Apr 29, 2022 VIA / ATD Board of Trustees Meeting

[*A portion of this video is without audio*]

[ATD 1. Call to Order]

[ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard]

[00:02:21]

AND WE HAD 80 SYSTEMS SIGNED UP TO BE HERE THIS WEEK.

WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD, SIGNED UP FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT MEETING.

OKAY.

SINCE WE HAVE TO READ THE STATEMENT, DUMPED TO THE CITIZENS, TO PREPARE FOR OUR PUBLIC MEETING, THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS IN OMAR PAVEMENTS AND CITIZENS AND THE SAN ANTONIO BEAR COUNTY AREA WEST IS THEY MAY ARRIVE THROUGH THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING REGARDING PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, OR SERVICE ISSUES MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT OF CVL AND OUR HITS THAT THIS PROCESS WILL ASSURE THAT BIA IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW A BOARD TO DELIBERATE AMOUNT OF THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA OF THE CB.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO OUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

THANK YOU.

AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US.

THIS AS YOUR NAME IS AS YOUR NAME IS CALLED.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO THE FRONT TO SPEAK OR RAISE YOUR HAND.

AND THE MICROPHONE WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU WILL MCLEOD HAS TIME YIELDED TO HIM FROM ANDREW AND DONNA GUERRERO FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.

[00:12:54]

[00:12:54]

UH,

[1. Call to Order]

[00:15:23]

UM, IT IS 9 28, UH, AND I'M RECONVENING THE VIA BOARD, METROPOLITAN AND BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING.

UH, NEXT

[2. Announcements]

YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? YEAH.

THANK YOU.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE NOT USING THE BRAND NEW MIKES.

WE BRAGGED ABOUT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SOUND BEING TRANSMITTED EXTERNALLY.

SO WE'RE FINDING INTERNALLY FOR WHATEVER REASON THIS MIC WORKS, THE OTHER MIC WORKS.

SO THAT FOR EXAMPLE, IN CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, COME FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE THEM HAVE A MIC AS OPPOSED TO USE THAT MIC THERE.

CAUSE WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT WORKS.

SO WITH RESPECT TO ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, SO PLEASE JOIN US IN CELEBRATING OUR STAR OPERATORS OF THE QUARTER PART-TIME BUS OPERATOR, PEDRO VASQUEZ, AND THEN OPERATOR STEVEN SAN RAMON.

SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM PEDRO, PEDRO UP, SO EVERYBODY CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.

THANK YOU.

PEDRO WAS HIRED IN 2011 AND DURING HIS 11 YEARS OF SERVICE, HE'S NOT HAD A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT OR ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION ASSESSED AGAINST HIM FOR 11 YEARS.

THAT'S REMARKABLE.

HE'S QUALIFIED FOR THE EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROGRAM AT 19 TIMES, AND VIA GREATLY APPRECIATES HIS OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SAFE DRIVING THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED OVER THE YEARS.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR CUSTOMERS.

WELL.

ALL RIGHT, SO STEVEN, STEVEN, PLEASE, STEVEN SAN RAMON, PLEASE STAND UP SO THAT YOU CAN BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

THERE WE GO.

REALLY SIMILARLY, STEPHEN JOINED IN 2016 AND HE SERVES OUR VIA TRANS PATRONS DURING THIS TIME AGAIN, WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED IN ANY PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT.

AND ADDITIONALLY, HE HAS NOT INCURRED ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

AND SO STEVEN, WE KNOW THAT, UM, VIA TRANSIT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF OUR, OUR OVERALL, UH, SERVICE DELIVERY.

AND THANK YOU FOR AGAIN, TAKING CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS, UH, THE BOARD BOARD WILL COME FORWARD AND WE'LL TAKE A QUICK PICTURE INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF THOSE RIGHT NOW.

[00:20:34]

WE CONGRATULATE RICHARD AND KNOW HE WILL SERVE OUR STATE WELL AS HE DOES SERVE VIA WELL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, RICHARD.

NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A COUPLE INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW STAFF MEMBERS.

AND SO FIRST OF ALL, WE WISH A WARM, WARM, VIA WELCOME TO OUR NEW MANAGER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS.

BASSETT, JUST STAND UP.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

SO I'LL JUST READ YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER HERE.

UH, SHE LEFT HER MUNICIPAL CAREER WITH THE CITY OF HARLAND GIN AS A RECEPTIONIST AND WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CITY CLERK.

WHEN SHE LEFT TO SERVE AS ASSISTANT CITY CLERK IN MCALLEN IN 2004, SHE WAS APPOINTED SAN ANTONIO CITY CLERK BY MAYOR ED GARZA AND THE COUNCIL WHERE SHE CREATED THE CITY'S FIRST MUNICIPAL ARCHIVE AND HIRED THE FIRST ARCHIVIST.

SHE ALSO EMITTED THE FIRST IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST DIGITAL COLLECTION OF OFFICIAL AND HISTORIC RECORDS AND IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST PASSPORT ACCEPTANCE FACILITY FOR THE CITY GENERATING RIGHT UNDER $1 MILLION ANNUALLY IN 2020 FOR THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.

HE EARNED AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE AND MACALLAN BACHELOR, AND MASTER'S DEGREES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD, FOCUSING ON ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.

SHE'S BEEN HONORED WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS AS CHAPTER MUNICIPAL CLERK FROM THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND ALAMO CHAPTERS.

AND SHE WAS ALSO SELECTED BY HER PEERS IN 2009 WITH THE MUNICIPAL CLERK OF THE YEAR AWARD AWARD FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, A BIG STATE, RIGHT BY THE MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS CLERKS ASSOCIATION.

SO WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO GANGBUSTERS FOR BIA AS WELL.

WELCOME ABOARD ALSO WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME JUST AS WARMLY, VIA NEW MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS TO MONTE ALEXANDER.

SO DEMANTE HAS MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH WITH EXPERTISE IN STRATEGICALLY POSITIONING, PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS AND INITIATIVES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE ORGANIZATIONS.

DEMONTE HAS HONORABLY SERVED 10 YEARS IN THE U S ARMY AND RECEIVED AWARDS FOR HIS VALOR AND EFFORTS IN COMBAT.

HE'S ALSO SERVED AS COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.

HE LED THE OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR THE 20 17 18 1 ESSAY MUNICIPAL BOND.

