Aug 27, 2024 VIA / ATD Board of Trustees Meeting

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON

[ATD 1. Call to Order]

UH, I AM BOARD CHAIR RES.

IT IS NOW 5:05 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE AUGUST 27TH, A TD BOARD MEETING.

LET'S BEGIN WITH A ROLL CALL.

OKAY.

VICE CHAIR ILLA HERE.

SECRETARY MALONE, PRESENT.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER PRESENT.

ALRIGHT, TRUSTEE ALUA.

HOPEFULLY YOU'LL SHOW UP IN A LITTLE BIT.

TRUSTEE BROWN HERE.

TRUSTEE CUOMO? HERE.

TRUSTEE GONZALEZ? HERE.

TRUSTEE PEREZ.

OKAY.

SAME.

HOPE HE JOINS US AS WELL.

TRUSTEE TUEL.

HERE.

TRUSTEE WOLF HERE.

GREAT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

UH, NOW WE'LL

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

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE AT THE US AND TEXAS FLAGS TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HONOR BY TEXAS FLAG.

I THE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS.

ONE STATE UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

NEXT, UH, MR. BROWN, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THIS TIME.

CHAIR.

OKAY.

UH, NEXT IS,

[ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard ]

MR. CHAIR, FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT, WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UH, SINCE WE HAVE ONE SITTING, I'LL 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 PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BEXAR COUNTY AREA.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND OUR STAFF.

THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERNS.

THANK YOU.

AND A TD APPRECIATES YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.

MR. JACK AND FINGER, MR. CHAIRMAN, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE A TD DISTRICT RECORD.

MY NAME IS JACK MFIN, THE TRANS TRANSIT ORIENTED DISTRICT THAT YOU COMBINED WITH YOUR LIKEWISE BOARD VIA IS, IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ALREADY, A MASSIVE POWER GRAB.

YEAH.

A MASSIVE LAND GRAB.

UH, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, IT HASN'T FOOLED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

YOU'RE PUTTING A TEMPLATE OF ESSENTIALLY, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, ZONING ALONG AREAS OF ALL OUR MAJOR ARTERIES.

SAN PEDRO COMMERCE.

EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE FREDERICKSBURG ROAD.

ROOSEVELT LOOP FOUR 10.

AND WHAT IS IT, HOW WIDE IS THIS? IT'S A QUARTER MILE ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROADS.

MR. CLAMP? YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT A HALF A MILE.

THAT'S SEVERAL FOOTBALL FIELDS.

LONG.

UH, I'M SORRY, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF US WHO DON'T LIKE, THAT WE DON'T LIKE VIA GETTING INTO THE HOUSING BUSINESS.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT, BASICALLY THIS IS RIGHT HERE.

YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WITH SOMETHING CALLED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ESSENTIALLY IT IS WELFARE HOUSING.

A NUMBER OF US DON'T LIKE OUR, ESSENTIALLY OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING TO THESE REALLY OUR SOCIALISTIC ENDEAVORS.

YOU'RE TRYING TO USE THIS, THESE, THE GREEN LINE, THE SILVER LINE, AS SUPPOSEDLY ATTEMPTS TO HELP US GET THROUGH A FASTER, EXCUSE ME.

UH, JUST HOW FAST ARE WE GOING TO GET OVER AND ABOVE YOUR, UM, THE REGULAR BUS ROUTES IS CUBAN E UH, YEAH.

I MEAN, I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD AT LEAST REFRAIN FROM EATING WHEN A CITIZEN TRIES

[00:05:01]

NOW, THE, UH, AND, AND HOW MANY AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW? LOOK AT ALL THE BUSES YOU HAVE TRAVELING NOW.

HOW MANY OF 'EM ARE TRULY FILLED THROUGHOUT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY? ALL TIMES OF THE DAY.

AND YOU'RE GONNA GET MORE WITH THE, WITH THIS, THIS SYSTEM.

NO.

YOU, UH, AND THE STOPS, YOU HAVE ABOUT 26, 28 ALONG SAN PEDRO.

HOW, HOW ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED AND HOW ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO GET TO THEM BY TRAVELING TO THE MIDDLE? I THOUGHT I HAD THREE MINUTES.

DID THREE MINUTES, UH, UH, EXPIRE? THAT, THAT WAS THREE MINUTES.

MR. FINGER, YOU GET THE IDEA.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

THAT ENDS.

CITIZENS BE HEARD FOR THE ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO

[ATD 4. Approval of July 23, 2024 Meeting Minutes]

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR REVISIONS TO THE MINUTES? SO MOVED, MR. CHAIR.

OKAY.

I HAVE MOTION.

DO I HAVE A ALL I'M SORRY.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

OKAY.

WE HAVE FIRST AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

A AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES.

OKAY.

NEXT.

UH,

[ATD 5. *Resolution to Approve Amendment to Bexar County/ATD Agreement]

MR. MARKS, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR BONNIE.

HOW DO WE DO BOARD? UM, UH, JUST REAL QUICKLY, I KNOW WE, WE DID DISCUSS THIS A LITTLE BIT LAST WEEK, BUT, UM, WE'RE GONNA QUICKLY RUN THROUGH SOME, UH, SOME GREAT EVENT THAT HAPPENED LAST TUESDAY.

UM, CAN WE I'LL SEE THE CLICKER.

YES.

OKAY.

SORRY.

UH, JUST AS A REMINDER, AGAIN, WE, UM, BECAUSE OF, UH, JUST THE NATURE OF, OF MOVING UP THE SILVER LINE, WE HAD SOMEWHAT OF A FUNDING GAP, UH, FOR THE SILVER LINE.

AND, UM, SO WE, UH, MET WITH THE, THE BEAR COUNTY OVER THE LAST EIGHT TO EIGHT, EIGHT TO 12 MONTHS.

UH, AND LAST TUESDAY, UH, WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT, UM, TO, TO FILL THAT FUNDING GAP USING THE A TD FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY.

