Aug 24, 2024 | HTMMTS Meeting Minutes, Local Advisory Council
HARBOR TRANSIT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
1. Meeting called to order 1:18pm by Carrie Uthe, Chairperson
2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Norman Cunningham
Christina Shannon
Carrie Uthe
Angie Devries – Absent
Lisa Greenwood – Absent
Heather Phillips
Sarah Wheeler
John Phillips
Harbor Transit Staff Present:
Scott Borg
Dana Appel
Tom Burghardt
Brian Woline
Annelise Walker
Shonda Walski
3. Call to Audience – No Comments
4. General Business
a. Approval of the February 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes – motion by Norman Cunningham, Seconded by Sarah Wheeler. Motion passes.
b. Discussion, Passing Credit Card Fees to Riders – Dana Appel shared information regarding Harbor Transit passing credit card fees onto riders starting October 1, 2024. Harbor Transit will start a campaign in June to educate riders. Brian Woline shared that bundles are now available for purchase to help decrease credit card fees being passed on.
• Carrie Uthe – expressed concern about low-income riders being able to afford the fees. She also suggested demonstrating that Harbor Transit fares are still very low comparably, even with passing along the credit card fee.
• John Phillips – questioned if different credit card company’s offer lower fees for passengers. Phillips expressed the importance of notifying riders in advance.
• Christina Shannon – questioned how much the fees are going to be and expressed the importance of instructing riders on how to avoid these fees.
• Sarah Wheeler – mentioned that other area transit agencies have much higher rates and she understands the fees are needed.
• Norman Cunningham – expressed he was ok with the fees.
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – understands the need for the fees as she sees this with some of her work vendors.
• Heather Phillips – mentioned she purchases the monthly pass to avoid these fees.
c. Discussion/Action, LAC Candidates Rebecca Hopp and Kim Sibilsky
Members and Harbor Transit staff review resumes for both candidates. There is a need for a member that is appointed by Four Pointes, as well as a member to represent Ferrysburg.
• Norman Cunningham – Believes both candidates seem highly qualified
• Carrie Uthe – Agreed that both are qualified.
• John Phillips – Agreed that both are qualified.
• Christina Shannon – Agreed that both are qualified.
• Sarah Wheeler – Agreed that both are qualified.
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – Agreed that both are qualified.
• Heather Phillips – Agreed that both are qualified.
Christina Shannon motioned to approve Rebecca Hopp for the vacant Ferrysburg position on the LAC, Sarah Wheeler seconded. Motion passed.
Sarah Wheeler motioned to approve Kim Sibilsky to the LAC as a representative of the City of Grand Haven and possibly a representative of Four Points Center for Successful Aging, if Kim agrees to become a member of the organization. Chrysteen Moelter-Gray seconded. Motion passed.
d. Carrie Uthe brought up a letter of support written to Pete Buttigieg and
asked the LAC to sign off on future letters to government officials.
• Carrie Uthe motioned to add the general support of the LAC committee to future Letters of Support written to government officials. Norm Cunningham seconded. Motion passed
5. Reports
a. Operations Report – Tom Burghardt
• Burghardt shared that last week’s number of rides was the highest Harbor Transit has seen since implementing Via software in November. Attributed increase in rides to more app downloads and usage, and increase in drivers in the afternoon. Burghardt noted the addition of the Trinity at the Lakes stop to the Ridership by Municipality report. Burghardt also noted that the number of no-shows is decreasing steadily.
• Cunningham asks if riders who are no-showing are being charged a fee for no-shows. Burghardt explained our current system of dealing with no-show riders. Appel explains that riders can be suspended for no-shows, but they cannot be charged for no-shows due to potential extenuating circumstances.
b. Marketing Report
• Walker shared information about the new trolley tracking tool that will be introduced this summer.
c. Finance Report
• Appel shared that grant funding will cover the cost of the NEPA services. Reviewed the construction budget items with the committee.
• Borg shared how Harbor Transit has been working hard to reduce costs in light of the new operations center expenses. Uthe suggests fundraising for some of the items in the construction budget. Cunningham recommends approaching the Grand Haven Community Foundation.
d. Transportation Directors Report
• Borg shared Harbor Transits efforts to gain the support of area politicians for our new operations center and to receive grant funding. Borg shared how we are continuing to educate parents with students on best practices for using Harbor Transit for school rides. Borg walked the committee through the building plans. He also mentioned the acquisition of the Highway Improvement Funding for Harbor Transit, as the Spring Lake Dept. of public works had no need for it.
• Cunningham commented on the long timeline of the NEPA study. Cunningham asked about potential contaminants and if it would put the future of the project at risk. Borg replied that the soil borings have been processed and showed no findings of contaminants. The main concern about the property is the wetness but Harbor Transit can work around that.
e. Board Members’ Comments
• Uthe requests that from now on, members are listed on the agenda with their respective areas that they represent and their term year.
6. Meeting adjourned at 2:40pm.
Next regularly scheduled Harbor Transit Local Advisory Council meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, at 1:15 PM, at Central Park Place.
