[00:00:20]
OKAY, SO, ALRIGHT, I'LL START WITH THE GAVEL.
[I. Call to Order]
ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR OUR OCTOBER MEETING OF THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
TODAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 28TH.
WE'RE HERE IN THE CAP METRO BOARDROOM.
SO I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
[II. Safety Briefing]
TODAY WILL BE OUR MONTHLY SAFETY BRIEFING.MR. BAN, UH, WE ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE THAT FOR US TODAY.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
I SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT.
IT'S, IT'S SO EASY TO LOOK AT THESE DARLINGS HERE.
I SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER.
AND AS OUR CHAIR HAS INDICATED, I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A SAFETY BRIEFING.
AND SO YOU ARE LOCATED IN THE ROSA PARKS BOARDROOM, LOCATED AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET.
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, STAFF WILL CALL 9 1 1 SHOULD THERE BE A NEED? THERE ARE AEDS LOCATED RIGHT BY THE, UH, ELEVATOR.
SO YOU WOULD GO OUT THESE DOUBLE DOORS, MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND YOU'LL SEE THEM STRAIGHT AHEAD.
AND, AND AGAIN, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY REQUIRING AN EVACUATION, YOU WILL, YOU WILL USE EITHER THE DOOR TO MY RIGHT OR LEFT, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE EMERGENCY IS.
NOW WHAT WE'LL DO IS IF WE DO HAVE TO EVACUATE, WE'LL GO ACROSS THE STREET, LYDON AND FIFTH, AND WE'LL MEET RIGHT ON THAT CORNER.
SO IF YOU TURN TO YOUR LEFT AND TO YOUR RIGHT, YOU'LL KNOW WHO NEEDS TO BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
SO THOSE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES, SHOULD YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE AND WE NEED TO EXIT OUT OF THE DOOR TO MY RIGHT, PLEASE WAIT.
WE'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU DOWN THE STAIRS IF NEEDED.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR, UH, OUR, OUR SAFETY BRIEFING.
THANK YOU FOR OUR SAFETY BRIEFING.
UH, SOMETIMES WE MISTAKE HIM FOR BARRY WHITE, THE VOICE.
SO, BUT, UH, THAT'S GARDNER, UH, TEON.
[III. Recognition]
TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO RECOGNIZE A VERY SPECIAL MEMBER OF THE CAP METRO FAMILY WHO RECENTLY PASSED, BUT AS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR ORGANIZATION.I WILL TURN IT OVER TO PRESIDENT WATKINS, UH, AND LET YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, MR. WEBB AND WHAT HE MEANT TO CAPITAL MITCHELL.
IT IS WITH A, A, A WHOLE BEVY OF MIXED EMOTIONS THAT WE ARE DOING THIS RECOGNITION TODAY.
WAS A FORMER PRESIDENT OF A TU LOCAL 10 91, THE UNION, WHICH REPRESENTS ALL OF OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND HE PASSED AWAY ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AT THE AGE OF 79.
WE ARE JOINED BY A NUMBER OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS TODAY, AND AS KAT METRO RECOGNIZES HIS CONTRIBUTIONS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, AND WE THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO US, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HONOR HIS LEGACY, BUT THAT ALSO THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO, TO JOIN US.
UM, ALFRED BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1970 UNDER CAT METRO'S PREDECESSOR AUSTIN TRANSIT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
TRANSIT IN AUSTIN WAS RUN BY AUSTIN TRANSIT, AND HE SERVED AS THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT OF A TU 10 91, BEGINNING IN 1972.
DURING HIS TERM, AS UNION PRESIDENT ALFRED LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FIRST EXTRA BOARD FOR TRANSIT OPERATORS, THE EXTRA BOARDS, THE PEOPLE WHO FILL IN.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OFF TODAY THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE OFF TODAY, IT'S A, IT IS AN INSTITUTION, UM, THAT WE CAN'T IMAGINE OPERATING WITHOUT.
BUT BACK IN 1972, HE REALLY HELPED US GET READY TO DO THAT.
UM, HE ALSO NEGOTIATED THE FIRST PROVISION IN THE CONTRACT FOR OVERTIME AFTER 40 HOURS.
UM, ALFRED HAS SURVIVED BY A LARGE FAMILY WHO CONTINUED TO CHAMPION HIS LEGACY AS AN ADVOCATE FOR FRONTLINE MEN AND WOMEN.
HE HAD FOUR KIDS, MORE THAN 30 GRANDCHILDREN, AND MORE THAN 50 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
SO THE FAMILY WE HAVE HERE TODAY IS JUST A MINOR PIECE, UM, OF HIS OVERALL LEGACY.
[00:05:01]
UM, SO I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE JOIN ME FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE EXPRESS OUR GREAT APPRECIATION FOR MR. WEBB AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WITH US HERE TODAY.UM, FINALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MR. WEBB'S FAMILY, UM, A BRIEF TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, UM, AND REMEMBRANCE, UM, FOR, UM, MR. WEBB SR.
AND HIS GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO CAP METRO IN CENTRAL TEXAS.
SO, UM, ANDY'S BRINGING IT UP AND, AND, UM, FOR THE FOLKS WHO ARE ONLINE AND MAYBE CAN'T SEE IT, WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE OF, UH, THE CAP METRO BUS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE IT OUTSIDE IF YOU WANNA SEE IT IN THE FLESH, UM, WHICH WE PROGRAMMED, UM, IN RECOGNITION OF MR. WEBB, UM, TO SHOW ON THE DESTINATION SIGN.
SO IF YOU CAN INDULGE US, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A PHOTO, UM, WITH MR. PAYNE AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.
[00:10:03]
ALL RIGHT.I JUST WANNA SAY BRIEFLY AS AS WE COME BACK TO ORDER, UH, THANK, THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UM, MADAM, CEO, FOR, UH, FOR RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY, UH, CAME IN DURING A PERIOD THAT WAS A DIFFICULT PERIOD, THE SEVENTIES AND, AND, UM, AND SERVED THE ENTIRE GROUP OF EMPLOYEES.
AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE LEGACY AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILY UNDERSTANDS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM ALL AND WE WANT TO, UH, TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THEM.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, WE'LL NOW MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[IV. Public Comment ( Part 1 of 2 )]
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER WHO HAS SIGNED UP, UH, IN ADVANCE.WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, UH, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
IF YOU'RE ON SITE OR IF YOU'RE JOINING US REMOTELY, YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES UNLESS THERE'S SPEAKING ON TWO AGENDA ITEMS OR REPRESENTING A GROUP WITH MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN THE ROOM.
AND IN THAT CASE, THEY'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MS. DEB MILLER, WHO I UNDERSTAND WILL BE JOINING US REMOTELY.
IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD MORNING.
UM, MS. MILLER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. WEEKS FOR HIS SERVICE.
UH, AS A METRO ACCESS CLIENT, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY WE ARE TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE HONORING OUR DRIVERS.
UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I WAS COMING TO YOU TODAY WAS TO ASK YOU TO GO THROUGH YOUR HUMAN RESOURCES FILES BECAUSE I'M COMING ACROSS DRIVERS WHO ARE CELEBRATING 30 YEARS WITH YOU ALL AND WE NEED TO AT LEAST SEND THEM A LETTER THANKING THEM 'CAUSE THEY'RE GETTING NO INFORMATION OR THANK YOU.
AND I JUST THINK IT'S AN OVERSIGHT MAYBE BECAUSE WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE OUR DRIVERS.
UM, ANOTHER THING I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH IS ON JANUARY 22ND, I CAME IN AND FILMED A TRAINING VIDEO WITH YOU WHERE THE PERSON WHO WAS YOUR EXPERT, UM, AND DISABILITIES LAID ON TOP OF MY LAP WHILE SHE LOADED ME.
AND AGAIN, WHILE SHE JUST LOADED ME BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT SHE COULD NOT REACH THE STRAPS IN ORDER TO TETHER THE CHAIR.
I DIDN'T GET ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT.
BUT NOW I'M FINDING NEW DRIVERS ON OUR SERVICE WHO ARE LAYING ON TOP OF MY LEGS WHILE THEY LOAD US.
YOU CAN'T TOUCH US, PARTICULARLY NOT WITHOUT ASKING.
AND I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY'S BODY AND THEIR CHEST LAYING ON TOP OF MY LEGS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME SEVERE, UM, PENALTIES FOR THIS.
WE CAN'T TOUCH DISABLED PEOPLE LIKE THIS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, UM, I'M SEEING A LOT OF THE NEW DRIVERS JUST RANDOMLY BACK UP.
WE HAVE NEVER ALLOWED DRIVERS TO JUST SUDDENLY BACK UP FOR NO REASON.
WE HAD NOW HAVE A SIGN ON THE MIRROR THAT SAYS, GO GET OUT AND LOOK.
UM, I WANT YOU TO PLEASE, UH, CHECK ON THESE NEW DRIVERS THAT ARE DOING THIS.
UM, I HAD ONE THE OTHER DAY THAT HE WENT PAST THE RAMP THAT I SHOWED HIM.
'CAUSE HE WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.
THEN THEY STOPPED AND INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT, THERE WAS CARS ALL ON EACH SIDE OF THE PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A CAR BACKING UP AND THEY DECIDED THEY'D GET OUTTA THE WAY THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM AND THERE WERE CARS BEHIND HIM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PULLING OUT AT ANY TIME TOO.
AND IT'S JUST UNSAFE PRACTICE.
AND I JUST WANT GOING FORWARD FOR US TO LOOK AT THOSE TWO THINGS.
THAT'S ALL I HAD TODAY, BUT I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LET YOU KNOW THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE NEW APP AND THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WHEN I HAVE A COMPLAINT, SOMEONE GETS BACK TO ME IMMEDIATELY, LIKE, UH, AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY ABOUT A MAN THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT A FIREARM.
AND SO WE BOTH LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE NEW LAWS ARE, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BRING THESE THINGS TO OUR ATTENTION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPER, UH, STAFF IS, IS, UH, WILL BE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES AND REACHING OUT TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, UH, THE NEXT PERSON LISTED IS NOIA JOSEPH.
AND SHE WILL BE SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS AND WE'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MR. CHAIR, I DON'T SEE MS. JOSEPH ON THE LINE WITH YOU, WITH US TODAY.
I WILL SIGNAL YOU IF WE I SEE HER JOIN.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH THEN.
UM, I HOPE I DON'T MANGLE YOUR NAME, BUT LET ME TAKE MY FIRST ATTEMPT.
HOLD, HOLD THE MICROPHONE PLEASE.
[00:15:01]
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.FIRST, YOU HAVE SOME VERY WONDERFUL, GREAT DRIVERS OUT THERE AND THEY DO AWFUL LOT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
BUT ON OCTOBER THE 23RD, I SCHEDULED A RIDE FOR ME TO GO EARLY.
VOTE WELL I GIVEN THE ADDRESS THAT IT WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD MOVED IT ANYWAY.
THEY MOVED IT, BUT THE DRIVER FINALLY FOUND WHERE IT WAS AND WE MADE IT THERE.
AND I WENT IN, I HAD TO WAIT FOR MY GIRLFRIEND BECAUSE ME BEING A QUADRIPLEGIC, I HAD HER TO PUSH ALL THE BUTTONS AND BASICALLY BE MY HAND SO I COULD VOTE.
ANYWAY, WE FINALLY ALL GOT TOGETHER AND VOTED, BUT I WAS LATE.
DIDN'T ON MY REGULAR PICKUP TIME.
SO I CALLED AND ASKED FOR NEXT PICKUP AVAILABLE FIRST.
I WAS TOLD ONE TIME AND I TOLD ANOTHER TIME, FOUR SOMETHING FIVE, FIVE SOMETHING.
WELL ANYWAY, I CALLED AND WAS PUT ON ALL THE TIME.
I ASKED IF I COULD GET AN EARLIER TIME AND SHE SAID, LET ME CHECK ON THAT.
SHE PUT ME ON HOLD UNTIL, UH, I BASICALLY HUNG UP.
BUT THE BOY IS, IT TOOK ME THREE HOURS FOR A RIDE BACK HOME.
I HOPE I GOT THIS, GET THIS SETTLED.
'CAUSE OTHER PEOPLE, MY HOME WHERE I LIVE, ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RIGHTS TIMES TWO.
AND YOU HAVE SOME GREAT PEOPLE WORKING FOR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN AND, AND SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH US.
WE WILL MAKE SURE, UH, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR VOTING, UH, AND YOU REALLY PROVIDED JUST TREMENDOUS EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF US, UH, TO GET OUT THERE AND, AND DO OUR CIVIC DUTY.
I, I, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT MS. JOSEPH, UH, IS HERE IN PERSON AND WE'LL SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS AND WE'LL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
MR. EASTON JUST PUT UP A SLIDE FOR YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS AS IT RELATES SPECIFICALLY TO ITEM ONE.
THAT'S THE CONTENT AGENDA ITEM FOR THE MINUTES FROM THE CSAC MINI MEETING, AS WELL AS, UH, THE CAPITAL METRO BOARD MEETING MINUTES.
I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO PUT INFORMATION FOR SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK AND NOT ALL.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE THAT SPECIFICALLY WHEN I MENTIONED TO THE COMMUNITY OR THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ABOUT THE TRASH AND SOME OF THE OTHER INFORMATION, THEY DID NOT PUT THE DETAILS.
SO I THOUGHT A PICTURE WOULD BE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS.
YOU ACTUALLY TREAT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE NORTH OF US, 180 3 LIKE GARBAGE.
SO I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT I SEE WHEN I GET OFF THE BUS.
[00:20:01]
IS BERG STATION.AND SHAME ON CHEETO VELA BECAUSE THIS IS HIS AREA.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING ON THE BUS THERE, YOU CAN SEE HAVE TAKEN SOME PRIDE IN THEIR AREA BECAUSE THEY'VE PUT ALL THAT GARBAGE NEATLY ON TOP OF THE TRASH.
I WISH I WOULD'VE PUT A EXAMPLE OF THE METRO RAIL RAIL STATION.
THE BAGS ARE SO PRISTINE AND CRISP THAT YOU ALMOST NEED AIR TO BLOW THEM OPEN.
