Public Transportation Stakeholders Advisory Board
Monthly Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2008
City Commission Meeting Room
(4:10) Meeting called to order.
Members Present: City Commissioner Eric Bryson, Chairman Chris Budeski, Patty Gunderson, Colleen Lindner and Carol Shannon.
Members Excused: Suzanne Winchester, Gus Pfaehler, and County Commissioner Bill Murdock were excused.
Others Present: Lee Hazelbaker, HRDC/Galavan/Streamline; Jeff Rupp, City Commissioner & HRDC Director; Janet Kennedy, public; Dana Piper, First Group; Jecyn Bremer, Deputy County Attorney; and Recording Secretary Crystal Turner.
There was no public comment.
Approval of Minutes from April 8, 2008
Colleen Lindner made a motion to approve the minutes as written. Eric Bryson seconded the motion. There was no further discussion. Motion passed unanimously.
Update on Bus System
Neither Lisa Ballard nor David Kack was available to provide an update.
Lee Hazelbaker distributed the 3rd Quarter ridership results for FY08, as well as Streamline's budget vs. actual by comparison. He highlighted the gasoline budget being slightly over, due to increasing costs. Many people are using the buses, based on the numbers. Eric asked what the definition of the "rider" is. Lee answered that it is defined by every time a person gets on the bus. This can fudge the ridership numbers slightly, since some people are transferring. Carol questioned if they have keep statistics for bikes being used/transported on the front of the buses. Lee responded that they have not kept that information before, only wheelchair usage, but will consider it. Suggestions and discussion regarding cleaning the inside of the buses. Eric suggested Lee contact the
Sheriff's work program…they are always looking for other work opportunities, it's free and the inmates do enjoy when they get to be outside.
(4:20) UTD Discussion
Eric requested that the board draft a letter for Chris' signature to the City Commission, asking them what their priority level for the transit system is. (Crystal will draft the letter for Chris' signature requesting to meet at a work session.) Chris will go to a Wednesday noon work session of the City Commission to speak for the board. Chris stated that a couple of the County Commissioners are hesitant to move this issue forward to a ballot because they want to verify the City Commission supports it. Patty stated that Belgrade does not want to create its own UTD and contract with the Bozeman UTD. They would like to be included in the same UTD. (David Kack came in.) Discussion with David regarding continued service to Belgrade if a UTD is only in the Bozeman area. David said that if money
continues to come from ASMSU, MSU, County, etc… service could remain the same, but would not increase. Discussion regarding River Rock being a part of Belgrade, but in the County. Patty asked why service would not be able to grow. David answered that Belgrade's current contribution does not cover current costs, so it would not cover increased service. Chris added that this discussion lends more support to Belgrade creating its own UTD. If everyone is contributing X number of mills from Belgrade, service would be able to expand. A bus could loop within the city limits and probably have 30-minute frequency stops, with a Bozeman route leaving every hour. David reiterated that a UTD isn't defining who runs the system, but just defines that stable source of funding. It doesn't have to be contracted with Streamline-you could contract with any bus company-but Belgrade would benefit more by combining with the existing 5311 fund, getting
a "bigger bang for your buck."
Discussion regarding election of board, election for boundary; can the county levy city mills? Increasing the size of the UTD, by including Bozeman, Belgrade and County areas, would make it difficult to factor mill levies needed. (Group asked Crystal to find out what a County mill and what a Belgrade City mill are each worth.)
City of Bozeman mill: $69,500
City of Belgrade mill: $8,844
County mill: $196,866
Jeff Rupp asked Jecyn Bremer if the County Commission can determine how much to levy? Jecyn will research this section of law more and come to next month's meeting with the answer. Chris added that he believes the UTD board would go before the Commission, like any other department, with a budget request during their preliminary budget hearings. Jeff would like assurance from the County that they would appoint the Public Transit Stakeholder's board recommendation(s) to the UTD board. Jeff asked if two ballots (one for the creation of the district and board and one for the mill levy) could go out to the voters simultaneously. Jecyn answered no, due to the fact that the board is required to make a recommendation of how many mills to levy to the County Commission. If the board is being voted upon to even exist,
it would not be able to give a recommendation at the same time.
Carol brought up the multiple boards issue (Streamline, Galavan and the Public Transit Stakeholder's boards). Discussion that it would be nice to eliminate some of these boards (or at least have some of them be advisory only) and that when/if the UTD board is created…it would take over all that responsibility. Jeff is concerned that merging Galavan, which is non-profit, with the UTD board. If that happened, voters may not opt to continue contributions to Galavan because they may think, "Well, I already give to Streamline…" He believes it would have to remain separate.
Chris asked Jeff, if the UTD board does not get created, would the HRDC be interested in continuing the administration/operational role. Jeff said that is a question for the HRDC board, but he presumes they would continue until at least another option was available. Chris stated, from his point of view, we want to create a UTD to ask the voters of Bozeman and potentially Belgrade if they want to expand the transportation system. Discussion regarding getting this issue on a ballot. Chris asked Jecyn to determine if there is 1) a conflict of interest for Galavan representation on the UTD board; 2) Do the current by-laws (and MCA) required this board to go forward with UTD operations?
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be on June 10th.
Agenda items will be:
UTD Board creation, number of members, representation, etc…
(5:15) Meeting adjourned
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