[00:00:01]
EVERYONE.[ATD 1. Call to Order]
UH, AND I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER OUR BOARD MEETING.I AM BOARD CHAIR FERNANDO REYES.
UM, AND I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.
I DON'T THINK SHE'LL BE HERE IN A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UH, SECRETARY MALONE, PRESENT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER WILL BE OUT.
UH, TRUSTEE ALUA PRESENT, TRUSTEE BROWN, PRESENT.
HOPEFULLY HE'LL JOIN US IN A WHILE.
TRUSTEE MALONE, I'M SORRY, TRUSTEE TO WILL PRESENT TRUSTEE WOLF HERE.
OKAY, NOW WE'LL BEGIN OUR A TD MEETING.
[ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements]
FOR THE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE US FLAG AND THE TEXAS FLAG.I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR THY TEXAS FLAG.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? WE'RE IN HED, RIGHT? YES.
WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE CITIZEN OF SUPERIOR PORTION OF OUR MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, MR. CHAIR? FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
OKAY, WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.THERE ARE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, SIR.
OKAY, WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.
TRUSTEES, WE ARE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[1. Call to Order]
3:08 PM AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE APRIL 23RD VIA BOARD MEETING.UH, WE HAVE ALMOST OF, UH, REFLECTIONS, BUT THAT WAS COVERED UNDER, UH, THE FIRST ONE.
SO I THINK WE CAN GO ON, UH, AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER
[3. President/CEO Report]
THREE, THE PRESIDENT CEO REPORT.SO FOR FOR OUR STAR OPERATORS OF THE MONTH, WE ARE RECOGNIZING EMPLOYEES WHO PLACED IN THE RECENT STATE RODEO HELD LAST MONTH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE IN THE 40 FOOT BUS CATEGORY.
AND IN THE PARATRANSIT CATEGORY, MIZE GARCIA.
I SAW MOEZ HERE AND HE DOESN'T MESS AROUND.
UH, BOTH OF THESE ARE EXCEPTIONAL.
EMPLOY, UH, EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND REFLECT GREATLY ON OUR AUTHORITY AND THESE VICTORIES WILL, WILL PLACE THEM.
WELL, I THINK, UH, MOVING FORWARD TO ADD TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL AT LEAST FOR, FOR MOSA FOR SURE.
SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, YEAH, OKAY.
I WAS MAKING SURE IT WASN'T MR. WHITE.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE'LL HAVE THE BOARD COME FORWARD AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, TWO PICTURES.
ONE WITH THIS MONTH'S STAR OPERATOR AND ONE WITH THE CHAR STAR ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE LAST MONTH WHO WAS NOTIFIED AFTER THE FACT AND COULDN'T BE THE MEETING.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ART HERRERA GETS TO BE IN A PICTURE WITH ALL THE PRETTY FACES ON THE BOARD.
ALRIGHT, SO LET'S, LET'S TAKE THE FIRST PICTURES PICTURE.
I DON'T TAKE ANYTHING UNLESS SHE HAND IT TO ME.
[00:07:39]
STRATEGIC PLANNER THREE.VERONICA ESCAL IBARRA IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE GUADALUPE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE MISSION OF THE CENTER IS TO CULTIVATE, MO, PROMOTE AND PRESERVE TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY CHICANO, LATINO AND NATIVE AMERICAN ARTS AND CULTURES THROUGH MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMMING.
WE FREQUENTLY PART PARTNER WITH GUADALUPE FOR EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS THAT SUPPORT OUR SHARED MISSION TO CONNECT THE COMMUNITY TO ENRICH OUR COM, ENRICH OUR COMMUNITIES ON THE WEST SIDE AND ACROSS SAN ANTONIO.
I'M CONFIDENT YOU'LL DO A MARVELOUS JOB AS YOU DO WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, IN REPRESENTING VIA THIS NEW ROLE.
I THINK YOU SERVED ON THIS BOARD AT ONE POINT TOO.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE GONNA DO SOME INTRODUCTION OF, UH, NEW, NEW, UH, MEMBERS OF THE STAFF.
NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, ROD SANCHEZ.
ROD WILL RE IS NOT WILL BE, BUT ROD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT AND DIRECTION OF ALL ASPECTS OF V'S.
PLANNING AND CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT, GREEN AND SILVER LINES.
HE HAS MORE THAN THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, INCLUDING HAVING SERVED AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, A POSITION HE'S HELD SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2017.
THERE HE OVERSAW MORE THAN 1700 EMPLOYEES AND MANAGED AN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET OF 830 MILLION.
SO IN JUST YOUR LITTLE AREA, ROD, YOU'RE RIGHT.
SANCHEZ'S ROSE INCLUDE O ROLE INCLUDED OVERSIGHT OF CITIES, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS, BUILDING, EQUIPMENT SERVICES, PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENTS.
HE ALSO SERVED AS THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST.
HE BRINGS A BROAD BASE OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROVEN EXPERTISE TO VIA WHERE HE WILL OVERSEE OUR TRANSIT SERVICE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, REAL ESTATE, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE LEADER WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, SERVICE PLANNING, CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION, AND HE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE SKELETONS ARE HEADED AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY LIKE.
[00:10:01]
THANK YOU, ROD.NEXT, WELL WELCOME ALSO JOHN G CLAMP, RIGHT OUR NEW CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.
IN THIS ROLE, JOHN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT AND DIRECTION OF VIAS FINANCE, PROCUREMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION, INCLUDING THEIR SHORT AND LONG-TERM OPERATIONAL IMPACTS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF VIAS RESOURCES AND CAPITAL ASSETS.
