Jul 23, 2024 VIA / ATD Board of Trustees Meeting

[00:00:01]

THERE WE GO.

THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.

LEMME TRY THAT AGAIN.

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME

[1. Call to Order]

I AM BOARD CHAIR FERRES.

IT'S NOW 5:00 PM UH, 5:03 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE JUNE 23RD VIA BOARD MEETING.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.

LET'S SEE.

VICE CHAIR , I THINK SHE'S RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE.

SECRETARY MALONE HERE.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER HERE, SIR.

UH, TRUSTEE BAAL, I THINK IS GONNA BE OUT.

TRUSTEE BROWN, YOU MAY BE LATE.

UH, TRUSTEE CUOMO HERE.

TRUSTEE GONZALEZ.

I AM NOT SURE IF SHE'S GONNA BE HERE OR NOT, BUT WE'LL WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS HERE.

TRUSTEE PEREZ, I THINK HE'S OUT.

ALSO TRUSTEE TO WILL PRESENT TRUSTEE WOLF HERE.

GREAT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT

[2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements]

MY PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG.

FLAG THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANSWER THEIR PRODUCT FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR THY TEXAS FLAG.

I PLACE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS ONE NATION AND GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE, EVENTUALLY .

OKAY.

OKAY.

AND THE NEXT IS, UH,

[3. President/CEO Report]

MR. RN.

OKAY, SO THERE ARE SLIDES THAT GO WITH THIS, CORRECT? YEAH, I'LL WAIT FOR THEM TO COME UP THERE.

THEY'RE ALL RIGHT.

SO FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE WILL BEGIN TODAY'S RECOGNITION WITH OUR STAR OPERATORS OF THE QUARTER, AND THEY ARE BUS OPERATOR, CYNTHIA LIMAN AND PARATRANSIT OPERATOR, JESSE RODRIGUEZ.

CYNTHIA, ARE YOU HERE? OH, GOOD.

AND WE'RE GONNA CYNTHIA AND JESSE JESSE'S HERE.

I, I THOUGHT I SAW JESSE.

THERE YOU ARE.

OKAY.

SO WE WILL HAVE YOU COME UP INDIVIDUALLY FOR A PICTURE AFTER I BRAG ON YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH THE BOARD.

RIGHT.

SO LET'S START WITH CYNTHIA.

CYNTHIA IS, CYNTHIA HAS PROVIDED QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE ON A CONSISTENT BASIS, AND SHE ENGAGES WITH PATRONS PROFESSIONALLY WHILE MENTORING NEW OPERATORS.

TO DO THE SAME, SHE HAS GALVANIZED OTHER OPERATORS TO ENGAGE IN QUALITY PERFORMANCE BY HAVING THE LEAD TEAM IN THE OPERATOR FANTASY LEAGUE.

AND SHE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HAVE CONSISTENTLY HIGH ON TIME PERFORMANCE, NO COMPLAINTS AND POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH HER PATRONS AND HER PEERS.

AND THEN JESSE, JESSE RODRIGUEZ IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SUCCESS LAST MONTH AT THE COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, CTAA, NATIONAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION RODEO, 2024 IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.

SO BUS OPERATORS AND THE MAINTENANCE TEAM GO TO THE AP TO CONFERENCE.

THAT'S WHERE THAT RODEO'S HELD.

AND VAN OPERATORS GO TO THE CTAA NATIONAL CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS HELD IN WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA.

HE WON FIRST PLACE IN THE NATION.

YEAH, LET'S HEAR IT.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE .

HE WAS ALSO AWARDED THE OTIS REED DRIVER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

COME ON.

THAT, THAT MERIT.

OKAY.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING MORE ABOUT JESSE OTHER THAN TO WIN FIRST PLACE AND BE THE DRIVER OF THE YEAR BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IS A PHENOMENAL RESULT.

AND IF I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S A FIRST ILLA.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS, JESSE.

WHAT WE WILL DO NOW IS, UH, THE BOARD WILL ASSEMBLE UP FRONT.

WE'LL HAVE CYNTHIA COME FORWARD FIRST DO A PICTURE, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE JESSE COME FORWARD FOR A PICTURE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO CYNTHIA, YOU'RE UP.

[00:08:17]

UH, WE'RE PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE A LATINOS AND TRANSIT SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORED BY THE NORTH AMERICAN TRANSIT ALLIANCE SERVICE SCHEDULER AND ANALYST ZACHARY PATTIS AND PROJECT PORTFOLIO MANAGER MARCUS PEOPLES JR.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL HELP HELP BOTH GENTLEMEN PAY FOR TUITION, AND THEY WILL ALSO BE AWARDED A STIPEND TO ATTEND THE 2024 LATINOS AND TRANSIT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT IN PORTLAND, OREGON THIS FALL.

SO ZACH AND MARCUS OR MARCUS PEOPLES JR.

I KNOW THE OLDER ONE IS HERE.

I SEE HIM.

, ARE YOU HERE? EXCELLENT.

WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU AND I'M SURE THERE'S SOME CONGRATULATIONS FOR MARCUS PEOPLE SENIOR TOO, THERE, RIGHT.

UH, CONGRATULATIONS ARE ALSO IN ORDER FOR SPECIAL PROJECT MANAGER MARCELLA DS WELLS.

MARI RECENTLY PASSED THE A ICP EXAM TO ADVANCE INTO THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS.

SHE JOINED VIA MORE THAN SIX YEARS AGO AND HAS ASCENDED THROUGH VARIOUS PO POSITIONS IN SERVICE PLANNING AND SCHEDULING.

SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING THE INITIAL OPERATIONAL COST ESTIMATES FOR VIA REIMAGINED AND THE KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING STRATEGIC PLANS, INCLUDING A RT AND BETTER BUS.

