[00:00:01]
I AM BOARD CHAIR FERNANDO REYES, AND I'D LIKE[ATD 1. Call to Order]
TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS MEETING.LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL VICE CHAIR CABAN.
PRESENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER.
UH, TRUSTEE BROWN WILL BE ABSENT.
I THINK YOU MAY JOIN US A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
UH, TRUSTEE? UH,
I'LL CATCH HIM TOO WHEN HE COMES IN.
UH, NEXT THING WE'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE A MOMENT OF REFLECTION WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEG AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, THE FLAG PLEDGE AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR HONORED BY TEXAS FLAG PLEDGE TO BE ONE STATE UNDER GOD.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, SIR.
[ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard]
ADDRESS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.HAVE WE HAD ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK? UH, YES.
WE HAVE, UH, ONE CITIZEN IN PERSON AND ONE CITIZEN, UH, BY UH, MAIL.
UH, BASED ON THAT I HAVE TO READ THIS NEXT STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN THE SAN ANTONIO BURKE COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING ITEMS THAT MAY APPEAR ON THE AGENDA, WHICH MAY ARISE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT SLASH CEO AND OR HIS STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS ARE CONCERNED.
AND THE A T D APPRECIATES YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
OUR FIRST CITIZEN, UH, IS MR. CHRIS CHRISTOPHER FARLEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON TO THIS MAY CONCERN.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW THANKFUL AND WE ARE HAVING THIS MEETING IN PERSON ONCE AGAIN JUST AFTER THREE YEARS BEFORE COVID.
SECOND OF ALL, I RECENTLY WENT TO MY FORMER EMPLOYER, EXCEPT I'M AT SAM PEDRO HILDEBRAND.
SAME AS, UH, BUT I'M NOT THE, THAT'S NOT THE REASON WHY I'M HERE.
THE REASON WHY I CAME TO THIS MEETING IS BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER CITIZENS BUT MYSELF.
AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE BUSES LIKE THE 5 52, THE 6 0 2, 3 AND FOUR ARE RUNNING LATE AT A MORE FREQUENT BASIS.
AND AS A RESULT, I'VE HAD TO MISS MY CONNECTING BUS.
AND IF THAT ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, I'VE HAD TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO 40 MINUTES BECAUSE BEFORE THE 6 0 2 ARRIVED AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, I, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PASTORS, WERE ON A NUMBER THREE.
AND THE DRIVER WHOSE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS 2 1 0 88, TOLD US ON TWO SEPARATE CASES TO PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
AND IT WASN'T IN THE NICEST OF TONES EITHER.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S TRAINED THE DRIVERS, BUT THEY SHOULD DO A NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF, OF TRAIN TEACHING HIM HOW TO TREAT HIS OR HER PASSENGERS.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN CERTAIN BUSES LIKE THE 6 0 2 RUN LAYER THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING TIME, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENT DRIVER.
AND WHENEVER WE ARRIVE AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER, THE BUS NUMBER FOUR DEPARTS FROM THERE.
AND I HAVE TO GET ON THE THREE INSTEAD.
THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THIS MONTH, 2 6 23 AND
[00:05:01]
AGAIN ON 2 14 23.UH, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MONITOR THE BUSES THAT I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY? IF SOMEONE CAN GET BACK TO ME AND RESPOND ASAP, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
MR. CHAIR, THE, THE LETTERS ACTUALLY ADDRESSED FOR THE VIA BOARD MEETING AND I INCORRECTLY CALLED MR. FARLEY UP FOR THE, DURING THE A T D MR. FARLEY, BUT, UM, THE VIA BOARD MEETING IS NEXT.
SO WOULD YOU JUST WANNA STAND WITH YOUR, UH, COMMENTS NOW? WE'RE STILL GONNA GET BACK TO YOU ON YOUR COMMENTS OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AGAIN ON THE VIA BOARD MEETING? UM, HOW YOU LET US STAND? OKAY.
HE ASKED HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET TO THE NEXT, IT'S GONNA BE NEXT ON THE AGENDA.
I'LL APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION THERE.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
AYE TRUSTEE, THIS IS NOT A MOTION.MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[ATD 5. *Legal Briefing]
NEXT IS, UH, MS. ERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.THE END OF THE MEETING MAY HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE AT T D MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, TRUSTEE BUS ADU IS HERE.
