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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/2008 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 312 YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL ADJOURNED MEETING / STUDY SESSION OCTOBER 14, 2008 - 8:00 - 9:30 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - YAKIMA CITY HALL 1. Roll Call Present: Council: Mayor Dave Edler, presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah Cawley, Council Members Kathy Coffey, Rick Ensey, Norm Johnson, Bill Lover and Neil McClure Staff: City Manager Zais, Acting City Attorney Cutter, and City Clerk Moore Mayor Edler introduced Paige Delp from East Valley High School who is participating in the Job Share Program. 2. Alternatives of Adjusting the Current Transit Fare Policy City Manager Zais clarified that this was a 2008 budget policy issue approved by Council. It recently went through the formal public hearing process. The proposed increase is due to increasing costs, especially fuel. Transit is the single biggest consumer of fuel in City of Yakima. Ken Mehin, Transit Manager, spoke about the two public hearings and participation in a two -day passenger survey. The public hearings were poorly attended; of the six people attending, five supported the increase and one requested free bus service. There were 125 responses to the survey with a clear indication that people are supportive of the fare increase (82 %). Mr. Mehin reviewed the results and pointed out that 75% said they were satisfied with the current bus service and there were requests for additional services, e.g. expanded hours and Sunday service. Council Member Lover raised the subject of Dial -A -Ride expressing his concern with handicap people using Yakima's Dial -A -Ride and having to change to a Union Gap Dial -A -Ride service at the City limits to continue into Union Gap. He asked if there were any arrangements that could be made to eliminate the need to change vehicles. Karen Allen, Program Administrator, advised that it has been a long standing City Council decision to use the city limits as the paratransit boundary. While the City of Union Gap and Yakima have been under contract (as well as Selah), the boundaries were expanded to those cities' limits. There are a number of options that could be considered, e.g. Americans with Disability Act allows a % mile boundary around all existing transit routes, or we could extend it according to federal regulations, up to fifteen miles. 313 OCTOBER 14, 2008 — STUDY SESSION TRANSIT FARE POLICY Discussion covered whether medical and personal trips could be handled separately. Mrs. Allen responded that is not allowed. It was noted that Dial -A -Ride is-not a service based on ability to pay, but on physical assessment. Union Gap's decision to sever the contractual relationship was discussed and it was noted that if we decide to extend Dial -A -Ride service into Union Gap, we will also be extending Yakima's citizens shopping in Union Gap and generating their sales tax revenues. It was asked how many trips are related to medical versus shopping and Mrs. Allen advised that, although they keep records of destinations, it is by address and not by destination name making it difficult to make that distinction. Council Member Coffey suggested that the Council is not prepared to discuss the Dial -A -Ride issue yet as there are questions that need to be answered before decisions can be made. Mayor Edler brought the discussion back to the subject of the transit fare increase. Council Member McClure, as chair of the Transit Committee, offered their recommendations. He pointed out that the original request for a fare increase began more than a year ago when fuel was still below $3 a gallon. Fares have not increased since 1995, nor has the Dial -A -Ride fee. The committee recommends Proposal 1 that would increase the cash fares and Dial -A -Ride as a result of it being twice the current regular adult cash fare. McCLURE MOVED AND JOHNSON SECONDED TO HAVE LEGISLATION PREPARED THAT WOULD INCREASE TRANSIT WALK -ON FEES TO THOSE PROVIDED IN OPTION 1; ADULT - $0.75, YOUTH - $0.50, REDUCED- $0.35, AND KEEP THE PASSES AT THE CURRENT RATE WHILE MAINTAINING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH DIAL- , A-RIDE AT DOUBLE THE WALK -ON PRICE. Discussion covered the suggestion of increasing fees for passes as well. Increasing the walk -on fare would cover about 25% of the increased expenses while increasing fees across the board would generate about 40 %. There is a concern that raising fees could cause monthly pass use to go down. It was noted that transit funding is 70% sales tax, 25% federal money, and 5% bus fares. The motion carried by a 6 -1 roll call vote; Edler voting nay. The discussion went back to the Dial -A -Ride issue. Council Member Ensey suggested that the issue be discussed by the Transit Committee to determine what it would cost to extend the service and what other options there were. Mr. Mehin reminded Council that the Union Gap contract terminates at the end of November. Mayor Edler stated that, regarding Union Gap's decision to discontinue the integrated service, one of the ways to bring political pressure is by allowing citizens to experience the repercussions of political decisions, He feels that one of the mistakes we have made concerning the initiative process is trying to hide many of the impacts that cause problems later. Council Member Lover said he feels just the opposite; the unintended consequences should be dealt with as best we can. Council Member Coffey asked what Union Gap is doing with their Dial -A -Ride when their citizens need to come into Yakima. Mr. Mehin advised that Union Gap selected to use the fifteen mile radius boundary and their service is free. 314 OCTOBER 14, 2008 — STUDY SESSION TRANSIT FARE POLICY 3. Audience comments No one came forward to speak. 4. Adjournment Mayor Edler adjourned the study session at 8:42 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY 07/(//—t:tieo. COUNCIL MEMBER DATE I , I osz CO CIL M :ER DATE ATTEST: / b A //. , fr .A • CITY CLERK / TIFAIAVID EDL MAYOR Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Watkins. A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office