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Hello! I’ll be live-tweeting today’s @GCRTA Board of Trustees meeting for @cledocumenters and @NeighborUpCle. It’s scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Follow along for updates. You can watch the meeting yourself at https://www.facebook.com/riderta/videos/
Some primers: Per the @GCRTA website, the Board of Trustees is “charged with managing and conducting RTA’s affairs.” That includes approving policies, setting long-term goals, and approving procurements and contracts over $100,000. http://www.riderta.com/about
Historically, the @GCRTA estimates that transit fares cover 20% of its operating costs. Other revenue comes from federal and state funding. http://www.riderta.com/overview#:~:text=Revenues,percent%20of%20RTA's%20operating%20costs.&text=While%20the%20typical%20state%20provides,provides%20less%20than%20one%20percent
The Board of Trustees includes:
-Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough (board president)
-Rev. Charles P. Lucas (vice president)
- @JustinMBibb
- @ParmaHts Mayor Michael Byrne
-Terence P. Joyce
-Valarie J. McCall
-Karen Gabriel Moss
- @luzpellot
-Leo Serrano
- @ShakerOnline Mayor David Weiss
-Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough (board president)
-Rev. Charles P. Lucas (vice president)
- @JustinMBibb
- @ParmaHts Mayor Michael Byrne
-Terence P. Joyce
-Valarie J. McCall
-Karen Gabriel Moss
- @luzpellot
-Leo Serrano
- @ShakerOnline Mayor David Weiss
As @SceneSallard and others noted yesterday, @JustinMBibb is gearing up for a 2021 Cleveland mayoral race. https://twitter.com/SceneSallard/status/1338517108955770883?s=20
Different members of the board serve on five committees:
-Board Governance
-Audit, Safety Compliance & Real Estate
-External & Stakeholder Relations & Advocacy
-Operational Planning & Infrastructure
-Organizational, Services & Performance Monitoring
-Board Governance
-Audit, Safety Compliance & Real Estate
-External & Stakeholder Relations & Advocacy
-Operational Planning & Infrastructure
-Organizational, Services & Performance Monitoring
Notable items on today’s agenda: an update on the system redesign, set to launch in June 2021; sending $6,262,000 to the @RuhlinCompany to overhaul the Triskett garage; equipping @GCRTA transit police with $1,334,907 worth of portable radios, dispatch consoles, and body cameras
You can view the meeting agenda and all meeting materials here. http://www.riderta.com/sites/default/files/events/2020-12-15MeetingPackageRevised12-14.pdf
The system redesign, also known as NEXT GEN RTA, is the result of a 2019 study by @humantransit aimed at improving regional bus service. You can view details of the plan here. http://www.riderta.com/nextgen
There have been mixed reactions to the system update throughout the community. @WEWS has a recent report addressing some concerns. https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/in-depth/some-local-rta-riders-concerned-about-proposed-route-changes
The $1.3M contract for transit police equipment — which would be provided by Motorola Solutions, Inc. — was approved by a committee two weeks ago, according to @CourtneyAstolfi. The Board of Trustees will vote on the resolution today. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/12/greater-cleveland-rta-police-to-get-body-cameras.html
Previous reporting from @GChristCLE indicates that the proposed Triskett garage renovation is a few years in the making and would help @GCRTA further transition from diesel-fueled buses to those that run on compressed natural gas (CNG). https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/01/rtas_funding_woes_hamper_conve.html
I've let the dog out, I've had my oatmeal, and the meeting should start soon. Stay tuned for updates!
Still waiting for the live stream to begin.
The meeting came to order at 9:07 a.m., beginning with an External & Stakeholder Relations & Advocacy committee meeting. McCall, Lucas, Bibb, Byrne, and Pellot serve on the committee.
. @GCRTA Director of Service Management Joel Freilich is providing the system redesign update in this committee meeting.
Freilich reviewing a process that he said involved lots of technical work and public involvement.
Freilich mentions @GCRTA received additional public comment in 2020, from Oct. 14 through Nov. 30.
A list of community leaders Freilich said @GCRTA reached out to.