IN HER NEW ROLE, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, MARI WILL LEAD THE SILVER LINE A RT PROJECT AS ITS DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER, MARIELLA STANDS TO BE RECOGNIZED.

I AM ALSO PLEASED TO RECOGNIZE VIA SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER CHRISTINE

[00:10:01]

THE MISSION OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO THE BALCON SITES CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF IN PROMOTING, ASSESSING AND SUSTAINING E ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE EDC ALSO SERVES AS THE ENTITY THAT MANAGES THE OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN THE CITY'S LARGEST COM COMMERCIAL PRO PROPERTY, I'M SORRY, WONDERLAND OF THE AMERICAS.

HER EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES IN URBAN DESIGN, LAND USE, AND TRANSPORTATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LED TO HER NOMINATION AND APPROVAL BY THE BALCONES HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL AT ITS JUNE MEETING.

CONGRATULATIONS.

SO WE HAVE ONE OTHER WOMAN IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT.

WE'D WANT TO OFFER OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO MAJOR CAPITAL PROGRAM OFFICER CHERRI AL KAR, WHO WAS SELECTED AS CO-CHAIR OF THE ALUMNI AFFAIRS AND MENTORSHIP COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOUNDATION.

SHE'S BEEN A BOARD MEMBER OF THE FOUNDATION SINCE 2023, AND IT HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS SINCE 1988 TO NEARLY 400 SCHOLARS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS PROPELLING THEM TOWARDS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR INDUSTRY.

SO IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY THAT GERRI IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INDUSTRY.

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS, MANGER.

IT IS WITH MIXED EMOTION THAT I ANNOUNCE THE UPCOMING DEPARTURE OF DR.

LORRAINE POLITO.

AFTER HER NINE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO VIA AS OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, LORRAINE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AD ADVOCATE OF AND FOR VIA AND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

WE HAVE NO DOUBT SHE WILL CONTINUE HER EFFORTS TO ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY AND FIND GREAT SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVOR.

I INFORMED HER THAT IT WAS WRITTEN INTO HER CONTRACT THAT SHE COULD NOT LEAVE UNTIL I LEFT, AND SHE INFORMED ME SHE HAD NO CONTRACT.

SO WITH THAT SAID, LORRAINE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE VIA RECENTLY EARNED FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD PLACES IN THE SERVICES CATEGORY AT THE A MA SAN ANTONIO MARKETING EXCELLENCE AWARDS.

THESE AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCEPTIONAL MARKETING FOR CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ASSOCI AMERICAN MARKETING ASSOCIATION PRESENTED VIA WITH THESE HONORS DURING ITS ANNUAL EVENT VIA WAS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS STAND STANDOUT PERFORMANCE IN THE VIA HIRING SUPERHEROES VIA GROWING AND VIA.

IT'S SO EASY 2.0 CAMPAIGNS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MARKETING TEAM ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

AND THERE, THERE'S THE MARKETING TEAM THAT THE CORE MARKETING TEAM OF THE, OF VIA CONGRATULATIONS, JESSICA, ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY VIA SAFETY DEPARTMENT, RECOGNIZED 68 BUS AND VAN OPERATORS FOR THEIR SAFE OPERATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, INCLUDING 41 WHO RECEIVED THE NATIONAL SAFETY ACCOUNT, UH, COUNCIL'S KAPLAN SAFE DRIVER AWARD OF HONOR FOR OPERATING AT LEAST 15 CONSECUTIVE YEARS WITHOUT A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT.

WE HOLD THESE SESSIONS TO, IN, IN, UH, INDUCT NEW FOLKS INTO THESE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. WE ALSO HONOR 29 OPERATORS WITH THE NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL'S, MILLION MILE RECOGNITION, 23 FOR REACHING A MILLION MILES, FIVE FOR REACHING 2 MILLION, AND ONE OPERATOR WON FOR REACHING 3 MILLION MARK.

THESE AWARDS SIGNIFY 12 AND A HALF, 25 AND 37 AND A HALF YEARS RESPECTIVELY, OF OPERATING WITHOUT A PREVENTABLE CRASH.

THESE OUTSTANDING OPERATORS PERSONIFY COMMITMENT TO SAFETY THAT WE AT VIA EMBODY EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THEIR SAFETY RECORDS, THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND HOW THEY REPRESENT VIA IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, AND JUST AS A NOTE, AND JOHN GARY, I'LL LET YOU THROW YOUR STAT IN AS WELL.

THE, THE AVERAGE, UH, THE AVERAGE PERSON DRIVES, UH, IT WOULD TAKE THEM 70 YEARS OF DRIVING ON THAT, THAT AVERAGE RATE IN ORDER TO REACH A MILLION MILES.

SO IF YOU ALSO ADD IN THE 16 YEARS THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING, AT LEAST YOU'D HAVE TO BE 86 YEARS OLD TO DRIVE A MILLION MILES.

WELL, NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE CLOSE TO 86 YEARS OLD.

SO BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 3 MILLION MILES, THAT OPERATOR HAS DRIVEN THREE OR FOUR LIFETIMES OF SERVICE WITHOUT HAVING A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT.

JOHN, GARY, YOU HAVE HAVE THE AROUND THE WORLD STAT, RIGHT?

[00:15:01]

MY, MY, MY STAT THAT I INTRODUCED TO THE, TO THE GROUP ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WAS INDEED A STAT WHERE IF YOU, IF YOU, UH, TAKE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF OUR EARTH, IT'S ABOUT 24,000 MILES.

SO THE MILLION MILE, UM, RECIPIENTS MEANS THAT THEY CIRCLED THE EARTH 42 TIMES, UM, WITH, WITHOUT A PREVENTABLE, PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT, WHICH THEN YOU DOUBLED THAT TO 84 TIMES FOR THOSE AT 2 MILLION.

AND THEN YOU CAN DO THE MATH ON THE 3 MILLION 124 TIMES.

THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, DRIVING MILES AROUND THE EARTH WITHOUT A PREVENTABLE ACCIDENT.

SO A GREAT HAND FOR ALL OF THOSE FOLKS.

AND THAT AWARD-WINNING, UH, MARKETING TEAM HELP US PUT THE WHOLE EVENT TOGETHER.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S A PICTURE OF THE BOARDROOM, JUST IN CASE YOU'RE CURIOUS.

LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE SEE IT DAY TO DAY.

AND WE DO HAVE A VIDEO RECAP OF THE FRIDAY AND THE SATURDAY.

HI, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

UH, WE ARE GATHERED TO CELEBRATE AN HONOR AND INCREDIBLE DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR OPERATIONS AND OPERATORS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, ENSURING THAT PEOPLE GET TO WORK, SCHOOL, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, AND SO MUCH MORE SAFELY AND RELIABLY EVERY DAY.

IT'S A PASSION TO MY HEART TO BE ABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE TO PLACES, TO THEIR JOBS AND TO THEIR APPOINTMENTS AND EVERYTHING SAFELY AND ON TIME.

AND I ENJOY DOING THAT.

WE CONSTANTLY PREACH THROUGH TRAINING, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY WELL EMBEDDED IN OUR OPERATOR'S MIND SAFETY OVER SCHEDULE, SAFETY OVER ANYTHING.

AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE EXTRAORDINARY SAFETY RECORD WE HAVE HERE AT VIA.

AND THEN PARTICULARLY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL OPERATORS.

AND I JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT 2 MILLION MILES IS 82 TIMES AROUND THE AIR.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF MYSELF AND I AM SO HAPPY.

I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF HIM.

IT'S A BIG HONOR FOR BOTH OF US.

I ALWAYS TELL HER THAT I AM HER NUMBER ONE FAN.

I WANT TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE TO HER AS POSSIBLE.

AND, UM, I'M JUST LOVING BEING, BEING THIS PLUS ONE.

IT, IT FEELS GREAT 'CAUSE UH, WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO WHAT WE DO AND IT'S NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED.

SO I'M VERY PROUD TO BE HERE AND TO SUPPORT HIM BECAUSE SUPPORTING HIM IS SUPPORTING OUR FAMILY AND WE'RE A FAMILY.

HE HAS A FAMILY.

I CAN SAY THE REACTION FROM THE AWARD RECIPIENTS WAS PHENOMENAL.

UH, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE NOT ONLY THEM, BUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED HIMS THAT THEY BROUGHT.

I FEEL APPRECIATED AND IT FEELS GOOD TO BE APPRECIATED.

I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF HIM.

HE WORKS HARD.

HE GETS UP EVERY MORNING, DEDICATES HIMSELF EVERY DAY ON THE STREETS OF SAN ANTONIO TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE THAT HE DOES FOR EVERYONE.

FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THAT HE ENJOYS HIS JOB AND HE TAKES IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND SAFETY IS PRIORITY FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS REFRESHING TO SEE NOT ONLY OUR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THE OPERATORS PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY, BUT TO ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND OTHERS WHO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THEIR, LIKE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SAFETY THAT THEY HAVE FOR HELPING MOVE SAN ANTONIO JUST FOR THE SAFETY AWARD.

IT IS A LOT OF HARD WORK.

AND WHEN I MEAN BY HOW HARD WORK YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR MIND ON DRIVING AND JUST WATCH OUT FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S OUT THE, ON THE ROAD AS A WIFE, YOU SACRIFICE A LOT FOR A HUSBAND THAT WORKED LIKE HE DID.

SO I JUST COUNTED A BLESSING FOR HIM TO BE HONORED TODAY.

I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THEY CAN RELY ON VIA TO KEEP THEM AND THE CUSTOMERS SAFE AND TO GET OUR CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

I'VE BEEN WITH VR 58 YEARS.

WE'RE PROUD TO DO IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME AS AN EMPLOYEE ALL OF THESE YEARS.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:20:01]

AND TRAMELL IS WORKING ON PUTTING TOGETHER AN ENTIRE PRESENTATION, PLAQUE PRESENTATION THAT WILL SHOW ALL THE OPERATORS WHO ARE, WHO ARE WITH US, ALL THE ACTIVE OPERATORS WITH US THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED THESE, UH, THESE UH, AWARDS OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, I'LL NOTE THAT, UH, THAT OPERATOR TRUJILLO, WHO HAS THE 3 MILLION MILE AWARD, WAS ALSO HAD THE BEST MOVES ON THE FLOOR THAT DAY.

, APPARENTLY AT 3 MILLION MILES, YOU, YOU, YOU LEARN THE MOVES, RIGHT? UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, TRUSTEE BOB CUOMO, WHO ATTENDED BOTH THE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENTS.

THANK JOHN GARY FOR MCING ON ON SATURDAY.

AND, UH, I, THAT'S, UH, IT'S A INCREDIBLE EVENT.

AND ARE THERE ANY OPERATORS THAT WERE INDUCTED INTO EITHER OF THOSE PROGRAMS OVER THE, THE LAST COUPLE DAYS HERE TONIGHT? RAISE YOUR HAND OR ARE THERE ANY OPERATORS THAT ARE PART OF IT HISTORICALLY? RAISE YOUR HAND.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

ON JUNE 17TH, JOINT BASE, SAN ANTONIO RANDOLPH RECOGNIZED VIA FOR PROVIDING SPECIAL EVENT SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF THE GREAT TEXAS AIR SHOW IN APRIL, VIAS OPERATION SAFETY AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT TEAMS WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO MORE THAN 2000 EVENT ATTENDEES.

ABIGAIL KINISON AND KEN DAVISON ACCEPTED A LIMITED EDITION LITHOGRAPH PRINT OF THE AIR FORCE THUNDERBIRDS AS A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE.