Aug 14, 2024 | HTMMTS Agenda, Local Advisory Council
HARBOR TRANSIT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
August 14, 2024 at 1:15 P.M., Central Park Place
1.Meeting called to order. Carrie Uthe, Chairperson
2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Norman Cunningham
Angie Devries
Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Lisa Greenwood
Heather Phillips
John Phillips
Christina Shannon
Sarah Wheeler
Carrie Uthe
Rebecca Hopp
Kim Sibilsky
3. Approve or Change Agenda
4. Call to Audience
5. General Business
a. Approval of the May 15, 2024 Meeting Minutes
b. Discussion/Action Members with upcoming term expirations
c. Discussion, HT LAC delegates-roles in community
d. Discussion, HT liaison role
e. Discussion, Four Point’s to educate its members on riding Harbor Transit
f. Discussion, utilizing community newsletters/Social Media to inform others
about Harbor Transit services.
g. Discussion, Identify/Utilize LAC member’s talents to assist with advocacy
and other outreach when needed
6. Reports
a. Operations Report
b. Coast Guard Report
c. MarketingReport
d. Finance Report
e. Transportation Directors Report
7. Board Members’ Comments
8. Adjournment
Next regularly scheduled Harbor Transit Local Advisory Council meeting will be held on November 13, 2024, at 1:15 PM, at Central Park Place.
Jul 31, 2024 | HTMMTS Boards, HTMMTS Meeting Minutes
Regular HTMMTS Board Meeting Minutes
July 24, 2024
Village of Spring Lake
Meeting called to order by President Craig Bessinger at 4:30 PM.
Roll Call:
Present: Craig Bessinger, Bill Cargo, Bill Cate, Gordon Gallagher, Ashley Latch, Deanna McIntyre, Cathy Pavick, & Brady Selner
Absent: Kevin McLaughlin, Joel TePastte, & Will Whittemore
Also Present: Dana Appel, Scott Borg, Tom Burghardt Jr., & Annelise Walker.
Approval of May 22, 2024 HTMMTS Board Meeting Minutes.
Motion by Gallagher, second by Pavick to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2024 meeting minutes. Motion carried.
Additions/Corrections to the Agenda: None.
Approval of Regular Agenda:
Motion by Pavick, second by Gallagher to approve the regular agenda. Motion carried.
General Business/Call to Audience: None.
Consideration for Approval of Consent Agenda:
– Discussion/Action of Payable Warrant
– File/Receive Financial Report
– File/Receive FY2024 Estimated Final Budget
– Discussion/Action of Updated Personnel Manual
– Discussion/Action of No-Show & Cancellation Policy
Motion by Gallagher, second by Cargo to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried.
Reports:
Marketing (Walker):
Lakeshore Trolley use and tracking information is available on the Transit app. She also highlighted advertising for the trolley and Beach Express on radio and social media, an engaged rider survey through the Lakeshore-Go app, and the Coast Guard Festival park-and-ride promotion.
HTMMTS sponsored a children’s activity/craft table at the July 3 Farmers Market.
Four-Pointes has purchased a bus wrap that will be installed in August and Eastown Auto has renewed their wrap contract.
Operations (Borg):
Overall ridership continues a downward trend in comparison with pre-pandemic levels. Resumption of fare collection may be a factor. Also, the GHAPS school year ending in May this year as opposed to June in previous years, which reduced June’s ridership. Cargo expressed concerns about the downward trend in 4 out of the last 6 months and suggested that HTMMTS staff needs to address it. Gallagher suggested a review and discussion at the November board meeting.
No-shows are down significantly over last year and on-time performance (both pick-ups and drop-offs) is holding steady at approximately 90%.
There was one bus crash without injuries due to a bus driver error. This crash also generated a road cal for towing.
Transportation (Borg):
Thanks to Appel and other HTMMTS staff for their hard work on the construction grant that was awarded on July 16. $16,252,400 in Federal Grant Funding was awarded and MDOT will match 20%.
The Bus Order that Harbor Transit placed on November 3, 2021 was finally filled on July 10, 2024. These units will be in service within the next couple of weeks.
The ASC Environmental Group sent the FTA an Environmental Class of Action request for the property located on 172nd Ave in Grand Haven, Township. This request went to the FTA on July 17, 2024. ASC submitted the Environmental Class of Action as a Categorical Exclusion meaning the categories of actions do not involve significant environmental impacts and are exempt from detailed environmental review.
Harbor Transit sent out an RFP for Construction Manager at Risk to seven contractors in West MI with responses due by August 9, 2024.
Board Member Comments:
Bessinger advised that Borg’s annual performance review is due soon.
Pavick extended congratulations to HTMMTS staff for their work of the grant application. She commented on a Local Advisory Council desire to see a Harbor Transit connection to Allendale. This would provide access to the greater Grand Rapids area, including the airport, as well as transportation for GVSU students. She also advised that a facility manager be involved in design and development of the new operations center.
