* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] GOOD AFTERNOON. [ATD 1. Call to Order] IT'S UH, 5:03 PM ON MARCH 21ST, 2023. AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE ADVANCED TRANSIT DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING. I AM BOARD CHAIR FERNANDO REYES. AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO THIS MEETING. LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL VICE CHAIR CAV. PRESENT, RIGHT? . SHE'S RUNNING HIGH. WOO. SECRETARY MALONE HERE. ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER. HERE. PAUL WILL BE OUT. UH, TRUSTEE BROWN RUNNING LATE. OKAY. TRUSTEE KOMO HERE. TRUSTEE GONZALEZ. UH, NOT GONNA BE HERE. OKAY. TRUSTEE PEZ. HERE. TRUSTEE WOLF HERE. EXCELLENT. WE HAVE A QUO, SO WE WILL GET STARTED. OKAY. THE NEXT THING IS, UH, [ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements] WE'D LIKE TO, UH, STAND AND DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE US AND TEXAS FLAGS PLEDGE. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS? ONE NATION, GOD, INDIVISIBLE. LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL THE TEXAS FLAG PLEDGE REGENT, INDIVISIBLE. WE'RE GETTING BETTER. OKAY. THANK YOU MR. A, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UM, I HAVE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE ATT MEETING. OKAY. NEXT [ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard] WE, UH, WE WILL ADDRESS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD AND WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED TO SPEAK. THERE ARE NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT. THANK YOU. UH, OUR NEXT IS OUR CONSENT [ATD 4. Consent Agenda] AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER FOUR. TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE ADOPTION SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE FIRST AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED. NEXT IS [ATD 5. *Legal Briefing] OUR LEGAL BRIEFING. MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE ANY LEGAL BRIEF REVIEW? NO, WE DO NOT. NO. THANK YOU. OKAY. TRUSTEES, WE REACH THE END OF OUR MEDIUM. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN AND A SECOND MOVE WE ADJOURN. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE AGAINST NAY GK MOTION CARRIES. THE TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED. [1. Call to Order] OKAY. NOW, UH, IT IS 5:06 PM AND I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE MARCH 21ST REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT ORDER TRUSTEES. MR. ARTHUR, WE [2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements] HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. YES, I DO. I HAVE A NUMBER OF RECOGNITIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS E THIS EVENING. UH, SO FIRST OFF, WE HAVE THE STAR EMPLOYEE FOR THE QUARTER. THIS IS THE STAR ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE QUARTER AND FOR THIS MONTH THAT STAR ADMINISTRATOR IS OUR BUS FIELD SUPERVISOR, MICHELLE GARZA. MICHELLE, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND NOW WHILE I BRAG ON YOU? YOU SHOULD REMAIN STANDING. ALL RIGHT. MICHELLE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE BUS OPERATOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE TO NEW BUS OPERATORS THAT GRADUATE FROM THE BUS TRAINING PROGRAM. THIS EFFORT ASSISTS NEW OPERATORS TO ASSIMILATE INTO VIA AND THE VIGOROUS EXTRA BOARD DUTIES SUPERVISOR. MENTORS MEET WITH NEW OPERATORS IN THE VMC AREA OR ALONG THE ROUTE TO HELP THEM ADJUST TO THEIR NEW DUTIES AND FEEL COMFORTABLE AND THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR ROUTE ASSIGNMENTS, HELP THEM ALONG THE ROUTE. IN MANY CASES, SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE OPERATORS ARE CONFORMING TO THE EXTRA BOARD AND PERFECTING THEIR ROUTE KNOWLEDGE AND GOOD CUSTOMER RELATION SKILLS WHILE BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH BLOCK PADDLE INSTRUCTIONS, RELIEF POINTS, AND INCIDENT ACCIDENT PREVENTION, ALL VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. UH, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM IN THE LIGHT SPRING, MICHELLE HAS METICULOUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY OVERSEEN THE MENTORSHIP OF 192 OPERATORS. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL IN COACHING OPERATORS, RETAINING EMPLOYEES, IDENTIFYING ISSUES, AND ADDRESSING THOSE MANNERS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH CUZ AS WE KNOW OPERATORS, WE NEED THE OPERATORS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FRONT LINE OF, OF VIA. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND WE'LL HAVE YOU COME FORWARD AND WE'LL HAVE THE, THE BOARD JOIN YOU AND WE'LL [00:05:01] DO THE PICTURE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, NEXT I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CA CATHERINE ALVERADO HAS JOINED THE VIA TEAM AS OUR NEW GRANTS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR. SHE HAS OVER 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FUNDRAISING, GRANT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, BUDGETING AND COMPLIANCE. AND SHE COMES TO US FROM THE Y M C A OF GREATER SAN ANTONIO, WHERE SHE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT. UH, SO WE WELCOME HER TO VIA, WE KNOW SHE WILL BE A VALUABLE ASSET AS WE PURSUE GRANTS AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES. SO, CATHERINE, THERE WE GO. AND CATHERINE ALREADY, UH, WITHIN JUST DAYS OF JOINING VIA HAS REINVIGORATED THE GRANT'S, UH, GRANT'S REVIEW COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY GROUP OF VIA EMPLOYEES THAT LOOK AT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND DISCUSS HOW WE MIGHT PURSUE THOSE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT 18 YEARS COMES IN HANDY, RIGHT? YEAH, . EXCELLENT. I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT BONNIE PROSSER ELDER VIA GENERAL COUNSEL AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF LEGAL HAS BEEN ELECTED TO MEMBERSHIP IN THE FELLOWS OF THE TEXAS BAR FOUNDATION. THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS HONOR AS ONLY ONE THIRD OF 1% OF TEXAS ATTORNEYS ARE INVITED TO BECOME FELLOWS OF THE FOUNDATION. EACH YEAR, FELLOWS ARE SELECTED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND THEIR DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY AND CONGRATULATIONS, BONNIE. ALL RIGHT. YES. ASS. I WOULD SAY WE'RE TIRED OF RECOGNIZING YOU, BUT I DON'T WANNA HOLD YOU BACK. ? YES. UH, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST RICHARD MARTINEZ. I KNOW RICHARD IS HERE. THERE WE GO. FOR BEING MADE A MEMBER OF THE DIVERSITY INCLUSION, UH, EQUITY AND INCLUSION, OR D E I COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL AGING AND DISABILITY TRANSPORTATION CENTER, RICHARD WAS OFFERED THIS ROLE DUE TO HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR'S COMMITTEE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. AND HIS REPRESENTATION IS ESPECIALLY VALUABLE GIVEN VIA HIS PROGRESS WITH THE NAVS ROLLOUT. SO CONGRATULATIONS, RICHARD. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. GO OUT TO ABIGAIL KENON. [00:10:01] ABIGAIL. SO ABIGAIL'S THE DIRECTOR OF CAPITAL PROGRAMS, WHICH SHE WAS RECENTLY ACCEPTED AS AN HONORARY COMMANDER OF 502ND AIRBASE WING AT JOINT JOINT BASE, SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH. THE HONOREE COMMANDER'S PROGRAM IS AN AIR FORCE PROGRAM THAT EDUCATES KEY COMMUNITY LEADERS ABOUT A UNIT'S MISSION AND FOSTERS A SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT YOU WERE SELECTED FOR THIS AND, UH, SHE'S ALREADY GIVING ME ORDERS. SO SHE'S . I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT ONE TRUSTEE AND ONE STAFF MEMBER HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO BE ON THE NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE OF PAC. TRUSTEES, JAVIER PERERA AND SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER ARE TO HERRERA. WERE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT VIA AND BECOME PART OF A VIBRANT PEER LEARNING NETWORK MADE UP OF OTHER TRANSIT AGENCIES OF PRIDE, SECTOR EXPERTS AND NONPROFIT LEADERS. NOW, MPAC WAS FORMERLY KNOWN AS REVOLUTION, AND ANYBODY WHO'S ATTENDED A REVOLUTION CONFERENCE KNOWS THAT IT'S ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST CONFERENCES AROUND. THEY SIMPLY REALLY NEEDED TO CHANGE THEIR NAME BECAUSE RAIL WAS NOT THE SINGULAR FOCUS. SO THEY HAVE CHANGED IT TO IMPACT. AND NOW WE HAVE MEMBERS ON THAT NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE. UH, SO CONGRATULATIONS, TRUSTEE PERES AND ART HERRERA. I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT VIA HAS RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR OUR COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. THIS AWARD IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND IT REP REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT VIA CAFF. R WAS JUDGED BY AN IMPARTIAL PANEL TO MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDE DEMONSTRATING CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT OF FULL DISCLOSURE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE VIA FINANCIAL STORY. WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT BUDGET, DIRECTOR OF OM B AUDREY RIVERA AND HER TEAM AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED PREPARE THIS. SO, AUDREY, I THINK YOU'RE HERE. RIGHT? THERE SHE IS. THANK YOU, AUDREY. I CAN TELL YOU AUDREY AND HER TEAM PUT IN HUGE AMOUNTS OF WORK IN PULLING THAT ALL TOGETHER. UH, VIA ALSO RECEIVES THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR THE CO COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR VA'S RETIREMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GO BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES TO PREPARE COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT EVIDENCE THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE VIA TEAM MEMBERS EXCEL AT PRODUCING AWARD-WINNING FINANCIAL REPORTS. AND WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK RETIREMENT SPECIALISTS, CHARLES GUTIERREZ, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM IN THE DEPARTMENT WHO HELPED ASSEMBLE THIS EXCEPTIONAL REPORT. CHARLES, THERE WE GO. ON FRIDAY, MAY 17TH, ST. PATRICK'S DAY VIA, AGAIN, JOIN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS NATIONWIDE TO CELEBRATE TRANSIT DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY TO RECOGNIZE AGENCY'S BUS AND VAN OPERATORS AND THE TEAMS WHOSE WORK MAKE SURE WE CAN DELIVER SERVICE AND KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING SAFELY EVERY DAY. THIS YEAR. CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED APPRECIATION EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT THE STATION FOREMAN'S AREA, THE NEW VIA TRANS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CENTER IN OUR FLEET AND FACILITIES AREAS AND MORNING RALLIES AT A NUMBER OF AREA TRANSIT CENTERS. SO WE WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK, UH, TEAM MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WHO HELP SUPPORT THESE EVENTS THIS YEAR AND EVERY YEAR. UH, OUR VICE CHAIR WAS THERE, AND I BELIEVE, BOB, YOU WERE THERE, RIGHT? TRUSTEE COMO? SO, AND TRUSTEE COMO, I THINK YOU'RE THERE EVERY YEAR. IS IT A REQUIREMENT THAT IT'S COLD AND WINDY? YES, IT'S THE FIRST ONE. . JUST SAY THAT IT WAS VERY COLD AND IT IS INDEED A REQUIREMENT. UM, WE ESP BUT WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK VIAS BUS AND VAN OPERATORS, FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH DAY TO CONNECT WITH JOBS, SCHOOL, HEALTHCARE, CULTURE, FAMILY, AND OTHER IMPORTANT PARTS OF THEIR LIVES. YOU ARE OUR COMMUNITY SUPERHEROES AND WE APPLAUD YOU TODAY AND EVERY DAY, NOT JUST ON, UH, MARCH 17TH, WE HAVE A BRIEF VIDEO THAT CAPTURES THE ENERGY OF AN EARLY MORNING ROLLOUT AS BUSES AND VAN OPERATORS PREPARE FOR ANOTHER DAY OF [00:15:01] SERVICE. RIGHT NOW, MY HEART IS BEATING TO THE SOUND OF A BATTLE DRUM, IS MY SURVIVAL. NEVER SAY, THIS IS MY, THAT FILMING ALL TOOK, OH, THAT FILMING ALL TOOK PLACE AT O DARK 30. AND BECAUSE THESE OPERATORS HAVE TO SHOW UP VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AND GET OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, . SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL OUR BUS OPERATORS, OUR VAN OPERATORS, AND ALL THE FRONTLINE PEOPLE THAT HELP US MAKE SERVICE EVERY DAY. THIS IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH. AND, UH, I WANTED TO ESPECIALLY, UH, RECOGNIZE THE WOMEN WHO WERE A PART OF VIA. SO IF YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE RECOGNIZE THIS EVENING, WE HAD MICHELLE, CATHERINE, BONNIE, ABIGAIL, ANDRE, REALLY WONDERFUL LEADERS, UH, WOMEN LEADERS WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION, CAMIE, WHO'S A SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AS WELL. WE ALSO HAVE AMONG OUR BOARD, OUR VICE CHAIR, LAURA CABELLA, OUR, OUR SECRETARY, ARTHUR LEE MALONE, AND OUR TRUSTEES, I, IDA GONZALEZ AND MELANIE WILL. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WOMEN LEADERSHIP WITHIN THIS ORGANIZATION AND, UH, WE ARE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE. LET'S RECOGNIZE ALL THE WOMEN. WOO. I I'M WITH THAT AND I DON'T THINK I CAN DO ANYTHING, BE BIGGER OR BETTER THAN THAT. SO THAT IS THE END OF MY REPORT. THANK YOU JEFF. UM, I WANT [3. President/CEO Report] TO, UH, ALSO CONGRATULATE THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO FOR VIENNA AND, UH, FOR ALL THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAPPEN HERE. THE PEOPLE'S PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT GOES INTO MOVING PEOPLE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER AND GETTING THEM SAFELY TO WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. SO TO ALL OUR OPERATORS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE AT VI, YOU DO A TREMENDOUS JOB. AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT RECOGNIZED ENOUGH, BUT, UM, BELIEVE ME, WE ARE DEFINITELY, WE DEFINITELY KNOW THE WORK THAT YOU DO. SO JEFF, I WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU WITH YOUR STAFF THINKING I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT STAFF THAT YOU WORK WITH AND THAT YOU, UH, MANAGE AND IT COMES FROM YOU TOO, AS WELL AS A LEADER. SO, UH, I'M JUST GLAD TO BE PART OF THIS BOARD AND I I HOPE THAT THE REST OF MY BOARD MEMBERS FEEL THE SAME WAY, CUZ I THINK WE HAVE A MISSION AND I THINK WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND WE WORK EVERY DAY VERY HARD TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAPPENS. SO THANK YOU. UH, ONE PERSON THAT I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE IS RICHARD, RICHARD MARTINEZ. RICHARD AND I GO WAY BACK. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU, YOU WORKED HERE, RICHARD, WHEN I SAW YOU THIS AFTERNOON, I SAID, YOU WORK HERE, YOU'VE BEEN HERE HOW MANY YEARS? 20 YEARS. I, 12 YEARS. 12 YEARS. AND, UH, RICHARD AND I GO WAY BACK. UH, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME AND WE'VE WORKED ON SOME THINGS TOGETHER. SO I AM SO GLAD TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HERE IN VIA, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU. I THINK SO. AND THAT'S A LONG TIME. WELL, NOBODY WAS GONNA SAY THAT. I KNOW , IT'S THE TRUTH. BUT ANYWAY, YEAH. SO THANK YOU RICHARD, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OUR, OUR VIA, UH, EMPLOYEES AND, AND STAFF AND EVERYBODY AGAIN, YOU, YOU GUYS DO A GREAT JOB. I SAW THAT LAST WEEK WHEN WE WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL. UH, EVERYBODY WAS REALLY PUSHING, UH, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, UH, FOR VIA. AND, UH, IT, IT IS JUST A WONDERFUL THING TO SEE. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND TO OUR WOMEN, WOW. HOW COULD WE NOT DO WITHOUT OUR WOMEN ? THEY, LET ME TELL YOU, UH, I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE TWO WOMEN IN MY LIFE THAT REALLY KEEP ME GOING. UH, THEY, THEY, THEY, THEY'RE VERY COMFORTING WHEN I NEED COMFORT AND THEY'RE VERY DEMANDING WHEN I, WHEN I NEED TO BE DEMANDED . BUT THEY'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME. AND, AND YOU KNOW, HAVING A DAUGHTER, UH, [00:20:01] AND, AND A WIFE THAT, THAT RECOGNIZES YOUR WORK AND STUFF IS ALWAYS VERY APPROPRIATE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AND CONGRATULATIONS ALL THE MOTHERS AND WIVES THAT ARE HERE TODAY. UH, CUZ THAT'S ANOTHER LEVEL OF JOB THAT YOU DO THAT YOU DON'T GET RECOGNIZED FOR. SO THANK YOU. [4. Citizens to be Heard ] OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM IS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. UH, WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED BE TO SPEAK MR. CHAIR. WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD. OKAY? UH, BASED ON THAT, I NEED TO READ THE STATEMENT. WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS TO BE PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC READING. THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BE 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 BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND HIS STAFF. THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN. THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING. OUR CITIZEN TO BE HEARD IS BY VIA EMAIL AND IT'S FROM, UH, MR. WILL MCLEOD. AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR, UH, CUSTOMER RESOLUTION SPECIALIST, DINA ESTRADA. READ THAT FOR US. OKAY. THANK YOU JOHN. GARY, UH, THIS IS FROM MR. WILL MCLEOD. GOOD AFTERNOON VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES VIA BOARD CHAIR FOR THE RECORD. MY NAME IS WILL MCLEOD AND I AM SENDING IN WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR THIS PUBLIC MEETING. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VIA FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE BUSES THAT IS SPONSORED BY TEXT DOT ON THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH. I HAVE OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT ON YOUR BUS, ON YOUR BUS WRAP, NO SIDEWALK WALK ON THE LEFT SIDE. FACING TRAFFIC, WHICH IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN PEDESTRIANS USE SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS MISINFORMATION. SO, LIKE MS. ELDER SAID, I SHOULD GIVE CREDIT OR CREDIT IS DUE FOR THE RECORD. I AM DOING EXACTLY THAT. AS FOR THE BUS STOP OVER ON COUNTRY LANE AND EKA OCHES ROAD ROAD, THE BUS STOP HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS WITHOUT ANY NOTICE PROVIDED ON THE VIA INFO.NET WEBSITE. WHEN BUS STOPS ARE CLOSED, THERE SHOULD BE NOTICE PROVIDED ON VIAS WEBSITE. YOU USE TO PROVIDE NOTICES, BUT YOU NO LONGER DO. AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A TEMPORARY BUS STOP PLACE CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE CLOSED BUS STOP. AS YOU CAN SEE, ROUTE NINE IS NOT A LIMITED STOP SERVICE. IT IS A FREQUENT STOP SERVICE. MAYBE IF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WOULD WRITE THE BUS FOR THEMSELVES, THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE. IS IT AGAINST THE LAW FOR UPPER MANAGEMENT AND THE SERVICE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO RIDE THE BUSES? HOPEFULLY BY THE TIME THIS BOARD MEETING STARTS, I WILL HAVE MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT WERE PRESENTED DURING LAST WEEK'S WORK SESSION AND THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING. ALSO, I HAVE HEARD THAT YOUR GUARDS OVER AT STONE OAK PARK AND RIDE TELLING PATRONS THAT THEY CAN'T TAKE PICTURES OR VIDEO AT THE PARK AND WRIGHT FACILITY THAT ACTUALLY VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT. PLEASE REMIND YOUR GUARDS THAT PATRONS CAN TAKE PHOTOS AND OR VIDEOS. A PATRON BROUGHT THIS CONCERN UP TO ME TO RELAY TO THIS BOARD. SO FAR I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY POLITICAL ADVERTISING ON VIAS BUS STOPS OR TRANSIT CENTERS. LET'S HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY. BUT I WILL BRING THIS UP SINCE IT IS ELECTION TIME AGAIN, MAKE SURE MAINTENANCE IS BEING VIGILANT ABOUT THE BUS STOPS AND TAKING A PROACTIVE AND NOT JUST A REACTIVE APPROACH IN KEEPING THE VIA BUS STOPS AND TRANSIT CENTERS CLEAR OF POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS. THE BUS STOPS ACROSS THE STREET FROM ALAMO HEIGHTS CITY HALL ON BROADWAY WITH THE GREEN FENCE. SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY POLITICAL SIGNAGE ON IT. IT DID BACK IN OCTOBER AND I HAD TO END UP TAKING IT DOWN. OTHER LOCATIONS WOULD INCLUDE AUSTIN HIGHWAY AND EISENHOWER, AUSTIN HIGHWAY AND HARRY WACH. 2 81 FRONTAGE ROAD NORTH AND SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN WOCK PARKWAY AND BITTERS ROAD TO NAME A FEW. LET'S STAY ON TOP OF THIS PLEASE. ALSO, DRIVERS SHOULD NOT TAKE ANY REMARKS. SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY REMARKS FROM PATRONS. ASK THEM TO KNEEL OR LOWER THE BUS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT'S THE END OF THE, THERE ARE NO MORE CITIZENS TO BE HERE. OKAY, THANK YOU. [5. Consent Agenda ] OUR NEXT 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 A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM REPRESENTED, MOVE SECOND. OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. THE, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED. NEXT [6. Eastside Mobility Hub Update] IS THE, UH, UH, MS. KESSEN WILL NOW BRIEF US ON [00:25:01] ITEM NUMBER SIX, EAST SIDE MOBILITY HUB. LET'S COMMANDER COMMAND. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. COMMANDER . GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. UM, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR PROJECT. UM, NO ACTION THIS EVENING. THE EAST SIDE MOBILITY HUB, UH, PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN DEVELOPMENT. THE PROJECT IS TO CONSTRUCT A NEW MOBILITY HUB ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN VIAS LONG-RANGE PLAN AND INCLUDED IN THE KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING PLAN. IT'S ALSO IDENTIFIED AND FUNDED THROUGH THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND OUR ANNUAL BUDGET. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN OFF-STREET LOCATION FOR END OF LINE BUSES TO LAY OVER AND TURN AROUND, AS WELL AS PASSENGER AND OPERATOR RESTROOMS AND SPACE FOR PASSENGERS TO PARK, WAIT AND TRANSFER BETWEEN MODES, WAIT AND TRANSFER BETWEEN MODES. THIS PROJECT IS PROGRAMMED TO SUPPORT THE END OF LINE FOR TWO ROUTES WITH EXPANSION POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT THE A R T EAST WEST LINE, AS WELL AS A HUB FOR FUTURE VIA LINK SERVICE. THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION OF THE SELECTED SITE ON EAST HOUSTON, WHICH IS CIRCLED ON, IN YELLOW ON THIS SLIDE NEAR, UM, EAST HOUSTON AND FOUR 10 RECENTLY CLOSED ON MARCH THE 10TH. THIS SLIDE SUMMARIZES THE VARIOUS GROUPS, WHICH WE HAVE MET WITH AND DISCUSSED THE PROJECT THROUGHOUT 2022. AS WE RECEIVE UPDATED DESIGN RENDERINGS, I EXPECT THIS EFFORT TO KICK OFF, UM, KICK BACK OFF IN THE COMING MONTHS, AND IT WAS ALSO PAUSED DURING THE REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION PERIOD. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS AND THE CURRENT 60% DESIGN RENDERING. UM, BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A REDESIGN PHASE AND WITH THE FINAL DESIGN IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LATER THIS SUMMER. THE ELEMENTS IN BOLD ON THE BULLETIN LIST, UM, ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND FUTURE CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE ELEMENTS THAT WERE ADDED TO THE SCOPE, AND SO WE EXPECT THE RENDERING TO BE ADJUSTED AS WE, UM, MOVE THROUGH THE REDESIGN WITH OUR CONSULTANTS. AND THIS LAST SLIDE IS OUR TIMELINE. UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE JUST CLOSED ON THE REAL ESTATE THIS MONTH. WE'RE EXPECTING, UM, DESIGNED TO BE COMPLETE COMPLETED THIS SUMMER, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK AT THE BOARD TO AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT HOPEFULLY LATER THIS YEAR. AND WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT. UH, I REALLY LOVE WHAT, WHERE, WHERE THIS IS GOING. I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY SORT OF, UH, IT'S, UH, AN EVOLUTION OF WHAT WE HAD SEEN BEFORE AND ACTUALLY INCLUDES A LOT OF THE, UH, DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, INCORPORATING IN THE TERMS OF, OF THE CONTEXT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE, ALSO IT'S LOOKING A LOT MORE BEAUTIFUL AND IT'S, AND IT'S, UH, AND IT, I THINK THIS IS A, THIS, THIS IS A GOOD, A GOOD BASIC, A GOOD MODEL FOR THE FUTURE MOBILITY HUBS THAT WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT. UM, AND LOOKS, LOOKS, IT JUST LOOKS GREAT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING MORE TIME AND, AND KIND OF GOING BACK AND DRAWING BOARD AND, AND MAKING THIS, UH, A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. MRK AND, AND JUST TO ECHO, UH, WITH TRUSTEE, BUT I, I KNOW WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AS WELL, AND, UH, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE OUR COLLEAGUE, UH, TRUSTEE BROWN IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. UH, AND I I THINK YOU WOULD ECHO THE SAME THING. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING FOR THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY THERE AND FOR, UH, CONSIDERING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED. UH, AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE THE PUBLIC ART COMPONENT IN, UH, INCORPORATED INTO THIS DESIGN. SO THANK YOU EVERYTHING, UH, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, MR. PAUL. YES. I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT WORK. IT'S, UH, IT'D BE VERY EXCITING. UM, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST ALLIANCE ABOUT THIS? THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S FIRST ALLIANCE, I DON'T BELIEVE WAS ON OUR LIST. IT WASN'T ON THE LIST, BUT I I I'LL GIVE YOU THEIR CONTACT AFTER THE MEETING. OKAY. UH, I THINK IT'D BE VERY GOOD, UH, UH, GROUP OF FOLKS TO, UH, THEY'LL BE TOTALLY ON BOARD, I'M SURE, BUT, UH, JUST TO MAKE, BRING THEM INTO THE LOOP AND MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE, UH, TENTACLES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AREA THERE. THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU, [00:30:02] TRUSTEES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, THANK YOU MS. KENEN. APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN. WE HAVE, UH, LEGAL BRIEFING. MS. ELDER, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR. WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. TRUST THESE. WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN? WELL, HERE WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW THIS IS THE RECORD RIGHT HERE. THIS IS THE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.