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GOOD AFTERNOON[ATD 1. Call to Order]
EVERYONE, AND WELCOME.IT IS NOW 5:03 PM AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE DECEMBER 17TH, A TD BOARD MEETING.
LET'S BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.
HE HASN'T GONE THROUGH TRAINING YET.
[ATD 2. Moment of Reflection, Pledge of Allegiance]
UH, I WOULD LIKE US TO DO, UH, A MOMENT OF REFLECTIONS AND BY DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN THE US TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE BACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER DEAR GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND, AND JUSTICE.
HONOR, HONOR, TEXAS FLAG ALLE.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, WE DO NOT.
[ATD 3. Citizens to be Heard]
WE HAVE REACHED THE CITIZENS OF BUREAU HEARD PORTION OF OUR A TD MEETING.DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN OF YOUR HEARD MR. CHAIR? WE HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD.
UH, BASED ON THAT, I'LL READ THIS COMMENT.
WE HAVE NOW COME TO THE 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 THE SAN ANTONIO BEAR COUNTY AREA.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS MAY BE ADDRESSED AT A LATER DATE BY THE PRESIDENCY OF STAFF.
THIS PROCESS SHOWS YOU RECEIVED THE MOST ACCURATE RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION OR CONCERN.
AND A DD APPRECIATES YOU TAKING THE TIME AND EFFORT TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS WITH US THIS EVENING.
UM, I'M HERE TO JUST FOLLOW UP ON MY LAST MEETING, UH, WITH YOU ALL LAST MONTH ON NOVEMBER 10TH TO, UH, SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RESPONSE FROM YOUR PART TO ANYONE WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, OPERATIONS OR, UM, ANY, ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH, SAFETY, LEGAL, THAT WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE FROM YOUR END TO, UH, MAKE CONTACT WITH ME.
UM, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A, UM, WRITTEN DOCUMENT, UM, A LETTER OF SOME KIND.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS.
SO I'M JUST HERE TO REITERATE MY KNEE TO HAVE THE KNEE BACK PAIN RELIEF SOLUTION, PILLOW, WHICH I PRESENTED LAST WEEK.
I'M NOT SURE WHO ENDED UP WITH THEM.
HOPEFULLY SOMEBODY DID AND SOMEBODY'S USING THEM AND ENJOYING THEM.
UH, BUT, UH, HOPEFULLY I CAN GET SOME KIND OF RESPONSE, UH, FROM THE ADMINISTRATION TO GIMME SOME IDEA OF WHERE YOU STAND ON THE SUBJECT OF PUTTING THIS PRODUCT ON THE, UH, UNIFORM ALLOWANCE AND, UM, HAVING IT, UH, PART OF THE LIST OF REQUISITION ITEMS FOR THE UNIFORM FOR THE OPERATORS.
SO THAT IS MY MY REASON FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
NO OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD, MR. CHAIR.
THIS CITIZEN, MR. CHAIR, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED UP FOR THE VIA BOARD MEETING AND NOT THE A TD.
THAT WAS A MISTAKE ON MY PART, BUT WE WOULD OFFER TO HER IF SHE WANTED TO SAY THE SAME THING AGAIN AT THE VIA BOARD MEETING, WHICH OPENS UP NEXT.
[ATD 4. Consent Agenda]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSENT AGENDA ITEM TRUSTEE, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SO MOVED.
THE CONSENT TO THAT ITEM IS APPROVED.
NEXT, UH, FOR THE A TD, UH, ELDERS, DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO, WE DO NOT HAVE A LEGAL
[00:05:01]
BRIEFING.WE ARE REACHED AGAIN AT THE A TD MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING? SO MOVE SECOND.
[1. Call to Order]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ORDER THE DECEMBER 17TH VIA BOARD MEETING.ITEM TWO WAS ADDRESSED AT THE A TD MEETING.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER THREE.
[3. Citizens to be Heard ]
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.MR. CHAIR, WE DO HAVE ONE CITIZEN TO BE HEARD, UH, HEARD CHOICE, UM, TO COME IN AND GIVE US THE, THE, THE SAME OR, UH, AND IS SALLY BUSTOS FOR, FOR THIS? YES.
WELL, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD WHAT I, WHY I'M HERE.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO, UM, CONTINUE TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO USE THIS, UH, TO TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS PILLOW.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE THOSE PILLOWS ACTUALLY ENDED UP, BUT, UM, I'D BE HAPPY TO COME AND GIVE A PRESENTATION TO LEGAL SAFETY OR ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD, UH, INDICATE AND SHOW YOU HOW THIS PILLOW COULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE OPERATORS OR ANY OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING YOURSELVES WHILE YOU'RE SITTING AT YOUR DESK IN A STATIC POSITION, WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO, UH, ENJOY A DIFFERENT SEATED COMFORT AND ALSO A DECOMPRESSION AND A SUPPORT OF YOUR SPINAL COLUMN, WHICH, AS WE ALL KNOW, NEEDS TO BE IN ALIGNMENT AT ALL TIMES.
OTHERWISE, OTHER PROBLEMS COULD ARISE LIKE SCIATICA, UH, OR NECK STRAIN, OR OTHER THINGS COULD HAPPEN.
SO IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE, UH, ABSENTEEISM OR HAVE ANY KIND OF DISABILITY CLAIMS OCCUR, PUTTING THIS PRODUCT INTO THE HANDS OF THE OPERATORS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND THE P THE POPULATION OF EMPLOYEES HERE, UH, WOULD HELP THEM TO ALLEVIATE ANY KIND OF DISCOMFORT THAT MIGHT ARISE FROM STATIC SEATED POSITIONS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
SO, THANK YOU AND I HOPE TO, UH, RECEIVE SOME TYPE OF WRITING FROM YOU OR COMMUNICATION THAT WOULD GIVE ME AN INDICATION OF YOUR DECISION ON THIS MATTER.
THERE ARE NO OTHER CITIZENS TO BE HEARD.
UH, NEXT WILL IS THE ITEM NUMBER
[9. *Board of Trustees]
NINE.WE'LL BE TAKING THIS OUT OF ORDER, UH, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO DO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS THE 2025 VIA BOARD ELECTIONS PROCESS INITIATED OCTOBER 21ST NINE, UH, 2024, REDUCED THE FOLLOWING LIST OF TRUSTEES WHO WERE NOMINATED TO SERVE OR AS VIA BOARD CHAIR, BOARD CHAIR POSITION, LAURA CABILLA, NOMINATED BY SECRETARY MALONE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER, AND TRUSTEE PEREZ, BOARD VICE CHAIR POSITION, LEO GOMEZ, NOMINATED BY SECRETARY MALONE, BOARD SECRETARY POSITION ATHLETE MALONE, NOMINATED BY SELF AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER BOARD ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSITION, LOUIS COOPER, NOMINATED BY SECRETARY MALONE.
ALL NOMINEES ACCEPTED THEIR POSITION AND SUBMITTED THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND VISION STATEMENTS, WHICH WERE SHARED WITH YOU EARLIER.
THE, THE VIA BOARD MAY A ACCEPT THE INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED AS A SLATE AND PROCEED WITH ELECTION OF SLATE OF NOMINATED VIA BOARD OFFICERS, OR B, MOVE FORWARD WITH ELECTION VIA BOARD OFFICERS BY INDIVIDUAL POSITION.
SO DO WE WANT TO DO THIS AS A SLATE? YES.
YES, MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, NOMINATE THESE AS A SLATE OR CAPELLA FOR CHAIR LEO GOMEZ FOR VICE CHAIR ATLE MALONE FOR SECRETARY AND LEWIS COOPER, ASSISTANT BOARD SECRETARY.
UH, THERE ARE, UH, SINCE THERE ARE NO NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR, UH, THERE IS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS BY SLATE, UH, THE BOARD OFFICERS.
UM, WE HAVE ALREADY HAD, UH, THE, UH, MOTION AND A SECOND TO CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD OFFICERS.
I THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE, THE NOMINATION JUST DID THAT CLOSE.
UH, I THINK WE SHOULDN'T, WE ANNOUNCED WHO THE, WHO WON THE ELECTION.
WELL, BUT THAT WAS BEFORE THE, THE NOMINATION
IF EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LAURA IS THE, IT IS GONNA BE THE CHAIR THAT'S
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IMPORTANT.AND THEN OUR BOARD VICE CHAIR WILL BE MR. LEO GOMEZ.
AND THEN WE HAVE SECRETARY MALONE.
AND THEN A BOARD ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BISHOP, PHYSICIAN.
OKAY, MR. WE'RE GONNA HAVE A GREAT BOARD.
[4. President/CEO Report]
ITEM NUMBER FOUR.SO STAR ADMINISTRATOR OF THE QUARTER.
UH, WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE INFORMATION SERVICE MANAGER LORI WELLS AS OUR STAR ADMINISTRATOR FOR HER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND EXCEPTIONAL EFFORTS IN LEADING THE DEPLOYMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ORGANIZATION-WIDE ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING, ERP AND ENTERPRISE ASSET MANAGEMENT, EAM SOLUTIONS, COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS AN EASIER LANGUAGE PROJECT MOVE.
THIS PROJECT REQUIRED IMMENSE DEDICATION, SKILL, AND PERSEVERANCE TO SUCCESSFULLY BRING THE NEW SYSTEM ONLINE.
LORRAINE AND HER TEAM WORKED TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF EVERY DIVISION AFFECTED BY THIS SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL SHIFT WERE MET.
SHE EXHIBITED EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR ALL INVOLVED ON MAY 31ST OF THIS YEAR, THE NEW ERP AND EEM SYSTEMS CAME ONLINE WITH MINIMAL DISRUPTION TO OPERATIONS.
THANKS TO METICULOUS PLANNING, COLLABORATION, AND EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS ON THE PART OF LORI AND HER TEAM.
THIS MILESTONE WAS ACHIEVED MARKING A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD FOR VIA IN EMBRACING MODERNIZATION AND AUTOMATION.
NOW, LORI COULD NOT BE WITH US TONIGHT, BUT WE KNOW SHE IS ONLINE WATCHING.
UH, AND SHE WOULD ALSO ASK THAT WE WOULD HAVE HER TEAM MEMBERS STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED.
SO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE PRESENT WHO SERVED ON THE TEAM, PLEASE STAND UP AND BE RECOGNIZED ON HER BEHALF.
NEXT, WE'RE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE THAT JERMAINE CHAB HAS JOINED VIA AS OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT.
JERMAINE BRINGS OVER 20 YEARS OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, A HIGHLY STRATEGIC AND COLLABORATIVE LEADER.
HE HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DRIVING PROFITABLE GROWTH, OPTIMIZING RESOURCE ALLOCATION, AND STREAMLINING OPERATIONAL COST.
HIS EXPERTISE EXTENDS TO FINANCIAL OPERATIONS, INVESTOR RELATIONS, MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS, WHICH YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T FACE HERE.
AND PROVIDING FINANCIAL STRATEGIES TO SENIOR LEADERSHIP.
HE HELD CFO POSITIONS AT THE GREATER TORONTO AIRPORT AUTHORITY, TRAVEL, WIFI, AND THE HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM, WHERE HIS INNOVATIVE APPROACHES SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THEIR FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SUCCESS.
HE HOLDS AN MBA AND A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING FROM WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY AND, AND HAS EARNED NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE JERMAINE ON BOARD CONFIDENT THAT HIS LEADERSHIP AND VISION WILL PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING VIA SUCCESS.
SO PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING JERMAINE CHUBB TO THE VIA FAMILY.
JERMAINE, CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO STRATEGIC PLANNER THREE, VERANA ESRA IBARRA, WHO HAS ACHIEVED ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN HER CAREER BY EARNING AMERICA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PLANNER OR A ICP CERTIFICATION.
VERONICA JOINED VIA IN 2021 AS A REAL ESTATE COORDINATOR.
SHE WORKED HARD, LEARNED QUICKLY, AND SOON TRANSITIONED TO THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC PLANNER IN 2023.
THIS ACCREDITATION IS A TESTAMENT TO VERONICA'S DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND HER COMMITMENT TO PLANNING PRO PROFESSION.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MANY GREAT THINGS FROM VERONICA.
VERONICA, PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
THANK I AM ALSO PROUD TO, UH, SHARE THAT OUR SENIOR SERVICE PLANNER, JESSICA FUENTES, HAS GRADUATED FROM THE ALEX ZENIO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OR A-B-L-D-P.
THIS PROGRAM IS A SEVENTH MONTH PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
THE PROGRAM PROVIDES NETWORKING AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING AND EMERGING CIVIC AND CORPORATE LEADERS IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, AS WELL AS PROMOTING LEADERSHIP ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND WE HAVE AN, UH, INTERNAL PROCESS THAT IS COMPETITIVE TO EVEN BE PLACED IN DENOMINATION FOR THE PROGRAM.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO BE SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM.
SO SHE ALREADY PASSED THOSE TWO STEPS.
CONGRATULATIONS ALL TO, TO OUR PARATRANSIT SUPERVISOR, JOY FRANKLIN, WHO COMPLETED THE COURSE
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OF MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID AND STRONG RESILIENT YOUTH FOR SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUTH EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.THIS COURSE IS CO-DEVELOPED BY THE MAYORS, UH, CENTER FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY CHILDREN AT CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER AND WITH THE MCKENZIE HEALTH INSTITUTE.
THIS INTERACTIVE SELF-PACED TRAINING EQUIPS INDIVIDUALS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, YOUTH WHO ARE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE HERE TO THIS EVENING.
AND FINALLY, VIA AND OUR PARTNERSHIP PARTNERS, I'M SORRY, AT UTSA AND CENTRAL SAN ANTONIO CELEBRATED THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON DOWNTOWN WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF OUR FIFTH VIA LINK ZONE.
LITTLE, THE LITTLE RUNNER POWERED BY VIA LINK IS THE NEWEST WAY TO GET AROUND DOWNTOWN WITH ON-DEMAND RIDERSHIP SERVICE AT VIAS PRICES.
THANKS TO OUR STAFF AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE CELEBRATION HELD AT LA 10.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO COULD NOT BE THERE, WE HAVE A VIDEO WITH HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DAY.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO HISTORIC LATA AND BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO AS WE BEGIN TO CELEBRATE THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIP AND INNOVATION IN DOWNTOWN MOBILITY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
NOW, MORE THAN EVER, DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO IS AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE WHERE A CITY'S HISTORY AND BRIGHT FUTURE CAN BE EXPERIENCED SIDE BY SIDE.
