monthly Update - August 2024]
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, AND THAT'S OUR MONTHLY, UH, OUR MONTHLY UPDATE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO, UM, MS. WATKINS.UM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS AT THE END OF THIS LONG, HOT SUMMER.
I KNOW IT WASN'T QUITE AS HOT AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN, BUT BOY, IT'S MAKING UP FOR THESE LAST HANDFUL OF DAYS.
UM, BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON DESPITE THE HEAT, SO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT OUT ON JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TODAY.
UM, SO FIRST UP, WE RECENTLY UNVEILED OUR NEW COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS BUS WRAP WITH OUR VERY OWN BOARD MEMBER DIANE BELE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT.
SHE DISCUSSED HOW AT CAP METRO WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO BRINGING, TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNER.
AND AS YOU'LL SEE, LOOKING AT THE, THE PHOTOS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, UM, JUST A, A A LITTLE BIT OF SOME OF THE FUN, UM, THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CAT CARES PROGRAM, UM, WHICH REALLY HELPS US SHOWCASE THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE OUR VALUES IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SO, UM, WE WERE VERY EXCITED FOR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS TO BE JUST THE, THE, THE MOST RECENT OF OUR MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THAT PROGRAM.
UM, NEXT UP IT IS BACK TO SCHOOL TIME.
UM, AND SO WE'VE HAD, UM, OUR, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM WAS AT THE DOVE SPRINGS BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, UM, TO HELP SHARE SOME SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND INFORMATION ON THE PICKUP DOVE SPRINGS.
UM, THIS IS OUR FIRST SCHOOL YEAR.
START WITH THAT SERVICE IN, IN, UM, SERVICE.
YOU MAY RECALL WE LAUNCHED THAT LAST JANUARY.
IT'S BEEN WILDLY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT AREA AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE, UM, THAT RETURNING SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE AWARE OF THE SERVICE AS WELL.
UM, WE ALSO WERE TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT, UM, TRANSIT PLAN 2035, UM, AND OUR NEED FOR COMMUNITY CONNECTORS FOR THAT PROGRAM.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, AT THE, AT THE, UM, ZERO GSA SUMMER CAMP, OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE AGAIN, ON HAND TO HELP US TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION HOW TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
AND THEY PARTICIPATED IN SOME REAL FUN, UM, ADVENTURES AROUND THE CITY USING THE BUS, WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN TEACH 'EM WHILE THEY'RE YOUNG.
UM, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT.
UM, EVERY QUARTER WE, UM, INTERNALLY WE HOST TOWN HALLS WHERE, UM, AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY, UM, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE TOUCH BASE AT ALL FOUR OF OUR OPERATING FACILITIES.
UM, WE RECENTLY WRAPPED UP OUR QUARTERLY FRONTLINE TOWN HALLS, WHICH IS SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN FEEDBACK FROM OUR FRONTLINE TEAMS. UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY A PUBLIC THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM FOR HELPING US ORGANIZE THOSE.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT, UM, AND IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR OPERATIONS STAFF ARE, ARE FULLY, UM, ENGAGED ALL DAY EVERY DAY WITH OUR FRONTLINE FOLKS.
BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM TO RECOGNIZE THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR COMMUNITY, OUR OWN INTERNAL CUSTOMERS IS IMPORTANT AND, UM, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
SO JUST A FEW PICTURES THERE OF, UM, US, US LISTENING AND, AND HEARING FROM OUR VALUED FRONTLINE TEAM MEMBERS.
UM, AS YOU HEARD ABOUT A LITTLE BIT TODAY, AND WE HAD, UM, WE HAD GREAT INFORMATION AT THE OPS COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH ABOUT THE CAT METRO BIKE SHARE RELAUNCH.
UM, WE, UH, CONTINUE TO PUT BIKES OUT ON THE STREET.
WE DO STILL HAVE SOME STATIONS GETTING INSTALLED.
UM, WE EXPECT ALL STATIONS TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE 54 COMPLETELY UPGRADED STATIONS WITH A FEW MORE COMING, UM, AND 200 ALL NEW ELECTRIC BIKES, UM, WITHOUT THE FULL SYSTEM EVEN FULLY IN PLACE YET.
AND BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS CAME BACK INTO FULL SESSION, WE WERE, WE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED OVER 3000 DOWNLOADS OF THE NEW APP, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD SIGN THAT FOLKS WERE PAYING ATTENTION WHEN WE SAID, HEY, THE OLD THING'S GOING AWAY, THE NEW THINGS COME AND HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO DO.
