Home    OTA Forum    Transit Jobs    FAQ    Site Map    Font Size:

The OTA    Transit News    Legislative News    OTA Conference    Contact Information

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

July 10, 2007 | Download PDF Version >

Present

Members: Mark Pangborn (President), Heather Ornelas (Vice President), Lorna Adkins,
Olivia Clark, John Helm, Ernie Palmer, Allan Pollock, Julie Stephens, and Michael Ward.
Guests: Aaron Deas and Stef Viggiano.
Staff: Roger Martin and Kelsey Wilson
Meeting was called to order at 10:40 AM.

Announcements from the Chair

Introductions were made and the chair welcomed members to Lane Transit District.

Approval of Agenda

Staff asked to add a couple announcements at the end of the meeting and the chair asked that they be made now.
Staff got a call last week from Peter Thein, Secretary of the Washington Transit Association. Peter asked if the OTA board would be interested in doing a joint August meeting since his board will be meeting in Vancouver in August. Staff will poll the board via e-mail, but the consensus was it was a great idea and anyone that can make it will plan to attend the August 22 meeting. Staff will call Peter and get back to the board with more details. Staff also distributed a Leadership Perspective Audit and asked members to fill these out and return them ASAP. OTA has hired a marketing agency to re-brand the Association. The agency would like a better idea of who the association is and how it serves its members. This audit will be helpful in the branding and will help ensure that the new marketing materials and logo meet the needs of the members.
Agenda approved.

Approval of Minutes

Staff made changes to the section of June’s minutes regarding the meeting location discussion at the request of members.
Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Financial Transaction Summaries were distributed. The treasurer was unable to attend, so staff gave a brief summary and explained that the summary distributed was the year end summary as OTA’s fiscal year begins new July 1, 2007.

Executive Director’s Report/Roger Martin

• Roger gave a brief summary of the legislative session and expressed his frustration with the lack of champions pushing E&D this session.
• The cigarette tax that OTA introduced during the interim and lobbied all session was overshadowed by the Governor’s 84-cent cigarette tax to fund uninsured children in the state.
• The City of Canby has hired Cynthia Thompson as a consultant for their transit division.
• Former board member, Jay Lynch was convicted and sentenced to jail.
• Julie Brown has been hired as the permanent General Manager at Rogue Valley Transportation District. She has won the confidence of the chamber of commerce and will be a great asset to the district.

ODOT-PTD’s Report/Michael Ward

Handout distributed.

• Current Activities
• OPTIS Update
• Implementation delayed until October 2007
• Testing and Training scheduled for September
• External providers needed to assist in implementation
• Discretionary Grants Program Update
• At it’s June meeting, the OTC approved an additional 96 projects worth approximately $12.9 million.
• Total Funding to date: 246 projects worth approximately $30.8 million
• Approximately $500,000 remains to be allocated in the Vehicle Replacement Category
• Outstanding issues:
• Recommendation for remaining vehicle replacement funds
• Pre-award authority letters have been sent/grants being written
• Staffing Updates
• Adam Torgerson is leaving
• Will replace the public information officer position with a staff analyst position
• Diana Huitt is retiring
• Will replace this position with an Operation Support Manager
• Beginning the process to fill vacant program manager positions
• Hiring temporary staff to support OPTIS implementation

Michael also mentioned OTC allocation of $4 million for innovative transit projects. There was discussion that there isn’t a clear definition of what “innovative” means. Michael will work with Commissioner Wilson to better define, but also discussed that OTA and providers should help define “innovation.” Roger, Mark and Olivia will have further discussions about how to go about doing this.

Legislative Reports/Wrap-up

Staff distributed the 2007 Legislative report prepared for OTA including the final status report of the measures followed and lobbied on behalf of OTA.

Elderly & Disabled Interim Task Force

ODOT and the Department of Human Services have been instructed by a budget note to study the need for E&D and come back to the 2009 session with a funding recommendation. OTA also needs to do some research and work in conjunction with these departments. The OTA needs a real grassroots effort approach to make this happen. A committee including, staff, John Helm, Olivia Clark, Aaron Deas, Kelly Brooks, Elaine Wells, and Julie Stephens (as a liaison to rural providers) was formed and a meeting will be set up to start a work plan.

Conference Discussion

It was discussed that the conference will be a really great time to put together the grassroots
effort for E&D funding. One of the sessions will be a panel of folks closely tied to the
advocacy for increased E&D transportation funding as well as all senior funding.


EmX PowerPoint Presentation

Stef Viggiano gave a presentation on the EmX Bus Rapid Transit System in Eugene. The board members walked to the nearest EmX stop and went for a ride on the system.

Conclusion

OTA Meeting adjourned at 12:46 PM.