NOW, UH, WE'RE MOVING TO, LET'S SEE, IT'S ABOUT 5:12 PM
[1. Call to Order]
AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE FEBRUARY 28TH MEETING OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.MR. ARN, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, YES SIR.
[3. President/CEO Report]
DO.AND SO WE'LL START WITH OUR STAR MAINTAINER OF THE QUARTER.
A NICE NARRATIVE THAT GOES WITH THIS ONE.
UH, IN A TI IN A GALAXY NOT SO FAR AWAY, OR TOO LONG AGO, NOT SO LONG AGO, OUR BODY SHOP WAS FACING A CRITICAL PROBLEM.
WE COULDN'T PROCURE REAR DOOR, REAR CORNER PANELS FOR OUR NOVA BUSES FROM OUR VENDOR.
AND NOVA IS THE PREDOMINANT BUS IN OUR FLEET.
UH, CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE STILL PROBLEMATIC AND, BUT WITHOUT THOSE PANELS, WE COULDN'T PULL THE BUSES OUT INTO SERVICE BODY REPAIRMAN.
RANDY WHITE WASN'T GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN.
SO HE DESIGNED A METHOD OF FABRICATING, FABRICATING THE PANELS IN-HOUSE.
NOT ONLY DID HIS EFFORTS RESULT IN PREVENTING OUR BUSES FROM STAYING OUTTA SERVICE WHILE WE WAITED FOR PARTS, BUT WE'RE SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN THE PROCESS.
RANDY'S ABLE TO FABRICATE THE PANELS FOR $97 PER UNIT WHILE THE SAME PARTS COST $283 PER UNIT FROM THE VENDOR.
SO THAT'S A 66% COST REDUCTION AND A SAVINGS OF $6,510 OVER THE 35 PANELS THAT HE'S FABRICATED JUST SO FAR, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE PURCHASES FROM THE VENDORS.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE RECOGNIZING TONIGHT, RANDY WHITE AS OUR STAR MAINTAINER OF THE QUARTER.
RANDY, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND? THERE YOU ARE.
I REALLY THANK YOU FOR BEING INNOVATIVE AND MAKING SURE THOSE BUSES GOT OUT AND DIDN'T HAVE TO AWAIT THE PARTS, AND THEN YOU SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS.
SO THAT'S A WIN-WIN FOR ALL OF US.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, TRUSTEES, IS WE'RE GONNA GO, WE'LL TAKE, GO FORWARD TO HAVE A PICTURE WITH MR. WHITE AND THEN STAY UP THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING.
[00:10:16]
WATCHING.FOR OUR SECOND ITEM, WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME BACK, UH, MRS. GINGER TRAINER, WHO BOARD MEMBERS RAY MAY REMEMBER, IS AN ADVOCATE FOR AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF OPIOIDS AND FENTANYL, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, BE AS HAPPY TO HELP SUPPORT HER PUBLIC SERVICE EFFORTS AND THE STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE TEXANS ABOUT THESE DRUGS.
SHE'S SHOWN GREAT BA BRAVERY AND GENEROSITY IN SHARING HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF GREAT LOSS DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS.
AND WE HONOR HER DAUGHTER'S MEMORY TODAY.
AND ALL THOSE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN FOREVER CHANGED BY THIS STEADILY EPIDEMIC.
SO GINGER, I'M PLEASED TO SHARE AND THE BOARD, WE ARE PLEASED TO SHARE THAT VIAS PLACE PLACARDS, JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED HERE INSIDE 250 BUSES TO FURTHER THE MESSAGE THAT ONE PILL KILLS AND WITH HOPE THAT THE RESOURCES THE STATE OFFERS REACH VIA RIDERS WHO MAY NEED INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE WITH ADDICTION STRUGGLES.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOU COME FORWARD AND ACCEPT THIS, UH, TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION.
WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, OH, I DID HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TOO, BUT I'LL SAVE IT FOR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, PICK THIS UP TODAY HERE.
AND VIA IS SETTING THE STANDARD FOR OTHER TRANSIT COMPANIES.
I'M HOPING THAT AUSTIN, HOUSTON, DALLAS AND OTHERS WILL SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND EVENTUALLY I'LL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT WRAP ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUSES.
AND YOU GO BY SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.
AND, UH, IT'S A TRAVELING BILLBOARD.
MANY OF OUR MOMS WHO HAVE LOST KIDS TO FENTANYL OVERDOSE HAVE BOUGHT BILLBOARDS, UH, BETWEEN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO.
SO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN 'EM AROUND TOWN AND THEY'RE LIKE THE PICTURE OVER THERE ON MY BOARD.
IT'S THE PICTURES OF ALL THE, THE PEOPLE LIKE MY DAUGHTER.
AND YOU CAN CLICK ON A QR CORE CODE AND LISTEN TO THE STORY.
WHAT THIS SAYS IS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VIA FOR THE GREATEST PSA TO SAN ANTONIO.
ONE PILL KILLS OPIOID, FENTANYL, CRISIS AWARENESS, AND SACRED.ORG, A LINK TO ALL CITY RESOURCES FOR THE HOMELESS.
YOU'RE PUTTING THE PLACARDS ON THE BUSES AND THIS IS GREAT.
YOU'RE GETTING THE WORD OUT AND YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS CRISIS.
AND I THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU.
[00:15:01]
SAY THANK YOU.YOU WANT TO SPEAK FROM THAT? SPEAK FROM HERE.
RUSTY COMO, I THINK YOU WANTED TO, TO SAY SOMETHING.
UH, AT THAT POINT I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, CHAPLAIN TRAINER, I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TENACITY FOR KEEP COMING HERE AND, AND MAKING US TOTALLY AWARE OF, OF HOW DIFFICULT THIS CHALLENGE WAS FOR YOU.
UM, BUT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING IS INCREDIBLE AND I WANT TO THANK OUR PRESIDENT, CEO AND JOHN GARY AND HIS DEPARTMENT FOR WORKING TO GET THIS THING DONE.
AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE THE FIRST ONES.
I HOPE YOU NEVER NEED THOSE BUS WRAPPINGS.
SO I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS EPIDEMIC BEHIND US, BUT WE GOTTA JUST KEEP WORKING UNTIL IT'S DONE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, SO NOW I'D LIKE, I'LL GO BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, UH, I'D LIKE TO, TO READ THE CARD IF I COULD.
I'M, I'M GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HARD TIME MEETING.
BOARD MY FRIENDS BOB AND LEWIS SUPPORTING MY SIGN 2018.
ARRIVING AT 25% OFF OUR NONPROFITS, UH, FOR OUR HOMELESS INHABITANTS WHILE ON A P D HOPE TEAM.
JEFF, FERNANDO, LAURA ATLEY, PAUL AKI, IDA, JAVIER, MELANIE, KEVIN, KEVIN EDWARD, AND ESPECIALLY JOHN GARRETT.
NEXT, LET'S WORK TO GET NOR CAM NOR CAM ON BUSES TO SAVE LIVES.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE A, A REAL STRONG EFFORT TO GET THE WORD OUT AND HOPE THAT WE CAN SAVE AS MANY LIVES AS POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR EFFORT AND, AND WE WILL COMMIT TO REACHING OUT TO THE OTHER MAJOR TRANSIT PROPERTIES IN TEXAS AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE'VE DONE AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO LIKEWISE.
NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO VILLA'S NEW CONTROLLER, BRIAN MAGNUS.
BRIAN WHO BEGAN WORKING AT VIA JUST LAST MONTH, MANAGES GENERAL ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT.
HE COMES TO US WITH EXTENSIVE ACCOUNTING EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS WITH ARMSTRONG VAUGHN AND ASSOCIATES, CPAS, WHERE HE WORKED WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF AUDIT CLIENTS AND HELD POSITIONS, INCLUDING PRINCIPAL AND AUDIT SENIOR.
HE ALSO WORKED FOR 21 YEARS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO, WHERE HE HELD A VARIETY OF POSITIONS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM VIA WELCOME TO MYRA SALINAS, OUR NEW MANAGER OF OPERATING BUDGET AND PERFORMANCE REPORTING.