UM, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, UM, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
[01:05:01]
GETTING THE SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING AND STABILIZED, UM, AS WE START, UM, THE PLANNING, UM, EFFORTS WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN OUR PLANNED EXPANSION OF THE PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.SO, UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE GREAT THINGS TO COME FOR CAT METRO BIKES HERE, BUT SO FAR, SO GOOD.
UM, SPEAKING OF PUBLIC AND GI, I JUST SKIPPED A SLIDE.
I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS ONE THEN.
UM, SO
UM, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY.
THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS TRANSIT.
UM, IT GETS CONFUSING SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WHICH TRANSIT APP? NO, THE TRANSIT APP.
IT'S A BIT OF A, WHO'S ON FIRST, WHAT'S ON SECOND, UM, ROUTINE.
BUT TRANSIT APP IS, IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BEST, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, ONE OF THE BEST TRIP PLANNING APPS IN THE INDUSTRY.
UM, THEY HAVE LONG SINCE BEEN A TOOL AVAILABLE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, UM, BECAUSE TRANSIT APP, FOR AS LONG AS I'VE KNOWN OF THEM, HAS CONSUMED OUR PUBLIC FACING DATA FEED, UM, THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO ALL THIRD PARTY APP DEVELOPERS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UM, TRIP PLANS AND REALTIME INFORMATION.
UM, BUT WE RECENTLY, UM, PARTNERED WITH THE TRANSIT APP TO PROVIDE THEIR TRANSIT ROYALE EXPERIENCE TO ALL OF, UM, THE FOLKS IN OUR REGION.
UM, AND SO THIS JUST GIVES ALL OF THE FULLY FEATURED, UM, THE FULL SET OF FEATURES THAT THAT TRANSIT APP HAS AVAILABLE FOR FREE TO ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO USE IT IN AUSTIN.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING BUT GEOGRAPHICALLY BE HERE WHEN YOU OPEN THE TRANSIT APP AND IT WILL LET YOU KNOW CAP METRO HAS UPGRADED YOUR EXPERIENCE.
SO, UM, YOU HAVE, UM, ACCESS TO THEIR FULL SET OF EX OF FEATURES, WHICH INCLUDES EXPANDED TRIP PLANS AND A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, CUSTOMIZABLE STUFF, UM, THAN THEIR, THEIR BASE FREE PRODUCTS.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
UM, WE THINK THAT THERE IS, UM, A GOOD OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR US TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP AS WE TRY AND LEAN FORWARD AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND THEN IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF, UM, A LITTLE BIT WEEDY, A LITTLE BIT TRANSIT NERDY, BUT EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TOPICS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, UM, THROUGH OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
UM, THE TRANSIT PLAN 2035, UM, IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF KICKING OFF OUR FIRST ROUND OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED 2025, UM, JANUARY, 2025 SERVICE CHANGES THAT, UM, IS, UH, THAT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO VIA MEMO.
THAT MEMOS INCLUDED IN TODAY'S PACKET.
AND WE'LL LOOK TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE SERVICE CHANGES IN SEPTEMBER.
SO WE ARE NOW IN THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THAT.
UM, WE'RE GATHERING FEEDBACK OVER THE NEXT, UM, MONTH OR SO.
UM, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO REALLY KICK OFF IN EARNEST OUR TRANSIT PLAN 2035 PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LATER THIS WEEK.
UM, CHARMILLA JI AND I WILL BE DOING A, A PODCAST, A LIVE BROADCAST WITH MOVEABILITY AND TRANSIT FORWARD, UM, REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE PLAN AND WHAT IT IS AND HOW WE HOPE TO GATHER ALL OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE ARE IN THAT FIRST BUBBLE, WHICH IS, UM, HEARING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES FOR TRANSIT SERVICE.
WE WANT TO HEAR EVERYBODY'S, WE DREAMS AND WISHES.
WE WANNA KNOW EVERYTHING EVERYBODY EVER WANTED SO THAT WE CAN PUT IT IN THE HOPPER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE TAKEN ALL OF THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS INTO ACCOUNT AS WE COME, UM, LATER, NEXT YEAR BACK TO THIS BOARD WITH FEASIBLE SCENARIOS TO ACTUALLY HELP US DECIDE WHAT'S THE BEST PATH FORWARD.
UM, BUT I WOULD LOVE, I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO REALLY THINK OF THIS AS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY WANT.
WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT ALL, BUT IF WE DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A A DESIRE OUT THERE FOR SOMETHING, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT ON THE LIST OF THINGS TO CONSIDER.
UM, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, UM, A FEW, UM, TOP PIECES OF NEWS COVERAGE.
WE'VE HAD A GOOD BIT OF, UM, MEDIA COVERAGE.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THE BIKE SHARE RELAUNCH WAS, UM, A POPULAR TOPIC.
