November 13, 2024 Local Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

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

November 13, 2024 at 1:15 P.M., Central Park Place

1. Meeting called to order 1:18pm by Carrie Uthe, Chairperson

2. Roll Call by the Board Chair
Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – Present
Norman Cunningham – Present
Christina Shannon – Absent
Carrie Uthe – Present
Angie Devries – Absent
Lisa Greenwood – Present
Heather Phillips – Present
Sarah Wheeler – Present
John Phillips – Present
Rebecca Hop – Absent
Kim Sibilsky – Present

Harbor Transit Staff Present:
Scott Borg
Dana Appel
Tom Burghardt
Brian Woline
Annelise Walker
Shonda Walski
Andrea Dumbrell

3. Approve or Change Agenda – Sibilsky motioned to approve agenda as submitted, Greenwood seconded. Motion passed

4. Call to Audience – No Comments

5. General Business

a. Approval of the August 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes – Sibilsky motioned to approve, John Phillips Seconded. Motion passes.
b. Discussion/Action, 2025 LAC Meeting Schedule – Burghardt commented that the 2025 meeting dates closely match the current 2024 meeting dates. Moelter-Gray motioned to approve the dates as listed, Sibilsky seconded. Motion passes.
c. Discussion/Action, FY2026 Vehicle Accessibility Plan Update(VAP) – Burghardt requested the LAC to review the updated VAP then comment and either approve/not-approve each section.

1. Total D-R Fleet anticipated for application year? 29 – 2 deviated fixed route and 27 dem resp
• Carrie Uthe – Asked if it would be helpful to identify the trolleys, Approve
~Burghardt responded informing Carrie that the deviated fixed route represents the 2 trolleys.
• John Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Christina Shannon – Absent
• Sarah Wheeler – No Comment, Approve
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – No Comment, Approve
• Heather Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Rebecca Hop – Absent
• Kim Sibilsky – No Comment, Approve
• Angie DeVries – Absent
• Lisa Greenwood – No Comment, Approve
• Norman Cunningham – No Comment, Approve

2. Total Anticipated D-R Fleet Accessible or lift-equipped? 29 – 2 deviated fixed route and 27 dem resp
• Carrie Uthe – No Comment, Approve
• John Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Christina Shannon – Absent
• Sarah Wheeler – No Comment, Approve
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – No Comment, Approve
• Heather Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Rebecca Hop – Absent
• Kim Sibilsky – No Comment, Approve
• Angie DeVries – Absent
• Lisa Greenwood – No Comment, Approve
• Norman Cunningham – No Comment, Approve

2.A If your agency is operating inaccessible revenue vehicles, is equivalent service being offered to riders? NO

• Carrie Uthe – No Comment, Approve
• John Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Christina Shannon – Absent
• Sarah Wheeler – No Comment, Approve
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – No Comment, Approve
• Heather Phillips – No Comment, Approve
• Rebecca Hop – Absent
• Kim Sibilsky – No Comment, Approve
• Angie DeVries – Absent
• Lisa Greenwood – No Comment, Approve
• Norman Cunningham – No Comment, Approve

3. Has the agency made any changes in vehicle inventory described in No. 1 and No. 2 above since the last accessibility plan update was submitted? NO

4. Has the agency made any changes in the following since the last accessibility plan update was submitted?

A. Fare structure No
B. Service area information No
C. Service availability information No
D. Service Hours/days of operation No
E. Local advisory council membership Yes

5. Has the agency made any other changes in its vehicle accessibility plan since last submission of an accessibility plan or annual update? No

6. How frequently does the agency’s LAC meet? Quarterly

7. LAC MEMBER LIST (See list on the FY2026 VAP)

8. General VAP Comments/Approvals

• Carrie Uthe – No Comment, Approve
• John Phillips – Commented that either a lift style bus or a ramp style bus is adequate with a properly trained bus operator, Approve
• Christina Shannon – Absent
• Sarah Wheeler – No Comment, Approve
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray – No Comment, Approve
• Heather Phillips – Commented that she felt the newer ramp style buses need a larger area for wheelchair securement and stated when she is secured in the left wheelchair location other passengers/mobility devices struggle to get by her in the isle. – Approve
• Rebecca Hop – Absent
• Kim Sibilsky – No Comment, Approve
• Angie DeVries – Absent
• Lisa Greenwood – Commented that the Ramp buses are difficult to enter/exit during winter- Approve
• Norman Cunningham – No Comment, Approve

~Vehicle Accessibly Plan approved by the LAC.

d. Discussion/Action, Members with term expirations – Seven members have terms expiring in November 2024.
• Discussion focused on reelection of these members.
• The LAC will need absent member Christina Shannon to communicate her intentions regarding her continued service on the committee.
• Uthe discussed with the group that member Angie Devries has not attended any of the 2024 LAC meetings, citing the attendance requirements stated in the By-Laws.
• Cunningham motioned to remove Angie Devries from the LAC, John Phillips Seconded. Motion passed.
• Norm Cunningham~ verbally expressed his willingness to continue serving on the LAC and was verbally acknowledged by the other LAC members present.
• Carrie Uthe~ verbally expressed her willingness to continue serving on the LAC and was verbally acknowledged by the other LAC members present.
• Chrysteen Moelter-Gray~ Verbally resigned from the LAC and thanked the members for their hard work to help the community.
• Lisa Greenwood~ verbally expressed her willingness to continue serving on the LAC and was verbally acknowledged by the other LAC members present.
• Heather Phillips~ verbally expressed her willingness to continue serving on the LAC and was verbally acknowledged by the other LAC members present.