Freilich said there were more views than comments because the plans had been vetted through the public in 2019.
To be clear, Freilich was discussing the additional public comment period in 2020 when assessing views of live streams vs. comments.
Freilich mentions that the NEXT GEN RTA website lets users view each proposed route. http://www.riderta.com/nextgen
Freilich lists planned adjustments based on 2020 public feedback.
More planned adjustments based on 2020 public feedback:
Freilich says @GCRTA system update maintains countywide service frequency improvement. Here is the current service:
Here are the anticipated service improvements:
. @JustinMBibb asks about outreach to community development corporations, and he asks about the Lakeview Terrace route.
Freilich says the Lakeview Terrace route will remain intact, and he says CDCs will not be surprised by our proposals unless they're pleasantly surprised.
Bibb says he's received a number of complaints from CDC directors about communication. Freilich says they'll make a point to communicate plans to them.
. @GCRTA General Manager and CEO India Birdsong says they need to be mindful of how they reach out to CDCs so that signals don't get crossed between communities.
. @ShakerOnline Mayor Weiss asks where they get extra resources for improved services. Freilich says it's a matter of rethinking the use of multi-purpose buses vs. single-purpose use like trolleys.
Freilich says they'll find a way to use trolleys.
Freilich clarifies that the system update plans are based on pre-pandemic ridership.
Birdsong says they will monitor ridership data as more people work from home on a regular basis.
The External & Stakeholder Relations & Advocacy Committee moves the issue forward to the full board. With that, this committee meeting has adjourned.
Karen Moss calls the Audit, Safety Compliance & Real Estate Committee meeting to order. Moss, Lucas, Joyce, McCall, and Weiss serve on this committee.
. @GCRTA Director of Risk Management Judy Lincoln is presenting about procuring a new property insurance policy.
Current policy with @FMGlobal set to expire. @GCRTA seeks two separate policies: one through @LibertyMutual for all real and personal property, and one through Evanston Insurance for “Rolling Stock” policy (i.e., policy for rail and bus).
The combined premium for the new policies is $1,126,116 — a 36% increased compared to the expiring policy. Worth noting that @FMGlobal is not renewing the policy because it has decided such coverage — rail and rolling stock — is not a key part of its business.
Lincoln notes that the proposed premium is $154,000 below projection of what new insurance would cost.
The Audit, Safety Compliance & Real Estate Committee votes to move the issue to the full board.
Clough calls to order the regular Board of Trustees meeting at 9:50 a.m. Teresa (sp?) calls the roll. All present except for Mayor Byrne (though it's unclear if that was due to technical troubles).
Public comment: One citizen asked if the Lakeview Terrace bus number will change. Answer: it will. Changing to #25.
Another citizen calls for @GCRTA to waive transit fares during these difficult times, citing that the 2021 budget anticipates fares will account only for 10% of revenue.
Teresa (not sure of title/spelling) is reading through a number of public comments that were submitted online. Another citizen asked for fare-free service.
At least a third citizen called for free public transit via submitted public comment, citing that COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted minority communities. They said free public transit could be a way to help such communities heal.
At the risk of using an imprecise number, there are A LOT of citizens calling on @GCRTA to get rid of transit fares.
Clough (I believe; it's hard to tell who is speaking at all times) asked Teresa if there are any comments related to other subject matter.
Clough said he believes they will review the idea of free fares in January 2021, and Birdsong confirmed.
A citizen, Chris, called in and said he doesn't think it is fair for Clough to decide which comments are worth listening to, regardless of the consistent message in the comments.
Clough said he believes they have listened. It's clear, he said, that people are interested in free fares. But he does call the comments redundant.
The public comment period has ended. Clough moves to approve the Nov. 17, 2020 meeting minutes. The minutes are approved.
Deputy General Manager George Fields (sp?) shares new hires:
Fields shares promotions:
Clough congratualtes @GCRTA new hires and those who were promoted.
The board is moving on to resolutions, beginning with 2020-91: Authorizing a two-year contract with Hill International, Inc. for on-call inspection services. Costing no more than $450K. Approved without opposition.