IT'S NOW ALSO AN INNOVATION ZONE IN THE WAY WE'RE DELIVERING PEOPLE FROM A TO B.
THE LITTLE RUNNER POWERED BY VIA LINK IS WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD.
IT'LL ACTUALLY BE THROUGH OUR VIA LINK APP WHERE YOU CALL UP A RIDE BASED UPON YOUR LOCATION B PICKED UP, AND THEN ALSO BASED UPON THE LOCATION THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE TAKEN TO, IT'S IN THE DOWNTOWN ZONE, BUT WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU TO SOUTH TOWN AS WELL AS THE PEARL.
LISTEN, WE ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH VIA ON THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE MICRO MOBILITY IS THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO.
THE BEAUTY ASSOCIATED WITH, WHETHER IT'S A CARAVAN OR WHETHER IT'S A GYM.
SIX, YOU CAN PARK ONCE AND THEN YOU CAN UTILIZE THESE VEHICLES TO MOBILIZE YOURSELF ALL OVER DOWNTOWN WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY FOR PARKING A SECOND OR A THIRD TIME.
AND BECAUSE VIA DOESN'T DO SEARCH PRICING, THE MOST EXPENSIVE VIA LINK TRIP THAT YOU CAN GET TO GET TO SOME OF CHEF JOHNNY'S DELICIOUS OSA OR HAMBURGERS, UM, IS ONLY GONNA BE A DOLLAR 30.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF CREATIVE WAYS IN WHICH THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND LATA PARTICULAR WILL PARTNER WITH THE, UH, TO BRING VISITORS HERE AND AND LOCALS TO, TO OUR DOWNTOWN TO BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LITTLE RUDDER PROGRAM THAT WAS ALREADY SERVING STUDENTS AT UTSA.
AND WE EXPANDED THAT CONCEPT TO SERVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH VIA LINK.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION THAT IS GOING ON THE WEATHER SOMETIMES AT NIGHT.
AND SO HAVING THAT SAFE PATH, IT'S ONE LESS THING THAT THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WITH AS THEY'RE, UH, CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WHAT DEFINES SUCCESS FOR THIS OPTION, RIGHT? IT IS UTILIZATION.
SO WE NEED ALL OF YOU TO SPREAD THE WORD RELATIVE TO MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE ACCESSING THIS.
WHERE ARE THEY AT? THEY SHOULD BE HERE TOO.
THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR THAT GREAT, GREAT EVENT.
AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
[5. Recognition of President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt]
MEMBERS.IT IS MY HONOR TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE VIA PRESIDENT AND CEO JEFF ATH FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO VIA AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE.
AS YOU KNOW, JEFF IS SET TO RETIRE JANUARY 3RD AFTER 13 YEARS AT VIA AND A REMARKABLE 47 YEARS IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.
JEFF, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND MYSELF, CONGRATULATIONS ON AN EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE TO ADVANCE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND BEYOND.
NOT, NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN LOOK BACK AT THEIR LIFE
[00:20:01]
AND KNOW THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS CHANGED LIVES.UPLIFTED COMMUNITIES SHAPED A BETTER FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
YOUR TIME AT VIA HAS DONE ALL THESE THINGS.
YOUR INVESTMENT IN VIA MISSION HAS AFFORDED A BETTER TOMORROW.
BECAUSE OF YOUR VISION AND TIRELESS ADVOCACY, WE CAN SAY FOR CERTAIN THAT OUR CITY, OUR REGION, OUR PROSPECTS, HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED FOR THE BETTER.
WE CAN KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVEMENT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE YOU HELP LEAD THE WAY.
WE'LL ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR REMARKABLE KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND FAITH IN BOLD NEW DIRECTIONS FOR MOBILITY.
YOU PUSH US TO REIMAGINE WHAT IT MEANT TO CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY AND BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE COULD DELIVER CHANGE.
AND WHILE WE WILL MISS YOU, WE ARE CELEBRATING WITH YOU AND ROB, AS YOU BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIVES.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING EVERY MINUTE OF THE PAST 13 YEARS COUNT TOWARD A BETTER, MORE MOBILE FUTURE FOR ALL OF US.
AND JEFF, LET ME JUST SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU THESE LAST FOUR YEARS AND GETTING TO KNOW YOU.
UH, YOU'RE JUST A REMARKABLE MAN, AND YOU AND ROB, UH, JUST HAVE AN OPEN HEART FOR EVERYBODY AND WILLING TO LISTEN AND WORK WITH ALL ANYBODY THAT COMES YOUR WAY, AND THAT CAN'T BE SAID ABOUT EVERYBODY.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, AND I WISH YOU THE MOST WONDERFUL SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS, UH, IN YOUR NEXT LIFE.
ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ANYBODY WANT, WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AT THIS TIME? UH, PAUL, I SEE YOUR LIGHT ON.
I, I DIDN'T HAVE THE FIRST COMMENT,
TURN YOUR LIGHT ON, ON SECOND.
I, I'LL GO FIRST, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST SIMPLY WANNA SAY IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL WORKING WITH YOU,
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I, FIRST OFF, I, I WANNA SAY, UH, CONGRATULATIONS.
ONE, YOU'VE CHOSEN, UM, FOR YOU AND ROB, UH, TO TAKE A NEXT STEP IN YOUR LIFE.
AND IT'S HARD TO LEAVE BEHIND PUBLIC SERVICE AND, UH, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT ARE HERE, UH, TO ENJOY WHAT YOU WELL DESERVE, RIGHT? UM, AND SO THAT'S A HARD STEP RIGHT THERE.
AND, AND IT'S, UH, SOMETHING THAT NOT MANY CHOOSE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT.
SO, ONE, CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.
AND ROB, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S MANY NIGHTS THAT HE WAS PULLED AWAY FROM HOME.
AND YOUR SACRIFICE IS DULY NOTED AND, AND APPRECIATE IT.
UM, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, UH, YOU KNOW, JEFF, MY KIDS WATCH DIFFERENT THINGS.
THEY HEAR ABOUT DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.
AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THIS BOARD HERE TODAY, THE STAFF HERE, UM, THE VIA, UH, LEADERSHIP THINGS WOULD NOT RUN AS SMOOTHLY, UH, THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE OPENED UP YOUR HEART, YOU'VE LISTENED, YOU'VE, UH, HAD CONVERSATIONS, TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE AMENABLE TO, UH, OPINIONS.
YOU'RE NOT SOMEBODY THAT CLOSES OFF, AND NOT EVERYONE'S LIKE THAT.
UM, AND SO THANK YOU, UH, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
UH, THANKS FOR ALWAYS MAKING IT FUN.
UH, AND THANKS FOR, UH, YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, MANY MORE YEARS WITH YOU AND, AND VISITING, UH, AND SEEING THAT LONG HAIR SOON.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT YOU, Y'ALL.
I KNOW YOU LIKE TRIPS AND ALL THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE FAR AWAY FROM OUR LIVES.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU BETTER HAVE THAT ROOM READY FOR SUZANNE AND I.
'CAUSE WE ARE COMING TO SEE YOU GUYS,
I MEAN, IT'S JUST BEEN REMARKABLE.
[00:25:02]
THANK YOU.WELL, JEFF, UH, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY THAT HAS A NEGATIVE THING TO SAY ABOUT YOU, UM, BOTH INSIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND IN DC I SAW ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT KNOW YOU FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT THINK THE WORLD OF YOU.
