[00:00:03]
[I. Call to Order]
LOOKS LIKE, LOOKS LIKE WE CAN CALL THE MEETING TOGETHER.UH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING AT THE CAP METRO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
TODAY IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25TH.
WE'RE HERE IN THE CAP METRO BOARDROOM.
UH, BUT IN ONE MINUTE WE'LL BE RIGHT ON TIME.
SO DEPENDS ON WHICH CLOCK YOU, I'VE GOT 1201.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL CALL IT 12 O'CLOCK AND, AND WORK IN THE MIDDLE.
[II. Safety Briefing]
OFF, UH, THE FIRST ITEM THIS MORNING.I WILL ASK, UM, FOR OUR, OUR MONTHLY SAFETY BRIEFING FOR MR. TABBAN.
UM, AND CAN YOU PROVIDE THAT FOR US TODAY, SIR? I CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
MY NAME IS GARDNER TABBAN, SERVE AS CAPITAL METRO'S EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SAFETY OFFICER HERE TO GIVE YOU SAFETY BRIEFING.
WE ARE LOCATED AT 29 10 EAST FIFTH STREET.
IN THE ROSA PARKS, UH, BOARDROOM INDICATE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, WE HAVE STAFF AND SECURITY THAT WILL CALL 9 1 1.
SHOULD WE HAVE TO EVACUATE, UH, THIS ROOM PLEASE.
THE RALLYING POINT WILL BE ACROSS THE STREET, FIFTH AND LINDEN STREET.
IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY MOBILITY CHALLENGES, AND WE HAVE TO EXIT FROM, UH, THE EAST DOORWAY.
PLEASE WAIT AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS.
SOMEONE WILL BE THERE SHORTLY TO ASSIST YOU.
UH, SHOULD WE NEED AN A ED? UH, WE DO HAVE ONE LOCATED ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF OUR ELEVATOR RIGHT DOWN THE FALL.
ALSO, THERE IS A FIRE EXTINGUISHER RIGHT HERE AGAINST THE WALL IF WE SHOULD NEED IT.
[III. Public Comment]
LET'S SEE.NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE SPEAKER WHO HAS SIGNED UP WITH US IN ADVANCE.
I'M GONNA CALL YOUR NAME, UH, AND IF YOU'RE WITH US, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM OR IF YOU'RE JOINING US REMOTELY, PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF.
EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES, UNLESS THEY'RE SPEAKING ON TWO AGENDA ITEMS. AND, UM, LET'S SEE.
OR IF YOU'RE REPRESENTING A GROUP THAT HAS MORE THAN ONE PERSON ACTUALLY IN THE ROOM, AND IN THAT CASE, IT'LL BE FIVE MINUTES.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE MS. DEB MILLER, WHO I UNDERSTAND IS JOINING US REMOTELY.
UM, I'M A PROVISIONAL WRITER OF, SO I USE ALL OF THE SERVICES IN METRO ACCESS, CAP, METRO, UH, PICKUP, UM, CARDS, ALL OF IT.
UM, I JUST LIKE TO COMPLIMENT THE BOARD ON THE EXCELLENT JOB THAT WE'VE DONE THIS LAST YEAR OF ADDING THE APP AND THE WAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN SO RESPONSIVE TO ME AND TO THE OTHER CLIENTS.
I'M SURE, BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST, I'M ONE OF MANY.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE DRIVERS.
'CAUSE PEOPLE DON'T USUALLY THINK TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS REAL IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE, UM, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY GOOD THINGS TOO, BECAUSE THEY, WE JUST DON'T THINK OF IT SOMETIMES.
UM, I THINK THAT THE INFORMATION ON THE APP THAT WE'RE GOING TOWARDS IS BEING MORE AND MORE HELPFUL.
I, I STILL HOPE THAT WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE IN SYNC WITH THE DRIVER AND WITH DISPATCH.
UM, I SEE THIS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EACH TIME.
UM, I PERSONALLY RARELY HAVE TO CALL IN ANYMORE BECAUSE THE APP IS SO EFFECTIVE.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE'RE RUNNING LAYER HOURS NOW.
I'D LIKE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT EXPANDING SUNDAY NIGHT.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A DIFFICULTY FOR GOING PLACES, UH, AND COMING HOME.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TOWARDS 24 HOURS IN THE FUTURE, WHICH WILL ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LIKE ME TO BE TRULY CONNECTED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I ASK YOU TO, AGAIN, TO CONSIDER MAKING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DRIVERS WHO HAVE TROUBLE LOADING US.
NO DRIVERS SHOULD HAVE TO CLIMB ON THEIR KNEES OR LAY ON THAT FLOOR IN ORDER TO LOAD US.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS.
IF WE WOULD OPEN OUR MINDS TO THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TOOLS THAT DISABLED PEOPLE USE THAT DRIVERS COULD ALSO USE IN THESE INCONVENIENT PLACES, AS OUR, OUR LITTLE CABINS JUST GET SMALLER AND SMALLER.
I URGE YOU GOING FORWARD TO MAKE, TO STUDY THESE BUS STRAPS AND HOW YOU TETHER US.
WE'VE GOTTA HAVE THOSE SLIDE LOCK IN ONES.
INSTEAD OF THESE THINGS ON THE FLOOR, THEY GET LEFT ON THE FLOOR, THEY TEAR UP OUR TIRES, WHICH ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE EXCEPT FOR CASH AND THROUGH OUR INSURANCE AND TAKES FOREVER.
ALSO, IT'S REALLY HARD ON THE DRIVERS AS WE GET COLDER WHEN THEY'RE ATTACHING THESE THINGS THAT ARE COLD WITH THEIR HANDS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE AND MORE INJURIES AND WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT LOADING THESE CHAIRS.
AND WHAT'S THE QUICKEST, SAFEST
[00:05:01]
WAY TO DO THAT? NOT JUST THE SAFEST WAY FOR THE VEHICLES.UM, WE DON'T NEED THE TWO TRACKS.
UM, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SPACE, ESPECIALLY THE NEW VEHICLES THAT WE HAVE.
UH, THIS LITTLE SCOOTERS AND STUFF ARE GETTING LONGER BASES, AND WE REALLY NEED TO PLAN, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD TO THAT, MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR DRIVERS TO DO OUR JOBS BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE RESPECT OUR DRIVERS, WE HAVE GOOD SERVICE.
YOU KNOW? UM, AND, UH, THAT'S REALLY ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY TODAY.
UM, WHEN WE GET THESE NEW EQUIPMENT, WE CAN SAY, YOU MUST PUT THIS KIND OF TETHERS IN.
I MEAN, ANY NEW CAR YOU BUY, YOU CAN TELL 'EM WHAT YOU WANT.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. MILLER.
WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND PRESENTING TO THE BOARD.
UH, ED, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT IS COMING IN REMOTELY? OKAY, IF NOT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT IS IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD? JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CATCHING EVERYBODY.
UH, WITH, WITH THAT BEING SAID,
[IV. Advisory Committee Updates]
I SEE THAT WE HAVE BEEN JOINED BY BOARD MEMBER STRATTON, UH, COULD SEE TODAY.UM, WE WILL, UH, HAVE OUR BOARD ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES COMING UP.
AND I THINK, UH, KELSEY LAIE IS HERE TO, UH, MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR ILION, VICE CHAIR POOL PRESIDENT, AND CEO WATKINS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, MY NAME IS KELSEY LAME AND I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT MANAGER.
AND I'M HERE TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THE THREE COMMITTEES FOR OUR NOVEMBER, 2024.
SO OUR MOST RECENT ACCESS AND, UM, CSAC MEETINGS WERE ON NOVEMBER 6TH AND NOVEMBER 12TH, RESPECTIVELY.
HISTORICALLY, OUR NOVEMBER COMMITTEE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN A WORKING MEETING WHERE WE HEAR FROM OUR COMMITTEE MAN, OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, AND PLAN OUT THE NEXT YEAR OF MEETINGS.
THESE MEETINGS ARE HELD IN PERSON AT 6 24 AND ARE AWAY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND BUILD COMMUNITY.
AS THIS YEAR WRAPS UP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR, UM, WE HEARD FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABOUT CAP METRO RELATED SERVICES, TOPICS AND EVENTS.
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT AND UPCOMING UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN 2025.
UM, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS CHANGED TO A BIMONTHLY CADENCE.
UM, AS MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, UM, THUS WE DID NOT HAVE A-P-S-A-C MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
UM, OUR NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH.
UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE OUR NEXT PROGRAM STRATEGIES AND POLICIES SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING ON DECEMBER 5TH, UM, ON THURSDAY, NEXT THURSDAY.
OUR CURRENT ROUND OF 20 POLICIES ARE POSTED ON CAT METRO'S PUBLIC INPUT WEBSITE AND ARE OPEN FOR FEEDBACK UNTIL JANUARY 3RD.