THE LARGEST BOND PACKAGE PRESENTED TO VOTERS AT THAT TIME BEFORE JOINING VIA DEMONTE WAS FOCUSED ON ASSISTING LOCAL COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH ESTABLISHING PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH GOALS.

HE CURRENTLY SITS AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMITTEES IN SCHOOLS, SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPAL GOLF, SAN ANTONIO, AND AS A CONTRIBUTOR AND ANALYST ON CASE AT 12 NEWS DEMANTE IS ALSO CURRENTLY COMPLETING HIS BBA AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE BOTH OF YOU.

SO DEMANTE THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE TEAM.

I'LL JUST NOTE THAT, UM, BOTH LENNY AND MONTAY ARE WORKING, UH, WORKING WITH LEROY, OBVIOUSLY UNDER JOHN GARY.

AND, UH, WHAT'S REALLY SPECIAL IS, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TELL THE LEROY THAT HE'S ONLY ONE SUPER HUMAN BEING AND WE CAN'T EXPECT ANY MORE OR LESS THAN WHAT ONE SUPER HUMAN BEING CAN PRODUCE.

SO NOW WE HAVE THREE SUPER HUMAN BEINGS IN THAT AREA.

SO JUST IMAGINE SOME WONDERFUL NEWS, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA PRESENTED A DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD TO BE A METROPOLITAN TRANSIT FOR ITS ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING, OCTOBER 1ST, 2021.

[00:25:01]

THAT MEANS PROGRAM CRITERIA AS A POLICY DOCUMENT, AS A FINANCIAL PLAN, AS AN OPERATIONS GUIDE AND AS A COMMUNICATIONS AND A COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE.

SO IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD AND WE RECEIVE IT VERY REGULARLY BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE STAFF IS PUTTING BUDGET TOGETHER.

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ONE OF VIAS EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR'S ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION'S LEGACY PROGRAM, THE TRANSPORTATION MID-MANAGER ACCELERATE FALL SESSION AND LEADERSHIP COURSE FOR MID-LEVEL MANAGERS IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY, OUR MANAGER OF REAL ESTATE SERVICES, OLIVIA IVY WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING COURSE IN SEPTEMBER, JOINING TRANSPORTATION COLLEAGUES FROM FEDERAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER DEVELOP HER LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND REFLECT ON HER LEADERSHIP STYLE.

SO LET'S OFFER OLIVIA OUR CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR HER.

SHE'S HAS VERY STRONG BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE.

SO THIS WILL ALSO HELP HER GROW IN UNDERSTANDING OUR INDUSTRY, WHICH IS, UH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL.

SO CONGRATULATIONS, OLIVIA.

ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M SURE THIS IS NOT NEWS TO ANYBODY THIS YEAR SAW THE RETURN OF FIESTA AND VIA WAS READY AFTER THE CHALLENGES OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT WAS TIME TO CELEBRATE AND THAT WE DID.

WE KICKED OFF THE FIESTA SEASON WITH A VISIT FROM RAY FAIL, AUGIE, CORTEZ, AND HIS COURT, INCLUDING I BELIEVE YOUR DAUGHTER.

YES, INCLUDING OUR CHAIRS DAUGHTER.

UH, WE WELCOMED RAY FAIL TO OUR CELEBRATE SUCCESS EVENT, HONORING VIAS, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES, AND EVERYONE WHO MAKES EVERY SINGLE DAY A GREAT DAY AT VIA THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENT HELD ON APRIL 4TH, BROUGHT TOGETHER FIESTA ROYALTY, AND VIA ROYALTY, THE BEST OF OUR BEST INCLUDING STAR AWARD HONOREES FROM THE PAST YEAR.

AND THE VERY FIRST OFFICIAL VIA FIESTA KING AND QUEEN EL RAY BUSTER AND QUEEN VIV.

OF COURSE, IN THE COMING YEARS, WE'LL HAVE HUMANS AND UK IN QUEEN WILL BE CROWNED EVERY YEAR.

AND W WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS, UH, TO INCENTIVIZE VOLUNTEERISM IN OUR VIA CARES PROGRAM.

SO WE'LL BASE WE'LL BASE THE RECOGNITION ON PARTICIPATION LEVEL PARTICIPATION IN VIA CARES.

I THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE ABLE TO JOIN US AT THIS SPECIAL EVENT, UH, CHAIR REYES, TRUSTEE, PUTTER, EDIS, AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED PUT TOGETHER WHAT WAS REALLY AN INCREDIBLE EVENT THAT WAS HELD IN ESSENTIALLY A PARKING AREA, BUT YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN IT.

UM, AND ESPECIALLY LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR EVENTS MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, LAUREN SAN SHOE, AND COMMUNICATIONS, PARKING MAINTENANCE TEAMS. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK FIESTA WITH A BIG SLASH AND IF YOU COULDN'T JOIN IT, JOIN US.

OR EVEN IF YOU COULD, WE HAVE A QUICK VIDEO RECAP OF THAT DAY.

VERY EXCITING TO BE HERE TODAY, CELEBRATING, CELEBRATING, AND THE COURT AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE DOING TO RAISE MONEY FOR EDUCATION.

AND WE ARE CELEBRATING THE DNS STARS VIA STAR WARS.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE TO PEOPLE HERE AT VF.

REALLY, REALLY.

HE KIND OF TOLD YOU MOVING YES, SIR, TIME IN WHICH WE CELEBRATE MUCH.

AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THESE STARS ARE GETTING BACK TO THE FAIR AND GIVING BACK.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE IDEAL TIME THAT'D BE IMPORTANT.

PART OF OUR CULTURE AND HISTORY.

A BIG PART OF THE AREA WITHOUT MARKETING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES GOING TO BE.

AND WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING TODAY IS WORKING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS TAKE OUR SERVICE EVERY DAY.

IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT THESE GUYS DO.

THESE GUYS ARE WELL-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN WHERE'S THE ANKLE AND WE GOING TO DO THIS FOR THEM.

AND THEY REPRESENT A LOT FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR

[00:30:01]

I DON'T BE OUT THE PEOPLE, THE EMPLOYEES, AND EVERYBODY WANTS THEM TO LIKE THAT.

YEAH, WELL THAT WAS DAY ONE.

THAT WAS DAY ONE.