HE BRINGS MORE THAN 36 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC SE SERVICE AND CORPORATE SECTORS.
PRIOR TO JOINING VIA, HE SERVED AS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AT THE MUSEUM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE ALAMO AREA COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, AND AS A DISTRICT 10 CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AS WELL AS A MULTIPLE OTHER LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WELCOME JOHN, AND NEXT TIME I'M REALLY HAPPY TO, UH, ANNOUNCE WE HAVE A NEW EEO OFFICER, SATORI SAMSA AND I BELIEVE SO THERE.
GO AHEAD AND STAND UP SO WE CAN ALL SEE YOU.
UH, NOW LISTEN TO THIS EXPERIENCE.
HER PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EEO SLASH AA AT NEW JERSEY TRANSIT WILL SERVE HER WELL AND SPEAK VOLUMES ABOUT HER BUILDING TO MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF AN EEO AA PROGRAM, COMPLIANCE AND INVESTIGATORS.
AND JUST FOR INFORMATION IN, UH, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, ALL THE TRANSIT SYSTEMS ARE RUN BY THE STATE ORGANIZATION SO THEY DON'T HAVE INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS IN EACH CITY.
SO EFFECTIVELY, SHE WAS SERVING THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
UH, SHE PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION TRAINING FOR MORE THAN 12,000 EMPLOYEES.
HER EXPERIENCE ALSO INCLUDES SERVING AS THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER AT A LITTLE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS THE MTA OF NEW YORK CITY.
ON SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH, VIA EMPLOYEES, RETIREES AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ASSEMBLED AT LADY BIRD JOHNSON PARK FOR THE ANNUAL VIA THRIVE FOR 5K ESTABLISHED IN 2012.
THE THRIVE FOR 5K CONTINUES TO BE A HIGHLIGHT OF THE VIA THRIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM, AND IT'S PROVEN TO BE ONE OF OUR MOST, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES FAVORED EVENTS.
THIS YEAR'S EVENT HAD 242 PARTICIPATING THAT PROUDLY CROSSED THE FINISH LINE AND WERE LEFT FULFILLED WITH A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AS THEY CHALLENGED THEMSELF IN ACHIEVING THEIR 5K GOALS.
AT THE FINISH LINE, PARTICIPANTS WERE GREETED WITH CHEERS AND APPLAUSE FROM ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS, INCLUDING OUR VERY OWN TRUSTEE, AKEEM BROWN, WHO HELPED FOSTER A POSITIVE TONE FOR THE 5K PARTICIPANTS AND FOR V AS WELLNESS PROGRAM IN GENERAL.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 242 WHO MANAGED TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE.
SO YOU'LL RECALL THAT IN MARCH WE CELEBRATED TRANSIT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TRANSIT DRIVER APPRECIATION DAY, BUT THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION MODIFIED THAT, THAT DESCRIBER AND SO WE FOLLOWED THEIR SUIT THIS YEAR WITH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WEEK.
THIS INCLUDED A NEW TRADING CARD CHALLENGE THAT FEATURED TRADING CARDS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT DIVISIONS AND AMONG SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND THE BOARD
AND IT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION THAT HELPED SHOWCASE A SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE AND CAMARADERIE AND APPRECIATION WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION.
WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE, THESE ACTIVITIES.
TODAY IS A TRANSIT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY AND IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY BECAUSE THAT'S THE DAY THAT WE ALL COME OUT AND SHOW OUR APPRECIATION, NOT ONLY JUST FOR THE BUS DRIVERS, BUT FOR THE WORKERS, THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENE THAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO GO.
MY FATHER WAS A BUS OPERATOR, OH GOSH, I WANNA SAY 35 YEARS AGO.
MY FAVORITE THOUGH DADDY WAS DADDY AND ALL OF US OPERATORS JUST HANDS DOWN SUPERHEROES, MOVING PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE LIKE THAT TRULY IS A SUPERPOWER, TAKES THE ENTIRE TEAM TO, TO GET THINGS TOGETHER.
I MEAN, CLEARLY THE OPERATOR REALLY
[00:15:01]
RELIES UPON THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT, THAT BUS OUT THERE.WE ALL RELY UPON THE FINANCE PEOPLE TO MAKE OUR PAYCHECKS OF NOTHING ELSE.
AND IT TAKES ALL THE PIECES, COMMUNICATION TO THE CUSTOMER THROUGH THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT, ALL THOSE PIECES.
AND IF THERE'S A PIECE MISSING, THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS A MISSING PIECE.
THERE WAS CHAOS THROUGHOUT THE VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
OUR INVESTIGATORS HAVE FOUND THAT IT REVOLVED AROUND THIS, A TRADING CARD, TRADING CARDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL THE SE QL HEROES AMONG THE DIVISIONS AND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT AT VIA.
AND EMPLOYEES WERE ENCOURAGED TO COLLECT COMPLETE SETS OF THOSE CARS AND GET TO KNOW SOME OF THEIR FRIENDS AND NEW FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE AUTHORITY.
SO I HAD A WONDERFUL TIME WITH THE TRADING CARD EXPERIENCE.
IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET EVERYBODY HERE IN THE COMPANY FROM THE GRAND TO THE MYRTLE BUILDING.
I WAS A LITTLE HESITANT AT FIRST, UH, BECAUSE I WASN'T SURE HOW IT WAS GONNA WORK.