OUR MEETING ON DECEMBER 5TH, WE WILL BE PRESENTING ON FIVE OF THE 20 POLICIES THAT OUR PSAC COMMITTEE DEEMED AS MOST RELEVANT TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY, WHILE ALL 20 ROUNDS OF POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR FEEDBACK AND REVIEW ONLINE.
UM, SO ALL OUR MATERIALS FOR OUR SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE CAP METRO PUBLIC INPUT WEBPAGE@PUBLICINPUT.COM SLASH CAP METRO PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE PAGE WITH FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES AND MEETING UPDATES AS WE MOVE INTO, UM, THE NEW YEAR IN 2025.
UM, THAT WAS A BRIEF UPDATE, BUT THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH'S, UH, COMMITTEE, UM, ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATES.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTION, ANY QUESTIONS, ANY, ANY QUESTIONS.
[V.1. Operations, Planning and Safety Committee]
BRING UP OUR, UH, REGULAR BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES AND WE'LL START WITH OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY.UH, OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE HAD OUR REGULAR, UM, MONTHLY MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 13TH AT, UH, UH, 12:30 PM UH, WE APPROVED OUR REGULAR MINUTES, NO PUBLIC COMMENT WAS OBTAINED.
AND THEN WE PASSED FIVE ACTION ITEMS THAT YOU WILL FIND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR TODAY.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE WRAPPED IT UP WITH A, UH, SYSTEM SECURITY UPDATE, AND THEN AN EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY UPDATE, WHICH INCLUDED AN UPDATE RELATED TO, UH, THE ELECTRIC BUS ROLLOUT THAT THE REST OF THE, UM, FULL BOARD WILL BE AND PUBLIC WILL
[00:10:01]
BE HEARING ABOUT TODAY ON THE FULL BOARD AGENDA.AND THEN WE, UH, ADJOURN SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
THAT IS MY FULL REPORT FOR THE OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY COMMITTEE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT.
UM, LET'S, THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.
[V.2. Finance, Audit and Administration Committee]
LET'S SEE.OUR NEXT ITEM IS GONNA BE THE FINANCE AUDIT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE, UH, CHAIR HARRIS, WOULD YOU, UH, LEAD US THROUGH THAT? THANK YOU CHAIR.
UH, THE FINANCE AUDIT ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MADE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH AT 10:00 AM IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES, UH, WE ALSO APPROVED A CONTRACT, UH, FOR THE, THE PURCHASE OF MEDICAL STOP LOSS, UH, INSURANCE CLAIMS ABOVE 225,000, WHICH IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY.
IN ADDITION, WE ALSO, UH, CONDUCTED THE, UH, PER FISCAL 24, UH, PERFORMANCE REVIEW, EXCUSE ME, PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR TERRY FULMER, VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERNAL AUDIT.
UH, AND THEN IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAD, UH, RECEIVED PRESENTATIONS FOR MR. FARER CONCERNING THE FISCAL 25 AUDIT PLAN STATUS.
UH, AND FINALLY ALSO, UH, WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO HEAR, UH, A PRESENTATION CONCERNING, UH, INTERNAL, UH, INFORMATION SECURITY, UH, AUDIT RESULTS, UH, AS A RESULT OF CISA UH, A MEETING ADJOURNED AT 1128.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? UH, HEARING NONE, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.
[V.3. CAMPO update]
DID SO WELL.WHY DON'T WE JUST HANDLE CAMPO AT THE SAME TIME? THIS ONE, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A LITTLE LONGER.
UM, CAMPO, WE HAD, WE TOOK UP SEVERAL ITEMS. UH, CAMPO MET ON NOVEMBER 4TH.
UH, IN ADDITION, UH, WE, UH, MET, UH, CONCERNING THE 2050 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
WE ALSO HEARD A PUBLIC HEARING AND A PRESENTATION OF AMENDMENTS FOR THE 25 28 28 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE 2045 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED SEVERAL, UH, UH, ITEMS WITH RESPECT TO THAT CAP.
METRO WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH, UH, WE ALSO, UH, IN ADDITION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES, WE ALSO DISCUSSED A, UM, NEGOTIATION FOR LEGAL SERVICES CONTRACT.
UH, THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE MEETING, THOUGH WAS TO RE RECEIVE A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF REGARDING THE, UH, VARIOUS METHODOLOGIES THAT CAMP THE STAFF WILL BE USING FOR THE 26 TO 29 CALL FOR PROJECTS.
UM, AND FINALLY, WE ALSO HEARD A, UH, PRESENTATION ON THE REGIONAL SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
UH, SO THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
BOARD MEMBER STRATTON QUESTION? I, I DO, YES, I DO HAVE A, A QUESTION FOR, UM, FOR BOARD MEMBER HARRIS, PLEASE PROCEED.
AND, AND THIS MAY ACTUALLY CROSS OVER TO, UM, BACK TO, UH, TO, TO DOTTIE AS WELL.
UM, I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS, I KNOW WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF WORKING ON OUR, UH, CAP METRO STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2035.
UM, I'M JUST CURIOUS, 'CAUSE I, I HEARD YOU MENTION, UH, MATT BOTH, UH, CAMPOS 2045 PLAN AND THE 2050 PLAN.
AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR MAYBE DECEMBER 9TH WHEN WE GET TOGETHER FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING AND, AND, UH, REVIEW.
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW, UH, CAMPOS CYCLE AND CAP METRO'S CYCLE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER? 'CAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ON 2045 TO 2050 TIMELINE, AND WE'RE WORKING AT HOURS AT, YOU KNOW, 2035.
THE, AND FORGIVE ME, AND I SAID, UH, ASHBY JOHNSON, IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S PROBABLY MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER A QUESTION OF THAT.
YEAH, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D BRING, BRING TO OUR ATTENTION.
BUT IT, MY RECOLLECTION FROM THE MEETING, AND THIS IS WHERE EVERYTHING, A LOT OF THESE ARE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO UPDATE ON A, ON A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BASIS.
AND SO THE, UM, AGAIN, THE 2020, LIKE 2025 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS, IS A STATE REQUIREMENT.
THE 2045 REGIONAL TRANSFER, I RECALL CORRECTLY, IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.
AND IT'S JUST A MATTER, THEY, THEY CYCLE.
THEY'RE JUST SCHEDULED AS, AS A PART OF A FEDERAL, FEDERAL UPDATE STATUS.
AND SO I, THERE'S, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO COINCIDE WITH EACH OTHER, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF OVERLAP.
AND DOTTIE MAY BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT MORE APPROPRIATELY.
YEAH, I TOO WOULD DEFER TO ASHBY TO GIVE A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I'M ABOUT TO PROBABLY BUTCHER.
BUT LARGELY, THE CAMPO PLANS ARE LOOKING AT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE FEDERALLY FUNDED IN THE LONG-TERM PICTURE.
[00:15:01]
THE, THOSE PLANS OFTEN ALSO INCLUDE, UM, A NOT INSIGNIFICANT LIST OF UNFUNDED PROJECTS.SO THINGS WE WANNA DO, BUT WE HAVEN'T CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED HOW THEY'RE GONNA GET FUNDED.
AND SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE MUCH MORE, UM, UH, VISIONARY IN THAT WAY.
WHEREAS OUR SERVICE PLAN IS MUCH MORE OF A CONCRETE, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND WHAT ARE WE PROBABLY GONNA DO FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT.
SO THEIR TIME HORIZONS ARE MEANT TO BE DIFFERENT.
UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT TOGETHER, WE CAN HAVE OUR PLANNING STAFF WHO IS MUCH BETTER AT THIS THAN I AM, PUT TOGETHER JUST SORT OF A, HOW ALL THE PLANS FIT TOGETHER, OVERVIEW FOR ALL THE BOARD TO KEEP.
IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD EXPLAINER TO, FOR US TO KEEP HANDY AND HAVE READY TO HAND OUT EVERY TIME WE GET THIS QUESTION
UM, SO WE WILL DO THAT AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE, I'VE EVER HEARD AND VISIONARY USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE,
UM, BUT, BUT, BUT, UH, HOWEVER,
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERY, UH, EVERY, UM, MPO IS LOOKING ON A FIVE YEAR BASIS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM, WHAT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM, WHAT ARE THEY WILLING TO HELP FUND IN THE PROCESS? AND, UH, AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, I THINK THAT'S WHY WE ARE LOOKING EVERY FOUR TO FIVE YEARS, BUT IT, IT'S A LONGER PLANNING HORIZON FOR THE FEDS.
AND THEY, UH, AND THEY REQUIRE A WHOLE LOT MORE THINGS.
UM, SO, UH, I, I THINK THAT WE ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED.
THAT THERE'S, THAT THERE'S NOTHING NEW THAT POPS UP AND THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS TO GO FORWARD, UH, BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL PLANNERS.
WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, AND, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, OUR URBAN INTERESTS DOWNTOWN REALLY ALIGN WITH, UH, OUR RURAL INTERESTS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE DOWNTOWN ANYMORE, AND THEY LIVE, LIVE A LITTLE FURTHER OUT.
AND GETTING THEM TO AND FROM WORK AND OTHER SERVICES IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
SO, SO, UH, IT'S MORE TIMING THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND PLANNING.
[V.4. Austin Transit Partnership Update]
WILL, UH, AND I WILL GIVE THE, UH, COMMITTEE UPDATE FOR AUSTIN TRA UH, FOR THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP.UH, IT, THE, THE, UH, TEAM MET ON NOVEMBER THE 14TH.
THERE WERE NO ACTION ITEMS, BUT WE DID HAVE AN EXTENDED, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIGHT RAIL PROGRAM, UH, FOCUSED ON PROJECT DELIVERY, CONTRACT METHODOLOGY IN THE FEDERAL PROCESS AND ONGOING, UH, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURAL PROCESSES.
UH, THE NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE OF THE PROGRAM IS GONNA BE A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT AND AWARD OF KEY PROGRAM CONTRACTS, WHICH WILL HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
THE NEXT A TP BOARD MEETING IS GONNA BE HELD ON DECEMBER THE 18TH, UNLESS SOMEBODY GETS, UM, UH, CAUGHT UP IN CHRISTMAS, AND THEN MAYBE IT'LL BE IN JANUARY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP UPDATE? NOPE.
ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING ONE ONE MORE CHANCE? UH, ALRIGHT.
I JUST WANTED TO, THANKS, CHAIR.
I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN ON THE, UM, APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEW A TP BOARD MEMBERSHIP.
UH, WELL, THE TIMELINE, SO, UH, WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UH, WE, I CAN TOUCH BASES WITH GREG CANAL AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU, UH, EVERYTHING THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN LINED OUT AND PRESENTED.
SO, HI BOARD MEMBERS, UH, CHEYENNE CONER.
I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CAP METRO, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, UM, WHICH INCLUDES, OF COURSE, FROM YOUR GROUP, UM, BOARD MEMBER HARRIS AND BOARD MEMBER ELLIS, WHO ISN'T HERE TODAY.
UM, BUT THEY ARE WRAPPING UP THAT PROCESS NOW.
UM, I ACTUALLY ANTICIPATE THAT, OH, AND I'M SORRY, BOARD MEMBER STRATTON.
I'M SORRY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE IN PERSONS, UH, SORRY SIR.
UM, UM, THEY'RE WRAPPING UP THAT PROCESS NOW.
UM, AND I ANTICIPATE THAT A LETTER FROM THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE NORMAL PROCESS, WILL BE IN YOUR INBOX WITHIN PROBABLY TODAY.
UM, AND THEN THE, UM, CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER IT ON NOVEMBER, ON DECEMBER 12TH DURING THE REGULAR MEETING.
AND WE WILL CONSIDER IT, OR YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER IT ON DECEMBER 16TH DURING YOUR REGULAR MEETING.
UH, THAT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY EXPERT DIRECTORS.
YOU ALL ALSO MUST REAPPOINT ONE OF YOUR OWN TO THE A TP BOARD CURRENTLY.
THAT'S OUR, UH, ILLUSTRIOUS CHAIR WHO SERVES ON THE A TP BOARD.
YOU WILL REAPPOINT HIM OR ANOTHER PERSON, UM, IN DECEMBER AS WELL, UM, FOR TERMS STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2025.
ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, WE WILL
[VI. Consent Items]
CONTINUE TO OUR[00:20:01]
CONSENT AGENDA.UH, WE'RE POSTED FOR ACTION ON SEVEN ITEMS TODAY.
I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THOSE ITEMS. AND I, MY QUESTION IS WHETHER THERE ARE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, REMOVE AN ITEM FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? ANY, ANYBODY WANNA REMOVE AN ITEM? IF NOT, THE, UH, CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, AND A SECOND TO APPROVE OUR POST-IT CONSENT AGENDA.
BOARD MEMBER BANGO AND BOARD MEMBER HARRIS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE, THAT WE APPROVE, UH, THAT WE, UH, UH, VOTE ON THE CONSENT ITEMS ON, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ON OUR AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF, UH, OF APPROVING THE CON CONSENT AGENDA? PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
UH, HAD ME NERVOUS THERE FOR A MOMENT.
BUT, UH, HEARING, UH, NO OPPOSITION, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS AND THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.
[VII.1. Approval of a resolution authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize and execute a contract modification with Unifirst Corporation for maintenance uniforms, towels and laundering/mat cleaning services, which includes a ratification amount of $65,223, and additional funding of $134,777 to fund the remaining contract term which ends April 6, 2025, in a new total contract amount not to exceed $666,838.]
WE'LL NOW TAKE UP TODAY'S REGULAR ACTION ITEMS. WE'RE POSTED FOR ACTION ON TWO ITEMS TODAY.UH, BUT WE'LL TAKE ACTION ON ITEM NUMBER TWO AFTER, UH, EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. ANDREW MURPHY.
CHAIR TRILLIAN, PRESIDENT WATKINS BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MY NAME IS ANDREW MURPHY.
I'M THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE HERE AT, UH, CAPITAL METRO FOR BUS AND PARATRANSIT SERVICES.
UM, BEFORE WE TODAY SEEK AN APPROVAL OF AN AUTHORIZATION, UH, APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZATION OF OUR PRESIDENT, UH, TO, UH, FINALIZE AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT MODIFICATION WITH UNIVERSE CORPORATION FOR MAINTENANCE, UNIFORMS, TOWELS, UH, MAT CLEANING SERVICES.
UH, THIS INCLUDES A RATIFICATION OF $65,223 AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 134,777 TO FUND THE REMAINING CONTRACT TERM, WHICH ENDS IN APRIL OF 2025.
FUNDING FOR THIS ACTION IS AVAILABLE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 25 OPERATING BUDGET AND ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE OF BEING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.
UM, AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE CAPITAL METRO, UH, PROVIDES UNIFORMS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, STAFF BUILDING, MAINTENANCE STAFF, AND FACILITY MAINTENANCE STAFF.
THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES THE, UH, THE WEEKLY CLEANING OF THE PANTS AND THE SHIRTS, AS WELL AS PROVISION OF WINTER JACKETS, INSULATED COVERALLS, UH, FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK OUTDOORS, AS WELL AS, UH, MISCELLANEOUS, UH, UM, SHOP SUPPLIES SUCH AS TOWELS AND WALK-OFF FLOOR MATS.
UM, UNLIKE OPERATORS, UH, WHO LAUNDER AND CARE FOR THEIR OWN UNIFORMS, THE NATURE OF HEAVILY SOILED MAINTENANCE UNIFORMS, IT'S BETTER, UH, SERVED BY PROVIDING A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICE.
UH, THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WHEN AWARDED IN APRIL OF 2022, WAS FOR A BASE WITH TWO OPTION YEARS.
EACH OF THOSE WAS ANTICIPATED TO BE UNDER THE BOARD, UH, LEVEL OF, UH, THRESHOLD FOR APPROVAL.
UH, THE FIRST YEAR, UH, WAS EXECUTED AND THE SECOND YEAR WE AWARDED OPTION ONE.
UH, BUT, UH, DUE TO INCREASED STAFFING LEVELS AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL JACKETS AND, AND, UH, SHOP SUPPLIES, WE CAME BACK TO THE BOARD IN DECEMBER OF 23 TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, UH, AWARDED OR APPROVED.
UH, THEN IN APRIL OF 24, WE, UH, WE, WE, UH, WE MODIFIED THE CONTRACT TO GIVE THE LAST YEAR OF THE CONTRACT, UH, FOR AN ADDITIONAL MONEY AND ARE NOW BACK TO ADD THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO GET US THROUGH THE REST OF THE YEAR, WHICH WOULD END IN APRIL OF 2025, AT WHICH POINT WE'LL GO OUT FOR A NEW CONTRACT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND LEMME JUST READ INTO THE RECORD, NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT, NOT EXCEED 6 66.
UH, WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE READ INTO THE RECORD THAT A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT WILL NOT EXCEED $666,838.
UH, BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIR? YES.
UH, BOARD MEMBER STRATTON? UH, JUST, JUST TO, JUST TO GET CLARIFICATION, UH, MAIN REASON THAT WE'RE COMING, THAT Y'ALL ARE COMING BACK TO US ON THIS ONE IS, UH, WHAT, BECAUSE OF, UH, GROWTH, BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL, UH, THE, THE MAINTENANCE POSITIONS THAT WE WERE HOPING TO.
AND THEN SOME, UM, YEAH, WE'VE FILLED MANY OF THE MAINTENANCE POSITIONS.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW THAT WE WILL HOPE, HOPEFULLY FILL.
UM, BUT ALSO LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT ON OUR NORTH BASE SERVICE ISLAND STAFF OF APPROXIMATELY 30 EMPLOYEES.