UH, NEXT GAMES VIA RETURNED TO THE FIESTA FLAMBEAU PARADE, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST ILLUMINATED NIGHT PARADE AND A SAN ANTONIO FAVORITE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH KL RN, WE WERE PROUD TO BE FEATURED ON KRL AND FLOAT THIS YEAR, ALONG WITH BELOVED KALE, K L R M CHARACTERS, INCLUDING SESAME STREET CHARACTERS, MR. ROGERS, NEIGHBORHOOD TROLLEY.

AND OF COURSE, VIAS OWNED BUSTER THE BUS.

AND SO THIS IS A GREAT PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR.

I'M GOING TO TELL THE BOARD THAT OUR OBJECTIVE NEXT YEAR IS THAT V WOULD HAVE A ITS OWN ENTRY.

AND SO WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.

BUT BUSTER AND SEVERAL STAFF MEMBERS REPRESENTED US VERY WELL THAT EVENING, BUT THE REAL HIGHLIGHT OF FLAMBEAU AND THE FIESTA SEASON, HONESTLY, WAS THE PARADE WITHIN A PARADE, SAN ANTONIO'S FIRST RESPONDERS, FRONTLINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS, INCLUDING VIAS OPERATORS, TRANSIT POLICE, OFFICERS, MAINTENANCE, CREW MEMBERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, AND OTHERS WHO KEPT SAN ANTONIO MOVING SAFE SAFELY THROUGH PANDEMIC, AND ALWAYS SO PERFECTLY NAMED MARCHING WITH HEROES.

THIS YEAR'S PARADE VANGUARD WAS AN INSPIRATION AND A REMINDER OF EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EVERY DAY.

SO WE HAVE A SHORT CLIP HERE OF THE MARCH WITH HEROES HEROES FROM VIA RIGHT NOW, WHO WE ARE SEEING IN FRONT OF US, THE VA HEROES, METROPOLITAN TRANSIT, OF COURSE, THE BUS SERVICE HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, CELEBRATING HEROES, THEY WERE HEROES.

THEY KEPT RUNNING.

THEY KEPT GOING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND ONLY WHEN THERE'S A REALLY BIG EVENT OFFERING SERVICES TO WORK PEOPLE, TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY, ESPECIALLY YES, ESPECIALLY RECOGNIZE OUR HEROES AND, UH, YESTERDAY.

SO OF COURSE, WITH THE SWITCH IN TIME, IT'S FALLEN OUT WITHIN THIS BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY, WE WERE RECOGNIZED REWORKS ESSAY, WHICH IS A DIVISION OF CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION CERTIFICATION IS A CITY PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES BUSINESSES THAT IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES AND SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING THAT SUPPORT CITIES, THE CITY'S KEY CLIMATE INITIATIVES VIA HAS ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST RECOGNITION FROM COSA IN WHICH VIA WILL BE RECOGNIZED FOR OUR COMMITMENT TO BEST PRACTICES AND SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING THAT ALIGNED WITH THE CITY'S CLIMATE CLIMATE INITIATIVES.

NOW TWO YEARS AGO VIA RECEIVED THE GOLD CERTIFICATION, WHICH RECOGNIZED ME AS RECYCLING INVESTMENTS.

BUT SINCE THEN, THE CITY CERTIFYING SCOPE HAS BROADENED TO INCORPORATE AND RECOGNIZE ME AS EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

AS A RESULT OF THOSE CERTIFIED SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS, WE HAVE, WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE NEXT LEVEL OF RECOGNITION ABOVE THE GOLD LEVEL, WHICH IS THE PINNACLE LEVEL CERTIFICATION.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE, WHO ARE WORKING IN SUSTAINABILITY AND, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY.

AND OF COURSE ALL THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT CAN IMPACT THAT.

THEN FINALLY, I JUST HAVE TWO QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ONE IS, UH, TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED A SURVEY FROM JENNIFER MOYER.

RIGHTY.

I WILL LEARN TO SAY HER NAME, I PROMISE.

OKAY.

GOT IT.

AND, UH, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMPLETE THAT TODAY.

AND THEN FINALLY TO JUST BRIEFLY MENTIONED, BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT SADC OCCURRED AND, UH, THE, WE WERE, UH, BLESSED TO HAVE OUR CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR WITH US.

UH, WE WERE THE FIRST GROUP THAT THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE ADMINISTRATOR MET WITH, UH, SINCE COVID BEGAN, THEY HAD ONLY HAD INTERNAL MEETINGS IN THEIR BUILDING.

SO, UH, AND OF COURSE IT HAPPENED THE DAY AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET HAD BEEN PUBLISHED, WHICH HAD THE $158 MILLION, UH, FUNDING FOR THE NORTH SOUTH ART LINE.

SO IT WAS A, THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT MEETING.

UH, WE HAD A SERIES, YEAH, THAT'S WORTH AN APPLY 158 MILLION.

UM, SO THAT, THAT, THAT WAS GREAT.

THE, THE ESSAY TO DC WAS QUITE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE LIMITS ON THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ON THE SECURITY ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH STILL WITH COVID,

[00:35:01]

WE WERE IN THE BACK DOOR, I'LL ADMIT, BUT IT WAS THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.

BUT, BUT, UH, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, OF ALL THE GROUPS THAT WON ON ESSAY TO DC, THEY ALL ENVIED US BECAUSE WE WERE THE ONES THAT CAME BACK WITH WITH THE MONEY.

SO, UH, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, JEFF.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR STAR BUS OPERATORS.

UH, MR. VASQUEZ SAID MR. SAN RAMON, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

YOU'RE THE FRONTLINE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE EVERYDAY MEETING THE PUBLIC AND WORKING WITH THEM.

AND SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE THE, YOU'RE WHAT OUR PATRONS SEE.

AND SO I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB FOR US.

AND SO THANK YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. MARTINEZ ON THE APPOINTMENT, UH, AND LATITIA VAN CHICK AND MR. ALEXANDER, WELCOME TO VIA, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH BOTH OF YOU.

UH, WE HAVE YOUR OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO MAKE VA EVEN BETTER.

SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

UM, AND, UH, MS. OLIVA, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND, UH, I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE THING THAT, THAT, THAT, UH, JEFF GOT INVOLVED IN BECAUSE I WAS ASKED TO DO THIS AND THAT WAS TO PROVIDE SOME TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEROES THAT MARKED IN THE PARADE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE ONE BUS, BUT I WOUND UP BEING EIGHT.