AND THEY ALSO REP REPRESENTED VIA AT THE COMMANDER'S CALL, HELD BY THE 502ND LOGISTICS READINESS SQUADRON.

AND THAT PRINT IS ON THE EASEL RIGHT OVER THERE, SO YOU CAN STOP BY AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEAM FOR SUPPORTING JBSA.

AND FINALLY, UH, ON A SOBER NOTE, I'D LIKE TO ASK ALL OF US TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE AND REFLECTION TO RECOGNIZE THE RECENT PASSING OF A FORMER, FORMER VIA BOARD MEMBER AND SOMEONE WHO MADE MANY NOTABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR INDUSTRY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

REBA MALONE, FORMER TRUSTEE AND BOARD SECRETARY, PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 26TH.

SHE WAS 89 YEARS OLD.

HER LEGACY OF SERVICE INCLUDES NUMEROUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS DEALING WITH THE EDUCATION, THE ARTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSPORTATION.

SHE HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST WOMAN TO SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION, AND AS CREDIT AS BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN OPENING THE DOOR FOR WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, AND HAVING BEEN THERE WHEN SHE WAS INDUCTED OR WHEN SHE BECAME THE CHAIR AND SEEN HER IN ACTION IN THE ENSUING YEARS, THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE.

SHE'S HAD MANY FRIENDS AT VIA AND THROUGHOUT THE TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY WHO TOOK INSPIRATION FROM HER AND ADMIRED HER, MYSELF INCLUDED.

WE THANK SECRETARY MALONE.

WE THANK SECRETARY MALONE, A DIFFERENT SECRETARY MALONE , AND HONOR HER LEGACY TONIGHT.

SO ON BEHALF OF VIA AND THE BOARD, UH, OFFER SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO SURELY MISS HER, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THAT MOMENT OF REFLECTION.

AND THAT IS MY REPORT, MR. CHAIR? YES, MA'AM.

A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE, UH, CEREMONY THE OTHER DAY.

SURE, YES.

UM, IT WAS MY HIGH HONOR TO BE HERE AT THE CEREMONY ON, ON, UH, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY TO HONOR THE KAPLAN AWARD WINNERS AND THE MILLION, 2 MILLION AND 3 MILLION MILE, UH, UH, DRIVERS.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME ALL MY UNION BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE.

GLAD TO SEE YOU.

UH, UH, UH, I INVITE YOU TO ALL OF OUR MEETINGS 'CAUSE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BUT, UM, UH, I'M PROUD OF EVERY ONE OF YOU THAT KEEPS SAN ANTONIO MOVING EVERY DAY, REGARDLESS OF, OF WHAT YOUR JOB IS WITHIN THE VIA OPERATION.

UH, WE, WE ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THE SAME TEAM WHO ARE TRYING TO, TO KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

AND THE NEXT FEW YEARS ARE GONNA SHOW SOME VERY, VERY TRANSFORMATIVE THINGS THAT WILL BE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO DOES EVERY

[00:25:01]

IT WAS JUST TOTALLY AMAZING, TOTALLY AMAZING, UH, THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT Y'ALL HAVE MADE.

AND I NOTICED, UH, I THINK OF THE TWO DAYS, AT LEAST FIVE OF THOSE DRIVERS I HAD RIDDEN WITH PERSONALLY.

AND SO I MADE A POINT TO THANK THEM FOR, UH, THE GOOD JOB THAT THEY HAVE DONE, THEN DRIVING ME, BUT ALSO, UH, DRIVING PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

I ALSO WANNA GIVE KUDOS TO THE STAFF WHO TRANSFORMED THIS ROOM.

WHEN I WALKED INTO THIS ROOM, I DID NOT RECOGNIZE IT AS OUR BOARDROOM.

IT WAS LIKE A HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION.

THEY HAD REALLY DONE IT AND HONORED THE PEOPLE VERY, VERY WELL.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT TRAMELL IS GONNA BE PUTTING TOGETHER A LIST OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO PRIOR TO THIS INDUCTION CEREMONY HAD, UH, HAD EARNED THIS AWARD.

BECAUSE I THINK IF WE LOOK AT IT, I THINK WE HAVE A VERY, VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF OUR OPERATORS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS.

AND, AND THAT SAYS VERY, VERY GOOD THINGS FOR OUR OPERATION.

AND I INSPIRE ALL THE REST OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T YET ACHIEVED IT TO, TO DO GOOD AND TO, UH, TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT IN A FEW YEARS YOUR NAME WILL BE ON THAT LIST AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

MAY I ALSO HAVE A MOMENT TO SAY SOMETHING REALLY? YES, AHEAD.

THANK YOU.

AHEAD.

UM, THIS ONE WAS PROBABLY HIT ME AS WELL AS IT DID THE REST OF THE VIA FAMILY, BUT LORENA POLITO LOOKING FOR HER.

DID SHE ALREADY TAKE OFF WHERE SHE'S HIDING Y'ALL, LORENA, THE NINE YEARS THAT SHE'S PROVIDED HER SERVICE HERE TO VIA, I HAVE BEEN SO HONORED TO WATCH AS NOT ONLY HER RE BUT JUST ANOTHER FELLOW WOMAN IN TRANSPORTATION.

UM, LORENA AND I HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN CONNECTED FOR SO LONG.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHEN IT, LIKE, YOU HAVE THIS MOMENT WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN REMEMBER LIFE BEFORE MEETING HER 'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO.

UM, AND BECAUSE THAT'S WHO SHE IS, SHE'S A SPARK TO EVERY PERSON THAT SHE, UM, COMES AROUND AND YOU NEED HER, LIKE YOU NEED OXYGEN.

AND SO I'M JUST REALLY HONORED THAT SHE'S SERVED US SO WELL HERE AT VIA FOR NINE YEARS, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES.

SHE'S ACTUALLY THE INSPIRATION, UM, WHY I MADE THE DECISION TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT AFTER HEARING HER TALK ABOUT HER JOURNEY TO GETTING HER PHD THAT I WAS ALSO PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF, UH, FROM AFAR AS HER FRIEND, UM, WE WOULD HAVE VERY EARNEST TALKS AND, AND ESPECIALLY AROUND WHEN MY GRANDFATHER WAS FALLING ILL.

AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PEOPLE TO CALL ME, UM, AND, AND ASK HOW I WAS DOING.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT, BUT SHE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO NOW.

YOU NEED TO CHANNEL ALL THAT ENERGY THAT YOU LOVE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND, AND GO TO WORK.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID, LORENA.

AND SO I'M SO PROUD THAT I GET TO SEE YOU FURTHER YOURSELF AND WORK FROM A PERSONAL AND A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.

BUT AS SO THANK YOU.

AND ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO MARI.

MY, UH, MARIELLA IS SO HUMBLE AND SHE'LL NEVER TELL YOU THE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT SHE, UM, ALONG WITH A VERY BIG GROUP OF US FROM A-B-L-D-P, FROM THE HISPANIC CHAMBER, SUCCESSFULLY PETITIONED FOR, UM, FOCUSING ON THE ARTS DURING THE AFTERMATH OF COVID AND HOW TRANSPORTATION CAN BE INTEGRATED INTO THAT.

AND SO SHE IS SUCH A REMARKABLE PERSON FOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO MARISELA.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR TEAMMATES IS WHAT MAKES VA GREAT.

UH, BUT I WANT TO TAKE A, A, A LITTLE POINT OF PRIVILEGE AND RECOGNIZE THE, UH, MILLION MILE WINNERS AND ESPECIALLY THE 3 MILLION MILE WINNER.

AND I'D LIKE TO STAND AND APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK.

THANK YOU.

ALSO, UH, I SAW LORRAINE LEAVE, BUT I WANT IT ON THE RECORD THAT, UH, LORRAINE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING ME WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE TO, TO THE VA BOARD, AND IT'S HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY.

SHE'S GONNA BE TERRIBLY BE MISSED, AND, UH, BEING A FELLOW HARLANDALE INDIAN , WE'RE GONNA MISS HER EVEN MORE.

BUT, UH, SHE IS DONE SO MUCH, UH, AND IS DOING SO MUCH FOR OUR

[00:30:01]

UH, AND BESIDES HER JOB OF WHAT SHE DOES ON HER OWN, UH, HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER.

SHE'S GOING TO A, A GREAT PLACE WHERE I THINK SHE'S GONNA HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT ON A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO.

SO THANK YOU HER FOR HER EFFORTS.

UH, NEXT,

[4. Citizens to be Heard ]

DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? YES, MR. CHAIR.

WE DO HAVE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

OKAY, THEN I NEED TO READ THE 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 PATIENTS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BERK 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 OR HIS STAFF.

THIS PROCESS ASSURES THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVE THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

THANK YOU, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.

OUR FIRST, UH, CITIZEN TO BE HEARD WILL BE BRIDGE ALMANZA, AND HE WILL BE, UM, UP HERE FOR SIX MINUTES WITH THREE MINUTES DONATED TO HIM FROM NOELLE, LEDESMA.

BRIDGER.

GOOD EVENING, UH, CHAIR REYES, FERNANDO, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND JEFFREY ARNT.

UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR, FOR RECOGNIZING OUR, OUR, UH, VIA EMPLOYEES.

UH, ALMOST EVERY MONTH WE, MARIO AND MYSELF AND SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, WE DO SHOW UP FOR THESE RECOGNITIONS FOR ON TIME PERFORMANCE, UH, UH, ALSO WITH THE, UH, MAINTENANCE TOO.

UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE GLAD YOU, YOU'RE RECOGNIZING EVERYBODY.

IT DOES BUILD MORALE HERE AT THE COMPANY, WHICH IS KIND OF LOW RIGHT NOW, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UH, AS YOU KNOW, UH, WE MEET WITH MANAGEMENT EVERY THREE YEARS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO GET THE COMPANY TO PROGRESS AND HAVE A FAIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR MEMBERS.

UH, THAT'S HOW THINGS HAVE WORKED DURING MY WHOLE CAREER VIA, WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR MEMBERS AND FOR THE COMPANY AND FOR COMMUNITY WE SERVE.

IF OUR MEMBERS ARE HAPPY, THEY PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR THE DIALOGUE WITH MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN IN THE PAST.

THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP WANTS TO MAKE RADICAL CHANGES TO OUR PROCESS.

OUR MEMBERS ARE WORRIED, AND IT'S MY JOB AS UNION PRESIDENT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THESE CONCERNS.

UH, WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE SYSTEM THAT HAS WORKED WELL HERE FOR YEARS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE SOME MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN OUR DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, UH, BY SITTING DOWN AND EXCHANGING PROPOSALS, TALKING ABOUT OUR GOALS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS OF CONSENSUS AND COMPROMISE WHEN IT COMES TO IMPROVING TRAINING AND SCHEDULING.

OF COURSE, WE DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES WHEN IT COMES TO PAY AND THE REPRESENTATION OF THE NEW MEMBERS.

IF WE CAN KEEP TALKING, I BELIEVE WE WILL.

IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO COME TOGETHER IN THE END AND MAKE A JOINT RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD AND WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYONE AT VIA A TWO HAS ALWAYS WORKED HAND IN HAND WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, A TWO IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE LET THE MARCHES FOR MLK AND THE CESA CHAVEZ MARCH.

WE ALREADY REPRESENT VIA THE COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, AND WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORKING BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

I BELIEVE WE CAN REPRESENT THE COMPANY WITH MORE PRIDE THAN EVER.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE AMALIA SOTO.

HE WILL HAVE UP TO SIX MINUTES TO SPEAK WITH THREE MINUTES DONATED TO HIM FROM ROBERT GARZA.

AGAIN, GOOD EVENING, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, TRUSTEES AND MR. ART AND OUR SENIOR STAFF, AND I ALSO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR A TU IN THE HOUSE TODAY AND OUR LABOR LEADERS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AS AN EMPLOYEE OF VF FOR OVER 36 YEARS AND A UNION MEMBER, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW VIAS HANDLING OUR CURRENT LABOR DISCUSSIONS.

I BELIEVE Y'ALL AS TRUSTEES HAVE AT VIA, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THIS COMPANY.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR WORKPLACE.

VIA MANAGEMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY DO NOT WANNA WORK TOWARDS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT.

FIRST OFF, THEY DELAY THE PROCESS SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE US A VERY LITTLE TIME TO DISCUSS OUR WORKING CONDITIONS.

TYPICALLY, WE START DISCUSSING DISCUSSIONS MONTHS IN ADVANCE SO WE CAN WORK TOWARDS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT.

AND OUR CURRENT SITUATION VIA MANAGEMENT, HAS COME UP WITH EXCUSES MONTH AFTER MONTH TO DELAY THE PROCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT FOR MR. JOHN CLAMP, WHO WAS HEADING THE VIA MANAGEMENT TEAM TO GO ON VACATION.

BY THE WAY, HE'S ONLY BEEN HERE LIKE, UH, WHAT, FOUR MONTHS, SIR,

[00:35:01]

THEN WHEN WE FINALLY HAD OUR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING, MR. KLEM MADE IT CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD BE A MONOLOGUE, NOT A DIALOGUE DISCUSSION.

THIS CONTRADICTS THE JOINT EFFORT THAT IS REQUIRED BY BOTH SIDES ACCORDING TO OUR LABOR DISCUSSIONS POLICY THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

I WILL QUOTE NUMBER TWO IN THE POLICY PROCEDURE.

THE PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES IS INTENDED TO GIVE THE EMPLOYEES MAXIMUM VOICE WITH RESPECT TO WAGES, HOURS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS PERMITTED BY LAW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

NOW, IT SEEMS, RATHER THAN GIVING US MAXIMUM VOICE VIA MANAGEMENT JUST WANTS TO DO THE BARE MINIMUM.

SECONDLY, FOR YEARS, WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER WITH MANAGEMENT TO COME UP TO A MUTUAL AGREEMENT.

THIS PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS HAS SU SUDDENLY CHANGED.

WHEN WE ASKED VIE TO PROVIDE AN ANSWER FOR THIS CHANGE, THE ANSWER WAS IT WAS ILLEGAL.

IT HAS BEEN ILLEGAL ALL THESE YEARS THAT IN GOOD FAITH WE WORKED TOWARDS A JOINT RECOMMENDATION.

MR. RN, I, I'M NOT SURE THE TRUTH BEHIND THAT, BUT IF WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING ILLEGALLY, I, I GUESS ALL OF US SHOULD BE IN JAIL.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS WAS AN EXCUSE FOR MANAGEMENT TO TRY TO MAKE DRASTIC CHANGES IN OUR WORKING CONDITIONS VIA MANAGEMENT HAS, HAS EVEN DISREGARDED OUR RATIFICATION PROCESS.

THIS IS A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS THE EMPLOYEES TO VOTE ON WHETHER THEY APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OUR WORKING CONDITIONS.

THIS IS A HEALTHY PROCESS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHAT IS PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS IS A MUTUAL AGREEMENT BY BOTH PARTIES.

AND HISTORICALLY, IT HAS NEVER BEEN VOTED DOWN.

THIS IS MOSTLY BECAUSE THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT BY BOTH LABOR AND MANAGEMENT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE BRIEFED MR. CLAMP ON THE RATIFICATION PROCESS, HE MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE DIDN'T CARE WHAT WE DID BECAUSE IT WAS STILL GONNA THERE.

WERE STILL GONNA PRESENT THE ONE-SIDED PROPOSAL TO YOU ALL THE TRUSTEES.

THE ONE-SIDED PROPOSAL IS BASICALLY WHAT MANAGEMENT REQUESTS.

THIS ONE-SIDED PROPOSAL IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE WORKPLACE.

ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY MANAGEMENT IS TO SEIZE LONGEVITY FOR THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYEES.

THIS IS A HORRIBLE DECISION BECAUSE BASICALLY THIS MAKES A COMPANY A REVOLVING DOOR EMPLOYER AND IT, AND THERE'S NO MYSTERY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION ISSUES.

LASTLY, I URGE YOU ALL TODAY TO UNDERSTAND OUR PERSPECTIVE.

THE UNION IS NOT TABOO HISTORICALLY, THE TRUSTEES AND THOSE BEFORE Y'ALL HAVE APPROVED THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT'S A JOINT RECOMMENDATION.

AND I EMPHASIZE JOINT RECOMMENDATION AND IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE THAT THIS WILL BE APPROVED.

WE ARE, THE VOICES MANAGEMENT HAS BRIEFED YOU AND ARE Y'ALL THE DIRECTION THAT THEY ARE HEADED, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WE NEED TO SEE IT AT THE TABLE.

THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING FOR AND HEAR OUR PERSPECTIVE.

WE NEED FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

OUR VOICE TODAY SHOULD MATTER.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU A TU FOR BEING HERE.

AND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN TERRY CASTILE AND COUNCILMAN, UH, MANNY .

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP WAGES TER TERRY CASTILLO.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING.

UH, ESTEEMED TRUSTEES.

I'M COUNCILMAN TERRY CASTILLO.

EXTREMELY PROUD TO REPRESENT THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND OFTENTIMES WHAT MANY INDIVIDUALS DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME IS THAT I EARNED MY DRIVER'S LICENSE AT THE AGE OF 29 DURING THE RUNOFF OF MY ELECTION.