UH, BUT ONCE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, AFTER COLLECTING TWO CARDS, I FELT THE EXCITEMENT AND I WANTED TO DO IT MORE.
AND I TOLD MORE PEOPLE TO GET EXCITED ABOUT IT SO THAT THEY COULD DO IT MORE.
AND IT TURNED INTO A WHOLE, UH, HUNTING GAME, IF YOU WILL.
I WILL SAY THAT IT IS REFRESHING, UH, TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM PEOPLE HAD IN, IN TRYING TO COLLECT THE CARDS FROM, FROM OTHER EMPLOYEES.
SO I THINK IT WAS A GREAT THING.
UH, YEAH, I I THINK THEY'RE IMPACTFUL, UH, FOR EACH DIVISION TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO KIND OF SHARE WITH OTHERS HOW THEY CONTRIBUTE, UH, TO THE SERVICE MODEL THAT WE HAVE FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, AND ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO BRAG ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ANSWERING.
DID YOU KNOW QUESTIONS AND JESSICA, JESSICA GONZALEZ STAND UP? I'M SURE THERE WERE MANY MINES THAT WENT TO IT, BUT SHE WAS TASKED WITH SELLING IT TO ME AND YOU DID A GOOD JOB.
ALRIGHT, SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE HERE TO VISIT THE GRAND ROTUNDA AT 1 23 NORTH MEDINA STREET TO SEE THE UTSA ARCHITECTURE AND TRANSPORTATION STUDENT EXHIBITION ON DISPLAY THROUGH MAY 10TH.
STUDENTS FROM THE UTSA ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT COULD A REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INTERMODAL CENTER LOOK LIKE IN SAN ANTONIO STUDENT SHOWCASE DESIGN IDEAS, RESEARCH REFLECTIONS AND EXPLORATIONS AND DEVELOP THAT THEY DEVELOPED DURING SPRING OF 2024 ABOUT THE FUTURE OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY AND RESILIENCE AND PUBLIC LIFE IN OUR CITY.
THEIR VISION FOR A MORE ROBUST MOBILE FUTURE IS ON DISPLAY AT THE GRAND THROUGH MAY 10TH, AND IT'S ACCOMPANIED BY A DISPLAY FROM STUDENTS FROM SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE, UH, WHICH INCLUDES SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT TOD MIGHT LOOK LIKE NEXT TO A TRANSIT STATION.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, SCHOOLS WITH TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF PROJECTS ALL ON DISPLAY, VERY INFORMATIVE AND I THINK WHAT THEY WILL KIND OF GENERATE CREATIVE JUICES AND ANYONE WHO SEES THEM.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE, STOP BY BY BEFORE MAY 10TH, I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT VIA HAS PARTNERED WITH WTS SAN ANTONIO REGION CHAPTER TO EXPAND THEIR DWTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WITH A NEW AWARD.
IT'S CALLED THE DRIVING THE FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD FOR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND SPOUSES OF TRANSIT EMPLOYEES WHO DEMONSTRATE A STRONG INTEREST IN ENTERING THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FIELD.
THE PARTNERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP WITH WTS IS DESIGNED TO HELP ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRANSIT LEADERS AND REACH FAMILIES WHO ARE SUPPORTED BY TRANSIT JOBS.
IT WAS DEVELOPED AS PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM UNDER VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGY, RACHEL BENAVIDES.
RACHEL ANNOUNCED THE FOUR YEAR ONE $10,000 PLEDGE AT THE ANNUAL WTS GALA WHERE SHE DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE SPEECH ON BEHALF OF VIA EARLIER THIS MONTH.
NOW RACHEL, I GO OFF SCRIPT, SO DON'T GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE YET.
SO AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, IT'S FIESTA WEEK AND WE'RE COMBINING THE CELEBRATION OF FIESTA WITH A CELEBRATION OF THE FACT THAT VIA WAS NAMED BY THE TEXAS TRANSIT ASSOCIATION AS THE NUMBER ONE MTA IN THE STATE OF TEXAS YESTERDAY.
RAPHAEL ASKED ME, WELL, WHEN WILL THEY ANNOUNCE THAT THE, YOU'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE UNITED STATES? AND I SAID TO HIM, ISN'T TEXAS THE BEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES? SO BY COROLLARY, WE ARE THE BEST TRANSIT AGENCY IN AMERICA, RIGHT? IN ANY CASE, WE WE'RE HAVING TWO CELEBRATIONS.
WE HAD ONE YESTERDAY AT THE VIA TRANS FACILITY, AND TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE
[00:20:01]
ONE AT MYRTLE STREET IN THE BACK, RIGHT BACK THERE.AND RAY FAO AND HIS COURT, AGAIN, WILL JOIN US.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL REMIND ALL OUR STAFF THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE NUMBER ONE AND THEY'VE MADE VIA THE NUMBER ONE TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND BE ABLE TO JOIN IN AND MEET RAY FAO.
SO IT'S A REALLY NICE WAY TO CELEBRATE BOTH OUR AWARD AND FIESTA AT ONE TIME.
SO TOMORROW, TOMORROW IT, WE WILL BE AT, AT MYRTLE STREET.
AND FINALLY, IN THIS FIESTA SEASON, I'D LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO ONE OF OUR FIESTA PARTNERS, THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, FORMERLY THE SOUTH SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER FOR COLLABORATING WITH VIA ON OUR SHARED MISSION AND TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPAND THEIR REACH TO MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR REGION, INCLUDING THE BOOMING SOUTH SIDE, AS THEY SAY, ALL ROADS LEAD SOUTH, THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP BOARD, ALONGSIDE WITH PRESIDENT AND CCEO.