YOU SAID LEBRON, EIGHT BUSES TO TRANSPORT THESE PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH FROM THE PARADE.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY DAY AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO EVERY DAY, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY WERE AND WHAT THEY REPRESENTED, WE NEEDED TO BE A PART OF THAT.

SO THANK YOU, JEFF AND YOUR STAFF.

YEAH, I FORGOT.

SORRY.

YEAH.

AND CERTAINLY, UH, WE WERE PART OF IT BECAUSE A BIG PIECE OF THE PEOPLE WE CARRIED WERE OUR HEROES.

AND THEN AGAIN, I, I, I DON'T, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT 158 MILLION IS FOR OUR AREA, BUT ALSO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THAT IS GOING TO PROVIDE SOME FUNDS, UH, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE OUR SERVICE EVEN BETTER FOR OUR PATRONS.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR, AND FOR BEING HERE TODAY, TOO.

OKAY.

UH, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO, UH,

[3. Citizens to be Heard]

OKAY.

UM, BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M GOING TO READ THIS STATEMENT.

WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF THE PUBLIC MEETING.

THIS IS A CITIZENS ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY AGENDA ITEMS. AGAIN, THIS IS A CITIZENS ONLY OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ABOUT ANY AGENDA ITEM.

THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS AND FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEAR COUNTY, WHICH IS THE MAY ARISE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING REGARDING PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, OR SERVICES ISSUES, MAYBE ADDRESS AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT AND CEO AND ALL HIS STAFF.

THIS PROCESS WILL ENSURE THAT VA IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN SPEEDING ACT, WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE VIA BOARD TO A DELIBERATE MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING OR THIS AFTERNOON.

OH, NO, I'M SORRY.

THIS THIS MORNING, UH, ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

THANK YOU.

AND VIA, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS MORNING.

OUR FIRST CITIZEN IS MARIA CARDENAS.

GOOD MORNING.

AND AGAIN, I TELL YOU THIS AT EVERY MEETING, I APPRECIATE ALL THE SERVICES, BUT THERE'S BIG PROBLEMS. PRECIOUS CARGO.

ONE OF YOUR BUS DRIVERS SAID THAT TO ME, ONE TIME, I AM CARRYING PRECIOUS CARGO.

HOWEVER, ON THE 11TH OF APRIL, YOUR BUS DRIVER MADE VERY, VERY POOR DECISIONS.

UH, SHE PICKED ME UP.

WE'RE ROLLING.

OF COURSE, SHE'S LATE PAST THE 20 MINUTE WINDOW.

I ASKED HER, UH, ARE WE GOING DIRECTLY TO THE DENTAL SCHOOL? NO, I HAVE TO PICK UP THREE PEOPLE.

MY APPOINTMENT'S AT ONE 30 AND IT'S ALREADY A QUARTER TO ONE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE GOING TO GET

[00:40:01]

WELL, WE STOP AT A GOODWILL TO PICK UP A RIDER, THEN PROCEED TO TAKE HER HOME.

SHE LIVES AT THE BUDGET SUITES.

WELL, WHEN THE DRIVER GETS THERE, GUESS WHAT? THE POLICE ARE THERE.

A LOT OF THEM IN AND OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES.

SO SHE'S THERE BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK AND PART OF THE STREET.

AND THEN AS THE HOME RESIDENT, IF THERE'S ANOTHER ENTRANCE WE'LL USE, THERE IS SO BACKS UP PROCEEDS.

AND AS SOON AS SHE PASSES, THE FIRST BUILDING, WHICH I AM ASSUMING IS THE OFFICE FOR THE APARTMENTS.

GUESS WHAT? SHE DOESN'T GO STRAIGHT.

SHE GOES RIGHT INTO THE PROBLEM.

SHE TURNS RIGHT, AND GOES STRAIGHT INTO THE POLICE AND THE VEHICLES AND EVERYTHING.

WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT? SHE'S EXPOSING THREE PEOPLE TO DANGER.

AND SO PRECIOUS CARGO IS NOT WHAT SHE WAS THINKING.

I THINK YOUR PEOPLE NEED TO BE RETRAINED ON SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

UH, THE YOUNG MAN SAID ABOUT CANCELING THE MEETING.

IT AFFECT ME FINANCIALLY.

AND THEN I GET MISINFORMATION FROM MR. FROM GLORIA, HAD A DISPATCHER.

TAYLOR TEXTED ME THAT IT WOULD BE TODAY, BUT AT 5:00 PM, WHAT IS IT? WHY CAN'T WE GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION? YOU TOLD ME THAT THE FILM ON THE BUSES ERASED IN 10 DAYS.

THE, I THINK HER NAME IS OFELIA.

WELL, WHATEVER HER NAME IS, TOMMY IT'S 30 DAYS.

OUR NEXT CITIZEN HAS TIME YIELDED TO HIM FROM ANDREW VINCENSIO AND DONNA GUERRERO FOR A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES.

WE'LL MCLEOD.

I'M STILL GOING TO SIT HERE.

OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

UM, WELL, NOT AFTERNOON YET BOARD OR CHAIR.

AND THIS WILL MCCLOUD LOOKS LIKE I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT AFFILIA.

UH, IT'S SUCH A SHAME AND NOT THE ONLY PERSON, MORE IMPORTANTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT CONSISTENCY, THE LACK THEREOF.

UM, LET ME START BY, UH, PLAYING IN THIS.

YEAH.

YOU NEED THEIR IT DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT WAS ME.

YEAH.

ON THE SCREEN.

YEAH, BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS NOT GOING TO TAKE CARE OF.

IT'S NOT LIKE ONE OF THOSE PLACARDS THAT, UH, CAUSE I'M GOING TO BRING THAT UP AT YOUR, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMEBODY WE MIGHT AS WELL, I WOULD SAY THE SAME DAY IF YOU ADVERTISE ANDERSON COOPER, BUT THEN IT'S THE COOPER.

HE'S A RABBIT CONDUIT AND A COMPANY LIKE DIA, A POLITICAL COMPANY.

I SHOULDN'T BE, UM, POST, UH, THESE, UH, ANY REFERENCES.

I MEAN, I'M PRETTY SURE IF THE LEFT WAS SLIPPED, CALL HE, HIS FACE, UH, WOULD GET UPSET ABOUT SEAN ANIMAL OR A TUCKER CALL THEM.

Y'ALL WOULD TAKE IT DOWN IN MY HEART.

I KNOW Y'ALL WOULD TAKE DOWN YOUR HEARTBEAT WITH POSTIER.

