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Keyline Free Bus Rides for Students with Dubuque Community Schools 2007-08THE CTTY OF DLTB E Masterpiece on the Mississippi MEMORANDUM July 11, 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Free KeyLine Bus Rides for School Students Economic Development Director Dave Heiar and Transit Manager Jon Rodocker are recommending approval of an agreement with the Dubuque Community School District to provide free ridership for public and parochial students enrolled in the district. It is anticipated that this contractual relationship will reduce student truancy and increase KeyLine ridership, thereby making this arrangement mutually beneficial. Initially, under this option, there is a projected loss in revenue of $13,000 annually. Under this contract, the Dubuque Community School District agrees to pay $6,000 of the lost revenue. If ridership increases dramatically, within two years KeyLine may receive more State Assistance Funding, thus recouping a portion or all of this revenue. The agreement would be effective August 1, 2007, and run for aone-year period. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. ~~ ,,t~ ~~ Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager David Heiar, Economic Development Director Jon Rodocker, Transit Manager THE CITY OF DUB E MO$fCY~71000 071 fj1C l~/I1SS{SSl~~7i MEMORANDUM July 9, 2007 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: David Heiar, Economic Development Director Jon Rodocker, Transit Manager SUBJECT: Free KeyLine Bus Rides for School Students INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to provide a written agreement for Council consideration to accommodate free KeyLine bus rides to public and parochial students in the Dubuque Community School District DISCUSSION On May 21, 2007, based on a recommendation of the KeyLine Transit Board, the City Council authorized staff to prepare a contract between the City's KeyLine Transit service and the Dubuque Community School District to provide free ridership for public and parochial students enrolled in the district. It is anticipated that this contractual relationship will reduce student truancy and increase KeyLine ridership, thereby making this arrangement mutually beneficial. A similar program was successfully implemented in Clinton. Based on this arrangement the students would be required to show their school ID to receive free transportation. This would entitle students to ride throughout the year free-of-charge on any KeyLine fixed route bus during all hours of operation, including weekends. Many youth already ride free in the summer to participate in activities provided by the Leisure Services Department. Initially, under this option, there is a projected loss in revenue of $13,000 annually. Under this contract the Dubuque Community School District agrees to pay $6,000 of the lost revenue. If ridership increases dramatically, within two years KeyLine may receive more State Assistance Funding, thus recouping a portion or all of this revenue. It was mutually agreed that implementation of the free ride option, requires changes concerning the conduct policies and procedures for the students using the KeyLine buses. KeyLine agreed to install several older security camera systems on three buses that currently transport the students. The intent of the cameras would be to deter unruly behavior and provide a record of any inappropriate conduct while riding the bus. New conduct policies directly related to the students have been created with stiffer consequences. The new conduct policies will be made available to all students with their registration packets for the 2007-08 school year (see attached documentation). The Transit Board is interested in increasing KeyLine ridership. The Board also places great value on encouraging young people to become regular users of public transit. The initial Board concern was unruly student conduct which we hope is addressed in the attached conduct policies. The Board recommends that the Council proceed with offering free rides to students. This would extend to students attending all Dubuque schools including the parochial school system. ACTION REQUIRED That the City Council approve the attached 28E Agreement for one year, which would allow students to ride KeyLine buses at no charge effective August 1, 2007. F:\USERS\DHeiar\Transit\memo for mvm dh concerning approval of free rides 2.doc AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA AND THE DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR BUS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR STUDENTS This Agreement, dated for reference purposes the day of 2007, is made and entered into by and between the City of Dubuque, Iowa (City) and the Dubuque Community School District (District). SECTION 1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall be from August 1, 2007 through July 31, 2008. SECTION 2. SCOPE OF SERVICES. City agrees to provide free bus transportation to District's K-12 students on City's established routes, which routes City shall determine in its sole discretion. SECTION 3. COMPENSATION. District agrees to pay City $6000.00 for the services provided herein upon receipt of a statement from City but not later than December 31, 2007, SECTION 4. TERMINATION. City shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with or without cause upon sixty (60) days written notice to District. Upon termination of this Agreement, City shall refund the prorated amount of the compensation for the unexpired term of this Agreement. SECTION 5. RULES AND REGULATIONS. City shall in its sole discretion determine the rules and regulations which apply to the bus transportation of District's students. SECTION 6. PUBLICIZING SERVICE. District agrees to cooperate with City in publicizing the availability of the service. CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT By By Michael C. Van Milligen Douglas Horstman City Manager President of the Board By Joni Lucas Secretary of the Board ss ~ .~ Dubuque -~ ~-~ Community July, Zoos -' ~ ~ Schools To: DCSD Parents/Guardians From: John L. Burgart, Superintendent Subject: Free Keyline bus service for students Learning•Leading•I,iving I am pleased to announce that, as the result of an agreement between the Dubuque City Council and the DCSD Board of Education, Keyline Transit will offer free rides on existing routes to students enrolled in Dubuque's public and private schools. This service will become effective on August 28, 2007. Students will be required to show a current school picture ID in order to receive the free ride. All high school and middle school students will be issued a temporary ID, if necessary, for use as a bus pass until their picture ID is available. Parents of elementary students who are interested in using the Keyline free ride program must inform school staff who will then provide an appropriate ID. I have included with this memo a copy of the Keyline Bus Safety and Security Guidelines which outline the rules for behavior and the consequences for violation of those rules. The rules of behavior are consistent with expectations the district has for student behavior on school buses. However, Keyline's consequences for violation of rules are more strict. Parents/guardians are asked to review these rules and consequences with their children before the first time the student rides the Keyline bus. Note that, upon the first incident of rule violation, a student will lose 15 days of Keyline privileges. Consequences become more severe upon further violations. In addition, the student's ID may be taken by the bus driver and returned only at a conference which includes the student, parent/guardian, a school representative, and the manager of Keyline Transit. We do expect this will not be a concern for most of our students, who will exercise courtesy and good citizenship. Maps and information about routes, pick-up and arrival times, locations of bus stops, etc., will be available at registration at each school. If you have questions, please contact Keyline at 589-4196 or DCSD Transportation at 552-3275. We hope that this service will be of value to many of our students and their families. John L. Burgart, Superintendent of Schools Dubuque Community School District - 2300 Chaney Road -Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3095 319.552-3012 - 319.552-3014 FAX - jburgart@dubuque. k 12. ia. us THE C1TY OF DUB E ~'°~.~.~ KeyLine Transit 2401 Central Ave Dubuque IA, 52001 Phone: 563-589-4196 Fax: 563-589-4340 Effective August 28, 2007 KeyLine Transit will offer free rides to students enrolled in the City of Dubuque Schools. Students will be required to show a current school identification to receive the free ride. In conjunction with this service KeyLine and the Dubuque schools have developed the following guidelines. KeyLine Bus Safety and Security Guidelines Each transported student has the right to a safe and pleasant ride that is free from intimidation, threat, or harassment. Any form of discrimination or harassment can be devastating to an individual's academic progress, social relationships, and sense of self-worth. Therefore, KeyLine will not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of a person's protected status, such as age, color, creed, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, physical attributes, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status. A student's eligibility to ride KeyLine buses may be suspended or revoked for a violation of bus safety and security guidelines, KeyLine bus passenger rules, or for violation of any other law or policy governing conduct on a public bus. The removal of a student's KeyLine bus riding privileges is not considered to be a suspension or expulsion from school. KeyLine Bus Passenger Rules The following activities and items are NOT allowed: Fighting, spitting or making threatening gestures Using obscene, profane or offensive language Harassing, offensive or rowdy behavior Smoking or possessing any lighted tobacco product Destroying, defacing, soiling or removing any part of the bus Throwing or sticking objects out the windows Soliciting, peddling and panhandling Animals out of carriers (except trained service animals) Gasoline and other flammable liquids Firearms and air guns Open or exposed knives Bicycles Toxic or illegal materials Other bulky items that cannot safely be carried/transported on the bus Passengers will: o Obey all bus rules. o Board buses in single file (pushing and shoving is not allowed) o Walk to buses (do not run) when they are loading or unloading o Use appropriate language, no profanity, hand gestures allowed o Talk at a classroom noise level, no yelling, screaming or distracting noises o Keep hands, feet and other objects to yourself o Respect other passengers and property o Keep the interior of the bus clean and free from litter o Pay for vandalism damage to KeyLine buses Passengers may use electronic games, media players or cell phones on the bus; but headphones must be used on any device producing sound or music. The volume on electronic games must be turned off. KeyLine Transit assumes no responsibility for damaged, misplaced or stolen items. Rule Violation Consequences First Incident - Student loses fifteen (1 5) school days of bus riding privileges. KeyLine Transit notifies the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian becomes responsible for student transportation. Second Incident - Student loses forty-five (45) school days of bus riding privileges. KeyLine Transit notifies the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian becomes responsible for student transportation. Third Incident - Student loses bus privileges for the remainder of the school year. KeyLine Transit notifies the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian becomes responsible for student transportation. The second and third incidents require that a Mandatory Behavior Contract be written and signed at a conference with the student, parent/guardian, a school representative, and the manager of KeyLine Transit before the student can begin riding again.