UM, THAT ALSO INCLUDED AN EXTRA $1.5 MILLION SO THAT THE GREEN LINE AND SILVER LINE CAN BE FAIR FREE FOR THE FIRST YEAR.

UH, SO FOR A TOTAL AGREEMENT OF, OF $102 MILLION.

UM, AND SO AGAIN, THE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE BOTH PARTIES CAME TO AN AGREEMENT.

IT WAS AGENDIZED LAST TUESDAY AT THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT MEETING.

UH, IT PASSED.

AND SO WE, UH, WHEN YOU VOTE ON IT TODAY, THEN THE AGREEMENT IS, UH, IS FULLY DONE.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OUR NEXT STEPS ALREADY.

UH, ALL OF THE, THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED THROUGH THE COUNTY, THAT OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR HAVE SIGNED A LETTER OF THANKS TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

UM, AND WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS INFORMATION INTO A PACKET SO THAT WE CAN, UH, THEN GO BACK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TALK ABOUT NOW THE ONLY FUNDING GAP WE HAVE ON SILVER LININGS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

SO, UH, WE'RE SEEKING TO, UM, TO, TO QUICKLY LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS, UH, WITH THE, THE LOCAL FUNDS THAT WE HAVE.

SO THAT'S, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

I CAN, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? TRUSTEE , THANK YOU.

AND, AND THANKS.

NOT FOR THE QUICK PRESENTATION.

THIS INDEED IS A HISTORIC MOMENT FOR VIA AND THE AGENCY IN OUR COUNTY AND ABLE TO LEVERAGE FEDERAL FUNDS.

BONNIE, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, CAN YOU HELP, UM, JUST, UH, CLARIFY WHAT THE USE OF THIS FUNDS WILL BE FOR? IT'S WORKING.

SO, UM, UNDER THE STATUTE, UNDER 4 51 SUBCHAPTER O IT CAN BE USED FOR ADVANCED TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS.

UM, AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPECIFIC PROVISION THAT COVERS THIS PARTICULAR BUCKET OF MONEY.

AND THE AGREEMENT DOES REQUIRE THAT THE STATUTE IS FOLLOWED IN REGARDS TO THE EXPENDITURE OF THE FUNDS, UH, TO BE UTILIZED.

BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE CAN EXPEND THE MONEY ON.

AND THEN THERE ARE OTHER REQUIREMENTS, UM, IN THAT PARTICULAR SUBSECTION AS IT RELATES TO HOW THE, HOW THE EXPENDITURE IS AUTHORIZED.

AND IT DOES, UH, REQUIRE US TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND THERE ARE SOME APPROVALS REQUIRED, UH, THROUGH THESE A TD BOARD.

YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND, AND JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY, UM, LED BY JUDGE SAKA AND THE COMMISSIONERS HAS BEEN, UH, EXTREME TO THE

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AND, UH, I WANNA JUST, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR, UH, Y'ALL'S WORK AND LEADERSHIP AND GETTING THIS, UH, TO THE LINE.

UH, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EXECUTION HERE SHORTLY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE GAP HERE.

UM, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I MEAN, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR CEO WAS CONSTANTLY IN CONTACT WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER TO MOVE THIS BALL DOWN THE FIELD.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, BONNIE EL, YOU KNOW, ELDER DID A MASSIVE HEAVY LIFT TO GET, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, AGREED UPON.

SO IT WAS, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, SHE, SHE GETS ALL THE THANKS, REALLY.

SO IT'S , TRUSTEE .

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.

UH, THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP, OUR CHAIRMAN.

SUCH A HUGE DEAL FOR US TO GET THIS APPROVED.

AND YOU KNOW, JOHN, GARY, TOM, YOUR WHOLE GROUP, UH, DID A FANTASTIC JOB BRINGING IT TO THE FINISH LINE.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JACKIE BROWN.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

UH, I ECHO THE COMMENTS ALREADY MADE BY, UH, MY TWO COLLEAGUES.

UH, THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR SPEARHEADING AND LEADING THIS EFFORT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UH, BONNIE, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LEGALESE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, UH, CAME OUT ON TOP ON THIS.

AND WHEN I SAY ON TOP, IT WAS A FAIR AND PARTNERSHIP, UM, AGREEMENT THAT I THINK ALL PARTIES ARE EXCITED ABOUT.

I DO WANT TO COMMENT THOUGH THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE REALLY HOW WE DEVELOP THIS PLAN AROUND, UM, THESE, UM, COMPLIMENTARY RIDES THAT WE ARE GONNA BE OFFERING WITH THIS FUND.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO JUST BE GLAZED OVER.

RIGHT.

THAT WAS POINTED OUT IN COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

UH, AND I WOULD LOVE TO GET AN UPDATE ON HOW AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS WE GET CLOSER TO THAT.

UM, SO JOHN, GARY, I'M SURE THAT'S PROBABLY IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE.

SO WHENEVER WE GET CLOSE TO THAT, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE AN AGENDA ITEM, MR. CHAIR, MADAM VICE CHAIR THAT WE ALL ARE BRIEFED ON.

UH, 'CAUSE THAT WILL BE THE TALK, UH, AS WE GET CLOSER TO THIS, UH, UNVEILING.

SO THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

TRUSTEE COMAN, I WANT TO ECHO THE COMPLIMENTS TO THE STAFF AND TO THE COLLEAGUES WHO MADE THE PRESENTATION.

UH, THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WILL HELP US LEVERAGE THE FEDERAL FUNDING AND HELP US, UH, ACCELERATE THE PROCESS.

UM, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THOUGH.

I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH 'CAUSE I REMEMBER VOTING BACK 20 YEARS AGO WHEN WE CREATED THE ADVANCED, UH, TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT, BUT I DIDN'T REMEMBER ALL OF THE PARTICULARS.

AND IT CARRIED BY 58% OF THE VOTE BY OVER 55,600 VOTES.

THAT'S A PRETTY IMPRESSIVE VICTORY BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO 20 YEARS AGO WAS MUCH SMALLER.

SO THERE WAS, UH, WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR THIS, BUT ONLY THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO PAID THE TAX.

CORRECT? YES.

SO CAN PROJECTS, CAN THE MONEY BE SPENT ON PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO? UH, MI MS. ELDER, WE NEED TO A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.

UH, I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS THAT IT CAN BE SPENT IN OUR SERVICE AREA, BUT NOT NECESSARILY ONLY WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.

UH, SO IT'S FOR, IT'S FOR SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT ALSO ALLOW FOR US TO ALIGN AND, AND, AND STRATEGIZE ON THE UTILIZATION OF THIS MONEY, UM, IT'S NOT AS RESTRICTIVE AS ONE MIGHT INITIALLY BELIEVE.

SO MONEY IS, IS IT CONFINED TO OUR SERVICE AREA OR CAN IT BE SPENT OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA? CANNOT BE SPENT OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA GENERALLY.

GENERALLY, GENERALLY.

SO IF THEY WANTED TO USE THE MONEY, IF THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE VOTES ON COMMISSIONER'S COURT OR IF THEY WANTED TO GET THE MONEY, UH, AND GET THE VOTES HERE AT THE A TD OSTENSIBLY TO PUT A ROAD OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA, IF THEY HAD THE VOTES, THEY COULD POSSIBLY, WE DON'T, WE DON'T EXPEND ANY, UH, FUNDS OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA.

OKAY.

I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

WITHOUT, WITH NOW I GENERALLY, BECAUSE SOME, THERE MAY BE OTHER AGREEMENTS OR OTHER, UH, COMMITMENTS THAT WE MIGHT MAKE THAT COULD LEAD TO THAT.

BUT GENERALLY THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

OKAY.

I CAN'T, I HAVE TO GIVE ABSOLUTES.

'CAUSE YOU KNOW HOW THINGS HAPPEN IN A CITY LIKE SAN ANTONIO AND A COUNTY LIKE BEAR .

I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF THAT.

BUT, BUT ANYWAY, UH, I WAS, UH, CONCERNED WHEN I SAW THAT COMMISSIONER CALVERT DID NOT VOTE AND I TALKED TO HIM AND HE SAID TO AVOID A POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

CORRECT.

SO I CORRECT APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT HE, UH, THAT HE ABSTAINED

[00:15:01]

UH, BUT I DID NOT KNOW UNTIL I TALKED TO HIM AFTERWARDS.

UH, I WAS VERY, VERY CONCERNED THOUGH THAT, UH, THAT IT WASN'T A UNANIMOUS VOTE BECAUSE PARDON? SORRY.

COMMISSIONER CALVERT, COMMISSIONER CALVERT'S CONCERNS WERE MADE.

UH, WE WEREN'T MADE AWARE OF THAT ISSUE PRIOR TO US GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO THE COUNTY.

RIGHT.

I, I WISH THAT HE HAD ARTICULATED THEM DURING THE DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S HIS, THAT'S HIS CHOICE.

BUT I MEAN, HE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IF HE HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST NOT TO DO IT.

BUT I WAS CONCERNED THAT IT WAS NOT A UNANIMOUS VOTE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE GETTING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A PROJECT OF THIS NATURE AND IT'S HISTORIC AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS IN MY HUMBLE OPINION.

SO I WAS REAL DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.

UH, BUT I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT WE CAN'T USE THE MONEY TO GO OUT, YOU KNOW, AND BUILD A, A HIGHWAY OUTSIDE OF OUR SERVICE AREA, THAT THE MONEY HAS TO BE CONFINED.

UH, OTHERWISE IT'D BE REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION, .

AND WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, TRUSTEES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS AND MOAN, I, I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR US TO MAYBE, AND I KNOW WHAT'S THE BEST APPROACH, UH, WOULD BE TO SEND A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONERS, EACH ONE, EACH ONE THANKING THEM FOR THAT EXTRA $2 MILLION TO LET OUR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO WRITE AND EXPERIENCE, UH, THIS NEW TRANSPORTATION THAT WE HOPEFULLY BRING TO SAN ANTONIO AND WILL BE ADOPTED TO AS MANY PEOPLE THAT THAT NEED IT.

UH, SO THAT I, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THAT.

THE NEXT THING IS I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND TALKING TO CITY AND CITY COUNCIL AS WELL.

I MEAN, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION.

UH, AND I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THE GREAT BOARD THAT, THAT I SIT WITH.

SO THANK YOU ALL, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

AND OF COURSE, THE STAFF, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.

I, I GIVE THEM A HARD TIME.

THEY TELL ME OVER AND OVER THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING AND, UH, I'M SURE THEY SAY THIS GUY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, WELL I'M NOT A TRANSPORTATION GUY PER SE, UH, BUT THEY DO THEIR JOB TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT V IS DOING IT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IT FOR.

'CAUSE I WAS IN MY SPEECH, SO I REMEMBER THAT PARTICULAR, THANKS RACHEL FOR REMINDED ME .

SO, BUT IT, IT WAS, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A PROCESS.

I, I KNOW IN, UH, THE FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALMOST THE DAY THAT I WALKED IN.

AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT IT'S, IT'S COME TO THIS POINT AND, AND HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL GO MUCH BETTER AND EASIER FOR US, UH, FROM HERE ON OUT.

BUT I KNOW THERE'S STILL GONNA BE A LOT OF TOUGH WORK, A LOT OF SELLING ON EVERYBODY'S PART.

UH, 'CAUSE NOT EVERYBODY'S A HUNDRED PERCENT BEHIND IT.

UH, BUT HOPEFULLY ONCE THEY TRY IT, THEN THEY'LL GET BEHIND IT.

'CAUSE I THINK IT'LL BE, UH, SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL APPRECIATE IN THE LONG RUN.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU BOARD.

SO DO WE NEED A MOTION? UH, YES.

MOTION TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

I HAVE FIRST AND A SECOND.

ONLY FAVOR, PLEASE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU, MARK, TOM.

OKAY, UH, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.

TRUSTEES WILL DEFER ITEM SIX TO OUR NEXT MEETING AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, SIR.

WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING.

THANK YOU TRUSTEES.

WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.

I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.

SO MOVED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

I HAVE FIRST AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

THE A TD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IT IS NOW 5:23 PM

[1. Call to Order]

UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS ADDRESSED, UH, EARLIER, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER

[3. President/CEO Report]

MR. BROWN.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

I'M, UH, PLEASE HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS OF RECOGNITION.

FIRST IS OUR STAR MAINTAINER OF THE QUARTER.

PLEASE ANNOUNCE THAT VIA STAR MAINTAINER FOR THIS MONTH IS FLEET REPAIRMAN.

JUAN MARTINEZ.

MR. MARTINEZ, ARE YOU HERE? DON'T BE BASHFUL MY FRIEND.

THERE WE GO.

HE'S BEING RECOGNIZED FOR HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE MAINTENANCE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE BATTERY ROOM.

JUAN TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEMATIC AREA AND STREAMLINED PROCESSES THAT WORK FOR BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS.

THE PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES HE DEVELOPED HAVE CREATED OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR LABOR TIME.

HE'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT WE WARRANTY AND REUSE BATTERIES IN OUR FLEET.

WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR HIS OUTSTANDING WORK.

AND JUAN, AT THE END OF ALL OF THESE, WE'LL, WE'LL INVITE YOU UP FOR A PHOTO.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT YOU CONTRIBUTED, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

EXCUSE ME.

NEXT STEP IS MS. LAUREN CORONADO.

WE'RE HONORED TO

[00:20:01]

LAUREN, ARE YOU PRESENT? ALL RIGHT.

THERE WE HAD TO SEE YOU.

THERE WE GO.

SHE'S BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS FORMED A CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS TO STUDY CHANGING DYNAMICS OF SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE TO BUILD STRONGER TIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENHANCE ITS FUTURE.

DURING THE EIGHT MONTH PROGRAM, SHE'LL BE EXPOSED TO A WIDE ARRAY OF VENUES, KNOWLEDGEABLE SPEAKERS, AND EDUCATIONAL TOURS.

LAUREN HAS BEEN A PART OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES DEPARTMENT SINCE JULY, 2023, AND LEAD SOUTH WILL HELP HER DEVELOP GREATER PERSONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO USE AND TAKE WITH HER THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF LAUREN.

CONGRATULATIONS.

NEXT UP WE HAVE MR. DANIEL AL RIGHT UP FRONT.

VERY GOOD.

HE HAS TWO RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO CELEBRATE.

FIRST, HE HAS JOINED THE IMPACT NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE REPRESENTING VIA IMPACT IS A SELECTIVE NETWORK OF LEADERS, PRACTITIONERS, AND MOBILITY ADVOCATES DEDICATED TO CREATING GREAT PLACES TO LIVE BY LEVERAGING TRANSIT AND DEVELOPING DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS.

DANIEL ALSO ACHIEVED AN A ICP CERTIFICATION, DIFFICULT TO DO, AND CONGRATULATIONS BY PASSING THE EXAM TO ADVANCING THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNERS.

UH, THANKS TO DANIEL FOR REPRESENTING VIA NATIONALLY AND DEMONSTRATING YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE PLANNING PROFESSION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

NEXT STEP.

WE HAVE THE SOUTHWEST TRANS ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT AWARDS.

I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT VIA HAS RECOGNIZED THE TWO DISTINGUISHED MARKETING AWARDS AT THE 2024 SPOTLIGHT AWARD THAT TOOK PLACE EARLIER THIS MONTH WITH VIA ATTORNEY MARY DEVINE ACCEPTING THE AWARDS ON BEHALF OF VIA THESE ACCOLADES UNDERSCORE, THE EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION OUR MARKETING TEAM BRINGS TO THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, MAKING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

WE SERVE OUR TEAM EARNED TOP HONORS FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL WORK ON THE HIT THE SPOTLIGHT EVENT PROMOTION FOR THE TRANSIT EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY, AND THE SPOTLIGHT CAMPAIGN FOR ANOS FIESTA.

THESE AWARDS ARE A TESTAMENT TO THE TEAM'S CREATIVITY AND STRATEGIC VISION.

UH, MARKETING TEAM MEMBERS.

STANDUP, YOU'RE NOT GETTING OUTTA THIS ALIVE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE A BIG ONE.

THE STATE OF TRANSIT RECAP.

VA WAS PROUD PARTNER, PROUD TO PART OF THE SENATE TWO MOBILITY COALITION FOR ANNUAL STATE OF TRANSIT EVENT HELD EARLY THIS MONTH.

THE ANNUAL STATE OF TRANSIT EVENT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THE REGION'S BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF TRANSIT IN OUR REGION.

AT THIS YEAR'S LUNCHEON ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 300 COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARTNERS AND VT MEMBERS, WE PROVIDED UPDATES ON VIAS KEY PROJECTS AND MILESTONES WHILE NARRATING A VISION FOR THE AGENCY'S FUTURE VIA PRESIDENT AND CEO, JEFF ARNN HIGHLIGHTED VIA SUCCESSES AND ASSEMBLING MANY COMPLEX PIECES AND SECURE FUNDING FOR THE REGION'S FIRST ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT CORRIDOR, THE VIA RAPID GREEN LINE, AND THE WORK BEING DONE TO CRAFT THE FORTHCOMING SILVER LINE.