I'M NOT DONE YET.

I'M NOT GOOD.

YEAH, MAN, MAN, I'M RECORDING THIS CALL.

THAT'S GOING ON WEEKDAY, BUT I DON'T APPRECIATE THE OPPOSITION.

YOU SEEM TO BE UPSET.

CAUSE WHEN I STARTED MIXING DONALD TRUMP, UH, ALTHOUGH, WELL THE BOARD IS GOING TO HEAR YOUR REPORT.

SEE WHAT IT WOULD BE ALL FINE.

WELL, I MENTIONED TRUMP, YOU GOT ALL, YOU GOT ALL THAT OUT AND UH, THIS OFFICE, THE RIGHT BAM.

MA'AM VICKY.

I'M NOT TALKING, PLEASE.

DON'T TALK OVER ME.

SO WHO DO YOU WORK FOR? WHO DO YOU WORK FOR? WHO PAYS YOUR SALARY? YOU TELL ME HE PAYS YOUR SALARY.

WE PAID, YOU GET PAID BY VEHICLE.

WHO PAYS THE,

[00:45:06]

I'M STILL HERE.

WHO PAID VIA? HELLO? I GET PAID BY IDEAS AROUND EMPLOYEES, ID AND THAT'S OKAY, BUT WHO PAID? IF IT'S JUST A PACK PIER ONE DEAL.

LET ME HELP YOU OUT.

THAT'D BE YES OR NO.

YES I AM HIT.

COULD YOU BELIEVE, ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS A SIMPLE YES OR NO QUESTION.

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE.

I GOT MA'AM MA'AM NOW, NOW YOU'RE ALREADY GOING TO BE ON.

OKAY.

FIRST OF ALL, SECONDLY IS YOU DO NOT INTERRUPT SOMEBODY.

FIRST OF ALL, I ASKED YOU A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.

DO THE TAXPAYER FUNDED BY THE TAXES? YES, SIR.

I'M ASKING HIM, WHY CAN'T YOU, WHY CAN'T YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO? I WANT, WHO IS YOUR BOSS? WHO IS YOUR SUPERVISOR? THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

UM, WHAT'S WRONG AND DIFFICULT WITH HER ANSWERING THE QUESTION I GET PAID BY THE TAXPAYERS, THE TAXPAYERS FUND ME THE TAXPAYERS FUND VIA, UM, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

AND YOU KNOW, I TAKE THESE THINGS CONCERNS VERY SERIOUSLY CAUSE UM, AND I TAKE THE FIRST AMENDMENT VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE WE WERE ALL AWARE THAT ELON MUSK IS ACQUIRING TWITTER AND THE PRESIDENT BIDEN AS TRYING TO, UM, HAVE A DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN ARE, ARE TO, UH, SQUELCH OR FIND WAYS TO SQUELCH, UH, CITIZENS RIGHTS TO A POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

UM, FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS UNDER ATTACK IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO DEFEND IT.

AND IF WE DON'T DEFEND IT, IT, UH, IT, IT LEAVES, UM, IT'S GONE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A, WE'RE A REPUBLIC UNLESS YOU CAN KEEP IT.

UH, OKAY, LET ME GO OVER AGAIN.

UM, HOUSE BILL 28 40.

UM, LET ME SEE HERE, ACCORDING TO THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, AND THIS IS WHERE I GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM AND I CAN GET ALSO GET IT TO, UH, THE LEGISLATOR ITSELF.

TIME LIMITS ALLOWED A COUPLE OF POINTS OF IF A NON-ENGLISH SPEAKER APPEARS TO 'EM BEFORE A BOARD WITH A TRANSLATOR TO SPEAKER IS GIVEN TWICE AS MUCH TIME TO SPEAK.

HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD THE CITIZENS BE ALLOWED TO SPEEDS.

BOARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO SET TIME LIMITS.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, YOUR BOARD IS ABOUT TO VOTE ON.

YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT IN ONE OR TWO, THREE MINUTES.

BONDS BOARDS ARE ALSO SET UP THE RULES ON, UM, HOW ONE SPEAKS A SIGN OF SPEAK FOR EACH IN YOUR HAND, ET CETERA, ASIDES FROM THE GOVERNMENT BODIES.

I'VE LISTED TWO MUST FOLLOW THIS RULES.

A FEW OTHERS ARE INCLUDED, WHICH INCLUDES A SCHOOL BOARDS.

UM, SEE HERE, LET ME GO OVER HERE AND UH, LET'S GET ALL SCRAMBLED.

UH, LET'S SEE HERE.

AND THEN IT FURTHER SAYS CAN'T STOP CRITICS.

WE WENT OVER THAT, UM, DOUBLE.

WOW, AMAZING.

THIS MUST BE PLACED IN THE STATE LAW, BUT HERE IT IS A HOSPITAL 2040 HAS A LICENSE TO SPEAK UP.

TALK MORE, GET INVOLVED.

UM, LET ME SEE YOUR, UH, DANG IT.

IT WAS HERE.

OH, HERE WE GO.

UH, GREATER PARTICIPATION.

GREATER DEMOCRACY.

NO, IT SAYS RIGHT HERE.

UM, SOME GOVERNMENTS ACROSS THE STATE DON'T ALLOW MEMBERS OF PUBLIC SPEAK AT ALL.

AND UNTIL NOW, ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK IS NOT MENTORED IN LAW.

NOW IT IS UNDER THE NEW LAW.

A PERSON CAN SPEAK TO A GOVERNMENT BODY AT THE START OF THE MEETING AND MOST IMPORTANT BEFORE A VOTE ON EVERY LISTED AGENDA ITEM.

THIS IS UNHEARD OF PREVIOUSLY.

MOST GOVERNMENTS ALLOWED COMMENTS AT SOME POINT, BUT ONLY RARELY DID LEADERS LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK ON INDIVIDUAL AGENDA ITEMS DURING THEIR DELIBERATIONS.

USUALLY THEY ONLY ALLOWED SUCH COMMENTS WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE REQUIRED BY LAW.

THIS IS HUGE.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ON ITEMS 1, 4, 6, AND NINE ON THE AGENDA, JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS.

GOVERNMENTS CAN'T STOP YOU WELL, IF THEY DO, THEY'RE A VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAW, EVEN BETTER.

THE LAW MAKES IT CLEAR THAT GOVERNMENTS CANNOT

[00:50:01]

AND THIS IS COMING FROM THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, A COOL NEW TEXAS LAW.

YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF MEANS THEY CAN'T SHUT YOU UP A GOVERNMENT MEETINGS ANYMORE.

UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE ON THIS END.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THIS BECAUSE THERE'S A LACK OF CONSISTENCY.

I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, UM, WE CAN ONLY DURING CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION AND DESPITE THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, OR MAYBE WE CAN SPEAK ON THE AGENDA ITEMS AND CITIZENS TO BE HEARD SECTION.

SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A FURTHER ANSWER IF WHAT, UM, THE STATE LAW ALLOWS VIA TO DO, UM, AS FAR AS, UH, IF THEIR EXTENT OR IS THERE EXCLUSIONS, ET CETERA, I'D LIKE SOMEONE TO GET BACK TO ME.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALSO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE BUS STOPS THAT WERE DISAPPEARED BACK.

I GOT ONE MORE THING BEFORE I SIGN OFF.

UM, PETRENKO 1 51, YOUR BUS BENCH, IT'S ATROCIOUS.

IT IS UNEVEN AND WOBBLY.

AND EVERY TIME WE PUT OUR STUFF DOWN, IT FALLS DOWN AND THIS IS HEADING TOWARDS INGRAM TRANS CENTER.

IT'S RIGHT BY THE YMCAS PETRENKO BRANCH.

Y'ALL NEED TO FIX THAT BENCH, PLEASE.

I WOULD APPRECIATE, AND TRASH CANS PLEASE.

TRASH MEALS AND PORTRAY INCO.

THANK YOU.

AND I YIELD BACK.

THERE ARE NO MORE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

NOPE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. MCLEOD.

UH, NEXT IS ITEM FOUR CONSENT

[4. Consent Agenda]

TRUSTEES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

FIRST, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY MOTION CARRIES OR THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.

UH, THIS TAKES

[5. RAISE Grant Briefing – For information and discussion of VIA’s participation in the Brooks City Base RAISE Grant application]

UH, MRS. KENNISON.

I READ IT WRONG.

SORRY.

HI.

GOOD MORNING.

UM, THIS ITEM IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE AS WELL AS REQUESTING ACTION TO RATIFY VIAS PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE RES GRANT SUBMISSION.

THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH BROOKS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND RAISED STANDS FOR REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY.

AND THE RAISE GRANT IS A DISCRETIONARY GRANT DESIGNED TO FUND CAPITAL AND PLANNING PROJECTS WITH SIGNIFICANT REGIONAL AND LOCAL IMPACT.

ITS PREVIOUS NAME WAS TIGER.

AND THIS ROUND THERE'S OVER $2 BILLION AVAILABLE.

THE AWARDS ARE COMPETITIVE AND CRI CRITERIA USED TO SCORE THE PROJECTS INCLUDE SAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS, AND OPPORTUNITY.

STATE OF GOOD REPAIR PARTNERSHIP AND INNOVATION.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT REQUESTS, A TOTAL OF $25 MILLION TO FUND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SYDNEY BROOKS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROOKS LIVING LAB AND A FIRST MILE LAST MILE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION.

THE LEAD ON THE GRANT AGAIN IS BROOKS WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ENVIA AS PARTNERS, IF AWARDED, UH, VIA WOULD RECEIVE $3 MILLION TO PURCHASE LOW OR NO EMISSION VEHICLES AND TO FUND THE RELATED CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS TO DEVELOP AND SET UP THE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE WAS APRIL 14TH AND BROOKS MET THAT DEADLINE.

THIS ITEM SIX YEAR APPROVAL TO RATIFY THE AS PARTICIPATION AND ACTION IS REQUESTED.

AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE TRUSTEES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE.

OKAY.

TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM.

FIRST, A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? SAY NAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MS. MALONE, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? OKAY.

I THOUGHT I READ LIGHTER.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM.

UM,

[Items 6 & 7]

[00:55:01]

AND THE TIME IS NOW 10 0 8.

UH, AND THE VIA METROPOLITAN TREASURY BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

THIS ITEM WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS ITEM NUMBER SIX, ENTITLED SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATE REGARDING VIA SAFETY AND SECURITY PRACTICES AND TRANS TRANSIT OFFICER'S ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

I HAD A PERSON WENT TO TEXAS CODE SECTION 5 5, 1 0.076 AND ENTITLED SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING VIA SAFETY AND SECURITY PRACTICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT JURISDICTION OF TRANSIT OFFICERS, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, PERSONAL DETECTING GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 5, 5, 1 0.07, ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE REMAIN SEATED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ON THOSE WHICH ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVES OR PLEASE EXIT THE COMMERCE ROOM.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THE VEO BOARD MEETING LAST A QUORUM AND THEREFORE THE OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING HAS ADJOURNED WHILE WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE AN OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING VIA WE'LL CONTINUE ITS PUBLIC BRIEFING, UH, VIA SAFETY AND SECURITY UPDATE.

THANK YOU.

YOU MAY CONTINUE.

GOOD MORNING.

WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE A BOARD INFORMATIONAL UPDATE, UH, REFLECTIVE IN RESPONSE TO, UH, AN ARTICLE IN PUBLICATION THAT WAS WRITTEN, UH, THAT HAD SOME ASSERTIONS ABOUT A SITUATION IN THE ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN AT BACK IN DECEMBER.

SOME BACKGROUND ON WHAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING TODAY IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE ARTICLE.

UH, THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST AND HOW THAT WAS A PORTION OR IMPETUS OF, OF THE ARTICLE ITSELF, THE PRINT MEDIA INVOLVEMENT, AS WELL AS THE ASSERTIONS THAT WERE ACTUALLY MADE IN VIERA SPONSORS AS WELL.

THE ARTICLE BEGAN FROM A COLLEGE JOURNALISM STUDENT WHO BEGAN TO SUBMIT A NUMBER OF OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS THAT A MASS TO A LEVEL OF OVER 400 OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS.

UH, THESE REQUESTS WERE RELATED TO TRANSIT POLICING, UM, AND THE WAY THAT WE DO WHAT WE DO AND WHETHER WE HAD JURISDICTION, WHAT HAPPENED TO CERTAIN FUNDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO TODAY IS GO THROUGH THOSE DETAILS IN EACH OF THOSE THINGS STATED BY THE ARTICLE AND PROVIDE A CLEAR RESPONSE FOR YOU.

