Public Transportation Stakeholders Advisory Board
Monthly Meeting Minutes
September 16, 2008
City Commission Meeting Room
(4:05) Meeting called to order.
Members Present: Chairman Chris Budeski, City Commissioner Eric Bryson, County Commissioner Bill Murdock, Gus Pfaehler, Patty Gunderson and Suzanne Winchester.
Members Not Present: Colleen Lindner and Carol Shannon were excused.
Others Present: Lisa Ballard, WTI; Lee Hazelbaker, HRDC/Galavan/Streamline; Dana Piper, First Group; Jarvis Brown, Transit Now!; Michel Tucker, Belgrade News; and Recording Secretary Crystal Turner.
Public Comment: There was no public comment.
Approval of Minutes from July 8, 2008: Commissioner Bryson made a motion to approve the July 8th minutes. Patty Gunderson seconded the motion. Discussion: there is no need to approve the minutes from the August 12th meeting since there was no quorum and no decisions were made. Motion passed unanimously.
(4:10)Update on Bus System:
Lee Hazelbaker informed the board that Streamline has reached the 800 riders a day mark! New routes started on September 2nd and all feedback so far has been positive. Seems to be running better, and all buses have been on time. Lee sated that they are in still in negotiations with Bridger Bowl to review its contract. He has talked to Bohart Ranch too, asking for money to continue the bus service from Bridger to Bohart. Lee has also talked with Right Now Technologies because the Livingston loop would like to include Right Now as a transfer station. Right Now would get a pick up and a drop off so HRDC is hoping for that "donation." HRDC is also in discussions with Yellowstone National Park (YNP), who are contemplated loaning two buses for the Livingston route. However, Streamline
anticipates larger ridership than the YNP buses can hold.
Galavan and Streamline will both be in the parade for the Belgrade Fall Festival this Saturday, the 20th. Suzanne Winchester asked if Lee needs volunteers for a booth, or riders on the bus during the parade. Lee answered no, but you're welcome to join if you want to. They don't know if they'll "man" a booth before/after the parade since they will have to pay an employee for that time.
There was an accident: a young driver hit a late-night service bus. There were no injuries and the parents have called to report insurance information. Everything seems to be working out.
Dana Piper added that the Saturday service started and there were 146 riders the first day! Chris Budeski asked what the Saturday routes were. Dana replied that the Yellow and Blue lines run from 8:35am - 5:45pm.
MSU has earmarked $85,000 for Streamline's Livingston route; its decision will be made in December. Bozeman Deaconess Hospital has earmarked $8,000 for the Livingston route.
(4:15) Discussion/Decision on Request for Senior Shelter
Commissioner Bryson stated that he is the City representative on the Senior Advisory Board. The Board has asked him to find out what happened to the shelter that used to be on Tamarack. Lisa Ballard responded that the Senior Center didn't like the way the new shelter looked, and that they had to remove their red bench to place the shelter there, the new shelter wasn't comfortable, etc… Lisa gave them the shelter requirements. Once the Senior Advisory Board meets again, it will be good to go with a new recommendation.
Lisa added that the shelter subcommittee recommended having locally-built shelters. Before the final decision, Lisa will take all ideas to the business community to make sure we have their support that the shelters make good business-sense. The board discussed advertising, public right-of-ways, and City approval with Lisa Ballard.
(4:20)Urban Transit District Discussion
Lisa and Chris were the only two to show up to the UTD boundary subcommittee meeting. Lisa distributed the map she and Chris have worked on. First option is to be coterminous with the City boundaries; Second option is to have a Bozeman and a connection to Belgrade via Huffine/Jackrabbit; Third option is to have on Bozeman UTD and one Belgrade UTD who contract to work together. Discussion on voting population, voting district sizes, making large enough so you don't have to go out for an expansion vote later, etc…
Commissioner Bryson asked if we would ask the County Attorney's office if we can define the boundaries that are not contiguous to the city. (Crystal will draft a request for legal service for Commissioner Murdock's signature and send to the CA's office.)
Lisa added that this map does not add up to city limits because voting districts do not match up with city limits. Discussion about contiguous boundaries. Patty Gunderson added that the Belgrade City Council recommended including River Rock and Landmark in whatever boundary the board decides. Commissioner Bryson added that legislative districts are drawn; let's go with that as a boundary rather than a city limit boundary to simplify who will vote on the UTD. He added that he likes the two service boundary areas option. Discussion regarding if petitions would be needed after the original UTD creation, to expand a boundary. Board discussed service and votes/support in an area that isn't currently serviced. Chris reminded the board that there is a better change of approval if you ask in an area that is
currently serviced.
Chris asked for input for the subcommittee. Commissioner Murdock said that we need to have the answer from the County Attorney regarding contiguous boundaries before we can move forward. He added the we need to be prepared to answer a question of "why are we doing this boundary;" "who will you service;" and "why don't you just charge a fee?" All we know right now is that we want to include Bozeman, Belgrade and the River Rock area.
Discussion regarding legislative notes and language that was stricken from the original law.
Patty reiterated that Belgrade's City Council soundly supports a UTD. Lisa added that we need to remind Jeff Rupp (HRDC Director and City Commissioner) regarding putting the petition question on the ballot. (Crystal will invite Charlotte Mills to the next Public Transit meeting to clarify that question.) Lisa commented that we could do an educational presentation to the legislative body to discuss Streamline's status and the possibility of editing the law so that a petition is not required. Patty said that if such a presentation occurs, she will work to help with refreshments. (Crystal will send Lisa the current legislators and candidate's email contact.)
Next Meeting
October 14th, 2008 @ 4pm at the County Courthouse Community Room.
Agenda Items for Next Meeting
" County Attorney's opinion regarding petition vs. County Commission created UTD, submitted to board in July.
" Invite Charlotte Mills, Election Administrator to discuss having question of support of petition on an upcoming ballot.
(4:50) Meeting adjourned
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