MYRA HAS MORE THAN 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUDGET AND FINANCE MANAGEMENT AND HAS A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
SHE JOINS US FROM UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEMS AND PRIOR TO THAT SHE WORKED THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS OVERSEEING MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGETS AND PROJECTS.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CAMMY HORN, OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE CENTRO SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
CENTRO IS A PLACEMAKING ORGANIZATION WORKING TO CREATE A MORE BEAUTIFUL, PLAYFUL, WELCOMING AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN HIGHLIGHTING THE SAN ANTONIO SPIRIT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.
AND SHE'S A WELCOMED ADDITION TO THEIR BOARD.
I KNOW YOU'LL DO A GREAT JOB FOR US.
CAMIE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE JESSICA GONZALEZ,
[00:20:02]
WHO'S VIAS DIRECTOR OF MARKETING FOR BEING ACCEPTED IN THE ENO CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION'S 2023 TRANSPORTATION SENIOR EXECUTIVE PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS TSE.THE TSE PROGRAM IS A PART OF THE PULSE SERIES AND AN INTENSIVE ADVANCED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PATH DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TRANSPORTATION LEADERS.
THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR SEASONED TRANSPORTATION LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT MEETS THEM AT THEIR POINT OF NEED AND PREPARES THEM FOR THEIR NEXT BOLD STEP IN THEIR CAREER.
SO WE ARE SENDING OUR CONGRATULATIONS ALL TO WAY TO LAS VEGAS, WHERE JESSICA IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING THE APTA MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE.
THAT'S WHY SHE'S GOT THE BIG SMILE ON HER FACE THERE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE.
ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE VERONICA ESCARA IBA REAL ESTATE COORDINATOR, WHO WAS RECENTLY APPROVED FOR HER RIGHT OF WAY PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION.
SHE HAS SUCCESSFULLY SATISFIED THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND COURSEWORK IN REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CERTIFICATION.
AND HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION DIFFERENTIATES HER FROM HER PEERS.
SHE ALREADY DELIVERS THE BEST EVERY DAY.
WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE HER EFFORTS RECOGNIZED WITH THIS CERTIFICATIONS.
SO VERONICA, VERONICA HERE, SHE MUST BE OUT APPRAISING REAL ESTATE OR LET'S GIVE HER A HAND.
AND FINALLY, I, I HAVE A, A TEAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A NEW TEAM.
SO AS WE LOOK TOWARD, UH, THIS POST COVID PERIOD, IT'S CRITICAL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND AND MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS, BOTH THOSE WE CURRENTLY HAVE, AND THOSE THAT WE HOPE WE WILL WELCOME SOON.
UNDERSTANDING OUR CUSTOMERS BETTER NEEDS WITH CUS CUSTOMER RETENTION, EFFECTIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE, BETTER TARGETED OUTREACH, NEW SERVICES LAUNCHED AND ADOPTED.
AND OVERALL, THOSE INSIGHTS CAN HELP GUIDE OUR DECISIONS.
SO TO THIS END, WE FORMED A NEW CONSUMER ANALYTICS TEAM THAT WILL FOCUS ON THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING, GATHERING, AND ANALYZING CUSTOMER DATA TO PROVIDE IN IMPORTANT INSIGHT THAT WON FORM MANY OF OUR BUSINESS DECISIONS.
THIS TEAM, WHICH REPORTS TO MARKETING DIRECTOR JESSICA GONZALEZ, WHO IS STILL IN LAS VEGAS, INCLUDES CONSUMER ANALYTICS, UH, MANAGER JODY DEVAL, AND CONSUMER AND DATA INSIGHT ANALYST, OLA ANA.
WE ARE, ARE, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS.
SO I'M SORRY, OLA, I SAID YOUR LAST NAME WRONG.
UH, SO JODI OLA, ARE EITHER OF YOU HERE? YES, SIR.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY, MY REPORT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE RANDY WHITE AND VERONICA IVARA FOR YOUR GREAT EFFORTS IN, IN WORKING WITH VIA AND, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR THIS ORGANIZATION.
RECOGNITION TO CAMIE AND JESSICA CONSUMER ATHLETIC TEAM.