WE ALSO GOT SOME NEWS COVERAGE ABOUT OUR ELECTRIC BUS FLEET, UM, AS WELL AS OUR PROPOSED PICKUP ZONE IN NORTHEAST AUSTIN.
UM, AS PART OF THOSE SERVICE CHANGES FOR JANUARY, WE'RE PROPOSING OUR NEXT PICKUP ZONE FOR THE DECKER AREA.
UM, ON THE NEXT SLIDE, A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE QUOTES TALKING ABOUT THE BIKE SHEAR PROGRAM, UM, FROM OUR OWN, UM, DIEGO MARTINEZ, UM, WHO, UM, WAS TALKING ABOUT THE, THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW BIKE PROGRAM, UM, HELPING US, MY TALKING ABOUT PICKUP SERVICE AS A WAY TO CONNECT PEOPLE INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, AND EVEN A GREAT QUOTE FROM, UM, AN INDUSTRY LEADER TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHICLES, UM, AND RECOGNIZING THAT, UM, HERE IN AUSTIN, WHILE WE AREN'T ABSOLUTELY HEAD OVER HEELS THAT EVERY SINGLE ELECTRIC BUS WE COULD POSSIBLY GET TODAY IS PERFECT.
UM, WE ARE LEADING THE PACK IN ELECTRIFYING AND TURNING OUR FLEET INTO A ZERO EMISSION FLEET, AND WE'RE, WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF THAT WORK.
UM, SO LOTS OF GREAT NEWS COVERAGE.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL KEEP ALL THE NEWS COVERAGE POSITIVE, UM, FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS TO COME.
AND THEN LASTLY, JUST A COUPLE OF OF
[01:10:01]
THINGS I'VE BEEN OUT DOING IN THE LAST MONTH.I RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN, UH, A FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AND TDOT PANEL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND HOW YOU CAN MAKE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WORK IN FINDING SUCH SOLUTIONS.
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, UM, REALLY INVITED DOTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN TDOT IN UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE WORK TDOT DID WHEN THEY IDENTIFIED THE LAND THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR WHAT'S NOW, UM, THE ESPERANZA, UM, CAMP.
IS IT CAMP ESPERANZA? DID I GET THAT BACKWARDS? UM, AND THE, UM, PARTNERSHIP THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION TO REALLY RUN THE ESPERANZA VILLAGE.
SEE, IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT HERE IN MY NOTES.
UM, WE, I, I WAS JOINED TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR EFFORT TO HELP KIND OF GET THAT STOOD UP AND, AND HONESTLY HOW, WHEN, WHEN WE ALL SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA DO THIS THING, UM, WE WEREN'T SURE IT WAS GONNA WORK.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNEW FROM SURE IT WAS GONNA WORK.
UM, BUT WE WERE ALL GONNA DO OUR PART TO TRY.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE HAD ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT ALL SAID, WELL, I CAN DO THIS.
I CAN'T SOLVE IT ALL, BUT I CAN DO THIS.
UM, AN UNUSUAL GROUP OF PEOPLE TO GATHER A BUNCH OF HIGHWAY BUILDERS TO TALK TO ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
BUT I THINK, UM, OUR ABILITY TO SET UP CENTRAL TEXAS AS AN EXAMPLE ON THAT FRONT MADE ME PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
UM, AND THEN ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE THERE, WE RECENTLY HOSTED, UM, THROUGH, UM, THE, UH, UH, I'M GONNA GET IT WRONG, THE TEXAS WORKFORCE CENTER.
UM, THEY DID A TEACHER EXTERNSHIP WHERE WE HOSTED FOUR TEACHERS, UM, FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, UM, FOR A HANDFUL OF DAYS.
AND JUST TAUGHT THEM ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE COMMUNITY, HELPED THEM UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW THEY CAN, COULD, UM, HELP THEIR STUDENTS UNDERSTAND ABOUT JOBS IN PUBLIC TRANSIT, ABOUT USING PUBLIC TRANSIT, ABOUT ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.
UM, SO THAT WAS A FUN OPPORTUNITY.
WE WERE TALKING TO FOLKS WHO BOTH EDUCATE OUR YOUNGSTERS AS WELL AS AN, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HELPS EDUCATE ADULTS.
UM, AND REALLY LOOKING AT THAT, THAT FULL BREADTH OF HOW WE CAN, UM, PARTNER TO, TO BE A, A GREAT, UM, RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WITH THAT I WILL CONCLUDE MY PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR THE MONTH.
WELL, THANK YOU PRESIDENT WATKINS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE STAFF THAT HELPED PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD, UH, PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
UM, LET'S SEE, UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US TODAY AND WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT ONE 12.