THEY EMPTY THE TRASH THERE DAILY.
THIS IS WHAT WE SEE ON A ROUTINE BASIS.
I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER.
YOU'LL SEE THE METRO RAPID STOP.
I APPRECIATE THAT CAPITAL METRO PUT THE METRO RAPID STOP THERE.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE IT IS BLUE, THE DRIVERS STILL DO THE DRIVE BY AND THEY DON'T STOP TO PICK US UP.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO CLOSE STOP ID 5 8 5 7.
SO THAT WAY THE PEOPLE ON ROUTE 3 92 CAN CROSS ONE TIME.
AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, UH, SHARMILA MUER G DID THE ANALYSIS.
OVER 400 PEOPLE BOARD THE BUS MIDBLOCK JULY 8TH, 2020.
DOTTIE WATKINS HAS HEARD HER SAY THIS MANY TIMES.
I'VE REPEATEDLY TOLD YOU ABOUT THE 2009 STUDY BETWEEN TXDOT CAPITAL METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN HOUSING AND THE DEPARTMENT OF, UM, THEY HAD THEIR, THE PEOPLE FROM THE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS THEIR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT STUDIED NORTH LAMAR FOR 20 MONTHS.
AND THEY FOUND THAT MIDBLOCK IS WHERE PEOPLE GET KILLED THE MOST.
NEXT SLIDE I WANT YOU TO RECOGNIZE AS WELL.
THIS IS DISTRICT SEVEN THAT ACROSS FROM THE BRIDGE AT HERITAGE WOODS, THERE IS NO SIDEWALK.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED $22.9 MILLION FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE FAR CORNER, YOU WILL SEE THE LITTLE YELLOW LOGO.
THE SCHOOL IS LITERALLY AT THAT CORNER AT YEAGER AND NORTH LAMAR.
IT'S NOT YOUR ORDINARY SCHOOL.
I CONSIDERED MOVING TO THIS PROPERTY, BUT IT IS SO UNSAFE THAT I PROBABLY WON'T MOVE THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU WILL SEE THE MIDBLOCK STOP.
I HAVE ASKED YOU REPEATEDLY TO CLOSE THE MIDBLOCK STOP.
IT IS QUITE TEMPTING TO TRY TO CROSS THE STREET HERE.
BUT I WANTED TO TO REMEMBER MR. NORTON, HE'S A GENTLEMAN WHO DIED IN 2016 CROSSING MIDBLOCK.
HIS SERVICE ANIMAL LIVED, BUT HE WAS IN HIS WHEELCHAIR AND HE WAS KILLED.
AGAIN, IT IS TEMPTING TO CROSS HERE AND PEOPLE DO, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ROADWAY, YOU WILL SEE HOW WIDE IT IS.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IN PART IS FOR YOU TO USE THE $120,000 YOU HAVE ALLOCATED FOR IC TWO TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE THAT'S NORTH OF US.
UM, RESPECTFULLY, MR. CHAIR, THE IC TWO ITEM IS REALLY JUST YOUR PET PROJECT.
THERE ARE NO EXAMPLES IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL THAT SHOW THAT THE PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE BEING GIVEN BY DR. BUTLER, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN, THAT IT'S PROVIDING ANY TYPE OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
IT DOES NOT SHOW ANY OF THE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BASED ON HIS POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS OR ANY OF THE INFORMATION THAT HE SHARED.
YOU ADVOCATED FOR THIS AT AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.
YOU ADVOCATED FOR HIM TO GET FUNDING AT TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT.
AND NOW HERE WE ARE WITH CAPITAL METRO, GIVING HIM ANOTHER $120,000.
I WOULD JUST ASK LASTLY THAT YOU RESTORE THE ROUTES NORTH OF US 180 3 AND FOR ROBERTO GONZALEZ TO CONSIDER RETIRING BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE WHO UNILATERALLY ELIMINATED SERVICE NORTH OF US 180 3.
AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY GENERATE THE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL METRO.
IT IS DISINGENUOUS FOR YOU TO KEEP SAYING MORE FREQUENT, MORE RELIABLE, BETTER CONNECTED.
IT'S IN YOUR FY 2022 BOARD PACKET ON PAGE ONE 90 AND YOU'VE CONSIDERED CONTINUED THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO STOP IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I'LL GLADLY ANSWER 'EM AT THIS TIME.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, UH, IN THE ROOM WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD THAT HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO? ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? HEARING NONE? UH, THE NEXT UP WILL
[V. Advisory Committee Updates]
BE OUR, UH, OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEES, UH, AND WITH THEIR UPDATES.AND, UH, I UNDERSTAND MS. LALEY IS HERE TO, UH, MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO US.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR BILION, VICE CHAIR POOLE PRESIDENT, AND CEO WATKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
[00:25:01]
MY NAME IS KELSEY LAMIE AND I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT MANAGER AT CAP METRO.AND I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU THE COMMITTEE UPDATES FOR OCTOBER.
SO OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, AND ACCESS COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND.
THEY BOTH RECEIVED INFORMATION ON CAT METRO'S BIKE SHARE EXPANSION PLAN FROM NADIA BARRERA RAMIREZ, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF CROSS AGENCY PROGRAMS FOR TRANSIT AND MOBILITY.
UM, OUR CSAC, OUR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ALSO RECEIVED A PRESENTATION ON OUR REDLINE TRAIL STUDY, AND THAT WAS BY REESE RAY TUCKER, WHO IS A TRANSIT PLANNER HERE AT CAP METRO.
UM, ALSO ACCESS, RECEIVED A SPARE UPDATE FROM JULIE LAMPKIN, WHO IS OUR DIRECTOR OF DEMAND RESPONSE OPERATIONS.
UM, SO THOSE ARE OUR TWO CSAC AND ACCESS COMMITTEES.
WE ALSO HAD PSAC C, WHICH WAS JUST HELD IN PSAC AS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS JUST HELD THIS LAST FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH.
UM, AT, UM, PSAC, WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON, UM, OUR TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND STRATEGY BY MICHELLE GREGORY, UM, WHO AS OUR DIRECTOR OF TALENT ACQUISITION.
UM, WE ALSO HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UPDATES ON OUR, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT RECRUITMENT PROCESS BY MYSELF AS WELL.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PSAC BEING HELD LAST FRIDAY, WE ALSO HAD OUR EIGHTH ROUND OF OUR PROGRAM STRATEGIES AND POLICIES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON OCTOBER 17TH.
UM, THERE WE DISCUSSED 20 DIFFERENT POLICIES, UM, THAT WE HAVE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UM, PERIOD RIGHT NOW.
UM, OUR FEEDBACK PERIOD FOR THESE POLICIES CLOSED LAST THURSDAY ON OCTOBER 24TH.
UM, ALL MATERIALS FOR OUR SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON CAP METRO'S PUBLIC INPUT WEBSITE.
UM, AND THAT, UM, WEBSITE IS PUBLIC INPUT.COM/CAP METRO PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE PAGE WITH FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES AND MEETING UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WE MOVE INTO OUR NINTH ROUND OF POLICIES WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, THAT IS ALL FOR THIS MONTH'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, THIRD TIME FOR POSTERITY.
ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[VI. Board Committee Updates]
BE OUR REGULAR BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES.AND WE, UH, WE DID NOT HOLD OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH, UH, BUT WE DID HOLD OUR FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE, AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAD A CAMPO MEETING AS WELL.
UH, UM, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, DO YOU MIND, UH, MAKING THOSE PRESENTATIONS? THANK YOU.
UH, THE FINANCE AUDIT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MADE ON WE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH AT 10 O'CLOCK.
IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE, UH, THE MINUTES FROM THE PRIOR MEETING, WE ALSO APPROVED AND RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD, UH, THE EXECUTION OF INTERLOCAL CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FOR THE IC SQUARED FOR, UH, TRAINING AND ALSO, UH, THE FISCAL 2025 AUDIT PLAN.
AND, UH, THEN ALSO RECEIVED SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS INCLUDING, UH, REGARDING THE, THE AUDIT ADVISORY REPORT FOR THE SALTILLO LEASE.
UH, THE FEDERALLY REQUIRED 2021 QUADRENNIAL, EXCUSE ME, PER PERFORMANCE AUDIT AND ALSO THE STATUS REPORT FOR THE, UH, 2024 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN.
UH, AND THEN WE ADJOURNED, UH, AT 10 50.
UH, WITH RESPECT TO CAMPO, UH, WE MET ON, UH, OCTOBER THE SEVENTH.
UH, WE ALSO, UH, TOOK ACTION AND MADE, UM, SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO THE 2024 AND 2025 UNIFIED PLANNING AND WORK PROGRAM, UH, WHICH ALSO INCLUDED, WHICH INCLUDED, UH, INCORPORATING CAP METRO'S BUILDING COMPLETE COMMUNITIES PROJECT, UH, WHICH IS A JOINT PROJECT BETWEEN CAP METRO, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S HOUSING AND FINANCE, UH, DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THE, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT BASICALLY TO, UH, WORK INTEGRATE NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO SOME OF THE, UH, IMMEDIATELY ADJOINING THE NEW CRESTVIEW STATION THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.
UH, FINALLY, WE ALSO RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS ON CONGESTION MANAGE OR, UH, AN ONGOING CONGESTION MANAGEMENT PROCESS FROM, UH, THE TEXAS A M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE AND OUR REGIONAL SAFETY REPORT, UH, UPDATE, UH, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HELP ASSESS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH CERTAIN, UH, UH, CERTAIN SAFETY PROGRAMS, UH, THAT WE'VE UNDERTAKEN PRIOR YEARS.
AND FINALLY, WE ALSO RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE 2050 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE, UH, WE WILL, I WILL, UH, STATE ONLY FOR THE RECORD THAT THE AUSTIN AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP, UH, HAD ITS
[00:30:01]
MEETING CANCELED THIS MONTH, SO NOTHING TO REPORT.SO, UM, AS WE MOVE, WE WILL MOVE
[VII. Consent Items]
FORWARD TO OUR CONSENT ITEM AGENDA.WE'RE POSTED FOR TWO ITEMS TODAY, AND WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS, AND I AM WONDERING WHETHER ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD WISH TO REMOVE EITHER OF THOSE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SEEING NONE, I'LL, I'LL ASK A SECOND TIME.
UH, ANYONE WANNA REMOVE AN ITEM? IF NO ONE WANTS TO REMOVE AN ITEM, THEN THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ITEMS ONE AND TWO, SHALL I READ 'EM INTO THE RECORD? UM, NUMBER ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES, UH, FROM SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2024 PUBLIC HEARING AND SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2024 BOARD MEETING OF THE ITEM NUMBER ONE.
ITEM NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE UNIVERSITY'S, UH, IC SQUARED INSTITUTE RED READINESS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $120,000 FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS, BEGINNING NOVEMBER 2ND, 2024 THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST, 2025, INITIAL TERM WITH A ONE YEAR OPTION.
TERM, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS. MOTION.
UH, BOARD MEMBER BENGAL ONE AND BOARD MEMBER ELLIS IS THE SECOND CHAIR.
IF I MAY INTERVENE BRIEFLY BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THE CONSENT ITEM, I WANTED TO CALL OUT AT THE, UM, FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH.
UM, COMMITTEE CHAIR HARRIS ASKED A QUESTION ON WHAT IS NOW CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO THAT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THE ANSWER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE BOARD.
UM, THAT QUESTION WAS IF WE HAD, WHAT EVIDENCE WE HAD OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE IC SQUARE PROGRAM ENTERING THE CAP METRO PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
UM, WE HAVE THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, UM, CAPTURED 10 FULLY, UM, ENROLLED IN OUR ONLINE BID SYSTEM.
UM, 10 OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS HAVE FULLY ENROLLED AND ARE NOW RECEIVING, UM, THE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF OUR ONGOING BIDS, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF THE FIRST STEP IN FILLING THE PIPELINE.
SO WE ARE SEEING SOME EVIDENCE, UM, GIVEN THAT IT'S JUST BEEN, UH, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, UM, WE, WE KNOW THAT 10 ISN'T A, ISN'T A HUNDRED, BUT THAT WE THINK THAT IS A, A GOOD FIRST STEP.
UM, BUT I DID WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARED THAT INFORMATION WITH THE FULL BOARD BEFORE YOU WERE ASKED TO TAKE YOUR VOTE.
SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS, UH, ON THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
UH, NOW WE WILL TAKE UP TODAY'S
[VIII.1. Approval of a resolution adopting the 2025 CapMetro Board Meeting Calendar.]
REGULAR ACTION ITEMS AND WE ARE POSTED, UH, FOR ACTION ON 11 ITEMS TODAY.FIRST OF THOSE WILL BE THE ADOPTION OF OUR 2025 BOARD MEETING CALENDAR.
UH, MS. CONY IS HERE TO BRING US THAT INFORMATION.
COULD YOU, UH, COULD YOU PLEASE ENLIGHTEN US? THANK YOU, CHAIR.
UH, MY NAME IS CHEYENNE CONNER.
I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CAP METRO.
UM, AND I AM HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU ALL ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE THAT INCLUDES ADOPTION OF YOUR BOARD AND BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING CALENDAR FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025.
UM, IT'S A PRETTY STANDARD, UH, TEMPLATE FOR US.
UM, OUR BOARD RELATIONS MANAGER, MR. EASTON.
UM, MAKE SURE TO BE MINDFUL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCY MEETINGS, INCLUDING CITY COUNCILS AND THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP BOARD, UM, TO SCHEDULE AROUND THOSE AS WELL AS MAJOR HOLIDAYS.
UM, THIS AGENDA OR THIS, UM, CALENDAR DOES INCLUDE ONE BOARD MEETING A MONTH AS IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
UM, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
UM, WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS, BOARD MEMBERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, GO AHEAD.
BOARD MEMBERS STRATTON REMIND ME WHEN SPRING BREAK IS COMING UP IN 25.
I KNEW THAT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WAS GONNA ASK A VERY RANDOM HOLIDAY.
SEE, HE GAVE IT TO ME HAVING KIDS.
HE'S USED TO ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS.
