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GOOD.[ATD 1. Call to Order]
IT IS, UH, 5:06 PM AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER OF THE A TD BOARD MEETING.I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, WELCOME OUR ALL OUR VIA TEAMMATES AND I'M GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE AND I HOPE THAT SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOUR, UH, CONCERNS ARE RESOLVED.
UH, LET ME BEGIN WITH A ROLL CALL.
AND FIRST IS OUR SECRETARY MALONE, PRESIDENT SEC ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER.
I'M SORRY, BY CHAIR CAB I MISSED YOU HERE.
TRUSTEE BROWN IS GONNA BE OUT.
TRUSTEE GONZALEZ IS GONNA BE OUT.
TRUSTEE PADRES IS GONNA BE OUT.
[ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements]
LIKE TO STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE US AND TEXAS FLAGS.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE PHIL FLAG IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHO WHICH TO STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY TO JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR BY TEXAS FLAG.
UH, MR. BROWN, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS TIME.
WE HAVE NOW REACHED A CITIZEN SEVERE PORTION OF OUR MEETINGS.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD FOR A TD OR THE REGULAR MEETING? A TD? WE HAVE NO CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
CON AGENDA ITEM TO IF THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE ADOPTION.
MS. ERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION TO SECRETARY AD DURING THIS MEETING.
THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[1. Call to Order]
5:08 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER OF THE JUNE 25TH VIA BOARD MEETING.UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS ADDRESSED EARLIER.
[4. Citizens to be Heard ]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR OF THE NEXT CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS REGISTERED TO BE HEARD? YES.
WE HAVE NINE CITIZENS, UH, REGISTERED TO BE HEARD ALONG WITH TWO YIELDING THEIR TIME.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. CHRISTOPHER FARLEY.
BEFORE WE, UH, UH, LET ANYBODY SPEAK, I GOT TO, UH, READ THIS STATEMENT.
UH, WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENSHIP BUREAU PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.
THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO OR BEAR COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS FOR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH A BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND A STAFF.
THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVE THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
THANK YOU, AND VIA APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
OUR FIRST CITIZEN IS MR. CHRISTOPHER FARLEY.
UH, I'M PRETTY SURE YOU WONDER WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
UH, UH, OFF THE RECORD, OFF THE SUBJECT.
UH, TODAY WAS OUR LAST BUSINESS DAY AT THE JIM'S RESTAURANT AT THE SAN PEDRO HILDABRAND LOCATION.
AND, UM, IT'S A VERY BITTERSWEET DAY FOR ME IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S, THIS IS OUR LAST DAY OF BUSINESS.
'CAUSE TOMORROW'S MY 51ST BIRTHDAY AND, UM, UH, I'M TRYING, I'M STAYING WITH THE COMPANY FOR RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND WHEN Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL SCHEDULE'S NOT TOO BUSY, COME TO MY NEW LOCATION AT THE PAR BI NORTHEAST LOOP FOUR 10 LOCATION.
UH, JUST COME ON, COME ON AND SEE ME.
UH, WE HAD A NEWS CREW TODAY AT OUR, UH, OUR KENS FIVE, OUR LAST DAY.
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UH, WE, WE WERE REAL BUSY PAST FEW DAYS, UH, LEADING UP TO TODAY.SO, UH, UM, IF, LIKE I SAID, IF Y IF Y'ALL SCHEDULE'S NOT TOO BUSY, COME BY AND SEE YOU IN MY NEW NEW LOCATION.
OUR NEXT CITIZEN IS MR. BDO ALMANZA.
UH, GOOD EVENING CHAIR, MR. REYES AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.
UH, MY NAME IS BRI ALMANZA IV.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE A TU LOCAL 6 9 4.
UH, THE REASON I'M HERE AND THE REASON WHY OUR MEMBERS ARE HERE IS TO GIVE THE BOARD AN UPDATE ABOUT THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS.
NOW, THE MEET AND CONFER IS NOT GOING THE WAY IT HAS IN THE PAST.
UH, WE'RE NOT TOO SURE OF MANAGEMENT'S INTENTIONS HERE.
UH, THE A TU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE BUSINESS AS USUAL THAT WE HAVE IN THESE PAST 45 YEARS.
UH, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO EXCHANGE PROPOSALS TO MANAGEMENT MONTHS AGO.
THE UNION SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO CHANGE OUR WORKING CONDITIONS IN MAY, BUT MANAGEMENT HAS NOT RESPONDED OR MADE ANY PROPOSALS OF ITS OWN.
IN THE PAST YEARS, WE HAVE ALWAYS SCHEDULED 10 MEETINGS IN ADVANCE TO TALK ABOUT OUR WORKING CONDITIONS.
THIS ALLOWS US TO PREPARE AND GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT OUR MEMBERS NEED AND TO HEAR MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE ONLY HAD TWO MEETINGS SO FAR, AND WE SPENT WEEKS EMAILING, MANAGEMENT, ASKING TO SCHEDULE MORE MEETINGS.
UH, WE ONLY RECEIVED A RESPONSE ON FRIDAY LAST WEEK ONCE WE DISTRIBUTED A FLYER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SLOW PACE OF THE DISCUSSIONS.
NOW WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS SCHEDULED IN JULY, BUT WE ARE STILL SERIOUSLY BEHIND SCHEDULE.
OUR WORKING CONDITIONS AGREEMENT EXPIRES AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
USUALLY WE HOLD A RATIFICATION VOTE DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE, BUT NOW IT'S ALMOST JULY AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD FEEDBACK FROM MANAGEMENT.
IT SEEMS INEVITABLE THAT THE WORKING CONDITIONS WILL EXPIRE BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO GET A NEW AGREEMENT IN PLACE.
THAT MEANS THAT OUR MEMBERS HARD EARNED RAISES AND OTHER CHANGES WE ARE WAITING FOR, WE'LL HAVE TO BE DELAYED.