AND, AND ADD ME TO THAT GROUP.
UM, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I'LL, I'LL TELL YOU, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING ME WITH OPEN ARMS IN THE BOARD.
WHEN I GOT ON, YOU WERE, UH, YOU WERE VERY AVAILABLE TO ME.
YOU WERE, UH, WITH OPEN ARMS AND YOU GOT ME IN IN, UH, INCLUDED IN SOME PRETTY BIG PROJECTS RIGHT AWAY.
AND SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST IN ME THERE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I REALLY HOPE YOU AND ROB ENJOY, UH, MEXICO.
UH, JEFF, ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT DID NOT LOOK AT MY DISABILITY.
YOU ACCEPTED ME FOR WHO I WAS, AND YOU RAN WITH IT.
AND THAT ALONE TAUGHT ME AND SHOWED ME THAT YOU ARE A PERSON WILLING TO WORK WITH ANYONE AND TO HELP ANYONE TO YOU AND ROB, HAVE A WONDERFUL LIFE.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I, FIRST OF ALL, I LOVE THAT PICTURE FROM LAST WEEK.
I THINK YOU ALWAYS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF YOUNGER LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS LIKE ALEXANDER ENO, WHERE I'VE MET YOU EVEN BEFORE I JOINED THE BOARD LONG YEARS AGO, ABOUT A DECADE AGO OR MORE, UH, YOU, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THE EMERGING GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORTING AND REALLY MENTORING.
UM, BUT ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, I, THERE'S, THERE'S A METAPHOR AND IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE A CHEF, SOMETIMES YOU JUST GET TO COOK WITH WHAT YOU GET, RIGHT? AND SO, SEEING YOU, I REALLY ADMIRE THE WAY THAT YOU ALWAYS MANAGE YOURSELF WITH A BOARD THAT YOU YOURSELF THEN CHOOSE, BUT YOU MADE THE BEST OF IT.
AND YOU REALLY KIND OF LEARNED HOW TO REALLY EXTRACT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE FROM ALL OF US.
AND REALLY JUST, YOU DID THE SAME THING ALWAYS WITH YOUR TEAM.
YOU BUILT A, A, AN AMAZING TEAM THAT IS NOW TAKING ON PROJECTS THAT ARE JUST REALLY TRANSFORMATIONAL.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY, I REALLY, REALLY ADMIRED AND LEARNED FROM YOUR LEADERSHIP, HOW YOU HANDLE YOURSELF, HOW YOU MANAGE BIG ISSUES AND, AND CHALLENGES, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THOSE, UH, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE MADE IT LOOK VERY SMOOTH, UH, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU AS A FRIEND AND AS A RESOURCE.
SO, UM, HOPEFULLY, UH, YOU KNOW, I, NOW, NOW I'M, NOW I'M SORT OF SECOND GUESSING IF I SHOULD'VE GONE MY RE MY, MY CITIZENSHIP, OTHERWISE I COULD'VE GONE DEPORTED AND GO LIVE WITH YOU
WELL, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR MARCH BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD IN MEXICO AND ROB
UH, SO JUST WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR THAT.
IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, JEFF, UH, YOU AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, BACK WHEN I WAS IN OFFICE, UH, THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHANGES, AND THEN NOW HERE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS ON VIA AS WELL.
AND IT HAS BEEN MY DISTINCT PLEASURE, UH, TO WORK WITH YOU.
UH, MAYBE WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE, UH, BUT WE ALWAYS WORKED THROUGH AND CAME TO AGREEMENTS.
SO, UH, IT REALLY HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH YOU.
UH, YOU'VE MADE IT EASY TO BE A BOARD MEMBER, AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BE A BOARD MEMBER.
WELL, I'LL MISS ROB MORE THAN YOU, BUT THAT'S
UH, HEY, UH, MR. ARN, I KNOW I JUST GOT HERE TOO.
SO MY, UH, LETTER IS NOT AS LONG AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPERS, BUT, UM, I DO KNOW ONE THING, AND THAT IS THAT YOU CAN MEASURE A PERSON A LOT, BY THE WAY, THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THEM SPEAK ABOUT THEM AND THE WAY THE PEOPLE THEY WORK WITH SPEAK ABOUT THEM.
AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT GLOWING THINGS.
AND IN MY SHORT TIME WITH THIS BOARD AND WITH YOU, UH, I HAVE FELT NOTHING BUT WARMTH AND WELCOME.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT WE'VE GOTTEN TOGETHER, AND IT MAKES ME WONDER IF IT WAS SOMETHING I SAID THAT MADE YOU WANT TO LEAVE SO SOON,
[00:30:01]
UH, BUT I, I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO YOU, UH, BEING AGAIN, STILL A FAMILIAR FACE AND, AND A RESOURCE AS WELL.
'CAUSE I JUST GOT HERE BECAUSE YOU, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, DEPUTY ROW, UH, I AM GONNA, MR. JEFF, YOU'VE BEEN A PHENOMENAL FRIEND, MENTOR, UH, TO ME OVER THE YEARS.
UH, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER BEYOND VIA, UH, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THIS MOMENT.
NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE LEAVING, I'M PROUD BECAUSE YOU SET A MILESTONE AND A GOAL AND YOU REACHED IT.
AND I'VE SEEN YOU DO THAT COUNTLESS TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
UM, YOU'VE SHOWN ME AS AN EXECUTIVE HOW TO SHOW UP FOR THE BOARD, HOW TO BE PRESENT, HOW TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, HOW YOU'VE ALSO TAUGHT ME, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON THE GOAL.
AGAIN, WHY I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT TODAY IS BECAUSE YOU SAID THIS, YOU SAID THIS WOULD BE THE TIME, THIS WOULD BE THE MOMENT YOU KNEW WHERE YOU WERE GONNA MOVE.
UM, AND WATCHING THAT FROM AFAR AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE.
AND SO I AM EXTREMELY PROUD TO KNOW YOU, UH, AND ALWAYS I, AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS A THOUSAND TIMES, THANK YOU, ARE THE MOST UNUSED WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT.
AND WITH ALL THE WORDS THAT I USED BEFORE THAT, I'LL JUST FINISH BY SAYING THANK YOU.
UH, JEFF, THE BOARD HAS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU, SOMETHING FOR YOU TO REMEMBER US BY.
YOU HAVE IT? OH, THAT'S, UH, IT'S UP HERE.
WELL, YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH YOU ALL EXPENSIVE
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.
IMAGINE A SYSTEM THAT OPERATED PRETTY UNIVERSALLY EVERY 10 OR 20 MINUTES IN ORDER FOR US TO DELIVER THE TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP SUPPORT THE GROWTH THAT THIS REGION IS LOOKING AT.
WE'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE THREE LAWS OF TRANSIT.
FREQUENCY, FREQUENCY, FREQUENCY.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND ALL OF E FAMILY TODAY FOR A REAL MILESTONE EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
OUR FIRST NEW CLEAN AND EFFICIENT COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS OR CNG BUSES.
WE'RE PROUD TO PROVIDE MORE THAN JUST TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS.
AS MY HERO SNOOPY SAID, KAWA BANDA SURFS UP SURF DON'T DRIVE, RIDE VIA.
TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF VIAS NEW TRIP PLANNING AND MOBILE TICKETING APP VIA GO MOBILE.
UH, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL BUS RODEO.
AND SO IT'S A CHANCE FOR THE VIA FAMILY TO ALL COME TOGETHER AND REALLY RECOGNIZE THE GREAT SKILLED EMPLOYEES WE HAVE.
WE ARE GIVING PEOPLE INFORMATION ABOUT A BRAND NEW SERVICE THAT WE'RE OFFERING RIGHT BACK HERE VIA LINK.
AND WHAT VIA LINK DOES IS IT WILL PICK YOU UP VERY CLOSE TO WHEREVER YOU ARE AND TAKE YOU WITHIN THE 17 MILE ZONE OF VIA LINK.
UH, THE VIA TOMORROW WILL BE ALL THESE THINGS AND MORE.
AND I SAY THAT CONFIDENTLY BECAUSE WE ARE STANDING ON BROAD SHOULDERS.
AND FROM HERE WE ALL SEE A VERY BRIGHT HORIZON.
CONGRATULATIONS, JEFF, ON A GREAT RUN AT VIA, YOU ARE LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY OF SUPERIOR MANAGEMENT FOR EXPANDING V'S FOOTPRINT ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS, YOU'VE ALWAYS GROWN THE ORGANIZATION IN WAYS NO ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
WE EAGERLY AWAIT THE TRANSFORMATIONAL A RT GREEN AND SILVER LINES.
THESE PROJECTS ARE GAME CHANGERS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE FOR SO MANY BEX COUNTY RESIDENTS.
JEFF, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
YOU AND VIA HAVE BEEN SUCH INCREDIBLE PARTNERS TO GREATER SATX, AND I WILL PERSONALLY MISS HAVING YOU HERE AROUND SAN ANTONIO IN MEETINGS BRINGING THE JOY, THE LAUGHTER, AND THE ENERGY.
[00:35:01]
JEFF.CONGRATULATIONS ON A TRULY REMARKABLE CHANCE OF CAREER THAT HAS MADE SUCH AN IMPACT, SUCH AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WSP IS HONORED TO HAVE COLLABORATED WITH YOU ON KEEP SAN ANTONIO MOVING THE A RT PROJECT AND THE GREEN AND SILVER LINES AS WELL AS SO MUCH MORE.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP AND WISH YOU AND ROB THE VERY, VERY BEST.
EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAS LEFT A MARK THAT WILL, FOR MANY YEARS, BE SEEN BY SO MANY AS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BEEN SO POSITIVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR RETIREMENT YEARS, BUT STILL PLAY A ROLE IN BEING IN PART OF SAN ANTONIO IN A BIG, BIG WAY.
YOU KNOW, JEFF AND I GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO THE EIGHTIES WHEN WE WERE BOTH YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPERS AT HOUSTON METRO.
UH, WE SORT OF HAD A RESPECTFUL BUT ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP.
HE WAS A DIRECTOR IN THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT, AND I WORKED IN MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET REVIEWING HIS BUDGETS AND EXPENSE REQUESTS.
SO WHEN I EVENTUALLY ENDED UP AT VIA AND LEARNED THAT JEFF WAS GOING TO BE JOINING ME THERE, I THOUGHT, WOW, THIS SHOULD REALLY BE INTERESTING.
BUT AS I FOUND OUT, AND AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, JEFF IS ONE OF THE KINDEST, SMARTEST, MOST INNOVATIVE AND MOST GENUINE SERVANT LEADERS THAT THERE IS IN THE TRANSIT TRANSIT INDUSTRY AND HERE IN SAN ANTONIO.
AND SO, JEFF, IT WAS A PRIVILEGE AND A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE YEARS.
AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON CAPPING OFF WHAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE AN INCREDIBLE AND EXEMPLARY CAREER IN THE TRANSIT INDUSTRY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO HAVE BEEN BY YOUR SIDE, YOUR LAST TWO YEARS AT VIA.
I WILL TRULY MISS YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
YOUR LAUGH, YOUR WITTY PERSONALITY, YOUR INCREDIBLE STORIES WILL ABSOLUTELY BE MISSED IN THE OFFICE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AND I TRULY APPRECIATE YOU THIS PAST SEVEN YEARS.
REPORTING TO YOU HAVE BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER.
AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEP ADMIRATION FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE BUILT OVER THESE PAST SEVEN YEARS TO ACHIEVE MANY OF THE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS THAT YOU HAVE SET OUT TO DO.
I AM SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT LEGACY, UH, FOR YOU AND FOR AGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR DECADES TO COME.
UH, THIS COMMUNITY OWES YOU SO MUCH AND, AND, UH, AND WE'RE LEAVING ON JUST SUCH A GREAT NOTE, UH, WITH THE FDA COMING OVER, UH, AND GIVING US THE BIG CHECK, UH, FOR THE GREEN LINE.
YOU KNOW WHAT A, WHAT A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND JUST KNOW THAT OVER THE NEXT 10, 20 YEARS, YOUR VISION, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR MENTORSHIP WILL CARRY THROUGHOUT VIA EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR US, FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
IT, IT IS JUST, JOHN GARY'S GOT BIG SHOES TO FILL AND HE, HE'S GONNA BE REALLY GLAD, LIKE THE REST OF US, THAT YOU LAID SUCH A GR FOUN GREAT FOUNDATION FOR HIM TO, AND EVERYONE ELSE TO FOLLOW.
YOU ARE GONNA BE GOING DOWN AS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICAL LEADERS OF VIA.
AND I KNOW YOU HAD, UH, A GREAT LEADERSHIP TEAM BEHIND YOU.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WITHOUT YOUR GUIDANCE, UH, YOUR SERVANT LEADERSHIP, YOUR LAUGHTER, UM, UH, YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS, TO THE BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE IN THIS POSITION.
SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS THAT KNOW YOU, UM, WE WANNA SAY A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR BIG THREE WORDS WERE FREQUENCY, FREQUENCY, FREQUENCY.
I THINK ON THIS NEXT HORIZON, IT'S GONNA BE FUN, FUN, FUN.
UH, THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR BEING NOW WHAT WE ARE GONNA BE REFERRING TO YOU AS A PADRINO, UH, VIA YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT PERSON TO WORK WITH.
UH, YOU'VE HAD PATIENCE WITH ME WHEN I DON'T KNOW THINGS AND YOU'VE ALWAYS GIVEN ME, UH, A LOT OF THE RECOGNITION WORKING, UH, TO GET US THE FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF TRANSPORTATION FOR SAN ANTONIO IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, CANNOT BE MEASURED.
AND I'M GONNA SAY ONE LAST TWO WORDS FOR YOU THAT I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER ME BY.
JEFF, CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT TENURE AS THE CEO OF VM AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU HAVE LITERALLY TRANSFORMED OUR CITY BY TRANSFORMING OUR TRANSIT SYSTEM.
YOU'VE TAKEN US INTO THE MODERN ERA WITH NEW EQUIPMENT, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NEW PERSONNEL
[00:40:01]
STRUCTURES, UH, NEW FINANCING.WE'RE NOT THE SAME PLACE THAT WE WERE WHEN YOU STARTED.
YOU HAVE BROUGHT YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR BACKGROUND TO SAN ANTONIO AND MADE OUR CITY BETTER.