MARCH, LIKE MARCH 17TH THROUGH 21ST OH'S THE, OH, OKAY.
AND IT DOES, I WILL NOTE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIG SERVICE AREA THAT INCLUDES SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
SOMETIMES THEY DO TAKE DIFFERENT SPRING BREAKS, BUT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT MARCH AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT, UM, WORKS FOR FOLKS, ONLY A PARENT.
SO WE, WE CAN, AS A REMINDER, WE CAN MAKE CHANGES AS NECESSARY.
THIS IS JUST THE GENERAL CALENDAR.
AND IT DOES STATE THAT ON THE BACKUP, THE DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON CALENDAR AVAILABILITY.
SO, UH, IF WE, IF WE COME INTO THAT SITUATION IN 2025,
[00:35:01]
WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.I ALSO VERY QUICKLY, UM, PULLED UP THE A ISD CALENDAR, AND AGAIN, I'M CONFIRMING 17TH THROUGH THE 21ST IS A ISD SPRING BREAK RECOGNIZING THAT WE SERVE MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT MAY HAVE CHANGES IN THEIR CALENDAR.
ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? WE'RE GOOD.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CALENDAR? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, THE RESOLUTION FOR THE CAP METRO MEETING CALENDAR.
UH, BOARD MEMBER POOL MAKES A MOTION.
SO, UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CAP METRO BOARD MEETING CALENDAR.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VIII.2. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a contract, including a lease agreement, with Bright Horizons Family Solutions, LLC for the operation of the Childcare and Learning Center for one base year and four one-year options for a total contract amount of $230,000.]
ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO AND I'LL READ IT INTO THE RECORD.APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT INCLUDING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS LLC FOR THE OPERATION OF THE CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER FOR ONE BASE YEAR AND FOR ONE YEAR OPTIONS FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $230,000.
AND STAFF UPDATE ON CAP METRO CHILDCARE STIPEND PROGRAM.
SIMMONS, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, PRESENT? ABSOLUTELY.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESIDENT AT YALE WATKINS.
I SERVE AS I'M DONNA SIMMONS AND I SERVE AS CAPTAIN METRO'S, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER.
UM, I WON'T REPEAT THE EXACT ITEMS SINCE CHAIR TRAIAN HAS READ THAT INTO THE RECORD ALREADY, BUT I DO WANNA COVER SOME SPECIFICS OF THE, UM, OF THE CONTRACT AND THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH YOU.
AND JUST PROVIDE SOME, SOME BACKGROUND ON ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING REALLY SINCE LAST MARCH WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CONTRACT FOR THE BRIGHT HORIZONS CONTRACT TO THE BOARD FOR THE CURRENT CENTER OPERATION.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RECAP OF WHAT OUR GOALS HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS TOPIC.
ONE, TO CONTINUE PROVIDING CHILDCARE SUPPORT OPTIONS TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF CAP METRO, UM, AS WELL AS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE CURRENT CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER OPERATION.
UM, BUT, UM, OUR FOCUS HAS ALSO BEEN ON MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER OPTIONS TO PARENTS WHO, UM, WHO DON'T LIVE IN THIS AREA, WORK IN THIS AREA, OR WHO HAVE CHILDCARE NEEDS THAT ARE OUTSIDE, UM, WHAT THE TRADITIONAL OPERATING HOURS ARE FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS.
SO I'M GONNA SHARE SOME INFORMATION WITH YOU ON WHERE WE ARE TO, TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
WE ALSO HAD A GOAL OF BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT CHILDCARE AND LEARNING CENTER AS A BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE COMMUNITY WITH A MUCH MORE SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL MODEL THAN WE HAVE OPERATED UNDER IN THE PAST WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND THEN FINALLY TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET FOR CHILDCARE PROGRAM COSTS.
SO THAT BUDGET WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND WE, UM, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE MAKING, AND THIS RECOMMENDATION REMAINS WITHIN THOSE COSTS.
SO THIS IS JUST A HIGHLIGHT OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HOLD REGULAR MEETINGS WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AND WITH THE PARENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY USING THE, THE CHILDCARE CENTER, UM, AT 6 24 PLEASANT VALLEY OPERATOR BY BRIGHT HORIZONS.
WE CONDUCTED AN EMPLOYEE SURVEY IN MAY AND WE SHARED SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT WITH YOU WHEN I MADE A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD BACK IN JULY.
WE HAVE ALSO INSUR, UM, BEEN ENSURING TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE OUR SERVICE PROVIDER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR LEADERSHIP SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE CHILDCARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT, THAT WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH THEM TO PROVIDE TO OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT DETERMINING BOTH THE NEED OF OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS THE COST.
SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TO REDUCE THE CURRENT SUBSIDY EVEN, WE NEGOTIATED A REDUCED SUBSIDY UNDER THE CURRENT BRIGHT HORIZONS CONTRACT FROM, FROM THE 597,000, UM, ANNUAL CONTRACT THAT A BOARD THE BOARD APPROVED BACK IN MARCH TO 390,000.
UH, MOST OF THAT WAS DONE AS A RESULT OF BRIGHT HORIZONS AGREEING TO REDUCE THEIR MANAGEMENT FEE, BUT ALSO BY, UM, INCREASES IN THE TUITION FOR PARENTS WHO ARE USING THE CENTER.
[00:40:01]
WE HAVE ALSO DESIGNED THE FRAMEWORK FOR A CHILDCARE STIPEND PROGRAM THAT I'LL SHARE SOME DETAILS WITH YOU ABOUT.UM, AND THEN FINALLY, ON THE RFP PROCESS AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE MAKING TODAY, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU THE, SOME, THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONTRACT THAT WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE BOARD APPROVE WITH BRIGHT HORIZONS.
SO BEFORE I LEAVE THAT, I DO WANNA, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE, AND IT'S MENTIONED IN THE BOARD ITEM, BUT NOT THE SPECIFICS OF WHO THE OTHER, UH, PROPOSAL WAS.
UM, WHEN WE ISSUED THE RFP, WE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM OUR CURRENT CHILDCARE OPERATOR BY HORIZONS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM OPEN DOOR PRESCHOOLS.
I WILL SAY THAT BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS OFFER REALLY HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. UM, BUT ONE OF OUR MAIN CRITERIA IN THE RFP WAS TO ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE SUBSIDY WITH THE HOPE OF ALSO RECEIVING THAT DECLINE OVER TIME TO WHERE CAPITAL METRO WOULD NOT BE PROVIDING, UH, FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OTHER THAN THE SPACE.
UM, AND BASED ON ALL THE CRITERIA IN THE RFP, UM, THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO BRIGHT HORIZONS.
THIS IS JUST A QUICK REMINDER OF ONE OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY THAT WE DID BACK IN MAY THAT MOST OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO RESPONDED TO THAT SURVEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A PREFERENCE FOR THEIR CHILDCARE LOCATION TO BE NEAR THEIR HOME, BUT ALSO CLOSE TO 40% SAID THEY WOULD PREFER CHILDCARE NEAR THEIR WORK.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH, UM, THAT I'LL GET INTO MIN A LITTLE BIT MORE LATER, UM, HELPS TO SERVE BOTH OF THOSE NEEDS BY HELPING PARENTS TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE NEAR THEIR HOME REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT SOLUTION IS, BUT ALSO PROVIDING SOME OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES NEAR THEIR WORK.
DELVING A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO WHAT WE'VE DONE SUSTAINABILITY WISE, I ALREADY MENTIONED REDUCING THE SUBSIDY UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT UNDER THE RFP, UM, PROCESS THAT WE HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH IN THIS RECOMMENDED CONTRACT, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRIBUTION BY CAP METRO OF THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE $125,000 AND THEN IT WOULD REDUCE OVER TIME, UM, FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF THE CONTRACT TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NO CASH CONTRIBUTION BY CAP METRO IN YEARS FOUR AND FIVE.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT I THINK IS THAT, UM, WHICH IS WHY I MENTIONED WHY EMPLOYEES, THERE ARE SOME EMPLOYEES WHO REALLY DO PREFER CHILDCARE NEAR THEIR WORK LOCATION.
UM, UNDER THIS NEW CONTRACT, BRIGHT HORIZONS WILL OF COURSE CONTINUE TO OFFER PRIORITY ENROLLMENT FOR OUR CHILDCARE CENTER ACROSS THE STREET HERE, BUT ALSO THEY HAVE TWO OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
ONE THAT'S IN THE OAK HILL, KIND OF CIRCLE C AREA ON DAVIS LANE.
AND THEN THEY HAVE ANOTHER THAT'S IN THE BREAKER AND BURNETT ROAD AREA, WHICH IS REALLY LESS THAN A COUPLE OF MILES FROM OUR NORTH OPERATIONS BUS AND RAIL FACILITY.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT BECAUSE OF THOSE, THE PRIORITY AND THOSE TWO OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY, THAT SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AS WELL UNDER THE CONTRACT AND THE PROPOSED LEASE AGREEMENT AS WE DO NOW, CAPTAIN METRO WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE UTILITY SECURITY AND BUILDING MAINTENANCE FOR THAT SPACE.
A LITTLE MORE OF THE SPECIFICS ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.
SO I MENTIONED THAT THE FIRST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT CAP METRO'S CONTRIBUTION WOULD BE $125,000 IN YEARS.
IN THE SECOND YEAR IT GOES TO 75,000 IN THE THIRD YEAR TO 30,000.
AND THEN IN YEARS FOUR AND FIVE OF THE CONTRACT, IT WILL NOT REQUIRE A CONTRIBUTION BY CAP METRO UNDER THE LEASE AGREEMENT.
WE WILL, AS I MENTIONED, CONTINUE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SECURITY REPLACEMENT OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT WHEN NEEDED, UM, THOSE LITTLE CHAIRS AND TABLES THAT TINY PEOPLE
UM, AND SECURITY AND UTILITIES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, THAT WE, THAT WAS THE GOAL WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT OUR CHILDCARE PROGRAM SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WAS TO, UM, REDUCE THE COST THAT CAPTAIN METRO WAS PROVIDING TO OPERATE THE CHILDCARE CENTER THAT WAS NOT SERVING THE BULK OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT AND I WANTED TO JUST SHARE SOME OF THE DETAILS OF THAT.
SO OUR CURRENT IN, IN FY 2025, WE PROPOSED IN THE 25 BUDGET, UM, FUNDS TO SUPPORT BOTH THE CHILDCARE STIPEND AS WELL AS THE CONTINUED CONTRACT TO OPERATE THE CHILDCARE CENTER.
AND THE, THE PROJECTED COST UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT FOR FY 25, WHICH INCLUDES SIX MONTHS OF THE CURRENT CONTRACT AND SIX MONTHS UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT MODEL IS $257,500, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT LESS $12,500 LESS THAN WHAT THE BOARD APPROVED IN THE FY 2025 BUDGET.
[00:45:02]
THE AMOUNT FOR THE STIPEND PROGRAM FOR HALF OF FY 25 IS PROJECTED TO BE 300,000, WHICH IS WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.THE VALUE OF THE LEASE SPACE THAT CAP METRO WILL BE PROVIDING.
WE, UM, ESTIMATE TO BE APPROXIMATELY $75,000, WHICH IS THE COST BASED ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE CHILDCARE CENTER THAT COMPRISES THAT ENTIRE 6 24 PLEASANT VALLEY BUILDING FOR THOSE MAINTENANCE AND SECURITY AND OTHER SERVICES.
AND THEN WE ALSO BUDGET EVERY YEAR, UM, A SMALL AMOUNT FOR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT IF NEEDED.
UH, WE'LL PAUSE THERE IN CASE THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COST BEFORE I MOVE ON TO TALK ABOUT THE STIPEND PROGRAM BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CONTINUE.
ALRIGHT, SO THIS IS ANOTHER EXCITING THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE WILL IMPLEMENT A DEPENDENT CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT THAT WILL PROVIDE UP TO $3,000 ANNUALLY FOR EMPLOYEES TO HELP THEM PAY FOR CHILDCARE THAT MEETS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.
SO THIS COULD BE PARTICULARLY FOR OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
THIS COULD BE CHILDCARE THAT AN EMPLOYEE IS PAYING TO A NEIGHBOR OR AN IN-HOME DAYCARE PROVIDER OR EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER IF THEY ARE PAYING A FAMILY MEMBER TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE DURING THOSE NON-TRADITIONAL WORK HOURS THAT A LOT OF OUR FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES HAVE.
UM, WE MADE THE DECISION TO LIMIT THE PROGRAM BASED ON INCOME TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT BENEFIT TO OUR EMPLOYEES WHO NEED IT THE MOST FOR HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE.
SO YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN WHAT THOSE INCOME LIMITS ARE.
UM, I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR DEVELOPING EXACTLY WHAT THOSE ARE, TO BE HONEST.
WE KIND OF STOLE IT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S STIPEND PROGRAM.
UM, BUT IT IS BASED ON 110% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN THE AUSTIN AREA.
UM, AND THEN BECAUSE WE'RE STARTING THIS PROGRAM SEVERAL MONTHS FROM NOW, WE ALSO ADDED A 3% INFLATION FACTOR FOR THAT.
SO THAT'S HOW WE DEVELOPED THOSE INCOME LIMITS.
UM, I'LL MENTION THAT I, THAT WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDER LEADERSHIP, UM, AND ALSO WITH THE A TU LEADERSHIP TO LET THEM KNOW, UM, OF THIS BENEFIT BEING AVAILABLE TO, UM, THEIR EMPLOYEES IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, WE HAVE FRONTLINE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THIS WEEK AS WELL WHERE WE'RE SHARING THAT SPECIFIC IN INFORMATION.
SO AS FAR AS WHAT, WHAT'S NEXT ON, ON THE AGENDA, UM, FOR, FOR STAFF TO, TO COMPLETE THIS WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON OUR CHILDCARE SUPPORT PROGRAMS, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EMPLOYEE AND PARENT COMMUNICATIONS FOLLOWING THE BOARD MEETING TODAY.