SO WORKING MY WAY THROUGH JUNIOR COLLEGE AND COLLEGE OVER AT UTSA, I RELIED PRIMARILY

[00:40:01]

NO DOUBT THE ROLE OF VIA EMPLOYEES, WHETHER YOU'RE A MECHANIC AND OR AN OPERATOR OR A CLERICAL WORKER, THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING.

AND WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE MANY OF THE INTERESTING AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY REGARDING THE GREEN AND SILVER LINE, WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL HELP MATERIALIZE THESE LINES GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

AND IT'S MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE BEHIND ME AND MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT, UH, CONDUCTING THEIR ROUTES THAT ARE KEEPING SAN ANTONIO GOING AND ENSURE THAT FOLKS LIKE ME AND MY CONSTITUENCIES GET TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, GET TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY OVERALL.

UH, SO I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUALS BEHIND ME BECAUSE IT IS A KEY AND PIVOTAL ROLE THAT THEY PLAY IN THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE IN SOLIDARITY TO, UH, REQUEST AND ENCOURAGE THE TRUSTEES TO ONLY APPROVE AN AGREEMENT THAT IT HAS CONSENT FROM A TU.

AS MENTIONED HISTORICALLY, THERE HAS BEEN A CONSENSUS ON A CONTRACT THAT BOTH A TU AND THE TRUSTEES AGREE UPON.

AND I SEE THAT THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WORKING CONDITIONS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVES FOR VIA OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES.

UM, WHILE WE HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AROUND TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT, UH, AND THE GREEN AND AND SILVER LINES, AND MUCH OF THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN ON, WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE WORKERS WHO HELP GET FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIVES.

UH, AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THINK THOSE OPERATORS ON THOSE ROUTES THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY HELPED ME GET TO THE RUNOFF OF A, OF AN ELECTION, UH, BY GETTING ME TO THE TURFS THROUGHOUT MY DISTRICT.

UM, BUT ULTIMATELY, UM, MY, MY ASK IS TO ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO ENSURE THAT YOU ALL, UH, APPROVE SOMETHING THAT HAS THE CONSENSUS AND SUPPORT OF A TU.

UH, AND I'M HOPEFUL, UH, AND I KNOW YOU ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT VIA EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED, THE BENEFITS THAT THEY DESERVE, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE, NOT JUST FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO, BUT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AT HOME AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

CHRISTOPHER FARLEY, IS THIS THING ON? YES.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I JUST WANT, I GOT A LETTER IN THE MAIL, UH, YESTERDAY.

WISH ME AN EXCELLENT BIRTHDAY.

UH, THANK YOU.

UM, LET ME GET STARTED.

SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING ON JUNE THE 25TH, 2024, I STILL CAN KEEP, KEEP HIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE CITY BUSES RUNNING LATE, SI RUNNING SIGNIFICANTLY LATE ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JULY THE 12TH, 2024, I WAS AT THE BUS STOP 4 6 9 6 6 WAITING FOR THE NINE SIX TO ARRIVE FROM DOWNTOWN AT JUST AFTER 11:10 AM BUT INSTEAD, IT DID NOT COME UNTIL SEVEN TO EIGHT MINUTES LATER AT 11:19 AM YESTERDAY, ON, YESTERDAY, ON MONDAY, JULY 22ND, 2024.

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE 6 0 2 THAT MORNING.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE AT THE NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER AT 7:51 AM IT DID NOT GET THERE UNTIL A FEW MINUTES LATER AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK.

AT AFTER EIGHT O'CLOCK, THEN THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE AT THE SAME NORTH STAR TRANSIT CENTER AT 4 48.

IT DID NOT GET THERE UNTIL EIGHT MINUTES LATER AT 4:56 PM WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IS WHY, WHY ARE THE SW BUSES STILL RUNNING LATE? UH, WHY, WHY IS, WHY ARE THE BUSES THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU CONTINUE TO RUN LATE MORE FREQUENTLY? AND, UH, WHENEVER I ADDRESS THIS ISSUE TO THESE BUS DRIVERS, THEY TEND TO GET AN ATTITUDE.

AND, UH, IF SOMEONE WOULD PLEASE GET BACK TO ME WITH RESPONSE AS, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IN THE FORM OF A LETTER, I REALLY, I WOULD TRULY REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING MR. CHAIR.

THIS ENDS ASSISTANCE TO BE HEARD.

OKAY, UH, NEXT ITEM

[5. Consent Agenda]

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, UM, I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT

[00:45:01]

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

FIRST AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED NAY, YOU CAN SET THE AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.

UH, NEXT IS

[6. Consideration and action on a resolution authorizing the issuance of the District’s sales tax revenue bonds, Series 2024 in the principal amount not to exceed $175,000,000 and other matters in connection therewith]

GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD.

THIS ITEM RECOMMENDS, UH, AS STATED, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A TD SALES, TAX REVENUE BONDS, AND THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 175 MILLION AND OTHER MATTERS THEREWITH, INCLUDING APPROVAL OF THE BOND OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

THE BONDS WILL BE USED TO HELP FINANCE THE A RT NORTH SOUTH GREEN LINE PROJECT.

LAST WEEK WE CONDUCTED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AND ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED WERE SUPPORTIVE.

THE BOARD MEMO ALSO REACHED OUT.

CAN I ASK YOU TO TAKE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES WHILE EVERYBODY'S EXITING SO YOU'RE NOT INTERRUPTED? SORRY, MSRA, I, UH, I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO BE INTERRUPTED WITHOUT NOISE IN THE BACK, SO GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

NO PROBLEM.

SO LAST WEEK WE CONDUCTED THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS ITEM AND ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED WERE SUPPORTIVE.