SO THE STUDENTS SUBMIT THE ARTICLE TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THE ARTICLE IS ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY RUN ONLINE, UH, IN DECEMBER.

BUT THEN AGAIN, IN DAYS LATER IN PRINT, AND THIS IS JUST DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

SO THERE WERE FOUR KEY ASSERTIONS THAT WERE MADE BY THE ARTICLE AND I'LL GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE.

AND WHAT WE'LL DO SUBSEQUENT TO THIS IS TAKE EACH ONE, ONE AT A TIME AND GIVE A DETAILED RESPONSE AND SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT FOR YOU.

THE FIRST WAS THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR THAT MADE UP AN EVEN LARGER PERCENTAGE, 91% OF ALL THE VIA CITATIONS WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THE SECOND WAS HOW MUCH REVENUE IS MADE FROM TRAFFIC CITATIONS ALSO WAS UNCLEAR.

AND THIS WAS IN REFERENCE TO VIA TRANSIT POLICE.

THE TRANSIT AGENCY SAID ITS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A LINE ITEM FOR THE REVENUE.

THE THIRD THOUSANDS OF TICKETS ARE BEING GIVEN OUT FOR NON BUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHY VIA POLICE ARE MAKING MOSTLY NON TRANSIT TRAFFIC STOPS.

AND LASTLY, DEESCALATION TRAINING IS ABSENT FROM THE VIA POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL START TO GO THROUGH EACH OF THESE ONE BY ONE FOR THE FIRST RELATE TO PEOPLE OF COLOR MADE UP AN EVEN LARGER PERCENTAGE, 91% OF ALL VIA CITATION.

THE LAST FIVE YEARS, NONE OF THE DATA THAT WE KEEP OR PROVIDED TO THE STUDENT CONFIRMS THIS CLAIM.

WHEN I ASKED THE CHIEF TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ON WITH SOME FURTHER DETAILS.

SO BY LAW, WE SUBMIT OUR RACIAL PROFILING STATS TO THE STATE EVERY YEAR.

AND WE REPORT ANYWHERE FROM 75 TO 8% NONWHITE RACIAL PROFILING STATS FORCE, TRAFFIC STOPS OVER THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.

UH, THE DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS YOU SEE, THERE ARE FOUR CITATIONS THAT WAS AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

NOW THE CITATIONS LISTED ON THAT, UH, ARE BY TOTAL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THE CITATIONS INCLUDE ALL MISDEMEANOR CITATIONS, TRAFFIC CITATIONS, AND PARKING CITATIONS, THE OH, ON THE FAR RIGHT FOR 590 IS FOR OTHER, UH, THERE'S NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE RACIAL, UH,

[01:00:01]

SO THE PARKING CITATIONS ARE USUALLY LISTED AS OWES FOR OTHER.

IT APPEARS THAT THE STUDENT TOOK THAT FIVE 90 NUMBER AND ADDED IT TO THE, UH, THE TOTAL.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GOT THE 91%.

BUT AGAIN, WE, WE REPORT OUR, UH, RACIAL PROFILING STATS TO THE STATE EVERY YEAR.

AND ARE WE THEN BRIEF THE BOARD ON THE RACIAL PROFILING STATS THAT WE SUBMITTED.

AND, UH, THE LAST SIX YEARS WE'VE SUBMITTED THEM.

WE'VE BEEN WITHIN PARAMETERS.

UH, WE, UH, SOMEWHAT MATCH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, PERCENTAGES AS WELL AS BEAR COUNTY PERCENTAGES.

AND, UH, IT ALSO MATCHES, UH, OUR IN-HOUSE SURVEY ON OUR PATRON DEMOGRAPHIC.

THE QUOTE AT THE TOP OF THIS SLIDE IS WHAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO.

IT IS NOT OUR ASSERTION AND IT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE SAYING.

IT IS WHAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR TO OUR GENERAL PUBLIC.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT BY SHEER.

IT'S A QUESTION.

ARE THE CATEGORIES UP THERE PRESCRIBED, IN OTHER WORDS, THE O OTHER IS MISLEADING BECAUSE IF I WERE LOOKING AT THAT, I WOULD THINK IT SAYS WHAT RACE, OH, OTHER WOULD BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN ANY OF THOSE.

AND SO I COULD SEE HOW SOMEONE COULD INTERPRET THAT, THAT OTHER WOULD BE NONWHITE, RIGHT? I COULD SEE WHERE THAT IS, BUT THOSE, THOSE CATEGORIES ARE LOCKED IN BY OUR CAD SYSTEM.

UH, WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT TO REFLECT SOMETHING ELSE.

WE HAVE TO, EVERY CITATION WE USE HAS TO BE, UH, ENTERED AS SOMETHING, BUT AGAIN, THE PARKING CITATIONS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PERSON INVOLVED THERE, WE'RE LISTING THEM AS OTHER, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE IDEA THAT THEY FIT IN ANY THE, BUT AT SOME POINT YOU CAN CHANGE THE NAME OF THAT CATEGORY.

SO IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT REALLY OTHER RACE, IT'S UNKNOWN RACE.

THAT'S A DIFFERENCE.

YES, YES.

WE, WE FEEL THAT, UH, AT SOME POINT THE, THE CAD PROGRAM CAN BE, UH, ADJUSTED AND WE DO HAVE A NEW ONE OUT FOR BID RIGHT NOW.

NEXT.

UH, THE ASSERTION MADE BY THE ARTICLE IS HOW MUCH REVENUE IS MADE FROM TRAFFIC.

CITATIONS IS ALSO UNCLEAR.

THE TRANS AGENCY SAID ITS BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE A LINE ITEM FOR THE REVENUE.

AND WHAT WE HAVE HERE FOR YOU IS THAT VIA, DOES NOT COLLECT REVENUE FROM THESE CITATIONS.

AND SINCE THIS FIRST RAN, UH, THERE HAS BEEN A MODIFICATION TO THE STATEMENT BY THE PUBLICATION.

UH, THIS WAS MADE CLEAR IN WRITING TO THEM ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND THE CITATION REVENUES GO TO THE ADJUDICATING PRECINCT IN COURT CHIEF.

SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MOU WITH ANY COURT OR WITH ANY, UH, AGENCY TO INCLUDE BEAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT WILL GIVE US ANY MONIES BACK.

WE POLICE FOR SAFETY.

WE DON'T POLICE FOR PROFIT.

SO THE IDEA IS ANY MONEY THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE HAVE LESS RIGHT AT ONE TRAFFIC STOP PER DAY.