YOU HAVE BEEN EXACTLY THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
AND WE BUILD FROM HERE ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, YOU SUPPORTED THE BOARD, UH, TO GO OUT AND SECURE PERMANENT FUNDING FOR VIA THAT WAS LONG OVERDUE.
AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF YOUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT, LEADERSHIP, UM, EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROVIDED US TO, TO GET WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE.
THIS COMMUNITY IS NOW PREPARED, UH, TO BUILD A PUBLIC TRANSIT AND SYSTEM DESERVING OUR OF OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY AND READY TO SERVE THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY.
AND MOST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DEVELOPED OR WE CREATED A SPECIAL BOND, UM, WHEN WE WORKED TOGETHER ON SUCH IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AT.
SO I LIKE TO THINK OF YOU AS MY FOREVER FRIEND.
AND WE'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER JEFF ARNDT, WHO MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE AT THE CONGRATULATIONS, JEFF, ON AN AMAZING CAREER.
YOU ASKED ME TO JOIN YOU ON THIS ROLLERCOASTER CALLED LIFE.
AND IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE A PART OF YOUR JOURNEY.
13 YEARS AGO, YOU ASKED IF I WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE FROM HOUSTON TO SAN ANTONIO.
AND I SAID, OUR TIME HERE HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND OUR VIA FAMILIA.
YOU HAVE TIRELESSLY DEDICATED YOURSELF TOWARDS MAKING VIA THE BEST TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE COUNTRY.
I AM SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU AND ALL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING THE NEXT CHAPTER OF OUR LIVES BY THE OCEAN MARGARITAS IN HAND AND TO OUR VIA FAMILIA
I DON'T FOOL MYSELF TO THINK THAT ANYTHING I'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, I'VE DONE ALONE OR THAT I WAS THE PRIMARY FORCE BEHIND IT.
YOU ONLY ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT, UH, A LOT OF DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES.
BUT WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT WITH THE BOARD THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT I'M GOING TO ENJOY SITTING IN THE SIDELINES AND SEEING VIA REIT HEIGHTS THAT I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.
YOU ARE ALL BLESSED WITH AN AMAZING ORGANIZATION HALL.
APPRECIATION, ALL THE GREAT EMPLOYEES BOARD, WE LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS LITTLE THANK YOU.
THE QUESTION IS, THAT IS OPEN A JACK IN THE BOX
OH, THIS IS PERFECT BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW OBSESSED I'M WITH BEING ON TIME, RIGHT? AND ROB, THIS'LL BE HANDY FOR YOU.
SO, IS IT MY TURN? YEAH, IT'S YOUR TURN.
NOW THAT, NOW THAT Y'ALL CAN'T FIRE ME.
WELL WE STILL GOT A COUPLE OF DAYS.
SO FIRST OF ALL, I, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, UH, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, UH, FOR HAVING TRUST AND FAITH IN, IN OUR STAFF.
WE'VE ALWAYS ACTED, WE BELIEVE IN WHAT WAS THE BEST INTEREST OF ADVANCING THE VIA PROGRAM IN CONCERT WITH YOUR VISION.
AND SO WE, I THINK THAT TRUST IS SOMETHING THAT IS HARD, AS THEY SAY, HARD TO EARN AND EASY TO LOSE.
AND I THINK WE AS A STAFF HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO, TO OPERATE IN A WAY THAT YOU COULD HAVE THE UTMOST OF TRUST IN US.
AND THAT HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO MOVE EVERYTHING FORWARD.
UM, I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK FOR PERSONAL ATTENTION TO A LOT OF THE IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE FACED OVER THE YEARS.
UH, I WOULD CALL OUT SECRETARY MALONE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY COOPER AND TRUSTEE BROWN BECAUSE YOU TOOK THE BOLD MOVE TO ADVANCE THE 2020 BALLOT INITIATIVE.
[00:45:01]
AND WITHOUT THE 2020 BALLOT INITIATIVE, WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW MORNING AND $286 MILLION.IT WAS NOT, I KNOW IT WAS NOT AN EASY THING FOR YOU TO DO.
I KNOW YOU HAD TO REALLY STAND TOUGH IN YOUR POSITION AND I JUST APPLAUD.
I THINK WE SHOULD ALL APPLAUD THAT.
SINCE THEN, THE BOARD HAS TA HAS BEEN VERY HANDS-ON ON ADVANCING OTHER FUNDING.
SO LIKE OUR CHAIR, OUR VICE CHAIR CABELLA, WHO IS NOW THE CHAIR ELECT, I GUESS AS WE WOULD SAY, RIGHT? TRUSTEE BASAL DOA TRUSTEE WOLF, YOU SUPPORT US THROUGH THESE EFFORT.
THE EFFORT TO OBTAIN A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FROM BEAR COUNTY IN SUPPORT OF THE SILVER LINE.
ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WITHOUT THAT MONEY WOULDN'T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.
IT'S JUST AMAZING EFFORT THAT IS THE ONLY NON VIA LOCAL CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT ANY OF THE ART PROGRAM IS A HUNDRED MILLION FROM THE COUNTY.
AND SO THANK YOU ESPECIALLY FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID THERE.
TRUSTEE PERUS, YOU HAVE LEVERAGED YOUR BACKGROUND TO REPRESENT US IN TOD, ESPECIALLY A NUMBER OF THINGS.
BUT TOD IS REALLY TOP OF MIND RIGHT NOW.
AS WE PURSUE THE REINSTATEMENT OF A SALES TAX ON TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE THAT HOPEFULLY WE'LL ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE, UH, BOTH ASSISTANT SECRETARIES COOPER AND TRUSTEE WOLF HAVE WORKED CLOSELY AS WE WORK WITH THE STAFF OF THESE SUBURBAN CITIES AND WE HAVE ALL BUT ONE LINED UP.
UH, THAT'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT EFFORT.
AND WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL, THEY WERE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT TWO OF THE CITIES THAT THEY VISITED HAVE SINCE THEMSELVES LINED THEMSELVES UP FOR THAT SALES TAX 'CAUSE THEY HAD NOT DONE IT.
I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE ALWAYS ESPECIALLY KEPT US IN TOUCH WITH THE, UH, CUSTOMERS AND HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT WE PROVIDE A SUPERLATIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE.
AND I THINK THE NUMBERS ALL SHOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.
AND SO I ALWAYS THINK OF YOU THREE SPECIFICALLY AS BEING THE HEARTS OF THE BOARD.
EVEN THOUGH, AND I KNOW SHE'S NOT HERE TO DEFEND HERSELF, BUT TRUSTEE TO WILL WOULD SAY IS IN DEEP DENIAL ABOUT HER POSITION THERE.
UH, TRUSTEES, RENA AND GOMEZ, YOU SEE THAT YOUR PEERS HAVE SET A PRETTY HIGH BAR, A VERY HIGH BAR.
BUT I'M CONFIDENT YOU WILL BOTH RISE TO THE OCCASION DURING YEARS OF SERVICE.
UH, TRUSTEE AND REYNA, I'VE WATCHED YOU AS I MENTIONED EARLIER TODAY, SASD RECENTLY.
AND WITH THAT KIND OF SUCCESS IN THAT ARENA, I KNOW YOU'LL SERVE THIS BOARD VERY WELL.
TRUSTEE GOMEZ, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD A WEEK AND I STILL HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING OUT OF YOU,
BUT BEFORE HE WAS TRUSTEE GOMEZ, HE WAS LEO AND UH, LEO.