[00:25:01]
UM, AS WELL AS THE EXPANSION OF OTHER SHOP TOWELS, MATS, THINGS LIKE THAT, FACILITY MAINTENANCE CREWS.WE, WE'VE TRIED TO GET AS MANY OF THE RENTAL UNIFORMS ALL UNDERNEATH ONE SIMPLE CONTRACT.
UH, WELL, NOT SIMPLE, BUT ONE CONTRACT.
ALRIGHT, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS.
THEN THE, UH, THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
BOARD MEMBER STRATTON MAKES A SECOND.
UH, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED THAT WE, UH, THAT WE VOTE ON ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? FURTHER DISCUSSION, FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ACTION ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
[VIII.2. CapMetro Electric Fleet Update]
AS WE STATED EARLIER, UH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE UP ACTION ITEM TWO AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.UH, SO WE'LL NOW PROCEED, UM, TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE'VE POSTED TWO ITEMS, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY, WE'RE GONNA BE POSTPONING ITEM ONE.
SO, UH, SO THEN WE WILL CALL UP, UH, DIS UH, DISCUSSION ITEM TWO FOR CAP METRO ELECTRIC FLEET UPDATE.
ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR IAN, BOARD MEMBERS, UM, CEO WATKINS.
I'M KA METROS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
UM, FIRST, UH, AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK LATELY ABOUT CAT METRO'S ELECTRIC FLEET.
I WANNA START OUT THE PRESENTATION BY REASSURING THE COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OR MODIFIED ANY OF OUR COMMITMENTS.
UM, TODAY I WANNA TOUCH ON THOSE COMMITMENTS AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD THAT WAY.
UM, LAST WEEK I PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON AN ELECTRIC FLEET, UH, TO THE MONTHLY OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, LEMME JUST START OUT BY REATING, SOMETHING SAID BY DOTTIE AT THAT MEETING THAT THE BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT IS TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF CARS AND INTO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
THE SECOND BEST THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE THAT TRANSIT AS CLEAN AS, AS WE CAN POSSIBLY MAKE IT.
OUR SUSTAINABILITY, OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS HAVE NOT CHANGED.
WE ARE ON TRACK TO MEET NET ZERO CARBON MUNITIONS BY 2040.
AND WE WOULD DO THIS THROUGH VARIOUS UNSUSTAINABLE GOSS THAT INCLUDE THE, THE MOVING THE FLEET OVER TO A ZERO EMISSION FLEET.
WE ARE AN INDUSTRY LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO MOVING TO A ZERO EMISSION FLEET, UM, INITIATING A VERY LARGE ORDER, UM, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.
WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED TO THAT TRANSITIONING TO A ZERO EMISSION FLEET.
AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE A BIG PART OF THAT, AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WHAT EFFECTS A BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE? WELL, YOU HAVE THE WORKFORCE, WHICH IS TRAINING AND AVAILABILITY OF A WORKFORCE.
IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SKILLSET THAN WHAT A DIESEL MECHANIC WOULD HAVE.
RANGE IS A BIG ISSUE WITH VE UM, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT ARE IMPACTED BY HOW MANY HOURS OF VEHICLES OUT IN SERVICE, THE WEATHER, THE TOPOGRAPHY OF A REGION.
UM, UNLIKE AN ELECTRIC CAR, YOU CAN'T GO HOME AND JUST PLUG IT IN.
IT TAKES VERY SPECIFICS, UM, SPECIFICS, UM, EQUIPMENT THAT'S, UM, CUTTING EDGE AND TRAINED PERSONNEL TO MAINTAIN THAT EQUIPMENT.
UM, THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEAVY LIFTS OF OF MOVING TO A BATTERY ELECTRIC FLEET IS THE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED TO MAKE IT WORK.
AS THE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO MATURE, MATURE, WE HOPE TO PROVIDE, IT PROVIDES FOR A MORE CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE VEHICLE THAT WE CAN USE ON AN EVERYDAY BASIS.
UM, THERE ARE, THESE BUSES ARE HARDER TO FIX.
UM, PARTS AVAILABILITY, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
YOU PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND IT INCREASES THE DOWNTIME AND, UM, AND REDUCES OUR VEHICLE AVAILABILITY.
ALL THESE FACTORS TOGETHER IMPACT HOW WE USE THE BABS AND IMPACT OUR SERVICE RELIABILITY.
NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY.
UM, OVERALL, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, CAT METRO WILL HAVE 104 ELECTRIC BUSES IN, IN ON PROPERTY.
46 OF THOSE ARE TER, WHICH IS NOW OWNED BY PHOENIX AND 58 ARE NEW FLORIDA BUSES.
PRA WAS A LEADER IN A MARKET FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT RECENTLY DECLARED BANKRUPTCY.
AND ACTUALLY THEY SPLIT THE COMPANY UP INTO THREE DIFFERENT PIECES.
THE BUS MANUFACTURING END WAS PICKED UP BY A COMPANY CALLED PHOENIX MOTORCAR.
AND TODAY THEY'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH, UM, WARRANTY, THE ABILITY TO HELP TO PROVIDE SERVICE, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE PARTS IN A TIMELY FASHION.
LET'S LOOK AT OUR FLEET STATUS.
DUE TO DELAYS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, SPECIFICALLY THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PARKING RIDES AND END LINE CHARGING, WE CAN, AT THIS TIME ONLY SUPPORT THE DAILY USE OF AROUND 60 ELECTRIC
[00:30:01]
BUSES.WE DON'T HAVE THE CHARGING CAPACITY TO DO, TO SUPPORT MORE NEW FIRE RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN PROVIDING A DEPENDABLE SERVICE AND SUPPORT.
THEY, THEY, THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT GETTING THE PARTS WE NEED.
AND WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS THAT ENSURED MINIMAL SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS FOR THAT FLEET.
AND WE ARE PRIORITIZING THOSE VEHICLES FOR HOUSTON IN SERVICE MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE NEW FLYER HAS BEEN VERY DEPENDABLE, AS I REPORTED IN THE NOVEMBER OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, WE ARE TEMPORARY PARKING 46 OF OUR PHOENIX SLASH PITERA BUSES.
AND, UM, AND THAT'LL BE THE CASE UNTIL THE UNDERLINE CHARGING AT PARK RIDES IS BUILT TO SUPPORT THEM.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? FIRST, I WANNA BE CLEAR AND DISPEL ANY MISCONCEPTIONS WHAT THIS MEANS.
THE DECISION IS NOT TO DELAY OR SET BACK.
IT'S A STRATEGIC MOVE FORWARD THAT WILL HELP US ENSURE OUR FUTURE FLEET NEEDS.
OUR EXISTING SERVICE LEVELS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED AND OUR PROJECT TIMELY REMAINS ON TRACK.
CAT METRO IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN ORAL ELECTRIC FLEET FOR THE NEW, UM, PLEASANT VALLEY AND EXPO CENTER RAPID LINES, AND THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF FDA GRANT, BOTH IN THE LINE AND DEPOT CHARGING WILL BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT ALL THIS.
SO WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, WE PRESENTLY ARE COMPLETING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OUTBACK FOR, UM, TO ALLOW US TO, UM, OPERATE 60 ELECTRIC BUSES OUTTA SOUTH OPS.
UM, THAT'S GOING THROUGH COMMISSIONING NOW AND IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING DONE.
AND OUR END LINE CHARGING IS BEING BUILT ALONG WITH THE, UM, UH, PARKING RIGHTS FOR AT BOTH GOODNIGHT RANCH AND EXPO CENTER.
WHEN THEY'RE OPERATIONAL AND WE HAVE MORE CHARGING CAPACITY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO RUN MORE VEHICLES.
WE'RE PRIORITIZING SERVICE RELIABILITY AND WE'LL START OUR INITIAL RAPID SERVICE USING CLEAN DIESEL BUSES.
BUT THE USE THE CLEAN DIESEL BUSES, WE HAVE TO PUT, UM, BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES IN, IN PLAY IN ORDER TO BACKFILL THEM.
SO, UM, THESE CHALLENGES ARE NOT UNIQUE TO CAT METRO.
THE INDUSTRY ARE HAVING SIMILAR CHALLENGES.
THEY'RE CALLING US TO SEE WHAT GET ADVICE FROM US ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND NOT BE DOING.
UM, WITH THE BUSES IN STORAGE, WHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THOSE BUSES BACK IN, BRING THEM UP AND ACTUALLY PLACE SOME OF REVENUE SERVICE.
UM, WITH PHOENIX, WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND OUR WARRANTY, THE START DATE OF WARRANTY BY A YEAR.
SO THAT WAY WHEN THE VEHICLES ARE READY, WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS READY, WHEN WE BRING THOSE VEHICLES IN, WE HAVE A WARRANTY WITH THEM.
WE'RE IN A STRONG OPERATIONAL POSITION.