WE WRITE ROUGHLY HALF OF THOSE WARNING TICKETS.

SO CITATIONS ARE 0.4 CITATIONS PER DAY THAT GO THERE.

SO HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY, UH, ADJUDICATED TO THE POINT TO WHERE THE PERSON PAYS THE FINE? WE DON'T KNOW.

IT GOES TO MUNICIPAL COURT.

WE KNOW WE DON'T SEE THEM AGAIN.

THE OFFICER MAY GO AND TESTIFY, BUT NONE OF THAT, ANYTHING BROUGHT BACK IN THE WAY OF FEES.

IT COMES BACK TO VIET IN ANY WAY.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

THE NEXT IS THOUSANDS OF TICKETS ARE BEING GIVEN OUT FOR NON BUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHY VIA POLICE ARE MAKING MOSTLY NON TRANSIT TRAFFIC STOPS.

THE STUDENT REVIEWED FIVE YEARS OF INFORMATION.

AND AS WE START TO GO THROUGH THIS, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND, UH, WHERE THE TERM THOUSANDS CAME FROM AND WHAT IT REFERS TO GO AHEAD, CHIEF.

SO WE GAVE THE STUDENT FIVE YEARS WORTH OF INFORMATION FROM OUR COMPUTERATED DISPATCHING SYSTEM, WHICH TRACKS OUR CITATIONS AND TRAFFIC STOPS.

AGAIN, WE, FOR THE SAME PERIOD, WE HAD 1.09 TRAFFIC STOPS PER DAY IN COMPARISON TO OUR 78 CALLS FOR SERVICE.

SO IT'S A VERY SMALL PORTION OF OUR ENTIRE, UH, JOB DESCRIPTION, 398 TOTAL FOR 2020 ALONE, 190 WARNINGS, 149 CITATIONS.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS, UH, CITATIONS THAT HAVE TO HAVE ALL CITATIONS.

ALL TRAFFIC STOPS BY TRANSIT POLICE HAVE TO HAVE

[01:05:01]

IT HAS TO BE ON A ROUTE.

IT HAS TO BE NEAR A BUS NEAR A BUS STOP NEAR A PATRON FOR US TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY BY LAW TO MAKE THAT STOP AND NEXT WE HAVE DEESCALATION TRAINING IS ABSENT FROM THE VIA POLICE DEPARTMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

AND WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS DEESCALATION TRAINING IS NOT REFERENCED IN THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES DOCUMENT, BUT IT IS REFERENCED IN SEVERAL OF THE TRAINING DOCUMENTS FOR VIAS OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AND CHIEF, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND ON THESE PILOTS? SO THE STUDENT MADE THE ASSERTION THAT THERE IS NO SECTION THAT SAYS DEESCALATION TRAINING.

HOWEVER, DEESCALATION TRAINING HAS MENTIONED IN OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE POLICY 2 0 4, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT ONBOARDING AND ORIENTATION, THAT'S OUR MINIMUM STANDARD, AS WELL AS VIA TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY 4 0 4 AND OUR SELECTION AND HIRING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT DEESCALATION TRAINING CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING AS THE, UH, UH, T COLE MANDATES THROUGH THEIR ORIGINAL ACADEMY TRAINING.

AND ALSO WE HAVE A POLICY INTERNAL 9 0 1 TRAINING AND TRAVEL WHERE WE REFERENCE THE ESCALATION TRAINING.

THE ISSUE IS DEESCALATION TRAINING IS KIND OF A UMBRELLA TERM THAT WE USE A SPECIFIC TRAINING, UH, CATEGORY SUCH AS CRISIS INTERVENTION, MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER TRAINING, UH, UH, DEESCALATION, VERBAL JUDO, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE STILL UNDER THAT SAME CATEGORY.

SO WE TRAIN BEYOND THE STANDARD OF JUST A MERE DEESCALATION TRAINING, UH, CURRICULUM.

AND SO AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, OPEN UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THANK YOU.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, WELL, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS, NOT QUESTIONS.

UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THE OTHER DAY TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH 11 COMMUNITY PEOPLE.

AND I WAS A LITTLE BIT APPREHENSIVE WHEN I WAS INVITED TO THE MEETING BECAUSE, UH, LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE PROPOSITION B, I WAS IN SUPPORT OF COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED THE MEETING WAS THE, AN OPPOSITION.

SHE WAS LEADING THE OPPOSITION IN TO TAKE AWAY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND UNDERSTAND POLICING PROBLEMS THAT COME UP.

AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE RELATIVELY RARE, BUT THEY, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US LIKE IT WHEN, WHEN THEY, UH, ABUSES OCCUR.

UM, BUT WE GO INTO THIS MEETING AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE STATED OFTEN HOW PROUD I AM OF THE STAFF OF VIA, UH, YOUR PROFESSIONALISM IS ON DISPLAY EVERY SINGLE DAY, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE WAS EVER A DAY THAT I WAS MORE PROUD OF THE WAY THAT THE CHIEF AND MEL AND RACHEL AND DEMANTE WAS THERE.

BONNIE WAS THERE, JEFF WAS THERE OF HOW THEY CONDUCTED THEMSELVES.

JOHN GARY WAS THERE.

UM, I MEAN, I, I, COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE WAY.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, YOU RESPONDED VERY, VERY DIRECTLY TO THE QUESTIONS YOU KNEW, WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU WON THEIR RESPECT, THEY EVEN PUT ON FACEBOOK, WHAT A GREAT MEETING IT WAS.

UH, AND THAT WAS 11 PEOPLE WHO HAD INDIVIDUAL CONCERNS.

AND THOSE CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED IN THAT MEETING, UH, FORTHRIGHTLY, NOBODY EQUIVOCATED.

UH, THERE WAS GREAT DIALOGUE.

IT WASN'T A ONE-WAY STREET, AND I THINK THEY GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES AND THE, AND THE, AND THE, UH, THE DIFFICULTIES THAT YOU ALL FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I KNOW MY JAW DROPPED WHEN THE, FOR THE FIRST TIME I HEARD THAT WHILE WE HAVE A LIMITED POLICE FORCE OR THE A HUNDRED FAIR OPERATORS, FAIR POLICE IN DALLAS, THEY HAVE SO MANY MORE RESOURCES, BUT, UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, UH, UH, YOU WERE TRANSPARENT, YOU WERE RESPONSIVE.