UM, THE NEW CONTRACT STRUCTURE GOES INTO PLACE IN ON APRIL 1ST OF 25, AS WELL AS THE STIPEND PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR ENROLLMENT AND UTILIZATION OF THE STIPEND PROGRAM AND, AND ENROLLMENT BOTH IN, IN THE CHILDCARE CENTER THAT'S ON SITE AT 6 24 PLEASANT VALLEY, BUT ALSO TO TAKE, KEEP AN EYE ON ENROLLMENT FOR, UM, ENROLLMENT IN THE OTHER BRIGHT HORIZONS LOCATIONS NORTH AND SOUTH.
AND THEN IN NOVEMBER, AFTER WE'VE HAD THE PROGRAM IN PLACE, AFTER SIX MONTHS, WE WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD TO REPORT TO YOU ON, ON BOTH OF THE, ON ENROLLMENT IN BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. WITH THAT, I WILL BE REALLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON BOARD MEMBER? THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK WITH A, UH, A MUCH BETTER, UH, ARRANGEMENT.
UH, SO IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET THEN, THE SAVINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, UH, ARE, ARE, ARE COMING OUT OF THE, THE RENEWED OR THE, THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT WITH, UH, BRIGHT HORIZONS ARE GOING INTO, UH, THE STIPEND PROGRAM FOR, UH, FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT GONNA BE AT THE CHILDCARE CENTER.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
YOUR QUESTION, SO THE, THE BUDGET INCLUDES FOR FY 25 MM-HMM.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO BUDGETED $300,000 IN FY 25 TO FUND THE STIPEND PROGRAM FOR, FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND ONE THING I DID NOT MENTION THAT MAY BE GETTING AT YOUR QUESTION.
SO CURRENTLY, UM, FOR CAP METRO AND AND SERVICE PROVIDER EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A REDUCED TUITION FOR UTILIZATION OF OUR CHILDCARE CENTER THAT IS BELOW THE COMMUNITY AND MARKET RATE, AND IT'S DONE ON A SLIDING SCALE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STIPEND PROGRAM, THEY'LL NO LONGER BE THAT REDUCED TUITION FOR KEPP METRO EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE WILL BE PROVIDING THAT STIPEND TO ASSIST THEM WITH PLAYING, WITH PAYING FOR CHILDCARE.
[00:50:01]
GOT IT.WELL, AGAIN, I, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK WITH A, A MUCH BETTER, UH, ARRANGEMENT AND, UH, I JUST APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK.
UH, I GUESS A COUPLE COMMENTS.
ONE IS, UM, I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED THIS FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT, UH, SO THAT WE WE'RE PROVIDING A, A CHILDCARE BENEFIT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE EMPLOYEES, THE BULK OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, NEAR NORTH OPS OR SOMETHING ON THAT CASE.
UM, I HAVE TO BE FRANK WITH YOU THOUGH, I'M VERY, I'M STILL VERY TROUBLED ABOUT PA YOU KNOW, PROVIDING A CASH STIPEND, UH, TO A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY.
UM, IT'S SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, THAT TROUBLE I GUESS IS SOMEWHAT MITIGATED BY THE FACT THAT IN SOME WAYS I LOOK AT THIS IS THAT WHAT WE REALLY DID WAS SORT OF BUY IN, BUY IN THE PRIORITY PLACEMENT OF OUR EMPLOYEES INTO OTHER FACIL, NOT ONLY THIS FACILITY HERE, BUT OTHER FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, IN BOTH OAK HILL AND UH, UH, NEAR NORTH OFF OPTIC BREAKER.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I, I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IF WE COULD FIND A WAY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE CONTRACT CAN BE MODIFIED AT THIS POINT OR DO IT, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET AWAY FROM PROVIDING A CASH STIPEND, UM, IF WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, BUY IN PLACES, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR, YOU KNOW, BUY IN PLACES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THAT'S AN, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S JUST THE SOMEHOW THOUGH, JUST TYING IT SPECIFICALLY TO THIS, THIS LOCATION WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW, AT LEAST BASED ON HOW WE GOT INTO THIS PLACE BEFORE WE HAD NINE, NINE FAMILIES THAT WERE UTILIZING IT VERSUS THE 65 SPOTS THAT WERE THERE.
SO, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW, UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THIS TODAY BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GET OUT OF THE, THE BUSINESS, IF YOU WILL, AND JUST GET US BACK INTO A PURE STIPEND DERANGEMENT IN THE FUTURE SO THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY'RE AT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO BE, HAVE CLOSE TO HOME OR CLOSE TO WORK, HAVE THE MONEY HAVE, TAKE THOSE FUNDS AND APPLY IT TO THE, UH, APPLY IT TO MEETING YOUR CHILDCARE NEEDS.
WELL, MEMBER BEGA, I, I MISSED YOU.
YEAH, I JUST, I SECOND SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS.
UM, I ALSO, UH, APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS AND THE BALANCE BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF THE CAP METRO FAMILIES AND ALSO REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF CAP METRO'S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION.
I ALSO WOULD RATHER SEE THAT COMPLETELY REDUCED AND GO TOWARDS THE STIPEND PROGRAM.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE DOLLARS DIRECTLY TO OUR CAP METRO FAMILIES AND NOT TO A CHILDCARE FACILITY.
I UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE THAT WE'RE LIVING IN BECAUSE WE'RE COMING TO A CLOSE OF A CONTRACT FOR NEXT SPRING.
UM, BUT I WOULD ALSO THINK THAT OUR CONTRIBUTION PROVIDING THE SPACE WITH THE LOWER LEASE AMOUNT IS A SIGNIFICANT HELP TO THE CENTER ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PRIORITY PLACEMENT FOR OUR CAP METRO FAMILIES BECAUSE WE ARE PROVIDING THAT FACILITY.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT GOING FORWARD, BUT I WILL BE SUPPORTING IT TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, DONNA.
WELL, MEMBER STRATTON, I, JUST TO CLARIFY, DONNA DID, UM, DID I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THE, THE STIPEND THAT WE, SO WE WE'RE PAYING BRIGHT HORIZONS, WE WE'RE THE CONTRIBUTION, DIRECT CONTRIBUTION THAT WE'RE MAKING TO THE VENDOR BRIGHT HORIZONS FOR THIS ONE, WE'RE CUTTING IT, WE'RE CUTTING IT DOWN FROM WHAT IT HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY FOR THE LAST, WHAT, HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN DOING TO 20 YEARS OR SOMETHING TO START WITH AGAIN, OUR CONTRACT WITH BRIGHT HORIZONS INITIALLY IN 2006, SO 18 YEARS AGO.
AND, BUT THE, THE WAY WE'RE DOING THIS THEN IS WE'VE, THIS, THIS CONTRACT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE YEAR WITH AN OPTION OF FOUR ADDITIONAL YEARS, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
WITH EACH YEAR, WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THAT TY, WITH THAT AMOUNT THAT WE'RE PAYING BRIGHT HORIZONS, IF WE, IF WE CONTINUE TO CHOOSE TO MOVE THIS CONTRACT FORWARD THROUGH THE OPTIONAL YEAR PERIODS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT AMOUNT? WELL, IT GOES DOWN EVERY YEAR, AS I MENTIONED, FROM THE 125,000 THE FIRST YEAR, THEN TO 75,000 AND THEN TO 30,000 AND THEN TO NO CASH CONTRIBUTION.
I KEPT MEASURE THE FOURTH AND FIFTH YEARS OF THE CONTRACT.
UM, WHAT I WOULD EXPECT IS THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT, IN OUR FY 26 BUDGET, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE PARTICIPATION IN THE STIPEND PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE MEETING ALL OF THE NEED THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE GETTING, UM, FROM FOLKS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR 25 IS SUFFICIENT OR IF WE SHOULD CONSIDER PROPOSING AN INCREASE IN THAT FOR FY 26.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH.
SO THAT, THAT GETS BACK TO THE FACT THAT, THAT WE MAY BE, THIS IS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, BUT IT'S ONE
[00:55:01]
YEAR WITH FOUR YEAR OPTIONS.AND AT LEAST AS Y Y'ALL ARE, AS STAFF ARE PROPOSING, IF WE WERE TO EXERCISE ANY ONE OF, AND AGAIN WITH FOUR YEAR OPTIONS, WE, AT EVERY, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, WE COULD COME BACK AND SAY, NO, THANKS, WE APPRECIATE THIS, BUT WE WANT TO MOVE ON IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
BUT IF EVEN IF WE WERE TO STAY THE COURSE ON AND, AND, AND EXERCISE ALL FIVE YEARS, EACH YEAR, HAS THAT AMOUNT THAT WE PAY TO THE VENDOR DROPPING AND, AND EXPONENTIALLY DROPPING DOWN UNTIL FINALLY IT WOULD REACH OUT AND ZERO OUT AFTER AFTER THE, THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE CONTRACT.
AND I THINK, I JUST WANNA MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT I'VE GOT THAT SIDE BECAUSE I KNOW WE GOT, WE GOT TWO DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE EQUATION HERE.
WE'VE GOT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ON THE VENDOR SIDE WITH BRIGHT HORIZONS ITSELF IN Y'ALL'S PROPOSALS AS STAFF TO US AS BOARD MEMBERS, PLUS THEN WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE, UM, THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND DIRECT BENEFITS SIDE FOR WHAT WE AS CAP METRO WOULD BE PROVIDING THROUGH THE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT TO OUR, TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE OPTIONS, WE, WHEN WE HAVE A CONTRACT THAT HAS A BASE AND THEN, AND THEN ADDITIONAL OPTION YEARS, WE, BEFORE WE EXERCISE THOSE OPTIONS, EVEN WHEN THE BOARD APPROVES ALL, ALL FIVE YEARS, IN THIS CASE, EVEN WHEN THE BOARD APPROVES THAT STAFF LOOKS EVERY YEAR AT, UM, SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE WE'RE READY TO EXERCISE AN OPTION TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT OPTION YEAR OR NOT.
UH, I WILL JUST SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY HEAVY LIFT ON A VERY, IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU DONNA AND YOUR STAFF, BECAUSE I THINK, I FEEL LIKE WE AS A BOARD MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF, OF, UH, RUNNING A, A, YOU KNOW, CHILDCARE AGENCY AND, AND TRANSIT AGENCY.
UM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I FEEL LIKE THAT THAT, THAT WHAT YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER HERE IS A VERY SOUND PLAN AND REASONABLE, CONSIDERING THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS NOW FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF, OF, UH, REASONABLE TRANSITION TO GET US OUT OF ONE AND, AND, AND REALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND, AND REALLY WHAT THE MARKET IS RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND I JUST WANT TO, ONE, I I, I PLAN TO VOTE FOR THIS AND I JUST WANNA PUBLICLY THANK YOU AND THE STAFF, THE REST OF THE STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DID TO PUT THIS IN AND, AND AGAIN, SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO, TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS TO, TO PUT THIS TOGETHER AND BRING THIS BACK TO US IN SHORT ORDER.
VICE CHAIR POOLE HAD A QUESTION, UH, COMMENT.
UM, I ACTUALLY VERY MUCH SUPPORT, UM, THE, UH, CONTINUATION OF THIS, UM, CONTRACT IN LARGE PART BECAUSE AS WE REMEMBER WHEN THE TERMINATION OF THIS CONTRACT CAME TO US, WAS THAT BACK IN FEBRUARY, OR WAS IT ABOUT A YEAR AGO? IT WAS IN MARCH.
UM, REMEMBER THE, THE FAMILIES WHO CAME AND TALKED TO US ABOUT, UM, THE INTERRUPTION TO THEIR DAILY ROUTINES IF THE DAYCARE WERE TO CLOSE, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT CLOSING IT IN, WAS IT A TWO MONTH, WAS IT THE END OF JUNE? THE SENTENCE, AT THAT TIME IT WAS LESS THAN A MONTH, I BELIEVE FROM THE TIME THAT WE WERE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TO, TO, WHEN THEIR, THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH BRIGHT RESIDENTS AT THE TIME WAS EXPIRING.
AND SO THERE WAS, UM, REAL URGENCY AROUND TRYING TO BE ABLE TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE.
UH, SO I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES IN THANKING YOU AND, UM, MS. WATKINS FOR FIGURING OUT A WAY TO THREAD THIS NEEDLE.
I WILL POINT TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT, UH, PROPOSITION ON, UH, YOUR BALLOTS.
UH, IF YOU'VE ALREADY VOTED, YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE VOTED ON THIS, BUT IT'S ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER FIVE TO CREATE A FUND, UH, TO SUPPORT CHILDCARE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO IF, IF ANY OF US HAD ANY QUESTION IN OUR MINDS ABOUT THE NEED TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO PAY FOR IT, WE WILL BE CONFRONTED BY THIS BALLOT PROPOSITION THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BROUGHT IN ORDER TO CREATE THE FUND TO HELP TO PAY FOR THIS REALLY IMPORTANT RESOURCE, UH, FOR US TONIGHT.
SO I FACE IT, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR, I, I COULDN'T, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO, UH, TO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD BE ENDING THIS CHILDCARE CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL WAS TO DO IT IN SUCH SHORT ORDER.
SO YES, THIS HAS BEEN A HEAVY LIFT.
I'M GLAD THAT MY COLLEAGUES HERE, UM, ARE, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE HAVE CAREFULLY MONITORED THIS WITH YOU, UM, I THINK ON A MONTHLY BASIS OR NEARLY MONTHLY BASIS
[01:00:01]
SINCE, UM, SINCE YOU RETURNED TO THE BARGAINING TABLE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE THIS CONTRACT WORK.UM, I, I THINK AT THIS MOMENT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S, UH, LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES, CLOSING A DAYCARE CENTER IS JUST THE WRONG THING TO DO.
UM, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THE CAP METRO DAYCARE CENTER, SOME POINT IN, UH, THE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE NEED TO SIGNAL VERY EARLY TO THE FAMILIES WHO MAY BE LINING UP TO PUT THEIR CHILD THERE OR TO WHOMEVER THE VENDOR IS, UM, TO MAKE ADEQUATE AND AMPLE PROVISION FOR LOSING A DAYCARE CENTER.