I'M PROUD OF HOW HARD OUR TEAMS ARE WORKING AND TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMER EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR FUTURE.
UM, TAKING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AND MOVING THEM IN A WAY THAT WE DID ALLOWS US TO ENSURE SERVICE RELIABILITY FOR PV EXPO, STORE THE BUSES AS, UM, AND, AND PROVIDE FOR WARRANTY WHEN THEY COME OUTTA SERVICE.
AND, UM, AND PUT AS MANY ELECTRIC BUSES ON IN SERVICE AS WE CAN ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND DO, WANTED TO ASK ANYTHING? YES, IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME.
I WANTED TO, TO CHIME IN A BIT, UM, BECAUSE I'M PERHAPS A BIT PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
UM, IN 2021, WE AWARDED WHAT WAS AT THE TIME THE LARGEST CONTRACTS FOR BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES, UM, IN THE NATION.
AND FIRST AND FOREMOST, NO, WE HAVE NOT BOUGHT ALL OF THOSE BUSES BECAUSE THINGS HAVEN'T PLAYED OUT THE WAY WE THOUGHT THEY WERE IN 2021.
UM, WE'VE, THIS, THIS MOVE HAS BEEN CALLED OVERLY AMBITIOUS.
UM, AND I WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T THINK IT WAS, WAS IT AMBITIOUS? ABSOLUTELY.
BUT THAT IS WHAT WE AIM TO BE.
WE AIM TO BE INNOVATIVE AND WE AIM TO BE AMBITIOUS IN MAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BETTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AUSTIN IS AN INNOVATIVE TOWN, RIGHT? THIS COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THE NEED TO LEAN INTO NEW TECHNOLOGY.
AND SO SOMEONE HAD TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST AGENCIES TO DO IT.
UM, AND I STILL FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT CAP METRO WAS THE RIGHT, UM, AGENCY TO DO THAT.
TAKE PAVING THE WAY FORWARD AND TAKING CALCULATED RISKS IS WHAT AS YOUR MANAGEMENT TEAM YOU TASK US WITH DOING.
UM, I STILL FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT A ZERO EMISSION FLEET IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
WE ABSOLUTELY NEED THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ONLY BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY'RE A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
IT'S A QUIETER VEHICLE, IT'S A COOLER VEHICLE.
IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN STANDING ON THE SIDEWALK AND THE SUMMER IN TEXAS AND A BUS DRIVES BY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S 10 DEGREES HOTTER ON THAT SAME SIDEWALK.
ALL OF THOSE REASONS THAT WE LEANED IN AND SAID, YES, THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES ARE STILL IN PLAY.
THIS WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TRANSITION.
UM, AND I THINK IF WE'VE BEEN OVERLY AMBITIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING IT'S BEEN IN BEING POSITIVE IN THE WAY WE'VE SPOKEN TO THIS PUBLICLY AND TO OUR BOARD ABOUT OUR, UM, INTENTION TO LEAN IN ON THE TRANSITION.
IT WAS NEVER GONNA BE EASY TO COMPLETELY CHANGE THE PROPULSION OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR FLEET.
[00:35:01]
I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT IS STILL THE RIGHT THING TO DO.AND THAT WE ARE CON WE CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN A AND A PLAN B, AND JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY, A PLAN C.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS TODAY BECAUSE IN 2021, WE HAD THE FORETHOUGHT, THE FORETHOUGHT TO SAY, LET'S NOT PUT ALL OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET WITH ONE BUS MANUFACTURER.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONTRACTS WITH TWO.
AND VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WHEN WE DID SEE, UM, EVEN BEFORE, UM, PROTERRA FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY, BUT WE SAW THAT THEY WERE IN SOME FINANCIAL, UM, HAVING SOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, WE ACTUALLY ORDERED KIND OF A, NOT QUITE A FULL YEAR IN ADVANCE, UM, ADDITIONAL NEW FLYER BUSES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD HAVE VEHICLES AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THIS SERVICE.
UM, I AM CONFIDENT IN ANDY AND THE TEAM AND IN ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING, AND I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE LEADERS ON THIS IN THE COUNTRY.
BEING A LEADER IS NOT OFTEN AND IS RARELY A PAINLESS EXERCISE.
UM, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK GIVEN THE VALUES OF OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVEN THE VALUES OF THIS ORGANIZATION, IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DO, UM, AS WE CHART THIS PATH FORWARD.
WE ARE BEING HELPING THE INDUSTRY FIGURE THIS OUT.
WE'RE FIGURING THIS OUT NOT JUST FOR THE CITIZENS OF CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
WE'RE FIGURING OUT SOME OF THIS TO HELP OTHER FLEET ORGANIZATIONS.
WE'RE IN REGULAR CONTRACT CONTACT WITH THE AUSTIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER FLEET ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO HAVE A CLEAN FLEET.
UM, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND CENTRAL TEXAS AS A WHOLE, UM, FOR US TO LEAN FORWARD AND DO THIS.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE EVERY SINGLE NITPICK IN PLACE READY TO GO TO RUN EVERY 10 MINUTES BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES LIKE WE WILL EVENTUALLY ON OUR TWO METRO RAPID LINES, WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE LAUNCHING NEW SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN PLACES WHERE OUR COMMUNITY ISN'T CURRENTLY SERVED AS WELL AS WE WOULD LIKE.
UM, SO ALL OF THAT CONTINUES TO MOVE, MOVE FORWARD.
UM, DESPITE THE, THE KNOWN CHALLENGES AND GROWING PAINS, UM, WITH BEING A LEADER AND AN INNOVATOR, UM, WE ARE, UM, PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A PLAN A, A PLAN B, AND JUST IN CASE WE NEEDED A PLAN C ON EVERY STEP OF THIS JOURNEY AS WE CONTINUE, UM, TO DO THIS, UM, AND CONTINUE TO BE ON, ON TRACK TO BECOME A CARBON NEUTRAL ORGANIZATION BY 2040 AS WE'VE PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER VALA? UH, SO WHEN WILL THE END OF THE LINE STATIONS AT, UH, THE EXPO CENTER IN GOODNIGHT W RANCH BE READY? I SAW YOU MEANT ONE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND ONE IS UNDER PERMITTING.
WHEN SHOULD THEY BE READY TO GO? ABOUT A YEAR? YEAH.
SO WE ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE EXPO CENTER.
IF YOU GO OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE THAT CORNER, UM, OF THE TRAFFIC, SEE A LOT OF WORK COMMISSION CENTER RIGHT THERE AT DECKER LANE IS FULL OF CONSTRUCTION.
UM, WE ARE A COUPLE OF WEEKS FROM CLOSING ON THE PROPERTY ACQUISITION.
WE HAVE DESIGNS READY TO GO AND A WHOLE SERIES OF SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS READY TO HIT THE GROUND AS SOON AS WE ACTUALLY OWN THAT LAND.
UM, AND SO THAT ONE WILL BE, UH, THE LONG POLE IN THE TENT, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, I'VE PROMISED OUR CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION FOLKS, I WILL SAY 12 TO 18 MONTHS BECAUSE WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
AND THEN THE IDEA BEING THAT THE, UH, THE PROTERRA SLASH PHOENIX FLEET WOULD BE BROUGHT OUT WHEN THE END OF THE LINE STATIONS ARE READY AND WHEN WE ARE READY TO GO TO FULL, UH, UH, ELECTRIC SERVICE ON THOSE TWO ROUTES.
THAT WOULD BE THE PLAN TO, TO MOVE FORWARD TO, INTO THAT.
AND, UM, WE DO NEED SOME CHARGING AT NORTH A AUTO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, WHICH IS, UM, A PROJECT THAT'S UNDERWAY IN THE SPRING.
SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE THINGS WILL ALLOW US TO BRING THE PHOENIX BUSES OUT AND USE THEM, UM, WITH THE FOCUS OF STARTING PV EXPORT, THEN ELECTRIFYING THAT SERVICE.
THE OTHER THING THIS INTERVENING ROUGHLY YEAR WILL DO IS ALLOW THE PHOENIX MOTORCARS FOLKS TO GET THEIR, THEIR FEET UNDERNEATH THEM.
UM, TO GET THEIR SEA LEGS AND BE IN A POSITION TO BETTER SUPPORT US WITH THE, THE WARRANTY SERVICES AND THE PARTS THAT WE NEED TO RUN THOSE BUSES.
UM, SO IT REALLY BECOMES A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF, OF A, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATH WATER WHERE THAT RELATIONSHIP IS CONCERNED.
'CAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE THIS OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE STILL WAITING ON.
WHY DON'T WE DO IT THIS WAY SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BE READY TO SUPPORT THE FLEET AND WE'RE NOT BREATHING DOWN YOUR NECK FOR SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE NOT READY TO GIVE US YET.
UM, SO IT REALLY DOES GIVE US A SITUATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE LONG RUN WE CAN ALL BE SUCCESSFUL.