OUR ETU MEMBERSHIP IN VA ARE FACING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
OUR WAGES HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING OR WAGES THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY, AND OUR MEMBERS ARE LEAVING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
UH, WE ARE SPENDING MORE ON HEALTHCARE EVERY YEAR.
WE ARE STILL NOT AT FULL SERVICE AND WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO HIRE AND RETAIN, RETAIN QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR MEMBERS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES BY STAYING AT VIA RATHER THAN LEAVING.
WE ALSO WANT TO HELP THE SUPERVISORS, CUSTOMER SERVICE EMPLOYEES, TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICERS, AND OTHERS WHO HAVE JOINED OUR UNION BY INCLUDING LANGUAGE PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS IN THE WORKING CONDITIONS.
WE BELIEVE THESE PROPOSALS WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THE A TU DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE AN ADVERS RELATIONSHIP WITH MANAGEMENT.
WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH, MAKE OUR JOBS BETTER, AND HELP THE SYSTEM PROGRESS.
WE WOULD RATHER COLLABORATE TO HELP THE SYSTEM GROW AND THRIVE AND COMPLAIN, BUT WHEN MANAGEMENT DOESN'T LISTEN TO US, WE HAVE TO SHOOT.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SPEAK OUT AND INFORM THE PUBLIC OF WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
WE HOPE THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS WE CAN GET BACK TO THE TABLE AND SOLVE THESE ISSUES IN THE WAY THAT WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US.
NEXT CITIZEN IS MR. AMALI SOTO.
GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
TRUSTEES, MR. BROWN AND ALL A TU MEMBERS PRESENT TODAY.
MY NAME IS AMALIA SOTO AND I'M A 36 YEAR BUS OPERATOR AND MEMBER OF A TU LOCAL 6 9 4.
I AM HERE TODAY TO REINFORCE WHAT OUR A TU PRESIDENT JUST SAID, GIO AMANZA.
IT'S TRUE THAT THE COMPANY IS NOT PLAYING FAIR WITH US.
THEY ARE NOT COMMUNICATING WITH US IN OUR LABOR DISCUSSIONS IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE ALWAYS WORKED JOINTLY IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE COMPANY WANTS TO CHANGE HOW THEY CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH US.
IN THE 11 YEARS THAT I'VE SERVED THE MEMBERSHIP DURING LABOR DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE USUALLY MOVING FORWARD TO A COMMON GOAL.
THIS TIME AROUND THE COMPANY IS STALLING AND NOT ALLOWING US TO HAVE ANY INPUT TO REACH THAT COMMON GOAL.
WE ARE THE FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES OF VIA AND WE DESERVE FAIRNESS AND DIGNITY IN OUR WORKPLACE.
SO I RESPECTFULLY APPEAL TO Y'ALL ON THE AUTHORITY BOARD TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION SO THAT WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A JOINT RECOMMENDATION BY BOTH LABOR
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AND MANAGEMENT SO THAT WE ALL CAN MOVE FORWARD.OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. SAMUEL MARTINEZ.
AND MIGUEL AMADOR HAS YIELDED HIS TIME TO MR. MARTINEZ.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, THE MAIN REASON WHY I CAME UP WAS BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY.
WE'RE THREATENED EVERY SINGLE DAY OUT THERE IN THE FIELD.
WE HAVE TO WAIT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AND A HALF JUST TO HAVE PD SHOW UP.
THE ONLY TIME THAT WE GET REAL ACTION IS IF WE THREATEN TO CALL SAPD.
THEN MIRACULOUSLY, TRANSIT, PD, SUPERVISOR SAFETY, THEY ALL SHOW UP.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO BE BLIND BURNING OR DYING OUT THERE ON THE FIELD JUST TO BE SEEN.
OVER THE LAST MONTH, FOUR OPERATORS HAD KNIVES, GUNS PULLED OUT ON THEM.
JUST LAST NIGHT I WAS DOING THE 5 52, MY LAST TRIP TO CROSSROADS AND I WAS THREATENED TO HAVE MY, MY BUTT REARRANGED AND I'M LIKE, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S STOPPING US AND THE CUSTOMER, BECAUSE OF COURSE BASED ON ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND EVERYTHING AND THE PROPAGANDA THAT HAS BEEN SAID TO THE MEDIA THAT B CARES MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS THAN THEY DO US EMPLOYEES.
I WAS INJURED BACK IN MARCH 6TH, 2024.
I WAS RUNNING EARLY TO FIVE POINTS AND I GOT INJURED.
I WAS HERE AT THE LAST MEETING IN CRUTCHES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PAIN GOT THE BEST OF ME AND I LEFT EARLY.
I WAS THEN DENIED BECAUSE THEY SAID I WAS OBESE WHERE I'VE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY KNEES EVER BEING PRIOR SERVICE.
MY AGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
BUT YET I WAS DENIED BECAUSE I DID MY JOB.
WHERE'S OUR SAFETY? WHERE'S THE PROTECTION? JUST LAST WEEK, ANOTHER OPERATOR GOT INJURED DOING THE SAME THING, TOOK A KNEE LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, PROPER BODY MECHANICS, HE GOT INJURED.
CHANCES ARE HE MIGHT GET DENIED TOO.
WE HAVE THE CHEAPEST LOWING BIDDING, MEDICAL SERVICE AND INSURANCE THAT THERE IS.
THE PREVIOUS INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH WAS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, WAS AT LEAST MORE FAVORABLE TO US TO FIND A MEDICAL PROVIDER HERE.
IN ORDER FOR ME TO FIND A MEDICAL PROVIDER, I HAVE TO DRIVE TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.
NO PROVIDER HERE IN THE SAN ANTONIO REGIONAL AREA WILL TAKE AETNA INSURANCE AT ALL.
THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING PATIENTS, THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING FORMER PATIENT NOTHING.
BECAUSE AETNA HAS THE TENDENCY TO NOT PAY CLAIMS. JUST LIKE FOR MY MEDICAL CLAIM, FOR THE WORKERS' COMP AND FOR MY PRESCRIPTION, GUESS WHO GOT SENT THE BILL? I DID EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED.
LAST MEETING WHEN I WAS IN HERE, I SAT RIGHT BACK THERE IN THE FIRST ROW AND MANY BOARD MEMBERS I SAW WERE ON THEIR PHONES, EATING, ROLLING THEIR EYES, SHOWING THE LACK OF RESPECT THAT WE ALL DEMAND EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE GET ON THAT BUS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GO HOME.
THE AMOUNT OF ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, JUST GETTING ON THAT BUS AND DRIVING ON THESE STREETS, I PRAY AT LEAST SIX TO SEVEN TIMES EVERY SINGLE TIME I'M AT A RED LIGHT AT A REST AREA OR EVEN A TRANSIT CENTER SAYING, PLEASE JUST GET ME HOME SAFELY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
YESTERDAY ON MY ROUTE, THEY WERE ARGUING, FIGHTING, INCLUDING SPITTING AND PEOPLE FALLING ON THE BUS.
BUT YET, WHO DO WE TURN TO? WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TURN TO.
[00:15:01]
WE CALL DISPATCH LIKE WE'RE INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.AND ALL WE'RE GREETED WITH IS DISDAIN, REMORSE, DISRESPECT, AND EVEN ATTITUDE WHEN THEY'RE THERE TO HELP US.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR A PAY RAISE THAT WE DESERVE? THAT WE EARN JUST DEALING WITH THE AMOUNT OF NONSENSE THAT IS OUT AND ABOUT ON THE STREET.
SOME OF US, EVERY SINGLE DAY, WE JUST LOOK AT EVERY PERSON THAT GETS ON OUR BUS AND SAY, CONSTANTLY LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE ISSUES WITH THESE PEOPLE.
WE'VE HAD 'EM BEFORE AND ALL WE'RE TOLD IS, OH, IT'S OKAY.
GO AHEAD, WRITE A REPORT VIA HAS NOT PRESSED CHARGES ON THE PERSON THAT ASSAULTED ME AT BROOKS.
HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING, HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET.
BUT WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE? HOW MANY FAMILIES MIGHT NOT SEE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS GO HOME AT THE END OF THE NIGHT? LIKE THE CAR, THE CAR THAT HIT THE BUS? WE LOST A GOOD BUS, FIVE 50 BECAUSE A CAR DECIDED TO SPEED AND RUN THE RED LIGHT AND HIT THE BUS.
WHAT WOULD'VE HAPPENED TO THAT DRIVER? OH, WELL THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAYING MORE ATTENTION.
BIA WOULD'VE PLACED THE BLAME ON US BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO WHAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO.
THE NEXT CITIZEN IS MR. THURMAN MCNEIL.
I REFER BY THAT YOU'RE DEFERRING YOUR TIME.
STAFF MEMBERS, UM, LEMME PUT A LITTLE DIFFERENT SPIN ON THIS MAY BE MORE OF A HUMAN SPIN.
UM, AND I'LL INTRODUCED MYSELF.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE, SAN ANTONIO.
AND YOU'RE PROBABLY SAYING WHY IS THAT ALL SIGNIFICANT? IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE I GREW UP, UM, WHERE MY FATHER WORKED FOR THE POST OFFICE.
MY FATHER RETIRED 36 YEARS FROM THE AIR FORCE RESERVE.
THEN HE RETIRED FROM THE POST OFFICE WITH 35 YEARS AND HE RETIRED AS THE POSTAL SUPERVISORS.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS AS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS HIRED BY THE POST OFFICE, HE BECAME A, AN, UM, UH, A UNION MEMBER BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS A UNION MEMBER FOR THE POST OFFICE.
MY FATHER, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE POSTAL, THE POST UNIT PROVIDED MY FATHER WITH A LIVING WAGE, HEALTH BENEFITS, AND MORE IMPORTANT, A STABLE INCOME BECAUSE OF THE POSTAL UNIT'S NEGOTIATIONS AND NEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH TO PROVIDE THEIR EMPLOYEES WITH A LIVING WAGE AND BENEFITS.
IT PROVIDED MY, MY MOTHER, THE ABILITY TO STAY HOME, ABLE A YOUNG FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN TO MOVE FROM THE WEST SIDE TO A HOME BY ST.
SIX YEARS LATER, WE MOVED TO THE NORTH SIDE WHERE I GREW UP MOST OF MY LIFE IN ROLLING RIDGE, WHICH IS OFF OF KAHAN EVEREST.
LATER AFTER GRADUATE I JOINED THE MILITARY AND I RETIRED FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS IN THE MILITARY.
AND I LIVED IN ARIZONA FOR A WHILE, THEN WAS ABLE TO GET EMPLOYED BY BY VE THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I'M A PRODUCT OF A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY.
I DON'T HAVE A STORY TO TELL YOU WHERE I WALKED THE HOMES, THE ONE SHOE ON AND I HAD TO WALK BACK THE OTHER WAY ONCE THE SHOE OFF.
MY MOTHER WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM.
I WILL SAY I HAD A NICE CHILDHOOD.
THE POSTAL UNION PROVIDED A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT FOR OUR FAMILY TO GROW.
MY FATHER DID PROMOTE TO A POSTAL SUPERVISOR AFTER 14 YEARS AND THEY ALSO HAVE A A,
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A UNION.SO AS A YOUNG MAN ALL THE WAY UNTIL MY DAD'S TIME TO END THE POST, THE UNION POSTAL UNION HAD GAVE MY FATHER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE A GOOD FAMILY.
AND I AM NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND LIE.
I GREW UP MIDDLE CLASS KID, PLAYED ALL THE SPORTS, DID ALL THE THINGS, JOINED, FOLLOWED MY DAD'S FOOTSTEPS, JOINED THE MILITARY AND RETIRED UNION MEMBERS WORK TOGETHER TO NEGOTIATE, ENFORCE A CONTRACT WITH MANAGEMENT THAT IS GUARANTEED THE THINGS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT, LIKE DECENT RAISES, AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE, JOB SECURITY, AND A STABLE SCHEDULE.
PRO-UNION POLICIES CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN A MIDDLE CLASS HOUSEHOLD BY RAISING THEIR INCOMES, IMPROVE THEIR WORK CONDITIONS AND BOOST JOB SATISFACTION.
THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT BEHIND NEGOTIATING FOR THE UNION.
LASTLY, UNIONS ARE A FABRIC OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY.
UNIONS ARE HERE TO STAY AND I KNOW THAT MAY BE HARD TO HEAR AND I KNOW WHAT STATE WE LIVE IN.
TEXAS IS A VERY HARD STATE TO LIVE IN AND ANYBODY SAYS IT'S NOT.
AND IT'S UP TO US TO HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY GET YOU THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR. BROWN AND OTHERS TO COME IN GOOD FAITH.
'CAUSE ME, MYSELF, I'M A PRODUCT OF OF A UNION FAMILY.
MY FATHER WAS GREAT AND I WANTED HIM TO BE HERE, BUT HE HAD A DOC'S APPOINTMENT 'CAUSE I WANTED TO PUT A FACE TO A NAME.
UH, IT'S BEEN THE PAST TWO DAYS TALKING TO MY FATHER AND I HAVE BREAKFAST IN HIM EVERY, EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING.
HE'S 82 YEARS OLD AND I WANT HIM TO BE HERE TO SHOW YOU A FACE BECAUSE OF THE UNION HELPING AND PROVIDING GOOD BENEFITS, GOOD HEALTHCARE, A STABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FAMILY.
MY SISTER GRAD, THEY HELPED PUT MY SISTER TO COLLEGE.
SHE GRADUATED FROM UTSA WITH A DEGREE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND SHE RETIRED FROM USAA AS ONE OF THE FINANCIAL MANAGERS.
MY BROTHER WHO ALSO WENT TO UTSA IS A, IS A, IS A SOFTWARE ENGINEER AND HE'S OF CHARGE OF, OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT DOWN IN SEIN, WHO JUST OBTAINED A $400,000 CONTRACT TO IMPROVE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE.
MY BROTHERS, MY YOUNGER SISTER AND HER HUSBAND WOULD A DIFFERENT WAY AND OWN THEIR BUSINESS, BUT THEY'RE WELL OFF.
BUT THE, THE, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT BECAUSE MY FATHER HAD A UNION JOB, IT PROVIDED US WITH A GOOD FAMILY.
IT PROVIDED US FOR MIDDLE CLASS.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HERE IS ASKING TO BE IN THE TOP 1%.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOR EVERYBODY TO BE FAIR.
NOBODY'S ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE OR LESS.
YOU KNOW, IIII WISH I COULD HAVE RETIRED.
I EARLIER AND DONE OTHER THINGS, BUT IT JUST WASN'T POSSIBLE BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA BE IN THE FIGHT TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
AND I'M HOPING IS MY LAST THING I SAY, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND WORK TOGETHER SO WE CAN RESOLVE OUR, OUR DIFFERENCES AND HELP THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SITTING BEHIND ME TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARY ANTES.
YOU'RE SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES.
I AM A TRANSIT SECURITY OFFICER.
I WANNA THANK THE VIA BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE VIA ACCOUNT ABOUT 17 YEARS.
I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY OFF.
TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY AND I SIGNED PAPERWORK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH AND WAS DENIED HAVING 50 HOURS OF VACATION.
I WAS ONLY ASKING FOR 16, SO I FELT THAT WAS AN INJUSTICE.
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I SUPPORT THE A TU IN HOPES OF MAKING IMPORTANT CHANGES THAT SOW NEED TO BE DONE.I STAND FOR JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE.
I THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OUR NEXT, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. ANDREW PEREZ WITH TIME YIELDED TO HIM BY WHEEL BRIDGES.
I'VE BEEN A BUS OPERATOR FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
I'VE COME TO THESE MEETINGS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IN REGARDS TO OUR PAY SAFETY AND OUR POOR MANAGEMENT TEAM.
CLEARLY TO ME AND OTHER OPERATORS, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR CHANGED SINCE I AND OTHERS HAVE COME TO THESE MEETINGS.
I PERSONALLY HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES TO SPEAK WITH MR. ARNT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES OR AT LEAST GIVE ME AND ANOTHER'S GUIDANCE TO THESE CLAIMS. HOWEVER, HE STILL WON'T MAKE TIME FOR ME AS AN EMPLOYEE HERE AT VIA WHAT IS TRIGGERING IS HOW I GAVE HIM MY BUSINESS CARD IN THE HALL WITH MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AND HE STATED TO ME HE WILL GIVE IT TO HIS ASSISTANT.
AND STILL TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A SINGLE CALL OR TEXT.
I UNDERSTAND HE HAS A LOT GOING ON.
HOWEVER, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET WITH HIS EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE BEEN REQUESTING TO MEET WITH HIM FOR OVER A YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY, I FEEL I HAVE COME TO TERMS WITH VIA MANAGEMENT THAT THEY DO TRULY DO NOT CARE ABOUT US WORKERS.
WE HAVE COME TO MR. ARN MANY TIMES AND BEG AND PLEADED FOR US TO BE HELPED BECAUSE WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES DUE TO INFLATION.
I HAVE COME MULTIPLE TIMES TO MEETINGS AND I NEVER FOR SOME REASON GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE OR EMAIL FROM THE BOARD.
I AM SICK WITH HOW VIA TREATS THEIR EMPLOYEES, MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, SUPERVISOR, DEPARTMENT STATION, FOREMAN DEPARTMENT, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT VIA I HAVE SOUGHT SO MUCH HELP IN WONDERING WHY IS THIS THE NATURE OF THE CULTURE HERE? VIA USED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST JOBS IN SAN ANTONIO YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
WHAT HAPPENED? MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BEST.
DO YOU NOT SEE US STRUGGLING? DO YOU NOT SEE THAT? WE HAVE COME TO YOU MANY TIMES TO TRY TO TALK AND ASK FOR HELP.
WHY DO YOU NOT CARE TO HELP US? WHAT MORE DO WE HAVE TO DO? I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BECOMING A UNION REP STILL IN TRAINING THIS YEAR.
AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS THAT REVIEW US FOR SAFETY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS AT FAULT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.
FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD A DRIVER GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE WAS A VEHICLE THAT RAN THAT RED LIGHT CUT THE DRIVER OFF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
PASSENGERS FELL, THE DRIVER WAS INJURED, YET SAFETY DECIDED TO GIVE HIM POINTS BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT.
THESE PEOPLE WHO JUDGE US HAVE NOT BEEN OPERATORS LONG NOR HAVE EVEN DRIVEN A VIA BUS.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I FEEL LIKE IT IS ALL FAVORITISM HERE.
OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM IS REALLY CORRUPTED HERE.
TAKE EXAMPLE, A STATION FOREMAN FIGHTING WITH ANOTHER FOREMAN AND HAVING THE LEAD DEESCALATE THE SITUATION.
THAT FOREMAN SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFINITELY TERMINATED, YET THEY KEEP HIM HERE.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, WHEN I START, WHEN I STARTED HERE, I HAD DREAMS OF BECOMING A SUPERVISOR AND I MET WITH OUR LEAD AND HE TOLD ME A CLEAN RECORD HERE IS SKETCHY.
HE WANTED SOME DIRT ON THE RECORD.
I APPLIED FOR SUPERVISOR BECAUSE A COUNSELOR ENCOURAGED ME TO DO SO.
HE SAID MY RECORD WAS CLEAN, ATTENDANCE WAS GOOD, NO ACCIDENTS.
HOWEVER, UPON MEETING WITH THE LEAD, VAGUELY, HE TOLD ME HE DROPPED ME BECAUSE HE COULD NOT GIVE ME A REASON WHY I MET WITH HR.
I MET WITH EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, EVEN COUNSELING.
HR STATED HE SHOULD HAVE NEVER EVEN TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
AND LOOKING UPON MY RECORD, I SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED.
AT LEAST I TRIED TALKING WITH OUR MANAGEMENT, WITH OUR MANAGER, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO MEET WITH HIM.
UPON TALKING TO EMPLOYEE RELATIONS, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT THEY WANT, WHICH IS NO ONE WITH THE RS, NO ONE WITH COACHING AND COUNSELINGS, I WAS TOLD THAT THOSE SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR WHILE APPLYING FOR THE JOB.
WHAT HAPPENED TO DIRT ON THE RECORD? IN CLOSING, I'M LEAVING HERE KNOWING AND FEELING THAT MANAGEMENT IS ONLY FAVORITISM HERE AND THAT MR. R TRULY JUST WON'T HELP US.
Y'ALL WANNA DO THIS GREEN LINE BUS, THE ART SYSTEM FOR SAN ANTONIO.
YET AGAIN, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TO DO THOSE.
WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? CUT MORE RUNS BECAUSE OF THIS? OH, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
I TRULY FEEL THAT AT THIS POINT, ONLY GOD CAN REALLY FIX THIS COMPANY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MR. TRAMMELL BROWN FOR MEETING WITH ME COUNTLESS TIMES FOR NOT ONLY HELP ME IMPROVE AS AN OPERATOR, BUT JUST AS A PERSON IN GENERAL.
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THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS AND THANK YOU FELLOW COWORKERS FOR TAKING TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY TO BE HERE.NEXT SPEAKER IS NATHANIEL MARTINEZ AND HE SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, MR. BROWN.
UH, I'M NATHANIEL MARTINEZ, BUS STATION SUPERVISOR AND CAME HERE THIS EVENING TO MEET WITH YOU ALL.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, AS BRIDGE ALMANZA, IT UH, ITERATED THAT WE ARE REQUESTED TO BE PART OF THE A TU AND WE WANTED TO HAVE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS AND HAVING WORKING CONDITIONS LAID OUT AND WRITTEN DOWN FOR OUR WORKFORCE.
AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEGOTIATIONS AND, UH, THE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL.
AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING AND CONFERRING, UH, IN FAIRNESS AND COMING TO A FAIR AND EQUITABLE AGREEMENT FOR THE DIFFERENT WORKING CONDITIONS THAT WE WISH TO DISCUSS.
THERE, THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND SPEAKING TODAY.
UH, WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR, UH, AGENDA.
[5. Consent Agenda]
IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS CON CONSENT AGENDA? I HAD MS. PRESENTED, SO MOVED.
[3. President/CEO Report]
ITEM NUMBER THREE THAT I, I HAD TO SKIP.UH, AND THIS IS THE PRESIDENT CEO REPORT.
OUR FIRST STEP, UH, TO RECOGNIZE THE STAR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE QUARTER.
OUR STAR EMPLOYEE FOR THIS MONTH IS SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST AMANDA ORTEGA.
SHE'S BEEN WITH US SINCE OCTOBER, 2021 AND SINCE THEN SHE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET.
MOST RECENTLY, SHE HAS STEPPED UP IN HER DEPARTMENT TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ON ADDITIONAL DUTIES OUTSIDE HER REGULAR RESPONSIBILITIES TO HELP SUPPORT HER MANAGER WHO IS CURRENTLY ON LEAVE.
AMANDA HAS TAKEN ON TRAINING AND OVERSIGHT TO OUR NEWEST FINANCIAL ANALYSTS AND REPORTING TASKS TO ENSURE WE MEET OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL DELIVERABLES.
HER SUPPORT IN THESE AREAS HAS GIVEN HER TEAM THE ABILITY TO MEET DELIVERABLE DEADLINES AND ENSURE OUR NEWEST ANALYST WAS PREPARED AND READY FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET SEASON.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR AMANDA'S DEDICATION AS VALUE VALUABLE ASSET TO THE VIA TEAM.
AMANDA, ARE YOU HERE? THERE SHE IS.
OUR NEXT ITEM FOR RECOGNITION IS A MR. JESSE RODRIGUEZ AND MOISE GARCIA.
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR PARA TRANSIT OPERATORS FOR PLACING AT THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, CTAA NATIONAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION RODEO OF 2024 IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA ON JUNE 9TH.
EXCUSE ME, PARATRANSIT OPERATOR.
AND JESSE, IF YOU'RE HERE, IF YOU COULD STAND JUST FOR A MOMENT.
SO, JESSE RODRIGUEZ WON FIRST PLACE IN THE NATION, UH, IN THE PARA TRENDS RADIO AND WAS VERY GOOD.
AND ON TOP OF THAT WAS ALSO AWARDED THE OTIS REED DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
JESSE HAS 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SERVING PASSENGERS AND HAS COMPETED IN SEVEN CTAA NATIONAL RODEOS.
HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND EXPERTISE AND HIS ACHIEVEMENT AS VIA HIS FIRST TIME NATIONAL PERIOD TRANSIT RODEO CHAMPION FOR A TESTAMENT TO HIS UNPARALLELED SKILL AND DETERMINATION.
IN ADDITION, HIS SIDEKICK VIA PEER TRANSIT OPERATOR MOISE GARCIA, YOU CAN STAND MOISE.
[00:35:02]
MO PLAYS SIXTH IN THE RODEO.HE HAS BEEN WITH VIA FOR 32 YEARS AND HAS COMPETED IN THREE CTA NATIONAL RODEOS AND REPRESENTS THE HEIGHT OF PROFESSIONALISM AND TENACITY.
THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION RODEO IS THE ONLY NATIONAL VENUE TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE VALUE OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY TRANSIT OPERATORS, THE BACKBONE OF THE COMMUNITY OF THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.
THIS EXCITING EVENT DRAWS DRIVERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO COMPETE FOR TOP SCORES ON A COURSE THAT TEST SKILLS ON EVERY LEVEL OF THE DRIVER'S ABILITIES WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON SAFE OPERATIONS AND PASSENGER SENSITIVITY.
THANK YOU JESSE AND MOIS FOR REPRESENTING VIA AND SETTING EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLES OF EXCELLENCE.
WE'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE A MR. JOE GARCIA.
LET'S CONGRATULATE JOE GARCIA JR.
FOR SERVICE SCHEDULER AND VIA SERVICE PLANNING AND SCHEDULE DEPARTMENT WHO COMPLETED HIS MASTERS OF ARTS AND MANAGEMENT SPECIALIZATION IN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FROM WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY.
IT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND WE COMMEND JOE FOR REACHING THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
NEXT UP THE TRANS DASH AWARDS.
I'M PLEASED TO SHARE THAT VA HAS WON THREE IMPRESSIVE AWARDS AT THE TRANS DASH SUMMIT AWARDS.
EARNING THE HIGHEST CUSTOMER SATISFACTION FOR Q1 OF 2024.
THE HIGHEST NET PROMOTER SCORE FOR Q1 2024 AND THE BEST IMPROVEMENT IN NET PROMOTER SCORE FROM Q 20 20 23 TO Q1 2024 TRENDS DASH, WHICH IS PART OF TRENDS PRO MAINTAINS A NATIONAL PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD TO QUANTIFIABLY MEASURE, DELIVER AND BENCHMARK MEASURABLE VALUE FOR PARTICIPATING TRENDS AND AGENCIES, INCLUDING VIA KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS IN THE REPORTS RELATE TO ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS AND SERVICE OUTCOMES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY BEING SERVED.
A NET PROMOTER SCORE OR NPS MEASURES HOW LIKELY EXISTING CUSTOMERS ARE TO RECOMMEND VIA TO OTHERS BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE USING THE SERVICE AND INTERACTING WITH TEAM MEMBERS.
THESE AWARDS REFLECT VIAS COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND CONSTANTLY IMPROVING OUR CUSTOMER'S EXPERIENCE.
OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, JOHN GARY HERRERA, IS REPRESENTING VIA THE AWARDS TAKING PLACE TODAY AT THE TRANSIT SUMMIT.
WE WANT TO EXTEND, THE GREAT THING IS THE JOHN GARY RIVER, EXCUSE ME.
SO BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE ENTIRE VIA TEAM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HELP US DELIVER ON OUR MISSION EVERY DAY BY MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON OUR VEHICLES AT OUR FACILITIES AT ALL CALL CENTERS AND THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE AREA.
ONE MORE LAST THING TO SHARE IS AN UPDATE ON OUR VEHICLE CARES VOLUNTEER EVENT.
V IS PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR AND PARTNER OF THE MISSION CONTINUES.
EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE MISSION CONTINUES AS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT EMPOWERS VETERANS TO CONTINUE SERVING IN OUR NATION'S UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, GIVING VETERANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP SERVING THEIR COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
THE PROGRAMS DEPLOY VETERANS AND VOLUNTEERS TO WORK ALONGSIDE NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, TACKLE FOOD INSECURITY, FOSTER NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY AND MORE.
WE'RE ESPECIALLY PROUD THAT VIA CARE'S VOLUNTEERS WERE DEPLOYED WITH THE SAN ANTONIO PLATOON FOR OPERATION MILITARY CITY SALUTE THIS PAST SATURDAY AND SPENT THE DAY COMPLETING PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT THE YOUNG WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.
SPECIAL THANKS TO APPLICATION PRODUCT MANAGER, ARMANDO ALT AND HIS FAMILY AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALISTS, JOSE JIMENEZ FOR REPRESENTING V AT THIS EVENT.
WE APPRECIATE OUR VOLUNTEERS AND ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE V CARES PROGRAM THAT HELPS SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AND NONPROFIT PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY, UH, ESPECIALLY OUR TRANSIT OPERATORS.
I KNOW IT'S TOUGH DRIVING THOSE VEHICLES.
UH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A LITTLE BIT OF IT, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB.
SO, UH, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR EVERYBODY ELSE THAT, THAT WAS RECOGNIZED TODAY.
YOU, YOU ALL ARE JUST FANTASTIC.
AND ALSO TO OUR VICE CHAIR CABELLO, I THINK, WHO'S BEEN WORKING OUT AT THAT PROJECT THAT WE WERE, THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
YOU LOOK A LITTLE SUMMER IN THERE, SO
AND, UH, YOU LIKE WE ALWAYS SAY VIA CARES AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR EVERYBODY'S INVOLVEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF I COULD ADD AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA TAKE OUR STAR, UH, AWARD WINNER PHOTO RIGHT NOW AT THIS TIME.
[00:40:01]
SO WE'LL ALL JOIN UP TO THE MIDDLE.WE GONNA TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE TRANSIT AWARD WINNERS TOO OR NO? YEAH, WE CAN BRING THEM UP.
[6. Proposed August 2024 Service Changes]
IS, UH, ITEM NUMBER SIX.PROPOSE AUGUST 24, 24, SERVICE CHANGES BOARD CHAIR AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE.
I'M SAN NIPS, DIRECTOR OF SERVICE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING.
UM, AND MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, TONY LUNA WILL GO OVER THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE AND THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, UH, THAT WAS COMPLETED.
UM, GOING OVER THE NEW SERVICES WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, FOR ROUTE 30 RIGS P WE ARE IMPROVING THE WEEKDAY FREQUENCY FROM 60 MINUTE TO 30 MINUTE, UM, DURING PEAK TIMES, WHICH ARE 6:00 AM TO 9:00 AM IN THE MORNING AND 3:00 PM UH, TO 6:00 PM IN THE EVENING.
[00:45:03]
THE NEXT ROUTE IS ROUTE 90 WOULD LEARN, UH, WE ARE IMPROVING THE WEEKDAY FREQUENCY FROM 60 MINUTE TO 30 MINUTE AND DURING PEAK TIMES, WHICH ARE, UH, 6:00 AM TO 9:00 AM IN THE MORNING AND 3:00 PM TO 6:00 PM IN THE EVENING.SO GOING OVER THE SERVICE WHICH WE ARE PROPOSING TO NORTH EAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE, WHICH I WILL SOMETIME MENTION AS NLC, UH, VIA WAS APPROACHED BY NLC TO PROVIDE TRANSIT SERVICE, UH, TO THE CAMPUS.
NLC IS THE ONLY ALAMO COLLEGE ISTIC CAMPUS NOT SERVED BY VIA, UH, VIA DOES NOT CURRENTLY SERVE THE CAMPUS BECAUSE, UH, IT IS LOCATED WITHIN TWO NON-MEMBER CITIES, WHICH ARE LIVEWORKS AND THE UNIVERSAL CITY VIA AS COORDINATED WITH NLC TO ASSESS, UH, THE CAMPUS AND IDENTIFY TO POSSIBLE, UH, BUS STOP LOCATION VIA COMPLETED AN ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE.
UH, THE PROPOSED SERVICE PLAN ENTAILS PROVIDING TRANSIT SERVICE TO NLC CAMPUS THROUGH VIA LINK RANDOLPH AND VIA LINK NPA ZONE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE STAFF AND STUDENTS CAN TRAVEL FROM ANYWHERE WITHIN THE KOPA ZONE OR RANDOLPH ZONE TO NLC AND CAN DO THE SAME.
TRAVELING BACK FROM THE NLC CAMPUS TO VIRTUAL STOP LOCATIONS ARE IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE NLC CAMPUS.
ADDITIONAL TWO VEHICLES ARE NEEDED PART ZONE DURING PEAK TIME, WHICH IS 7:00 AM TO 4:00 PM AND ONE DURING OFF PEAK TIME.
I WILL SUMMARIZE THE SERVICE TO NLC.
THE SPAN OF THE SERVICE ON WEEKDAYS IS 5:00 AM TO 10:00 PM WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE RANDOLPH ZONE, 5:00 AM TO 9:30 PM WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE KOPA ZONE.
THE ANNUAL COST ESTIMATED TO BE 319,000.
THE ANNUAL RIDERSHIP IS ESTIMATED TO BE 8,800 TO 17,300.
IT IS BASED ON FIVE TO 10% NLC STUDENT ADOPTION RATE.
THE COST PER HOUR IS $47 80 CENTS AND THE COST PER PASSENGER IS $18 42 CENTS TO $36 25 CENTS.
UH, GOING OVER THE SERVICE CHANGE TIMELINE, WE PRESENTED THE SERVICE CHANGE INFORMATION AT THE MAY BOARD MEETING PUBLIC OUTREACH, UH, STARTED IN MAY IN JUNE.
WE ARE PRESENTING THE SERVICE CHANGE INFORMATION FOR BOARD TO TAKE ACTION.