AND THIS, I HAD SO THAT, AND THAT'S WHY I FELT BACK IN MARCH WHEN WE WERE FIRST, UH, WHEN THIS ISSUE FIRST CAME TO US, AND I HAVEN'T, HAVEN'T CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE AT ALL.
IN FACT, IF I HAD ANY QUESTION, IT HAS BEEN ANSWERED BY THE ACTIONS OF OTHER ELECTED BOARDS IN, IN THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY A ISD AND THE REALLY SIGNIFICANT CAMPAIGN THAT'S UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW TO SUPPORT, UM, UH, SELLING THE BONDS FOR, UM, FOR CHILDCARE.
SO THIS IS A NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD CAP METRO HAS FOUND A WAY TO CONTINUE TO FULFILL THAT NEED, RECOGNIZING THAT IT MAY BE THAT IN A FEW YEARS WE MOVE AWAY FROM BEING THE SPONSOR OF IT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE OWN THAT BUILDING.
SO WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT, UM, WE, WE PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE.
AND YOU CAN'T JUST CLOSE THE DOORS ON PEOPLE.
UH, I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO HAVE TO CONFRONT THAT WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS IN CHILDCARE.
AND I'M SURE, UH, NO ONE IN, IN THAT, IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD FEEL ANY DIFFERENT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THIS MOVING FORWARD AND FOR, UM, THE AGENCY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO EMPLOYEES.
AND AGAIN, WE JUST REALLY NEED TO SIGNAL VERY FAR IN ADVANCE, UM, IF, IF THERE WILL BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO, UH, THE PROVISION, THE LOCATION OF THIS DAYCARE CENTER AND THE PROVISION OF DAYCARE.
JUST WANNA SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT, UH, ACTUALLY TRAVIS COUNTY PUT THE AFFORDABLE, UH, CARE NOW ACT, UH, ACT ON THE BALLOT, TRAVIS.
IT WAS, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS THE COUNTY AND A ISD HAS TWO, HAS TWO PROPOSITIONS AS WELL, BUT THE CHILDRE ONE IS TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO THANKS TO ALL WELL, THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
NO, JUST WANTED, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND FOR CORRECTING ME.
UM, I, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO, UH, TO WHAT MY COLLEAGUE SAID, UH, WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING, IT WAS A PACKED ROOM AND THERE WAS A LOT OF HOSTILITY IN THE ROOM.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, STAFF HAS GONE AND BUILT A PROGRAM, UH, THAT IS BALANCED PROGRAM THAT IDENTIFIES WHERE WE ARE, BUT I, BUT HAS LOOKED INTERNALLY WITH OUR STAFF AND THEN LOOKED IN AND THEN LOOKED EXTERNALLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO BUILD A PROGRAM THAT COULD SERVE US ALL.
AND I THINK THAT WAS WHAT WAS BEING REQUESTED.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.
IT REALLY WAS, UH, A, A HEAVY LIFT AND YOU REALLY HAD TO, UH, TO LOOK INTO A RAPIDLY CHANGING MARKET.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE BALANCE THAT YOU'VE FOUND, BUT ALSO TO FIND A WAY TO, UH, SERVE OUR EMPLOYEES WHETHER THEY WANT TO BRING THEIR CHILDREN HERE OR WHETHER THEY WANT TO, WANT TO HAVE THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY LIVE IN.
SO, UH, IT HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD PROGRAM.
I THINK STAFF, UH, AND OUR CEO, UH, SHOULD BE COMMENDED BECAUSE, UH, SHE HAD A GOOD HAND IN PICKING THE STAFF
SO, UH, SO, UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? AND LET'S SEE.
I, I THINK THAT, UH, LET'S SEE.
UH, IT, OH, WELL, I GUESS WE OUGHT TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO, UH, UH, TO ACCEPT IT.
UM, BOARD MEMBER STRATTON AND THEN BOARD MEMBER VELA.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT, CEO, TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE, UH, THE CONTRACT FOR CHILDCARE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS.
AND, AND IF YOU ALL WILL INDULGE ME FOR A MOMENT, WE, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ITEM NUMBER FOUR TO, TO GO NEXT BECAUSE THERE ARE EIGHT ITEMS THAT, THAT MR. CON, UH, CARTRIGHT WILL HANDLE HANDLE FOR US.
AND I DON'T WANNA BREAK 'EM UP IF WE
[01:05:01]
DON'T HAVE TO.UH, IF YOU ALL WILL INDULGE ME THERE, I WILL CALL UP ACTION ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING FY THE FY 2025 ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN.
MR. FULMER, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ILIAN, BOARD MEMBERS, PRESIDENT WATKINS.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TO DISCUSS PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT PLAN AND REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THE RE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT PLAN.
THE FINANCE, AUDIT ADMINISTRATION, UH, COMMITTEE CHARTER, AS WELL AS THE PRACTICE PRACTICES WITHIN, UH, MY PROFESSION REQUIRE THAT I PREPARE A RISK-BASED ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN ANNUALLY AND PRESENT IT TO THE BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND CAP METRO MANAGEMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND FOR ALL THEIR SUGGESTIONS RELATED TO THE AREAS THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT FOR POSSIBLE AUDITS DURING 2024.
THESE ARE KEY INGREDIENTS FOR ME TO PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN EACH YEAR.
THE PROPOSED AUDIT PLAN HAS 24 PROJECTS, AND I HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO COMPLETE THIS PLAN BASED UPON THE, THE FINANCING, MY DEPARTMENT BEING FULLY STAFFED, AND THEN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH UT AUSTIN.
AND THE, THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE WORKING WITH THE, UH, UNPAID INTERN AUDITORS FROM UT THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE STANDARDS OF THE INTERIM INTERNAL AUDITORS REQUIRES THAT THE CHIEF AUDITOR CONFIRMED TO THE BOARD, AT LEAST ANNUALLY THE ORGANIZATIONAL INDEPENDENCE OF THE INTERNAL AUDIT ACTIVITY.
TO THAT POINT, I CONFIRM TO YOU THAT CAP METRO'S INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT IS ORGANIZATIONALLY INDEPENDENT OF MANAGEMENT AND AS SUCH REMAINS OBJECTIVE WHEN CONDUCTING ITS AUDITS.
OUR AUDIT STAFF HAVE NO CONFLICTS WITH THE AUDIT PLAN THAT WE JUST COMPLETED THIS PAST YEAR, AS WELL AS WE HAVE NO CONFLICTS WITH THE PROPOSED AUDIT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
I'M ASKING, UH, YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 AUDIT PLAN AND WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, ANY NO MORE QUESTIONS? UM, OKAY.
CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN.
UM, APPROPRIATELY BY THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
AND, UH, APPROPRIATELY BY ANOTHER AUDIT COMMITTEE MEMBER.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIR? JUST TO SAY THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, MR. FULMER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THAT MAKES THE SECOND ONE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
UH, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
UM, WE MIGHT NEED A CHAIR AND SOME WATER FOR, UH, FOR MR. CARTWRIGHT.
[VIII.3. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee to finalize and execute an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with the State of Texas through its government entity, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, for digital document scanning and future document storage services starting November 1, 2024 with a termination date of August 31, 2026 in an amount not to exceed $3,500.]
THREE IN, UM, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT ILA WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH ITS GOV, UH, THROUGH ITS GOVERNMENT, ANY ENTITY, THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION FOR DIGITAL DOCUMENT SCANNING AND FUTURE DOCUMENT STORAGE SERVICES STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024 WITH THE TERMINATION DATE OF AUGUST EL, UH, AUGUST 31ST, 2026 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,500.I'M KEN CARRA, VICE PRESIDENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, UM, IS THE RESULT OF A, A DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE STATE AS SPECIFICALLY THE, UH, STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.
WE HAVE A, A LARGE VOLUME OF REAL ESTATE DOCUMENTS THAT WE WERE IN NEED OF SCANNING AND DIGITAL STORAGE.
AND THROUGH OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE, THEY'VE OFFERED THESE SERVICES TO US AND SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
DO REALIZE THIS IS A SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNT, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST.
HOWEVER, ANY INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHERE FUNDS ARE EXCHANGED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT ENTITIES REQUIRES BOARD APPROVAL.
SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO YOU, UH, TODAY, BUT LOOK FORWARD TO A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE, UH, FOR THE, THESE PARTICULAR SERVICES AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THESE REGARDING THIS ITEM.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.
[01:10:02]
AND BOARD MEMBER VA.IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THE RESOLUTION, UH, TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AN ILA WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS THROUGH THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES COMMISSION.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
UNANIMOUS WITH, UH, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS BEING, UH, ABSENT FROM, FROM HER CHAIR.
ALRIGHT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE MOVING TO ITEM,
[VIII.5. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a Settlement Agreement in Lieu of Condemnation with the City of Pflugerville to grant the City one Temporary Construction Easement across up to 1.208 acres of the 25.00 acres of land owned by CapMetro located at 10805 Cameron Road, in exchange for compensation to CapMetro in the amount of $67,521.]
UH, NUMBER FIVE AND I'LL READ IT IN APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN LIEU OF CONDEMNATION WITH THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE, UH, TO GRANT THE CITY ONE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT ACROSS UP TO 1.208 ACRES OF A, OF THE 25 ACRES OF LAND OWNED BY CAP METRO, LOCATED AT TEN EIGHT OH FIVE CAMERON ROAD IN EXCHANGE FOR COMPENSATION TO CAP METRO IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,521.I DO HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO SHARE WITH YOU REGARDING THIS.
SO, UH, THE UH, BOARD RECALLS THAT THE AGENCY ACQUIRED 25, UH, ACRES OF PROPERTY NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF CAMERON RODENT SPRINGDALE IN 2022.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THAT ACQUISITION WAS TO, UH, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT OUR NEW NORTH BASED DEMAND RESPONSE FACILITY.
YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION THERE ON THE MAP JUST NORTH OF, UH, HIGHWAY TWO 90.
AND, UM, THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY CONTEMPLATED AND ACTUALLY APPROVED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON A, UH, A SECOND RAW WATER LINE THAT THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE IS EXTENDING FROM THE COLORADO RIVER NORTH TO, UH, LAKE PFLUGERVILLE AS A PART OF THEIR CITY WATER SUPPLY.
AND THAT, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, PROPERTY WAS OUR LOYOLA ELAINE JOHNNY MORRIS PROPERTY.
SO THE CITY, UM, REQUESTED A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT TO CONSTRUCT THAT LINE WITHIN THEIR EXISTING PERMANENT EASEMENT.
AND THE BOARD HAD GRANTED THAT LAST YEAR.
AND SO NOW THEY HAVE, UH, DETERMINED THAT THEY WILL AGAIN CROSS ANOTHER, UH, CAPITAL METRO OWNED PROPERTY.
AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, THEY ARE, UH, REQUESTING A 60 FOOT WIDE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT THAT'S ADJACENT TO THEIR, UM, EXISTING 40 FOOT EASEMENT.
AND THIS IS FOR A 42 INCH RAW WATER SUPPLY LINE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE GREEN TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT THAT WOULD BE ALONG THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF THAT, UH, PROPERTY.
SO IN RETURN FOR THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT, THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE WILL COMPENSATE US, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF $67,521.
THEY ARE GOING TO ACCELERATE THEIR CONSTRUCTION OF THIS, UH, WATER, RAW WATER LINE IN THE VICINITY IN ALONG OUR PROPERTY BOUNDARY.
SO THEY COMPLETED JUST ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, SO IT WILL NOT DELAY US STARTING CONSTRUCTION ON OUR DEMAND RESPONSE FACILITY.
SO, UM, THEY HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH US, UH, QUITE A BIT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEW RAW WATER LINE AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT IMPACT ANY OF OUR PERMANENT FACILITIES.
AND THE CITY, UH, COUNCIL DID APPROVE, UH, THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 24TH AND SEPARATE FROM THAT, BUT RELATED TO IT, WE, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR TWO AGENCIES.
THEY, IN ADDITION TO CROSSING THIS PROPERTY, THEY ALSO CROSS OUR RAIL RIGHT OF WAY AND WE HAVE TO GRANT THEM PERMITS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
BUT WE'RE HANDLING THAT THROUGH AN MOU.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A THROUGH PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT, BUT TODAY WE'RE ASKING, UH, THAT YOU AUTHORIZE A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT SO THE, UH, CITY CAN PROCEED WITH THEIR RAW WATERLINE CONSTRUCTION, UH, PROJECT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE TO LOOK BOTH WAYS.
UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION BOARD MEMBER ROSS AND BOARD MEMBER ALICE.
ALRIGHT, UH, IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED, UH, THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER FIVE A, UH, A RESOLUTION FOR A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN LIEU OF CONDEMNATION WITH THE CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[01:15:01]
MOVE TO ACTION ITEM[VIII.6. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute contracts with Bowman Consulting Group, LLC, Doucet & Associates, Inc., McGray & McGray Land Surveyors, Inc., and Surveying and Mapping, LLC, for Real Property Surveying services on a task order basis for a base period of three (3) years with two (2) option periods for 12 months each in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,955,000.]
SIX, WHICH I WILL READ INTO THE RECORD.APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH BOWMAN CONSULTING GROUP, LLC, UH, DOUCETTE AND ASSOCIATES INC.
AND MCRAY AND MCRAY, UH, LAND SURVEYORS INC.
AND SURVEY AND MAPPING LLC FOR REAL PROPERTY SURVEYING SERVICES ON A TASK ORDER BASIS FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS WITH TWO OPTION PERIODS FOR 12 MONTHS EACH IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,000,955.
MR. CARTWRIGHT, PLEASE PROCEED.
AND THAT LAST AMOUNT WAS $2,955,000.
JUST, UH, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR.
UM, BOARD MEMBERS, THE AGENCY, UH, UH, REGULARLY, UM, HAS CONTRACTS WITH, UH, SURVEYING, UH, COMPANIES, UH, FOR OUR VARIOUS PROJECTS.
THEY, UH, WE USE THEM FOR REAL ESTATE, UH, ACQUISITIONS, LEASES, ET CETERA, AS WELL AS OUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
AND WE USE THEM ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS.
WE, UH, WE HAD A, A PREVIOUS CONTRACT WITH A, UH, SURVEYING COMPANY AND THAT, UH, CONTRACT IS EXPIRING.
