MINUTES OF THE HUMBOLDT TRANSIT AUTHORITY

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

November 18, 2009

 

ROLL CALL

 

Present                                                    Absent

 

BOARD MEMBERS

Jack Thompson, Rio Dell

Mark Lovelace, Humboldt County

Dean Glaser, Fortuna

Clif Clendenen, Humboldt County

Julie Fulkerson, Trinidad

Frank Jaeger, Eureka

Shane Brinton, Arcata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAFF

Neleen Fregoso, General Manager

 

Jim Wilson, Director of Maintenance

 

Laura Shodall, Administrative Assistant

 

Greg Pratt, Secretary to the Board

 

 

CALL TO ORDER        

Chairman Glaser called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion by Shane Brinton, second by Julie Fulkerson to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2009 regular board meeting.

Motion carried unanimously

 

CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS

Two citizens from the Southern Humboldt County area addressed the board during the Citizens Communication section of the HTA Board Agenda. Linda Sutton and Robert Sutherland (both members of ÔFriends of the QuailÕ) voiced their concerns regarding the proposed new transit service and how it will affect the current Quail system riders.  Ms. Sutton and Mr. Sutherland also had several comments regarding the proposed ADA Paratransit Plan for the new service as well.  All comments were noted and incorporated into the new service and the ADA Paratransit Plan wherever practicable. 

 

CONSENT AGENDA

The financial and statistical information which was to be handed out during the meeting was not ready, therefore, there were no items to be approved on the consent agenda.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                  

DISCUSSION AGENDA

 

            1.         Transit Oriented Development

The board directed staff to compose a letter, from the HTA board to the Board of Supervisors, requesting that Transit Oriented Development be included in the countyÕs general plan. The board reviewed and approved the letter included in their agenda packets.

Motion by Shane Brinton, second by Julie Fulkerson directing staff to send the letter included in their packets addressing the matter of Transit Oriented Development to the board of supervisors.

Motion carried unanimously

 

2.         HTA PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS

Staff requested permission from the board to seek proposals for renovating the white house located on the adjacent HTA property (2237 2nd Street) to be used for additional office space, meeting rooms and a permanent driver training facility.

Motion by Julie Fulkerson, second by Shane Brinton authorizing staff to seek the services of a construction firm to get an estimate on the cost to bring the house up to code and make all necessary repairs and renovations.  Staff is to bring that estimate back to the board for further review and discussion.

Motion carried unanimously

 

3.         SOUTHERN HUMBOLDT RURAL TRANSIT SYSTEM

General Manager Fregoso announced that she met with Supervisors Clendenen and Lovelace and Public Works director Tom Mattson to discuss the possibility of maintaining the Tuesday trip from Southern Humboldt to Fortuna and Eureka that the Quail has performed in the past.  The discontinuance of this trip was an area of grave concern to the seniors who utilized this once a week opportunity for medical visits and grocery shopping.  The plan at this time is to continue that one aspect of the former Quail service for a six month period, using the funds remaining in the QuailÕs budget, to see if it is a real issue or a perceived issue.  If it is successful after a six month period of time staff and the county will determine whether or not to continue it on a permanent basis.  The Tuesday medical/nutrition trip will only be available to those passengers who qualify under the ADA certification process because this trip can also be accomplished by able bodied persons on a daily basis using a combination of the new proposed services.

 

4.         REQUEST FOR BUS TRIP TO FERNDALE FOR SENIORS      

HTA received a request from the Humboldt Senior Resource Center asking for a gratis charter bus to Ferndale so the seniors could attend the tree lighting ceremony and other holiday festivities taking place in Ferndale on Saturday, December 12, 2009.

Motion by Julie Fulkerson, second by Shane Brinton to authorize the gratis bus charter for the Senior Citizens.

            Ayes:Fulkerson, Brinton, Thompson

            Noes: Glaser

            Motion did not pass.

 

ADJOURNMENT         Chairman Glaser adjourned the meeting at 10:20 a.m.