Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

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April 10, 2007 | Download PDF Version >

Present

Members: Heather Ornelas (Vice President), Steve Dickey (Treasurer), Cynda Bruce, Olivia Clark, Matt Mumford, Julie Stephens, Michael Ward, Elaine Wells, John Whittington.
Guests: Joni Bramlett, Kelly Brooks, Edna Campau, Aaron Deas, John Dreeszen, Adam Torgerson, James Uyeda and Stef Viggiano.
Staff: Roger Martin and Kelsey Wilson
Meeting was called to order at 10:34 AM.

Announcements from the Chair

If you have agenda items you would like to see discussed at OTA board meetings, please get that
information to staff so that it can get on the agenda and the appropriate arrangements can be made
for the discussion.

Approval of Agenda

Approved.

Approval of Minutes

Elaine Wells brought up a small concern. She will e-mail change to staff and approval will be
postponed until the next meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

Finances look good. OTA is at 99% income and only 75% expenses with two months left in the
budget. Staff and Steve Dickey will meet next month to work on the agenda for next fiscal year to
be approved in June and begin in July. At the 2006 conference, the board awarded Kelsey Wilson
a weekend anywhere for her work on the conference. Kelsey and her husband will be going to
Bandon Dunes next weekend and OTA can expect those expenses in the next month.

Executive Director’s Report/Roger Martin

RVTD settled their labor negotiations. They settled for 2.2% salary increase and they stepped down health insurance benefits one year. Applications have closed for the new manager. Four members of the board are up for re-election. The election should go okay. Those that are reasonable to work with should get re-elected. The Brokerage audit with DHS is close to being settled and RVTD will come out not owing any money.
Legislature in a state of chaos. Spending a lot of effort looking for more E&D funds. Roger met with House Minority Leader, Wayne Scott yesterday about E&D funding. Wayne Scott promised Roger that he would take care of it. Scott doesn’t know the details and that it is contingent on the Healthy Kids $.84 proposal from the Governor.
Other legislative matters are the CDL bill that was heard last night and is scheduled for a work session tomorrow.
If you can attend Ways and Means Community Hearings across the state, it’s crucial that transit be present at those hearings.
Whole transportation package on hold and conversations are going on behind the scenes.

ODOT-PTD’s Report/Michael Ward

Handout following minutes.

Connect Oregon 2/Legislative Briefing

Kelsey Wilson was part of work group on HB 2278 and the technical work group working out changes to the rules. It was important to legislators that they see action in changing the glitches in the rules before they move on the bill. The bill sits in Senator Betsy Johnson’s Ways and Means Transportation Subcommittee. It is important that transit projects be in the queue and ready to go when the bill passes. It is expected that there will be at least twice as many applications this time around and transit will again have to battle, but the more prepared the better.

Federal Discretionary Grants

Some applicants need to work with the state and others will apply on their own. This is a nationwide competition, but the new application process is pretty simple. Be sure to read all the information. The deadline is May 22. Non-urban areas will apply through the state as a package and urban areas will apply on their own. OTA and ODOT would like to compile a list of all the applications, urban and non-urban, to make sure everyone is included. OTA with the help of ODOT will compile all the applications and send a letter to Congressman DeFazio with the state’s requests.

Conference

The conference committee is working diligently to plan the 2007 conference. The entertainment this year will be a casino night. There was discussion about whether this is appropriate or not. Michael Ward will look into further and get an answer back to staff. Any session topic suggestions or others, please relay to staff.

Marketing OTA/Website

Ernie distributed copies of the current law and the OAR that details what type of equipment meets the Oregon Yield To Bus law. Ernie pointed out that the law and requirements are over 10 years old and simply represent the technology of the time. Since that date new technology has been developed that is superior. Ernie then demonstrated the example of this new technology from Transpec Worldwide. Ernie asked that ODOT review the product and if possible begin the process to change the OAR to allow this new and superior product. Michael Ward promised to look into the process.

Other Business

Agency Updates
Tillamook-Groundbreaking, the Governor is coming.
Sandy-Groundbreaking, April 20, everyone is invited.
OHASTriMet-
Lots of stuff under construction
Lincoln County-Gaining a lot of support around the community.
LTD-EmX is showing amazing ridership. About 60% ridership increase over previous service.
Currently free, won’t start charging until around 2010.
RideConnectionCanby-
Linn-Benton loop began Saturday service. Ridership building and positive feedback.
Wilsonville-Groundbreaking for commuter rail was a huge success.
Bend-About to go out for bid for some low floors buses. Ridership continues to steadily rise.
Lots of talk about becoming a Special District.

Conclusion

OTA Meeting adjourned at 11:54 PM. Next Meeting Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at Salem-Keizer Transit.