SO WE, UH, WENT THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO ACQUIRE NEW FIRMS, UH, TO PLACE THEM UNDER CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN USE THEM GOING FORWARD.
THESE FIRMS THAT YOU'VE READ OUT, UH, DID PROPOSE, WE DETERMINED THAT THEY WERE ALL QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.
SO WE RECOMMEND AWARDING CONTRACT TO EACH OF THESE, UH, SERVICES.
UH, EACH OF THESE, UH, FIRMS, WE DID ESTABLISH A 5% DBE GOAL FOR THIS.
UH, TWO OF THE FIRMS ARE MEETING THE GOAL.
UH, ONE IS EXCEEDING, AND THEN, UH, THE FOURTH FIRM IS ACTUALLY A HUNDRED PERCENT DBE.
SO ALL FIRMS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DBE REQUIREMENTS, UH, OR THE DBE GOALS FOR THESE PARTICULAR CONTRACTS.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE, UH, REGARDING THESE PROPOSED CONTRACTS BOARD MEMBERS.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.
OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE A RESOLUTION, UH, AUTHORIZING, UH, THE, UM, REAL PROPERTY, UH, SURVEYING SERVICES ON A TASK ORDER BASIS FROM THE IDENTIFIED FIRMS. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.
WHERE ARE THESE, WHERE ARE THEY B BASED OUT OF? EXCUSE ME.
WHERE IS WHO BASED OUT OF THE, THE, THE FOUR, THE FIRMS? THEY, THEY WERE ALL LOCAL.
ARE THEY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN? YES.
ONE FIRM'S HEADQUARTERS, I BELIEVE IS IN FORT WORTH, BUT THEY DO HAVE AN AUSTIN OFFICE.
OKAY, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? THE HEARING? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, OF APPROVING THE RESOLUTION IS READ.
PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
UH, HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VIII.7. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Austin for the design and construction of a Redline double-track and multimodal improvements project along East 5th Street through which CapMetro will contribute $14,184,000, while the City contribution will not exceed $5,000,000.]
WARM HERE.APPROVAL OF RE OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE AND IN A LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A RED LINE DOUBLE TRACK AND MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT ALONG EAST FIFTH STREET THROUGH, UH, THROUGH WHICH CAP METRO WILL CONTRIBUTE 14,184,000 UH, DOLLARS, WHILE THE CITY CONTRIBUTION WILL NOT EXCEED $5 MILLION.
I HAVE A FEW SLIDES, UH, FOR THIS AS WELL.
SO THIS IS OUR RED LINE DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT, AND THIS IS AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDING YOU WITH ORIENTATION REGARDING THIS.
SO WE ARE DOUBLE TRACKING FROM ONION STREET TO THE AUSTIN Y ONION STREET IS CLOSE TO THE LEFT IN THIS ILLUSTRATION OF THIS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH.
AND THEN THE AUSTIN Y YOU SEE THE RED ARROW POINTING OUT THE EAST TIMS INTERSECTION THERE AT AUSTIN Y AND THAT'S WHERE OUR COMMUTER RAIL LINE, OUR RED LINE HEADS NORTH, UM, OUT OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO WE ARE DOING APPROXIMATELY 0.7 MILES OF DOUBLE TRACKING.
UM, WE WILL, UH, BE IMPROVING THE FOUR RAILROAD CROSSINGS THERE AS PART OF THAT DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT.
AND THIS IS ALSO GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE PLAZA SALTILLO STATION.
SO WE'LL HAVE TWO, UH, UH, ONE PLATFORM NORTHBOUND,
[01:20:01]
ONE SOUTHBOUND.EACH WILL BE ABLE TO NOW TO SUPPORT TWO TRAINS, UM, IN EACH DIRECTION, UH, PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE SERVICE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UH, FROM DOWNTOWN.
THEN HEADING, HEADING NORTHWARD A AS PART OF THAT, THEN, UH, THERE WILL BE A RECONFIGURATION OF A SECOND OF FIFTH STREET BECAUSE THE RAIL STATION WILL EXPAND INTO THAT FIFTH STREET FOOTPRINT.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY ON THAT AND FIFTH STREET WILL BECOME ONE WAY IN THE WESTBOUND DIRECTION BETWEEN NAVASOTA AND CHICONE.
SO JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.
UM, AND FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN ON, UH, UH, INCORPORATING SIDEWALKS AND SHARED YOUTH PATHS, EXCUSE ME, SHARED USE PATHS FROM ON ONION STREET TO ROBERT MARTINEZ.
BASICALLY THE EXTENT OF THAT DOUBLE TRACKING SECTION AND HENCE THE, UH, REASON FOR THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
SO THE RED LINE RAISE GRANT, WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN, UM, GETTING A RAISE GRANT THAT'S REBUILDING AMERICA INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY FEDERAL FUNDING, UH, IN THE AMOUNT OF 18 MILLION REPRESENTING 56, UH, PERCENT OF THE JUST OVER $32 MILLION PROJECT COST.
UM, FOR THE LOCAL SHARE, THE 44% LOCAL SHARE, UH, CAPITAL METRO WILL BE, UM, UH, PROVIDING THAT 13.2 MILLION WHILE THE CITY, UH, THEY'RE PART OF THAT LOCAL SHARE IS JUST UNDER 0.9 MILLION.
AND IN THE READING OF THE RESOLUTION, IT SAID THE CITY CONTRIBUTION WILL NOT EXCEED 5 MILLION, AND THAT IS TO PROVIDE US WITH, UH, SOME LEVEL OF BUFFER THERE IN CASE WE, UH, UNDER WE HAVE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UH, WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO MAKE THOSE WITHOUT HAVING TO RETURN TO THE BOARD FOR ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION.
AND THE SAME FOR THE CITY THAT THEY WOULD NOT NEED TO RETURN TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION UNDER THIS INTELLECTUAL AGREEMENT.
SO WE'VE COMPLETED 30% DESIGN ON THIS PROJECT.
UH, WE WILL COMPLETE A HUNDRED PERCENT DESIGN IN 2025 AND THEN, UH, BE, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD WILL BE FROM 2026 TO 2028.
SOME OF THE TERMS OF THE ILA, SO OF THE, UM, 18 MILLION FEDERAL SHARE, ABOUT 16.9 OF THAT IS THE DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT.
AND ABOUT 1.1 OF THAT 18 MILLION ARE THE CITY PROJECT ELEMENTS.
IF FOR SOME REASON THERE ARE, UH, COSTS THAT EXCEED THOSE RAISED GRANTS, THAT LOCAL ENTITIES MEANING CAP METRO AND THE CITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE.
UM, EACH ENTITY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN COSTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, CAPITAL METRO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COSTS, AND THE CITY LIKEWISE ON THE SIDEWALK AND SHARED USE PATH, UH, PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UH, BUT CAPTAIN METRO WILL ACT AS THE LEAD, UH, AGENCY ON THIS PROJECT, HANDLING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS.
UM, OBVIOUSLY WITH CLOSE, UH, COORDINATION WITH THE CITY ON BOTH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
UH, BUT WE WILL HOLD THOSE CONTRACTS AND PROVIDE THE DIRECTION TO THOSE, UH, DESIGN TEAMS AND TO OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS.
AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS, UH, PROPOSED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
UH, KEN, I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS HAS ALREADY, UH, COME, UH, BEEN BUDGETED IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT? IT HAS, YES.
IT'S IN OUR CURRENT, UH, CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL AS OUR FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA? UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE CITY'S PORTION WILL BE ESSENTIALLY TO COVER THE TRAIL, UH, A PART OF THE ELEMENT AND THEN CAPITAL METRO THROUGH THE GRANT WILL BE DOUBLE TRACKING.
AND SO WE'LL HAVE DOUBLE TRACK FROM THE DOWNTOWN STATION ALL OF THE WAY TO, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK ON THE MAP THERE ABOUT SEVENTH STREET.
MM-HMM,
UH, THAT WE CALL IT THE AUSTIN Y BUT IT'S THAT RAIL INTERSECTION JUST SOUTH OF SEVENTH STREET.
AND THEN THE SHARED USE PATH WILL GO REALLY PAST THE DOWNTOWN STATION, I DON'T THINK QUITE CONTIGUOUSLY THROUGH DOWNTOWN, BUT ESSENTIALLY IT, IT'S FAIRLY CONTINUOUS FROM THAT POINT INTO DOWNTOWN.
UHHUH,
I KNOW THAT DOUBLE TRACKING IS EXTREMELY LONG AND EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT, BUT GOOD TO SEE JUST PIECE BY PIECE, THE DOUBLE TRACK MOVING, UH, FARTHER AND FARTHER, YOU KNOW, EAST AND I GUESS EVENTUALLY NORTH.
UH, AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE, THE, THE TRAIL.
I KNOW THAT THE, UH, THE, THE CONSERVANCY THAT THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THE TRAIL IS, IS VERY, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
AND, UH, JUST IN GENERAL, THIS IS, UH, GONNA GIVE FOLKS THAT ARE, UH, COMING VIA FOOT OR BICYCLE FROM,
[01:25:01]
UH, EAST AUSTIN, UH, INTO DOWNTOWN.A JUST SAFE AND STEADY, UH, PATH ALL THE WAY THROUGH, INCLUDING, I KNOW THE CITY JUST PUT IN THAT, UH, A BICYCLE PATH SIGNAL THERE, UH, WHERE AT THE I 35, UH, UH, CROSSING, WE FINISHED THE, THE, THE PATH THROUGH THERE.
SO AGAIN, JUST PIECE BY PIECE, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THESE, UH, MULTIMODAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, CONTINUING TO, UH, UH, TO GET DONE.
WE WERE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY ON THAT CROSSING AS WELL ON I 35.
AND, AND IF YOU WANNA SEE MORE, WE ARE WILLING TO TAKE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE CHA UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, THE RESOLUTION BOARD MEMBER VELA, UH, BOARD MEMBER ELLIS WITH A SECOND.
SO, UH, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S BEEN MOVED, I PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE, UH, FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
SO, UH, LOOKS LIKE, UH, WE ARE READY TO MOVE TO ACTION ITEM EIGHT, WHICH I'LL READ IN, UH, BUT IT
[Items VIII.8. - VIII.11.]
ALSO SEEMS LIKE EIGHT THROUGH 11 ARE GONNA BE DEALING WITH THE GOODNIGHT RANCH.SO, IF, IF, UH, IF, IF OUR ATTORNEYS, UH, THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE, UH, UH, CAN WE TAKE ALL OF THESE AS, UH, I'LL READ THEM ALL IN AND TAKE IT AS ONE VOTE? YES, SIR.
YOU MAY TAKE IT ALL AS ONE MOTION, ALL.
I'LL READ THEM THROUGH, THEN I'LL COME BACK.
DO, DO YOU WANT ME TO READ THEM? MR. CHAIR? YOU, YOU KNOW, I, I STILL HAVE A COUPLE, I SAY A COUPLE MORE SIPS,
UH, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE GRANTING OF AN OF AN ELECTRIC UTILITY EASEMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN ON CAP METRO OWNED PROPERTY, LOCATED AT 24 0 1 EAST SLAUGHTER LANE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 4 7 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING, CONSTRUCTING, RECONSTRUCTING, INSTALLING, OPERATING, REPAIRING, MAINTAINING, INSPECTING, REPLACING, UPGRADING, AND REMOVING ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION AND ELECTRIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINES AND SYSTEMS TO SERVE THE BATTERY.
ELECTRIC, ELECTRIC BUS CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE AS SET FORTH IN THE EASEMENT, WHICH AFTER FINAL CONSIDERATION OF FINAL CONSTRUCTION SHALL BE LIMITED TO AN AREA EXTENDING FIVE FEET ON ALL SIDES OF THE ACTUAL INSTALLED LOCATION OF THE FACILITIES SLASH IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT IS ACTION ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
ACTION ITEM NUMBER NINE IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO GRANT A STORM SEWER DRAINAGE EASEMENT AND A WASTEWATER EASEMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE GOODNIGHT RANCH PARK AND RIDE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
OKAY, NOW, NOW WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER 10, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHOR.
SORRY TO INTERRUPT ON NUMBER NINE, IT WAS WATER WASTEWATER.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE BOTH INCLUDED.
UH, IF ALRIGHT, IF I MISSED WATER WASTEWATER, LET'S, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT WAS STORM SEWER DRAINAGE EASEMENT, AND A WATER WASTEWATER EASEMENT TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THE GOODNIGHT BRANCH WATER.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET 'EM BOTH.
UM, NUMBER 10, UH, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A SIGNAGE EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH, UH, AUSTIN GOODNIGHT RANCH.
LP ADJACENT TO CAP METRO OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 24 0 1 EAST SLAUGHTER LANE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 4 7 FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE INSTALLATION.
CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE, OPERATION, REPLACEMENT REPAIR, AND UPGRADE OF TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS.
ALRIGHT, WHICH GIVES ME NUMBER 11, WHICH READS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OR HER DESIGNEE TO FINALIZE AND EXECUTE THE GRANTING OF A JOINT ACCESS EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN GOODNIGHT RANCH, LP ON CAP METRO OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 24 0 1 EAST SLAUGHTER LANE, AUSTIN, TEXAS 7 8 7 4 7 FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, REPLACEMENT, REPAIR, UPGRADE,
[01:30:01]
AND USE OF A PAVED ACCESS LANE RELATED CURB CUTS ACCESS POINTS FROM SUCH DRIVE ONTO ADJOINING RIGHTS OF WAY, LANDSCAPING, UH, CURBS, GUTTERS, DRAINAGE CHANNELS, DRAINAGE CONVEYANCE STRUCTURES, AND ALL OTHER ACCESS RELATED IMPROVEMENTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE ACCESS EASEMENT AREA.THAT WOULD BE EIGHT THROUGH 11.
AND I'LL NEED ANOTHER DRINK, PLEASE PROCEED.
SO JUST A FEW SLIDES TO EXPLAIN THESE.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THESE ARE ALL RELATED TO THE GOODNIGHT RANCH PARK AND RIDE.
