Minutes (3-15-11).DOC - Metro

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SORTA Board March 15, 2011 HEARINGS FROM CITIZENS Dr. Gutsell asked if there were any citizens who would like to address the board. Mr. Troy Miller from ATU Local 627 asked those present who are against Senate Bill 5 to help fight its passage. Miss Karima Thomas expressed her concern at the lack of service on the Rt. 47 that services Winton Terrace and Spring Grove Village. Buses do not run as frequently as before the service cuts and the Rt. 16 doesn’t run on Sundays. She asked the board to consider increasing the service in that area. Mr. Tyrone Patrick, a bus operator at Bond Hill, asked the board to continue to work with operations and maintenance to help them do their jobs and to support the efforts to fight Senate Bill 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS Planning and Development Committee There were no motions or resolutions to be presented to the board for approval. Operations and Management Committee Mr. Tarbell presented the following action item from the Operations and Management Committee: 1. Proposed Resolution No. 2011-09: Approval of Paratransit Vehicle Procurement Mr. Tarbell moved for adoption, and Ms. Burke seconded the motion. This resolution approves a five-year contract for the procurement of paratransit vehicles with Transportation Equipment Sales Co./Goshen Coach at a total cost not to exceed $4,230,000. By roll call vote, the Board approved Resolution No. 2011-09. FINANCIAL REPORT Mr. Restle reviewed the financial and ridership reports for February 2011. Overall, February was a very good month. Total revenues were about $6.9 million, which is favorable to budget by 2.6%. Total expenses for the month were $6.4 million, which is also favorable to budget by 5.0%. This leaves Metro with a total net favorable variance for the month of $512,000. For the year-to-date, we are overall favorable to budget by $1.1 million. Ridership and fare revenue were both favorable due to rising gasoline prices and favorable weather conditions. Access fares and school revenue from the CPS contract were also favorable to budget due to fewer snow days. NEW BUSINESS No new business was introduced. CEO’S REPORT During the month of February, Ms. Garcia Crews participated in a Bus Rapid Transit meeting at which BRT was discussed in the context of a regional transit plan. There is a lot of momentum behind this project, and OKI will take the lead in creating a regional transit map and a map overlay that shows future transit development plans. She also met with Rock Ventures to discuss partnering on bus service to the casino for their employees and a shuttle service from local hotels for casino patrons. It is important that Metro be involved at the beginning of the 2
SORTA Board March 15, 2011 planning/designing process; the initial meeting was very positive. Also discussed was coordinated stops based on Rock Ventures’ current plan. Mero and Rock Ventures will meet again as their plans are refined. Ms. Garcia Crews and Mr. Groth gave a presentation before Cincinnati City Council’s Livable Communities committee regarding ODOT’s decision to rescind funding for the Innovative Service grants. This decision canceled the proposed express service to Uptown from Liberty Township and Western Hills. In March, SORTA Board Chair Mr. Rugless, Ms. Garcia Crews and Mr. Groth traveled to Washington DC as part of the American Public Transportation Association Legislative Conference and the Ohio Public Transit Association. Meetings were held prior to the conference with our congressional delegation and included: Senators Portman and Brown and Representatives Chabot and Schmidt. There is a $22.4 billion increase in public transportation programs over what was included in the 2010 authorization bill; supporting the President’s transportation priorities is critical. As part of APTA’s national media efforts, Ms. Garcia Crews was interviewed by local radio station 700- WLW regarding increasing ridership due to higher gas prices. Ms. Garcia Crews also reported that Metro is currently recruiting for a Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Procurement and hopes to have these positions filled within 45 days after posting the job. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Hodges made a motion that the Board go into Executive Session as provided in Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 (G)(1), “to consider the appointment, employment . . . of a public employee or official . . .” and (G)(3) for “conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes that are the subject of pending or imminent court action and Section (G)(4), “preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining session with public employees . . .”. Mr. Hothem seconded the motion. By roll call vote, the Board unanimously approved the motion and went into executive session at 10:45 a.m. Mr. Hodges made a motion that the Board return to regular session, and Mr. Hothem seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the motion and returned to regular session at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Gutsell made a motion that the meeting be adjourned and Mr. Hodges seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the motion, and the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. NEXT MEETING The next regular meeting of the SORTA Board is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. in the SORTA/Metro Board Room, 602 Main Street, Suite 1200, Cincinnati, Ohio. APPROVED: Sean Rugless Chair Terry Garcia Crews Secretary-Treasurer 3
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Minutes (3-15-11).DOC - Metro

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