UH, WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN VIA AND, AND YOU GUYS ARE BRIGHT STARS, AND SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL DO EVERY DAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BRIAN MAGNUS AND MAYA SALINAS TO THE TEAM, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THIS TIME TO, UH, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE'S NOT HERE, UH, TO OUR TRUSTEE HAKEEM BROWN.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT A SCHOOL TODAY, SCHOOL OF ESSENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND AND BOARD MEMBERS THAT WHAT HE'S WORKING WITH AND TRYING TO DO IN THAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS, IS JUST ASTOUNDING.
UH, HE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND I MEAN, IT'S JUST A GREAT EFFORT.
AND WHAT I SAW TODAY, THE LOVE THAT HE'S PUTTING INTO THAT SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DOING, UH, I'M, I'M JUST GLAD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND SEE IT.
I WAS TRAVELING WITH THE RAFAEL TODAY, SO THAT'S WHY I GOT TO GO.
BUT IT WAS, UH, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE, THE SCHOOL IN ACTION AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THE CLASSROOMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO, UH, PLEASE, UH, IF YOU SEE HIM CONGRATULATING FOR HIS EFFORT.
UH, THE NEXT IS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD,
[4. Citizens to be Heard]
MR. CHAIR, FOR THE VIA PART OF THE, UH, AGENDA, WE DO HAVE TWO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.UM, BASED ON THAT, I GOTTA READ THIS STATEMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN THE SAN ANTONIO BURKE COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL THAT MAY ARISE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING? MAY IT BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND HIS, OUR STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURED YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN.
THANK YOU, AND VIA APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE
[00:25:01]
TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.GOOD AFTERNOON TO THIS MAY CONCERN.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA SAY THANKFUL.
I'M, WE ARE HAVING THIS MEETING IN PERSON ONCE AGAIN JUST AFTER THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID.
SECOND OF ALL, I RECENTLY WENT BACK TO MY FORMER EMPLOYER, EXCEPT I'M AT SAM PEDRO HILDEBRAND, SAME POSITION AS BEFORE, BUSTER DISHWASHER.
BUT THAT IS IN THREE, THOSE AREN'T THREE REASONS WHY I'M HERE STAYING BEFORE YOU TODAY.
THE REASON WHY I CAME TO THIS MEETING IS BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER CITIZENS BESIDES MYSELF, BUT I'M BEGINNING TO WONDER WHY THE BUS IS LIKE THE 5 52, THE 6 0 2 3 AND THE FOUR ARE RUNNING LATE AT A MORE FREQUENT BASIS.
AND AS A RESULT, N I'VE HAD TO MISS MY CONNECTING BUS.
AND IF THAT ISN'T BAD ENOUGH, I'VE HAD TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 30 TO 40 MINUTES BEFORE THE 6 0 2 ARRIVED AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER, WHICH ISN'T FAIR TO PASTORS LIKE MYSELF.
ON THE MORNING OF SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, I, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PASTORS WERE ON THE NUMBER THREE.
AND THE DRIVER WHO WAS IDENTIFICATION NUMBER IS 2 1 0 88, EXCUSE ME, TOLD US ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
AND IT WASN'T IN THE NICEST OF TONES EITHER.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S TRAINED THE DRIVERS, BUT THEY NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TEACHING THEM HOW TO TREAT HIS OR HER PASSENGERS.
I ALSO KNOW THAT WHEN CERTAIN BUSES LIKE THE 6 0 2 RUN LAYERED THAN USUAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING TIME, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A DIFFERENT DRIVER.
AND WHENEVER WE ARRIVE AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER, THE BUS NUMBER FOUR DEPARTS FROM THERE.
AND I, I HAVE TO GET ON THE THREE INSTEAD.
THIS HAPPENED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THIS MONTH, 2 6 23 AND AGAIN, 2 14 20 23.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MODERATE THESE BUSES? I HAVE MENTIONED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY, IF SOMEONE CAN GET BACK TO ME WITH RESPONSE ASAP, I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, MR. CHAIR.
OUR NEXT, UH, CITIZEN TO BE HEARD IS ACTUALLY THROUGH A LETTER THAT WE RECEIVED, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO DINA ESTRADA.
DINA ESTRADA LEADS OUR CUSTOMER RESOLUTION TEAM.
SO HER AND HER TEAM ARE THE ONES THAT TAKE IN THE, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICE, UH, FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND SHE RESPONDS TO EACH ONE OF THOSE IN PERSON AND HER TEAM DOES THAT.
SO I, UH, WANTED TO DEFINITELY POINT THAT OUT TO THE GROUP HERE.
THEY, UH, THEY HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY TAKING THE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OURSELVES, BUT WHEN THERE'S AN ACCOMMODATION AS WELL, WHEN THERE'S A SHOUT OUT OF, OF GREAT SERVICE FROM, UH, OUR CUSTOMERS OR FROM THE PUBLIC D'S TEAM, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT, UH, DISTRIBUTED AND, AND AND, UH, ADDRESSED HERE INTERNALLY.
SO DINA WITH THAT, UH, BUT SHE WILL BE READING, UH, THE LETTER TONIGHT, UH, THAT WE HAVE FROM MR. WIL MCLEOD.
SO THIS IS FROM MR. WILL MCLEOD.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF TRUSTEES BOARD CHAIR.
MY NAME IS WILL MCLEOD AND I AM SENDING YOU THIS EMAIL TO BE READ OUT LOUD TO COVER A FEW POINTS.
FIRST OF ALL, EVER SINCE THE LAST WORK SESSION MEETING, THE BUS STOPS ALONG NACODOCHES ROAD BETWEEN LOVELACE AND FOREST PARK HAVE BEEN REOPENED IN THE FUTURE.
WHEN VIA NEEDS TO CLOSE BUS STOPS FOR WHATEVER REASON, NOTICE SHOULD BE PUBLISHED ONLINE@VIAINFO.NET.
TEMPORARY BUS STOPS SHOULD ALSO BE IN PLACE WITHIN REASONABLE DISTANCE TO THE CLOSED BUS STOPS.
I LOOK AT YOUR WEBSITE AND THE LAST TIME YOU HAD INFORMATION ON BUS STOP CLOSURES WAS ONLY DURING THE HUMANA ROCK AND ROLL MARATHON.
YOU CAN LOOK FOR YOURSELF AND SEE THAT I AM NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP BY TYPING IN THE SEARCH BAR BUS STOP CLOSURES ON THE VIA INFO.NET WEBSITE.
I HAVE TAKEN A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE BUS STOPS THAT WAS CLOSED ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
NO NOTICE WAS PROVIDED AHEAD OF TIME.
THE BUS STOP IS CLOSED, SIGN ON THE BUS STOP ITSELF.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE BUS RIDING EASY AT ALL, DOES IT? MAYBE IF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY RIDE THE BUSES INSTEAD OF DRIVE YOUR CARS, YOU WOULD SEE FOR YOURSELF.
AS FOR THE SERVICE CHANGES YOUR SERVICE PLANNING REPRESENTATIVE STATED, WE, WE ARE INCREASING SERVICE ON THE FIVE 15 ROUTE TO SEE IF IT BRINGS RIDERSHIP.
WELL, YOU NEED TO TAKE THE SAME APPROACH TO THE SIX 18 AND THE SIX 20.
I MEAN, WHAT MAKES THE FIVE 15 SOUTH CROSS SO SPECIAL IS THIS SOME TYPE OF EQUITY THING.
[00:30:01]
GOING TO BE ADDED AS A RESULT OF THE PLANNED UPCOMING SERVICE CHANGE? A BUS STOP IS NEEDED FOR THE 5 52 TO SERVICE FOUR 10 AND 1 51.IF YOU PUT A BUS STOP THERE, RIDERSHIP WILL COME.
OR DO WE HAVE TO PASS THE SERVICE CHANGE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN IT? LIKE NANCY PELOSI SAID ABOUT OBAMACARE, I PUT IN A REQUEST WITH CONCERNS FOR ABIGAIL, WHO MR. ARN TEXTED TO GIVE ME A CALL BACK CONCERNING BUS STOPS.
I AM REQUESTING SHE AND THE SERVICE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CONTACT ME REGARDING THE SERVICE CHANGES AND BUS STOPS.
THAT'S THE END OF CITIZENS B BEHALF.
[5. Consent Agenda]
ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED? SO MOVE.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[6. May 2023 Service Changes - For information, discussion, and possible action by the VIA Board of Trustees regarding service changes for implementation of the signup period that begins on May 1st, 2023]
PRESENT THE PROPOSED MAY, 2023 SERVICE CHANGES TO CHANGES.MR. SIN? GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD CHAIR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, I WILL GO OVER THE MAY 1ST, 2023 SERVICE CHANGES.
AND AFTER MY PRESENTATION, UH, LETICIA SIK FROM PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TEAM WILL GO OVER THE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS AND THE PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED.
THE SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGE ARE TO, I IMPROVE THE FREQUENCY ON ROUTE FIVE 15 SOUTH CROSS TO EXTEND ROUTE 6 47 NORTH STAR HARRY BARBER ROUTE TO J B S A FORT SAM HOUSTON AND TO ADJUST THE SCHEDULE ON THREE ROUTES TO IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY.
ROUTE FIVE 15 SOUTH CROSS NOW OPERATES HOURLY FROM 6:00 AM TO 6:00 PM.
AS PART THE CASE AND PRINCIPLES AND GOALS, WE ARE CONVERTING THE BEST PRODUCTIVE HOURLY ROUTES FROM 60 MINUTE TO 30 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
THERE IS A PROBABILITY OF INCREASING THE RIDERSHIP IF THE FREQUENCY OF ROUTE FIVE 15 IS IMPROVED FROM 60 MINUTE TO 30 MINUTE FREQUENCY.
FOR ROUTE 6 47, WE RECEIVE REQUEST FROM THE RESIDENT OF THE TOWERS LOCATED ON HARRY WARBERG IN FRONT OF J B S A AS WELL AS FROM JB S A.
TO EXTEND THE SERVICE TO THE BASE, THERE ARE ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY STUDENTS WHO WILL RIDE THE BUS IF SERVICE IS EXTENDED TO THE BASE.
WE ARE CARRYING OUT MINOR SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT ON ROUTE 20.
NEW BRAUN FIELDS, ROUTE SIX 10 INGRAM NORTHWEST CROSSING AND ROUTE SIX 20 NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE AND INGRAM TO IMPROVE THE ON-TIME PERFORMANCE.
REGARDING THE SERVICE CHANGE TIMELINE, WE GIVE INFORMATION TO THE BOARD IN JANUARY, PUBLIC OUTREACH AND COMMENT PERIOD STARTED IN JANUARY.
WE ARE HERE TODAY IN FEBRUARY FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE ACTION.
PUBLIC INFORMATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT TILL WE IMPLEMENT THE SERVICE.
WE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT THE SERVICE ON MAY 1ST, 2023.
SO FOR THE RECAP OF THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WE UTILIZED THE FOLLOWING METHODS THAT ARE LISTED.
I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EACH ONE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE YIELDED A TOTAL OF 13 COMMENTS, UH, SEVEN IN FAVOR THAT, UH, REALLY SET OUT WHY IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE
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ROUTE 515, UH, GO INTO THE JBS MILITARY, UM, AS WELL AS THE 6 47, UH, FOR THE SERVICE PERSONNEL.UM, THE OTHER 1, 5 15 WAS FOR SACH.
THE SIX COMMENTS THAT WERE RECEIVED WERE JUST GENERAL IN NATURE AND WE ARE REVIEWING THOSE AS WELL.
AND WE'LL GET BACK TO THOSE FOLKS ON THOSE.
AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR RECAP FOR ALL THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT THAT WAS CARRIED OUT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN ANSWER THOSE NOW.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MR. CHAIR? I, I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, WE'RE MOVING FROM PUBLIC NOTICE NOW TO PUBLIC PROMOTION OF THESE CHANGES NOW, UH, WITH THIS ADOPTION TODAY, WE WILL THEN GO TO MOVE THAT THESE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE WANT OUR, OUR WRITERS TO, UH, APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND, BUT ALSO ATTRACT WRITERS OVER TO THESE IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL.
SO WE ARE GONNA MOVE FROM NOTICE TO PROMOTION.
TRUSTEE, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR APPROVAL? THIS IS A REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
WELL FIRST, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AND NOW JOHN GARY WILL TAKE THE NEXT ITEM ON MARKETING.
I THOUGHT YOU WANTED ME TO INTRODUCE YOU.
THIS MOVES US TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN,
[7. *Legal Briefing]
LEGAL BRIEFING.MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO SIR.
UH, THEN WE MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
TRUSTEES WILL REACH THE END OF OUR MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.