THE GOODNIGHT RANCH PARK AND RIDE IS THE, UH, WILL BE THE SOUTHERN TERMINUS OF THE, UH, PLEASANT VALLEY RAPID LINE.
SO IF YOU RECALL BOARD MEMBERS, YOU AUTHORIZED THE ACQUISITION OF THIS TRACT OF LAND IN APRIL OF 2024, AND NOW WE ARE COMING TO YOU TO REQUEST, UH, AUTHORIZATION TO GRANT EASEMENTS AND, UH, AGREEMENTS RELATED, UH, TO THAT PARK AND RIDE PROJECT THAT ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO, UH, MAKE THAT OPERATIONAL.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT NONE OF THESE, UH, EASEMENTS WILL BE, UH, EXECUTED UNTIL AFTER WE ACTUALLY OWN THE PROPERTY.
SO WE JUST AS OF FRIDAY SIGN THE, UH, PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY AND WE WILL, UH, BE ACTUALLY CLOSING ON THE PROPERTY IN THE NEXT 30 TO 45 DAYS.
UH, SO IT'S AT THAT POINT AFTER CLOSING THAT WE WILL ACTUALLY EXECUTE THESE EASEMENT AGREEMENTS.
AND AS YOU, UM, SO ELOQUENTLY READ ALL OF THOSE, I'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF DE A DESCRIPTION OF EACH.
THE JOINT ACCESS AGREEMENT WOULD BE BETWEEN, UH, CAP METRO AND THE AUSTIN GOODNIGHT RANCH.
UH, LP, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE WATER WASTEWATER UTILITY EASEMENT WOULD BE BETWEEN CAP METRO AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THE ELECTRIC UTILITY EASEMENT, AGAIN BETWEEN CAP METRO AND THE CITY, CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND THE TRAFFIC SIGNAGE EASEMENT BETWEEN CAP METRO AND AUSTIN GOODNIGHT RANCH.
AND JUST A A REFRESHER, HERE'S THE SITE PLAN FOR THE, UH, PARK AND RIDE PROJECT.
THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY IS SLAUGHTER LANE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS ABOUT A MILE EAST OF, UH, I 35 ON SLAUGHTER LANE.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GOODNIGHT RANCH DEVELOPMENT, YOU CAN SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS, THE 64 PARKING SPACES, THE FOUR, UH, BUS LOADING AREAS WITH THE ELECTRIC CHARGING, AND ALL THE NORMAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE PROVIDE AT, UH, PARK AND RISE, INCLUDING A DRIVER RESTROOM.
TH THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS THESE EASEMENT AREAS, IF YOU WILL.
THE, UH, LOT ONE THERE AT THE TOP, UM, IS THE ACTUAL, UM, CAP METRO PROPERTY.
THE, UH, INSET DOWN ON THE LOWER LEFT IS JUST A BLOW UP OF THAT, BUT I'LL DESCRIBE EACH OF THESE.
SO ON LOT ONE AND THE LOWER INSET, YOU'LL NOTICE THE, UH, LIGHT BLUE SURROUNDING THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S THE EASTERN BOUNDARY, THE WESTERN BOUNDARY, AND THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY.
THAT IS THE AREA OF THE ACCESS AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS THE EXTENSION THERE TO THE RIGHT AND SHADED IN GRAY.
THAT WILL BE A FUTURE CONNECTION TO, UM, THE GOODNIGHT RANCH BOULEVARD.
WHEN THAT ROAD IS EXTENDED SOUTH OF SLAUGHTER LANE, WE'LL HAVE THAT CONNECTION.
AND, AND THE PRIMARY PURPOSE FOR THAT ACCESS EASEMENT IS SO, UH, WELL WHEN WE FIRST OPEN THE FACILITY, WE WILL BE ENTERING AND EXITING OFF SLAUGHTER LANE, BUT IN THE FUTURE, WHEN WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE ADJACENT ROADWAYS, INCLUDING AUSTIN, THE, THE GOODNIGHT RANCH BOULEVARD, WE WILL THEN ALLOW OUR BUSES TO GO TO SIGNALIZE INTERSECTIONS, PROVIDING FOR A SAFER INGRESS AND EGRESS FROM THIS PARK AND RIDE.
SO THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR, UH, FOR US IN, UH, AS PART OF THIS PROPERTY.
THEN I'LL GO TO THE AUSTIN ENERGY EASEMENT.
SO THE AUSTIN ENERGY EASEMENTS START OUT AS BLANKET EASEMENTS COVERING THE ENTIRE BOUNDARY OF THE PROPERTY.
SO AN AUSTIN ENERGY CAN DESIGN AND THEN CONSTRUCT THE ELECTRIC UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND AS YOU READ, UM, IN THE RESOLUTION THAT ONCE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE COMPLETED, THEN WE SURVEY IN A FIVE FOOT, UH, BOUNDARY AROUND THOSE ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THOSE ARE GRANTED TO THE CITY OR AUSTIN ENERGY, IF YOU WILL.
THE, UH, THE NEXT ONE WAS THE WATER WASTEWATER, UM, EASEMENT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP DRAWING WHERE IT SAYS LOT ONE, YOU CAN SEE BLUE AND YELLOW LINES INDICATING WATER AND WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER UTILITIES.
SO WE WOULD BE GRANTING AN EASEMENT ALONG THAT EASTERN BOUNDARY, UM, TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR THAT, UM, THAT ALTERNATIVE, UH, FOR THOSE UTILITIES.
AND THEN FINALLY THE SIGNAGE EASEMENT.
UM, SO WE HAVE WORKED WITH, UH, GOODNIGHT RANCH TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE US A FIVE FOOT WIDE SIGNAGE EASEMENT AROUND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR PROPERTY SO WE CAN INSTALL ALL, ALL OF OUR TRAFFIC SIGNS.
THOSE ARE DIRECTIONAL SIGNS, STOP SIGNS, YIELD SIGNS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND SO THOSE ARE IN SUMMARY ALL OF THE EASEMENTS THAT WE WOULD BE EXECUTING AS PART OF THIS PARK AND RIDE
[01:35:01]
FACILITY.AND I WILL, UH, PAUSE THERE AND SEE IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE PROPOSED EASEMENTS.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS? GO AHEAD.
JUST, UH, JUST A QUICK, UH, QUESTION REMINDING US.
UM, WELL FIRST THANK YOU FOR MOVING THIS ALONG.
UH, JUST A QUICK REMINDER, WHEN ARE WE EXPECTED TO SEE FINAL COMPLETION AND BEGINNING BUS SERVICE OUT THERE? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE STARTING THE BRT SERVICE THAT THE PLEASANT VALLEY LINE FIRST, AND WE'VE GOT DOTTED LINES GOING OUT THERE BECAUSE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING LATER.
SO WHEN, WHEN SHOULD THE PUBLIC BE EXPECTING THIS PARK AND RIDE TO BE COMPLETED AT THIS POINT IN TIME? SO THE, THE PROCESS WILL BE THAT WE WILL CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY, UH, PROBABLY IN EARLY DECEMBER TIMEFRAME.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION, THE BOARD ALREADY AWARDED THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THIS.
UH, ONCE WE, UM, ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY FORMALLY, WE FILE THE EASEMENTS WITH THE CITY.
AS SOON AS THOSE EASEMENTS ARE GRANTED, THEN THEY WILL THEN ISSUE THE PERMIT FOR US TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE GRAY AREA OF HOW MUCH TIME THAT TAKES, BUT PROBABLY A MONTH OR TWO IN THERE FOR THOSE EASEMENTS.
AND THEN WE WOULD START CONSTRUCTION AND IT'S ABOUT A YEAR'S CONSTRUCTION TIMEFRAME.
SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, EARLY TO SPRING OF 2025, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A YEAR FROM THERE WHEN WE HAD THAT IN SERVICE.
AND TO YOUR POINT, WE WILL BE, OUR SOUTHERN TERMINUS WILL BE TEMPORARILY JUST NORTH OF THIS AREA UNTIL THIS FACILITY IS COMPLETED BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE PER WHAT WE APPROVED AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, WE'RE STARTING THIS SERVICE IN JANUARY.
WE'LL BE STARTING THE PLEASANT VALLEY SERVICE IN THE SPRING.
WE HAVEN'T QUITE IDENTIFIED THE DATE.
UM, I SUSPECT THAT WE'LL START IN THE MONTH THAT BEGINS WITH THE LETTER F BUT WE HAVEN'T YET,
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE WE'RE ON TRACK WITH THIS.
ALRIGHT, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, WHICH SHOULD INCLUDE ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 11 FOR OUR VOTE.
SO MOVED PASS ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 11.
BOARD MEMBER RADDEN AS, AS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.
SECOND BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, UH, HE GOT YOU WHILE YOU, WHILE YOU, YOU CAN HAVE IT
I HAD OTHER SECONDS ALONG THE WAY.
ALRIGHT, SO IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE APPROVE ACTION ITEMS EIGHT THROUGH 11.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
I, I AND I, I LOOKED AT YOU IN THE BACK VICE CHAIR POOL AND LOOKED LIKE YOU SAID I TO ME.
UH, SO THE CHAIR WILL, I THINK I HAD TO TURN ON MY MIC.
UH, SO THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A STATION SET UP BACK THAT HAS OXYGEN AND PLY.
SO I WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
UM, RIGHT AS WE GO, UH, AS, AS WE GET READY TO GO TO OUR CEO'S REPORT, THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO
[IV. Public Comment ( Part 2 of 2 )]
CAME IN, UH, A LITTLE LATE, BUT SHE HAS SUCH GREAT ATTITUDE AND SHE WANTED TO, UH, TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD.UH, WE THOUGHT THAT, UH, THAT MS. TAYLOR WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND, AND ADDRESS THE BOARD HOW Y'ALL TODAY DOING WELL.
AND YOU HAPPY AND PEACOCK PROUD TO MAKE IT THIS WAY.
TAYLOR, CAN YOU TAP THE BUTTON? UH, THE LITTLE GREEN BUTTON.
OH, WHEN Y'ALL GET TIRED OF ME, Y'ALL ARE TURN OFF.
UH, ANYWAY, I I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE PEDESTRIANS SAFE AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE I MEAN, WE ARE THE RIDERS.
UH, SOMEBODY PASSED ME UP THE OTHER DAY AT BUS THREE 50 AT WAITING IN A UNSHELTERED STOP AT MLK AT AIRPORT BOULEVARD.
I DID CALL IT IN, SOMEONE NAMED JOHN DID MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT IT, AND I GUESS HE IS GONNA GET BACK TO ME.
BUT, UH, AND IT HAPPENED 2022.
I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 15 DAYS.
SO WE STILL GOT THAT ISSUE OF BUS DRIVERS, UH, PASSING UP THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RIDING A BUS.
I WONDERING IF SOMEBODY COULD GET BACK TO ME ON THAT.
UH, WE'LL, WE'LL PASS THAT ON TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF.
AND THEN, AND THEN THERE'S AN ISSUE.
HAPPENED TO BE, I PINCH MYSELF
[01:40:01]
EVERY TIME I LIVE IN MUELLER, UH, SINCE 2016.AND I NOTICED THE 3 35 BUS, UH, HAS A REALLY EXTRA LONG STOP.
UH, THEY TURN INTO MUELLER FROM MAYNER ONTO BERKMAN.
GO DOWN TO TURN LEFT AT THE HEB, GO DOWN TO THE PACK.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
TAKE A RIDE ON MUELLER, TAKE A RIDE ON 51ST STREET AND COME BACK AND SIT FOR 25 MINUTES.
BUT NOW THAT MUELLER HAS GROWN EAST, THERE'S A LOT OF FOLK ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE NEW MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT NEED A RIDE.
AND THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME THAT THIS SITS SO LONG.
UM, SO I WISH THAT COULD BE FIXED, BUT I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT IT IN SO LONG.
IT'S BEEN TWO PERSONNEL CHANGES.
UM, AND THIS STILL HAVEN'T HAD THAT HAPPEN.
SO WE COULD PLEASE GET AN EXTENSION OF THAT BUS ROUTE GOING FURTHER WEST, ALL THE WAY TO BEST BUY AND ALL THOSE WONDERFUL SHOPS OVER THERE.
WE WANT MUELLER MONEY TO STAY IN MUELLER, BUT IF YOU DON'T DRIVE, YOU CAN'T WALK FOUR BLOCKS AND THEN BRING SOMETHING BACK IF YOU PURCHASE NOT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT BUS ROUTE GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE HIGHWAY AND TURN AROUND AND COME BACK DOWN ON 51ST STREET AFTER YOU DELIVERED SOME PEOPLE.
BUT ANYWAY, BEFORE I RUN OUTTA TIME, I AM A VETERAN.
AND UM, I MADE THIS SIGN BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS WONDERFUL PLACE, UH, FOR VETERANS.
IT'S A MONUMENT THAT WAS DONATED, UH, NOVEMBER 5TH, THAT'S COMING UP, UH, 2022.
AND, AND UH, IT'S FOR VETERANS.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A BUS STOP OVER THERE 'CAUSE YOU GOT A LOT OF VETERANS IN THIS TOWN AND THEY CAN'T WALK.
AND PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE.
SO, NICE PARK AREA, UH, IS CALLED THE SOUTHWEST KEY.ORG.
IF YOU LOOK IT UP, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
UM, BUT HOW CAN YOU BUILD SOMETHING AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT FROM IT.
CAN YOU GET TO IT? JUST SAYING, I WAS GONNA TELL YOU MY JOKE FOR TODAY.
UM, NO, I WOULD JUST, WELL, A SHORT BRO.
ALRIGHT, WELL, WELL, WHAT DID THE, UH, ORIGINAL OWNER OF MCDONALD'S SAY WHEN HE WAS INTRODUCING HIS WIFE OR HIS POTENTIAL WIFE TO HIS PARENTS? WHAT DID HE SAY? MEET PATTY
WELL, UH, THAT, THAT WAS WORTH THE TIME.