Board approves resolution 2020-92: authorizing a $6,262,000 contract with the Ruhlin Company to give the Triskett Garage the infrastructure needed to serve compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-93: Authorizing the purchase of Network Core Upgrade Equipment and Services from CBTS, LLC. Total cost: $293,281.40.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-94: Authorizing a $1,334,907 contract with Motorola Solutions, Inc., for portable radios, dispatch consoles, and body cameras for transit police.
Clough and Moss clarify that these resolutions go through committee first, often with robust discussion.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-95: Authorizing a change to a contract with Lamar Transit, LLC for transit advertising sales services.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-96: Authorizing the new insurance policy discussed in the Audit, Safety Compliance & Real Estate Committee meeting. Would be $1,126,116 for 2021, with funding from the General Fund.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-97: Amending Sections 460.02 and 460.03 of the Codified Rules and Regulations of the @GCRTA.
Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-98: Authorizing an agreement with @ODOT_Cleveland for section 3 of the Opportunity Corridor project.
Serrano recuses himself. Teresa Board approves without opposition resolution 2020-99: Authorizing General Manager and CEO India Birdsong to work with @CLEMetroSchools regarding 2020-2021 student fares and ratifying ticket issuance.
Board approves without objection resolution 2020-100: Rebudgeting the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Capital Improvement Fund to allow for an additional $12,650,000.
Board approves without objection resolution 2020-101: Making appropriations for the current expenses and other expenditures for the @GCRTA during FY 2021.
Board approves without objection resolution 2020-102: Amend the FY 2020 revenues and appropriations for the General Fund, as adopted in Resolution No. 2019-118 and to provide for a $5,000,000 transfer to the Reserve Fund for Rail Car Replacement.
. @GCRTA Interim Secretary-Treasurer Floun-say Caver gives a financial report.
Ridership remains stagnant, per Caver. Passenger fares have been depressed about 50% compared to pre-COIVD time.
Caver said sales tax has been fairly strong, but it may not get back to normal until 2022.
A CARES ACT update from @GCRTA:
. @JustinMBibb said he wants them to be as creative as possible in terms of driving ridership in 2021 and beyond.
Rev. Lucas asked how the CARES Act 2, circulating in Congress, impacts public transit. @GCRTA staff said there is significant funding for transit, but the exact details aren't clear yet.
Birdsong begins her general manager report with recap of the virtual rally for funding that @GCRTA joined last week. She said the purpose was to demand immediate economic relief for transit systems.
At the rally, @GCRTA emphasized the benefits of the CARES Act funding:
Birdsong: We're in need of $514 million of funding, despite being in a "quasi-positive state."
"Being fiscally responsible does not mean being flush with cash." - Birdsong
"To our knowledge, no transit system of this size has used free transit" - Birdsong. However, she added that it is being evaluated.
Birdsong shares that @GCRTA has won the Healthy Worksite Silver Level Award for the second straight year. She also shared that the organization was awarded $2M to replace diesel-fueled buses with compressed natural gas buses.
Birdsong shared a video that is essentially a behind-the-scenes look at how the @GCRTA holiday train came to be. 'Tis the season.
Birdsong shared an update about the employee giving campaign:
The board is now opening up to public comments related to non-agenda items.
Teresa said the theme of free transit is prominent in these comments, too. Clough maintains that the board takes those comments seriously and will consider them. He seeks a more efficient way to handle public comments that focus on one theme.
Teresa notes that one citizen, Jack, asked about supplying masks for riders.
That wasn't really addressed publicly. Clough now calls for an executive session “to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, or compensation of a public employee or official."
When they return from the executive session, the meeting will adjourn.
The board returned from the executive session at 11:14 a.m. Teresa (sp?) calls the roll. Bibb, Lucas, McCall, Pellot, and Weiss left already or had technical issues. The board adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m. The board is scheduled to meet again on Jan. 19, 2021.
This concludes my coverage of this meeting for @cledocumenters and @NeighborUpCle. For more information, visit http://Documenters.org .
Please excuse my inclusion of "Teresa" in this tweet. That was a typo. https://twitter.com/Doug_Pitorak/status/1338867713834246151?s=20