CITY OF LIVE, OAK CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE DNX SESSION REQUEST FROM FROM NLC ON JUNE 11TH, 2024.
PUBLIC INFORMATION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WILL START AFTER THE JUNE BOARD MEETING AND SERVICE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON AUGUST 19TH, 2024, TONY.
VIA BOARD MEMBERS, UH, VIA BOARD CHAIR.
UH, I'LL BE GOING OVER THE ENGAGEMENT SUB SUMMARY.
UM, JUST TO RECAP, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE EXPRESS NEWS, UH, ON MAY THE 27TH.
WE ADDITIONALLY PUBLISHED, UH, ON MAY 29TH AND THE SAN ANTONIO OBSERVER AND IN SPANISH IN ION.
UM, THE DEDICATED WEBPAGE WAS@VIAINFO.NET, UH, SLASH PROPOSED CHANGES.
AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAD THE OPTION TO VIEW THE ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARING PRESENTATION ON THAT WEBPAGE AND PROVIDE COMMENT.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE WAS POSTED ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS ON FRIDAY, MAY 31ST, AND ON FRIDAY, JUNE THE SEVENTH.
AND AN E-BLAST WAS SENT OUT AS WELL ON MAY 30TH TO ABOUT 150, UH, SUBSCRIBERS.
UH, WE ALSO SENT OUT AN E UH, E-BLAST TO AROUND 21 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THAT SERVICE AREA.
AND, UH, WE ALSO DID IN-PERSON OUTREACH ALONG THE CORRIDOR AND WITHIN THE VEING ZONE, UH, HITTING ABOUT 25 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD HERE IN THE VMC BOARDROOM, UH, MONDAY, JUNE THE 10TH AT 5:30 PM WE DID HAVE THREE ATTENDEES AND YOU CAN SEE A MIX OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, UM, THAT, UH, THAT WE DID RECEIVE.
UH, WE RECEIVED SEVEN OF THEM.
UH, AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THEY ARE KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO INCREASE SOME FREQUENCY, UH, NONE THAT WERE, UH, ACTUALLY, UM, IN ANY TYPE OF OPPOSITION, WHICH WAS A GOOD, UH, NOTE THAT THESE ARE POSITIVE SERVICE CHANGES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO INFORMING THE COMMUNITY UP UNTIL AUGUST 19TH.
AND OF COURSE, WE'LL CONTINUE THAT EDUCATION AS
[00:50:01]
WELL.AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION IN MY TIME.
TRUSTEES, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
TRUSTEE AL HAS LIVE OAK DNX, THAT AREA ALREADY.
IT GOT APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 11TH.
THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON THE PAPERWORK.
AND WILL THERE BE ANY ADVERSE IMPACT TO ROUTE 21 OR WILL IT JUST CONTINUE AS IT HAS BEEN? IT'LL CONTINUE AS IT IS.
UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS ITEM? SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.
[7. Nominations of New ATAC Liaisons]
IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, NOMINATIONS OF THE NEW AT AC LIAISON.GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR AND TRUSTEES.
MY NAME IS MARTHA FLORES AND I AM THE MANAGER OF A DA AND ACCESSIBLE SERVICES.
AND TODAY I AM PRESENTING INFORMATION TO SEEK BOARD APPROVAL TO APPOINT SIX COMMUNITY LIAISONS TO SERVE IN AEC THE ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
FIRST, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO REAPPOINT THREE OF OUR AEC INCUMBENTS, AND THEY ARE Y ENTER TWO REPRESENTING PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
CHARLES BUFF, REPRESENTING PERSONS WHO ARE NON-NORMATIVE, AND MIGUEL CASTRO, REPRESENTING PERSONS WHO USE MOBILITY DEVICES.
ALL THREE INCUMBENTS ADD SIGNIFICANT VALUE TO OUR COMMITTEE THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHT IN WHICH HAVE TRULY HELPED ENHANCE OUR SERVICES.
THE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS TO FILL THE REMAINING THREE POSITIONS ARE FIRST BARBARA STOPFORD.
SHE IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE LIAISON POSITION REPRESENTING PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION.
THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION IS JAY VALENZUELA FOR THE POSITION REPRESENTING OLDER ADULTS FROM THE CITY COUNTY JOINT COMMISSION ON ELDERLY AFFAIRS.
AND THE LAST ONE IS ARMENIA LONDO.
AND SHE'S RECOMMENDED FOR THE LIAISON POSITION FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.
UM, THE, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
THE REQUEST IS TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SIX COMMUNITY LIAISONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION QUESTION, TRUSTEE COLE? UH, I'M PROUD TO CHAIR THAT COMMITTEE AND I THINK MY FELLOW TRUSTEES WHO SERVE ON THE COMMITTEE WILL AGREE THAT, UH, THE, THE COMMITTEE IS DOING EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD WORK THAT WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH ALL OF MARTHA'S EFFORTS AND CURTIS'S EFFORTS AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED.
THERE WERE 87 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR THESE POSITIONS.
87 PEOPLE THAT HAD TO BE VETTED BY MARTHA AND HER TEAM.
AND I KNOW THAT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK BECAUSE A LOT OF VERY, VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA BE SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND WE LOOK FOR JUST CONTINUED GOOD THINGS COMING FROM IT.
SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND IF YOU NEED A, A MOTION, I'LL BE GLAD TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE, UH, THE MOTION.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UH, IT'S VERY WELL APPRECIATED.
I KNOW FROM ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, I HAVE A, UM, FIRST DO I HAVE, CAN I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
UH, AND THAT'S LEGAL BRIEFING.
MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR.
WE DO NOT HAVE A BRIEFING TONIGHT.
WE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO ADJOURN.
MOTION CARRIES TO THE V MEETING IS ADJOURNED.