* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] OKAY. VICE CHAIR CABILLA. [1. Call to Order] I THINK SHE'S RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LATE. ETH UH, SECRETARY MALONE, PRESIDENT ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER PRESENT. TRUSTEE ALUA. I THINK HE'S GONNA BE OUT. TRUSTEE BROWN. OKAY. TRUSTEE CUOMO HERE. TRUSTEE IDA GONZALEZ. I THINK SHE MAY SHOW UP A LITTLE BIT LATE. UH, TRUSTEE PEREZ HERE. TRUSTEE TU WILL, I THINK SHE'S OUT. AND TRUSTEE WOLF HERE. OKAY. THAT GIVES A SIX WITH ME. OKAY. SO WE CAN GET STARTED. OKAY. NEXT, UH, LET'S PLEASE STAND [2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance, Announcements] FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE US AND TEXAS FLAG. OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR, TEXAS. BLACK, BLACK, IP TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD. GOD ONE. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT, MR. ART, [3. President/CEO Report] DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? AND WE'RE, WE ARE IN THE VIA MEETING, CORRECT? YES. YES. OKAY. YES, I DO. OKAY. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M, FIRST OF ALL, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT, THAT OUR STAR ADMINISTRATOR FOR THIS MONTH IS PAYROLL MANAGER. EMMA PELHAM. EMMA, I ASSUME YOU WERE HERE. SOMEONE'S OKAY. THERE WE GO. I PROMISE YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO CLAP FOR HER AGAIN WHEN I GET TO THE END OF THIS , EMMA PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING THE NEW INFOR WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE PAYROLL MODULE AND OTHER SYSTEM COMPONENTS. SHE WORKED MANY LONG HOURS AND DISPLAYED EXEMPLARY PROBLEM SOLVING AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND HER WORK TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF INFOR INCLUDED WORKING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ADAPTING TO THE NEW SYSTEM WHEN THE NEW SYSTEM WENT LIVE LAST JUNE, EMMA ALSO WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PAYROLL WERE PROCESSED PROPERLY AND THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE WAS PAID CORRECTLY AND ON TIME. NOW THAT DESERVES SOME APPLAUSE, DON'T YOU THINK? SO, EMMA, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO DO A, A PICTURE OF YOU WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS. EMMA, I WANT YOU TO KNOW MY REALTOR APPRECIATES YOU AS WELL. DOES, JUST DOESN'T KNOW [00:05:01] IT. . HERE WE GO. LEFT. GOT THAT YOUR RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR CHAIR. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF PROCUREMENT, BRANDON WOOD. BRANDON THERE, HE'S BRANDON. BRANDON BRINGS TO VIA MORE THAN 14 YEARS OF PROCUREMENT EXPERIENCE IN MANUFACTURING CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTS AND HAS AN IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND HAVING PROGRESSED FROM A SOURCING MANAGER TO MANAGING A TEAM OF CATEGORY MANAGERS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER $150 MILLION IN ANNUAL SPEND. HE'S ALSO SERVED AS PROCUREMENT LEAD FOR EQUIPMENT ON LARGE SCALE CAPITAL PROJECTS TO ONLY MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS AND HAS VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL PRIME CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION. AND YOU SEE HE'S STILL STANDING AFTER MAYBE A WEEK OR SO. SO WELCOME BRANDON. WE'RE THRILLED TO OU ANNOUNCE THAT ANTON ANTON FELKER. AND SO I'M GONNA CALL HIM TONY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE ALL CALL HIM. . TONY HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY WITH 26 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO VIA AND THE COMMUNITY. HIS JOURNEY HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF REMARKABLE STARTING HER, HIS CAREER AT VIA AS A COMPUTER TECHNICIAN. ANTON QUICKLY, AND IT SHOULD BE, TONY QUICKLY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF THROUGH HIS EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT. HIS ROLE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS AND IN HIS NEW ROLE AS DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY, HE WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN GUIDING OUR STRATEGIC VISION AND IMPLEMENTING CUTTING EDGE SOLUTIONS TO PROPEL VIA FORWARD. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING TONY'S CONTINUE. IM IMPACT ON OUR ORGANIZATION. SO CONGRATULATIONS. TONY. ALSO ADVANCING IN TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIVISION IS BENNY RICO WATSON, WHO HAS BEEN PROMOTED INTO THE ROLE OF MANAGER OF TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS. BENNY CAME ON BOARD IN MAY OF 2023 AND BROUGHT WITH HIM A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE. HE SPENT OVER A DECADE AS A NETWORK ENGINEER WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND WE GET SOME OF OUR BEST EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. SO AND SERVED AS SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. MOST RECENTLY AT VIA. HE WAS A FAIR AND ITS ADMINISTRATOR WHERE HE GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHTS INTO TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY. BENNY IS ALREADY DIVING INTO SOME EXCITING INITIATIVES, INCLUDING INTRODUCING AUTOMATION AND ADVANCED MONITORING TO OPTIMIZE OUR OPERATIONS. SO, BENNY, CONGRATULATIONS. STAND UP AND TAKE A BOW. WE'RE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT VICE PRESIDENT OF CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SALES FOR PRISCILLA ENGEL HAS BEEN NAMED BOARD CHAIR OF THE CHILD ADVOCATES OF SAN ANTONIO OR CASA CASA'S MISSION IS TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, AND LEAD HIGHLY IMPACTFUL COURT APPOINTED VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES WHO PROVIDE CONSISTENCY AND SUPPORT FOR AREA CHILDREN AND YOUTH WHO EXPERIENCED ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THEIR VISION IS TO BE LEADING POSITIVE AND AND INFLUENTIAL, UH, FORCE IN THE CHILDREN'S WELFARE COMMUNITY. THE BOARD AND I THANK PRISCILLA IS A WONDERFUL CHOICE TO LEAD IN THIS WORTHY EFFORT. SO, PRISCILLA, THERE WE GO. NOW IT'S MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MARCUS PEOPLES JR. AND RECOGNIZE HIM FOR EARNING HIS DOCTOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, DBA FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF INCARNATE WORD. MARCUS HAS LONG EXEMPLIFIED DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THIS ACHIEVEMENT REFLECTS HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS TO CONTRIBUTE MEANINGFULLY TO OUR COMMUNITY AT VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AND BEYOND. HIS DOCTORAL RESEARCH ADDRESSING TRANSPORTATION EQUITY FOR LOCAL POPULATIONS USING EMERGING TECHNOLOGY IS A PIONEERING STUDY THAT MERGES TECHNOLOGY WITH THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY SEEKING EQUITABLE TRANSIT, EQUITABLE TRANSIT SOLUTIONS. MARCUS HAS APPLIED THIS RESEARCH TO REAL LIFE INITIATIVES, STRIVING TO MAKE SAN ANTONIO'S TRANSIT SYSTEM MORE INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL BEYOND HIS PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS. MARCUS'S HEART FOR HELPING OTHERS SUCCEED SHINES THROUGH IN EVERYTHING HE DOES. HE ENSURE EACH PROJECT LEAVES A LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE IT SERVES, AND HIS WORK EMBODIES HIS COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DR. MARCUS PEOPLES JUNIOR ON THIS REMARKABLE ACHIEVE. EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE HELD OUR SECOND SERIES OF [00:10:01] PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THE VIA RAPID SILVER LINE THAT WILL CONNECT THE EASTERN WEST SIDES WITH NEW FREQUENT RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTION. THESE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND INFORM THE COMMUNITY ALONG THE PROPOSED SILVER LINE CORRIDOR, AND ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STAFF AND PARTNERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND GATHER FEEDBACK THAT HELP US SHAPE THAT PROJECT. THREE MEETINGS WERE HELD AT LOCATIONS THROUGH ALONG THE CORRIDOR, INCLUDING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN UNITY COUNCIL ON THE WEST SIDE, THE BARBARA JORDAN COMMUNITY CENTER ON THE EAST SIDE, AND THE GRAND ROTUNDA NEAR HERE. IT'S HERE AT CENTRAL PLAZA, BUT WE ARE NOT HERE. THERE WE ARE THERE AT CENTRAL PLAZA. NEARLY 80 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN LIVE MEETINGS THAT RESULTED IN SOME ROBUST DISCUSSIONS AND INPUT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. A VIRTUAL MEETING THAT MIRRORS THAT IN-PERSON MEETING HAS BEEN ATTENDED BY OVER A HUNDRED VISITORS AND IS STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE@KEEPSAMOVING.COM. SO ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING STILL HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY. UH, THANKS TO OUR STAFF AND PARTNERS FOR ORGANIZING AND HOSTING ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SERIES OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS. THANKS TO OUR SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY, I, I WANT TO CALL OUT JOHN GARY FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HE AND HIS TEAM DO IN PUTTING THIS ALL TOGETHER. AND THANKS TO THE COMMUNITY FOR CONTINUING TO HELP SHAPE THE PROJECT THAT ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE MOVED. AND I, ON AN ASIDE, EXCUSE ME, I RAN INTO SECRETARY CISNEROS AT, AT THE, UH, AVAN EVENT RECENTLY. AND HE HAD ATTENDED THE, THE MEETING ON THE WEST SIDE AND WAS, HE WAS POSITIVELY GLOWING WITH WHAT HE FELT WAS SUCH A POSITIVE RECEPTION THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD AND WAS VERY THANKFUL TO VIA FOR BEING THERE. WE DO HAVE A SHORT VIDEO THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHOW FOR THOSE THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. THIS IS MUCH NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND THE WAY THAT THE A RT IS FOCUSED ON THE AREAS THAT NEED IT THE MOST HERE, UM, GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE HOUSTON STREET, THE CORRIDOR, IT'S, IT'S SUCH A THRILLING EXPERIENCE TO BE A PART OF. AND I'M TRULY HAPPY ABOUT THE GROWTH AND TRAJECTORY THAT SAN ANTONIO IS HAVING AT THIS TIME. WE'LL HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO KIND OF GENERALLY KNOW IF I GET ON THE BUS AT A CERTAIN TIME, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE THERE. IF I MISS IT, IT'LL BE 10 MINUTES LATER. THAT BUILDS GREATER CONFIDENCE. SO MORE PEOPLE USE IT INCREASES RIDERSHIP, WHICH INCREASES REVENUE FOR SERVICES FOR A COMMUNITY. AND THEN BUSINESSES KNOW THAT THERE'S GREATER FOOT TRAFFIC. THAT'S MORE RECEIPTS, MORE PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY I WORK ON THE EAST SIDE AND THAT HISTORICALLY HAS NOT RECEIVED THE SAME AMOUNT OF, UM, ATTENTIVE AS OTHER PARTS OF TOWN. AND THESE TWO NEW PROJECTED LINES, I THINK ARE GONNA HELP REALLY DEVELOP THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GO FROM ONE PART OF TOWN TO THE OTHER, TO GO TO WORK, TO GET HOME, TO GO TO DIFFERENT EVENTS. I THINK THAT THE WAY THE SYSTEM'S DESIGNED TO OPERATE IT WILL MOVE VERY EFFICIENTLY ONCE THEY GET TO ONE OF THOSE STATIONS. THE WAY THE STATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE THEM GOOD ACCESS TO THE VEHICLES, THE TICKETING SYSTEMS, SO THAT IT'S VERY QUICK TO LOAD AND OFFLOAD. UH, I THINK THOSE ARE ALL GONNA BE ADVANTAGES AND AND APPEALING TO PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO IS TRANSFORMING. UM, IN THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, IT'S GONNA BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO NOT JUST GROW WITH THE CITY, BUT CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IT IS A GREAT CROSS SECTION OF THOSE WHO WERE ABLE TO ATTEND. AND AGAIN, THANKS TO THE STAFF AND TO OUR CONSULTANT FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER SO SUCCESSFULLY. ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN BOARD, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TEXAS DIVERSITY COUNCIL HAS SELECTED OUR OWN PRESIDENT AND CEO JEFF ARND TO RECEIVE THE LEGACY ICON AWARD PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE LIFETIME LEADERSHIP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. THIS PRESTIGIOUS HONOR RECOGNIZES AN EXTRAORDINARY INDIVIDUAL WHOSE BODY OF WORK HAS MADE A PROFOUND AND HISTORICAL IMPACT ON THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. THEY EMBODY THE PURPOSE OF THE L-G-B-T-Q UNITY DEMONSTRATING PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND ALLYSHIP THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO ADVANCEMENT OF THE L-G-B-T-Q COMMUNITY. NOT ONLY INFLUENCES AND RESHAPES PERCEPTIONS, SYSTEMS AND IDEAS, BUT CREATES LASTING IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. JEFF'S LIFE AND CAREER HAVE BEEN DEFINED BY THESE VALUES AND ALL HE DOES TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE REFLECTED IN HIS WORK AS A TRANSPORTATION LEADER AND HIS COMMITMENT TO UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY AND MEANINGFUL SERVICE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JEFF THAT RECOGNIZES HIS ROLE AS A LONGTIME DEDICATED CHAMPION OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING. HEY, JOHN GARY, WHO'S IN THE PICTURE? . [00:15:01] OH, IT'S JEFF. NEVERMIND. . THAT WAS JUST A YEAR AGO. YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAY TRANSIT CHANGES LIVES AND I'M LIVING PROOF. OKAY. , UH, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO TURN THE, THE MICROPHONE, IF YOU WILL, OVER TO OUR BOARD SECRETARY AT THE LI MALONE. UH, THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY A VERY GRATEFUL THANK YOU TO VIA FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. THEY HAVE STEPPED UP AND NOT ONLY PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION, BUT ACTUALLY WORKED WIT THE BLIND COMMUNITY IN ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT DATES, OCTOBER 15TH, WHICH IS NATIONAL WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY. AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR THEM, A LOT OF WHAT OUR INDEPENDENCE WITH THE WHITE CANE WOULD'VE NEVER COME ABOUT. AND ON THIS, THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU MOST DEFINITELY FOR ALL THE HELP THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS IN CELEBRATING THAT DAY AND FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF NATIONAL WHITE CANE AWARENESS DAY. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, I WOULD LIKE AT THIS TIME TO CONGRATULATE JEFF ON, UH, RECEIVING THAT PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION AND AWARD. UH, IT GOES TO SOMEONE WHO, UH, IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN, HAVE REALLY GOTTEN TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND HOW HARD HE WORKS TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER AND TO MAKE THIS AGENCY BETTER. AND ALL THE KIDDING ASIDE, HE IS A TREMENDOUS PERSON AND I'M GLAD I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HIM, WITH HIM AND WORK WITH HIM AND, AND TO GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER. SO, CONGRATULATIONS, JEFF. OKAY, NOW WE'VE REACHED THE, UH, [4. Citizens to be Heard] CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PORTION OF OUR MEETING. DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? YES, MR. CHAIR. WE HAVE FOUR CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. OKAY. UM, BASED ON THAT, I'LL READ THIS NEXT STATEMENT. UH, WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE CITIZENS HEARD PORTION OF OUR MEET PUBLIC MEETING. THE BOARD IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS FROM OUR PATRONS AND CITIZENS SAN ANTONIO IN BEAR COUNTY AREA. ANY COMMENTS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD AS A BODY, NOT TO ANY EMPLOYEE, STAFF MEMBER OR AUDIENCE MEMBER. PROFANITY, PURELY PERSONAL ATTACKS OR THREATS TOWARD ANY INDIVIDUAL WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. ANY SPEAKER WHO ENGAGES IN BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE AND MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS CONCERNING PUBLIC POLICY OR BUSINESS OVER WHICH THE BOARD HAS SUPERVISION AND CONTROL MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENT, CEO AND HIS STAFF. THIS PROCESS ASSURES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN. THANK YOU. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING. DEBRA SOWELL? YES, RIGHT HERE. HELLO. HELLO. MY NAME IS DEBORAH SAL AND MY VIA NUMBER IS 1 0 2 6 8 5. UM, I RIDE THE VIA TRANS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DISABLED AND, UH, THE SENIORS. UM, THIS PAST JULY, UM, I NOTIFIED, UM, WHAT'S IT CALLED, A LONG TERM. LONG TERM THAT UM, I WOULD BE OUT FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS DUE TO SURGERY. AND SO THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PUT ME ON HOLD AND THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. THAT WHEN I WAS READY TO COME BACK, I COULD. OKAY. UH, TWO WEEKS AFTER SURGERY, I WENT TO, UH, I WANTED TO DO PHYSICAL THERAPY AND THEY SENT A DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION. I CANNOT GET IN THE ENV, THE ENV AND, UH, THE ENV. I, I'M A TALL, BIG WOMAN, SO I CAN'T GET INTO THOSE VANS DUE TO, UM, UH, MY BACK, MY KNEES AND MY ANKLE. AND, UM, SO NOW I'M, UH, I CAN'T TAKE THE VIA TRANS A SPECIAL SERVICE. IT'S THE, UM, BIG RED, UH, VAN WITH THE LIFT. UH, I NEED TO BE ON THAT BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK. UH, IF I DON'T TAKE THAT TRANSPORTATION, I DON'T WORK. AND WE DON'T LIVE WHERE WE'RE LIVING RIGHT NOW, RICK. [00:20:01] OKAY. WHERE'S HE NEXT? WE HAVE RICK. YEAH. SO HERE YOU GO. YES. AND, UH, ON TOP OF ALL THAT, SHE, UM, WAS EXCLUDED. SHE WAS ON THE, UH, BIG L VAN IN 2018. WE TALKED TO EDDIE WELLINGTON, ANDS CASTILE. I UNDERSTAND SHE'S NOT THERE ANYMORE, BUT THEY TOLD US AT THE SANTA LINE HOUSE THAT WE COULD GET ON THE LIV VAN AND WE WOULD GET ON THAT AND WE'D BE ON THAT PERMANENTLY. THEN SHE FINDS OUT WITHOUT NOTIFICATION OR ANYTHING. SHE WAS, UH, TAKEN OFF. ALL THAT REEVALUATED THEN WAS NOT INFORMED OF ALL THIS. SO WE'RE LIMITED ON OUR TIME WHEN WE CAN GO AND ALL THAT. AFTER FIVE 30, THEY SAY THE DON'T RUN AFTER FIVE 30. THAT'S HOGWASH BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THEM OUT. AND Y'ALL TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITIES. I VANNING, ACCESSIBILITY. NOWHERE. WE'RE LIMITED WHERE WE CAN GO, WHEN WE CAN GO AND ALL THAT. WE CAN'T EVEN GO OUT AND HAVE A DINNER, A DINNER, UH, FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY THING BECAUSE, UH, THE V DON'T RUN THAT UNTIL FIVE 30. THAT IS HOGWASH. AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS. SHE NEEDS TO BE BACK ON THE VIA. TRANS WILL LIFT PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OF HER ISSUES. AND SOME OF THIS STUFF Y'ALL ARE SAYING, UH, IT IS NOT TRUE. IT'S HOG WASHED AND THAT S BILLY STUFF. NO, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ALL CORRECTED 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW TO GET OUR VIA BACK BECAUSE AFTER FIVE 30 THE VIA TRANS TURN INTO PUMPKINS OR SOMETHING ELSE. 'CAUSE THEY DON'T GO OUT ON THE STREET ANYMORE. SO THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF VIA TRANS. AND THAT IS A FORM OF DISCRIMINATION. SO YOU BOARD PEOPLE, Y'ALL NEED TO LOOK AT THE DISABLED, UH, AND SENIORS. LET'S GO. NEXT WE HAVE WAYNE KALISKI. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO Y'ALL. UH, MY NAME IS WAYNE KALISKI AND MY WIFE LAQUITA KKI ARE THE PARENTS AND THE GUARDIAN OF ASHLEY KKI, WHO IS 46 YEARS OLD. SHE HAS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. SHE'S ALWAYS IN A WHEELCHAIR. RESIDES AT THE GROUP HOME AT 20 92 15 OVER TO IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. SHE HAD BEEN RIDING VIA BUS FOR 13 YEARS AND HAD AND GOES BACK TO AND FROM DAYHAB ON THOUSAND OAKS TWICE DAILY. OF ALL THESE 13 YEARS, WE'VE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS, BUT WE NOW HAVE ONE DRIVER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE DRIVEWAY AND IT LEAVES HER AT THE CURB. IT IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN, AND STAFF HAS BEEN NOT NOTIFIED THAT WHEN SHE ARRIVES, THEY LEAVE HER THERE. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT WAS ON THE 12TH AND THE 19TH OF THIS MONTH. THE DRIVEWAY HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE. ASHLEY CANNOT GO UP THE HILL WITH HERSELF. IT IS NOT THAT BIG. I HAVE PICTURES THAT I HAVE GIVEN TO ONE OF THE LADIES AND WE'RE JUST WONDERING, WHAT IF IT RAINS, SNOWS, OR SLEETS, WHATEVER HAPPENS. IS SHE GONNA BE LEFT AT THE CURB OR WHAT IS VIA STAFF? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THEY CAN LOOK? AND TO SEE WHAT THIS DRIVER IS DOING IN MARCH OF EACH YEAR, WE HAVE TO RENEW A GUARDIANSHIP WITH THE JUDGES OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I HAVE TO MAKE A REPORT AND I CANNOT MAKE A REPORT FOR VIA WITH THIS HAPPENING TO LEAVE HER AT THE CURB. I HAVE NO OTHER, WE HAVE NO OTHER COMPLAINTS UNTIL SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR. SO SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ASHLEY AT THE CURB WHO IS LIABLE. THE BOTTOM LINE TO ME IS, SHOULD MY DAUGHTER OR ANYBODY ELSE'S DAUGHTER BE LEFT AT THE CURB? THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. [00:25:03] THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GENDER TRAINER BLESSINGS VIA I'M CHAPLAIN GINGER TRAINER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY. I LOVE YOUR NEW HIRING HEROES COMMERCIAL. I ACTUALLY RODE YOUR NORTH STAR MABU RECENTLY WHILE MY CAR WAS IN REPAIR. AND THE POLITENESS OF THE DRIVERS WAS AMAZING. FRANCINE FLINT DIRECTED ME ON HOW TO PAY, WHERE TO GET OFF. GAVE ME A CAR TO GET BACK ON WITH AND WHERE I COULD CATCH IT AGAIN SAFELY. SHE SAID, YOU DON'T WANNA CROSS THE STREET. SAN PEDRO'S TOO DANGEROUS. AS I EXITED, I SAID, THANK YOU, MOM. 'CAUSE SHE REALLY WAS A MOM TO ME. ON MY RETURN RIDE TO MY CAR, THE GENTLEMAN DRIVER COULD TELL I WASN'T A USUAL RIDER. HE TOOK TIME TO GIMME INSTRUCTIONS ALSO AS TO WHERE TO EXACTLY TO GET OFF. HE WAS SO KIND AND MANNERLY AND SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE COMMONLY THESE DAYS. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK VIA, TO CONSIDER LAUNCHING A NEW DRIVER WALKER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR PEOPLE ON FOOT. EACH DAY AS I WATCH THE NEWS, THEY'RE REPORTING MORE PEOPLE BEING RUN OVER BY CARS AND TRUCKS. THIS PAST WEEKEND, A COUPLE WAS STRANDED BY THEIR VEHICLE BROKEN DOWN, AND THEY WERE SIMPLY PUSHING IT OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN HE WAS STRUCK AND KILLED. AND SHE WAS INJURED VIA SHOULD GET IN WITH OUR CITY LEADERS AND UNITE TO BRING AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS ON THE STREETS AND SET UP SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW MOST ABOUT ROAD SAFETY, MAYBE EVEN DOING SOME COMMERCIALS AND GOOD OLD WRAPS ON YOUR BUSES PROMOTING SAFETY AND AWARENESS. AFTER ALL, YOUR DRIVERS REALLY ARE FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE CITY. THEY SEE SO MANY CRIMES AND LIFE DEATH EVENTS. THEY KNOW HOW TO CALL FOR HELP, BUT THEY COULD DO MORE WITH FENTANYL POISONING. MINUTES COUNT IF YOUT HEALTH OR OTHERS COULD COME IN AND TRAIN THE USE OF NARCAN. PERHAPS THEY CAN SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR ARMING YOUR POLICE. THAT'S GOOD. BUT LET'S TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER. THEY CAN DO NO HARM BY ADMINISTERING NARCAN TO SAVE A LIFE RATHER THAN REPORTING TO DEATH BY HELP COMING TOO LATE. I ALSO APPRECIATE ONE PILL KILLS PLACARDS ON YOUR BUSES WITH QR CODES TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S SITE WITH THE FACTS ON FENTANYL. HOWEVER, SINCE WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE REAL LIFE STORIES TOLD BY PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR KIDS ACTUALLY RESONATES BETTER WITH THE DRUG USER, I URGE VIA TO CONSIDER ADDING THE QR CODE TO TEXAS PICTURES AS I HAVE ON MY BUSINESS CARD SIGNS WRISTBANDS, ALONG WITH THE 9 8 8 CRISIS HELPLINE AND A QR CODE TO MY NONPROFIT, ONE PILL KILLS SA.ORG. MIGHT BE NICE AS WELL. MY MISSION IS TO SEEK OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SCHOOLS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AROUND TOWN. NEXT WEEK, A GROUP OF ANGEL MOMS WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE BORDER TO TALK FENTANYL. WE WON'T STOP TRYING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF ANOTHER CHILD. AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL SOULS WALKING FOR SOULS EVENT AT BROOK CITY BASE AT THE GREEN LINE. IT'S ACROSS FROM YOUR SOUTH SIDE VIA SUBSTATION OCTOBER 13TH, 4:30 PM UM, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER HAVING A TABLE THERE. WE'LL HAVE A MEMORIAL PARKWAY HONORING OUR LOST, LOST LOVED ONES TO FENTANYL AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO FAMILIES STRUGGLING IN THEIR HOMES WITH NO HOPE OF FINDING HELP. GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND OUR CITY LEADERS, POLITICIANS WILL BE PRESENT. I HAVE ANOTHER STORY TO SHARE NEXT TIME. THANK YOU FOR THE 25% DISCOUNTS TOO. AND REBA MALONE, GET HER ON YOUR WALL OF HONOR. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THIS ENDS OUR ASSISTANCE TO BE HEARD. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO ALL OUR, UH, SPEAKERS FOR COMING UP SPEAK, UH, GIVING US SOME INFORMATION TODAY. UH, THE NEXT ITEM, NUMBER FIVE, CONSENTED [5. Consent Agenda] ITEM, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM. TRUSTEES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MAY I HAVE A MOTION, A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AS PRESENTED. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. BUT FIRST AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED. NEXT, [6. VIA Metro Center Roof Replacement] UH, WE MOVE TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. THE BM METRO CENTER ROOF REPLACEMENT, UH, WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE LAST WEEK'S WORK SESSION. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM? SECRETARY? NO. NO, NO, NO. OH, I'M SORRY. YOU LIKE, YEAH, I WENT ON. SO, UH, MOTION MAKE A MOTION THOUGH? YES. OKAY. MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. UH, FIRST AND A SECOND. SECOND. ALL, ALL THOSE FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. OKAY. NEXT, MR. JOHN GARY. WE'LL PRESENT [7. VIA Hall of Honor] OUR NEXT ITEM NUMBER SEVEN VIA HALL. HONOR, [00:30:01] MR. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, WE BRING BEFORE YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, UH, YOUR PROCESS OF NOMINATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE VIA HALT OF HONOR. ALL REQUIREMENTS AS YOU HAVE SET OUT IN YOUR POLICIES, HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. AND THESE NAMES ARE HERE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THEY INCLUDE GLENN HARTMAN, ROBERT THOMPSON, AND NELSON WOLF. TRUSTEES. HAVE ANY MS. TRUSTEES, HAVE ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM? MR. CHAIR? I'LL MOVE ADOPTION, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT I, I KNEW ALL THREE OF THESE GENTLEMEN ARE ALL STRONG ADVOCATES FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ALL OF 'EM WOULD, UH, BE WORTHY, UH, ADDITIONS TO OUR HALL OF HONOR. I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OTHER PEOPLE, MEN AND WOMEN, UH, GINGER TRAINOR JUST MENTIONED REBA MALONE, A VERY, VERY HISTORIC, UH, I THINK SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF APT I'M NOT MISTAKEN. AND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN IN TOWN THAT DESERVE TO BE HONORED AS WELL. AND I HOPE THAT WE WILL ADD THEM IN THE FUTURE. BUT I MOVE THIS, UH, FORWARD. SECOND. THANK YOU. I HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND, UH, MR. CHAIR. OKAY. REAL QUICKLY, JUST, I'M GONNA HAVE, I HAVE TO, CAN YOU SPLIT THAT LAST NAME OUT? IS THERE A REASON WHY? YEAH. YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE I'D REALLY VOTE FOR 'EM TO BEGIN WITH , BUT I AT LEAST HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THAT PARTICULAR WELL, LEMME TELL YOU ONE THING. YOU'RE, YOU'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FATHER THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THAT CARES SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND SPEND SO MUCH TIME WORKING TO MAKE IT BETTER. THANK YOU. SO, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS AN HONOR FOR ME TO RECOMMEND HIS NAME. THANK YOU. AND I AM MORE THAN PROUD THAT HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE, UH, THE VOTES MAKE. I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICE THERE'S ANOTHER SON OF A NOMINEE YES. OUT IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY. YES. I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. GARDNER HARTMAN UP THERE. THANK YOU FOR, UH, COMING IN AND VISITING US TODAY, AND WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU AS AN HONOR, AS AN HONOREE. THAT'S, THAT'S ANOTHER PERSON THAT IS SO MUCH FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE, UH, THAT DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT, THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THEM. SO THANK YOU MS. HAR, FOR TAKING THAT ON. OKAY. UH, I HAVE, I, I THINK I'VE HAD THE MOTION TO ACCEPT, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE. I'M SORRY. SO, ONE CLARIFICATION. OKAY. DO WE NEED TO DO AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION SO THAT WE CAN SEPARATE, UH, MR. GLENN HARMON AND MR. ROBERT THOMPSON? YEAH. AND THEN VOTE ON THAT SEPARATELY. AND THEN A SEPARATE, UM, VOTE FOR MR. WOLF. THAT'S A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT. YOU CAN DO THAT. OKAY. OKAY. YES. WE NEED A SECOND. YOU NEED A SECOND FOR THAT SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND FOR THAT AMENDMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. UH, NEXT THEN WE'LL HAVE THE MOTION TO ACCEPT THE OTHER TWO, UH, NOMINEES. UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. OKAY, JUST, JUST FOR THE RECORD? YEAH, JUST FOR THE RECORD. I ABSTAIN ON THE FIRST. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER [8. Dahab Group Reports] EIGHT. UH, THE YOU HAVE VIA PENSION RETIREMENT PLAN, LARGE CAP GROWTH INDEX MANAGER SEARCH, MR. CLAMP. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. AND, UH, MADAM VICE CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS LAST, UH, WORK SESSION. WE WENT THROUGH THE, UH, PRESENTATION IN DETAIL ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR PENSION AND RETIREMENT PLANS. WE PROBABLY WON'T GO THROUGH THAT TODAY, BUT I WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY THE ACTION ITEM FROM LAST WEEK FOR THIS WEEK. SO BEFORE YOU TODAY, DAB IS MAKING A SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION TO REALLOCATE APPROXIMATELY $46 MILLION OF LARGE CAP EQUITY FROM POLAND CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TO FIDELITY INVESTMENTS, LARGE CAP GROWTH INDEX FUND. THIS RECOMMENDATION IS A RESULT OF SUBPAR PERFORMANCE WITH POLAND CAPITAL, AND WE THINK IT'S THE, THE, THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD THESE, UH, THESE FUNDS. AND I KNOW WE HAVE DAVID LEE ON THE LINE WITH DAB. I WANTED TO SEE IF HE HAD ANYTHING TO ADD ON THAT SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATION. DAVID? YES. GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? YES. YES. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A VERY GOOD SUMMARY. THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD IS IT IS A, LIKE, FOR, LIKE, REPLACEMENT IN TERMS OF STYLE. SO POLAND WAS A LARGE CAP GROWTH MANAGER IN EQUITIES, AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING MOVING THOSE MONIES TO AN INDEX FUND WITH THE SAME STYLE OF LARGE CAP GROWTH MANAGED BY FIDELITY. THANK YOU, DAVID. TRUSTEE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I MOVE ADOPTION. OKAY. [00:35:01] I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL IF FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE'LL MOVE [9. Consideration of Amendments to the Regular Working Conditions] TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, CONSIDERATION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULAR WORKING CONDITIONS. MR. CLAMP. THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UM, UH, THE PRESENTATION CHANGED AND THEN, UM, HAVE MR. BRIDGE, ALMANZA COME UP AS WELL WITH A TU. THANK YOU. SO, UM, JUST AS A QUICK RECAP, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON JOINT, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REGULAR WORKING CONDITIONS SINCE MAY. UM, WHEN I STARTED HERE, IT WAS MY FIRST BIG GIFT FROM, UH, JEFF ARNT TO LEARN THE WORKING CONDITIONS. AND, AND WE JUMP RIGHT IN. SO THIS PARTICULAR PERIOD WILL BE FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 24 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 27. AND, UH, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, 11, UH, KIND OF FORMAL MEETINGS AND MANY GROUP MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT SEVERAL ITEMS. AND OBVIOUSLY THE V LEADERSHIP TEAM, MYSELF AND EVERYBODY ON THE, I I'M NOT GONNA READ EVERYBODY SPECIFICALLY, BUT THEY BROUGHT A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE THAT REALLY SERVED VIA WELL AND, UH, WITH A TU BRIDGE AND HIS TEAM, UH, WITH JASON AND ROBERT AND AMALIA AND OTHERS, UH, JUST AS WELL TO BRING, UM, THE EXPERIENCE AND WHAT, UH, MATTERS TO THEM, TO THE TABLE. UH, WE HAD SOME VERY, UH, ROBUST CONVERSATIONS AT TIMES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CAME TO A JOINT RECOMMENDATION, WHICH WE WILL POINT TO SUMMARIZE IN THE NEXT SLIDE. SO IN YOUR PACKETS IS THEY, IS THE MORE DETAILED, UM, UM, JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WORKING CONDITIONS. I'M JUST GONNA HIGHLIGHT FOUR OF THEM, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THEY REALLY, UH, ARE PROBABLY THE, THE MOST IMPORTANT MAJOR ITEMS, UM, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM. SO WAGE INCREASES, UH, WERE 11%, UH, RECOMMENDATION OVER THE NEXT THREE YEAR PERIOD. UH, THIS REPRESENTS THE HIGHEST, UH, THREE YEAR INCREASE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. SO BACK IN 14, WE HAD 10 AND A HALF TOTAL. BACK IN 18, WE HAD NINE AND A HALF. AND, AND 21 WE HAD 10%. SO THIS EXCEEDS THOSE LAST THREE WORKING CONDITION PERIODS. ONCE THIS IS PUT INTO EFFECT, THE OPERATORS WILL BE SECOND IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN TERMS OF RANKING WILL BE 35%, UH, 30, 35 CENTS BEHIND HOUSTON METRO. SO WE'RE MAKING VERY GOOD INROADS ON THE OPERATOR SIDE. UM, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE WILL BE $54,300 FOR OPERATORS. SO REALLY GOOD. UH, THE STARTING WAGE WILL BE 46. ADDITIONALLY, UM, FOR THE MAINTENANCE SIDE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING $2 PER HOUR. UM, AND THIS WILL BRING THEM MORE IN LINE WITH WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS AN AGENCY. WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK TO DO, BUT THAT'S, UH, FOR THE FUTURE, A FUTURE DISCUSSION. UM, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY FOR MECHANICS, WHEN WE GIVE THEM BOTH THE $2, AND IF IT'S APPROVED TODAY, THE 4% INCREASE, THEY WILL GO FROM $23 AND 76 CENTS TO 26 79. THAT PUTS THEM THIRD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IN MAJOR, UH, TRANSIT AGENCY RANKING. WE DO KNOW, AND WE'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH A TU, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THAT. WE'RE GOING TO REALLY START SOME HISTORICAL BENCHMARKING, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF WAGES, BUT ALSO BENEFITS AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE PIECES THAT, UH, WE KEEP MISSING IN TERMS OF THE OVERALL ANALYSIS WITH OUR STATE, UH, UH, COUNTERPARTS. AND, UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS THE RESTRUCTURE OF THE A MPM EXTRA BOARD. REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ONE. THIS WAS PROB THIS WAS MOST LIKELY THE BIGGEST LIFT FOR BOTH GROUPS. UH, IN TERMS OF A JOINT RECOMMENDATION, THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THE A MPM EXTRA BOARD. UM, WE, UM, REALLY EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY SINCE WE ARE SPENDING A, 1,000,000,002 IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO REALLY LOOK AT OUR OPERATIONS. AND THIS IS A KEY PART, NOT ONLY FOR OUR CURRENT OPERATORS, BUT FOR OUR NEW OPERATORS AS WELL. UM, OVERALL, THIS WILL ENSURE GREATER PREDICTABILITY IN OUR WORK SCHEDULES. IT'LL REDUCE THE RESERVE FOR OPERATIONS GOES TO EFFICIENCY AND COSTS. WE'RE GONNA MONITOR THAT AS WELL. WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST PUT THIS IN PLACE AND LET IT GO. WE'RE GONNA MONITOR AND WE'VE TALKED TO A TU AS WELL TO, TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND IT ALSO, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL PROVIDE CONSISTENT WORK SCHEDULES FOR OUR OPERATORS, WHICH IS KEY FOR NOT ONLY THEIR WORK LIFE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THEIR FAMILY LIFE AS WELL. AND WITH THAT, I KNOW TREMMEL IS DYING TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE A P AND EXTRA BOARD. SO I WANT TO, [00:40:01] UM, THANK HIM FOR ALL HIS HELP AND WORK AND HIS TEAM. UH, BUT HE'S GONNA, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE A MPM EXTRA BOARD. UH, THANK YOU JOHN. I, I, I CAN DO THIS, UH, QUITE SUCCINCTLY. ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT, UH, AND YOU'VE HEARD JEFF MENTION IS NARRATIVE THAT THE FIRST 18 MONTHS HAVE BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING, UH, JAUNT FOR NEW HIRES. UM, THEY DON'T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH YET SENIORITY YET TO GET THE TYPE OF RUNS. THEY GIVE THEM PREDICTABLE LIFESTYLE, BE ABLE TO DO THINGS. THE A M PMM BOARD, UM, IS A CATALYST IN, IN ALLOWING THAT TO HAPPEN. SO WHAT YOU'LL HAVE IS A NEW EMPLOYEE WHO JUST STARTS THAT WILL BE, THEY WON'T HAVE ENOUGH SENIORITY TO BE ON THE AM BOARD, BUT THEY WILL BE ON THE PM. SO BECAUSE THEIR DAY DOESN'T START UNTIL AT LEAST 12 NOON, YOU CAN NOW ENVISION A WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S BRAND NEW, WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, UH, GO TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO WITHOUT EXHAUSTING ANY BANK THAT THEY JUST HAD WHERE THERE BE SICK LEAVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. EVEN THE ABILITY TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TAKE CLASSES AND STILL KIND OF PROGRESS IN THOSE WAYS AND STILL MAKE IT TO WORK LATER ON THAT DAY. IF THEY HAVE CAR PROBLEMS OR DIFFICULTY GETTING THERE, THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THERE. AND EVEN IF THEY NEEDED TO JUST SHARE THEIR CAR WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OR ANYTHING ELSE, IT JUST ALLOWS THEM MORE FLEXIBILITY, UH, WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL STRESSORS ON WHATEVER BANKS THAT THEY HAVE WHILE THEY'RE BUILDING A SENIORITY. AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST A BETTER BENEFIT FOR THEM AS WELL. SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'LL ADD FOR TODAY. THANK YOU, TRAMELL. AGAIN, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UH, WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS TO REALLY WORK WITH A TU AND OUR INTERNAL STAFFS TO REALLY BENCHMARK MONITOR, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TWEAK A FEW THINGS. THERE'S NO QUESTION, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THE, UH, UH, THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE FOUNDATION TO MOVE FORWARD. SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ONE. AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THE, UH, GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ENDS WITH THE CEO. UH, WE'RE THE ONLY, UH, MAJOR AND PROBABLY OUT OF THE MINOR TRANSIT AGENCIES, THE ONLY AGENCY THAT ALLOWS, UH, GRIEVANCES TO GO TO THE CEO LEVEL, I MEAN THE, UH, BOARD LEVEL. SO THAT WILL, WE'VE AGREED THAT THAT WILL END, UH, WITH ONE EXCEPTION, UH, GROUP APPEALS. AND THAT COULD BE A GROUP APPEAL, COULD BE, UH, EITHER A, A PAY ISSUE, A MEDICAL BENEFIT, ANYTHING THAT, UM, KIND OF HAS A KIND OF A CLASS, UM, CHARACTERIZATION. AND OUR ATTORNEY COUNSEL, UM, SAID SOME WORDS THAT SIMILARLY, SIMILARLY SITUATED. YEAH, I WILL SAY SIMILARLY SITUATED INDIVIDUALS, BUT I ALSO SAY THAT THE MEDICAL BENEFITS, SINCE THEY'RE NOT COVERED, THAT'S, THAT'S RIGHT. ATIONS WOULD BE, WOULD BE PULLED OUT DIFFERENTLY. BUT, BUT YES, FOR ANY OTHER GROUP GRIEVANCES OF ANY GROUP OR CLASS OF EMPLOYEES WHERE THERE, WHERE THE ISSUE OR THEIR GRIEVANCE IS THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR. AND, AND I WOULD ALSO NOTE, THANK YOU THAT WE ARE INSERTING THE DEF THE, UH, CHIEF SENIOR, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, THE DEPUTY CEO, WHATEVER, WE'RE IN THAT POSITION, TRAMEL, SO GO FROM MANAGER. WE'RE INSERTING TREMMEL INTO THAT PROCESS, TRAMMELL THE WHOLE PROCESS. SO THERE ARE STILL THE SAME NUMBER OF GRIEVANCE STEPS FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS MY NEXT POINT, JEFF , UH, JEFF COVERED THAT VERY WELL. WE'RE GONNA INSERT, UH, THE DEPUTY CEO IN THAT ENTIRE PROCESS AND IT SHOULD WORK PRETTY WELL. UM, WITH THAT. THOSE ARE THE MAJOR ITEMS FOR THE, UM, UH, JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE REGULAR WORKING CONDITIONS. AND RIGHT NOW, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO, TO BRIDGE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. YEAH. UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UH, JEFF HARN FOR, UH, BEING PATIENT WITH US. IT WAS A LONG FOUR MONTHS OF BACK AND FORTH, BUT WE DO, WE DO HAVE THE END OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. UH, ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE, UH, TEAM THAT WE DID WORK WITH, WHICH OF COURSE, UH, BO BONNIE ELDER, JOHN CLAMP, UH, TRAMELL BROWN, WHO WAS ALSO INVOLVED, UH, CURTIS COUR, UH, ED, UH, BENNETT. UH, IT, IT WAS A LONG THING. IT WAS A LONG, LONG FOUR MONTHS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOT TO THE CONCLUSION AND, UH, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU BRIDGE. MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT'S, UH, IT FOR THIS ITEM. UH, RECOMMEND, UH, APPROVAL OF THIS ONE. THANK YOU JOHN FOR WORKING ON THIS FOR US. AND THANK YOU FOR THE A TU. ALSO, I KNOW YOU WERE VERY DILIGENT IN, IN SUPPORTING YOUR GROUP AND, UH, MAKING SURE THEY GOT THE BEST THAT THEY COULD. YES. UH, AND, BUT, UH, THE BOTTOM LINE, I ALWAYS SAID THE OPERATORS ARE THE FRONT LINE OF OUR OPERATION AND, UH, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEM. UH, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE AT LEAST MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, MR. TRAMELL ALSO FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT, UH, WITH KNOWLEDGE AND ALL THAT. SO IT TOOK A TEAM AND, AND THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. UH, WE WERE ALL WORKING TOGETHER AND LISTENING, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE COULD FINALLY FINALIZE THIS AND BRING THIS TO, TO A CLOSE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. [00:45:01] I ALSO LIKE TO THANK BOTH PARTIES FOR COMING TOGETHER. THEY SAY THAT IF YOU LIKE SAUSAGE AND YOU LIKE WORKING AGREEMENTS, UH, DISCUSSIONS, THEN YOU SHOULD WATCH NEITHER BEING MADE BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS THAT GO INTO IT THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES ARE NOT THE MOST PLEASANT. UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE ITEM IN HERE THAT, THAT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF, BUT IF Y'ALL ARE IN FAVOR AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP HAS SAID YES, I'M NOT GONNA STAND IN THE WAY. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THIS, THIS PLAN. OKAY. UH, WE HAVE, UH, REQUESTS CON, UH, MOTION. NOT A MOTION YET. UH, WE HAVE SOME DISCUSSION OR NO, I'M SORRY. WAIT. WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. NOT YET. . I WANT TO HEAR THE COMMENT FROM OUR VICE CHAIR CABIA FIRST BEFORE WE START, MOVE ANY FURTHER. THANK YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. YOU, YOU SAY MONITOR, WE HAVE A THREE YEAR, UM, DEAL IN PLACE RIGHT HERE. CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHEN YOU SAY MONITOR AND WHAT THAT MEANS? WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT HOW THE, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE EXTRA BOARD IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, HOW IT IMPACTS THE OPERATORS, THE NEW HIRES, THE ATTRITION RATE, THE SEPARATION RATE, THE, THAT KIND OF MONITORING WELL, AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION AND HOW THAT IS ACTUALLY WORKING. UH, WE'LL WORK WITH ARNE AND HIS GROUP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND THEN FROM, UH, A BIGGER STANDPOINT, JUST THE BENCHMARKING OF SALARIES AND BENEFITS AND REALLY LOOK AT THAT EVERY YEAR AS WE GO FORWARD INSTEAD OF DOING ALL THAT TAIL END WORK, UH, WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THE THREE YEAR WORKING CONDITIONS. SO IT'S GONNA BE A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS. OKAY. AND, AND SO THEN IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO BE MADE, WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE LOOKED AT AT THE, THE BUDGET PROCESS OR IS THAT A MIDYEAR EVALUATION OR IS I I DEPENDING ON THE, UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE IMPACT, I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY MAJOR CHANGES IN TERMS OF, OF WHAT THE BOARD ADOPTS. UH, BUT IF WE HAVE AN IDEA OR SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO COME TO THE BOARD, WE'LL BRING IT TO THE BOARD AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME. YEAH, I WAS GONNA JUST ADD, THIS IS A BOARD POLICY. IT CAN BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME. YEAH. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED. SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT SOMETHING UNUSUAL AND TOTALLY UNEXPECTED BLEW UP AND WE WANTED TO MAKE IT, AND WE MUTUALLY WE'D DISCUSS IT AND WE'D HOPEFULLY HAVE A JOINT RECOMMENDATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT. AND IF IT REQUIRED COMING BACK TO THE BOARD FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE WORKING TO, TO YOUR WORKING CONDITION DOCUMENT, WE, WE, WE WOULD DO THAT AT ANY TIME. MM-HMM. , I DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING ANYTHING THAT IS, UH, OF THAT NATURE, BUT THAT'S, THOSE ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES. YEAH. AND, AND THE ONLY REASON I BRING THAT UP IS FOR MY SECOND QUESTION. AND THAT'S REALLY GOING TOWARDS RECRUITMENT, UH, OF NEW OPERATORS AND THEN THOSE THAT HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE AGENCY OF THE LAST THREE YEARS. RIGHT. BASED ON POTENTIALLY THE NEW BOARD OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. RIGHT. UM, AND SO IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THOSE THAT HAVE SEPARATED, UM, BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL ISSUES, YES, THIS IS SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY TO SAY, BUT GOING THROUGH THE THREE YEAR PROCESS, HAVING MID-YEAR CHECK-INS OR A POINT IN TIME YES. WHERE THAT EVALUATION IS BROUGHT UP EITHER TO YOUR LEVEL, TO BOTH LEVELS, SO THAT THAT'S EVALUATED. AND THEN IF THINGS NEED TO CHANGE THAT'S MONITORED AND, AND IMPROVED UPON, UM, BASED ON WHAT WE NEED IS RECRUITMENT, RIGHT? YEAH. AND, UH, UM, CONTINUATION IN THOSE POSITIONS, I THINK AND, AND THE STAFF AND THE A TU HAVE WORKED UP THE PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE POLICY. SO THERE, THERE, IF THERE SOME PROBLEMS COULD SIMPLY BE A, A PROCEDURAL ADJUSTMENT THAT WOULDN'T NEED TO COME BACK TO THE BOARD. IT WOULD ONLY BE IF IT WAS AT A LEVEL WHERE IT WAS A STRUCTURAL CHANGE THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TO THE BOARD. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. SO THOSE ARE GOOD. TWO TAKEAWAYS IN TERMS OF MONITORING AND REALLY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE SEPARATIONS WE'VE ALREADY HAD TO MAYBE GO BACK AND SEE IF THAT THEY WILL FIT NOW. EXCELLENT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. GOOD COMMENT. THANK YOU. OKAY, NOW I CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION. SO MOVED MR. CHAIR. OKAY. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THOSE THAT THANK I KNOW IT, IT'S NOT EASY. UH, NEXT IS ITEM [10. Proposed FY25 Operating Budget] 10. UH, MS. RIVERA WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED FY 25 OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH, WHICH IS, UH, UH, ITEM 10 ON THE AGENDA. MS. RIVERA. GOOD EVENING TRUSTEES. AGAIN, MY NAME IS AUDREY VETA, DIRECTOR OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET. TODAY I'LL FOCUS ON A FEW UPDATES IN THE PRESENTATION. FIRST I'LL START WITH, UH, BUDGET COMMUNICATION RESULTS, TOUCH ON OUR PRIORITIES AND HIGHLIGHTS, AND [00:50:01] THEN HIGH LEVEL REVIEW OF THE FY 25 BUDGET AND FIVE YEAR PLANS. THE FY 25 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 16TH WITH PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AND 11TH, UTILIZING VARIOUS MEDIUMS. OVERALL, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS HAD OVER 2100 IMPRESSIONS AND OVER 140 VIEWS OF OUR FY 25 BUDGET WEBPAGE. PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED INCLUDED INCREASES TO VAN OPERATORS, LIGHTED CROSSWALKS AND MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING AT SPECIFIC BUS STOPS. AGAIN, COMPARING BUDGET OVER THE YEARS, THERE'S AN APPROXIMATE COMPOUNDED GROWTH RATE OF 5%. OVERALL GROWTH WAS MAINLY DUE TO SERVICE INFLATION AND WAGE BENEFIT INCREASES. THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 25 IS $307.6 MILLION. AND AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON ADVANCING, GROWING, INVESTING AND BUILDING THROUGH OUR KS A PLAN, PATRONS, EMPLOYEES, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. OUR KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY 25, AGAIN, NO FAIR INCREASES AND A 3.4% INCREASE IN MTA SALES TAX REVENUE OVER THE FY 24 FORECAST. OVERALL OPERATING EXPENSES INCLUDE SERVICE INCREASES AND FIXED ROUTE VIA TRANS, VIA LINK AND VAN POOL. VAN POOL IS ALREADY IN THE BUDGET, BUT WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT AS, UM, ALL SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS AND INCREASES IN OUR FINAL PRESENTATION TO YOU. INCREASES IN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DELIVERY OF KS A PROJECTS AND OF COURSE AN INCREASE IN COST FOR OPE. DUE TO THAT NON-REOCCURRING ONE TIME CREDIT FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, OUR PROPOSED FY 25 CONSOLIDATED BUDGET INCLUDES $265.9 MILLION IN CAPITAL BUDGET AND A $307.6 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET FOR A TOTAL OF $573.5 MILLION. CONSOLIDATED BUDGET. TAKING, TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR FY 25 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET, 90% OF OUR BUDGET SUPPORT, SERVICE DELIVERY AND SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS, 52% OF THE COST FOR SERVICE DELIVERY IS OPERATION LABOR AND ADMINISTRATION OVERHEAD ONLY ACCOUNTS FOR LESS THAN 10% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET. IT, THE AGENCY ENDED 2023 SPENDING $265.2 MILLION AND WE ARE PROJECTED TO END 2024 SPENDING $5.3 MILLION LESS THAN OUR 2024 BUDGET AT $257.2 MILLION. THE FY 25 PROPOSED BUDGET IS A 17% INCREASE BUDGET TO BUDGET AND 20% INCREASE OVER OUR FY 24 FORECAST FOR AGAIN A TOTAL OF 307.6 MILLION. AS DAVID STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE COST DRIVERS FOR THE 20% INCREASE ARE OVER. THE FORECAST ARE DUE TO INCREASES IN OPE WAGES, SERVICE DELIVERY AND KS A FUNDING. THE FY 25 BUDGET IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT OF 32 POSITIONS, BUDGET TO BUDGET AND 30 POSITIONS. WHEN LOOKING AT, COMPARED TO 24 FORECAST DUE TO TWO MID-YEAR ADS, THOSE 32 POSITIONS INCLUDE 10 FOR KS. A SUPPORT, WHICH INCLUDES TWO STAFF MEMBERS, OR I'M, UH, TWO INCLUDES STAFF FOR TWO NEW EAST WEST OFFICES AND PROJECT ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING CONTRACTS, FINANCIAL AND DATA MANAGEMENT. AND THEN 21 POSITIONS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY, WHICH INCLUDES 15 NEW OPERATOR POSITIONS AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT POSITION. THE FY 25 CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN IS AT $265.9 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES 154 MILLION FOR THE ART NORTH SOUTH CORRIDOR, 59.3 MILLION IN FACILITY PROJECTS FOR OPERATIONS, PASSENGERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE. AND THEN 300 AND, I'M SORRY, 31.6 MILLION IN REVENUE VEHICLES. THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL SPENDING PLAN FROM FY 25 TO 29 TOTALS $1.2 BILLION KS A PROJECTS SUCH AS THE SECOND O AND M FACILITY AND NORTH SOUTH AND EAST WEST CORRIDOR MAKE UP OF ABOUT 64.8% OF THE FIVE YEAR PLAN AND REVENUE VEHICLES AT ALMOST 25%. LASTLY, WE'LL REVIEW THE FIVE YEAR FORECAST ENSURING WHAT VIA IS DOING IS S SUSTAIN, UH, FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE IN THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE SUMMARY DEPICTED HERE. OPERATING AND OPERATING REVENUE AND OPERATING EXPENSE GROWTH OVER FY 26 THROUGH 29 IS RELATIVELY MODEST WITH SLIGHT FLUCTUATION IN OPERATING EXPENSES DUE TO ONE TIME OPERATING COSTS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PLANNING STUDIES FOR NON-OPERATING REVENUE. THE ONLY CHANGE FROM WHAT WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK WAS BASED ON A RECENT UPDATE IN REMOVING THE $10 MILLION PRIOR YEAR COMMITMENT FROM CSA OVER THE FY 25 AND 26 FISCAL YEARS. WE'LL STILL, WE WILL [00:55:01] STILL BEGIN RECEIVING THE AT D TWO SALES TAX STARTING IN JANUARY, 2026. OVERALL, OUR NET INCREASE OVER THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD IS $451.01 MILLION. THE TABLE DEPICTS, UH, THE TABLE HERE DEPICTS RESERVE BALANCES AT THE END OF EACH YEAR AND THE FIVE YEAR PLANNING HORIZON VIA IS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE POLICY LEVEL OF 60 DAYS OF OPERATING EXPENSES IN EACH YEAR AND BOTH THE STABILIZATION FUND AND WORKING CAPITAL RESERVE. THE ESTIMATED FISCAL YEAR AND 2024 RESERVE BALANCE REMAINS AT NEARLY $618.2 MILLION. AGAIN, REFLECTING AN INCREASE FROM THE A TD SALES TAX REVENUE BONDS TO BE ISSUED IN AUGUST. IN REGARDS TO THE LINE GRAPH DEPICTED BELOW, THIS SHOWS HOW THE UNRESTRICTED CASH RESERVE PROJECTED BALANCE OF 230 POINT 34 MILLION AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEAR HORIZON IS SUBSTANTIALLY SPENT AT THE END OF THE 20 YEAR PERIOD REQUIRED FOR PROJECTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE FDA. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH, TRUSTEES. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? VICE CHAIR ? UH, JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATION. YOU SAID THE 10 MILLION WAS REMOVED FROM THE COSA AND THE PROJECTED EARS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY BASED ON OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. IS THERE ANY, UM, ANY THOUGHTS OF ANY OF THAT TIM MILLION BEING DISCUSSED FOR FUTURE? UM, WELL LET ME, LET ME, LET ME REPOSITION THIS QUESTION. YES. HOW CAN, UH, WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CITY IN THINKING THROUGH SUPPORTING, UH, AUGMENTING OUR OPERATING BUDGET WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, TRANSIT AND FREQUENCY? IT, IT IS A CONTINUED DIALOGUE THAT WE COLLECTIVELY AS, AS A BOARD AND AS AS STAFF SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE DIALOGUES WITH THE INDIVIDUAL POLICY MAKERS OVER AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND IN FACT, WE WILL BE ADVANCING SOMETHING NEXT MONTH WITH THE CITY, WHICH WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH YOU AND IS NOT IN THOSE FIGURES. OKAY. WE HAVE NOT ASSUMED NECESSARILY THAT WOULD HAPPEN. SO THAT'S A RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO, BUT THAT WILL BE A HELP AGAIN. YES. AND THAT WILL GO TOWARDS OPERATING DOLLARS. IT CAN GO TOWARD ANYTHING, BUT WE, I WOULD SAY MORE THAN LIKELY OPERATING. OKAY. 'CAUSE IT'S A CONSISTENT SOURCE OF FUNDING. GREAT. THANK YOU SIR. OKAY, MR. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I MOVE ADOPTION OF THE, UH, 2025, UH, OPERATING BUDGET. OKAY. I HAVE MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, FIRST AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. A AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. UH, THE NEXT ? YEAH, THE NEXT IS THE, UH, [Executive Session] CLOSED, UH, SESSION. TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024. AND THE TIME NOW IT IS 6:09 PM AND VIA METROPOLITAN TRUSTEE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO TO A CLOSED SESSION EXEC EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPENS MEETING ACT. THE ITEM WILL, WE WILL DISCUSS DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSIONS AS FOLLOWS. UH, LEGAL BRIEFING, A TRANSIT POLICE UPDATE WHICH IS ALLOWED UH, AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PERSONAL TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.071 ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY AND SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 4 ENTITLED PERSONAL. 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. OKAY, IT IS NOW 6:42 PM AND WE'RE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11, NO DELIBER RELATIONS OR PUBLIC POLICY OF OUR VOTE TAKING OCCURRED DURING THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION. OKAY, TRUSTEES, WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR VIA MEETING PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT. I'D LIKE TO REMIND OUR TRUSTEES TO REMAIN SEATED AS THE NEXT WE WILL HAVE OUR A TD BOARD MEETING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN THE VIA MEETING SOLE MOVE. SECOND. HAVE FIRST AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR. PCIA. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO OH TD OUR A TD. OKAY. IT IS NOW [ATD 1. Call to Order] 6:43 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE SEPTEMBER 24TH A TD BOARD MEETING. UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO WAS ADDRESSED IN THE, UH, FIRST MEETING, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE. [01:00:01] WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE CITIZENS SEVERE PORTION OF OUR ME OF OUR PORTION OF OUR A TD MEETING. DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS TO BE HEARD? NO CITIZENS. MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS, UH, ITEM [ATD 4. Consent Agenda] NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM TRUSTEES. THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MOVE ADOPTION. OKAY, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM IS APPROVED. UH, THIS BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER [ATD 5. Proposed FY25 Operating Budget] FIVE, PROPOSED FY 23 A TD OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH IS AN ACTION ITEM. TRUSTEE, THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED DURING THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AT THE VIA MEETING. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? MOVE ADOPTION. OKAY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NEXT ONE. LET'S SEE HERE. NEXT IS MS. ELDERS, DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO SIR. WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING. THANK YOU TRUSTEES. WE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING. SO MOVED. SECOND. AYE. ALL IN FAVOR? I HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NAY. MOTION CARRIES. THE A TD MEDIAN IS ADJOURNED. AND THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRESENCE. APPRECIATE IT, . THAT'S ALL RIGHT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.