5. Reports

a. Operations Report – Tom Burghardt
• Burghardt reviewed ridership showing total October ridership was 14,747, with strong on-time performance (Pick-ups: 93%, Drop-offs: 92%) and high customer satisfaction (4.9 average rating).
• Burghardt reported a notable decline in no-show rates for October, with a total of 324, marking a significant improvement compared to historical peaks.
• Burghardt provided a safety update, which included one instance of minor property damage, as well as no reported injuries and road calls.
• Cunningham expressed satisfaction with the decrease in no-show rates compared to the previous year’s figures.

b. Marketing Report
• Walker shared marketing initiatives, focusing on attracting new riders through a $3 ride credit promotion and a rider survey conducted by Via Technologies.
• Walker discussed outreach initiatives aimed at promoting Harbor Transit, including highlights in newsletters from Four Pointes and municipal sources. Additionally, there are plans to initiate collaborations with auto repair shops and dealerships.
• Walker reviewed recent community engagements including events such as a vaccine clinic at Four Pointes, a Halloween event, and an informational workshop, with plans for Park-n-Ride services during the Sparkle Festival and a shuttle for Winterfest
• Walker shared advertising updates that noted the completion of the Four Pointes Bus Wrap and progress on the Pomona Park Wrap.
• Cunningham expressed gratitude to Walker for successfully proceeding with advertising initiatives in collaboration with local municipalities.
• Cunningham proposed collaborating with local visitors’ bureaus and grocery stores for advertising opportunities. He recommended the addition of Harbor Transit pick-up signage at high-traffic locations. Furthermore, he suggested promoting our services through local radio and television stations, as they often conduct interviews at no cost.
• Cunningham volunteered to distribute brochures to various businesses.
• Sibilsky shared an email from 4 Points praising the new bus wrap and highlighting its impressive appearance.
• Uthe proposed distributing brochures at local coffee shops, courthouses, and community colleges.
• Wheeler suggested distributing brochures to local motels and hotels.

c. Finance Report
• Appel presented the Balance Sheet Highlights, which included an overview of Total Assets, Total Liabilities, and the Fund Balance.
• Appel discussed the Revenue and Expenditure Report, which included the following key figures: Year-to-Date Revenue, Year-to-Date Expenditures, and Net Revenue.
• Appel reviewed the alignment of insurance, memberships, and software expenses with the budget in light of the year-end fiscal adjustments. The budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 indicates a 6% reduction compared to the prior year. Year-end account adjustments are currently underway.

d. Transportation Directors Report
• Borg provided an update on the Folds of Honor Tournament, noting that 1,307 rides were successfully provided.
• Borg also highlighted the 49th Anniversary, celebrating nearly five decades of service across 55 square miles with a fleet of 29 buses since 1975.
• Borg informed everyone about the progress of the NEPA Study for the new operations center, indicating that the review of 172nd Ave is ongoing and the groundbreaking is scheduled for mid-2025. He announced that Christman Construction has been selected as the project manager for this initiative.
• Borg addressed the issues surrounding GHAPS, reporting that miscommunications have been resolved and collaboration with the school is improving.
• Sibilsky questioned the rationale behind the school’s decision to send an email indicating that Harbor Transit was not a viable option for students. In response, Borg referenced the absence of on-site school supervision before and after school hours.
• Sibilsky proposed that Harbor Transit establish bus enclosures at local schools and businesses.

e. Board Members’ Comments
• Uthe inquired about the impact of passing on credit card fees to riders. Woline stated that the transition has been smooth, and passengers are now purchasing ride credits to avoid these fees.
• Uthe expressed her concerns regarding specific members of the Spring Lake Township board during the discussion on public transit at the board meetings and advocated for increased community involvement.
• Uthe informed the group that the “Friends of Harbor Transit” group has been renewed and discussed current members.
• Sibilsky read an email concerning the requirement for transportation services for a local juvenile program. Borg mentioned that he is in communication with the program manager and is actively working with them to find a solution.
• Greenwood expressed concerns about a recent extended wait time for pick-ups, particularly regarding elderly passengers who have appointments. She requested consideration for later service hours and highlighted the difficulty in seeing the bus arrive at Meijer.

6. Meeting adjourned at 3:05pm.

Next regularly scheduled Harbor Transit Local Advisory Council meeting will be held on February 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM, at Central Park Place.

November 13, 2024 Local Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

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