HARBOR TRANSIT MULTI -MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
August 13 , 2025 at 1:15 P.M., Four Pointes Center for Successful Aging
1. Meeting ca lled to order 1:15pm by Carrie Uthe, Chairperson
2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Christina Shannon – Absent
Carrie Uthe – Present
Lisa Greenwood – Present
Heather Phillips – Absent
Sarah Wheeler – Present
John Phillips – Present
Rebecca Hop p – Absent
Kim Sibilsky – Present
Brandon Bucek – Present
Bonnie Shears – Present
Harbor Transit Staff Present:
Tom Burghardt
Shonda Walski
Brian Woline
3. Approve or Change Agenda – Sibilsky motion to approve , seconded by Wheeler . Motion passes .
4. Call to Audience – No Comments
5. General Business
a. Approval of the May 14, 2025 Meeting M inutes – Sibilsky motion ed to approve , Wheeler seconded. Motion passes.
b. Welcome and Int roduction of New Council Member, Bonnie Shears – Uthe welcomed Shears to the council and gave a brief summary of her background.
c. At-Large Member Resignation – The council was informed that Norm Cunningham has submitted his resignation due to relocation.
6. Reports
a. Operations Report – Tom Burghardt
– Ridership : 13,928 rides in April 2025; Trinity @ the Lakes ridership continues to grow.
– Trolley : July 2025 recorded 15,706 rides.
– On-Time Performance : April pick -ups 93%, drop -offs 97%. YTD average: 92% / 94%.
– No-Shows : 192 in April (down from 442 in 2024).
– Safety : No crashes, injuries, or major road calls.
b. Finance Report – Scott Borg
– Revenue : $3.3M YTD (61% of budget); fares $115K Demand Response, $1.6K Trolley.
– Expenses : $3.6M YTD (75% of budget). Operations is the largest share ($2.3M).
– Balance Sheet : $1.1M cash, $2.2M land, $444K in construction in progress.
– Fund Balance : $6.6M ending.
c. Marketing Report – Scott Borg
– 50th Anniversary : Ongoing campaigns (ads, guides, social media, Squishy Bus). Celebration set for Sept 12, 12–4 PM .
– Summer Services : Lakeshore Trolley and Park & Ride for local events.
– Community Events : Loutit Library Touch -A-Truck (June 16); Farmers Market table (Aug 6).
– Advertising : Midwest Miniatures bus wrap completed; Harbor Lights Dental wrap in progress.
d. Director’s Report – Scott Borg
– FTA Review : Completed July 31 with no repeat findings; two minor issues resolved.
– NEPA Approval : FTA cleared new Operations Center on July 9; groundbreaking set for Spring 2026.
– Facility Planning : Met with Township officials; next review Sept 2.
– Coast Guard Festival : 2,779 Park & Ride riders (up 948 from 2024); Saturday service steady at ~5,000 riders.
7. Council Members’ Comments
– Sibilsky : Referenced the Coast Guard Festival Saturday shuttle and asked if coordination had taken place with Public Safety regarding timing around the start of the fireworks.
– Greenwood: Requested guidance on how to check her account balance using the Lakeshore Go App.
– Uthe: Referenced Coast Guard Festival activities and suggested focusing attention on the south end of town by utilizing Park & Ride signage and related measures.
8. Meeting adjourned at 2:15pm.