UM, THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE, UM, NOT WHAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF TOO MANY.
[00:40:01]
ARE TOO FEW THAT ARE, THERE ARE TOO FEW BUS MANUFACTURERS IN THE AMERICAN MARKET RIGHT THERE.THERE HAS TO, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE HAS BEEN A, AN INDUSTRY LED, UM, TASK FORCE THAT I SERVED ON IN THE LAST SPRING.
I ATTENDED THE WHITE HOUSE ROUND TABLE ON THE ISSUE, UM, WITH SETTING PHOENIX MOTOR CARS ASIDE BECAUSE THEY ONLY, UM, MANUFACTURE THE BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.
WE HAVE TWO MANUFACTURERS OF BUSES IN THE US THAT CAN DO ALL THE PROPO PROPULSION SYSTEMS, UM, FOR THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.
AND THAT'S MAYBE NOT QUITE ENOUGH.
UM, AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AREN'T PART OF THE REASON WHY ANOTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURER IS NOT SUCCESSFUL.
UM, AND SO AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH FIGURING THIS OUT, WE WANNA, WE, WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO RULE WITH AN IRON FIST AND THAT YOU'RE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO DO THIS FOR US.
BUT IT ALSO DOES US NO GOOD TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT IS DETRIMENTAL OVERALL TO THE INDUSTRY'S ABILITY TO SUPPLY FLEET GOING FORWARD.
AND NEW FLYER IS IN A POSITION NOW NOT ONLY TO OFFER THEIR STANDARD SUPPORT, BUT ALSO THEY'RE GONNA ACTUALLY GIVE US A LITTLE BIT EXTRA SUPPORT THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO.
AND SO WE, WE'LL JUST, WE'LL BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE'LL GET THE SUPPORT WE NEED FROM THE MANUFACTURERS.
WE GET THOSE 60 BUSES OUT AND SERVICES, UM, EVERY DAY.
AND A NEW FLYER IS DOING, HOW IS NEW FLYER DOING, UH, AS THEY'RE DOING THE BEST IN THE BUS INDUSTRY IN THE US TODAY? IT'S A TOUGH INDUSTRY.
AND, AND NEW FLYER HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IN FACT, ROUGHLY HALF OF THE DIESEL BUSES THAT WE OPERATE TODAY WERE MANUFACTURED BY NEW FLAG.
SO THEY ARE THE BIGGEST MANUFACTURER IN THE STATES AS OF RIGHT NOW.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, NEGOTIATION OF THE, THE ONE YEAR EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONFESSION.
UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I-I-I-I-I GET IT.
UH, I WOULD SAY, I KNOW WE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAUSING THE ACQUISITION OF THE, THE BATTERY LINE.
UH, BUT THE INITIAL PURCHASE WAS A GOOD IDEA.
I MEAN, WHEN WE'VE GOT TO GRAPPLE WITH THE SHIFT TO ELECTRIC PROPULSION SYSTEMS AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE UP TO ABOUT WHAT, 20% OF OUR FLEET ELECTRIC BUS? YEAH.
AND AGAIN, I I I, WE, WE'VE GOTTA GRAPPLE WITH THAT.
WE'VE GOTTA DIGEST IT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA GET THE OPERATIONS, THE MAINTENANCE, AND, YOU KNOW, THE DRIVER'S GOTTA GET FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOTTA KIND OF, I MEAN, AGAIN, I, I, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES GOING THROUGH THIS.
YOU KNOW, THE, THERE'S A WHOLE INDUSTRY THAT ARE SHIFTING FROM, UH, DIESEL POWER, FOSSIL FUEL POWER TO, UH, ELECTRIC.
UH, AND, AND THERE'S A LEARNING CURVE.
UH, AND, AND THERE'S SOME ADJUSTMENT THAT HAS TO TAKE PLACE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO BE A, A, A FLEXIBLE, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE NEGOTIATION OF THE WARRANTY.
UH, UH, ONE OTHER, A QUICK QUESTION, BACKFILL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO BACKFILL BUSES? UM, THAT THE ELECTRIC, UH, BUSES WILL BE USED.
WE NEED BUSES IN ORDER TO MAKE CER WE NEED THAT CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BUSES THAT WANNA MAKE SERVICE, IF WE UTILIZE DIESEL BUSES FOR PV EXPO, AND, UM, WE HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF RUNS WE STILL NEED TO FILL BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THOSE BUSES AND USE 'EM FOR A PV EXPO.
THE ONLY BUSES AVAILABLE TO DO THAT IS THE ELECTRIC FLEET.
AND THE, AND THE, AND THE PARAMETER OF THAT IS THAT WE PUT IT OUT FOR RIGHT NOW WITHOUT ENDLINE CHARGING, WE ONLY CAN USE IT ON AN EIGHT HOUR PIECE OF WORK.
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE THE, THE RANGE ISN'T EXTENDED BY DOING OPPORTUNITY CHARGING AT ENDLINE.
SO, UM, THEY'LL BE USED TO AS NEEDED TO SUPPLEMENT, UH, OTHER ROUTES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
WE, UM, UM, PLANNING IS IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC ROUTES THAT WE CAN RUN THEM ON, AND WE UTILIZE THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY DAYS ON THOSE ROUTES.
ARE THE, ARE THE, IS THE CHARGING, UH, UH, UH, THE PLUGS AGAIN, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, UH, ON NEW FLY AND PROTERRA, UH, SLASH PHOENIX COMPATIBLE? YES, AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE ALL COMPATIBLE.
SO IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S PROTERRA, UH, OR A, A NEW FLYER, THE END OF THE ROUTE AND THE NORTH LOSS, THAT THAT'S BEEN REASONABLY STANDARDIZED.
AND THAT WAS WITH THE FIRST 12.
IT WASN'T, I MEAN, IT WAS, AND THAT MADE A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADACHE, BUT THAT'S BEEN REASONABLY STANDARDIZED AND SOME SOFTWARE QUIRKS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT WE, WE WORKED THROUGH THOSE ISSUES ALREADY.
ANYTHING ELSE? I, I WILL JUST CLOSE WITH, UM, I AM CONFIDENT THIS WON'T BE THE LAST TIME THAT WE TALK ABOUT THIS TRANSITION BECAUSE HARD THINGS TAKE TIME AND ARE DIFFICULT TO DO.
UM, BUT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE DO IT RESPONSIBLY AND THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT WITH THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY AS WE GO FORWARD.
WELL, IT'S A PARADIGM SHIFT AND A TECHNOLOGY SHIFT.
SO, UH, THERE WILL BE BUMPS AND, AND BRUISES ALONG THE WAY, BUT, UH, AS YOU KEEP US INFORMED WHERE WE ARE, WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS ARE, UH, WE'LL WORK THROUGH IT.
UH, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBER STRATTON? NOT, NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION IS, IS JUST A COMMENT, UM, UH, MR. CHAIR AND, AND, AND DOTTIE AND ANDY, I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY IS, IS OPS CHAIR, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, I, I SAID THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND I, I JUST WANNA SAY IT AGAIN.
PUBLICLY, IN THIS VENUE, E, EVERY TIME Y'ALL HAVE, HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO US,
[00:45:01]
YOU'VE BEEN, I, I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT.YOU'VE BEEN CLEAR, YOU'VE BEEN OPEN, YOU'VE HAD THE GOAL IN MIND, AND YOU'VE HAD A PLAN THAT PLANS HAVE CHANGED.
LIKE DOTTIE, YOU'VE SAID YOU'VE HAD A PLAN A, A PLAN B, AND SOMETIMES A PLAN C.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT EVERY TIME YOU BROUGHT THIS FORWARD, UH, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE INCREMENTALLY WORKING US, UH, MOVING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
UM, GIVEN THE INFORMATION WE HAD, THEN MY, MY VERY FIRST VOTE WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD, A MAJOR VOTE WAS PROJECT CONNECT.
MY SECOND MAJOR VOTE WHEN I CAME ON THIS BOARD WAS APPROVING THE, UH, THE INITIAL RUN OF, UM, ELECTRIC BUS CONTRACTS.
AND I, I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
UM, NO ONE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE FORESEEN THE, THE, THE LITERALLY EARTH SHATTERING CHANGES HISTORICALLY THAT WE WOULD FACE WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
UM, AS YOU NOTED, THERE ARE VERY FEW AMERICAN BUS MANUFACTURERS THAT DO THIS TO BEGIN WITH.
AND WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO FACE THAT AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
IS THAT, IS IT BECAUSE OF, OF BA USA, UH, REQUIREMENTS FROM THE FT A, WE HAVE TO PURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FROM AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS.
AND SO SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THINGS ARE GONNA CHANGE.
BUT TO YOUR CREDIT, YOU AND THE TEAM HAVE DONE, I THINK, AN AMAZING JOB, UH, PIVOTING, TWEAKING, MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE THAT ARE SAFE, RESPONSIBLE, AND, AND BUDGETARY CONSCIOUS AND STRATEGIC TO STILL ENSURE THAT WE MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THIS, THAT THIS BOARD HAS STATED, AND THAT THE COMMUNITY DEMANDS FOR ENSURING THAT WE GET TO NET ZERO BY 2040.
