BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Draft Minutes of the June 20, 2013, Meeting Spokane Transit Boardroom 1229 West Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington

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1 1230 West Boone Avenue Spokane, Washington (509) BOARD OF DIRECTORS Draft Minutes of the, Meeting Spokane Transit Boardroom 1229 West Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington MEMBERS PRESENT Chuck Hafner, City of Spokane Valley, Chair Mike Allen, City of Spokane Gary Schimmels, City of Spokane Valley Al French, Spokane County Amber Waldref, City of Spokane Shelly O Quinn, Spokane County Nancy McLaughlin, City of Spokane Richard Schoen, Small Cities Representative (Millwood) Art Kulibert, Small Cities Representative (Medical Lake) Rhonda Bowers, Labor Representative STAFF PRESENT Steve Blaska, Director of Operations Karl Otterstrom, Director of Planning Lynda Warren, Director of Finance & Information Services Steve Doolittle, Director of Human Resources Lynn Holmes, Assistant Director of Finance Molly Myers, Communications Manager PROVIDING LEGAL COUNSEL Laura McAloon, K & L Gates LLP MEMBERS ABSENT None 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Hafner called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and conducted roll call. 2. APPROVE BOARD AGENDA Ms. McLaughlin moved to approve the revised agenda, Ms. Waldref seconded and the motion passed unanimously. 3. PUBLIC EXPRESSIONS Dan Grishko spoke about the temporary closure of the Jefferson Park and Ride lot in May due to the Lilac Parade. He said it was inconvenient for Eastern Washington University students who had to park elsewhere and many had their cars towed. He presented a letter to the Board expressing his concerns. 4. RECOGNITIONS AND PRESENTATIONS 5. PUBLIC HEARING A. Draft Transit Development Plan (TDP) Mr. Hafner opened the public hearing at 10:08 a.m. Mr. Otterstrom explained that the TDP is required by state law and by STA s Comprehensive Plan. It consolidates the Service Implementation Plan and Capital Improvement Program and includes the Annual Strategic Plan as a reference. The plan has been developed through the Planning & Development Committee over the past six months based upon Board guidance in December, The Service Implementation Plan (SIP) includes minor routing and schedule changes in 2014, 2015 and The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes the following: Vehicles; Technology; Facilities (Maintenance/Administration); Facilities (Passenger/Operational); and, High Performance Transit implementation. Replacement vehicles are by far the highest cost at $32 million. The CIP is

2 Page 2 funded by local, state and federal funds. It will be updated to include anticipated Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding for the proposed West Plains Transit Center and Smart Card upgrade project. Board approval for the TDP will be sought in July in time for the September 1 submission to the state. Mr. Hafner asked for public comment three times. There was no public comment. He closed the hearing at 10:20 a.m. 6. BOARD ACTION CONSENT AGENDA Ms. Bowers commented on item 5.C but did not wish to remove it from the consent agenda. She said ATU 1015 still considers the janitorial work on the second floor of the Boone Avenue facility theirs since STA employees have been performing this function for the past ten years. Mr. Blaska said this is a labor/management issue and does not affect the award of the janitorial contract for the Plaza. Ms. McLaughlin moved to approve the following consent agenda items 6. A through C. Ms. Waldref seconded and the motion passed unanimously. A. Approve the minutes of the May 16, 2013 Board meeting. B. Approve the following vouchers and payroll for May, 2013: DESCRIPTION VOUCHER/ACH NUMBERS AMOUNT Accounts Payable Vouchers Nos $ 2,813, Workers Comp Vouchers Nos $ 86, Payroll 05/03/2013 ACH 05/03/2013 $ 1,238, Payroll 05/17/2013 ACH 05/17/2013 $ 1,040, Payroll 05/31/2013 ACH 05/31/2013 $ 1,023, WA State DOR (Use Tax) ACH W0640 $ 8, MAY TOTAL $ 6,209, C. Award a three year contract with two one-year extension options to Argus Janitorial to provide janitorial services to the STA Plaza for a three-year estimated cost of $742,850; and to allow the CEO to approve an addendum to the contract if the Boone Avenue Facility option (second floor only) is exercised. Mr. French arrived at 10:22 a.m. 7. BOARD ACTION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS A. Board Operations Committee: i. Plaza/Wall Street Modifications Mr. Otterstrom explained that the smoking area at the Plaza was eliminated in August, 2012 as part of the Wall Street conversion to a two-way street. The Spokane Regional Health District was enlisted to help enforce the no-smoking laws but did not fulfill that commitment. Within the past six months, neighboring businesses have requested the smoking area be re-introduced. Since the modification to Wall Street, STA s old smoking section would not be in compliance with the State s 25 ft smoking regulations. It is highly unlikely that an exemption would be allowed. Staff proposes a plan to extend the sidewalk into the street and enclose an area to separate it from traffic. This would eliminate the current Paratransit zone and it would have to be moved elsewhere, for example to Post Street. The design and easement will require approval from the City of Spokane.

3 Page 3 There are advantages and disadvantages to the recommendation: Advantages Provides for real opportunity to screen the smoking area for pedestrian sidewalk & transit operations Skywalk provides easy access for lighting for the area Maintains existing street widths (> 24 ) & minimizing 2 way street disruptions Provides space for transit supervisor/plaza/deliveries/ emergency vehicle loading zone Disadvantages Eliminates Paratransit stop Limits development opportunities for 1st/2nd floor Plaza tenants w/east entry Requires security and patrolling of the space The investment will seem to confirm the perception that smokers using the facility are associated with transit activity Ms. O Quinn arrived 10:29 a.m. Ms. McLaughlin worries about the perception being that the problems downtown are STA s fault and that all the people loitering and causing a nuisance on Post Street are STA patrons. Mr. French said people will always smoke while walking and may not all be persuaded to use designated smoking areas. He added that he supported the elimination of the smoking area last year but will support its re-introduction in the spirit of being a good downtown neighbor. Mr. Schoen expressed his concern about the elimination of the Paratransit zone on Wall Street. Ms. Bowers said STA is being unfairly blamed for nuisance behaviors downtown. Ms. O Quinn supports re-opening the smoking section stating there were far less people on Post before it closed last year. Mr. Hafner agreed but said this appeasement will need to come to an end soon. Ms. McLaughlin asked what the reaction would be from the businesses who complained about the prior smoking section. Mr. Otterstrom said he and Mr. Blaska are meeting with Bank of America and Washington Trust Bank staff to discuss these issues, explaining that the proposed smoking area will be screened. Mr. Allen said some smokers are STA passengers, some are not. Most smokers will go to a designated area and STA should continue to evaluate the situation. Mr. Otterstrom said that the preliminary cost estimate for the new smoking area is $40,000 which can be funded with existing Plaza exterior improvement funds. Mr. Kulibert asked if neighboring businesses could be asked to contribute to the cost. Mr. Allen said he will mention this when he meets again with the Downtown Spokane Partnership. Ms. Bowers expressed concern that smoke from the screened area will get into the building. Mr. Otterstrom said ways to vent and dissipate the smoke will be evaluated as part of the design. Ms. Quinn moved to approve the re-introduction of a smoking area that meets state law on the east side of the Plaza. Ms. McLaughlin seconded and the motion passed with Mr. Kulibert voting no. 8. BOARD ACTION Other 9. BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: A. Chair s Report Mr. Hafner said the committee discussed the Plaza smoking area and CMAQ funding and approved the Board agenda.

4 Page PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: A. Chair s Report i. Draft Transit Development Plan Mr. French said the committee reviewed the TDP and will take their recommendation to the Board next month. ii. Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant Funding Update Mr. Otterstrom said this item is for discussion only. On April 30, 2013 STA submitted seven projects to the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) for CMAQ funding, three of which were included in past capital programs and four others. The projects are as follows: The projects were scored by an evaluation committee and the results showed that STA s projects scored favorably and would receive up to $4.9 million. Staff proposes funding and phasing revisions at this time to ensure high priority projects move forward as shown in the following table: The top three projects continue to be fully funded. The funding distribution is changed but still complies with the local funding amount. The Universal Transit Access Pass (UTAP) program for the Spokane Community Colleges would also be fully funded. The Division High Performance Transit

5 Page 5 Phase A project will be placed on a contingency list for 2016/2017. The savings would give SRTC $460,649 to reallocate to other projects. Ms. McLaughlin agreed with staff s recommendation. Mr. French also agreed and added that spreading out the funding to a wider range of projects makes sense since the funds must be spent on projects that will be completed. Mr. Otterstrom said he would let the SRTC Director know so that the SRTC Board can take action at their meeting on July 11, PERFORMANCE MONITORING & EXTERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE: A. Chair s Report i State Audit Report Mr. Allen congratulated staff on an audit with no findings for eight consecutive years. The audit report is included in the gray folders. He noted that transit advocate, Mike Rowles, passed away this week. 12. CEO REPORT Ridership In Ms. Meyer s absence, Mr. Blaska reported that fixed route ridership in May decreased by 1.3% over May 2012 for a year to date increase of 1.7%. Paratransit ridership decreased 4.8% over May 2012 for a year to date decrease of 1.1%. 13. BOARD INFORMATION A. Committee Minutes B. April 2013 Financial Results Summary C. May 2013 Sales Tax Summary D. April 2013 Operating Indicators E Planning & Budget Workshop Agenda F Route Performance Report G. DBE Proposed Goal 14. NEW BUSINESS 15. BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSIONS 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION 17. ADJOURNED With no further business to come before the Board, Chair Hafner adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Jan Watson Executive Assistant to the CEO & Clerk of the Authority

6 Page 6 A video of the Board meeting may be viewed on STA s website the day after the meeting. Cable 5 Broadcast Dates and Times of Board Meeting: Saturday, June 22, :00 p.m. Monday, June 24, :00 a.m. Tuesday, June 25, :00 p.m. Next Committee Meetings (STA Conference Rooms, West Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington): Performance Monitoring & External Relations July 10, 2013, 10:00 a.m. (Southside) 1229 West Boone Planning & Development July 11, 2013, 11:00 a.m. (Southside) 1229 West Boone Board Operations July 17, 2013, 12:30 p.m. (Northside) 1230 West Boone Next Board Workshop: 2014 Planning & Budget Thursday, July 11, 2013, 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m., STA Southside Conference Room, 1229 West Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington. Next Board Meeting: Thursday, July 25, 2013, 10:00 a.m., STA Boardroom, 1229 West Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington. NOTE: Changes to Committee and Board meeting dates due to July 4 holiday shown in bold. Change of date/time for Board Workshop shown in bold.