UH,
HE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN THE PLACE UP
OUR FINAL ITEM TODAY IS, UH, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WILL BE OUR, UM, MONTHLY, UM, PRESIDENT
[IX.1. President & CEO Monthly Update - October 2024]
AND CEO REPORT, UH, FROM OUR CEO DOTIE WATKINS.ALTHOUGH I DO THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO ASK ME TO FOLLOW SUCH GREAT COMEDIC STYLINGS.
UM, JUST SOME FUN STUFF TO REPORT ON.
UM, FIRST WE'LL START WITH SOME CAP METRO IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THIS OCTOBER WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT MONTH, UM, WITH SEVERAL EVENTS INCLUDING, UM, MOST RECENTLY ON SATURDAY.
I WAS HONORED TO JOIN, UM, OUR FRIENDS AT A DAP TEXAS IN CELEBRATING THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY.
UM, AT THEIR, UM, ANNIVERSARY EVENT.
WE WERE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO UNWRAP, UM, THE LATEST CAT MITRO CARES BUS WRAP, WHICH YOU SEE HERE ON YOUR SCREEN, UM, HIGHLIGHTING, UM, THEIR LONG STANDING RALLYING CRY TO GET TO GET THEM OUT OF NURSING HOMES AND ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
UM, ADAPT TEXAS HAS BEEN, UM, GREAT PARTNERS WITH, UM, CAP METRO SINCE OUR BEGINNING.
UM, THEY ACTUALLY WERE FORMED JUST BEFORE WE WERE, UM, AND WERE, UM, CRITICAL IN MAKING SURE THAT CAP METRO WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE STATE TO HAVE FULLY ACCESSIBLE MAINLINE TRANSIT BUSES.
AND THAT'S A, A HISTORY WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF.
UM, AND THEY'VE CONTINUED TO HELP US, UM, BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE WITH DISABILITIES.
SO, UM, WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
UM, NEXT UP WE ALSO THIS MONTH CELEBRATED, UM, WITH THE TEXAS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, UM, THEIR ANNUAL WHITE CANE DAY.
UM, WHITE CANE DAY IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT THAT CELEBRATES THE WHITE CANE ITSELF AS A SYMBOL OF INDEPENDENCE AND SAFETY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW VISION OR BLIND.
UM, AND ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE BENEFITS OF
[01:45:01]
HIRING MEMBERS OF THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.UM, SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS, UM, JOIN THEM, UM, AT THEIR CAMPUS, UM, TO HELP CELEBRATE THIS IMPORTANT DAY.
AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, WE RECENTLY, UM, JUST YESTERDAY, IN FACT, IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS LONGER AGO THAN THAT, UM, JUST YESTERDAY WE HOSTED THE CAT METRO ANNUAL FAMILY FUND DAY AND BUS RODEO.
THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE COMBINED THOSE TWO EVENTS.
OUR, UM, OPERATIONS TEAM, UM, ANNUALLY HOLDS A BUS RODEO, WHICH IS A COMPETITION OF OUR BEST FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
UM, AND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, WE'VE, UM, BROUGHT ALL THE CAT METRO FOLKS TOGETHER FOR A FAMILY FUN DAY, UM, FILLED WITH BOUNCE HOUSES AND ALL THE SUGAR YOU COULD EVER GIVE TO A, A GROUP OF TRANSIT EMPLOYEES, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, I SAY THAT AS THE, THE LUCKY RECIPIENT OF ONE OF THOSE NINE YEAR OLDS, I GOT TO TAKE HOME FULL OF SUGAR.
UM, YESTERDAY WE COMBINED THOSE INTO ONE EVENT AND WE HAD A FANTASTIC TURNOUT.
UM, SOME GREAT OPERATORS AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS SHOWING OFF THEIR SKILLS, UM, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES THAT CAME OUT, UM, TO, TO RECEIVE.
WE, UM, HANDED OUT OUR ANNUAL AWARDS.
WE RECOGNIZED SOME OF OUR, UM, COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
UM, WE HONORED THE LATE CHRIS RILEY, WHO WAS A CAT METRO BOARD MEMBER, UM, IN, IN, IN, UM, INDUCTING HIM INTO THE CAT METRO HALL OF FAME.
UM, AND SO MANY THANKS TO THE STAFF, UM, WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP PUT THAT TOGETHER.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE ACTUALLY KICKED OFF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, CELEBRATING A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.
UM, WE TEAMED UP WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS CONGRESS FOR NEW URBANISM.
UM, TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT IT TAKES TO LIVE A A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.
MANY OF US HAVE THE FORTUNE OF BEING, UM, ABLE BOTH PHYSICALLY AND FINANCIALLY TO OWN A CAR AND BE ABLE TO MEET MANY OF OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN A CAR.
UM, BUT TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES AND SAY, OKAY, BUT LET'S NOT DO THAT FOR A WEEK, UM, WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR NOT JUST MYSELF, BUT FOR STAFF, UM, TO REALLY PUT OURSELVES IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES.
AND SO, UM, I CHALLENGED THE STAFF TO JOIN ME IN A WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING.
UM, WE TOOK OVER THE CAP METRO CEO OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THAT WEEK, UM, AND SHARED MANY OF THEIR STORIES.
HERE'S A, A COLLAGE, UM, OF BOTH PIV AND, UM, FUN EMPLOYEE MOMENTS, UM, USING, UM, TRANSIT AND, UM, ALL, ALL SORTS OF MODES DURING THAT WEEK.
UM, IT REALLY WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER, UM, WHAT IT IS LIKE IF DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION FOR YOU.
AND SINCE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE, MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE FOR WHOM DRIVING IS NOT AN OPTION, ARE THE PEOPLE WE SERVE EVERY DAY.
UM, IT WAS GREAT TO, TO SPEND A WEEK, UM, LIVING, UM, VERY SPECIFICALLY AND INTENTIONALLY IN THAT WAY.
UM, NEXT UP WE HAD A NUMBER OF FOLKS IN THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVE RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS THIS MONTH.
SO WE HAVE A VERY, UM, BUSY GROUP.
UM, FIRST, UM, NINA LOWER AND JACOB CALHOUN HAVE BEEN AWARDED LEADERSHIP AUSTIN'S ESSENTIAL 46 AND INCLUDED IN THEIR 2025 CLASS OF LEADERSHIP AUSTIN'S ESSENTIAL PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE VERY THRILLED, UM, TO HAVE TWO OF OUR GREAT LEADERS IN THAT PROGRAM.
UM, JACQUELINE EVANS JUST COMPLETED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, UM, PROGRAM AS PART OF THEIR 2024 COHORT.
QUITE PROUD OF HER WORK AS WELL.
UM, AS WELL AS, UM, PETER BRETTON, WHO WAS ACCEL ACCEPTED INTO THE A T ACCELERATOR CLASS OF 2024.
UM, OUR OWN, UM, ANNA LAND FROM OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT JUST GRADUATED, UM, THIS MONTH AS A MEMBER OF THE LEADERSHIP APTA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION.
SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2024.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UM, ALDA BRIANIS RECEIVED THE LATINA EMERGING LEADER AWARD FROM ALAHAN OR GUO.
SO VERY PROUD OF THESE MANY STAFF, UM, THROUGHOUT VARYING LEVELS OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND ALL OF THEIR GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS, UM, BOTH IN AUSTIN AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF THE, WHAT'S BEING SAID ABOUT US, UM, AS IS OUR NORM.
WE HAD A GOOD BIT OF, UM, MEDIA COVERAGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST MONTH AND A A FEW TO HIGHLIGHT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY OCTOBER IS A BUSY, BUSY MONTH WITH FESTIVAL SEASON, WITH THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL, AS WELL AS CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS, LOTS OF, UM, Q2 STADIUM EVENTS, UM, ON SOME OF THOSE SAME DAYS, LONGHORN FOOTBALL GAMES.
SO WE HAD, UM, A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE SPECIAL SERVICES THAT WE WERE PROVIDING TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE EVENTS.
UM, AS WELL AS OUR EFFORT TO RECEIVE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON OUR, UM, TRANSIT PLAN 2035.
UM, THAT PERIOD OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK IS, UM, COMING TO A CLOSE WITH NEVER FEAR.
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE THREE CYCLES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON THAT VERY IMPORTANT PLANNING EFFORT.
UM, I DID WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IF YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT A REGULAR READER OF STREETS BLOG, I ACTUALLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.
[01:50:01]
UM, BUT IN THIS, THEY RECENTLY, UM, REPUBLISHED SOME INFORMATION THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED, UM, AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL VISION ZERO EFFORTS.UM, AND IT WAS A BLOG POST AUTHOR AUTHORED BY OUR OWN GARDNER BAN, TABONE, EXCUSE ME, WHO HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN A SAFER, MORE CONNECTED CITY, UM, FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL FOLKS AND HOW INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND REDUCING CAR DEPENDENCY MAKES OUR STREETS SAFER FOR ALL OF US.
SO, UM, IF YOU HAVEN'T YET HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO READ THAT, LET US KNOW.
WE'LL BE, I'M HAPPY TO SEND YOU A LINK.
UM, NEXT UP, OUR CUSTOMER CARE TEAM HAS HAD A VERY BUSY MONTH YET AGAIN, UM, WITH 10,586 CALLS, UM, IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH WAS A DOWN 5% FROM OUR RECORD HIGH MONTH, THE MONTH PRIOR.
UM, SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, RECORD SETTING MONTHS IN OUR CALL CENTER.
UM, THE BIGGEST CALL DRIVERS HAVE BEEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CAT METRO BIKE SHARE PROGRAM AS THAT PROGRAM HAS TRANSITIONED TO THE NEW PROVIDER AND ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT THAT'S MEANT HELPING ALL OF OUR, UM, BIKE SHARE USERS GET USED TO THOSE.
AND ALSO GENERAL QUESTIONS RELATED TO OUR APP.
UM, BOTH THE CAT METRO APP AS WELL AS WE HAVE RECENTLY, UM, ANNOUNCED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSIT APP.
UM, THEY PROVIDE A GREAT WAYFINDING APP THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN PROMOTING AS WELL.
SO, UM, A LOT OF GOOD, UM, INFORMATION BEING SHARED WITH OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND THEN LASTLY, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE I'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT.
I ACTUALLY STARTED OUT THE MONTH, UM, AT THE ANNUAL APTA ANNUAL MEETING.
UM, I PARTICIPATED IN A TRANSIT UNPLUGGED CEO PANEL THAT'S NOW AVAILABLE, UM, IN VIDEO FORM VIA YOUTUBE.
UM, JUST TALKING ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE, THE FUN CHALLENGES AND, UH, TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.
UM, I WAS HONORED TO JOIN A PANEL OF, UM, FOR, WITH, WITH FOUR OTHER CEOS, FOUR FROM, UH, TWO OTHERS FROM THE US ONE FROM AUSTRALIA, UM, AS WELL AS UM, ANDY LORDE WHO RUNS TRANSPORT FOR LONDON, THE LARGEST, UM, TRANSIT, UM, AUTHORITY IN THE, THE WORLD ACTUALLY ON THE PLANET.
SO, UM, I ADDITIONALLY, UM, VISITED WITH SOME OF MY FAVORITE FOLKS, WHICH ARE THE UM, LBJ SCHOOL COMMUNITY IN REGIONAL PLANNING, UM, PROGRAM, UM, AND PRESENTED TO THEM ON OUR TRANSIT PLANNING EFFORT AND ANSWERED A TON OF A MYRIAD OF QUESTIONS FROM, UM, OUR SMART GRADUATE, UM, PARTICIPANTS THERE, UM, ABOUT TRANSIT AND HOW THINGS TRANSIT COME TO BE.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UM, I WAS JOINED BY A GROUP OF OUR STAFF IN ATTENDING MANUAL, UM, DRESSED FOR SU SUCCESS AUSTIN GALA, WHERE WE HELPED RAISE FUNDS, UM, TO EMPOWER WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT, UM, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN.
A QUICK PEEK AS TO WHAT'S COMING UP.
UM, I MENTIONED TRANSIT PLAN 2035.
WE'VE GOT SOME STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AS WE CLOSE OUT THAT FIRST ROUND OF COMMUNITY FEEDBACK.
UM, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE A TX KIDS CAMP, UM, IN THEIR UM, SC SCAVENGER HUNT, UM, UM, ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A FUN EVENT USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO PERFORM A SCAVENGER HUNT.
AND ALL OF THIS IS TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR CAMP CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS.
UM, A TX KIDS CLUB WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE RECOGNIZED AT YESTERDAY'S, UM, FAMILY FUND DAY EVENT.
UM, AND THEY ARE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO NOT HAVE TO TURN DOWN ANY APPLICANTS TO THE A TX KIDS CLUB, UM, SUMMER CAMP FOR, UM, LACK OF NEED AND THESE SORTS OF FUNDRAISERS ARE PART OF WHAT HELPS THEM DO THAT.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE UM, TWO CAT MITCHELL CARES BUS UNVEILS UNVEILINGS COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 4TH, UM, CELEBRATING LA AND UM, ALSO COMING UP LATER THIS MONTH.
UM, AUSTIN CITY LIMITS, UM, AND PBS, UM, LATER IN NOVEMBER WE'LL BE GETTING A CAT CARES WRAP, UH, BUS WRAP.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESIDENT'S REPORT.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, THANK YOU.
UH, THE BOARD WILL NOW GO INTO
[X. Executive Session of Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code]
EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE QUORUM PRESENT UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO, TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO'S ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.SO, UH, WE'LL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT, UH, 1 57 AND UH, WE WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE ITEMS WHEN WE RETURN.
THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL ACTION ITEMS, SO WE WILL ONLY RETURN TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT AND STICKING WITH US.
COULD YOU CLARIFY THAT YOU DID NOT ADJOURN THE MEETING? YOU ARE RECESSING THE MEETING RECESS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WE'RE ONLY RECESSING, WE WILL, UH, COME BACK TO ADJOURN.
ALRIGHT, SO WE WILL HAVE RECESS IN THE BACK ROW.
[01:55:02]
GIVE US A STANDING.THE BOARD HAS NOW CONCLUDED OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY OF, IF, UNLESS THERE'S ANY, ANYTHING ELSE OR A NEED FOR ANY FURTHER BUSINESS TODAY, WE WILL STAND ADJOURNED AT 2 26.