Minutes Transit Bd of T. 5 11 06
MINUTES
DUBUQUE TRANSIT TRUSTEE BOARD
DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Thursday, May 11, 2006
3:30 P.M.
Majestic Room, Five Flags Civic Center, 4th & Locust
Streets, Dubuque, Iowa
Bemis, Enderson, Sand, Stedman, Lightcap
Rodocker-Booth/KeyLine, Heiar/Economic Development
Director, Kundert-Mitchell/Telegraph Herald,
Schlickman/drivers, Baker/Teamsters Local 421, Citizens
of Dubuque (sheet attached)
INTRODUCTION OF NEW Chairman Bemis called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.,
TRANSIT MANAGER, stating that the first item on the agenda was to be the
JON RODOCKER OF introduction of the New Transit Manager, Jon Rodocker
FIRST TRANSIT of First Transit. Jon introduced himself to the Board,
stating that he was happy to be aboard.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
OF MARCH 9, 2006,
TRANSIT BOARD
MEETING
PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING MINIBUS
PROPOSED FARE
INCREASE AND
NO SHOW FEE
Bemis called for a motion to approve the minutes of
the March 9, 2006, meeting, as circulated. Sand so
moved. Stedman seconded. All "ayes". Motion carried.
Bemis opened the Public Hearing regarding the proposed
fare increase for non-ADA minibus riders and the establish-
ment of a no show/cancellation fee to cover the cost of
a non-utilized scheduled ride. Heiar presented a brief
summary of the budget shortfall ($250,000) in the minibus
activity and the lengthy list of options presented to the
Board for their consideration. The Board chose a fare
increase for non-ADA certified riders of $1.00, making
their cost $2.00 per ride, and further proposed a no show/
cancellation fee of$9.00 for a non-utilized scheduled ride.
Possible denial of a trip to qualified ADA riders in an
over utilized minibus system is a major concern - providing
ADA eligible rides is mandatory; whereas, providing rides
to non-ADA riders is a service not mandated by ADA laws.
Increasing fuel costs, maintenance costs and labor expenses
necessitate these increases in fees.
MINUTES - Page 2
Bemis opened the meeting to the public, asking that
comments be limited to 3 minutes.
Larry Gearheart asked who would be paying the increased
Fares; Schlickman said $9.00 cancellation fee seems high;
Loebach asked if fee charge could be appealed, Amy
Eudaley questioned the fee and thinks the office should call
the rider to let them know that the bus is waiting; Adele
Lenane said it depended on who you talked to as to whether
or not you got a ride; if cancellation fee would be charged
on a cancelled return, and asked if a sliding fee scale
could be used; Adele also said dispatchers should have
Customer service training, as well as anger management
training; Sarah Davidson asked how charge would be
collected; Baker wanted to know ifthere would be input on
the fee policy or is it administrative; Sarah Davidson said
she was turned down four times in I week with less than a
3 day notice (Eudaley said she was also). Responses by
Rodocker and Heiar indicated that fare increase would be
for non-ADA riders only, the no show fee could be
appealed, the $9.00 charge is the fee, which is the
administrative policy and that the rider would be informed
of the charge when they scheduled the next ride, with the
charge due at the time of the next ride. The turn downs
numbers will be checked.
Hearing no further comments, Bemis closed the minibus
Portion of the hearing and opened the hearing on the
FY 2007 Consolidated Grant Application.
Lenane asked what was included in the grant application;
Candace Eudaley asked if we could get more energy
efficient vehicles; Lenane asked if vehicles were expansion
or replacement, and thought we should be adding more
fixed route service; Gearheart wants more service for fixed
route also; Schickman asked ifthe site for the proposed
intermodal facility has been purchased or selected; Sarah
Davidson said if the facility is in the Port of Dubuque area,
why would anyone want to go there to get a bus to go to
west end; Amy Eudaley was concerned that 9th & Main
would no longer be a transfer point and that downtown
people would get no service; Davidson wanted to know if
minibus and fixed route ridership would be considered in
the study.
MINUTES - Page 3
UPDATES BY HEIAR
BOARD COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
Rodocker listed the items included in the FY2007 and
stated that the feasibility study, done before the intermodal
facility construction, would look at all these issues. Buses
to be purchased would be replacements, not expansion.
Hearing no further comments, Bemis closed the FY2007
Consolidated Grant hearing.
Heiar stated that the Board should approve of the FY2007
Grant process. Sand so moved; Enderson seconded.
All "ayes". Motion carried.
A motion to recommend to the City Council the approval of
the fare increase and no show fees approved at the last
board meeting was made by Enderson and seconded by
Stedman. All "ayes". Motion carried.
Heiar turned the meeting over to Rodocker, who stated that
all parts of the system are going to be reviewed now, and in
the next budget year.
Rodocker asked the Board for approval of all the draft
forms and guide submitted to the Board so that he may
proceed with getting the minibus system up to ADA
standards. Enderson made a motion to approve all the draft
items, subject to legal review, etc., by any other
departments of the city. Sand seconded. All "ayes".
Motion carried.
Lightcap wanted to know if the fixed route system would
be revised. Stedman wanted to know if ADA forms would
be used by everyone. Rodocker said the fixed route system
will indeed be reviewed and that all new applicants, and
eventually all current riders, would need to complete the
new ADA forms.
Gearheart and Eudaley reiterated their previous concerns
and comments regarding the future oftransit and the 9th
street transfer stop.
Hearing no further comments, Bemis called for a motion to
adjourn. Sand so moved. Stedman seconded. All "ayes".
Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 5: 15 p.m.
Minutes - Page 4
Respectfully submitted,
Connie Booth
Secretary
These minutes passed, approved and adopted on this
day of
,2006
Michael W. Sand, Secretary
Dubuque Transit Trustee Board