REBECCA VRAN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST LOCAL CHAMBERS TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF VIAS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT, INCLUDING THE GREEN LINE AND THE PROPOSED SILVER LINE.
AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MOST MORE IMPORTANT COLLABORATIONS THAT MAKE THIS PARTNERSHIP SO VALUABLE.
SO REBECCA'S HERE TO SHARE, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
NOW, LEMME JUST SAY A COUPLE THINGS QUICKLY ABOUT REBECCA.
SO AS, AS WE ALL KNOW, REBECCA SERVED ON CITY COUNCIL UNTIL SHE COULD NO LONGER SERVE.
UH, AND SHE WAS A GREAT PROPONENT FOR US.
WE OFTEN MET WITH HER GREAT PROPONENT, UH, FOR VIA, SHE WAS ON THE COUNCIL THAT TOOK THE ORIGINAL ACT ACTION TO SEND $10 MILLION A YEAR TO ALLOW US TO ENHANCE SERVICE.
UH, AND THEN SECONDLY, UH, REBECCA AND I WERE ON VISIT SAN ANTONIO BOARD TOGETHER.
AND WHEN I WAS, UH, WHEN I WAS CHAIR FOR TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID, I ASKED HER TO BE ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I, I FOUND THAT REBECCA WAS ALWAYS, HAD GREAT OBSERVATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.
SO I WANTED HER AT THE, AT THE TABLE ON THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
SO WITH THAT, REBECCA VRAN, SIT HERE.
UM, YES, MY NAME IS REBECCA VRAN AND I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP.
AND WE HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF HAVING, UH, RACHEL BENAVIDEZ BENAVIDEZ SERVE ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHO HERSELF COMES WITH DYNAMIC AND VERY, UM, INCLUSIVE IDEAS OF HOW TEX AND, UM, VIA CAN WORK TOGETHER.
AS WAS MENTIONED IN 2022, WE REBRANDED, WE REFOCUSED AND REALIGNED OUR MISSION AND VISION TO EXPAND OUR VISION OF WHAT SOUTH IS NOT JUST SOUTH SAN ANTONIO, BUT THIS ENTIRE SOUTH TEXAS REGION AND SOUTH TEXAS TRIANGLE.
OUR MISSION IS TO STIMULATE A SUSTAINED ECONOMIC PROSPERITY TO THE ENTIRE SOUTH TEXAS REGION.
AND OUR GOALS AND TO OUR ARE TO ENSURE THAT SOUTH TEXAS EMPLOYERS HAVE ACCESS TO A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE TO ADVOCATE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT SOUTH TEXAS AND TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT SUPPORT, UM, TO RETAIN AND EXPAND BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH TEXAS REGION.
MANY OF YOU ALL KNOW ME, MANY OF I HAD THE PLEASURE, PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH, UM, SOME HAVE EVEN BEEN MY PROFESSOR.
UM, BUT WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE GROWTH OF SOUTH SAN ANTONIO AND SOUTH TEXAS FOR YEARS.
AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO STOP.
AND WE WERE ON, AND THIS YEAR OUR CHAIRWOMAN SARAH SENIO GARISH, HER THEME IS ALL ROADS LEAD SOUTH AND WE ARE BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES AND WE WERE SO HAPPY TO BUILD THIS FIESTA MEDAL WITH YOU ALL.
UM, YES, THAT FIESTA, THAT VIA BUS IS ROUTE 44 ON MORRISON GOING STRAIGHT DOWN, UM, INTO SOUTH SAN ANTONIO AND FURTHER ON, UH, WITH OUR VIA LINK SYSTEM GOING ALL VIA LINK SOUTH, WHICH GOES ALL THE WAY TO TOYOTA AS WELL AS A AND M AND BEYOND.
SO WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP AND IF YOU ALL DID NOT KNOW THAT, I'M SURE YOU REPORTED IT LAST YEAR, THAT YOU VIA HAS BEEN NAMED A LEGEND OF SOUTH TEXAS BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN SOUTH SAN ANTONIO.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR INVESTMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD OPPORTUNITIES WITH ALL OF YOU.
[00:25:06]
OH, AND VERY QUICKLY, YOU ALL HAVE MEDALS, I BELIEVE, AT YOUR DAAS, AND WE DO HAVE EXTRA MEDALS FOR EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.AND IF YOU NEED TO GRAB SOME FOR TOMORROW AS WELL, RACHEL HAS THEM IN THE FRONT ROW.
SO EVERYONE GO TALK TO RACHEL.
THANK REBECCA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR NOT ONLY SOUTH SAN ANTONIO, BUT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.
YOU'VE WORKED VERY HARD OVER THE YEARS.
I'VE SEEN YOU, UH, DEVELOP INTO A GREAT, UH, LEADER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALL I CAN DO IS THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY AND FOR YOUR EFFORT AND ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART IS THE SOUTH SIDE.
YOU KNOW THAT AS VERY WELL AS I DO.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU, YOU, YOU CARE ALL ABOUT SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST THE SOUTH SIDE, BUT THAT'S YOUR, YOUR GOAL RIGHT NOW.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND FOR, FOR WORKING WITH US.
AND HOPEFULLY WE GET OUR GREEN LINE TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BROOKS.