THE BOARD MEMO ALSO RECAPS SOME OF THE INFORMATION WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO YOU IN JUNE, SUCH AS THE COMPENSATION OF THE UNDERWRITING SYNDICATE, WHICH INCLUDES CABERA CAPITAL MARKETS, A FIRM THAT IS CERTIFIED MINORITY OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.

WE'LL COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL CLOSE ON THE BONDS ON AUGUST 28TH.

ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, WE'LL SUBMIT THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FTA REVIEW AND, UH, NO LATER THAN JANUARY, 2025, WE'LL ENTER INTO THE CIG FULL FUNDING GRANT AGREEMENT.

WITH THAT SAID, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE A TD SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2024 AND THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 175 MILLION TRUSTEES.

THIS, UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM? OKAY, IF NOT, UH, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.

I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO FORWARD THIS ITEM TO THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR APPROVAL.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

OKAY, WE'LL HAVE FIRST AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU MS. VIETA.

UH, NEXT

[7. Financial Updates]

THIS ITEM IS A REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIALS THROUGH MAY 20, 24.

YEAR TO DATE THROUGH MAY, 2024.

OPERATING REVENUE WE ARE AT 535,000 OR 4.6% BELOW BUDGET, MAINLY DUE TO LOWER BUS ADVERTISING AND STATION CONCESSIONS THROUGH MAY, 2024.

OPERATING EXPENSES ARE 10 MILLION OR 5.7% BETTER THAN BUDGET, MAINLY DUE TO PROJECTED SAVINGS AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ADVERTISING AND IT LICENSES.

HOWEVER, WE DO ANTICIPATE THESE SAVINGS TO BE OFFSET BY YEAR END NON-OPERATING REVENUE AND EXPENSES IS LOWER THAN BUDGET BY 1.7 MILLION THROUGH MAY, 2024.

DUE TO TIMING OF GRANT FUNDING, UH, CSA REVENUE CSA FUNDING OFFSET BY

[00:50:01]

I'M SORRY, OVER LAST YEAR IS 1.78%.

HOWEVER, IN JUNE WE SEE A 5.78% GROWTH OVER LAST YEAR.

AVERAGE WEEKDAY LINE RIDERSHIP THROUGH MAY IS 5% MORE OVER UH, FY 23 3.

AND YEAR TO DATE RIDERSHIP IS UP 13% OVER FY 23.

FOR OUR VIA PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD THROUGH MAY, WE HAVE 14 OUT OF 15 METRICS THAT ARE WITHIN OR BETTER THAN TARGET.

THE ONLY METRIC COST EFFECTIVENESS FOR VIA LINK IS WORSE THAN TARGET AND THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO AN INCREASE IN OPERATING EXPENSES FOR MAY.

THE OPERATING INCREASE WAS DUE TO AN INCREASE IN SERVICE DEMAND FOR NCO PASS IN RANDOLPH ZONES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

I THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEES? NO QUESTIONS.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.

WE HAVE MOTION.

AND SECOND, ALL TRUSTEES IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, ITEM NUMBER

[8. *Termination Appeal – Francisca Rebollosa ]

EIGHT, RIGHT? MM-HMM.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO DETERMINATION OF APPEAL.

FRANCESCA OSA.

WE'LL CONSIDER AN EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE.

OUR USUAL PROCE PROCEDURE IS TO CLOSE THIS HEARING TO THE PUBLIC IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

HOWEVER, THE EMPLOYEE MAY REQUEST AN OPEN HEARING.

DOES EMPLOYEE WISH TO BE HEARD IN OPEN PUBLIC MEETING? UH, NO.

OKAY.

UH, WE'RE GONNA GO INTO

[Executive Session]

UH, TODAY IS JULY 23RD, 2024.

AND THE TIME NOW IS 5 53, UH, PM AND THE VA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

WE'LL OFFICIALLY GO INTO A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT.

THE ITEM WE WILL DISCUSS DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AS FOLLOWS.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ENTITLED TERMINATION APPEAL, FRANCESCA OSA, WHICH IS ALLOWED IN AN EXECUTIVE SECTION ITEM PURSUANT TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.07.

ONE ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND SECTION 5 51 0.074 ENTITLED PERSONNEL.

AND ITEM NUMBER NINE, ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PURSUANT IN TEXAS CODE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0.07.

ONE 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.

THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S NOW, UH, 6:50 PM AND, UH, WE ARE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING ITEMS EIGHT AND NINE, NO DELIBERATION OF PUBLIC POLICY OR VOTE TAKING OCCURRED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

DO I HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THIS CASE? YES.

YOU HAVE A MOTION REGARDING THIS CASE? UM, SORRY, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE THE LANGUAGE.

, UH, LET ME GRAB IT REAL QUICK.

THE VIA BOARD OF TRUSTEES MOVES TO UPHOLD THE DECISION BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO TO TERMINATE, UH, MS. OSA.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY, LET'S SEE.

WE'LL GO NOW TO MS. ELDER.

DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.

OKAY.

TRUSTEES, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE VIA MEETING.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED SECOND.

OKAY.

I FIRST AND SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

THE VIA MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO THE A TD BOARD MEETING.

OKAY,

[ATD 1. Call to Order]

ITEM TWO WAS ADDRESSED AT THE VIA MEETING.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.

HAVE WE HAVE REACHED THE CITIZENS DEBRIEF PORTION OF OUR MEETING? DO WE HAVE

[00:55:01]

OKAY, THANK YOU TRUSTEES.

UH,

[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]

UH, TRUSTEES, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED? SO MOVED.

OKAY.

DO I HAVE SECOND? SECOND? AYE.

OKAY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, FINANCIAL REPORTS.

TRUSTEES, THIS, THIS WAS PRESENTED AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING.

OKAY.

OKAY.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM.

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, A SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA MEET IN THE BACK ROOM FOR.