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Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Select a date from the list below to review minutes.

Select a Date Aug. 12, 2008 Jul. 8, 2008 Jun. 10, 2008 May 13, 2008 Apr. 8, 2008 Feb. 12, 2008 Jan. 8, 2008 Nov. 13, 2007 Sep. 11, 2007 Jul. 10, 2007 Jun. 12, 2007 Apr. 10, 2007 Feb. 13, 2007

May 13, 2008 | Download PDF Version >

Present

Attendees: Mark Pangborn, Allan Pollock, Olivia Clark, Ernest Palmer, Matt Mumford, Cynda Bruce, Heather Ornelas, Julie Stephens, Mary Jo Carpenter, Michael Ward, Roger Martin, and Aaron Deas.
Meeting was called to order.

Announcements from the Chair

Approval of Agenda

Approved.

Approval of Minutes

Approved.

Treasurer’s Report/Elaine Wells

No report this month. Elaine will send out when complete

Executive Director’s Report/Roger Martin

• ConnectOregon2 – transit had high % approved, but low % of total: $10M
• Roger urges folks to hold senior events during election season
• FTA survey – Everyone should have received
• Legislative update
  a) Like Cyreena Boston
  b) Campaigns are busy
• Capitol building is under construction. Looking great. Working with prison industries. Ahead of schedule and under budget.
• Lake Oswego streetcar is continuing with Roger, Dick Feeney, and Tom Markgraf working on project. Dunthorpe is major problem.

ODOT-PTD’s Report/Michael Ward

• At legislative forum in Southern Oregon with FTA’s Rick Krochalis, Senator Bates, Rep Esquivel, Rep Richardson, and Senator Atkinson.
  a) Supportive, but no commitment until after revenue forecast
  b) LTD did presentation on transit options.
  c) Commissioner Leman was present
  d) Surprise: Some legislators thought General Fund went to transit! No clue how transit is funded.
• OTC - $20M in lottery bonds for streetcars. Starting process.
• PTAC - Price agreement for vehicles
• JARC and New Freedom - Competitive process in the next six weeks.

Elderly & Disabled Update/Aaron Deas and Michael Ward

• Budget Note Report. Are we going to have to have good $ recommendations? Michael Ward says yes, that is part of what the report will include.
• Ernie Palmer – Remember that E&D is 20-25% of ridership. Don’t forget other 80%
  a) This is the goal of the big transportation package, including the PTD critical needs document (which will include E&D)
• Olivia: We need to bring a few Republicans. D’s are not at 36.
  a) Need capitol and operation $. OTA has always taken a strong stand on bus replacement.
  b) Operating – Nothing except E&D.
  c) Mark Pangborn – Other states provide operating funds, not Oregon. Need to emphasize both cap and ops! Fuel is killing transit agencies!
  d) Olivia – Gov’s polling will show many transit advantages. New ideas:
  — Open Highway Trust Fund –include transit
  — Lottery dedication to transit (in 2014) – doesn’t have to go to voters.
  — Sales tax on new cars.
  — Flex more $ from ODOT.
  — increase gas tax, reg fees, etc and flex more for transit – only use for capitol.
• ODOT bus program needs to be put into law with #’s and goals.
• Ernie Palmer – need to be careful because roads need help too. Taking $ away from roads doesn’t necessarily help. Olivia agrees. Mark Pangborn – this will be a partnership.

Connect Oregon2

• Rail getting 57%, Air 27%, Transit 10%.
• Will there be a CO3? Roger thinks we might be stretching the bond capacity.
• Salem project is 2 spots away from being funded. There are a few questionable project ahead of Salem and Roger wants to try to bump it up.
• Michael Ward – regional and modal priorities were key
• Olivia – if there is a CO3 then transit needs to be in it, regardless of the %.

Additional Business

• Regional ITS Conference 2009 – Next Summer. Good opportunity to recruit OTA members.
• Change name of conference to “Oregon Public Transportation Conference”
  a) Olivia – workshop with TriMet mechanics to save fuel. Maybe have Tony Bryant? YES.

Agency Updates

Basin — ridership is up, which is a mixed bag. All growth from property tax increases was eaten by fuel costs.
Tillamook — nearing capacity on several routes. Ridership up 25% this month, 15% for the year. Transit center on line in August
Mary Jo Carpenter — Ridership is up 25%. Gas prices are driving it for some folks. Competition with cabs – being worked out. Is this a topic for the OTA conference? Charter rules and cabs and transit working together.
Lincoln Co — Ridership is up. Some new $ for serice.
TriMet — New big fare increase. 5cents inflation, 15cents for fuel. January.
Salem — Fare increase in July. 25cents. No ridership increase, most likely due to routes at capacity. Broke ground on maintenance facility.
LTD — ridership is up 15%.

Conclusion

Meeting adjourned. Next Meeting will be Tuesday, June 10, 2008, 10:30 AM at Salem-Keizer Transit