WELL, THE SERVICE IS GOING ALL THE WAY TO BROOKS FROM THE START.
SO HOPE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAKE IT A RAPID TRANSIT ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE.
OKAY, REBECCA, KEEP THAT IN MIND.
I JUST WANTED ALSO TO ECHO MY APPRECIATION FOR COMING DOWN TO, UH, VIA AND PROVIDING THAT PRESENTATION.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE MEDAL HERE, JEFF, I'M NOT SURE IN OUR HISTORY OF VIA OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN AGENCY, UM, ANOTHER ORGANIZATION DISPLAYING ARE VIA BUS.
UH, AND SO THAT TRULY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AND WILL ALWAYS BE AN EXHIBIT THERE AT THE FIESTA COMMISSION.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP TOO.
UH, AND THEN JUST ONE MORE, UH, OTHER, UH, ITEM.
I JUST WANTED TO WELCOME OUR NEW EXECUTIVE STAFF THAT IS HERE.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING JEFF, THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS A BOARD FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND WANNA EX EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR BRINGING ON, UM, YOU KNOW, AN EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE, NOT ONLY FROM THE CITY THAT WE'RE TAKING EX UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT INDIVIDUALS FROM OTHER MTAS AS WELL THAT CAN BRING, UM, THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THROUGHOUT, UM, UH, FOR THIS NEW TRANSITION FOR VIA.
UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT RECEIVED THE HONORS TODAY.
UH, I KNOW YOU ALL WORK VERY HARD IN THE JOBS THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR PATRONS AND FOR, FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND VIA.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ONES THAT RECEIVED RECOGNITION TODAY.
I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE JOHN, UH, CLAMP AND ROD SATCHE FOR JOINING OUR TEAM AND SAT, SAT SATORI, IF I SAY THAT CORRECTLY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING OUR TEAM.
YOU JUST STRENGTHEN OUR TEAM AND, AND I LOOK ALL I KNOW, ALL OF US LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO BE PART OF YOU.
WOULD ANY ONE OF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR ANYTHING? I I'LL OPEN IT UP TO YOU ALL IF YOU WANT.
[4. Citizens to be Heard ]
ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH, UH, CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, MR. CHAIR? WE HAVE THREE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UH, I WILL NOW READ THIS 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 SAN ANTONIO BEXAR COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND THEIR STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE, UH, BRIDGE ALMANZA, WHO IS ALSO BEING YIELDED.
THREE MINUTES FROM AMALIA SOTO, OUR TOTAL SIX MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING BOARD, UH, THE CHAIR AND THE BOARD AND JEFFREY ARN.
UH, I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT AND BUSINESS AGENT OF A TWO LOCAL 6 9 4.
UH, TO MY RIGHT WE HAVE AMAL SOTO, OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND BUSINESS AGENT.
HE'S BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER 30 YEARS.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO COME UP HERE AND TALK TO YOU GUYS.
I'VE SENT, I, THERE'S A PACKET THAT GOT PASSED OUT TO YOU GUYS,
[00:30:01]
UH, LAST MONTH TO SUPERVISORS INFORMA, UH, SUPERVISORS, INFORMATION PERSONNEL, MAINTENANCE TRAINERS, SECURITY OFFICERS AT VIA MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY WANT A VOICE AT WORK.A SUPER MAJORITY OF THOSE WORKERS HAVE SIGNED UNION CARDS REQUESTING TO BE REPRESENTED BY A TU LOCAL 6 9 4.
NOW, I TESTIFIED AT THE LAST MEETING OF THIS BOARD TO CLARIFY THAT THE UNION WAS ASKING FOR, AND A NUMBER OF WORKERS SPOKE ABOUT THE CHANGES THEY WANTED TO SEE.
I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR OUR CEO MADE A CLEAR COMMITMENT THAT HE WOULD MEET WITH THE UNION IN GOOD FAITH TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I AM HERE TO REPORT THAT THE MEETING STILL HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.
WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET WITH THE CEO THIS THURSDAY AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN REACH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEETING HAPPENS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANAGEMENT HAS PREVIOUSLY CANCELED SCHEDULES, MEETINGS ON THE TOPIC TWICE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
MANAGEMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY CANCELED.
SCHEDULES, UH, MANAGEMENT ALSO CANCELED A MEETING WITH THE UNION TO GET TO WORK ON OUR WORKING CONDITIONS.
AND JUST YESTERDAY THE UNION RECEIVED A STRANGE LETTER FROM A LAW FIRM DEMANDING THAT WE PRODUCE VARIOUS DOCUMENTS, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT MANAGEMENT IS PREPARING TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE UNION.
THE UNION DOES NOT WANT ANY MORE CONFLICT.
WE ONLY WANT TO MEET IN GOOD FAITH, REPRESENT OUR MEMBERS, AND CREATE A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE AT VIA.
YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD SOME OF THE ISSUES, SUPERVISORS, FOREMAN, CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND SECURITY OFFICERS DEAL WITH.
I SEE ALL PEOPLE WHO GAVE, WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO JOIN OUR UNION AS MEMBERS.
AND I FEEL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE ISSUES GET ADDRESSED, MEET AND CONFER WORKS.
IT ALLOWS OUR MEMBERS TO RAISE CONCERNS AND ENSURE THAT PROBLEMS GET FIXED, IMPROVE MORALE AND RETENTION, AND STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND MANAGEMENT.
WE CAN WORK OUT AN AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THESE NEW MEMBERS GET REPRESENTED.