I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT DURING MY EARLY DAYS IN SAN ANTONIO, YOU GRACIOUSLY COACHED ME ON HOW BUSINESS IS DONE HERE.
UH, WE RECENTLY SERVED TOGETHER IN DEVELOPING SUPPLY SA, RIGHT? UH, AND IN SELECTING THE FIRST EVER CEOI RESPECT THE LEADERSHIP ROLES THAT YOU SERVE THROUGHOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND YOUR MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENTS IN YOUR DAY JOB AT BROOKS.
AND SO THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR YOUR MENTORSHIP AND FOR YOUR FINE EXAMPLE.
FINALLY, SHE REYES, WELL, I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY GLAD NORMA DID NOT MAKE YOU LATE TONIGHT SO WE COULD START ON SOMETHING
UH, YOU TOLD ME THAT WE WOULD LEAVE VIA TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEATING ME BY THREE DAYS.
WE'LL, WE'LL CALL THAT, WE'LL CALL THAT EVEN, OF COURSE.
RIGHT? YOU ARE A PRINCIPLED MAN.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED ONE OF MY FAVORITE HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE, WHICH IS YOU SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND AND THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
YOU'VE TREATED THE STAFF WITH RESPECT AND FAIRNESS AND I KNOW I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE STAFF WHEN I SAY THAT YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
AND IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND PLEASURE TO SERVE AS YOUR CEO.
NOW, I WANT REMIND YOU TRUSTEES, YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A KNOWLEDGEABLE, HARDWORKING, AND RESPECTED STAFF.
I THINK THAT YOUR SELECTION OF AN EXISTING VIA VIA LEADER JOHN GARY HERRERA, TO BE YOUR NEXT CEO SPEAKS TO THE STRENGTH THAT WE HAVE BUILT AS A MANAGEMENT TEAM.
SPEAKING TO JOHN GARY SPECIFICALLY DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS AT VIA, HE HAS SERVED NOT ONLY AS THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, BUT HE'S ALSO BEEN MY SOUNDING BOARD, MY LOGIC CHECKER.
UH, AND ALONG WITH JANET, AS I MENTIONED LAST EVENING, HE'S BEEN MY, UM, ANALYST AND HAS NOT CHARGED ME FOR THOSE SERVICES.
[00:50:01]
VERY GOOD HANDS, BUT WE WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT OUR OPERATORS, OUR MAINTENANCE MEMBERS, OUR SECURITY, OUR POLICE, OUR SERVICE PARTNERS, AND THE STAFF THAT SUPPORT THE DIRECT DELIVERY OF SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.AND WE'VE GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FROM THIRD PARTIES FOR THE QUALITY OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WE PROVIDE.
SO BETWEEN OUR BOARD, OUR FRONTLINE, OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE HAVE ACHIEVED MAJOR MILESTONES.
THE FIRST SYSTEM FREE WIFI IN THE NATION.
THE FIRST WAS SYSTEMWIDE NANDS IMPLEMENTATION.
WE OPENED THE FIRST NEW OPERATING FACILITY IN THE HISTORY OF VIA AND WE BUILT THE LARGEST CNG FUELING STATION IN NORTH AMERICA, ALL IN SAN ANTONIO WITH VIA.
AND TOMORROW MORNING WE WILL REACH YET ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE AS WE ENTER INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANT WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FIRST ADVANCED RAPID TRANSIT LINE, THE VIA RAPID GREEN LINE, WE WILL BE BRINGING ALMOST 268 MILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS BACK HOME TO SAN ANTONIO.
WELL, A RT WILL TRULY TRANSFORM TRANSIT AND THE ADJACENT COMMUNITY.
WE DID IT IN A SMART WAY BY ACHIEVING THE BENEFITS OF LIGHT RAIL, THE FLEXIBILITY OF BUS SERVICE AT HALF THE COST OF RAIL.
A GREAT DECISION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD.
NOW I'M OFTEN ASKED, ARE YOU GOING TO MISS IT? AND I USUALLY SAY, WELL DEFINE IT
SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT I WILL MISS.
IT'S WORKING WITH, I SHOULD HAVE YOU READ THE REST
'CAUSE IT NEVER EVER STOPS DURING GOOD DAYS.
AND COVID DAYS, OVERCOMING THE IMPACTS OF CONSTRUCTION DETOURS AND ACCIDENT DELAYS, THE VIA TEAM YOU ALWAYS DELIVER.
AND SO I WILL MISS THOSE TIMES TOGETHER AND I'LL MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND LEARN FROM THIS TALENTED, DIVERSE BOARD WHO ALWAYS KEEPS V'S INTEREST AS THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE WITH WARTS.
UH, YES, I WILL BE MOVING FROM A BOARD OF 11 TO A BOARD OF ONE
YOU MIGHT QUESTION THAT DECISION
BUT AS YOU KNOW, I WILL BE SOON BE MOVING INTO A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
AND SO I'M GOING TO BRIDGE MY PAST, MY PRESENT, AND MY FUTURE AND OFFER YOU SIMPLY ONE WORD, CIA
OKAY, SINCE THAT PART OF THE MEETING IS NOW OVER, WE GOTTA PUT YOU BACK TO WORK.
UH, THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, LEGAL, UH, ILLEGAL.
GOT A LEGAL BRIEFING ON ITEM NUMBER SEVEN WITH CLOSED SESSION.
YEAH, YOU HAVE, LET'S SEE HERE.
OH, TO PROVIDE STATUS ON PENNY.
OH, ITEM ITEM SEVEN, CONSENT AGENDA.
ABLE MEMO, WHICH WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FIRST.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL DO ITEM SEVEN, EIGHT AND THEN GOES AS CLOSED SESSION.
WE REARRANGED THINGS AND SO NOW THE ORDER OF EVERYTHING.
[7. Consent Agenda]
GO TO ITEM SEVEN, THEN CONSIDER THE AGENDA ITEM, UH, MR. CHAIR.OKAY, FIRST, DO I HAVE SECOND? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[8. Audit Plan]
WE NOW, UH, WILL MOVE TO ITEM EIGHT, UH, AUDIT PLAN.MS. BAILOR, THANK YOU JEFF, FOR PUTTING ME BEFORE A CLOSED SESSION.
I DO NOT STAND NOW BETWEEN YOU AND LEAVING, SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR ME.
UH, CHAIR RES AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF OUR FY 2025 AUDIT PLAN, UM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS ON THE MONITOR IN FRONT OF YOU OR IS IN YOUR BOARD PACKET.
I PRESENTED THIS PLAN, UH, TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE ON DECEMBER 4TH, AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE FORWARD THIS TO THE FULL BOARD, UM, FOR, FOR APPROVAL.
SO I'LL TAKE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME.
TRUSTEES, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
[00:55:01]
TRUSTEE WOLF? I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, BUT I WILL OFFER A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS SECOND.OKAY, I HAVE MY FIRST AND A SECOND.
UH, NOW WE CAN GO BACK TO SIX.
WE'LL, WELL, WHAT HAPPENED? NINE.
WE HAVE EIGHT AND THEN 10, WHICH, WHICH WE'LL GO, LET'S GO BACK TO SIX, WHICH IS ALSO THE BRIEFING.
