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Home My WebLink About05/26/1998 Special Meeting 152 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON MAY 26, 1998 SPECIAL MEETING The City Council met in special session on this date at 7:30 a.m., in the Second Floor Conference Room, Police Department /Legal Center, Yakima, Washington, Mayor John Puccinelli, presiding. Council Members Clarence Barnett, Henry Beauchamp, John Klingele, Mary Place, and Bernard Sims present on roll call. Council Member Lynn Buchanan absent and excused. City Manager Zais; Chris Waarvick, Acting Director of Public Works; Bill Schultz, Transit Manager; Marketa Oliver, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; and Deputy City Clerk Skovald also present. Mayor Puccinelli called the meeting to order and invited the Citizen Transit Task Force to begin their presentation. Presentation by Citizen Transit Task Force on Findings of the Task Force Study Bruce Smith, Chairman, introduced Task Force Members Ernie Berger, Mike Larson, and Al Deatley. The Task Force has met every two weeks since its inception in 1997 to do research, compile data and analyze information as part of the efficiency review and evaluation of the City's Transit System. The meetings were televised and provided opportunity for public input. The Task Force prepared a written report about the process they used to conduct the study. It reflects their conclusions which were made after reviewing and analyzing financial projections, ridership data, acquisition and operating costs for different sizes and types of buses. The report also includes eight recommendations to address the only significant factor affecting Yakima Transit, which is operating the Dial -A -Ride program and to implement federal regulations associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Mr. Smith also commended City staff for their help in this process. The first Task Force recommendation is to reduce'the Dial -A -Ride eligible client base to one percent of the City's total population. Mr. Smith reported that the Transit Division is expected to lose almost $17,000 by the end of 1998, $564,000 by the end of 1999, and about $1.3 million by the end of 2000. The research indicates that the Dial -A -Ride Program has experienced tremendous growth since the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements were implemented. The • 153 MAY 26, 1998 - SPECIAL MEETING Task Force discovered that Yakima's Dial -A -Ride eligible population is much higher than in other similar cities. A common thread in several ridership trends indicate the high usage of Dial -A -Ride services by retirement facilities with a 30 percent increase expected due to new retirement facilities being built. In addition to an extremely high percentage of Dial -A -Ride 'eligible riders, there are other factors to contend with including the lack of handicapped accessible buses on the fixed route system, using a liberal certification process, and offering Dial -A -Ride services on Sundays and non - service holidays when that service is not required by law. Several members of the Council asked questions and requested clarification about some of the Task Force's findings. Council Member Beauchamp asked how Yakima's Dial -A -Ride program compares to the Ben Franklin Transit System, a Spokane area transit system used in a recent study by the Task Force. Ben Franklin's buses are 100 percent handicapped equipped. Since there is a 30 percent increase expected in new construction of retirement facilities, and as a cost - saving measure, Ernie Berger suggested a pilot program be created to transport those riders who live in assisted living facilities, currently utilizing the Dial -A -Ride Program to commute to work. There was discussion about Dial -A -Ride trips that originate outside the City limits, how Dial -A -Ride eligibility is determined, and the ridership data used to determine high use routes and what size buses to. recommend. The second Task Force recommendation is that bus size purchases should be based on the ability to accommodate 85% of peak ridership sitting, based on the Task Force's ridership study. Council Member Place asked if federal funding would be available if small buses are used. Bill Schultz, Transit Manager, commented about the federal funding application process and the funding distribution process. Council Members Beauchamp and Place directed attention to the comparison between replacing existing buses with smaller shuttle -type buses that would be handicapped accessible. There was discussion about whether conversion to smaller buses would be a cost - effective measure. The sixth recommendation is to sell all buses in excess of the Federal I/ Transit Administration's spare ratio standard. The Task Force further recommends a study be prepared on the number of spare buses and the associated costs to keep them on line versus privatization of bus maintenance. The third recommendation is that all buses should be made handicapped accessible. Mr. Smith indicated that the Task Force was impressed with the decision to privatize the Dial -A -Ride program, which is more efficient; however, those numbers could change if the entire City's 2 154 MAY 26, 1998 - SPECIAL MEETING buses were handicapped equipped. Mayor Puccinelli requested that the provider determine whether they could still provide the service for the same price, with less volume. In response to a request from Council Member Place to elaborate on the eligibility process, Mr. Deatley pointed out that other Transit Programs have stricter guidelines than the City's Transit System. There was discussion about the need to reduce costs associated with the Dial -A -Ride program and reducing ridership is one way to do that. The fourth recommendation is that bus fares should be increased to $1 for fixed route buses and $2 for Dial -A -Ride trips. The Task Force suggested increased fares for both Dial -A -Ride services and fixed route services. The fifth recommendation is to recommend the staff prepare a study offering a broader range of information regarding fare changes, both higher and lower, for the City Council, including possible senior citizen discounts. The seventh recommendation is to eliminate Dial -A -Ride service on Sundays and non - service holidays'. There was discussion about non - ambulatory service requirements and ambulatory folks using Dial -A -Ride services. The eighth recommendation is to accept Access Paratransit's proposal for a one -year demonstration project to privatize the operation of Routes #3 and #10. The Task Force also recommended that the proposal be accepted for a one -year demonstration project to privatize some of the lowest used routes. The recommendation includes going to outside contractors to try privatization. City Manager Zais pointed out that Dial -A -Ride expansion occurred because many facilities opted to discontinue their private service and depend on Dial -A -Ride services. If they thought Dial -A -Ride would be eliminated, particularly Sunday service, perhaps there might be a willingness of private facilities to rethink contributions, rather than trying to recreate a transit service. Mr. Deatley suggested any savings from transit sales tax should be used for street repairs. Mr. Zais explained that Transit Sales Tax funds can not be used for that purpose because they are dedicated funds. A proposal to change that requirement was presented during the last legislative session, but it was unsuccessful. Mayor Puccinelli thanked the Task Force for their hard work. He feels other areas within the City should be studied by outside citizen committees to expand the focus rather than staff studying the situations. Council Member Klingele pointed out one benefit to citizen involvement in government is that it provides an opportunity for citizens to see exactly what obstacles actually exist in government. 3 155 MAY 26, 1998 - SPECIAL MEETING It was MOVED BY KLINGELE, SECONDED BY BEAUCHAMP, TO ADJOURN AT 9:00 A.M. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Buchanan absent. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: l7" -Pa UNCIL M'y. BER ' DATE < 04p. !, r ✓ • s ��':.� DATE ' ATTEST: CITY CLERK JOHN PUCCINELLI, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audiotape of this meeting is available in the City Clerk's Office. • • 1 4