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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2007-141 Creative Employment Options Agreement (temporary staffing - transit center)RESOLUTION NO. R-2007-141 A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute the Temporary Staffing Services Agreement (for Yakima Transit) with Creative Employment Options, a Washington non-profit corporation, formerly known as A-1 Temps, also a Washington non-profit corporation. WHEREAS, the City of Yakima has received and is responsible for administering a transportation services program grant from the State of Washington; and WHEREAS, the City requires specialized services to establish and operate a special needs training program for clients to use existing transportation services program; and WHEREAS, the City desires to continue staffing its Bus Transfer Station Ticket Sales and Information Booth; and WHEREAS, Creative Employment Options has the experience and expertise necessary to perform the specialized services required by the City; and WHEREAS, Creative Employment Options, a Washington non-profit corporation, has previously staffed and continue to staff the City's Transit Center and said employees have performed their duties in an exemplary fashion; and WHEREAS, the Council Transit Committee endorses the request and forwarded its recommendation to the full City Council to encourage the employment of special needs individuals and that such staffing continue to be provided by special needs individuals employed by Creative Employment Options; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: The City Manager of the City of Yakima is hereby authorized and directed to execute the Temporary Staffing Services Agreement (for Yakima Transit) with Creative Employment Options, and all necessary documentation to allow the continued special needs training to staff the City of Yakima's Transit Center information booth. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this "° day of Octob-, 2007. /i ATTEST: David E • er, Mayor 1/1„6„,cd„ 0014_, City Clerk RES NO. R-2007-141 Transit Center temp services - ZD07 �7 / TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES AGREEMENT THIS TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES AGREEMENT (hereinafter "Agreement") is made and entered into by and between !,the City of Yakima, a Washington municipal corporation (hereinafter the "City"), and Creative Employment Options, a Washington non-profit corporation. WHEREAS, the City desires to continue staffing its Bus Transfer Station Ticket Sales and Information Booth. WHEREAS, Creative Employment Options (formerly A-1 Temps) has proven that it has the experience and expertise necessary to perform the services required by the City in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, promises, and agreements set forth herein, it is agreed by and between the City and Creative Employment Options as follows: 1. Scope of Services. Creative Employment Options shall provide the City with the following services: A. At least one Creative Employment Options employee shall staff the City of Yakima's Bus Transfer Station Information Booth at all times from Mondays through Fridays, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. B. Creative Employment Options employee(s) shall perform the following services while working in the City's Ticket Sales and Information Booth for Yakima Transit: i. Verbally communicate route information to bus riders. ii. Hand out schedules. iii. Sell monthly passes. iv. Sell daily tickets. 11 v. Assign the restroom key(s). vi. Maintain Transit's Lost/Found department vii. Answer the telephone(s) for Security and the Route Manager. viii. Perform other duties as assigned. C. Creative Employment Options have the supervision, training, assigned to them by the City. shall be solely responsible for ensuring that its employees and capability to safely and satisfactorily perform the duties D. Creative Employment Options'shall provide its employees with any and all training and equipment needed for its employees to perform their assigned duties without cost to the City. 2. Tern. This Agreement shall be effective upon execution by the parties hereto and shall terminate at midnight on June 30, 2009, unless the Agreement is earlier terminated by either party in accordance with Section 21 of this Agreement. Upon written consent of the parties, this contract may be extended for a period of time to be agreed by the parties provided funding for such extension is or becomes available. 1 3. Compensation. A. Fee for Services. As compensation for the services performed pursuant to this Agreement, the City agrees to compensate Creative Employment Options at the rate of Fifteen Dollars and Sixty Nine Cents ($15.69) per hour for the Creative Employment Options employee performing full time (2,080 hours annually) services for the City. This cost shall cover any and all costs of providing services including but not limited to salaries and salary -related costs, travel, overhead, taxes, medical insurance coverage, materials, supplies, and other expenses. For the part time employee, (1,040 hours annually) the City agrees to compensate Creative Employment Options at the rate of Thirteen Dollars and Ten Cents ($13.10) per hour for the services provided. In no event shall the total compensation for all services provided under this Agreement exceed, the funding amount awarded by the State of Washington for this purpose which is currently $92,500.00 for the contractual period ending June 30, 2009. B. Payment for Compensation. Creative Employment Options shall provide the City with itemized invoices/billings no later than thirty (30) calendar days after services are actually provided or costs are incurred. No vouchers shall be made for amounts claimed that are found by the City to be non - compensable under this Agreement. The City shall make payment to Creative Employment Options within thirty (30) calendar days upon receipt of invoices/billings. All payments are expressly con- ditioned