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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-14-2012 MTC Minutes FINALApproved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE COUNCIL HEARING ROOM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2012 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Elizabeth Thyne called the meeting to order at 2:45 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Elizabeth Thyne, Susan Rains, Art Apruzzese, Louise Justice, Jonathan Ellis, Jean Long, Jody Frey, Stanley Yucikas and Todd Katz Staff: John Webster Dee Lawson ANNOUNCEMENTS John Webster introduced Geoff Straw, new San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (SLORTA) Executive Director, and he briefly discussed his service background. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments at this time. A. CONSENT ITEMS A-1. Approval of January 11, 2012 Regular Meeting Mr. Yucikas moved to approve the January 11, 2012 meeting minutes as submitted. Mr. Apruzzese seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. DISCUSSION ITEMS B-1. Ad Hoc Committee Marketing Update The various student presentations were posted in the Council hearing Room and available for review before and during the MTC meeting. Mr. Apruzzese discussed the marketing committee update, noting that ridership had increased due to the high cost of fuel. He stated the marketing efforts were targeted towards the discretionary rider and discussed several Cal Poly student contest entries for marketing campaigns. Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 The Committee discussed the various entries and the results and member comments are as follows: II CENTS DESIGN Elizabeth Garrell (Art Director) Tyler Hays Kyle (Designer) Comments: • Liked the concepts & situations • Good potential for use in an actual campaign • Differing opinion whether some shots were too dark • Good use as magnets (Pictures and message) THE AGENCY Josiah Pak Nicole Choy Comments: • Liked the concepts (especially the green and work messages) • Bike message for extra fare hard to make transit connection-need to revise • Liked bar code/scan • Liked the 1-2-3 insert-Good potential handouts/bookmarks farmers market • Fonts size and message will need possible revisions • Needs bilingual translation SUGARCOATED Jo Watkins Comments: • Liked child’s play concept • Questions regarding Leggos and Play Dough copyright issues • Eye catching • Easy to animate for videos • Good potential for actual campaign • Liked “I Bus SLO” for tee shirts and shelter graphic use STUDIO 67 Jenna Pile Karyn Savory Tyler Benham Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 Comments: • Need some positive messages (too many negative-NO Change, More Dings etc) • Liked the designs (especially another ticket and gas pains) • Good potential for actual campaign • Possible use at bus stop Kiosks KBP Kelly Baillon Brittany Padon Comments: • Liked the pictures and message tag lines • Billboard use not allowed in SLO • Good potential for actual campaign • Liked General image concept After final comments and review the nine MTC members were asked to vote on the class designs and the results were as follows: 1ST PLACE-THE AGENCY-Received five votes 2ND PLACE-SUGARCOATED-Received three votes 3RD PLACE-STUDIO 67-Received one vote John Webster and Dee Lawson will attend the Cal Poly class on March 15th to announce the winning design. Chairperson Elizabeth asked if the Ad Hoc members wished to remain active to work with the student on developing the concepts towards a final product and they agreed. Committee consists of Art Apruzzese, Jean Long, & Jonathan Ellis with Susan Rains as Cal Poly representative. Dee Lawson will coordinate future meeting with students and MTC members. C. ACTION ITEMS C-1. SLOCOG Presentation – DTC Study Evaluation of Alternatives Eliane Guillot Wilson discussed the background of the coordinated Downtown Transit Center Study and the several alternatives in project implementation on various streets, the evaluation criteria, costs, and the potential funding sources. There was general Committee clarification and discussion on the various alternatives. Mr. Apruzzese asked about the anticipated project completion date and Ms. Wilson indicated that environmental studies (EIR) would take 8-12 months with acquisition of right of way and finally 8-12 months of construction. Most likely this would take about five years to complete once agreement was reached on a design option. There was a Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 discussion regarding environmental issues and soil cleanup with Ms. Wilson indicating that this would be a property owner responsibility. There were discussions regarding various possible parking and retail options and Ms. Wilson indicated they were not part of the various alternatives under consideration. There was a discussion regarding the various options and pros & cons for alternate #5. Mr. Yucikas felt that the Higuera St. Alternative #6 was the best choice at this point. Jody Frey indicated that accessibility issues needed to be in place for access from the current DTC at City Hall and any new sites and that perhaps a shuttle should be included. Bobby Babaeian, owner of Tri Counties Transit/SLO Yellow Cab Company, asked to be involved with plans so he could coordinate his taxi services with the Transit Center as well as a general discussion regarding the problems associated with the existing taxi stops in the Downtown business areas. Dan Ross, Surf Cab Company, felt that the Greyhound hub should be part of the DTC plans. Mr. Straw noted that Greyhound also had a package business as part of their operation and needed space to facilitate. Councilman John Ashbaugh, had questions regarding any Environmental Impact Report (EIR) funding and Ms. Wilson indicated that Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5309 funding might be available if sufficient local support was in place. The Committee thanked Ms. Wilson for her presentation and she stated that additional comments could be made directly to her or to John Webster who would pass them along to her. The MTC Committee overall comments were very positive in nature and supportive of the project going to the next phase for EIR study if funding was available. Recommendation: Accept presentation and provide member feedback did not require a vote by the members. C-2. DTC Safety-Security Issues John Webster provided a brief history regarding the on-going safety and security issues at the Downtown Transit Center (DTC) these problems have included issues such as excessive loitering, alcohol, smoking, and fighting occurring within the shelter. Mr Webster stated that Public Works Transportation staff met with the SLO Police Department staff, SLO Parking and Administrative Department staff and the Downtown Association (DA) Executive Director to discuss possible actions to address these issues. After discussion, the DA offered to expand their current security patrols to include the DTC and the Parking Services Division also offered to expand their security patrols from the 919 Parking garage to provide coverage on Thursday-Sunday from 3 pm-11 pm. SLO PD offered to provide additional patrols in an effort to be more visible and hopefully deter and eliminate the ongoing issues. Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 As a result of these efforts there is a marked reduction in the level of complaints being received and the increased security appears to be having an impact and staff recommended that the MTC consider the following: 1. If funding is available would the MTC support permanent security patrols during all hours of transit service at the DTC? 2. Would the MTC support the installation of security equipment such as cameras and increased lighting at the DTC and other high use bus stops? 3. Would the MTC support the relocation of the existing electrical outlet currently located between the two shelters closest to Osos and Mill Street? Mr. Yucikas discussed the no smoking ordinance and the possibility of putting brochures on the bus schedule racks. Other members discussed various health and safety concerns with Jody Frey indicating that she felt there was not enough Police Department staff available to patrol the DTC and downtown areas. There were member concerns regarding the location of the electrical outlet and whether this was contributing to non-transit users monopolizing the shelters closest to Mill Street and members were favorable to permanent safety patrols if the funding was available and did not reduce transit service levels. Jean Long and Jonathan Ellis had reservations regarding safety cameras ability to prevent crimes. Mr. Webster stated that the on-board bus cameras had been successful on a number of occasions with identification of passengers who had taken a lost wallet or pocketbook and not turned it in to the bus driver as a lost and found item. He stated that when the video was reviewed by the police department they were eventually able to recover the lost items. Mr. Yucikas indicated he was favorable to cameras and additional lighting being installed. Mr. Webster indicated that the City already had a camera policy and this recommendation (#2) would need to be approved by the City manager. Mr. Yucikas moved to recommend items #1 & #2 Mr. Apruzzese seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. There was further discussion regarding item #3 as well as health and safety issues for transit passengers in proximity to those using the electrical outlets to recharge ankle tracking monitors. Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 Todd Katz moved to recommend item #3 and that the Council consider relocating this outlet to another area. Elizabeth Thyne seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. C-3. Permanent Taxi Rate Increase Mr. Webster discussed the draft staff report to be submitted to Council and recommended the MTC support the permanent rate increase, which was based on the high cost of gasoline. The representatives from area taxi companies stated their companies were privately operated, did not receive any State funding and noted that gas is now higher than when the draft report was created. They agreed with the permanent rate increase request and also discussed problems with the lag time involved with getting a new rate approved. Mr. Webster indicated that this would need to be changed in the actual municipal code and that meetings had been held with the taxi operators to discuss possible revisions. Mr. Katz suggested that the city might consider the purchase of more cost-effective alternate fuel vehicles. Mr. Apruzzese moved to recommend that Council approve the taxi rate increase as outlined in the staff report. Ms. Rains seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. INFORMATION ITEMS D-1. Transit Manager’s Report D-2. Operating-Performance Reports Mr. Webster presented a summary of the transit manager’s report and stated that ridership was up approximately 8.5% from July 1, 2011 thru February 2012 and this increase was the highest rate he has seen in the last five years. Unfortunately he also indicated that fuel costs were also very high but within budget at least thru the end of January 2012. Mr. Webster indicated that Gillig has notified the City that they will begin construction of a new 40’ transit vehicle on April 25, 2012 with delivery expected by the middle of May. Approved as amended at the Regular MTC meeting-May 9, 2012 He also noted that purchase orders have been issued to replace the remaining two-1997 vehicles. Dee Lawson city Transportation Assistant, provided an update of the upcoming SLO Marathon set for April 22nd. She provided handouts and maps indicating the probable impacts on existing transit routes and anticipated delays. Members were encouraged to contact Ms. Lawson if they needed any additional information. Mr. Straw from SLORTA indicated that SLOCOG has projected a 9.3% increase in the State sales tax revenue which would provide additional funding for local transit operations. MEMBER COMMENTS Mr. Apruzzese recommended that a tour of the Transit facility be offered and Mr. Webster suggested that perhaps a joint tour of SLO Transit/Prado facility in the morning followed by a tour of the SLORTA facility on Cross Street in afternoon would be beneficial. Members were favorable to this concept and Mr. Webster would try and set something up for next month and send some dates/times for schedule coordination to the members. Mr. Yucikas indicated that he would be in favor of evaluating if American flags could be installed on both sides of the buses for use during holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day. All members seemed favorable to this concept and Mr. Webster indicated that this was done at a number of transit locations where he was a manager and would bring cost information back to the members in May as an action agenda item. The meeting adjourned at 5:20 pm to the regular meeting May 9, 2012 at 2:45 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Woske, Recording Secretary