Meeting Adjourned at 4:50 PM
Next Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting: 4:30 PM, Sep 25, 2024, City of Grand Haven, 519 Washington Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49
Jul 24, 2024 | HTMMTS Agenda, Local Advisory Council
HARBOR TRANSIT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
AGENDA
May 15, 2024 at 1:15 P.M., Central Park Place
1. Meeting called to order. Carrie Uthe, Chairperson
2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Chrysteen Moelter-Gray
Norman Cunningham
Christina Shannon
Carrie Uthe
Angie Devries
Lisa Greenwood
Heather Phillips
Sarah Wheeler
John Phillips
3. Call to Audience
4. General Business
a. Approval of the February 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes
b. Discussion, Passing Credit Card Fees to Riders
c. Discussion, LAC Candidates Rebecca Hopp and Kim Sibilsky
5. Reports
a. Operations Report
b. Marketing Report
c. Finance Report
d. Transportation Directors Report
e. Board Members’ Comments
6. Adjournment
Next regularly scheduled Harbor Transit Local Advisory Council meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, at 1:15 PM, at Central Park Place.
Jul 24, 2024 | HTMMTS Boards, HTMMTS Meeting Minutes
Harbor Transit Board Meeting Minutes
March 27, 2024
Spring Lake Township
1. Meeting called to order by President Craig Bessinger at 4:30 PM.
2. Roll Call:
Present: Craig Bessinger, Bill Cate, Gordon Gallagher, Deanna McIntyre, Cathy Pavick, Brady Selner, & Will Whittemore
Absent: Bill Cargo, Ashley Latch, Kevin McLaughlin, & Joel TePastte
Also Present: Dana Appel, Scott Borg, Andrea Dumbrell, Peter Haefner, & Annelise Walker.
3. Approval of Jan 24, 2024 HTMMTS Board Meeting Minutes.
Motion by Gallagher, second by Pavitch to approve the minutes of the Jan 24, 2024 meeting
minutes. Motion carried.
4. Additions/Corrections to the Agenda: None.
5. General Business/Call to Audience: None.
6. Consideration for Approval of Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of FY2024 Amended Budget
b. Approval of FY2024 Capital Grant Projects
c. Approval of New Brochure Advertising Fee
d. Approval of Payable Warrant
e. Receive/File Financial Statements
f. Receive/File LAC Meeting Minutes
Motion by Gallagher, second by Cate to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion
carried.
7. New Business:
a. Discussion/Action on the Harbor Transit 2023 Financial Audit:
Peter Haefner of Vredeveld Haefner LLC presented a summary of his findings in the 2023
Financial Audit. The audit went smoothly and the Harbor Transit staff was very helpful.
Motion by McIntyre, second by Gallagher to accept the 2023 Financial Audit as presented.
Motion carried.
b. Discussion/Action one Harbor Transit’s Section 125 Cafeteria Plan Policy:
Human Resource Director Andrea Dumbrell presented a report on the 125 Cafeteria Plan
Policy for health insurance options. Currently, there are 18 HTMMTS employees receiving
insurance benefits under the plan.
Motion by Gallagher, second by McIntyrer to approve the Section 125 Cafeteria Plan
Policy as presented. Motion carried.
8. Reports:
a. Marketing: Annelise Walker provided copies of the 2022-23 Annual Report to the
members. She reported on the most recent visit to/from students from Ferry/Voyager
Elementary School under a partnership with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce. She also
highlighted a Public Service Announcement (PSA) program whereby charitable
organizations can advertise programs inside busses for up to 90 days at no charge.
b. Operations: Scott Borg presented data on various aspects of ridership. Overall ridership is
still lower than pre-pandemic levels, but appears to be trending upwards. They have
started tracking on-time performance, both for pick-ups and drop-off; overall they are
trending at 89% on-time in both categories. No-shows have been greatly reduced, thanks
to the Lakeshore Go App. There was one crash with an injury in Feb 2024, as well as two
calls for road service.
c. Transportation: Scott Borg reported on:
• Current Congressionally Directed Spending Requests through the office of US Senator
Gary Peters for FY2025. HTMMTS made it through the first two rounds last year, but
did not make the final cut.
• The Michigan Municipal League (MML) conducted a loss control visit in Jan 2024 with
no recommendations.
• VIA will track On Time Performance a (OTP) by both arrival and departure times.
• Environmental NEPA Study Preliminary Building Footprint: Harbor Transit is currently
working with Progressive AE to develop a foot print for the Environmental Firm to work
with. This will allow the firm to complete the NEPA on only the land that Harbor
Transit intends to use and will result in an overall cost savings for the study. NTH
Environmental estimates the NEPA process will not be completed until late summer
2024.
9. Board Member Comments:
• Cathy Pavick commended Dana Appel on the results of the Financial Audit.
• Brady Selner commented he was looking forward to working with the board.
10. Meeting Adjourned at 5:08 PM
11.Next Regularly Scheduled Board Meeting: 4:30 PM, May 22, 2024, City of Ferrysburg, 17520
Ridge Ave, Ferrysburg.