IT WILL BE A WIN-WIN IN THE MOST RECENT LETTERS VIA LAWYERS ASKED FOR DOCUMENTS, PROVIDING THAT THE UNION REQUESTS TO DISCUSS REPRESENTING NEW MEMBERS AND THAT MANAGEMENT REFUSED.
I JUST WANT TO REVIEW THE TIMELINE OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
OF COURSE, YOU GUYS HAVE A PACKET THERE, WHICH I HAVE PROVIDED IN WRITING TO ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS ON MARCH 14TH, THE SUPER MAJORITY OF CARD SIGN.
I ORIGINALLY REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE CEO TO DISCUSS ORGANIZING NEW MEMBERS.
ON MARCH 15TH, I MET WITH THE DEPUTY CEO BECAUSE THE CEO WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN THAT MEETING, I INFORMED THEM THAT NEW MEMBERS WANTED TO BE REPRESENTED AND GAVE THEM SOME DOCUMENTS OUTLINING A PROPOSED PROCESS FOR ALLOWING THEM TO JOIN THE UNION.
I REQUESTED A RESPONSE WITHIN A WEEK ON MARCH 19TH, THE DEPUTY SEAL SAID THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND ASKED IF THEY COULD SPEAK TO A TU ATTORNEYS.
I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION FOR AN ATTORNEY TO OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT, BUT HE WAS NEVER CONTACTED ON MARCH 22ND.
UH, RESENTMENT OF DOCUMENTS I HAD, UH, HANDED TO THE DEPUTY CO VIA EMAIL AT MANAGEMENT'S REQUEST.
MANAGEMENT DID NOT COMMUNICATE ABOUT HAVING A MEETING ON MARCH 23RD.
THE UNION DISTRIBUTED LITERATURE AT THE CESA CHAVEZ MARCH DEMANDING THAT VIA RECOGNIZED NEW MEMBERS, STATING THAT MANAGEMENT HAD REFUSED TO MEET SO FAR.
ON MARCH 25TH, THE UNION SENT A LETTER DEMANDING THAT THE UNION PROVIDE PROOF OF THE CLAIMS VIA WAS REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION OR MEET TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE.
HOWEVER, HE DID NOT AGREE TO RECOGNIZE THE UNION OR MEET TO DISCUSS A NEW MEMBER, NEW MEMBERS.
AT THAT POINT, ON MARCH 26TH, OUR CO ONCE AGAIN DENIED THAT HE WAS REFUSING TO MEET, COMMIT, UH, COMMITTED TO MEET WITH THE UNION IN GOOD FAITH TO DISCUSS NEWLY ORGANIZED MEMBERS.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, APRIL 2ND, MANAGEMENT AGREED WE WOULD HOLD A MEETING ON APRIL 11TH TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE ON APRIL 10TH, MANAGEMENT, CANCEL THE MEETING AND RESCHEDULE FOR APRIL 17TH.
ON APRIL 16TH, MANAGEMENT CANCELED THE MEETING AGAIN AND RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 25TH, WHICH IS THIS THURSDAY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEETING CANCEL SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS.
BUT WE SEE A CONCERNING PATTERN AND WE WANT TO PUT OUR CONCERNS ON THE RECORD.
MANAGEMENT HAS DENIED THAT IT IS REFUSING TO MEET OR RECOGNIZE NEW MEMBERS, AND YET NO MEETING HAS OCCURRED FOR OVER A MONTH.
AND OUR MEMBERS WHO HAVE DEMANDED RECOGNITION ARE STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER.
I HOPE WE CAN FINALLY MEET THIS WEEK.
SO WE HAVE PLANNED AND PUT ALL THE CONCERNS TO REST, BUT IF ANOTHER MEETING IS CANCELED, IT WILL BE DISTURBING MESSAGE TO OUR MEMBERS.
OUR GOAL IS TO START A DIALOGUE.
THE UNION STANDS ALREADY, UH, READY TO MEET WHENEVER WE CAN.
WE ARE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN OUR POSITION MORE IN DEPTH TO ANY MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO WANTS TO TALK MORE.
I'M A VIA MAINTENANCE TRAINER.
I'VE BEEN WITH VIA FOR ABOUT 16 YEARS NOW.
[00:35:01]
AND I WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING AS WELL.I SPOKE ON THE CONDITIONS THAT I HAD WORKED IN, THINGS WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH, AND I ASKED FOR REPRESENTATION.
SINCE THAT MEETING, THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR HARD WORK, MAKING US THE BEST TRANSIT IN TEXAS.
VERY HAPPY I COULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT POSSIBLY IN THE NATION, RIGHT? SO I'M GLAD THAT MY HARD WORK IS BEING APPRECIATED.
HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE MY GRIEVANCES AND MY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED AS WELL.
WE JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AS SUPERVISORS.
WE GIVE COMPLAINTS AND THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSED.
WE HAVE ISSUES AND THEY'RE SWEPT ASIDE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON PRETTY MUCH SINCE I STARTED WORKING HERE.
SO FOR YOU, THE UNION HAS ONLY COME AROUND RECENTLY ASKING FOR SUPERVISORS TO BE PART OF THE UNION FOR US.
SO MY, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, PLEASE HELP EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS BECAUSE WE'RE RELYING ON YOU.
THIS ENDS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[5. Consent Agenda]
IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENTED ITEM, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM.TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIR? SO MOVE.