JEFF ALSO RECAPPED OUR RECENT BENCHMARKS AND AWARDS, INCLUDING SEVERAL NUMBER ONE RANKINGS AND NATIONAL FIRST AND THE TEAMS WHO HELPED SECURE THESE HONORS, INCLUDING, PARDON ME, BEING NAMED THE MOST OUTSTANDING METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY IN TEXAS BY THE TTA BEING FIRST IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BY TRANS PRO WINNING FIRST AND SIXTH PLACE FINISHES BY OPERATORS COMPETING IN THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION RODEO, AND BECOMING THE FIRST US TRANSIT AGENCY TO HAVE SYSTEM-WIDE ADOPTION OF NANDS.

THANKS.

IN ORDER TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, INCLUDING CHAIRMAN FERNANDO REYES, WHO DELIVERED REMARKS ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD.

THANKS ALSO TO JOHN GARY HERRERA, WHO SERVED AS MASTER CEREMONIES.

SAM CO CHAIRMAN ELECT MIKE FRISBEE AND MAYOR RON NUREMBERG.

DISCUSSION MODERATOR EDDIE ALDER AS WELL, AND OTHERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM.

THAT INCLUDED THE INCITING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE VIA BUFFETS WOULD BE RETURNING IN 2025.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STAFF AND PARTNERS AT TALK STRATEGY FOR DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL WELL-ATTENDED EVENT WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO STRATEGIC PROGRAM AND EVENTS ADMINISTRATOR LAUREN CHU AND THE COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING TEAMS. FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND, WE HAVE A BRIEF RECAP VIDEO CAPTURING HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DAY

[00:25:01]

EVERY YEAR SPONSORS A DAY FOR THE STATE OF TRANSIT FOR AN UPDATE OF THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION AND SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH VIA, SPECIFICALLY VIA IS PROUD EVERY YEAR TO PARTNER WITH THE SAN ANTONIO MOBILITY COUNCIL TO BRING TOGETHER BUSINESS COMMUNITY ELECTED LEADERS ALONGSIDE TRANSIT AND TRANSPORTATION LEADERS, ALL HERE TO SUPPORT A MORE MOBILE FUTURE FOR SAN ANTONIO AND OUR REGION.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.

WELCOME.

WHAT A GREAT DAY TO TALK ABOUT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT EVENT BECAUSE WE NEED TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

I THINK OUR MISSION AND VIA IS TREMENDOUS HELPING PEOPLE GET TO THEIR JOB, TO THE WORK, TO SCHOOL.

AND, UH, PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH EFFORT GOES INTO GETTING THAT AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN AS MUCH AS VIA HAS DONE.

THERE ARE STILL DAYS WHEN I WONDER, IS THERE MORE WE CAN DO? AND THANKFULLY, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL STAFF WHO WILL ALWAYS TELL US WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.

THE STAFF AT VIA ARE SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED, HARDWORKING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET, AND SOME OF THEM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY.

THEY REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF US.

THE BEST OF WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER VIA IS ON THE THRESHOLD OF ENORMOUS TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE.

AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT I'M HERE IN MY LAST STATE OF TRANSIT LUNCHEON AS MAYOR TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

WE HAD A VISION TO FINALLY MAKE A COMMITMENT TO MASS TRANSIT IN THIS CITY.

UH, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.

WE'RE DEVELOPING IT, WE'RE FUNDING IT, AND WE'RE FINALLY IN THIS YEAR GONNA BE BUILDING IT.

I AM HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM EVERY YEAR AND REAFFIRM MY SUPPORT, NOT ONLY FOR V'S PARTNERSHIP, BUT ALSO THE VALUE OF V'S.

MISSION TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION EMBODIES THE VERY THING THAT MAKES SAN ANTONIO GREAT, MAKING CONNECTIONS.

IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE.

IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.

IF YOU WANNA DO BOTH, GO WITH VIA.

I ENJOY IT BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL AND, UH, I DON'T THINK OUR STORY GETS TOLD ENOUGH.

SO IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WORD TO GET OUT THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY 300 PLUS OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS WILL BE SHARING THAT WORD WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND THE WORD WILL BE OUT.

BUT NO, 13 IS NOT AN UNLUCKY NUMBER FOR ONE THING.

I AM IN MY 13TH YEAR HERE AT VIA AND ACTUALLY ABOUT 13 YEARS AS CEO.

'CAUSE I, I DID HAVE A SHORT RUNWAY, BUT 13 IS ALSO A DATE JANUARY 3RD.

THAT IS WHEN I RETIRE.

NOW, HE, WOW.

LOOK AT YOU.

AND IT'S GREAT.

IT'S A GREAT HONOR FOR SAMCO TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE WITH VIA AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

SO WITH THAT, WE'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, THAT NOT ONLY CONCLUDES YOUR REPORT, BUT AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA INVITE UP OUR STAR MAINTAINER OF THE QUARTER FROM FLEET REPAIRMAN, MR. JUAN MARTINEZ, UH, FOR A PHOTO, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JOIN THE, UH, BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PLEASE.

I GOT, I'LL TAKE A LOOK.

[00:32:11]

UH, AND I'VE, I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.

YOU'RE WHAT MAKES ME A GREAT, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

UH, AND BELIEVE ME, IT IS APPRECIATED AND I KNOW IT'S APPRECIATED, BUT THE BY THE CITIZENS THAT, THAT RIDE AND USE OUR, UH, BUSES, UH, AND THE OTHER, UH, TRANSIT THAT WE HAVE.

UH, SO, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE

[4. Citizens to be Heard]

MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WE DO, YES, SIR.

OKAY.

IF WE DO, THEN I'LL HAVE TO READ THE STATEMENT.

WE HAVE NOW COME TO CITIZENS TO BE A PORTION OF OUR PUBLIC MEETING.

THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS IN SAN ANTONIO BARAR COUNTY AREA.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PUBLIC BUSINESS OR POLICY OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND HER STAFF.

THE PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN.

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

OKAY, WE HAVE JACK AND FINGER.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, ARE THERE MEMBERS OF THE VIA BOARD? MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER AND, UH, NUMBER OF ITEMS I WISH TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION? WELL, LAST WEEK I WAS TRAVELING ON THE, UH, LATE NIGHT LINEUP, MS. CABENO.

AND, UH, I, I KNEW I WAS ON TIME, BUT THE BUS NEVER SHOWED UP.

IN FACT, NONE OF THE BUSES EVER SHOWED UP WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO AT THAT TIME POINT.

I WAITED, I WAITED.

I ENDED UP HAVING TO WAIT ANOTHER HOUR FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.

WHEN THE BUS FINALLY DID SHOW UP, I TALKED TO THE OPERATOR, ASKED HIM WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON, HE TOLD ME, WELL, SIR, IT'S BEEN WIDELY, UH, KNOWN AMONG OUR PERSONNEL THAT, UH, WE AS BUS OPERATORS ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE AS EARLY AS TWO AND A HALF MINUTES EARLY DURING THE LINEUP, PERIOD.

TWO AND A HALF MINUTES.

NOW, EXCUSE ME, I, I'VE HEARD WHERE OPERATOR'S ALLOWED TO BE AS MUCH AS TH 30 SECONDS EARLY.

OKAY, I STILL DON'T LIKE THAT, BUT TWO AND

[00:35:01]

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE? HOW CAN ANY WRITER TRUST VIA TO BE ON TIME WHEN THEY ARE TWO AND A HALF MINUTES EARLY AND LEAVE AND THIS, THIS CASE LEAVE FOR A WHOLE HOUR BEFOREHAND, HAVING TO WAIT A WHOLE HOUR BEFOREHAND.

WHAT IF THE TE TEMPERATURES WERE, WERE IN THE, IN FREEZING? WHAT, UH, WHAT IF IT AS IT WAS AN AREA WHERE THE, UH, UH, THE A THE CRIME RIDDEN AREA OF TOWN, I'M SORRY.

WE CANNOT RELY ON VF.

IT'S TWO AND A HALF MINUTES EARLY FOR ANY, ANY PERIOD OF YOUR, THE, THE SCHEDULE.

ANOTHER, YOU'LL WANT TO, UH, IF THAT, IF THAT'S NOT CORRECT, IF THAT'S NOT THE, THE POLICY, THEN YOU NEED TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO ALL OF THE BUS DRIVERS.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE THAT EARLY.

LEAVE THAT EARLY FROM A TIME POINT, CERTAINLY ANYWHERE ALONG THE ROUTE.

LAST WEEK LOOKED, LOOKED FOR ALL THE, UH, THE NEW SCHEDULES TO COME OUT.

THEY WEREN'T THERE.

WHAT HAPPENED? WHY WEREN'T THE SCHEDULES PRINTED UP? HUH? I MEAN, I'M SORRY THAT WE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BIG CHANGES IN YOUR SCHEDULES, WE CITIZENS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

SEE THIS ROUTE, ROUTE NUMBER FIVE.

THERE'S A CHANGE ON IT.

I ALMOST MISSED MY OBLIGATION BECAUSE WAS FIVE MINUTES EARLY THAN NORMAL.

NOW, WHO, WHO SCREWED UP THERE? WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, NEXT WE HAVE ANDREW PEREZ AND ANDREW'S GONNA ALSO RECEIVE THREE MINUTES FROM ROBERT GARZA FOR A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.

GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS ANDREW PETTIS.

I'VE BEEN A BUS OPERATOR FOR ALMOST THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

I'VE COME TO THESE BOARD MEETINGS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE IN REGARDS TO OUR PAY SAFETY AND POOR MANAGEMENT TEAM.

CLEARLY TO ME AND OTHER OPERATORS, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR CHANGED SINCE I HAVE HAVE COME TO THESE MEETINGS.

I PERSONALLY HAVE ASKED MANY TIMES TO SPEAK WITH MR. ARN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES, OR AT LEAST GIVE ME ANOTHER GUIDANCE TO THESE CLAIMS. HOWEVER, HE STILL WILL MAKE TIME FOR ME AS AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE HE'S EITHER OUT OR ON VACATION OR JUST DOESN'T WANT TO ANSWER MY CALLS.

WHAT IS TRIGGERING IS HOW I GAVE HIM AND OTHERS MY BUSINESS CARD IN THE HALL WITH MY PERSONAL INFORMATION.

AND THEY SAY THAT THEY WILL GET BACK TO ME AND THEY STILL WON'T GIMME A SINGLE CALL OR TEXT.

I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY HAS A LOT GOING ON.

HOWEVER, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'VE BEEN REQUESTING TO MEET WITH THEM FOR OVER YEARS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I AND OTHERS HAVE COME TO TERMS THAT VIA TRULY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US WORKERS, EVEN THOUGH THEY FALSELY ADVERTISE THAT THEY DO.

WE HAVE COME TO THE BOARD AND HAVE BEGGED AND PLEADED FOR ALL OF Y'ALL TO PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSES DUE TO INFLATION.

I HAVE COME TO THESE MEETINGS DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO JUST TRY TO GET A WRITTEN RESPONSE OR AN EMAIL FROM THE BOARD.

YET AGAIN, NOBODY WILL EVER TALK TO ME.

I'M SICK WITH HOW VIA TREATS THEIR OPERATORS, MAINTENANCE SUPERVISORS, STATION FOREMANS, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND 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, AND NOW WE'RE DESPERATE FOR PEOPLE TO COME.

WHAT IS HAPPENING? MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM CHANGING THINGS FOR THE BEST? DO YOU NOT SEE THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING? DO YOU NOT SEE THAT? WE HAVE COME TO Y'ALL MANY TIMES TO TRY AND TALK AND ASK FOR HELP.

WHY DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT US? WHAT MORE DO ME AND MY OTHER OPERATORS AND MANAGERS HAVE TO DO? I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BECOMING A UNION REP THIS YEAR, AND WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR DEPARTMENT'S SAFETY IS WE'RE ALWAYS AT FAULT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD A DRIVER GOING THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT AND CUT THE DRIVER OFF CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

PASSENGERS FELL.

THE OPERATOR WAS INJURED YET SAFE TO GIVE HIM A P THREE BECAUSE HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS.

THESE PEOPLE WHO JUDGE US HAVEN'T EVEN DRIVEN A VIA BUS BEFORE.

HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? ANOTHER THING Y'ALL DO, Y'ALL TELL US TO JUST PRESS SEVEN OR CHARGED THE, AND IT'S STILL UNCLEAR TO US ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAD A PASSENGER WHO'S ALWAYS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR FREE RIDES THAT I ALWAYS GIVE HIM.

AND YET AGAIN, WHENEVER HE CAME UP, HE DIDN'T HAVE MONEY.

I TOLD HIM HE HAS TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE FAIR BOX AND HE GAVE ME ATTITUDE, SAT DOWN, WALKED PAST BY ME.

I CALLED MY DISPATCHER.

I CALLED DANIEL, ONE OF OUR DISPATCHERS WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND HE TOOK IT VERY PERSONAL AND TOLD ME TO CONTINUE IN SERVICE.

JUST HIT SEVEN.

HE'S TECHNICALLY ALLOWED TO RIDE FOR FREE.

SO IF THIS IS THE CASE, THEN WHY DO WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN BUYING

[00:40:01]

SINCE Y'ALL OBVIOUSLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FAIR, Y'ALL TELL US NOT TO TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY YET AGAIN, THE WHOLE MANAGEMENT TEAM DOES.

WHY IS THAT? IN CONCLUSION, WE ARE GETTING ALL THESE FUNDS FOR THIS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND I AM FOR IT.

I LOVE HOW V IS TRYING TO EXPAND BECAUSE WE NEED TO.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN.

HOWEVER, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OPERATORS TO DO THE JOB.

IN FACT, WE HAVE A AM AND PM BOARD BEING DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATION JUST TO SAVE MONEY.

WE ARE GETTING ALL THIS MONEY, ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY.

YET AGAIN, Y'ALL CAN'T TAKE CARE OF Y'ALL'S EMPLOYEES.

Y'ALL POST THAT WE ARE SUPERHEROES THAT WE'RE NOW HIRING.

YET AGAIN, EVERYBODY WHO COMES HERE ALREADY KNOWS HOW THIS COMPANY OPERATES.

MR. TRAMELL BROWN, I HAVE BEGGED AND PLEADED WITH YOU TO PLEASE.

SO YOU ARE UP THERE, YOU HAVE MADE IT.

PLEASE HELP US.

THIS MAN JOHN CLAMP HAS BEEN MAKING NEGOTIATIONS DIFFICULT FOR MY UNION TEAM.

I HAVE NOT HAD THE PRIVILEGE YET TO GO TO THESE MEETINGS, SO I DON'T KNOW.

BUT FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, HE'S MAKING OUR NEGOTIATIONS, OR SORRY, MEET AND CONFERS VERY DIFFICULT.

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT US, DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT I AS AN OPERATOR GO THROUGH DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO STAND BEHIND THE SEA, SIR.

MAKE THE INCOME THAT I MAKE.

SIR, IF I GOTTA INTERRUPT YOU FOR ONE SECOND, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS GENERAL AND NOT DIRECT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL.

UH, WE GIVE YOU THE LECTURE, THE LUXURY, AND, AND THE RIGHT TO COME AND SPEAK TO US.

UH, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO, TO POINT OUT TO FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE UP IN A, IN A DIFFERENT PROCESS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YES, SIR, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, I'VE TRIED TO MEET WITH THESE PEOPLE, BUT NOBODY GIVES, WANTS TO MEET WITH ME.

SO THIS IS MY ONLY TIME AND OPPORTUNITY FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

GREAT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

HOWEVER, NEGOTIATIONS, SORRY, THE MEETING CONFERS ARE NOT GOING GOOD.

WE HAVE BEEN COMING TO THESE BOARD MEETINGS ALL THE TIME.

WE'VE BEEN PRESENT HERE TO Y'ALL.

WE HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO Y'ALL.

NOTHING SEEMS TO BE CHANGING.

OUR WAGES ARE REALLY BAD.

Y'ALL SAY THAT WE'RE BETTER THAN DALLAS AND AUSTIN, YET AGAIN, THEIR PAY IS BETWEEN 25 TO 26 AN HOUR.

US WE'RE BARELY AT 21.

AND THEN THE NIGHTTIME DIFFERENTIAL PAY THAT Y'ALL ADVERTISE ABOUT IS ONLY A DOLLAR MORE.

Y'ALL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE PUT UP WITH.

Y'ALL DON'T KNOW THE SACRIFICE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH THAT WE HAVE TO PUT AS OPERATORS ON THIS JOB.

WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THE JOB IS MEANT TO BE EASY, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY TRYING TO ASK FOR Y'ALL'S ASSISTANCE IN HELPING US WITH THIS.

WE NEED MORE TRANSIT PD OFFICERS WHO ALSO NEED BETTER PAY.

YET AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WITH VERY SMALL CREW WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES AND PUT THEIR LIVES IN THE FRONT LINE YET AGAIN, IT TAKES 30 TO 40 MINUTES FOR THEM TO COME TO US.

AND IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.

THEY COULD BE GETTING A CALL FROM RANDOLPH.

AND I'M ALL THE WAY BY BROOKSIDE.

IT TRULY, IF WE NEED MORE PEOPLE, TREAT US RIGHT, LET US SPREAD THE WORD.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY KS AT 12, ALL THIS MONEY JUST TO TRY TO ADVERTISE AND HAVE FOUR OR FIVE LITTLE OPERATORS GO AND SAY, BE AS A GOOD COMPANY TO WORK FOR.