IF THIS IS ITEM SIX, NOW WHY THIS SAY ITEM SEVEN, THEY MIGHT HAVE ADJUSTMENT, IT'S A MISTAKE.
WE HAVE NOW REACHED OUR ITEM SIX
[10. *Legal Briefing]
LEGAL BRIEFING, WHICH, UH, IS A CLOSED SESSION ITEM.I'LL START WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT.
AND THE TIME NOW IS 5:58 PM UH, AND THE VIA METROPOLITAN BOARD OF TRUSTEES WILL OFFICIALLY GO INTO CLOSE EXECUTIVE SESSION AS PERMITTED UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THIS ITEM WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION AS FOLLOWS, ITEM SIX, BUS BAN AND SHELTER ADVERTISING, WHICH IS ALLOWED AT EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PERSONAL TEXAS, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.07.
ONE ENTITLED CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY IN ITEM NINE ENTITLED LEGAL BRIEFING, WHICH IS ALLOWED AS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM PERSONAL OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 5 1 0.07 ENTITLED, CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, ALL PERSONS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO ATTEND THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
PLEASE PROCEED TO THE SMALL CONFERENCE ROOM.
MEMBERS OF THE MEETING OF THE, I'M SORRY, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY NOT ATTEND OR MONITOR THIS PORTION OF THE MEETING IN ANY MANNER.
IT IS NOW 6:25 PM AND WE'RE OFFICIALLY COMING OUT OF CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX AND NINE.
NO DELIBERATION OF PUBLIC POLICY OR VOTE TAKEN OCCURRED DURING THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, WE DID ITEM SEVEN AND EIGHT.
NOW WE'RE MOVING TO ITEM NUMBER 10.
I DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.
WHAT HAPPENED AT NINE? YOU DON'T, MR. CHAIR, MAY I HAVE A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE PLEASE? YES, PLEASE.
AND, AND I, UH, JUST WANTED TO TAKE A, THE MOMENT HERE TODAY AND RECOGNIZE THIS IS YOUR LAST OFFICIAL BOARD MEETING.
IT'S, UM, AND ALLOW, UH, US TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AS BOARD CHAIR, UM, YOUR PUBLIC LIFE.
UH, NOT ONLY, UH, IS, IS STELLAR IN ALL THE DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES THAT YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF AND LEADING, BUT YOUR PRIVATE SECTOR LIFE IS STELLAR AS WELL IN YOUR BUSINESS.
AND SO SOMEONE TO TAKE THE TIME TO DEVOTE, UH, TO THE CITY AND TO AN ORGANIZATION, UH, MAKING TRIPS, ATTENDING MEETINGS, BEING AT EVENTS, LUNCHEONS, GALAS, IT TAKES A LOT OF DEDICATION.
SO THANK YOU TO NORMA FOR, UM, HER SERVICE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I KNOW WE'LL RECOGNIZE YOU IN JANUARY, BUT I WANNA ALSO RECOGNIZE THIS AS YOUR OFFICIAL, UH, LAST MEETING.
THANK YOU VICE
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH EVERYONE HERE.
UH, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE 10 NEW, NEW FRIENDS.
UH, EVERYBODY IS SO DEDICATED TO, TO MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT JUST, JUST, I'M SO THRILLED ABOUT THAT.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, UH, WHEN I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL, THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET THE SACK WAS THROUGH WHAT HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN? HARLEY DALE
OH, I HAD TO TAKE BIA TO GET TO, TO COLLEGE.
AND, UH, WITHOUT THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT.
SO IT'S ALWAYS HAD A, A PLACE IN MY HEART.
AND I HAD, I'M GLAD THE, UH, THE JUDGE AND THE MAYOR GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND ESPECIALLY TO SERVE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS.
IT'S ONE OF THE BEST BOARDS I'VE EVER BEEN ON, AND I WISH YOU BOTH LUCK LAURA AND LEO AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.
IT'S BECOME ON, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF NEW PROJECTS AND A LOT OF NEW THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING AND UH, BUT, UH, IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.
UH, I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE LOSING JEFF, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN JOHN GARY.
UM, AND HE'S, HE'S BEEN VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND, UH, HE'S HELPED ME A LOT ALSO THROUGH MY FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND I THINK YOU HAVE A VERY CAPABLE STAFF THAT WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
UH, AND AS MUCH AS WE'RE GONNA MISS YOU, UH, I STILL
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WANNA WISH VIA THE VERY BEST ALWAYS.AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR HARD WORK.
UH, AND FOR BONNIE, KEEP IT US SAFE.
UH, AND FRANK OVER THERE, UH, HE ONLY SEE HIM AT CERTAIN MEETINGS, BUT WHEN HE'S HERE, IT'S IMPORTANT.
SO THANK YOU FRANK FOR BEING HERE.
UH, AND LEMME TELL YOU GUYS, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE, WHAT IS IT CALLED? UH, QUEEN, NO, NOT, UH, TOUCH.
WHAT'S IT CALLED? UH, THE TASTE.
I COULDN'T REMEMBER
GEORGE FIESTA, YOU'RE MISSING A GREAT TIME TO ENJOY SOME GREAT FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT AND THANK YOU FOR, WE'RE DOING THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
WE, OF COURSE, YOU GOT TWO RAY FAS HERE.
WE, WE, JOHN GARY, AND MYSELF, UH, WE SERVED AS RAY FA AND RAISED A LOT OF MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITHIN THE BOARD ITSELF.
AND, AND EVEN NOT JUST THE BOARD, BUT THE EMPLOYEES HERE.
AND ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS SAID, AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE BE A GREAT ARE, ARE FRONTLINE EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND MEET THE PUBLIC, WORK WITH THE PUBLIC, DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC, AND WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, THEY HAVE TO DO IT.
AND THEY DO IT EFFORTLESSLY AND THEY DO IT WITH A LOT OF, A LOT OF HEART.
UH, AND SOMETIMES I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR THEM, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE PROVIDING A GREAT SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, THEY NEED VIA, IT'S JUST A, JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T MEASURE IN MONEY, UH, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET TO YOUR WORK, YOU CAN'T GET TO SCHOOL, YOU CAN'T GET TO A LOT OF THINGS IF IT WASN'T FOR THE TRANSPORTATION THAT VIA PROVIDES.
AND IT, IT ALL HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT BOARD, THE GREAT LEADERSHIP, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD AND THAT WE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE AS WELL.
JEFF, YOU PREPARED YOUR STAFF? UH, I THINK THEY'RE EXTREMELY GREAT TO DO, UH, ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
UH, RACHEL, I THINK SHE'S ALREADY GONE, BUT WOW.
RACHEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME ALL THE TIME.
AND REMEMBER ONE THING, KEEP DEBORAH HAPPY.
JENNIFER, THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR HELP.
I MEAN, IS THERE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK I I I JUST LIKE ALL THE STAFF OF YOU AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY, UH, TO LEARN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, NEXT IS LEGAL BRIEFING.
DO WE HAVE A LEGAL BRIEFING? NO SIR.
OKAY, TRUSTEES, WE ARE REACHED THE END OF OUR MEETING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED THE, MY LAST VIA BOARD MEETING.
OUR FIRST DO A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND THOUGH.
I THINK YOU BOTH SHOULD CAPITAL US OUT.
JUST KNOW THAT I'M THERE FOR YOU.