OKAY, FIRST, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? NAY CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[6. Eastside Transit Center Informational Update]
WILL ALLOW PRESENT ITEM SIX, EAST SIDE TRANSIT CENTER INFORMATION UPDATE.THIS IS AN UPDATE OF THE EASTSIDE TRANSIT CENTER, UM, WHICH IS MOVING INTO FINAL DESIGN.
AND THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, MY NAME IS ABIGAIL KINISON AND WITH ME TODAY IS CHARLES HALE, MANAGER OF ENGINEERING.
SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL OUR LAST UPDATE, UM, THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ACTUALLY LAST WEEK, BUT BEFORE THAT IT WAS, IT WAS THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE SITE WHICH WAS ACQUIRED UM, IN MARCH OF 2023.
IT IS FOUR ACRES ON THE EAST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO ON EAST HOUSTON, JUST INSIDE, UM, FOUR 10 PAST WW WHITE.
THE FACILITY LAID OUT ON THE PARCEL WITH THREE MAIN AREAS, INCLUDING PARKING, THE PLATFORM AND THE BUS LANE.
BUSES WILL ENTER ON THE SITE, ENTER THE SITE OFF OF HOUSTON AND CIRCULATE AROUND THE PERIMETER WITH BUSES STOPPING ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PLATFORM.
PRIVATE VEHICLES VIA TRANS AND VIA LINK FANS WILL ALSO ENTER OFF OF HOUSTON AND EITHER PARK OR USE THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PARKING OF THE PLATFORM TO DROP OFF OR PICK UP PASSENGERS.
THERE WILL BE SHELTERS, SEATING AND LANDSCAPING ALONG THE PLATFORM, AS WELL AS PUBLIC ART INCORPORATED INTO THE PAVING AND POSSIBLY ON THE BUILDING FACADE.
THIS SHOWS THE STRUCTURE AND THE BUILDING LAYOUT.
UM, THE BUILDING INCLUDES A LOBBY AND A WAITING AREA, CUSTOMER SERVICE, WINDOW OFFICE, UH, PUBLIC RESTROOM, AND SEPARATE OPERATOR RESTROOM, AS WELL AS SPACE FOR MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND AND MAINTENANCE.
THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS JUST UNDER 1800 SQUARE FEET.
THIS IS A, UM, BLOW UP OF THE PASSENGER PLATFORM.
AND THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROJECT IS PROGRAMMED TO SUPPORT THE END OF LINE FOR ONE ROUTE WITH THE EXPANSION POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT THE EAST WEST SILVER LINE AS WELL AS A HUB FOR FUTURE VIA LINK SERVICES.
AND AS MENTIONED, WE ARE, UM, HAVE RECEIVED 60% DESIGN DRAWINGS AND ARE AWAITING FINAL DESIGN.
SO ONCE FINAL DESIGN IS COMPLETE LATER THIS SUMMER, UH, WE WILL ADVERTISE THE CONTRACT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
[00:40:01]
LATE 2024 AND CONSTRUCTION BEGINNING THEREAFTER.AND WITH THAT, WE'LL, HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
TRUSTEES, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, I WANT TO JUST, UH, COMMEND YOU, ABIGAIL, BECAUSE I I DO REMEMBER SITTING HERE LAST YEAR AROUND THIS TIME, UM, TO DISCUSS THIS.
AND I'M SEEING PROGRESS FOR SURE.
I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE OR SEE MORE, AND MAYBE YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS IN THE PLAY ON BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WHEN, AND I DON'T WANNA WAIT UNTIL WE'RE READY TO PRESENT THE DESIGN TO THE PUBLIC TO GET FEEDBACK.
I THINK WE HAVE TO START DOING A BETTER JOB WITH ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY DURING THIS PART RIGHT NOW.
SO FOR 60% BEFORE WE GET TO 80, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE GET A GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED TO START LOOKING AT THE 60% OF DESIGN SO THEY CAN GIVE FEEDBACK? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON OR YOU CAN'T MAKE HAPPEN FOR ME ABIGAIL? WELL, SO WE DO COORDINATE WITH OUR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOLKS AND, AND THEY ARE IN TOUCH WITH ELECTED AND OTHERS ALONG THE WAY.
UM, AND SO WE, WE DO PROVIDE, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE THIS DEGREE OF PICTURE.
SO IT, SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRANSLATE A CONCEPTUAL TO THAT FINAL PIECE.
I JUST THINK THE AMENITIES, RIGHT? FOR AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
BECAUSE I REMEMBER A YEAR AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I SAID, I DEFINITELY WANNA SEE PUBLIC ART IN THIS PROJECT.
SO THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THAT WILL ALLOW US I SEE JOHN, GARY SHAKING A SEC.
'CAUSE YOU AGREE, RIGHT? OR YOU DON'T.
YOU FOLLOWING ME? I JUST THINK, JOHN, WE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE SOMETIMES AND THIS IS ONE OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
NO, IT, IT'S DEFINITELY, IT'S, IT'S PROBABLY MORE OF A CONTINUATION OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
THAT'S FINE BECAUSE WE, WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO DATE, UH, WITH WHAT I'LL CALL A GOOD DIVERSE GROUP OF, OF CITIZENS AND ELECTEDS, UH, IN THAT AREA.
BUT TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY MAY NOT SEE ANYTHING UNTIL, UH, WALLS START GOING UP.
AND, AND WE, WE COULD ABSOLUTELY GET IN FRONT OF THEM AGAIN AND START SHOWING 'EM A LITTLE MORE DEFINITION AROUND THE CONCEPTS AND HOW THIS IS, UH, THIS IS GONNA BE WORKING OUT.
DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A FULL PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, UH, CAMPAIGN QUITE YET.
BUT I THINK GETTING THAT SMALL GROUP TOGETHER, CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION AS YOU STATED IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
YEAH, IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD GO BACK AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT BEFORE.
AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S GONNA BE EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, EXCEPT WE ADDED RESTROOMS. CORRECT.
SO AGAIN, JUST SAYING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE 60% COMPLETE AS FAR AS DESIGN.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SO FAR AS WE CONTINUE TRACKING, WE'LL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND ACTUALLY I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY GOOD PRACTICE AT 60%, JUST AROUND AT 30% AND 60%.
THOSE ARE THE TOUCH POINTS AND IT'S GOOD TO, YOU KNOW, WE DO CONCEPTUAL 30%, 60% THAT WAY WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE COMMUNITY BETTER TOO.
I LIKE THE IDEA ABOUT RESTROOMS, BUT HOW, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT? UH, AND I'LL BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU.
I WENT TO A WHATABURGER AND UNLESS YOU GO UP THERE AND BUY SOMETHING, YOU DON'T GET THE CODE TO GO IN.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'RE GONNA WIND UP AS A SITUATION LIKE THAT.
UH, AND, AND I DON'T WANNA HURT OUR CUSTOMERS THAT, THAT NEED IT.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A PROBLEM FOR US, UH, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE USING IT.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
UH, I'M NOT FOR ANYONE USING IT, BUT WE GOTTA THINK ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, I JUST, I SEE IT MORE AND MORE.
SO, WE'LL, I'LL HAVE TRAMMELL WEIGH IN, BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXISTING FACILITIES THAT HAVE RESTROOMS INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BROOKS TRANSIT CENTER THAT ANYBODY FROM ANYWHERE COULD WALK IN THERE AND USE A RESTROOM.
I MEAN WE HAVE, WE HAVE SECURITY'S THERE.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN OUR CUSTOMERS AND THIS FACILITY, WE'RE PLANNING A SEPARATE PROXY ACCESSED OPERATOR ONLY RESTROOM SO THAT IF THE RESTROOM, THE LARGER FACILITY IS BEING CLEANED OR IT'S MAYBE AFTER HOURS, BUT IT'S THE FIRST BUS
[00:45:01]
IN THE MORNING, THERE'S A PLACE THAT THEY CAN USE SECURE.I MEAN, AND I'M SURE WE HAVE EXPERTS THAT CAN, THAT CAN WORK ON THAT FOR US, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
'CAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY AND FEEL SAFE AND, UH, CAN USE THE FACILITIES, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE REASONABLY WELL DONE, WELL KEPT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE.
UM, ARE WE INCLUDING GREEN INITIATIVES IN THIS DESIGN? UM, YOU KNOW, LIKE MORE TREE CANOPY IN THE PARKING LOT FOR SHADING, THINGS LIKE THAT? UH, RAIN GARDENS, ARE WE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF BMPS WE HAVE? THE DRAINAGE STUDY DOES INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE BMPS, UM, ALONG THE, YOU CAN'T SEE IT ON THIS IMAGE, BUT ALONG THE BUS LANE.
UM, THE SITE CURRENTLY IS PRETTY BARREN, SO WE ARE ADDING CANOPY FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, THE ROOF, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A KIND OF SMALL STRUCTURE, IT DOES NOT LEND ITSELF FOR SOLAR, FOR EXAMPLE.
UM, SO IT, OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN NATIVE PLANTS, DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS, WE'RE PLANNING ALL THAT FOR THE LANDSCAPE.
ON THE DRAINAGE SIDE, I'D LIKE TO MAYBE SEE SOME OF THAT OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE AGREEMENT INITIATIVES THAT WE'RE DOING? 'CAUSE THE CITY IS PUSHING IT PRETTY HARD TOO, AND WE SHOULD AS WELL.
SO, UM, SO YEAH, MAYBE WE CAN GET THAT PRESENTED TO US AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING OR THE NEXT TIME YOU PRESENT.
YEAH, I THINK THE, UH, THE STAFF DOES A VERY, VERY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE RESTROOMS CLEAN FOR ALL THE PATRONS.
AND I KNOW I JUST CAME IN FROM NORTH STAR TRANSFER CENTER AND, UH, THEY'RE BEING REPAIRED THERE, SO THEY DO HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, PORTA CANS THERE.
BUT, UH, UH, THE MAINTENANCE AND ALL THAT STUFF, UH, WE, WE NEED TO FULLY BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT IT IS A, A PUBLIC FACILITY.
IT NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN TO EVERYBODY.
ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[7. *Legal Briefing]
IS, UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION.UH, AND TODAY IS APRIL 23RD AND THE TIME NOW IS 4:51 PM I MEAN 3:51 PM AND, UH, AND VIA THE METROPOLITAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.
THE ITEMS WILL DISCUSS DURING THIS EXECUTIVE AS FOLLOWS.
ITEM SEVEN, A ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING.
LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT MATTERS, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM, PERSON ONE TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071, UH, ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY.
ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ATTEND OR MONITOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IN ANY MANNER.
UM, IT IS NOW, UH, 4:51 PM AND WE'RE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, EIGHT.
NO DELIBERATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY OR VOTE TAKEN OCCURRED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
TRUSTEES, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
MOTION CARRIES THE V THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU EVERYONE AND HAPPY FIESTA.