AND IT, IT, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CHANGE ON JUST THE, THE, THE, THE FLIP OF A SWITCH OR THE, OR THE, THE, THE TURN OF A DIME.
IT, IT TAKES US TIME FOR US TO GET THERE.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, TO TELL YOU PUBLICLY AS THE CHAIR OF OPERATIONS PLANNING AND SAFETY, THAT, UM, I, I APPRECIATE THE, ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, THE TRANSPARENCY YOU'VE HAD WITH THIS.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
AND, UM, I, I THANK YOU FOR YET AGAIN, BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO THE FULL BOARD AND, AND THE PUBLIC AND ANY MEDIA THAT'S WATCHING ON THIS THAT, UH, THAT YY ARE, Y'ALL HAVE A LASER SHARP FOCUS ON THIS.
AND, AND I, I 110% BACK YOUR PLAY IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE CONTINUED WORK YOU'RE DOING TO, TO GET US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION UNDER SOME DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT THAT, THAT'S, AS YOU SAY, WHEN, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO BE, BE AN INDUSTRY LEADER HERE FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, UH, I FEEL LIKE THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS? NO QUESTIONS, NO COMMENTS.
UM, WE HAVE ONE MORE ACTION ITEM, BUT WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT UP AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION AND BEFORE WE
[IX.1. President & CEO Monthly Update - November 2024]
GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'LL HAVE, UH, THE REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO YOUR MONTHLY UPDATE.I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE ALREADY AT THE END OF NOVEMBER.
IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF NOVEMBER.
UM, SO WE HAVE A, UM, SOME FUN STUFF TO SHARE OF WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON THIS MONTH.
UM, FIRST OFF, UM, WE WERE, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF FUN THIS MONTH.
ED'S GIVEN ME THE GIVE, KEEP TALKING.
LOOK, UM, BUT I'VE RUN OUT OF THINGS TO SAY, SO WE'LL GIVE THE SLIDES A SECOND TO CATCH UP.
UM, IN TERMS OF CAP METRO IN THE COMMUNITY, FIRST OFF, UM, THIS YEAR WE WERE THRILLED, UM, TO DO A COUPLE OF FUN EVENTS, UM, ON VETERANS DAY.
UM, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE, UM, AND HANDED OUT GOODIES TO THE MANY FOLKS WHO HAD HAD JOINED US THERE.
WE HAVE A HAD A SPECIAL BUS WRAP, WHICH YOU SEE HERE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT.
HONORING ALL THOSE WHO BRAVELY SERVED OUR COUNTRY.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE PROUD TO NOT ONLY HONOR OUR VETERANS, BUT TO CALL AMONGST OUR OWN OVER 300 VETERANS ON OUR STAFF.
UM, THE, THAT SPIRIT OF SERVICE THAT LED THEM TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY IN THE ARMED SERVICES IS A GREAT MATCH, UM, FOR WHAT WE DO HERE AT CAP METRO.
IF THERE ARE ANY VETERANS LISTENING CAP METRO.ORG/JOBS, WE ARE ALWAYS HIRING, UM, AND LOOKING FOR GREAT STAFF.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE MADE IT AN ANNUAL, UM, FALL TRADITION FOR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
OH, ONE LAST OTHER ANNUAL FALL TRADITION.
IT'S GETTING AHEAD OF ME, UM, TO VOLUNTEER AT THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK.
UM, AND SO JUST A WEEK AGO, WE, UM, PARTICIPATED IN HELPING SORT, UM, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SQUASH AND SWEET POTATOES, UM, FOR THE FOOD BANK, UM, AND HELP PROVIDE, UM, HELP MOVE OVER FIVE TONS OF PRODUCE AND PROVIDE ABOUT 8,800 MEALS.
UM, AND ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE THAT IN THAT.
UM, IT'S A FUN TEAM BUILDING, UM, EVENT AND A WAY FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT OF OUR FALL TRADITIONS, UM, IS ONE, UM, WHICH IS OUR THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS.
[00:50:01]
A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THANKSGIVING, UM, WE ARRANGE TO HAVE A THANKSGIVING MEAL, UM, PREPARED AND SHARED WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF.AND ALL OF OUR STAFF MEANS EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LUNCH AT TWO 30 IN THE MORNING.
AND SO, UM, MANY THANKS TO OUR, UM, SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM, UM, WHO VOLUNTEER TO, UM, SERVE MEALS, LITERALLY PHYSICALLY SERVE OUR, UM, WORKFORCE.
AND A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU TO BOARD MEMBER BECKY ROSS, WHO WAS ABLE TO JOIN US THIS YEAR.
UM, IN SERVING LUNCH UP AT NORTH OPS, IT IS A FUN TRADITION FOR US TO JUST BE ABLE TO LITERALLY BREAK BREAD WITH ONE ANOTHER AND A WAY FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HELP US, UM, ENHANCE, EMPOWER, AND SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY.
UM, AND THEN LAST WEEK WE HELD OUR, UM, QUARTERLY TRANSIT CENTER BLITZ.
AGAIN, AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR US TO, TO THANK OUR FOLKS, BUT LITERALLY ON THE JOB.
UM, AND SO WE WERE OUT AT A NUMBER OF OUR TRANSIT CENTERS, UM, HANDING OUT DRINKS AND THANK YOUS AND SNACKS, AND REALLY JUST ASKING FOR FEEDBACK FROM OUR FRONTLINE WORKERS.
I GOT A COUPLE OF GREAT TIDBITS ABOUT, UM, PARK AND RIDES THAT NEED A LITTLE ATTENTION.
UM, BUT OUR, OUR FRONTLINE TEAMS AND OUR BUS OPERATORS, UM, ESPECIALLY ARE TRULY THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS THAT DO, UM, THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO IT WAS, UM, A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
WE LUCKED OUT ON THE WEATHER, UM, TO GO OUT AND SAY THANK YOU TO THEM.
UM, IN TERMS OF AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE TO, UH, NOTE THIS MONTH WE WERE, CAP METRO WAS RECOGNIZED, UM, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UM, BY THE REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE.
UM, WE WERE AMONGST GOOD COMPANY BECAUSE WE WERE JOINED BY, UM, BOARD MEMBER POOL, WHO ALSO WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE REDLINE PARKWAY, UM, AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, BOARD MEMBER VELA.
UM, WE SPECIFICALLY WERE AWARDED FOR OUR WORK ON THE REDLINE TRAIL PROJECT STUDY.
UM, PICTURED THERE WITH ME, UM, RECEIVING THE AWARD WAS JORDAN MCGEE, WHO WAS OUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT ON THAT AWARD.
WE RECENTLY THROUGH, UH, THE EFFORTS OF OUR PLANNING TEAM AND A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS LED BY THE REDLINE PARKWAY INITIATIVE, HAVE IDENTIFIED FOR EVERY, UM, LINEAR FOOT OF THE REDLINE WHERE WE HAVE ROOM TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, TRAIL, UM, WITHIN OUR RIGHT OF WAY AND WHERE WE NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE.
UM, AND ALSO NOT JUST WHERE THERE'S SPACE AND HOW IT MIGHT WORK, BUT WHAT IS OUR PROCESS FOR MOVING FORWARD.
AND SO WORKING THROUGH WITH OUR PARTNERS OF THE CITY, HOW DO WE WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, WITH THE OTHER, UM, JURISDICTIONS? WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY OF CEDAR OF PARK, THE CITY OF LEANDER, TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN INTEGRATE THE TRAIL NETWORKS, UM, TO BOTH CONNECT TO THE RED LINE, BUT WHERE THERE'S SPACE TO USE IT, EVEN TO UTILIZE SOME OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY.
UM, SO A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR GETTING US TO THIS POSITION.
UM, IT WAS MY HONOR TO GET A CHANCE TO, UM, ACCEPT THAT AWARD, BUT BY NO MEANS WAS IT, WAS IT MY WORK TO BE DONE? UM, IN TERMS OF CAP METRO IN THE NEWS WE'VE HAD, UM, AS ALWAYS A LOT OF GREAT COVERAGE AROUND, UM, THIS, UH, THIS MONTH.
UM, WE HAD A, A FUN PRESS RELEASE THAT, UM, A FEW FOLKS PICKED UP, WHICH IS THAT CAP METRO HAS, UM, PARTNERED WITH FLEX BUS.
FLIX BUS IS AN INTERCITY, UM, BUS COMPANY, UM, TO, UM, LEASE TO THEM ONE OF THE SPACES AT OUR SOUTH CONGRESS TRANSIT CENTER, UM, THAT ALLOWS THAT TRANSIT CENTER TO NOW BE EVEN MORE MULTIMODAL AND HELP FOLKS WHO ARE TRAVELING, UM, BETWEEN CITIES TO CONNECT TO THE TRANSIT NETWORK.
