August 14, 2024 Local Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Nov 19, 2024 | HTMMTS Meeting Minutes, Local Advisory Council

HARBOR TRANSIT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

August 14, 2024 at 1:15 P.M., Central Park Place

1. Meeting called to order at 1:15pm by Carrie Uthe.

2. Roll Call
Norman Cunningham – Present
Angie Devries – Absent
Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – Present
Lisa Greenwood – Absent
Heather Phillips – Present
John Phillips – Present
Christina Shannon – Present
Sarah Wheeler – Present
Carrie Uthe – Present
Rebecca Hopp – Present
Kim Sibilsky – Present
Also present – Scott Borg, Andrea Dumbrell, Brian Woline, Annelise Walker

3. Approve or Change Agenda
– No changes. Motion to approve by John Phillips, Cunningham seconds.

4. Call to Audience
– No comments.

5. General Business
a. Approval of the May 15, 2024 Meeting Minutes
– Motion to approve by Shannon, Moulter-Gray seconds.
b. Discussion/Action Members with upcoming term expirations
– Uthe reminds members that some terms are coming to an end in November 2024, and asks them to consider whether or not they would like to continue with the committee.
c. Discussion, HT LAC delegates-roles in community
– Borg expresses appreciation for the LAC members and the different skills, experiences and connections they offer to assist Harbor Transit.
– Borg discusses the FTA’s long term goal for regionalization of public transportation.
– Hopp mentions the importance of providing education to the municipalities we serve.
d. Discussion, HT liaison role
– Uthe suggests that as Harbor Transit grows, hiring a Community Liaison position may be helpful.
e. Discussion, Four Pointes to educate its members on riding Harbor Transit
– Sibilsky expresses desire to see more clear information and education about Harbor Transit services. She suggested a fixed sign in the lobby with information. Shannon explains the signage, and phone for member use, that is currently at Four Pointes, but is open to additional or larger signage.
– Uthe asks if there is a way for Four Pointes staff to assist riders waiting. Woline explains the process of using the Lakeshore Go web app.
f. Discussion, utilizing community newsletters/Social Media to inform others about Harbor Transit services.
– Hopp mentions Ferrysburg newsletter as an option for educating community.
– Uthe mentions Spring Lake Township and Village newsletters for other options.
g. Discussion, Identify/Utilize LAC member’s talents to assist with advocacy and other outreach when needed
– No additional comments at this time.

6. Reports
a. Operations Report – Scott Borg
– Borg mentions that ridership is down, Soccer in the Sand ridership was down as well due to poor weather.
– Lakeshore Trolley numbers were lower this year, likely due to the implementation of fares.
– Trinity at the Lakes stop ridership continues to increase.
– On time performance is good at 93%.
b. Coast Guard Report – Scott Borg
– Harbor Transit transported more riders during the 2024 festival than in 2023. Overall the operation was successful and things went smoothly.
– Harbor Transit also operated a shuttle throughout the week of the festival.
– Borg addresses the question of not using Harbor Island as a parking location on Coast Guard Saturday, explaining that traffic control is unmanageable.
c. Marketing Report – Annelise Walker
– Walker shares recent marketing initiatives, including community engagement at the Farmers Market, YMCA, and Coast Guard Grand Parade. Mentions Rider Survey going out through Via. Uthe suggests putting out an announcement letting riders know they may be getting an email or a pop-up in the app to take the survey.
d. Finance Report – Brian Woline
– Woline shares an update on Harbor Transit budget and expenditures, and funding for the new operations center.
e. Transportation Directors Report – Scott Borg
– Borg mentions the $16.2 grant award for the new facility.
– Bus order placed in 2021 has been fulfilled.
– The NEPA study at the new facility site will be given a Categorical Exclusion.
– Spring Lake Village/Township Millage renewal passed.

7. Board Members’ Comments
– John Phillips suggests putting out more information about the basic concept of Demand- Response rides.
– Wheeler – Suggests starting a “Travel Training” class on a regular basis.
– Uthe suggests handouts about Harbor Transit services for the courts to have on hand for people who lose their drivers license.

8. Adjournment: 2:51pm.

Next regularly scheduled Harbor Transit Local Advisory Council meeting will be held on
November 13, 2024, at 1:15 PM, at Central Park Place.

May 15, 2024 Local Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

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.