YES.

YEAH, THE COMPANY NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD TO US TO, SORRY.

THE COMPANY JUST TRULY NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON BY GOD AT THIS POINT SINCE NONE OF Y'ALL WANT TO HELP US.

AND TRUTHFULLY, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT, NEXT WE HAVE BRIDGE ALMANZA, UH, AM SOTO IS GOING TO YIELD HIS THREE MINUTES TO BRIDGE.

BRIDGE.

YOU'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF SIX MINUTES.

ALL, UH, GOOD EVENING CHAIR FERNANDO REYES, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

UH, MR. BROWN.

UH, MY NAME IS IV.

I'M THE PRESIDENT OF VISIT NATION OF A TU LOCAL 6 9 4.

I COME TO YOU WITH GRAVE CONCERNS REGARDING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR LABOR RELATIONS.

UH, WE WERE INFORMED BY MANAGEMENT THAT A SPECIAL MEETING WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 13TH BY FOUR MEMBERS OF THE BILL BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO RESOLVE THE WORKING CONDITIONS BETWEEN A TU AND MANAGEMENT.

UH, THIS SITUATION IS DEEPLY CONCERNING AS JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING OUR WORKING CONDITIONS HAVE NEVER BEEN IMPOSED UPON US IN THIS MANNER.

THE NEW CAO OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, JOHN CLAMP HAS ALSO RAISED ALARMS WITHIN THE A TU EXECUTIVE BOARD BY STATING HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT OUR CONCERNS AND THAT THIS MEET AND CONFER PROCESS WILL PROCEED REGARDLESS OF OUR INPUT.

[00:45:01]

BUT AT WHAT COST THIS APPROACH TO LABOR RELATIONS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE OR PRODUCTIVE, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS RESISTANCE IS NOT SOLELY FROM MR. KLAN, BUT ALSO BEING DIRECTED BY JEFFREY ARN.

IT IS NO SECRET HOW MUCH HE DISREGARDS THE RIGHTS OF FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES TO FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS.

AND HIS ACTIONS HAVE REFLECTED THIS IN MOST RECENT DESPICABLE WAYS.

AS MR. ARN APPROACHED HIS RETIREMENT, IT APPEARS HE IS INTENT OF DISMANTLING WHAT WE HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD.

IT IS DISHEARTENING THAT THE VA BOARD AND TRUSTEE SEEMS POISED TO LET THIS HAPPEN.

DESPITE OUR EFFORTS TO REACH OUT, EMAILING EACH OF YOU WITH OUR CONCERNS, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.

WE ARE NOT YOUR ENEMY.

THIS IS NOT A CLASS WAR.

ANY DIRECTIVE FROM MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION, YOU NOT TO COMMUNICATE WITH HTU IS MISGUIDING.

THE REPUTATION OF THIS COMPANY IS AT STAKE.

AS ARE THE RIGHTS OF FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES TO FAIR LABOR PRACTICES.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF YOUR DECISIONS.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR.

THIS ENDS CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL NOW MOVE

[5. Consent Agenda]

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

OKAY, I HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED.

UH, NEXT IS TRUSTEE

[6. Briefing on Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO) Continuing Phase Agreement modifications]

MPO CONTINUING PHASE AGREEMENT MODIFICATION, HOT.

WHO'S GOT VIDEO? WE GOT VIDEO.

WILL WE PUT YOU UP ON THE HALL? ON THE HALL OF WATER? I'LL BE FIRST IN LINE .

ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE WHICH BUTTON AM I PRESSING? WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

OKAY.

UM, I AM HERE TO REPORT TO THIS BOARD, UH, IN MY CAPACITY AS YOUR APPOINTEE, UH, TO THE MPO BOARD, UH, SPECIFICALLY FROM THE A TD BOARD.

UH, WHEREAS JAVIER IS APPOINTED FROM THE VIA BOARD, ALTHOUGH WE'RE ALL THE SAME BOARD.

AT ANY RATE, UM, WHETHER YOU KNOW OR NOT, WHAT AN MPO DOES, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A REAL HIGH LEVEL PIECE AND I'LL GET INTO WHAT IT IS THAT, UH, WE WILL BE CONSIDERING.

NOT TONIGHT.

TONIGHT'S JUST A PRESENTATION.

YOU GOT QUESTIONS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

BUT WE WILL BE CONSIDERING IN THE FUTURE FOR THOSE WHO WHO DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN MPO DOES.

AN MPO IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED BODY.

THESE WERE CREATED BACK IN THE SEVENTIES.

THEY ARE NOT FUNDING BODIES.

THIS IS, UH, SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASSUME THAT THE MPO IS A FUNDING BODY, BUT IT'S NOT.

THEY ARE A PLANNING BODY AND AN ADVISORY BODY TO FUNDING BODIES.

SO THEY TRY TO GIVE A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE WE NEED FOR NOT ONLY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BUT ALL THE WAY OUT TO 20 YEARS, OKAY? UH, THE REALITY IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE MPO PLAN TODAY, YOU'LL SEE THAT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THERE'S ROUGHLY 17 TO $18 BILLION OF PLANS.

OKAY? WHAT THAT TELLS YOU IS THAT IF WE DO ALL OF THOSE PLANS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, THEN THE PAIN YOU FEEL TODAY IN TRANSPORTATION WILL NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT.

IT DIDN'T SAY IT WAS GONNA GET BETTER, IT JUST SAID IT WOULDN'T FEEL DIFFERENT.

OKAY? UH, HOWEVER, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING OVER THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME, LOOKING HISTORICALLY AS HOW THINGS ARE FUNDED FROM A TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT, WE AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S THE LOCAL COMMUNITY YOU'RE LOOKING AT, UP ON THAT MAP, WILL TAKE IN ONLY ABOUT SEVEN TO $8 BILLION.

SO IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE

[00:50:01]