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Para Transit Rate Increase Minibus D~~~E ~ck~ MEMORANDUM June 15, 2006 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Para Transit Rate Increase Economic Development Director David Heiar is recommending that a public hearing be set for July 5, 2006 to consider a Para Transit Rate Increase. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. jJ1tj~~/lhl Michael C. Van Milligen . MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director D~~~E ~<k~ MEMORANDUM June 14, 2006 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director SUBJECT: Para Transit Rate Increases INTRODUCTION This memorandum presents for the City Council consideration of setting a public hearing on increasing service fees for certain Para transit services. This would initiate action on recommendations included in the 2006-07 Budget adopted by the City Council. BACKGROUND The current City policy is to allow all Dubuque residents over age 65 as to ride mini buses as ADA eligible even though this is not required by a federal law. To help offset the cost of providing this service, the 2006-07 budget included an increase in the fee from $1.00 to $2.00 for riders who currently qualify for service due to age (65 and older), but who do not qualify by Federal ADA standards. This increase is anticipated to generate an additional $16,000. The 2007 budget also included the development of a No-Show and late cancellation policy with a charge of $9.00 for the cost of the ride "not taken". The intent of this change is to discourage the current abuse of the mini-bus system. DISCUSSION On May 11, 2006 following a public hearing the Transit Board unanimously approved a motion to recommend to the City Council the fare increase of $1.00 to $2.00 for non- ADA eligible users (age 65 and over) and a fee of $9.00 for No-Shows (see attached minutes). RECOMMENDA TIONI ACTION STEP I recommend that the City Council set a public hearing on the proposed fee increases for mini-bus service. F:IUSERSIDHeiarlTransitlCouncil MemoslTans~ Board approval memo 6-15-06.doc NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON THE MATTER OF THE PROPOSED RATE INCREASE FOR KEYLlNE PARATRANSIT (MINIBUS)SERVICES. PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, will hold a public hearing on the 5th day of July, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. in the Carnegie Stout Public Library Auditorium, 360 West 11th Street, Dubuque, Iowa, at which meeting the City Council proposes to take action to raise the fee to ride the Keyline paratransit mini- bus from $1 to $2 for non-ADA qualified riders and to establish a $9.00 fee for no-shows or late cancellations of a scheduled mini-bus ride. At the meeting, the City Council will receive oral and written objections from any resident or property owner of said City to the above action. After all objections have been received and considered, the City Council may at this meeting or at any adjournment thereof, take additional action for the authorization of such fee increase or establishment. By order of the City Council said hearing and appeals there from shall be held in accordance with and governed by the provisions of Section 403.9 of the Code of Iowa. This notice is given by order of the City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa, as provided by Chapter 403 of the Code of Iowa. Dated this 19th day of June, 2006. Jeanne F. Schneider City Clerk of Dubuque, Iowa F:\USERS\OHeiarlTransit\Council MemoslNOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING for Rate Increase. doc DATE: TIME: PLACE: MEMBERS PRESENT: OTHERS PRESENT: MINUTES DUBUQUE TRANSIT TRUSTEE BOARD 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, SchIickmanldrivers, 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 Bemis called for a motion to approve the minutes of OF MARCH 9, 2006, the March 9, 2006, meeting, as circulated. Sand so TRANSIT BOARD moved. Stedman seconded. All "ayes". Motion carried. MEETING PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING MINIBUS PROPOSED FARE INCREASE AND NO SHOW FEE 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 iffee 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 canceUation fee would be charged on a canceUed 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 if there 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 if the 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 ofthe 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 of transit 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 Michael W. Sand, Secretary Dubuque Transit Trustee Board ,2006