SO HOPEFULLY MAKING, UM, PEOPLE'S LANDING IN AUSTIN A. LITTLE BIT EASIER BECAUSE IT'LL BE EASIER TO GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
UM, WE ALSO SAW, UM, A LOT OF, UH, NEWS ABOUT OUR OPERATING FREE RIDES ON ELECTION DAYS, UM, AS WELL AS SOME COVERAGE OF, UM, THE I 35 EXPANSION PROJECT, UM, WHICH BROKE GROUND THIS MONTH.
WE WERE, UM, HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THEIR GROUNDBREAKING, UM, AND TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK, UM, TO THE BUSINESS THAT WE DO.
UM, WE CAN'T RUN A PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM WITHOUT A GREAT ROAD NETWORK TO RUN IT ON.
UM, AND OUR PARTNERS AT TDOT HAVE BEEN, UM, VERY INNOVATIVE IN LEANING IN TO TRANSIT BENEFITS AS THEY IMPLEMENT THAT I 35 PROJECT.
SO, UM, A LOT OF FUN STUFF IN THE NEWS.
IF YOU SEE ANY, UM, HEADLINES THERE THAT YOU HADN'T SEEN THE ARTICLE ON, PLEASE UH, SHOOT US A NOTE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO MAKE SURE YOU GET IT NEXT UP IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, WE HAD ANOTHER RECORD MONTH OF, UM, CONTACTS IN OUR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER, UM, AT 14,470.
WELL, THAT WAS THE NUMBER IN MY NOTES, BUT ACTUALLY AT 11,420, I'M, I AM READING THE NOTES WRONG.
UM, BUT WE WERE, UM, CONTINUE TO HEAR INFORMATION ABOUT OUR FAIR COLLECTION SYSTEMS. UM, THAT SPOILER ALERT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A HEADLINE AS WE LOOK IN THE COMING MONTHS TO CHANGE OUT THE, UM, HARDWARE IN OUR FAIR COLLECTION SYSTEMS. UM, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING STUFF TO TALK
[00:55:01]
ABOUT IN THE NEW YEAR WHERE THAT CAN IS CONCERNED.UM, WE ALSO, UM, HAVE HAD A LOT OF, UM, UH, THE F1 RACE.
WE ALSO HAD A LOT OF, UM, EVENTS.
UM, SO A LOT OF GREAT, UM, QUESTIONS, UM, THAT HAVE COME THROUGH OUR CALL CENTER.
AND THEN LASTLY, IN TERMS OF WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, THAT I WAS AVAILABLE THERE.
UM, LIKE I SWEAR THERE'S SOME PICTURES THERE.
UM, ON THE BOTTOM LEFT THAT WAS THE PARK, THE, UH, GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE I 35 EXPANSION PROJECT.
UM, I WAS ALSO, UM, PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO JOIN, UM, DISTRICT TEX, DISTRICT ENGINEER TECH FOR FERGUSON AS WELL AS KYLE CARVE FROM THE AIRPORT, UM, TO PRESENT TO LEADERSHIP AUSTIN'S VISION COUNCIL ON ALL OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION STUFF GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF IT, NOT SURE IF YOU'VE HEARD.
UM, AND ALSO IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING THE AWARD AT THE RED LINE PARKWAY, UM, I WAS HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME REMARKS AT THAT EVENT, UM, ABOUT CAP METRO'S COMMITMENT TO A MULTIMODAL, UM, COMMUNITY.
UM, SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FUN STUFF COMING UP WITH THE HOLIDAYS.
UM, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, 30TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING IS COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
UM, CAT METRO STAFF WILL BE ON, UH, AT THAT EVENT HANDING OUT SWAG AND GREETING OUR GUESTS.
IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE HOLIDAY STROLL IN TREE LIGHTING AND YOU LOVE A CHRISTMAS CAROL, YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD GO.
IT'S LIKE THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS CAROL SING ALONG AND A LOT OF FUN.
UM, WE'RE ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THE COLONY PARK HOLIDAY DRIVE ON DECEMBER 7TH, UM, WHICH IS A DRIVE THROUGH, UM, TOY GIVEAWAY.
UM, AND CAT METRO STAFF WILL BE THERE HELPING GIVEAWAY TOYS AND HEB GIF GIFT CARDS, UM, AS WELL AS OUR NEW ANNUAL TRADITION OF THE CAT METRO HOLIDAY ELVES.
WE'LL HAVE, UM, DECORATED BUSES.
WE'LL HAVE CAT METRO STAFF, UM, CONDUCTING RIDE-ALONGS AND SURPRISING SOME OF OUR, UM, RIDERS ON BOARD WITH FREE PASSES.
UM, OTHER SORTS OF GOODIES AT TRANSIT CENTERS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, UM, AS WE WRAP UP THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, AND, AND REALLY JUST TRY AND GET INTO THE SPIRIT OF A GIVING HOLIDAY SEASON.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESIDENT'S REPORT FOR NOVEMBER.
[X. Executive Session]
INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE WILL RETURN, UH, TO TAKE UP ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO.UH, SO THE BOARD WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH A QUORUM PRESENT UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATED TO THE PRESIDENT CEO AND, AND HER ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
ALRIGHT, UM, WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER, UH, CHAPTER 5 51, SECTION 0.074 FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS, UH, RELATED TO THE PRESIDENT AND CEO'S ANNUAL, UH, PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
UH, WE ARE NOW OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE TIME IS, UH, ONE FORTY THREE, SO WE'LL CALL THIS MEETING IN ORDER, UH, OUT OF RECESS AT 1 43.
[VII.2. Approval of a resolution awarding President & CEO Dottie Watkins adjustment to base pay equal to 5% of her annual salary and a one-time performance achievement bonus equal to 10% of base pay based on her Fiscal Year 2024 annual performance review. The increases are awarded retroactively to October 1, 2024, in accordance with the Employment Agreement.]
LET'S SEE.NOW WE'LL TAKE UP OUR FINAL ACTION AND THAT IS, UH, ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, BOARD MEMBER VELA.
WITH REGARD TO ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO, I WOULD MOVE TO FILL IN WHERE THE CEO DOTTIE WATKINS IS THE AWARD AND ADJUSTMENT TO BASE PAY EQUAL TO 5% OF HER ANNUAL SALARY, UH, WHICH IS, UH, THE MAXIMUM THAT WE'RE GIVING STAFF FOR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE AT ORGANIZATIONALLY.
UH, AND A ONE-TIME PERFORMANCE ACHIEVEMENT BONUS EQUAL TO 10% OF BASE PAY BASED ON HER 2024 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
ALRIGHT, UH, WE, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE SECONDS,
UH, SO, UH, LET ME, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO INCLUDED THE TIMING, UH, IN THE MEMO, UM, BOARD MEMBER VELA SAYS THE, UH, IS TO EXPAND ON YOUR AMENDMENT.
THE ADJUSTMENT TO PAY WOULD BE AWARDED RETROACTIVELY TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.
SO LET, LET'S, UH, LET'S READ IT IN, UH, JUST, JUST TECHNICALLY APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AWARDING PRESIDENT AND CEO DOTTIE WATKINS ADJUSTMENT TO BASE PAY EQUAL TO 5% OF HER ANNUAL SALARY WITH A ONE-TIME PERFORMANCE ACHIEVEMENT BONUS EQUAL TO 10% OF BASE PAY BASED ON HER FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
[01:00:01]
WILL BE, UH, ADDED RETROACTIVELY UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, 2024.IS THAT YES, THAT'S IN EMPLOY IN, IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING, SORRY.
UH, BOARD MEMBER, MY FAMILY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO A DOTTIE FOR ALL HER WORK.
UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE, UH, WORKING WITH NOT JUST HER BUT HER MANAGEMENT TEAM.
UH, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE ORGANIZATION, UH, AND, AND THE JOB THAT EVERYONE'S DOING.
UH, ANYONE ELSE? UH, ALL RIGHT.
UH, ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE IN, UH, SUPPORT OF APPROVING ACTION ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE, THE CHAIR WILL MAKE IT UNANIMOUS.
NOW, IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO ATTEND TO TODAY? LET ME LOOK OVER TO MY GENERAL COUNSEL.
LET ME LOOK OVER TO THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
HEARING NONE, UH, LET ME SAY BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
UH, WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS THAT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FULLY BRIEFED ALL THE TIME, WHETHER IT'S OUR ATTORNEY STAFF, UH, WHETHER IT IS, IT IS, UH, THE, UH, YOUR STAFF, UH, YOU GUYS WORK TOGETHER IN LOCKSTEP TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE ARE AS WELL INFORMED AS WE CAN POSSIBLY BE.
AND WE SHOULD THANK YOU AS WELL AND WISH YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AS WE ADJOURN AT 1 46.