upon Creative Employment Options providing services hereunder that are satisfactory to the City. C. Source of Funds. The source of funds for this Agreement is the State of Washington's Operating Assistance grant for Paratransit/Special Needs administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). It is expressly understood and agreed by the City and Creative Employment Options that the City's obligations under this Agreement are contingent upon WSDOT funds adequate to meet the City's obligations under this Agreement and the continued availability of those funds. D. Payment in the Event of Termination. In the event that either party terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 21, Creative Employment Options shall be compensated on a pro -rata basis for all satisfactory services provided to the City under this Agreement up to the effective termination date. E. Disallowed Expenses. Should any expense or charge for which payment has been made by the City be subsequently disallowed or disapproved as a result of any auditing or monitoring by the City, WSDOT, or any other state or federal agency, Creative Employment Options shall refund such amount to the City within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of written notice specifying the amount disallowed. Refunds of disallowed costs may not be made from any funds received from the City. 4. Responsibilities of the City. The City shall be responsible for the following: A. The City shall assign duties to Creative Employment Options employees and instruct them regarding the manner in which the City desires those duties be performed. B. The City shall furnish a suitable place for Creative Employment Options employees to work, which shall comply with all laws related to occupational health and safety postings. C. The City shall ensure that Creative Employment Options employees are supplied with sufficient Yakima Transit passes and schedules to perform their assigned duties. 2 D. If the City is dissatisfied with the performance of any employee of Creative Employment Options, the City shall notify Creative Employment Options before the end of the workday. 5. Property Care. Creative Employment Options will be responsible for the proper custody and care of all City -owned property furnished for Creative Employment Options' use in connection with the performance of this Agreement, including' but not limited to, office equipment. Creative Employment Options will reimburse the City for any ', loss or damage, normal wear and tear excepted. Creative Employment Options shall also be responsible for the proper possession, use, and maintenance of all personal property retained by Creative Employment Options during the performance of services pursuant to this Agreement, if applicable. 6. Independent Contractor Status of Creative Employment Options. Creative Employment Options and the City understand and expressly agree that Creative Employment Options is an independent contractor in the performance of each and every part of this Agreement. Creative Employment Options, as an independent contractor, assumes the entire responsibility for carrying out and accomplishing the services required under this Agreement and has the right to control the manner and means in which the services are provided, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Additionally, and as an independent contractor, Creative Employment Options and its employees shall make no claim of City employment nor shall claim against the City any related employment benefits, social security, and/or retirement benefits.''Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted as creating a relationship of servant, employee, partnership or agency between Creative Employment Options or any officer, employee or agent of Creative Employment Options and the City. 7. Taxes and Assessments. Creative Employment Options shall be solely responsible for compensating its employees and for paying all related taxes, deductions, and assessments, including but not limited to, federal income tax, FICA, social security tax, assessments for unemployment and industrial injury, and other deductions from income which may be required by law or assessed against either party as a result of this Agreement. In the event the City is assessed a tax or assessment as a result of this Agreement, Creative Employment Options shall pay the same before it becomes due. 8. Compliance With Law. Creative Employment Options agrees to perform all services under and pursuant to this Agreement in full compliance with any and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations adopted or promulgated by any governmental agency or regulatory body, whether federal, state, local, or otherwise. 9. No Insurance. It is understood Ithe City does not maintain liability insurance for Creative Employment Options and/or its employees, agents, officers, and subcontractors. 10. Indemnification and Hold Harmless. a. Creative Employment Options agrees to protect, defend, indemnify, exonerate, and hold harmless the City, its elected officials, agents, officers, employees from any and all claims, demands, losses, liens, liabilities, penalties, fines, lawsuits, and other proceedings and all judgments, awards, costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements) related to Creative Employment Options' performance and/or nonperformance of this` Agreement. b. In the event both Creative Employment Options and the:City are negligent, Creative Employment Options' liability for indemnification of the City shall be limited to the contributory negligence for any resulting suits, actions, claims, liability, damages, judgments, costs, and expenses 3 (including reasonable attorney's fees) that can be apportioned to Creative Employment Options, its officers, employees, agents, and/or subcontractors. c. Creative Employment Options specifically assumes potential liability for actions brought by Creative Employment Option's employees and/or subcontractors and solely for the purposes of this indemnification and defense, Creative Employment Options specifically waives any immunity under the State Industrial Insurance Law, Title 51, Revised Code of Washington. d. Nothing contained in this Section or this Agreement shall be construed to create a liability or a right of indemnification in any third party. e. The provisions of this section shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement. 11. Insurance Provided by Creative Employment Options. Before this Agreement is fully executed by the parties, Creative Employment Options shall provide the City with a certificate of insurance as proof of commercial liability insurance with a minimum liability limit of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) combined with single limit bodily injury and property damage. The certificate shall clearly state who the provider is, the coverage amount, the'policy number, and when the policy and provisions provided are in effect. Said policy shall be in effect for the duration of this Agreement. The policy shall •name the City, its elected officials, officers, agents, and employees as additional insureds, and shall contain a clause that the insurer will not cancel or change the insurance without first giving the City thirty (30) calendar days prior written notice (any language in the clause to the effect of "but failure to mail such notice shall impose no obligation or liability of any kind upon the company" shall be crossed out and initialed by the insurance agent.) The insurance shall be with an insurance company or companies rated A -VII or higher in Best's Guide and admitted in the State of Washington. 12. Delegation of Personal Services. The services provided for herein shall be performed by Creative Employment Options, and no person other than regular associates or employees of Creative Employment Options shall be engaged upon such work or services except upon written approval of the City. 13. Assignment. This Agreement, or any interest herein, or claim hereunder, shall not be assigned or transferred in whole or in part by Creative Employment Options to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the City. In the event that such prior written consent to an assignment is granted, then the assignee shall assume all duties, obligations, and liabilities of Creative Employment Options stated herein. 14. No Obligation by the State Government. This contract does not create any obligation or liability of WSDOT with regard to this Agreement without WSDOT's specific written consent, notwithstanding its concurrence in, or approval of, the award of any contract or subcontract or the solicitations thereof. 15. Ethics. A. Code of Ethics. Creative Employment Options agrees to maintain a written code or standards of conduct that shall govern the performance of its officers, employees, board members, or agents engaged in the award and administration of contracts. The code or standards shall provide that Creative Employment Options' officers, employees, board members, or agents may neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from any present or potential contractor or subrecipient. Creative Employment Options may set minimum rules where the financial interest is not substantial, or the gift is an unsolicited item of nominal intrinsic value. These codes or standards shall 4 prohibit Creative Employment Options' officers, employees, board members, or agents from using their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest or personal gain. As permitted by state or local law or regulations, such code or standards shall include penalties, sanctions, or other disciplinary actions for violations by Creative Employment Options' officers, employees, board members, or agents, or by subcontractors or subrecipients or their agents. 1. Personal Conflict of Interest. Creative Employment Options' code or standards shall prohibit Creative Employment Options' employees, officers, board members, or agents from participating in the selection, award, or administration of a contract supported by state funds if a real or apparent conflict of interest would be involved. Such a conflict would arise when any of the parties set forth below has a financial or other interest; in the firm or entity selected for award: a. The employee, officer, board member or agent; b. Any member of his or her immediate family; c. His or her partner; or d. An organization that employs, or is about to employ, any of the above. 2. Organizational Conflict of Interest. Creative Employment Options' code or stan- dard of conduct must include procedures for identifying and preventing real and apparent organizational conflicts of interest. An organizational conflict of interest exists when the nature of the work to be performed under a proposed third party contract may, without some restrictions on future activities, result in an unfair competitive advantage to the third party contractor or impair its objectivity in performing the contract work. B. Relationships with Employees and Officers of WSDOT. Creative Employment Options shall not extend any loan, gratuity or gift of money in any form whatsoever to any employee or officer of WSDOT, nor shall Creative Employment Options rent or purchase any equipment and materials from any employee or officer of WSDOT. C. Employment of Former WSDOT Employees. Creative Employment Options hereby warrants that it shall not engage on a full, l; part-time, or other basis during the period of the Agreement, any professional or technical personnel who are, or have been, at any time during the period of the Agreement, in the employee of WSDOT without written consent of WSDOT. 16. Civil Rights. Creative Employment Options shall comply with all applicable civil rights statutes and implementing regulations including, but not limited to: A. Nondiscrimination — Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply, and assure compliance by each third party contractor at any tier, with all requirements prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d; and USDOT regulations, `Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation —Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act," 49 CFR Part 21. B. Equal Employment Opportunity. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply, and assures compliance by each third party contractor at any tier, with all requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, and 49 U.S.C. §5332 and any implementing 5 requirements FTA may issue. These equal employment opportunity (EEO) requirements include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Creative Employment Options agrees that it will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, sex, disability, age, or national origin. A-1 Temps agrees totake affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, creed, sex, disability, age, or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. C. Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of Title LX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. §11680 et seq.; with U.S. DOT regulations, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Educational Programs or Activities Receiving Federal financial Assistance, 49 C.F.R. Part 25; and with any implementing directives that U.S. DOT or FTA may promulgate, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. D. Nondiscrimination on the basis of Age. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply with applicable requirements of the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§6101 et seq., and implementing regulations, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age. E. Disabilities -Employment. In accordance with section 102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §12112, Creative Employment Options agrees that it will comply with the requirements of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, "Regulations to Implement the Equal Employment Provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act," 29 C.F.R. Part 1630, pertaining to employment of persons with disabilities. Disabilities -Access. Creative .Employment Options agrees to comply with the requirements 49 U.S.C. § 5301(d) which state the Federal policy that the elderly and persons with disabilities have the same rights as other persons to use mass transportation service and facilities, and that special efforts shall be made in planning and designing those services and facilities to implement said policy. Creative Employment Options also agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §794, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of handicap; with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq., which requires the provision of accessible facilities and services; and with the Federal regulations, including any amendments thereto following: U.S. DOT regulations, "Transportation Services for Individuals with Disabilities (ADA)," 49 C.F.R. Part 37; U.S.DOT regulations, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting from Federal Financial Assistance," 49 C.F.R. Part 27; Joint U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board U.S. DOT regulations; "Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Accessibility Specifications for Transportation Vehicles," 36 C.F.R. apart 1192 and 49 C.F.R. Part 38; U.S. DOJ regulations, "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services," 28 C.F.R. Part 35; U.S. DOJ regulations "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities," 28 C.F.R. Part 36; Handicapped and Any other nondiscrimination statute(s) that may apply to the Project. F. Other Nondiscrimination Statutes. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) that may apply to the Project. 17. Energy Conservation and Environmental Requirements. 6 A. Energy Conservation. Creative Employment Options shall comply with the mandatory standards and policies relating to energy efficiency standards and policies within the Washington State energy conservation plan issued in compliance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 42 U.S.C. §6321 et seq., and any amendments thereto. B. Environmental Protection. Creative Employment Options agrees to comply with all applicable requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §4321 et seq. 18. Accounting Records. A. Project Accounts. Creative Employment Options agrees to establish and maintain for the Project either a separate set of accounts or separate accounts within the framework of an established accounting system that can be identified with the Project. Creative Employment Options agrees that all checks, payrolls, invoices, contracts, vouchers, orders, or other accounting documents pertaining in whole or in part to the project shall be clearly identified readily accessible and available to Yakima Transit and/or WSDOT upon request, and, to the extent feasible, kept separate from documents not pertaining to the Project. B. Funds Received or Made Available for the Project. Creative Employment Options agrees to deposit in a financial institution, all advance Project payments it receives and record in the Project account all amounts provided by the state in support of the Grant Agreement and all other funds provided for, accruing to, or otherwise received on account of the Project. C. Documentation of Project Costsand Program Income. Creative Employment Options agrees to support all costs charged to the Project, including any approved services contributed by Creative Employment Options or others, with properly executed payrolls, time records, invoices, contracts, or vouchers describing in detail the nature and propriety of the charges. Creative Employment Options also agrees to maintain accurate records of all program income derived from implementing the Project. 19. Audits, Inspection, and RetentionPof Records. A. Submission of Proceedings, Contracts, and Other Documents. During the course of the Project and for six years thereafter, Creative Employment Options agrees to retain intact and to provide any data, documents, reports, records, contracts, and supporting materials relating to the Project as WSDOT may require. Project closeout does not alter these recording and record-keeping requirements. Should an audit, enforcement, or litigation process be conunenced, but not completed, during the aforementioned six-year period then Creative Employment Options' obligations hereunder shall be ex- tended until the conclusion of that pending audit, enforcement, or litigation process. B. General Audit Requirements. Creative Employment Options agrees to obtain any other audits required by WSDOT. Project closeout will not alter Creative Employment Options' audit responsibilities. C. Inspection. Creative Employment Options agrees to permit WSDOT, the State Auditor, or their authorized representatives, to inspect all Project work materials, payrolls, and other data, and to audit the books, records, and accounts of Creative Employment Options and its contractors pertaining to the Project. Creative Employment Options agrees to require each third party to permit WSDOT, and the State Auditor or their duly authorized representatives, to inspect al work, materials, payrolls, and other data and records involving that third party contract, and to audit the books, records, and accounts involving that third party contract as it affects the Project. 20. Labor Provisions. 7 A. Overtime Requirements. No Creative Employment Options or subcontractor for any part of the Project work which may require or involve the employment of laborers or mechanics shall require or permit any such laborer or mechanic in any workweek in which he or she is employed on such work to work in excess of forty hours in such workweek unless such laborer or mechanic receives compensation at a rate not less than one and one-half times the basic rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty hours in such workweek. 21. Termination. The City or Creative Employment Options may terminate this Agreement, with or without cause, by giving the other party thirty (30) days' written notice of termination. 22. Non -Waiver. The waiver of either the City or Creative Employment Options of the breach of any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not operate and/or be construed as a wavier of any subsequent breach by either party or prevent either party from thereafter enforcing such provision. 23. Survival. Any provision of this Agreement which imposes an obligation after termination or expiration of this Agreement shall survive the term or expiration of this Agreement and shall be binding on the parties to this Agreement. 24. Severability. If any portion of this Agreement is changed per mutual agreement or any portion is held invalid, the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 25. Integration. This written document constitutes the entire agreement between the City and Creative Employment Options. There are no other oral or written Agreements between the parties as to the subjects covered herein. No changes or additions to this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon either party unless such change or addition be in writing and executed by both parties. 26. Notices. Unless stated otherwise herein, all notices and demands shall be in writing and sent to the parties to their addresses as follows: TO CITY: Chris Waarvick Public Works Director 2301 Fruitvale Boulevard Yakima, WA 98902 TO CREATIVE EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS: Tom Gaulke, Executive Director Creative Employment Options 1510 South 36th Avenue Yakima, WA 98902 or to such other addresses as the parties may hereafter designate in writing. Notices and/or demands shall be sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or hand delivered. Such notices shall be deemed effective when mailed or hand delivered at the addresses specified above. 8 27. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington. 28. Venue. The venue for any action to enforce or interpret this Agreement shall lie in the Superior Court of Washington for Yakima County, Washington. CITY OF YAKIMA CREATIVE EMPLOY NT OPTIONS By: �"��I By: R. A. Zais, Jr., City Manager DATE: /0/4/0 7 ATTEST: City Clerk • Print Name: —571(`-')/(-C j l z f /% Title: f sKec« d2 /97/'C GC 1Q, , DATE: 10 ^ (< -07 City Contract No. 2007-77 Resolution No. R-2007-141 Q.<:044 dna-�`uq 9 • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 4L1 For Meeting of: October 2, 2007 ITEM TITLE: A Resolution Authorizing a Temporary Staffing Services Agreement with Creative Employment Options (formerly known as A-1 Temps) for Customer Support Services at the Transit Center SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works Ken Mehin, Transit Manager CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Ken Mehin/576-6415 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Submitted for Council consideration is a resolution authorizing an agreement with Creative Employment Options to provide staffing support for workers at the Transit Center. Formerly known as A-1 Temps, Creative Employment Options would continue to staff the Ticket Sales and Information Booth to sell bus tickets, monthly passes, communicate route information, and handout schedules to Transit ridership. A paratransit/special needs operating assistance grant from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the source of funds for these services and is currently included in the Transit operating budget. If the City Council adopts the resolution, this agreement would run through June 30, 2009. Resolution X Ordinance Other (Specify Temporary Staffing Services Agreement Contact Person: Ken Mehin, Transit. Manager Phone: 509/576-6415 Funding Source: WSDOT Specieeds Grant GCA 5547 APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests the City Council to adopt the Resolution authorizing and directing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute the Temporary Staffing Services Agreement. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: The City Council Transit Committee has been given periodic updates at their monthly meetings and supports this request. COUNCIL ACTION: