HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/10/2001 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 178
CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 10, 2001 - 7:30 A.M.
129 NORTH 2 STREET - COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. ROLL CALL
Present:
Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett,
Larry Mattson, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims
Staff: City Manager Zais, Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works, John
Haddix, Acting Transit Manager, and City Clerk Roberts
Absent: Council Members Henry Beauchamp and Lynn Buchanan
2. REVIEW OF TRANSIT ROUTE NO. 3 CONTRACT /PRIVATIZATION
• Transit Route #3 contract/privatization report
Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works, directed Council's attention to his
April 10 memo that transmits the report prepared by John Haddix which provides
an evaluation of Fixed -Route #3 (Mead /Fruitvale). Staff recommends Council
retain Route #3 as a complementary route to Route #4. If Council concurs,
Council would then need to determine if Route #3 should be privatized as it is in
the pilot project, or be provided by City forces. If this route remains privatized,
staff would engage in a bid process for contracting it out. Staff would also
consider the suggestion of the current provider, A & A Motorcoach, regarding the
size of the bus. They suggest that a larger capacity vehicle is needed, up to a 22-
passenger bus from the 18- passenger bus currently in use. The consensus of
Council is to retain Route #3.
In response to a question, Mr. Waarvick replied that in the event of a large
annexation, such as 72 /Nob Hill Blvd., staff would recommend that the initial
transit service be provided through a private contract. It would be difficult to blend
this large route into the current structure since it would take more service hours
and the timing would not work. Council Member Sims commented that when the
four -year college is in operation, the ridership would probably increase in that
area, so now is not a good time to reduce service.
. Private contract or city service?
Council Member Barnett commented that he doesn't know if we should privatize
or not, but staff has certainly made a case for approving the larger buses. Mayor
Placed asked if the no Saturday service policy would continue on Route #3?
Mr. Haddix stated Route #3 would not have Saturday service; however, Route #4
would provide service on Saturdays.
Don Wall and Chris Lydin, members of the Transit Workforce Committee, gave a
presentation to support their position that Route #3 should be provided by the
City. Their primary argument is that the City could provide better service at just a
little bit more cost if you compare the vehicle service cost without including
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APRIL 10, 2001 ADJOURNED MEETING
administrative costs. The City covers those costs for the contracted Route #3.
Council Member Barnett disagreed with that theory, initiating a discussion on city
service charges. Mr. Waarvick thought there would probably be a 15% difference
in costs because of the labor rates.
David Schmoe, Transit Operator, spoke in support of returning Route #3 to the
City to provide services. He suggested Council return the service to the City and
see if the ridership increases above the 9% reduction that occurred after the
private contractor took over this route.
Mayor Place asked if Saturday service would be provided if the City serves that
route. Mr. Haddix responded that Saturday service is not contemplated for Route
#3. Mr. Schmoe interjected that Saturday service was not provided before the
route was contracted out to A & A Motorcoach.
Randy Ammerman, A & A Motorcoach, commended Council for keeping Route
#3 active since a lot of riders depend on this route. He gave two reasons for the
drop in ridership: 1) the change to the smaller passenger bus, and 2) the school
aged children moved to the larger buses in Route #4. He asked Council to
consider a privatized contract for a two -year period. A two -year contract allows
for better amortization of the bidder's investment in the equipment that has to be
purchased to fulfill the needs of the contract.
Council members discussed the merits of privatized service and city service, and
the fact that the contracted service was a pilot project. Council did not reach a
decision to provide direction to staff to proceed with privatized or city service.
However, it was the consensus of Council to direct staff to meet with Council
Members Beauchamp and Buchanan to bring them up to date on this discussion
and provide them a copy of the video of this meeting. Council also directed staff
to come back to Council with a recommendation for providing service.
3. ADJOURNMENT
SIMS MOVED AND MATTSON SECONDED TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT
8:37 A.M. TO MEET ON APRIL 17, 2001 AT 7:30 A.M. IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS FOR A STUDY SESSION TO REVIEW THE SPORTS COMPLEX
REPORT. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Beauchamp and
Buchanan absent.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: / ( 1 1i1 s. f
•iUNCIL MEMBER i D TE
COUNCIL ME ER D TE
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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