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Home My WebLink AboutR-1999-071 FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE TO FRANKLIN PARK ON JULY 10-11, 1999 FOR FOLK LIFE FESTIVAL.RESOLUTION NO. R-99- 71 A RESOLUTION providing for free shuttle bus service to Franklin Park on July 10-11, 1999 for the Folk Life Festival in order to alleviate traffic congestion, parking congestion, and increased air pollution in the area. WHEREAS, on July 11-12, 1999, the Folk Life Festival shall be held at Franklin Park, Yakima, Washington,— WHEREAS, the Folk Life Festival will be free to the public and is contemplated to gather a large group of citizens of the City of Yakima; and WHEREAS, such a gathering is apt to lead to traffic congestion, parking congestion, and increased air pollution in the area; and WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to alleviate such burdens on the general public through providing free shuttle bus service to the Folk Life Festival at Franklin Park, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The Public Works Director is hereby authorized and directed to provide free shuttle bus service on July 11-12, 1999 to Franklin Park according to time schedules and along routes which the Public Works Director deems best to decrease traffic congestion, parking congestion, and air pollution. The Public Works Director is further authorized and directed to publish the routes and time table of such service in a newspaper of general circulation at least two (2) days prior to the commencing of such service. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 18th day of May, 1999. A I"1"EST: ! / John Puccinelli, Mayor City Clerk (1k)res-transit-free shuttle -folk life -99 .pm City of Yakima City Council Transit Committee Tuesday, April 21, 1999 Council Members Present John Klingele Bernie Sims Henry Beauchamp Guests Present Ellen Bovarnick, Folklife Festival Rep. Joe Ball, Folklife Festival Rep. MINUTES Staff Members Present Dick Zais Karen Allen Chris Waarvick Bill Schultz John Haddix Paul McMurray The meeting was called to order at 7:10 a.m. in the Public Works Administration conference room. The minutes of the March 23, 1999, meeting were approved as published. Folklife Festival Shuttle Bus Request Ellen Bovarnick and Joe Ball, who are representatives of the Folklife Festival, were present to make a request to the Council Transit Committee for help in establishing a park and ride location and shuttle bus service for the Folklife Festival. The reason for the request is due to a new ruling that parking is no longer allowed on the grass at Franklin Park. Ms. Bovarnick gave a brief history of the Festival and recited their mission statement. She also gave a brief explanation of what types of events are held during the festival. The festival will be held July 10 and 11 this year, which is a Saturday and Sunday. The hours requested for shuttle service are from 11:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Henry Beauchamp asked if the driver's would have to be paid overtime. Bill responded that "yes" they would be on overtime and would probably use one driver depending on the number of hours. Both Bernie Sims and Henry Beauchamp felt that it would be a great draw for the festival if the waterslide at Franklin Park was available for their use. Bernie stated that he feels this would be a great draw for the kids. Chris Waarvick stated that he would discuss this opportunity with Denise Nichols, Manager of Parks and Recreation. Karen Allen suggested using YVCC's parking lot as it will accommodate quite a few cars and the buses would be able to maneuver through there much easier. Bill stated that they would check on the availability with YVCC. Henry Beauchamp asked whether or not Transit would do this again next year based on the success of the service. Bill responded that it takes a few years for people to Page 1 City Council Transit Committee -4/21/99 5/11/99 change their travel patterns and to reaiize that this service is available for their use. He feels that shuttle operations for this type of event becomes more successful as they are continued year after year. Bernie moved that Transit give this a trial for the next three years and that staff works with the Folklife Festival to work out a schedule and locations for the park and ride. Other suggestions for park and ride locations are Lincoln Center parking lot and Roosevelt School. Bernie feels that it has to be convenient for people to use or they will not utilize it. Bill asked whether or not the Committee wanted to waive the standard $.50 special event fare. If they choose to have people ride for free it will need full City Council approval. Bernie feels there should be no charge for the shuttle service. Bill stated that there is also a regular route bus that serves this are that would augment the shuttle service for people to utilize. It is the consensus of the Transit Committee that the fare be free for the first year and the issue can be looked at again during the second year. Staff will forward to Council the free fare shuttle service issue. A representative of the Folklife Festival will be present during that Council meeting in case any Council members have questions. Ellen Bovarnick asked if the City would donate the use of Police coverage for traffic control during this event. Dick suggested that Ellen contact Captain Roy Willson of the Yakima Police Dept. regarding the use of the auxiliary police force to use for traffic control during their event. Ellen thanked the Committee for their time and for the support of the City in donating the shuttle service for the Folklife Festival. Draft Transit Capital Improvement Plan Discussion took place regarding capital improvements, specifically looking at bus replacement over the next 5-6 years. Bill noted that item 3 is replacement of buses for both heavy and light duty. He stated that the number they would like to purchase will strike a balance between the heavy and light duty buses because there are still going to be capacity issues. Discussion continued regarding the needs in the future of small and large buses and the need to provide a good service as ridership continues to grow. Chris Waarvick stated that there is an issue deep within the system of availability of driver's and the way the system works regarding temporary, and permanent part time and full time driver's. At some point in time after a couple of year's of stability you set up a balance of how many people are in each group, which is set by Council action during budget. When your demand is challenged either up or down, that significantly effects Bill's ability to manage those three tiers of employee groups. So if Transit got to a position where all of the sudden they needed more driver's, that cannot be responded to quickly. Chris feels this is one of the most significant issues outside of cost. Bernie asked about the change in Equipment Rental to have staff working at night to fix buses in a more expedient manner. Bill said it would not matter if we did have staff at Page 2 City Council Transit Committee -4/21/99 5/11/99 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. / For Meeting of 5/18/99 ITEM TITLE: Resolution establishing that the fare for shuttle bus service to the Folklife Festival be free the first year the service is provided. SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Bill Schultz, Transit Manager/575-6005 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: At the March 21, 1999, meeting of the Council Transit Committee (see attached excerpt of minutes), a presentation was made relative to the operation of a shuttle bus service for the annual Folklife Festival conducted in Franklin Park. The City has notified the festival organizers that vehicle parking on the lawn at the park will no longer be allowed. As one alternative to parking on site, a shuttle bus between the park and a suitable park-and-ride location was proposed. The Transit Committee agreed with the proposal and, given that travel patterns are among the most difficult habits to change, the Committee determined that a commitment to provide shuttle services for a three year period would provide an opportunity to determine if such a service could be considered successful. It was further proposed that, in order to promote the service and encourage ridership, the fare should be free the first year rather than charging the standard $.50 special event fare. EXHIBITS Resolution X Ordinance Contract Other (Specify) Funding Source Transit Division Operating Budget _ APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: \� City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Concur with Committee recommendation TRANSIT COMMI I t LE RECOMMENDATION: Approve resolution providing for free fare, in -lieu of the standard special event fare, for shuttle service to the Folklife Festival. COUNCIL ACTION: