[0:00] And ride the bus home.
[0:01] So, okay. We, we will move them quickly.
[0:05] We, you guys gave me that one list
[0:08] and so there's an additional list.
[0:09] That's fine. About there. Is it,
[0:10] It's out there.
[0:11] Same list or I don't recording in progress. Don't know.
[0:16] All right. Good evening everyone. My name is Tanya Moore.
[0:19] I'm the chair of the Rogue Valley Transportation District
[0:22] Board, and we are ready to convene our
[0:28] regular meeting of September 23rd, 2026.
[0:32] And is Paige willing to do a roll call?
[0:35] Absolutely. Thank you. Denise Kraus.
[0:40] Will Mansfield. Here. Tanya. Morrow?
[0:44] Here. Tyler. Jasper? Here. Katrina.
[0:49] Irma Newton. Here.
[0:51] Dan Davis and Carl McMahon.
[0:56] Thank you. Four members. We have a forum.
[0:59] Thank you. We have a public comment
[1:04] section of our agenda.
[1:07] I imagine many of you are here to speak
[1:10] to at our public hearing.
[1:13] They are. But if there is somebody here that's wants
[1:16] to speak to issues that are not on the agenda in this
[1:22] for three minutes in this public comment period
[1:25] of our agenda, you can come up now,
[1:27] but if you're here for the hearing,
[1:29] then you'll have some time when we get to that agenda item,
[1:35] the list of people that wanna speak at the hearing.
[1:39] Okay, great. Oh great.
[1:44] That's great. There's a signup list right here. Oh, okay.
[1:48] Good. Oh, sorry.
[1:51] No, it's a pretty standard agenda,
[1:54] so we'll just keep you posted as we move through it.
[1:57] Okay. All right.
[1:58] So we'll move on then to our consent agenda,
[2:01] which is the approval
[2:03] of the 8 24 20 26 meeting minutes.
[2:07] Bill, you have something?
[2:08] Yes. The, the, the, the minutes showed
[2:13] Carl McNair as being absentee actually came in shortly
[2:17] after Yeah, after the roll calls.
[2:20] Okay. So we will, if we'll ask staff to amend the list
[2:24] of attendees on those minutes to include Carl,
[2:27] 'cause he did participate
[2:28] and was there, so with that, are there any objections
[2:31] to the consent agenda?
[2:33] Great. Okay.
[2:35] Now we're at the agenda item called public hearings
[2:39] and we have our first hearing
[2:40] regarding the levy service additions.
[2:44] I don't know if the board prefers to do one at a time
[2:48] or whether staff recommends that we do one at a time
[2:53] or Yeah, we
[2:54] Should probably do the levy first.
[2:56] Okay. The second public hearing we're having tonight has
[3:00] to do with our Title six plan,
[3:04] which deals with
[3:07] how we are addressing various demographic criteria.
[3:12] It's a, it's a federal plan that we, we are required
[3:16] to maintain and I think we update it every two years.
[3:19] Is that right? Or page? How? Three. Every three years.
[3:24] So this, this year we are updating it again.
[3:27] And so just so you know, there's two public hearings.
[3:30] We're gonna start with the levee service additions hearing,
[3:33] which is probably why most of you are here.
[3:36] Okay. So I will, we have
[3:43] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 on this list.
[3:48] And sorry I didn't keep the list that you guys sent me
[3:51] before to see whether we've got duplicates, but let me see.
[3:55] All these people just signed up when you walked
[3:58] In the door.
[3:59] Okay. So
[4:01] You have the people online there, not list.
[4:05] 11, 12, 13. Okay.
[4:07] Got about 13 people because it's awesome.
[4:09] We're glad you're here. We really are.
[4:11] And hopefully we won't need to cut anybody off,
[4:14] but if we could try to keep our comments to two
[4:18] to three minutes, that would be great.
[4:20] Okay. So I'm gonna go back
[4:23] and forth with calling somebody that's here
[4:26] and then calling somebody that has signed up
[4:28] to participate online.
[4:30] Okay, great.
[4:32] So the first person on our in-person list is James Richard.
[4:37] And so let me say also we're gonna open the public hearing.
[4:40] Everybody's gonna have some time to talk,
[4:42] like I said, two to three minutes.
[4:43] Then we'll close the public hearing
[4:45] and then we'll do our deliberations and vote.
[4:47] So that's how that will work. Okay. Come on up Jen. James?
[4:54] Yeah, you can sit right
[4:56] There.
[4:57] Perfect. Hello, my name is James Richards.
[5:01] I live here in Medford.
[5:03] I'm representing Maslow Project's Youth Advisory Council.
[5:06] I'd like to thank the board for their time
[5:08] and allowing me to speak here.
[5:09] Today I'll be addressing today's topic
[5:11] of the Levy Service editions.
[5:13] Last September, there was a drastic decrease in bus lines,
[5:17] the removal of Saturday service
[5:18] and stopping the buses from running past 6:30 PM In turn,
[5:22] this caused a disruption in the community.
[5:25] Many people rely on public transportation to get
[5:27] to their jobs, childcare and doctor's appointments.
[5:31] July's passenger survey results showed that 44.71%
[5:34] of passengers were using the bus for work-related purposes,
[5:38] and 30.04% of passengers were full-time workers.
[5:42] In conclusion, the addition of Saturday service
[5:44] and extended evening service would greatly improve
[5:47] the community's wellbeing.
[5:48] Those who rely on public transportation are just
[5:50] as important as those who do not.
[5:53] Again, I'd like to thank the board
[5:54] for their time and consideration. Thank
[5:56] You.
[5:57] Thank you James. Appreciate that.
[6:00] Did staff wanna do a presentation to the audience first?
[6:04] Is that, I'm sorry if I missed that page.
[6:06] Did you wanna do that or,
[6:09] That's a a good question.
[6:10] Chair, Mora, we do have a presentation,
[6:12] but I think being sensitive to everyone's schedules tonight,
[6:17] if they do need to catch the bus, it's up to you.
[6:21] If you wanna go ahead and move forward with comment now,
[6:23] and then we can follow up
[6:24] with the presentation after. Yeah,
[6:26] Let's, let's do it that way.
[6:27] Let's have everybody come up and talk.
[6:28] And we did some of this presentation at the last meeting,
[6:32] but we will do it later if you guys
[6:35] have the ability to stay.
[6:36] So next up from the web site is
[6:42] our first one is Natalie SMA Srna.
[6:53] Yeah, she,
[6:59] Hi Natalie, you're unmuted.
[7:00] Go ahead.
[7:06] Can't hear you, unfortunately. No, she's muted now.
[7:08] You're muted.
[7:17] Muted. I can't hear anything. It's on there.
[7:21] So still need to unmute and speak if choose.
[7:25] Okay, so you're, you're muted now.
[7:27] So if you want to speak, let's try to, try to unmute again
[7:31] and give it a shot and hopefully it'll work.
[7:41] Okay, we will, we'll try you again later, Natalie.
[7:45] And that just made me realize
[7:48] that we probably should do all the in-person
[7:50] folks first, right?
[7:51] So you can get the catch the bus home.
[7:53] So we might switch with our back and forth support.
[7:58] That, that makes sense. That makes sense. Yeah.
[7:59] Okay, next step is Carol. I'm not And that's Carol.
[8:04] Hi Carol. I'm not sure how to, oh, is it King?
[8:09] King Carol King, yeah.
[8:25] Oh, First, first I'm a little bit hard of hearing,
[8:29] so I couldn't hear too much of what was said,
[8:32] but I'd like them to have, you know,
[8:35] I think it would be nice for some people if they went
[8:38] by the bottles rob, maybe once a day
[8:40] or some once or twice a day.
[8:42] That would make a big difference to the homeless.
[8:46] And the people wanted to drop off bottles
[8:49] so they wouldn't have to wait long.
[8:51] But, but, but for, but not for myself
[8:55] 'cause I give my bottles to someone else.
[8:58] But for the homeless
[9:00] and people like that, it would be good if they
[9:02] went to the bottle drop.
[9:04] But for myself, I liked him to have
[9:07] service on a Saturday.
[9:10] It maybe if only close about four,
[9:14] four o'clock maybe.
[9:16] And, and I would like it if they had an hour later at night,
[9:23] an hour later at night.
[9:25] That's great. I think we're on the same page
[9:27] And, and,
[9:34] and, but if they only had Saturday service, maybe till four
[9:38] or four 30, you know, that would make a difference
[9:41] to some people for dropping.
[9:43] But that's about it. I all I wanted to say.
[9:46] And, and if, if they can't hire the staff back, it would be
[9:52] if a window, maybe they could hire for substitutes.
[9:56] The, the staff they had formally
[9:58] they could hire them for substitute.
[10:02] So that's about all I wanted to say.
[10:04] So, so, so I can go now. We
[10:06] Appreciate you.
[10:07] Okay. And sharing your, your thoughts. Yes,
[10:10] Thank you.
[10:11] That's all I had to say. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks.
[10:18] Okay, we'll go ahead and stick with the list here.
[10:22] Next is Jerica Lewis. Oh, about me.
[10:26] Okay.
[10:34] So I just saw this this morning on the way
[10:36] to work at Lithium Motors on the bus.
[10:38] So I'm just kind of having notes.
[10:40] I have no idea what you're actually voting on.
[10:42] I have heard of the services being shut down last winter
[10:45] coming like from Ashland and whatnot.
[10:46] They affected my brother's job.
[10:47] He's a manager at a fast food restaurant.
[10:49] So that would be good along
[10:50] with everyone else if they at least had Saturday services.
[10:55] I spend about $250 a month lifting
[10:57] after work when I get off at eight on my late nights.
[10:59] So having a little bit later service
[11:01] during the week especially would be great.
[11:03] And then my mom had a couple of suggestions just in general.
[11:08] She was saying that with the new Central point courthouse,
[11:10] it would be great for people who may not have transportation
[11:12] to extend the 40 service to the courthouse
[11:14] and the new like grocery outlet.
[11:17] And then possibly in the future, as the city expands
[11:20] to open up job opportunities, she suggested an express route
[11:24] to Eagle Point and then maybe possibly in the future an
[11:27] express route or some sort of a route
[11:28] that just goes up the 99 as that also expands
[11:31] for employment opportunities.
[11:33] But I think along with everyone else,
[11:34] we're just looking forward to having a little bit later
[11:37] service and Saturday service.
[11:39] That's all I have to say. Thank you very much. Thank
[11:41] You. Great, thank you.
[11:42] Let me, let me just, since we didn't do a full
[11:44] presentation, I'm just gonna take a minute to let you know
[11:46] that the service edition recommendations are
[11:49] that we go from Saturday at 8:30 AM
[11:52] to 5:00 PM beginning December 12th.
[11:55] Okay. The next recommendation is we do weekend evenings
[11:59] extended from Monday through five Friday service
[12:04] to 7:30 PM
[12:05] and then we're also gonna be restoring the
[12:07] route out to Jacksonville.
[12:08] So those, those are the recommendations from staff.
[12:11] So just so everybody knows,
[12:12] When you, I'm sorry, go ahead.
[12:14] No, I think, I think we're,
[12:16] the survey came back supportive of these, these kinds
[12:20] of things that you all are talking about
[12:21] as well. Okay, wonderful.
[12:22] I do realize the city's a little bit like early,
[12:25] like goes, shuts down a little bit earlier.
[12:27] If they were able to make that until eight 30,
[12:29] that'd be great, but probably not feasible.
[12:30] I understand with the city here, it's not as as active
[12:33] so late, but a lot of people do work retail, they work,
[12:35] you know, grocery stores
[12:36] and things and that might help them.
[12:39] But the other thing was when you mentioned the Jacksonville,
[12:42] that would just be great to get out on your day off
[12:43] and just have a way to get there and
[12:44] you know, walk around. That'd be nice.
[12:46] Sure would. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Last
[12:49] Question.
[12:50] So when you mentioned voting, that's you,
[12:51] you all will be voting at the end, correct?
[12:53] Yeah, because I do have to leave by six 30 to get home.
[12:55] Okay. Have a great night. God bless.
[12:56] Thank you. Thank you. All right.
[13:01] I think it's Ray Deadman.
[13:07] Yeah. Come on up Ray.
[13:18] Yes. Thanks for coming.
[13:20] Thank you. Thank you for along to,
[13:24] to have this public meeting.
[13:27] I was say it would be a greatly appreciated
[13:32] to having the extended service hands
[13:36] and the service fire one.
[13:41] As far as rough reinstatements, is
[13:46] that gonna be the only route
[13:47] that gets reinstated at the
[13:52] time being? Yes.
[13:53] Yes. At this time that is the only one.
[13:57] What we had done back this, this fall was we sort
[14:01] of com tried to, to do our best to combine some
[14:03] of those other routes that we ended up cutting.
[14:06] So we're gonna stick with, with that sort of combined route
[14:09] for now until, until we have some more funding come in,
[14:12] but oh, Jacksonville's the only one that we canceled
[14:15] that's fully coming back.
[14:17] Alright, so, so that, so
[14:21] you'll be looking at other
[14:24] routes down the road, but you're not sure.
[14:27] Yeah, it all depends on whether we end up finding
[14:31] money at the state level
[14:32] or mon more money at the federal level
[14:34] for to support transit.
[14:36] Yep. But, okay. But it's always on the table. Yes.
[14:39] We always want to, you know,
[14:41] expand service in our, in our community. So
[14:44] I greatly appreciate the reinstatement of a
[14:48] extended hours and Saturday. So I really
[14:50] Do do.
[14:51] That's great. Appreciate it. Thanks for coming out.
[14:53] Thank you. Thank you Angela.
[14:57] Angela Wittenberg
[15:02] again, thank you for coming. Thank
[15:04] You.
[15:05] I just wanna say thank you all for what you do.
[15:06] RVTD is so incredibly important for so many people.
[15:10] And the first question I have is about Saturday service.
[15:13] And again, thank you so much for bringing that back.
[15:16] But will that also apply to Valley Lift
[15:18] because that is incredibly important.
[15:20] Oh wow. Yep, yep, yep. Thank you guys for that.
[15:23] And then my other question is about the,
[15:25] you guys are bringing back Jacksonville
[15:27] and so I'm hearing that Eagle Point's not being brought back
[15:32] and I'm wondering if there's a plan for that
[15:34] and then also letting you know how, how, I mean you all know
[15:37] how important it is, but just reiterating
[15:40] how important it is, especially to, you know, students
[15:43] and people out in Eagle Point
[15:44] that don't have any possibility of transportation.
[15:48] I've had a student, I work in the school district at Eagle
[15:51] Point, we had a student when services were cut,
[15:54] it was one day he walked from White City
[15:56] to Eagle Point to make it to school.
[15:57] Wow. So yeah, so anyway, so it's super important.
[16:00] So I'm hoping that at some point that makes it
[16:02] Back.
[16:03] Yeah, I appreciate that we've been able to provide
[16:05] that service over the last few years
[16:06] because of the state payroll tax for out district service.
[16:11] But unfortunately that was the one that had to be cut
[16:13] and so it's a little difficult
[16:15] 'cause Eagle Point technically is not in our district.
[16:17] That what, that's what makes it a little more,
[16:19] more difficult, so.
[16:20] Okay. But I appreciate your comments that, appreciate that.
[16:23] Okay, thanks. Thank you. Thank you.
[16:28] I think I had another, oh, I definitely wanna make sure that
[16:32] this great group of staff right here, those are the folks
[16:35] that, that make this stuff happen.
[16:37] So we appreciate you thanking the board,
[16:40] but we have some incredible staff that work, work here.
[16:42] So next up is Christina Godick.
[16:47] Got it.
[16:58] Thank you so much for giving all of us here an opportunity
[17:01] to speak out on a very important issue.
[17:04] I just wanted to ask, what would be the frequency
[17:06] of the Jacksonville bus route once it's reinstated?
[17:11] Let me see, go ahead. Page.
[17:16] So we are going to have approximately every 120 minutes.
[17:21] And so it, it is going
[17:22] to be less frequent than it was before.
[17:25] It's six trips per day, Monday through Friday.
[17:30] Again spaced about two hours apart.
[17:33] And then on Saturdays it will be five
[17:35] trips on Saturdays.
[17:38] Also space is about two hours apart.
[17:42] You able to hear Okay. Yes.
[17:43] Great. Yes. I just wanted to say too that I really agreed
[17:47] with a lot of those points that James made about it.
[17:50] It's such a vital part of the community to have bus service,
[17:53] especially for folks that are disabled.
[17:55] Like myself, I'm, I'm legally blind so buses,
[17:59] the bus is my main form of transportation.
[18:03] But right now I live in Jacksonville
[18:04] and so it's really my friends that are helping me
[18:06] with transportation and you know,
[18:08] I don't really wanna always say, you know,
[18:10] please can I have a ride?
[18:12] So, and Valley or Valley Lift, that'd be great.
[18:15] Since that's gonna get reinstated as well.
[18:17] That's, that's very important for so many people
[18:20] that are even less mobile than, than myself.
[18:23] And I just wanted to say thank you so much that this is back
[18:27] to where there's gonna be funding
[18:28] and I hope that in future the funding will be
[18:32] more stabilized so
[18:34] that there won't be this kind
[18:35] of situation again. Thank you so much.
[18:38] Yeah, we agree with you. Thank you for coming again.
[18:40] And thanks sir. Thank you for comments.
[18:45] Alright. All right. CSA
[18:49] Cruz,
[18:55] do you wanna come up
[19:13] Any glass?
[19:16] Thank you for coming.
[19:22] Okay.
[19:29] Okay.
[19:30] Yeah. Thank you for coming.
[19:51] Okay. She's here today to speak to the, the board
[19:54] in support of Saturday service.
[19:56] It's a really important service for her
[19:58] and she would like to see that extended
[19:59] and open Saturday service back up.
[20:16] Okay. She said she, she'd be very appreciative
[20:19] of Saturday service was restored
[20:20] because she uses it, her, herself
[20:23] and others to get to work and access employment.
[20:26] Okay. Very important service.
[20:31] Yeah. And then when they put it, let let everyone know.
[20:35] Okay. We appreciate it. I think it's gonna happen.
[20:38] It's one of our recommendations. So thank you. Yep. Yep.
[20:41] Thanks for coming.
[20:49] And now we have Margarita res. Margarita
[21:28] Res.
[22:51] She wants to thank the board for having opportunity
[22:53] for people to speak and she wants
[22:56] to speak in support of Saturday service.
[22:57] It's really important for her
[22:59] and others who don't have a vehicle and can cannot drive.
[23:03] And also living outside of town, being able to get into town
[23:06] for shopping work trips.
[23:09] So Saturday service is really important for her
[23:10] and her, her community to, to bring back
[23:15] and would be really appreciative if Saturday
[23:17] service were, were brought back.
[23:20] I think it's gonna happen. And again, we are very,
[23:23] we were very sorry that we did have to to, to
[23:28] essentially stop the service back this fall.
[23:31] We understand the community, it was very, it was a bit
[23:36] of a burden for the, for the community.
[23:38] So we're very glad that we've got some
[23:39] stable funding to bring it back
[23:44] Up at a take a picture.
[23:53] Okay.
[23:54] Okay.
[23:59] Thank you. Thank you for coming and talking to us.
[24:06] God bless you. Take it. You too.
[24:12] Okay, we're gonna go back to the folks that signed up
[24:17] for online and
[24:19] Chair Morro.
[24:20] I, I asked people online
[24:20] to raise their hands if they'd like to speak.
[24:22] Oh okay. It'd be all right if I
[24:23] just called on them and promoted.
[24:24] Yes, that'd be great. Thank. Great. First up is Rebecca.
[24:31] Rebecca go ahead and unmute and begin when you're ready.
[24:35] Hello, can you hear me? Yes, yes we can.
[24:38] Okay, perfect. Hi there, I'm Rebecca.
[24:40] I am an, I work as a an employment manager
[24:45] for a nonprofit and I'm actually really glad
[24:48] that I tuned into this because I learned something new just
[24:51] earlier when y'all were speaking.
[24:53] I'm echoing kind of the same sentiment as the person
[24:55] that spoke a little bit earlier about Eagle
[24:57] Point White City areas.
[24:59] And so I'm hearing you when you say that
[25:03] it's not your district, but I'm wondering
[25:05] because I work with folks with intellectual
[25:08] and developmental disabilities
[25:09] and I support them in their employment
[25:12] and many, many of our clients have lost all transportation
[25:16] to get to work because they're in White City Eagle Point.
[25:19] So is there, is there a district that they fall under?
[25:23] Is there, is there another resource
[25:25] that can be looked into for that area?
[25:27] Because I can't imagine that
[25:30] the expectation is we just leave
[25:31] that area completely high and dry. So is
[25:36] Yeah, if it's the board's pleasure I,
[25:38] I'll ask Paige if she might wanna like respond.
[25:41] Is that okay or Julie, go ahead
[25:43] Paige.
[25:44] I'm not sure your microphone is really working well.
[25:46] So I'll speak to this a little bit.
[25:50] Unfortunately, Eagle Point is not in our district
[25:54] and the only way
[25:55] that we can actually get them into our district is
[25:57] to have this, the city of Eagle Point tax themselves
[26:03] as far as property taxes and then they would come into
[26:06] and become part of our district.
[26:08] They tried that a few years back.
[26:11] It, they were not successful.
[26:13] It doesn't mean it can't be done, it just means
[26:15] that there's gonna have to be a push from the people
[26:18] that live in the Eagle Point area
[26:19] or that wanna see this happen to approach their city council
[26:23] and start talking to them about the possibility of
[26:25] that there is outta district dollars.
[26:28] We are looking at all of those
[26:29] and trying to figure out a way if there's some other kind
[26:33] of transportation that we could actually provide.
[26:36] We received some seed money originally
[26:39] to put a fixed route out there
[26:41] and that is why we had service out there was the state
[26:44] allows these different grants for a short period of time.
[26:48] We tried it, it was pretty successful
[26:51] but unfortunately there's no grant money
[26:53] available at this time.
[26:54] We keep looking at it and we'll continue looking at it
[26:58] and I know that there is a large contingent
[27:02] of people in Eagle Point area
[27:03] that call me on a regular basis
[27:05] to tell me they want service back.
[27:07] So we'll just keep working towards that.
[27:09] But it's gonna take all of us to do that.
[27:11] And so that is kind of where we're, we're stuck right now
[27:15] as far as funding for people that have disabilities
[27:19] to be able to get to work.
[27:21] You know, that is one of the things that is,
[27:25] that has given me kind of a stomach ache
[27:27] because watching a lot of the clients that over the years
[27:31] that have been able to qualify for different programs
[27:35] and be able to be transported in under maybe D
[27:39] DD 53 or some other program.
[27:40] Right. So hopefully we'll see additional money keep going in
[27:45] that direction, but we would have to figure out a way
[27:48] to be able to provide it.
[27:50] Absolutely, absolutely.
[27:51] Thank you so much for that explanation.
[27:53] I really, really appreciate it
[27:54] and I very much wanna thank RVTD staff
[27:58] and we work directly with Valley Lift
[28:00] and we just thank all of them for all the work that they do.
[28:03] So thank you guys very, very much. Thank you.
[28:05] Appreciate your comments.
[28:08] Who do we have? Next up will be Doris z
[28:13] Doris go ahead and come off mute
[28:15] and go ahead and speak when you're ready.
[28:17] Hi, this is Doris. I also work for a nonprofit.
[28:21] I was wondering if, and thank you all for letting us be part
[28:24] of this meeting regarding transportation.
[28:32] So I, we have individuals that, you know,
[28:35] they do take Valley Lift the ones that can
[28:39] and there's like maybe a couple blocks out of their way
[28:42] and they can't make it so they have to walk
[28:45] and they're like over 70
[28:48] and the bad weather, good weather, you know,
[28:51] and they look so much forward to their jobs.
[28:54] Is there, is that route gonna be expanded? Do you know?
[28:59] And which route is it? Or just Valley Lift in general?
[29:04] Valley Lift in general.
[29:06] Okay, so Valley Lift in general is a federal requirement
[29:10] and it's three quarters of a mile in each site
[29:12] of any fixed route.
[29:13] So we're not allowed to go beyond the three quarter
[29:16] of a mile boundary.
[29:17] And it's really frustrating
[29:20] and believe me, I know I've been doing this for a long time
[29:23] and, and I I know it's frustrating unfortunately it there,
[29:28] if we make exceptions to the program then we have to start,
[29:31] it's starts cascading
[29:32] 'cause we have to make exceptions for everybody.
[29:35] But right now there is not a, an increase of
[29:39] that three quarter of a mile.
[29:41] Maybe there will be in the future
[29:43] but right now it isn't on our radar to do that.
[29:47] Okay. Alright. Sorry, Not what you wanna hear. I
[29:50] Heartbreaking It is but I thought I'd ask.
[29:53] Thank you so much for all all that all of you do.
[29:57] One of the things I can say to you is,
[29:59] or to anybody that uses the Valley Lift program,
[30:02] if you're moving and you wanna find out if you're in a
[30:05] boundary area, please give us a call and check
[30:08] before you move to wherever it is you are.
[30:11] 'cause that can be very helpful to people
[30:13] that are dependent on that level of transportation.
[30:17] I know my parents live just outside
[30:19] of the three quarter mile boundary.
[30:22] I've been trying to get a bus service in their community
[30:25] for a long time and it's not going to happen.
[30:26] So I am their taxi so I get it.
[30:30] But if you do know of anybody
[30:33] that is gonna be moving from a group home in an apartment
[30:37] situation or some other kind
[30:39] of situation from their regular home into an assisted
[30:42] living, please check with us first
[30:44] to make sure you have service
[30:46] and we'll try not to cut that service. Quick
[30:49] Question, I just have one more question.
[30:51] Yeah. Do you know when they will, is it,
[30:55] I know it's not on your radar right now,
[30:56] but in the future is it look looking like it might expand
[31:02] or is that like grant money or?
[31:06] So right now we would have
[31:08] to see a significant increase in funding from the state
[31:12] or the federal government.
[31:13] And to be honest with you, if you're paying any attention
[31:17] to politics, we're, we're in big trouble.
[31:21] Not only in the state but on the federal level as far
[31:24] as getting additional funding.
[31:25] So we don't see anything,
[31:27] but it doesn't mean that we're not
[31:28] working on it 'cause we are.
[31:30] Okay. And, and I'm thrilled to see
[31:33] so many people come and testify.
[31:35] And I'm gonna keep your name
[31:36] because I may be contacting you to come
[31:39] and testify at the state level for us
[31:41] because I think that your legislators need to hear from you
[31:45] and, and need to hear about the importance of this.
[31:48] And you know, I know that this, for some of you,
[31:50] this is the first time you testified,
[31:52] it can be a little bit scary.
[31:54] Yes. But you know what they want, they wanna hear from you.
[31:57] And so with Zoom today, it makes it so much easier
[32:01] to be able to testify.
[32:03] Yes it does. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you
[32:06] Doris.
[32:07] Bye. Suggest I
[32:12] don't believe, just that I caught up,
[32:14] is it possible like maybe they could just like get smaller,
[32:16] shorter buses that cost less
[32:18] to like maintain pretty shorter routes, like
[32:20] of everything being a large bus,
[32:22] maybe they can use some smaller buses to kind
[32:23] of offset something.
[32:25] I know if that would help boost funding or something in a
[32:28] Yeah, that's that's a repeat the question please.
[32:32] She's asking whether we should be thinking about smaller
[32:36] vehicles as a way of, you know,
[32:40] not having such a costly system per perhaps.
[32:42] But I, you know, I'll let any staff answer
[32:46] but as a general matter, sometimes it's about, you know,
[32:50] scale being, you know, less expensive overall.
[32:54] So I know we're always thinking about these things
[32:57] and in fact transit is moving a bit towards not just
[33:02] having fixed routes.
[33:03] We ended up having circulars vans in a couple communities
[33:07] and had slated to do more.
[33:10] But unfortunately again those monies dried up.
[33:14] So we had to stop the circular in Ashland
[33:17] and we had one slated.
[33:18] Did it ever get started in Central Point?
[33:20] I can't remember. No, it didn't get started in Central
[33:21] Point.
[33:22] We started a fixed route instead.
[33:23] Yeah, I think that one of the, the things
[33:25] that people don't realize sometimes is the cost
[33:27] of the insurance on those vehicles is just about the same
[33:30] for a big bus as it is for a small van.
[33:32] That's one of our major costs
[33:35] is ensuring all our vehicles at a level that to be legal.
[33:39] And then the other piece is that sometimes
[33:43] the availability to get those vehicles.
[33:45] So a lot of times the federal government will have
[33:48] solicitation for large vehicles but not small vehicles
[33:51] because the lifecycle
[33:53] of a small vehicle is o only so many years.
[33:56] So it could be anywhere from five to seven years.
[33:59] A larger bus can go 12 plus years.
[34:03] And so sometimes it's easier
[34:04] to get the funding for the large bus.
[34:06] It's just, it's frustrating
[34:07] because we're trying to miss match up things.
[34:10] But I think that the chair is correct in
[34:14] Jemar talks about the future
[34:16] because I think one of the things that we'll look at is
[34:19] what is a different way
[34:20] to deliver service other than just a fixed route bus.
[34:23] And I think you're gonna see that happen across the nation.
[34:30] Okay. Thank you for coming and thanks for your comments.
[34:33] Do we have anybody else online? That's it.
[34:35] So last call I guess is online. Okay.
[34:37] Any anybody else wanna say anything?
[34:43] Nope. Good
[34:49] One X. One
[34:50] X. Sorry,
[34:51] One X.
[34:52] It's okay. I knew what it was. It is an X one now.
[34:57] It's not on, it's not being considered right now.
[35:01] So I mean it's very convenient for people
[35:03] that wanna get from Medford to Ashland,
[35:05] but it's also duplicative of the 10.
[35:10] It's just the 10 takes a lot longer.
[35:12] So right now we're just trying to at least offer something
[35:15] so people can get back and forth
[35:17] but it's not being considered at all.
[35:20] So if you think about it,
[35:21] we had 16 routes, we're down to six.
[35:24] Those 10 routes that got cut
[35:27] are not being considered at this point
[35:29] other than Jacksonville.
[35:30] And that I want the, I didn't answer that question earlier.
[35:35] Why are we bringing back Jacksonville?
[35:38] So we receive federal money, we're part
[35:40] of an called the Metropolitan Planning Organization area,
[35:43] an MPO in that area.
[35:47] Each one of those communities receives federal dollars
[35:50] to provide fixed route service.
[35:52] Jacksonville is one of those.
[35:54] So when we cut Jacksonville
[35:56] and they are in part of the MPO,
[35:59] we are actually outta compliance
[36:00] with the federal government dollars.
[36:03] So that is why we're putting service back into Jacksonville.
[36:06] 'cause it's the one area that we need to,
[36:09] so that's why they're coming back.
[36:10] But with limited service,
[36:15] Like some sweet day, some sweet day,
[36:17] but we don't know when maybe
[36:21] I, anxiety, I catch tension
[36:23] around too many people on the bus.
[36:25] Me s when it I the bus be smaller for me when more
[36:29] and more people get into that, when was more quicker for me
[36:33] to get on and that might guy just acts up when there's
[36:36] too many people around you.
[36:38] I understand. So I'm sorry,
[36:41] I really wish we could do more. Hmm.
[36:45] Thank you everybody. So I'll go ahead and Oh okay.
[36:49] Come up. You can stay there. That's fine.
[36:51] Just speak louder please.
[36:54] Great. With the valley lift the Jackson be the same two
[36:58] hours every two hours,
[37:01] That's a dial up.
[37:03] So the ja so the valley lift will be just like it is now.
[37:07] The Valley lift service will be the same. Am I correct page?
[37:11] We f fell on that where it'll run the same hours
[37:13] as the regular routes
[37:14] because we don't have a way of trying
[37:17] to do it on those two hour increments and stuff.
[37:20] So at this point it's gonna run just like the valley lift.
[37:23] It'll run from, I believe it's
[37:25] four, five o'clock in the morning.
[37:27] What, when, what is our start time now?
[37:30] 6 5 30, is that noise? No,
[37:36] It's, it's Paige's mic.
[37:37] Sorry, Paige, when you're, when you're not muted, there's a
[37:40] burp sound that, yeah, we kind of takes
[37:41] Over.
[37:42] We got something weird going on. You
[37:43] Can give us a thumbs up or thumbs down.
[37:45] So that helps. So sorry.
[37:49] So go, let me pull up the, the
[37:52] presentation slide.
[37:55] So the first route will depart at 5:00 AM am So I believe
[37:59] Valley Lift can be scheduled 30 minutes
[38:02] before, so it's at four 30 in the morning
[38:04] and then ends, the last route would be they have
[38:08] to be completed by
[38:09] 8:00 PM is their return.
[38:15] So it'll be just the same as our regular routes. So
[38:17] That's 10.
[38:19] So they, so they get till 10,
[38:22] but I think they have to be home
[38:24] or back to their designation by 10.
[38:30] I'll add ahead to that too.
[38:32] Sorry, can you hear me okay? Yeah,
[38:34] Yeah. Yes,
[38:35] It's better now.
[38:36] The exception to that is the West Medford area
[38:39] and Jacksonville, we are still looking at the Valley lift
[38:44] extension of hours out to the system wide hours.
[38:49] That's gonna be part of the presentation tonight.
[38:51] So just a a caveat with that,
[38:53] that we are still looking at the Valley lift service
[38:57] being extended all the way to what,
[38:59] what would essentially be nine 30 at night,
[39:03] even though the last route out
[39:05] to Jacksonville ends more than two hours before that.
[39:08] Right. But again, that, that's not decided yet.
[39:11] We're, we're still trying to understand
[39:13] what the implications of that would be.
[39:16] Thanks Paige. Okay. Do you have something? Yeah,
[39:21] My God.
[39:22] But I'll be bringing the Route two Matt.
[39:28] No, We are not bringing the route to,
[39:31] but the Jacksonville route will stop by Thunderbird
[39:35] and Albertsons, which we're missing right now.
[39:39] So that that fringe road will be out there six times a day.
[39:43] It'll stop there, but right now
[39:45] we're not bringing the two back.
[39:46] We're keeping it as the four.
[39:51] Good. Say
[39:57] I my bus for 40 plus years and I super
[40:03] and I'm trying, I'm so blessed that
[40:07] people are giving Yeah.
[40:10] You know, upgrade. I love,
[40:20] Thank you for those comments.
[40:22] It's really good to hear.
[40:23] We know we have a great staff
[40:25] but it's always really great to hear it from the public
[40:27] and so often we have nobody at our meeting.
[40:30] So if you had fun tonight, come again.
[40:32] We do have a public comment space on our agenda every,
[40:35] every, every month.
[40:37] So. Okay,
[40:39] Thank you.
[40:40] If there's nothing else, we'll go ahead
[40:41] and close this hearing. Did you have some,
[40:45] I forgot.
[40:46] Oh No, I can forward this topic.
[40:51] Yeah. On the one side, but now it'll be back. Oh, okay.
[40:54] In that shelter on the other side too.
[41:00] Okay, we'll go ahead and close this
[41:02] and I guess we'll move on to, let me just ask,
[41:05] is anybody here to speak to the Title six plan hearing?
[41:10] Okay, we'll go ahead and calls
[41:11] Us for us to vote on, on this existing
[41:14] resolution that's before us.
[41:16] Well we actually don't have it on the agenda
[41:20] so I'm gonna let Paige go ahead with the presentation.
[41:22] It looks to me like it is on the agenda.
[41:24] Well it's on the agenda as a public hearing, so,
[41:27] and we don't have a formal resolution
[41:29] that I'm seeing, so, but why don't
[41:31] We, I do, I think we do at least,
[41:33] at least my packet has if we don't,
[41:35] if you don't wanna vote on it, it's all right with you.
[41:37] Hey. But talking about Title vi beg, pardon?
[41:39] Title Vi, we definitely do.
[41:40] Yeah, we're just still in part A we start.
[41:42] Yeah, so why don't we go ahead with staff's presentation
[41:46] on it now and see
[41:47] how staff guides us. Go ahead, staff. Happy
[41:51] To.
[41:52] Okay, so yes, we, we, just to clarify with all the paperwork
[41:56] that you've been presented with, there is no resolution
[41:59] for four A for the levy service additions.
[42:04] We do have a resolution for four B and for five A.
[42:09] So we will just be seeking a verbal vote
[42:13] for this upcoming service edition proposal.
[42:18] Okay. I'm gonna go ahead and share my screen.
[42:24] And again, thank you so much for everyone who is able to
[42:29] attend in person and online.
[42:33] I very much appreciate your feedback and your input.
[42:37] It is definitely nice to hear from all of you.
[42:40] I know it's, it's very difficult to attend these meetings,
[42:43] especially with our bus service right now.
[42:46] My name is Paige West, I'm the planning
[42:48] and strategic programs manager.
[42:51] And joining me a little bit later in the presentation will
[42:55] be Debbie Wilber finance manager.
[43:11] You still there Paige? I am here.
[43:13] I'm just trying to figure out why it's not advancing.
[43:16] Can you advance it Deb? There
[43:18] It goes. Not on my
[43:19] Phone.
[43:20] I'm got the wrong one here.
[43:21] I'm sharing it, but I thought okay. It just was delayed.
[43:26] Okay. So the topics tonight are to review how we got here.
[43:30] Essentially the planning
[43:31] and the methodology for the the service proposal.
[43:36] We will provide the details on the routes
[43:38] and the hours for each route Monday through Friday
[43:41] and then Saturday we'll also review some
[43:44] of the public outreach events
[43:45] and activities that we have plans over the next few months.
[43:50] The recruitment and hiring of staff.
[43:53] Debbie will be presenting on the revenue projection
[43:56] of the levy funds
[43:59] and we will also review the public comment
[44:01] that's been received be before tonight
[44:03] 'cause we have also received other comments
[44:06] and then we will proceed with the public hearing.
[44:12] So the service
[44:14] that we're proposing really started back in the fall
[44:17] of 2025.
[44:18] Before we were, you know,
[44:23] looking at having the luxury funds, we were only preparing
[44:26] for them, and you might recall this from that time
[44:30] when we were providing you with four different options
[44:33] that really were reflecting some of the input
[44:36] that we had received from a passenger survey
[44:39] that he had completed.
[44:40] And which received over 900 responses in October of 2025.
[44:45] And from that survey we heard
[44:48] interest in the evening hours Saturdays
[44:51] and also the weekday
[44:55] service on wrap 10 company enhanced.
[44:59] We took those and we did some calculations
[45:01] and tried to provide you with that information,
[45:04] but that's where we were headed.
[45:06] But we needed to do some more work.
[45:10] But we also wanted to verify that based on the information
[45:14] that we had from the cost of doing all three of those,
[45:18] which we knew that we were not gonna be able
[45:20] to do feasibly the levy funds, which ones should we do
[45:24] out of, out of those top choices.
[45:28] And so we went back and asked the passengers again.
[45:32] And also we had a, a online community survey
[45:35] and we just presented this to you last month
[45:37] because this is a survey we did in June of 22 6.
[45:40] And overwhelmingly we saw that 97%
[45:43] of our responses on our buses from our passengers,
[45:47] our riders, our customers were to bring back Saturdays.
[45:51] And then that was followed up by 68% saying
[45:55] that they really wanted to see weekday evenings come back.
[45:59] We also had forced other routes that were being requested as
[46:04] as, as part of this.
[46:06] But you can see that the, if we're going to invest money
[46:09] and we knew that we didn't have enough to do everything,
[46:13] what would we do in Saturdays?
[46:15] And weekday evenings certainly goes to the top.
[46:18] And as Julie said, as well,
[46:21] route 30 has always been in our recommendation
[46:24] because of the obligation that we have with the, the meeting
[46:28] with the head of our district.
[46:33] So as part of the, the hours, I mean, it's not as simple
[46:37] as just saying, well let's extend to 7 38 or eight 30
[46:39] or let's just, you know, go right back to Saturday.
[46:42] So this the night that it was.
[46:44] And so we dug in deep into a lot of data
[46:46] that we have from ridership in the, the previous couple
[46:51] of years on, on Saturday.
[46:53] And this is just a snapshot of two particular,
[46:58] you know, case studies if you will,
[47:00] and pieces of information that we had, we through the data
[47:03] extensively to really make sure that the investment
[47:06] that we were going to make was going to be cost constrained,
[47:10] fiscally constrained so that we could support it
[47:13] for several years, but also that it was going
[47:16] to reach the highest number of rides.
[47:18] And so we can see the, the ridership
[47:20] that we have on the top, that's our evening ridership.
[47:23] And then there's a, a, a case study here with Route 60
[47:27] Saturday ridership on the bottom
[47:29] where we looked at the rides per hour throughout the day.
[47:32] And, and we did this, like I said, for each of the routes
[47:36] that we are providing right now.
[47:40] We also have been holding meetings every week since June.
[47:44] And these are service enhancement team meetings with most
[47:48] of our managers and then also bringing in some subject
[47:51] matter experts that are within our staff as needed
[47:54] to help us identify some of the solutions
[47:57] that we were really trying to, you know, grapple with.
[48:02] We of course, as you know, part of the big Fs of this, the,
[48:05] one of the, the biggest thoughts is staff, hiring staff
[48:09] and so hiring drivers,
[48:11] but then also hiring the support staff to be able to add on
[48:15] that sick day of service, add on extra hours in the evening.
[48:20] We can't stretch our existing staff to cover those hours.
[48:22] We have to hire more people to do that.
[48:26] Mul maintenance staff, field supervisors,
[48:30] customer service dispatchers.
[48:32] So we, the, that is a major part of our decision making
[48:36] for why we've chosen the hours
[48:38] because it, it fits within a fiscally
[48:42] sound choices for fire and staff.
[48:47] We've also reconfigured the Route 30,
[48:50] which I'll show here in just a moment to be more streamlined
[48:53] and reason is because it duplicates service that's already
[48:57] provided by the Route four on Jackson Street.
[49:01] And this is a little bit of a nuanced thing,
[49:05] but it's important to us.
[49:06] We've built six different run boards. Thank you Sean.
[49:10] Thank you. Six different run boards.
[49:13] They take about a week each to do this
[49:16] and it's essentially your shift duties, your job duties
[49:21] for our operating staff.
[49:24] And it was just the slightest differences in the evening
[49:27] hours and on Saturdays to make sure that we were,
[49:32] again, being this can be sound and,
[49:34] and containing our, our costs for this service rollout.
[49:38] So the more specific information
[49:43] on what the routes are going to look like.
[49:46] So we, we presented this to you last meeting
[49:48] and since then we've really been drilling down into the,
[49:52] the information for each route
[49:55] and the hours that it will be departed from station.
[50:00] But on Saturdays we are going to have service
[50:03] between eight 30
[50:05] and 5:00 PM That means service is departing
[50:09] with blast buses at 5:00 PM for most, most routes
[50:13] that does begin on Saturday December 12th
[50:16] and it captures 90% of our Saturday ridership.
[50:19] So if we, before we cut service on Saturdays,
[50:22] we were providing service between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM
[50:26] and this is a shorter day,
[50:28] but it is still capturing 90% of the Saturday ridership
[50:32] that we, that we saw in the past two years,
[50:37] weekday evenings.
[50:38] Also, we were having service out to eight,
[50:42] some routes actually out to eight 30
[50:44] before people of the service was suspended.
[50:48] However, we will only be bringing back service on most
[50:51] routes between 7, 7 30
[50:54] and a couple of routes to eight showing
[50:56] that could been just a moment
[50:58] that begins on Monday, December 7th.
[51:01] And again that, that captures 24%
[51:04] of our entire day's ridership after board condensed.
[51:08] So it's, again, it's a significant amount
[51:10] of our ridership throughout the day to say
[51:12] that we can capture 24% of it just for those hours
[51:15] after four and four to seven 30.
[51:17] And then we'll also be restoring Jacksonville service.
[51:21] So these are the specific hours for each route.
[51:26] For those of you in the audience,
[51:27] we will have this on our website early next week so
[51:30] that you can do some trip planning and,
[51:32] and understand what your
[51:34] December transit system will look like.
[51:37] But these are the departure hours for Monday
[51:40] through Friday service.
[51:41] So for example, route four runs every 30 minutes.
[51:45] It will have routes leaving from 6:00 AM in the morning
[51:49] until 7:00 PM in the evening.
[51:53] Another example will be Route 41st bus leaving at 6:00 AM
[51:57] last bus leaving at 8:00 PM And part
[52:01] of why we did this was
[52:02] because of the ridership that we saw, for example, on the 40
[52:06] and the sixties, we definitely saw some later evening trips.
[52:10] The particular touch point for us though is the Route 10.
[52:14] The Route 10 takes two hours to get from Bedford
[52:17] through Phoenix Talent down to Ashland, turns
[52:20] around down at BI Mart and then comes back two hours.
[52:25] And so that means if it leaves at seven 30,
[52:28] people down in Ashland will see service actually
[52:30] till about eight 30.
[52:33] They'll, they'll need to catch
[52:34] that last bus at about eight 30 if they're traveling north.
[52:38] But all of the other routes.
[52:40] And then the support service requirements for fuelers
[52:44] mechanics, field supervisors are always based
[52:47] on that Route 10.
[52:49] I think we all would've liked
[52:50] to have seen later evening hours for all of these routes.
[52:53] But with, with the support staff,
[52:57] we're needing to make sure that we're being, you know,
[53:00] risk averse in terms of our, our data eating service.
[53:04] So we are able to eat in a couple of graphs
[53:07] that are shorter, such as the four 40 and the 60
[53:10] because those are not two hour long routes
[53:12] and they are gonna get back with the tiny get that to
[53:16] to method third on Saturdays
[53:20] we have all of the routes are going to be in service.
[53:23] So that that's a big win.
[53:25] We didn't have to truncate any of our routes or
[53:28] or only decide on a few.
[53:29] We are able to, to have all of our routes
[53:33] in service on Saturday.
[53:35] Most of these hours are again between eight 30 and five.
[53:40] But we do have a couple that are shorter.
[53:41] So for example, the Route four will be operating from
[53:45] 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM last class meeting at five.
[53:48] And that these routes, just like they were on Saturdays
[53:52] before, they do not run at the same level of frequency
[53:55] as Monday through Friday,
[53:57] but they are not less, the only
[54:01] exception would be Route 30.
[54:04] And so Route 10 is the only route that we really
[54:08] provided this higher level of frequency.
[54:12] This this 30 minute frequency on Saturdays for four.
[54:15] And I'm really pleased that we're able to, to do
[54:17] that again on Saturdays.
[54:20] And we have the, also the Route 21 at at 40
[54:23] minute frequency.
[54:27] Just a couple notes here at the bottom of the slide.
[54:30] This was a big win for, for me when I saw this this week.
[54:34] But with this service edition board, we are adding 24%
[54:39] more hours in Mayas ias than what we are providing today.
[54:45] And I, I think when you look at the amount of funding
[54:48] that we are using from the levy,
[54:51] because of course part of the levy funds are
[54:53] for supporting the existing service, all
[54:56] of these routes currently that are in service, I, I think
[55:01] that's, that should be a big pat on our backs as staff and,
[55:05] and also with the frugalness that we are approaching this
[55:08] with and minimizing the number of support staff
[55:11] that's needed because 24% increase is significant
[55:17] in, in terms of the hours and miles that we're adding.
[55:22] And then also just to go back to the Valley lip service
[55:25] that we are are providing with this,
[55:29] we'll have Valley Lip service on Saturdays.
[55:31] We will have Valley Lip Service
[55:33] in later into the evenings on week days now.
[55:36] But we are looking at to
[55:40] minimize cost now Valley Lift is a significant cost
[55:42] to our operations much more than our fixed out
[55:45] cost per person.
[55:47] And so we are currently analyzing whether we want to have
[55:52] that extended out all the way to the route clean hours.
[55:56] 'cause again, like I said, that's our longest trip
[55:59] starts the earliest ends, the earliest.
[56:02] Does it make sense to have that,
[56:04] that service level system wide?
[56:08] Because we do have a few areas, especially in West Medford
[56:11] and Jacksonville that are in quite a lot earlier than
[56:15] what the Route 10 is, is is doing.
[56:18] So not, not to say that we won't have system wide
[56:22] or what we would call universal hours
[56:25] because that's what we've done historically,
[56:29] but the Americans
[56:30] with Disabilities Act does not require us to do that.
[56:34] And so we are, we're, we're analyzing it.
[56:36] It, it's not something that we've been able to
[56:38] pinpoint at this time, but we'll know by December.
[56:41] Paige, I'm gonna have you pause for just one second. Sure.
[56:44] If anyone needs to cut, catch the six 30 bus,
[56:47] you might head out there now.
[56:49] I did ask them to hold for a few minutes,
[56:52] but it's right at the hour, so if you do have
[56:55] to catch the bus, thank you for coming. Thank
[56:58] You.
[57:02] Okay, so this is the Route 30,
[57:04] the new Route 30 I should say.
[57:07] It starts in downtown Medford,
[57:09] of course at French Street Station,
[57:11] but instead of going north all the way up
[57:13] to West Jackson Street, we will be heading down Main Street.
[57:18] Much like the Route two used to do.
[57:22] In fact all of the bus stops with the route to use for
[57:25] and the Route 25
[57:27] before we're gonna be using those bus stops again,
[57:31] but it will travel straight out to Jacksonville, essentially
[57:34] using Main Street and it will turn around at
[57:39] Ray's food place.
[57:41] So apparently it goes a little bit further into town, closer
[57:44] to the library, but we've, we decided to turn over,
[57:49] turn it around sooner by Ray Food Place.
[57:52] Again, part of that, that Tetris thing that we have to do
[57:57] with all of our routes to meet them up at Plant Street
[57:59] Station and the schedule will be six trips,
[58:04] weekdays and five trips on Saturday,
[58:08] 120 minutes apart.
[58:11] So frequencies will be about 32 hours for our, our analysis
[58:15] of how this route serves more people
[58:19] because it is an extension of service to new geo geography
[58:24] instead of just Saturdays
[58:26] and evenings where it's all of our current routes.
[58:28] This is actually new, not new service,
[58:31] but it, it is extending our geography.
[58:34] It's serving quite a lot more people.
[58:36] So 6,200 people are along this route within a quarter mile.
[58:41] Almost a quarter of those households are at the
[58:43] 100% poverty level.
[58:46] 33% of people within a quarter mile
[58:49] of this route are minorities.
[58:51] We also have 2,500 jobs around this route.
[58:56] 6% of people who are LEP,
[58:59] which is limited English proficiency
[59:02] and 16% of people who are living with disability.
[59:07] Thanks. Did you have a question? I did have a question.
[59:10] If you pause a minute, Paige, go ahead. Sure. Far as
[59:13] Valley of support Jacksonville is this filled
[59:16] with the industry three quarters of mild and the brace.
[59:20] Thank you.
[59:21] Okay, go ahead.
[59:24] Okay, so the,
[59:28] the next topic is really to address our recruitment
[59:31] and hiring of staff.
[59:33] We are staying true to the budget
[59:35] that we presented you in the fall
[59:38] and also that we have planned for the levy funds
[59:41] and that those are the positions
[59:42] that are on the left hand side of the screen.
[59:45] We, we couldn't go beyond that.
[59:47] If we went beyond that, we wouldn't have to cut service.
[59:50] And so that, that's where the, these cost control mechanisms
[59:54] with really fine tuning these hours of operation and evening
[59:58] and Saturdays became critical for us so
[1:00:01] that we wouldn't have to hire any more anywhere staff
[1:00:04] than what we had planned for.
[1:00:07] We will be hiring eight part-time operators,
[1:00:09] part-time dispatcher, part-time co supervisor,
[1:00:13] a full-time mechanic, and a full-time fielder and detailer.
[1:00:16] And that's going to start right away after tonight.
[1:00:18] So we're, we're closing these jobs next week.
[1:00:22] We will start interviews and job offers next month
[1:00:25] and then training will happen throughout November so
[1:00:28] that we can get ready for that December 2nd launch.
[1:00:33] Talking a little bit about public outreach,
[1:00:35] I'll review this quick
[1:00:37] and the next couple of months we're gonna be
[1:00:39] of course providing information out to the public
[1:00:42] with our website press release eNewsletter.
[1:00:45] We would also like to regroup with our board members
[1:00:49] to attend council meetings with, with Kelly Manning.
[1:00:54] And she has
[1:00:56] provided you with a a calendar that it has some
[1:00:59] of those meetings listed and she will follow up
[1:01:02] with you on scheduling opportunities for you to join her
[1:01:07] and, and possibly other RBTD staff to
[1:01:10] attend those counseling meetings.
[1:01:11] So look for a, an email from her please so that
[1:01:15] we can help us out with that.
[1:01:19] We'll also be distributing our updated ride guide
[1:01:22] and we'll have the, some events happening
[1:01:26] where the public will be able to learn about this
[1:01:28] service enhancement from us.
[1:01:30] And then next year, can't believe I'm already saying that
[1:01:34] next year, January, February, 2027,
[1:01:37] that's when we're really gonna start
[1:01:39] to investigate more in the public outreach
[1:01:41] because we'll be past the holidays.
[1:01:43] But you might recall this newsletter,
[1:01:45] you can see an image on the right hand side of your screen.
[1:01:48] We were sending these out twice a year
[1:01:50] in the spring and in the fall.
[1:01:53] And we're going to send out a newsletter,
[1:01:55] but it will be a lower cost newsletter.
[1:01:59] It won't quite have the number of pages
[1:02:01] and it might look different
[1:02:03] because we're trying to minimize the cost.
[1:02:06] But we definitely wanna make sure that the community,
[1:02:08] the community who supported us
[1:02:10] by 64% in support of this levy.
[1:02:14] Many of those people who do not ride the bus
[1:02:16] but understand the value of transit in the Road Valley.
[1:02:21] We wanna make sure that they are aware of
[1:02:24] what their investment has, has, has provided.
[1:02:28] And so we are going to send that out in, in January.
[1:02:33] And then we are going to have a celebration of sorts.
[1:02:36] And the first week of February, we'll,
[1:02:38] what's gonna be called Trit Transit Week.
[1:02:40] This is something that we've done in years before.
[1:02:43] We'll have passenger appreciation names.
[1:02:45] We're also going to provide a free fair Saturday
[1:02:49] encouraging people to try the service.
[1:02:52] And we need to get that ridership at, we need
[1:02:54] to encourage people to use R btd again.
[1:02:59] And so one of the best ways to do that we have found is just
[1:03:02] by simply providing free fare on, on one of those days.
[1:03:06] And so we'll be doing that that week
[1:03:08] and just making it a fun celebration and,
[1:03:10] and we hope that you all are in the room and,
[1:03:13] and also our board can participate and celebrate with us.
[1:03:20] Okay, so this next slide is for Ms.
[1:03:22] Wilbur to present to you all.
[1:03:25] Good evening board chair and board members.
[1:03:27] Debbie Wilbur, finance manager, RVTD.
[1:03:30] I'm here to talk about the reason why this amount
[1:03:35] of services is all basically we can do.
[1:03:38] So if you're looking at my graph
[1:03:40] that is the five year projection for
[1:03:43] what we will receive on the levy.
[1:03:46] And in all honesty,
[1:03:47] the levity levy will only increase about 4% per year.
[1:03:52] And so over the course of the whole five years,
[1:03:56] we might gain about $450,000.
[1:03:59] So if you're cording that off over five years, that's,
[1:04:03] that's, that's only $90,000 a year.
[1:04:05] So you, you can't, you can't really do a lot of service
[1:04:09] by a revenue source that only increases by that much.
[1:04:13] And so our goal is,
[1:04:16] and this kind of this, this is the,
[1:04:19] the financial constraint we're under is what we're trying
[1:04:22] to accomplish versus having funding sources.
[1:04:26] So on the left you will see, on the right you will see
[1:04:28] that I'm saying Levy will be used
[1:04:31] to reinstate some service cuts
[1:04:33] and to sustain existing service, RBTD will not be able
[1:04:37] to put out any additional service
[1:04:39] unless we get additional increases in
[1:04:42] funding or new funding.
[1:04:44] And RBTD manages management believes we'll be able
[1:04:47] to sustain this service for four to five years
[1:04:50] with current funding sources.
[1:04:52] And and that's what it's all about, you know, being able
[1:04:55] to put this service in
[1:04:56] and keep it at least for four to five years
[1:04:59] until the next time that we have to go out for the levy.
[1:05:03] And so we would love to put in more service,
[1:05:05] but we're kind of constrained right now.
[1:05:07] And so we're asking you to understand that we have
[1:05:10] to take baby steps and the hope for the future
[1:05:14] that we get some more funding.
[1:05:16] And I, if you have any questions,
[1:05:18] I'll be happy to answer them.
[1:05:22] And I think Julie has a few words to say.
[1:05:27] So where are we with state funding?
[1:05:31] As you know, the governor's put together a visioning group.
[1:05:34] We have subgroups from seven different areas,
[1:05:36] six different areas that are, are working
[1:05:39] and coming up with plans.
[1:05:41] I can tell you from the transit work group,
[1:05:45] what they have focused on is
[1:05:48] if we receive no new funding,
[1:05:51] how long can we maintain services
[1:05:52] and what kind of cuts are we looking at?
[1:05:54] And so for RVTD, we've already done the hard work.
[1:05:59] Unfortunately a lot
[1:06:00] of transit agencies in the state haven't.
[1:06:03] Then the second question that came was, if we received a 20%
[1:06:08] increase, what would that look like?
[1:06:09] And that's a really hard question
[1:06:11] 'cause the question was 20% of what of the stiff.
[1:06:15] If that's the case, it's about $800,000 for us.
[1:06:19] That's not a a ton,
[1:06:21] but it would be enough to put maybe some kind
[1:06:24] of service back or to enhance what we already have.
[1:06:28] But with the third thing that the group is looking at is
[1:06:34] what, how long can we maintain ourselves?
[1:06:37] And again, we've done the math, we've done the work
[1:06:39] that we need to do, so we're ahead of the curve
[1:06:44] with the other transit agencies
[1:06:45] because they haven't done this work that we've done.
[1:06:49] So looking at this, my, you know, comments back
[1:06:53] to the governor's visioning group is RVTD can maintain,
[1:06:56] maintain themselves for four to five years,
[1:06:59] but we need transit funding.
[1:07:01] And so more will be coming from that.
[1:07:05] And in my report this, this month, I'll tell you exactly
[1:07:09] what I've been doing to try to get that funding secured.
[1:07:12] But right now, that is what the vision group's looking like.
[1:07:16] Looking at, at a statewide level.
[1:07:18] It's not, it's not a great picture, to be honest with you.
[1:07:23] And it's not just us.
[1:07:24] It's roads, it's major projects,
[1:07:27] it's everything. Yeah. We need
[1:07:28] Less inflation and lower health costs across
[1:07:32] Are the healthcare is killing community.
[1:07:34] Yep. Everybody. So anyway, thank
[1:07:38] You.
[1:07:39] Any questions of Debbie now that she's left? No, thank you.
[1:07:44] She said she wasn't gonna talk anymore than she,
[1:07:46] we told her you could say this much.
[1:07:48] All right. Back to you Paige.
[1:07:52] You're muted. You're muted.
[1:07:55] Just a couple more slides here.
[1:07:57] We did receive public comment.
[1:08:00] We, we had it posted on our website, newspaper
[1:08:05] and spoke with many community
[1:08:06] stakeholders since our last meeting.
[1:08:08] Also, Evan, and my big shout out to them,
[1:08:11] they created a YouTube video
[1:08:13] that described the service additions
[1:08:15] and it received 45 views, which for the first time us doing
[1:08:19] that, I, I'm impressed by that.
[1:08:21] We did have some open houses,
[1:08:22] which just were poorly attended.
[1:08:24] And so we tried to think of a strategy to make sure
[1:08:28] that the public understood
[1:08:29] what we were proposing to the board.
[1:08:31] And they, they essentially took the materials from the open
[1:08:34] house and created the video and it was really good.
[1:08:38] So thank you for doing that.
[1:08:39] I think we'll do it in the future. We also received seven
[1:08:42] written public comments that were provided to you tonight
[1:08:46] and, and printed off.
[1:08:48] And we've attended Ashlyn and Medford meetings.
[1:08:52] Their transportation commission meetings, actually, Adam,
[1:08:55] Adam did both of those.
[1:08:57] And they, they provided us with very positive comments
[1:09:00] and support of the Saturday and and evenings.
[1:09:04] And the housing authority
[1:09:05] of Jackson County also submitted a, a letter of support,
[1:09:08] which you also have a copy of.
[1:09:12] And so this last slide is basically to, to
[1:09:15] open up the public hearing,
[1:09:17] but chair more, I'm going hand it over to you
[1:09:19] to manage the rest of our business.
[1:09:21] Okay. Thank you very much.
[1:09:22] We've already conducted our public hearing,
[1:09:25] so I would entertain Well, let me ask,
[1:09:28] does anybody have any questions of staff at this point?
[1:09:32] Okay. Then I would entertain a motion for us
[1:09:36] to approve the addition of Saturday service
[1:09:38] weekday evening service,
[1:09:40] and Route 30 as recommended by staff.
[1:09:44] I'll make that motion seconded. Thank you.
[1:09:47] Now that we're doing Robert's rules and they're nice. Okay.
[1:09:52] Any deliberations? Good work, everybody.
[1:09:57] Let's do roll call, if you don't mind, Paige.
[1:09:59] Okay. Bill Mansfield. Yes.
[1:10:03] Con Morro. Yes. Tyler Jasper.
[1:10:06] Yes. Katrina Herman.
[1:10:10] Yes. Four votes. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Great.
[1:10:14] Thank you guys. Thank you.
[1:10:22] The banner day, we needed that. Yes.
[1:10:27] Got goosebumps. Sorry. Okay, we'll move on to
[1:10:31] some more good policy work.
[1:10:33] That is our 20 27, 20 30 Title six plan.
[1:10:38] And staff did some awesome work on this as well.
[1:10:42] Good to see you. And are you presenting on this too,
[1:10:45] Paige? Probably. I
[1:10:46] Sure am.
[1:10:47] And, and unfortunately share more
[1:10:49] of you missed my presentation last, last
[1:10:53] Meeting.
[1:10:54] I, I did, but I did take a look at it. I good. Okay. Yes.
[1:10:57] It has been sent to me and I looked at it actually
[1:10:59] this week, so thank you.
[1:11:01] Great. Well, since the last meeting,
[1:11:04] we've really only received comments from the
[1:11:07] board at the meeting.
[1:11:09] And those, those changes had been made.
[1:11:12] There was a couple of small grammatical changes
[1:11:16] that were identified.
[1:11:17] And then also Dr.
[1:11:20] Kras had observed that the list of nonprofits
[1:11:25] that we have in the plan was a bit outdated.
[1:11:28] And so Mr. Gomez, Adam, he, he helped me
[1:11:32] to revise that list and just update it.
[1:11:36] And so other than that, there have been no changes.
[1:11:38] And we also have not received any public panel.
[1:11:42] And the resolution 26 dash zero two is in front of you to
[1:11:47] consider for approval of our 20 27 20 30 Title six point.
[1:11:53] Great. Any questions to staff?
[1:11:58] See none. I will entertain a relu, I mean, excuse me.
[1:12:01] A motion to approve resolution 26 0 2.
[1:12:05] Do you need to have book hearing?
[1:12:07] Oh, we do need the public hearing. Sorry. Sorry.
[1:12:11] Since nobody's here. But we will open the public hearing
[1:12:14] and we will ask and including those
[1:12:17] that may still be online.
[1:12:18] Is there anybody that would like to speak
[1:12:20] to our updated plan?
[1:12:27] Seeing no takers, we will close in speaking,
[1:12:31] there's a note notetaker out there.
[1:12:33] No. We will close the public hearing.
[1:12:36] And now I will ask if the board, would
[1:12:41] any of you would like to make a motion
[1:12:42] to approve this resolution? Sure.
[1:12:45] I'll do, yeah, I'll do this one.
[1:12:46] I motion to approve resolution 26 0 2
[1:12:49] to adopt the title plan.
[1:12:51] Seconded. Thank you. Any deliberation?
[1:12:56] Let's do another roll call if you,
[1:12:58] This is twenty six oh two.
[1:13:00] 26 0 2. Yes. Got it. Title six.
[1:13:05] Plan. Okay. Paige? Yes, please.
[1:13:08] Bill Manso. Yes.
[1:13:11] Signing more? Yes. Yes. Tyler Gasper. Yes.
[1:13:15] Katrina Orman Newton?
[1:13:17] Yes. Four Yes. Votes. Motion passes.
[1:13:20] Thank you. Thank you. Good work on that too. Thanks.
[1:13:27] All right. Another action item tonight, there's a big,
[1:13:30] big agenda for decisions.
[1:13:34] We have an update to our drug
[1:13:36] and alcohol policy, which again, also
[1:13:40] we are federally required to, to look at on occasion.
[1:13:44] And so did you wanna walk us through some
[1:13:48] of the changes or speak to it?
[1:13:51] Anybody? I will do that. Debbie, actually. Debbie, yes.
[1:13:54] Some questions about it.
[1:13:55] Oh, I read it over
[1:13:57] and it, I don't find anything bad about it.
[1:14:00] But how does it change from, from what it was before? Yeah.
[1:14:03] Any, any significant changes.
[1:14:05] I'm not sure we can get a red line. So let's, so I will, I
[1:14:07] Will go through those changes.
[1:14:08] So what, to bring you up to speed.
[1:14:12] In March of 2026, the FTA came in
[1:14:15] and did a separate kind of audit of our drug
[1:14:19] and alcohol policy to see if we were in compliant compliance
[1:14:23] with the Federal Trans Administration.
[1:14:26] What they found was that we had a really old
[1:14:29] drug and alcohol policy.
[1:14:31] They called to question quite a few the areas
[1:14:34] and also called to question who we were drug testing.
[1:14:37] So we had a long list of employees that were on the list
[1:14:40] that weren't necessarily in our random pool.
[1:14:43] And so we were kind of out of our DOT jurisdiction
[1:14:48] to be able to actually have them in our random pool.
[1:14:53] So RVTD went through this FTA drug and alcohol audit.
[1:14:59] What they did was they asked us to amend in coordination
[1:15:02] with FTA to bring the RVD policy into compliance
[1:15:05] and correct any audit, finding the policy language in bold.
[1:15:10] So if you look at the policy
[1:15:13] that is RV TDS language versus the,
[1:15:17] the Unbolded area is f FDA's language.
[1:15:19] So that they, we kept some of the things
[1:15:21] that RVTD already had in our drug and alcohol policy,
[1:15:25] and they allowed us to do that.
[1:15:29] RV tds drug and alcohol policy was changed.
[1:15:31] And this was the biggest change.
[1:15:33] We used to be a second chance policy
[1:15:36] and we allowed employees a chance to correct their behavior.
[1:15:40] We have now moved to a zero tolerance policy.
[1:15:45] We've found that this is,
[1:15:49] this isn't kind of in compliance with really
[1:15:52] what the FT a wanted to see,
[1:15:54] but also we found that we were pretty liberal in our policy
[1:15:59] and questioned some of the things that were happening in
[1:16:03] because there was a lot of cost to RBTD to have
[1:16:06] that second chance policy.
[1:16:08] The ft, a drug
[1:16:10] and alcohol program auditor has reviewed the amended policy
[1:16:13] and has given her approval.
[1:16:15] And the union also was privy to any changes
[1:16:19] and made comment to it.
[1:16:20] So they were all right with going from a second chance
[1:16:23] policy to a zero tolerance.
[1:16:25] So those are the main changes in it.
[1:16:28] Okay. Significant. But the, the Union Union said
[1:16:31] Fine.
[1:16:32] Yes, they did ask a couple
[1:16:35] for a couple things to be put in there.
[1:16:36] I don't know exactly the, the words
[1:16:38] and the FTA agreed to it.
[1:16:40] So the changes that they suggested were actually included.
[1:16:47] Teamwork. Anybody have any questions?
[1:16:51] No, but I have a comment. Okay.
[1:16:52] The federal government is not giving us any money,
[1:16:55] but they're still shoving it down our throat.
[1:16:57] So what our regulations should be.
[1:16:59] Yeah. Well, they are giving us money. Are they?
[1:17:02] A little bit, A little.
[1:17:05] I'd like to see a lot more if we're
[1:17:07] gonna have to go through all this work.
[1:17:09] I have a quick question first about the contacts listed.
[1:17:14] Is Luanne Spencer still the drug
[1:17:17] and alcohol program manager? Or has that changed?
[1:17:20] So as of right now, she is. Okay, cool.
[1:17:23] And this will have to be updated when we
[1:17:25] hire a new employee.
[1:17:28] Luanne has retired,
[1:17:29] but she's actually now what we consider a casual employee.
[1:17:33] So she's, so she's worked not on contract,
[1:17:37] but she just comes back
[1:17:38] and works a couple days when we need her. Okay.
[1:17:42] 'cause like, But the one thing she refused
[1:17:43] to do is the board minutes
[1:17:44] and that, so Paige got that.
[1:17:50] So she's still working on our retirement
[1:17:53] and our, our drug and alcohol,
[1:17:56] although we have included the HR person, is now
[1:18:01] the, let's see,
[1:18:03] Designated Designated employer representative.
[1:18:07] Cool. So she receives all of the results from any drug
[1:18:10] and alcohol testing that happens. Okay,
[1:18:13] Cool.
[1:18:14] No, I was just like, wait a minute.
[1:18:15] I remember the aloha. I wanted to make sure that was
[1:18:18] Yeah, I remember the aloha too.
[1:18:20] And then, then we had the, the FTA step in and, and,
[1:18:24] and kill her.
[1:18:26] Aloha. Oh no.
[1:18:27] She's been working on this policy nonstop. This the other policy.
[1:18:32] Well, thank you Lou.
[1:18:34] Huh? Aloha. Yeah. All right.
[1:18:37] Is just any board member, would any board member like
[1:18:41] to propose a motion to adopt?
[1:18:44] What is the number? Oh, 26 0 3. 26 0 3.
[1:18:50] Resolution 26 0 3. Adopting the new revised policy.
[1:18:54] I'll make that motion. Thank
[1:18:55] You.
[1:18:56] Seconded. Thank you. Any deliberations?
[1:19:00] Let's do another roll call, please, Paige.
[1:19:04] Okay. Bill Mansfield. Yes.
[1:19:07] Tanya Morrow. Yes.
[1:19:10] Tyler Jasper. Yes.
[1:19:12] And Katrina Irman Newton? Yes.
[1:19:15] Okay. Four Yes. Votes. Motion passes.
[1:19:19] Lot of work tonight. Thank you.
[1:19:25] Another, another big area to talk about.
[1:19:28] New business discussion item is the 27 29 Special
[1:19:31] Transportation Improvement Fund.
[1:19:35] Introduction to our upcoming process and timeline. Hi.
[1:19:42] It's going. Oh, there we go. There you go. All right.
[1:19:45] Good evening, chair Morrow and RVT Board.
[1:19:48] So I'll be talking, I have a short presentation ready to go
[1:19:51] to give a little bit of history
[1:19:53] and overview of the Stiff Process and also a timeline.
[1:19:56] So I understand we have a few new board members
[1:19:58] that may not have gone through this entire process in the
[1:20:01] past, but you hear us talking frequently on stiff
[1:20:06] and statewide Transportation Improvement Fund.
[1:20:07] So I wanted to provide a little bit
[1:20:10] of background information
[1:20:11] and overview of the, of the process
[1:20:14] as we start getting into this.
[1:20:15] So it'll be in the presentation,
[1:20:19] but later this fall we'll be working on the new stiff plan
[1:20:22] for the 27 29 Biennium
[1:20:29] we go.
[1:20:31] So I guess starting back at a little bit of the history
[1:20:34] of House Bill 2017,
[1:20:35] which established the statewide Transportation Improvement
[1:20:38] Fund, it was a Key mark piece legislation
[1:20:42] to really establish a sustainable source of funding
[1:20:45] for public transportation coming from state funds.
[1:20:50] It's funded through the Oregon State Payroll Tax.
[1:20:52] So it's that one 10th of 1% that a lot of us see on our,
[1:20:55] our pay stubs.
[1:20:57] I have photos here of Julie.
[1:20:58] 'cause as you know, she, she provides these great updates
[1:21:00] at, at the end of the meeting.
[1:21:02] But she's really been a huge piece of this statewide
[1:21:05] to bring statewide funding
[1:21:07] for public transit across the state.
[1:21:10] And of course, for the Rogue Valley,
[1:21:13] the h HP 20 20 17.
[1:21:16] And Stiff has a goal of expanding access to jobs,
[1:21:20] improve mobility, release relief, congestion,
[1:21:24] reduce GR greenhouse gas emissions,
[1:21:26] and also special focus on serving low income communities.
[1:21:30] So I'll get into that a little bit on how we do that
[1:21:32] through our projects and also through
[1:21:35] the low income bus pass program.
[1:21:39] So for, I guess, kind of the boring stuff as far
[1:21:41] as like terms you're gonna hear us using a lot,
[1:21:44] it's come second nature to us as staff,
[1:21:46] but every single project has like new terms,
[1:21:49] but qualified entity
[1:21:51] or QE as, as we use it, is essentially the,
[1:21:55] the agency that's responsible for developing
[1:21:58] and managing that funds within that area of responsibility.
[1:22:02] So for example, RVTD is the distributor
[1:22:06] and the receiver of those funds for Jackson County.
[1:22:09] We're also the recipients of the recipients of the ones
[1:22:11] that receive and develop SIF plans
[1:22:14] and get those funds to distribute and,
[1:22:17] and create public transportation
[1:22:19] or public transit routes in the area through the plan.
[1:22:24] And then biennium, it's just a two year period,
[1:22:26] runs July 1st of an odd number year to June 30th
[1:22:30] of the next year.
[1:22:32] So we're currently in the 2025 2027 biennium.
[1:22:35] That ends June 30th, 2027.
[1:22:38] We're gonna be working this fall on the next biennium,
[1:22:41] which will begin July 1st, 2027
[1:22:44] and run through June 30th, 2029.
[1:22:50] So I guess to get a little bit more in depth,
[1:22:53] very generally speaking,
[1:22:54] stiff is divided in two major pots of funding.
[1:22:57] One is the payroll based formula, which is what we know,
[1:23:00] which is what we've used to fund fixed Route services,
[1:23:04] capital improvement projects.
[1:23:06] And that's that one 10th of 1% payroll tax.
[1:23:10] And then there's also, also the population based formula,
[1:23:13] which was brought into Stiff a few years ago
[1:23:16] through an update in 2021.
[1:23:19] And those, those funds are used to serve older adults
[1:23:23] and people with disabilities.
[1:23:24] So we've used those to,
[1:23:26] to fund Valley Lift paratransit services
[1:23:29] here, here in the Valley.
[1:23:35] And then to go a little bit further into it,
[1:23:38] there's also stiff allocations
[1:23:39] for in-district and out of district.
[1:23:40] So when we receive actual estimate amounts of what,
[1:23:45] what money is being generated in Jackson County,
[1:23:47] it comes in a couple different forms.
[1:23:49] One of course showing CIF population fund money,
[1:23:52] and then CIF payroll fund money.
[1:23:54] And then each of those also show
[1:23:56] in district and out of district.
[1:23:58] And what that means is that us as a qualified entity,
[1:24:01] you know, are, are responsible for all of those funds
[1:24:04] that are generated within Jackson County.
[1:24:07] Even though our service area is a little smaller,
[1:24:09] it's not exactly Jackson County.
[1:24:12] So it's separated again into
[1:24:13] in-district and out of district funds.
[1:24:16] So, for example, the, the payroll funds,
[1:24:19] we've used those out of district funds to, you know,
[1:24:22] provide service to Route 63.
[1:24:24] As you heard about earlier today.
[1:24:26] We've also funded or partially funded JCTs Route 100,
[1:24:31] at least that service, which operates within Jackson County,
[1:24:34] which goes between Grants Pass and, and Medford.
[1:24:41] Another key, key piece of the plan is that
[1:24:44] all C projects have to be tied to a locally adopted plan.
[1:24:48] So a lot of these come for our,
[1:24:50] our 2040 Transit Master plan,
[1:24:51] but they can also come from other local jurisdictions,
[1:24:54] the United, we Ride Plan, TSPs, places like that.
[1:24:58] But they have to come from a locally adopted plan.
[1:25:00] So it's can't be something we, you know,
[1:25:02] make up at, at that time.
[1:25:04] So we've done a really good job of having all
[1:25:07] of these plans listed and,
[1:25:09] and drawing some good projects from existing,
[1:25:12] existing, existing plans.
[1:25:17] And then a little bit of how this process works.
[1:25:19] So we've already met with the Stiff Advisory Committee,
[1:25:23] but the C Advisory Committee, as, as you may remember,
[1:25:26] is a group of community members
[1:25:27] representing different sections of the community
[1:25:30] that are appointed by the Board board of directors.
[1:25:32] We work with them a little bit more in depth
[1:25:35] to develop the plan, prioritize the plan,
[1:25:38] making sure they're meeting the goals of, of C
[1:25:42] and they ultimately provide a recommendation
[1:25:44] to the RVT Board of Directors.
[1:25:47] Once the RVT Board of directors receives that plan,
[1:25:50] they can do a number of different things.
[1:25:52] They can accept the C ACT recommendation,
[1:25:55] they can return the plan, the C Act for modifications,
[1:25:58] or they can modify the plan themselves
[1:26:01] and return it to staff to, to submit directly to odot.
[1:26:06] And there's also the accessible transportation work group on
[1:26:09] here, which works more closely on the
[1:26:11] stiff population funds.
[1:26:12] And that rec, that's recommended to Stiff Advisory Committee
[1:26:16] and of course the board of directors as well.
[1:26:21] And then low Income Bus Pass program, as I'd mentioned
[1:26:23] before, one of the key elements of Stiff is to provide
[1:26:27] service and, and benefit
[1:26:29] to low income communities through the stiff funds.
[1:26:32] So we, we do that through a couple different ways.
[1:26:34] One of course is project selection.
[1:26:36] So all of the projects
[1:26:38] and tasks that are in Stiff Plan, we report on the number of
[1:26:44] low income populations
[1:26:46] or along that route that's reported in the plan
[1:26:49] using like census block groups
[1:26:50] and some of the mapping that we have.
[1:26:52] But we also have low income bus pass program.
[1:26:56] So we set aside a hundred thousand dollars per biennium
[1:26:59] to be able to provide free bus passes,
[1:27:01] the local nonprofit organizations
[1:27:04] that serve low income communities.
[1:27:06] So it's been an element
[1:27:08] of our stiff plan since the beginning in 2019.
[1:27:12] And essentially how that works is we'll open this up.
[1:27:15] So for this current bin,
[1:27:16] and we'll open it up in spring of 2027, send kind
[1:27:19] of a large blast out to our community partner list.
[1:27:22] They'll apply the CIF advisor committee, we'll review those,
[1:27:25] and then we'll set an award
[1:27:26] and actually distribute those beginning July 1st
[1:27:29] and start getting those passes out.
[1:27:31] So since the beginning of that program, we've distributed
[1:27:35] over 209,000 free trips since 2019.
[1:27:38] So it's, it is a very popular program
[1:27:41] and a, a great benefit for,
[1:27:43] for the folks who receive those passes.
[1:27:46] Do you want questions while
[1:27:47] you're presenting? Yeah. Or at the end?
[1:27:48] Well, well, yeah, I could take questions out.
[1:27:50] Okay. As a former public library
[1:27:54] employee, I am familiar with this program.
[1:27:55] Yeah. And it's popularity.
[1:27:58] Are there options for the district to increase the amount
[1:28:02] that goes into this program
[1:28:03] or ways to increase the funds available to it?
[1:28:06] Because I know I've spent time in all 15 public libraries
[1:28:10] and watched them run out of bus passes that were
[1:28:13] so impactful.
[1:28:15] And I'm curious about what may or may not be feasible.
[1:28:19] So I can speak to that.
[1:28:20] Yes, you could, we could increase that,
[1:28:22] but that means decreasing something else.
[1:28:25] Okay. So it means either, you know, cutting the amount
[1:28:28] of money that's going into routes.
[1:28:31] Okay. So that is,
[1:28:32] but the threshold is to make sure that we are doing it.
[1:28:37] So by law in rule, we have
[1:28:39] to do at least a hundred thousand. Got it. Per bie.
[1:28:42] Yeah. No, I think During the, during the
[1:28:46] 2 0 2 6 session of the legislature
[1:28:49] included in the omnibus transportation bill was a measure
[1:28:53] to increase this one, one 10th of 1%
[1:28:58] that passed just barely in the legislature.
[1:29:01] And then the public, in their wisdom
[1:29:03] or lack thereof, dumped it by 73%.
[1:29:06] So I guess my question is what,
[1:29:09] and then the governor appointed a committee to review it
[1:29:12] and committee didn't seem to do much except some
[1:29:15] of the interests wanted to reduce taxes
[1:29:17] and reduce regulations.
[1:29:19] 'cause there anything cooking on that now
[1:29:21] We are, we're still cooking on it
[1:29:23] and it, the report has to go to the governor
[1:29:26] by December 31st.
[1:29:27] So we're in December 31st. 31 days in December. Yes.
[1:29:32] Okay. Thank you. I can't remember anymore.
[1:29:36] Is there udon amongst the varying, varying factions or,
[1:29:40] or are we still, do we still have a big battle ahead
[1:29:43] Of us?
[1:29:44] We still have a big battle in front of us
[1:29:45] because what the, what the visioning group has been tasked
[1:29:49] with is to come up with possible revenue streams.
[1:29:53] And then it's gonna, that whole list is gonna go
[1:29:56] to legislators to pick and choose from.
[1:30:00] And there probably will be a recommendation too,
[1:30:03] but we're not sure yet
[1:30:04] what the recommendation will be from us. You're
[1:30:07] Gonna give that report a Little bit Yes.
[1:30:09] Report too. I have one question.
[1:30:12] Do you, do you guys feel that the nonprofits are able
[1:30:16] to get all of those passes out or
[1:30:19] Aren't they, do we left Over every Okay.
[1:30:20] We, we, we check with them periodically.
[1:30:23] The, the finance team does a great job
[1:30:24] of having like reports, sending them, sending 'em out.
[1:30:29] It, it hasn't been an issue, I think recently
[1:30:31] with the amount of, you know,
[1:30:32] the demand we've gotten from 'em.
[1:30:34] But in the past, what we've done is
[1:30:36] as we get closer towards the end of the biennium,
[1:30:38] these passes have to be distributed before June 30th.
[1:30:41] Ah. So we'll check
[1:30:42] and we'll look at kind of where people are.
[1:30:45] You know, for example, we've had nonprofits that,
[1:30:47] that cease operations during the time.
[1:30:49] So what we'll do is check in
[1:30:51] with them if they're not gonna use the remainder
[1:30:53] of their funds, we'll actually do a mini solicitation
[1:30:56] during the current biennium
[1:30:57] and then redistribute those out to, to folks.
[1:31:00] So we've never come in a situation
[1:31:02] where we haven't been able
[1:31:03] to distribute all of these passes to folks.
[1:31:05] And in this current biennium, we were able
[1:31:07] to a hundred percent award the funds
[1:31:09] through the initial solicitation. So,
[1:31:12] Sorry to briefly derail your Presentation.
[1:31:14] Oh, no, that's fine. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
[1:31:19] And then the last slide is talking more,
[1:31:21] I guess in detail on the, the stiff plan timeline for,
[1:31:24] for this current biennium.
[1:31:26] So we've actually already started this as staff.
[1:31:29] We met with the Stiff Advisory Committee in August to do
[1:31:33] something very, very similar, a little bit more in depth
[1:31:36] for them, but just do kind of an introductory meeting
[1:31:39] with the C advisory committee.
[1:31:41] We welcomed new, a new member
[1:31:43] and kind of just set the timeline, the process
[1:31:45] and expectations of, of how this process looks,
[1:31:48] looks going forward.
[1:31:50] From August 27th through September 14th,
[1:31:53] we did a solicitation for the stiff population based funds.
[1:31:57] So those are the, the funds that are used for older adults,
[1:32:00] people with disabilities.
[1:32:03] We received some applications.
[1:32:04] Our accessible transportation work group is gonna review
[1:32:07] those applications this Friday
[1:32:09] and Pro provide a recommendation on, on
[1:32:13] what those ones to be used. Just
[1:32:14] Get clear that the, the population is
[1:32:16] the general population.
[1:32:17] They don't like to hone in on how many seniors
[1:32:20] or disability folks we have.
[1:32:23] Right. So the population is just,
[1:32:25] the formula is based on our Jackson
[1:32:27] population in Jackson County. Right.
[1:32:29] I believe that's why it's called the stiff. Yeah, yeah.
[1:32:31] Stiff population based on, but that's government. It
[1:32:34] Also hones in on that, that population too.
[1:32:36] I mean, they look at the number Yes.
[1:32:38] Right. But we get money based on
[1:32:40] how many people just in Jackson County.
[1:32:42] We have generally you
[1:32:43] Think?
[1:32:44] No, it's directly high by formula to the percentage
[1:32:48] of older adults and people
[1:32:49] with disability driven Jackson County.
[1:32:52] And we do have a higher
[1:32:55] percentage in our county compared to St.
[1:32:58] Multnomah. Right.
[1:33:00] And so we, we do have a, a slightly higher formula
[1:33:05] basis, but they they definitely have more per capita.
[1:33:09] Yeah. This used to be the special transportation fund,
[1:33:14] STF and up until just about three years ago,
[1:33:20] that's, it was, again, it was STF was based on the
[1:33:25] people with disabilities within our area.
[1:33:29] They wanted to consolidate it into the C plan
[1:33:32] and they called itif population funds.
[1:33:35] But it's essentially the same kind of of funding.
[1:33:39] And it's actually also supported by Julie Help makes to
[1:33:43] non more tax or something.
[1:33:44] We were, there's there's some other funding sources.
[1:33:49] Okay. Thanks. Sorry, I just curious. Yeah,
[1:33:53] No worries.
[1:33:54] So they're gonna review those applications at the meeting
[1:33:56] this Friday and, and provide a recommendation on
[1:33:59] award amounts for those that provided applications.
[1:34:04] And then of course, we're doing the meeting tonight with,
[1:34:06] with, with you all to kind
[1:34:07] of do an introduction on, on the stiff process.
[1:34:12] Next after that is we're gonna have a meeting
[1:34:14] with the C advisory committee on the week of October 19th.
[1:34:18] That's where we're gonna go more in depth on the project
[1:34:21] list, what the plan actually looks like.
[1:34:23] So between now
[1:34:24] and then, there'll be a lot of internal staff meetings on
[1:34:26] coming up with that C plan.
[1:34:29] And then we will present that
[1:34:30] to the Stiff Advisory Committee where they'll,
[1:34:32] they'll be able to review and approve that draft plan.
[1:34:37] And then from there we'll have two meetings with the board
[1:34:40] of directors in the November meeting.
[1:34:43] And I put TBA, 'cause I think some of those filed
[1:34:45] during holidays.
[1:34:47] So we'll I think figure out when exactly those will be at.
[1:34:51] But November meeting the board will review the draft stiff
[1:34:54] plan and then December meeting the board will have a public
[1:34:57] hearing for people to comment on the stiff plan.
[1:35:00] And, and the board will be able to adopt
[1:35:02] the proposed stiff plan.
[1:35:04] And then from that process is when Paige and I
[1:35:07] and other RFT staff actually begin the process
[1:35:09] of filling out the stiff plan online, going through
[1:35:12] that process and submitting it by JU January 14th.
[1:35:16] So that's when we will actually submit it to odot.
[1:35:19] And then after that spring 2027, we'll do this solicitation
[1:35:23] to the stiff loan combust Pass.
[1:35:25] And then July 1st, 2027, the new biennium begins.
[1:35:31] So any questions?
[1:35:33] No, thank you for laying that out. Okay.
[1:35:35] Appreciate it. Perfect. Thank you guys. We
[1:35:36] Gotta give you enough time to get
[1:35:37] that January 14th deadline met.
[1:35:40] Yeah, so it's good, good to have it here
[1:35:42] to have it all way out.
[1:35:44] Thank I did wanna add a little bit here.
[1:35:46] Well, it's, it's, it's all a little bit,
[1:35:48] it's pretty big significant in that the stiff plan
[1:35:54] will look different this time.
[1:35:56] And that is because we are, we are going
[1:35:59] to be using our SL funds to support our service
[1:36:04] that we're putting into place.
[1:36:05] And the service that we have right now
[1:36:07] over the next two years.
[1:36:10] And so in, by any of the past
[1:36:13] and in some of the board members who have been on
[1:36:15] for a while, they've seen those wonderful list of projects
[1:36:18] with, you know, Julie mentioned we had 16 routes
[1:36:21] before, now we're down to six.
[1:36:23] All of those routes that have been cut, we would love
[1:36:27] to be able to put them into the plan and,
[1:36:29] and support them with the set funding.
[1:36:30] However, our financial forecast that, that Ms.
[1:36:35] Wilbur has put together depends on us investing in
[1:36:40] theif with the funds into our existing service.
[1:36:45] And so it's gonna be a more streamlined plan
[1:36:47] and it will basically show
[1:36:49] how we're maintaining our existing routes
[1:36:53] and our existing service,
[1:36:54] our Saturday service from the evening hours, the 10 to 40,
[1:36:58] the slip C, the 21, the four, the 30
[1:37:02] with, with these funds,
[1:37:05] Yes.
[1:37:06] We better hope that the legislative session,
[1:37:07] they don't ever like roll back the
[1:37:12] 2017 provision for the payroll tax.
[1:37:15] But there's a lot of people that don't like it. Right. Yeah.
[1:37:20] Okay, well we'll just cross
[1:37:21] that bridge if we have to get there.
[1:37:23] But looking forward to it. Yeah, I won't cross it.
[1:37:27] You won't. She's gonna, she's going
[1:37:29] I will hold on the other side
[1:37:31] Dearly.
[1:37:33] I'll chain myself to that bridge.
[1:37:35] Okay. All right. Well thank you for that presentation.
[1:37:41] Next up is your report. Yes.
[1:37:43] Okay. I'm gonna give you really quick, so I'm just gonna
[1:37:47] last it all out there and give you updates really fast.
[1:37:51] First of all, we've been in union negotiations since March
[1:37:56] and it hasn't gone real well.
[1:37:59] It's been a very, very difficult conversation
[1:38:04] if you have ever followed RBTD.
[1:38:07] This is the first time we haven't gotten a contract in one
[1:38:09] day in many years.
[1:38:12] So it's, so it's really been hard on me.
[1:38:15] But we have finally TA'ed our contract
[1:38:20] and we've come to, to agreement.
[1:38:22] It will go to, I'm not gonna go into the details of it.
[1:38:27] It will go to the union members
[1:38:29] to have conversation about in a vote this weekend.
[1:38:33] And then we will come back
[1:38:34] and do an executive session
[1:38:36] with the board at our next October meeting.
[1:38:39] We will be coming out of that executive session
[1:38:43] to actually vote if we're going to ratify it or not.
[1:38:47] And so more to come, but,
[1:38:49] and we'll go into more detail then,
[1:38:51] but we did not note it as part of our executive session.
[1:38:55] Shame on us on this agenda got overlooked
[1:38:58] or I would've given you more information.
[1:39:00] Okay. But it's,
[1:39:03] we finally on fr on Friday,
[1:39:05] we were able to come to agreement.
[1:39:07] So I wanna thank the, the, the,
[1:39:14] the president of the union
[1:39:16] and the liaisons from RBT, the locals
[1:39:19] because it, it was hard
[1:39:22] and there were times
[1:39:24] that I didn't think we were gonna get it done.
[1:39:26] But everybody finally started really coming together
[1:39:30] and understanding what predicament we really were in
[1:39:34] and that we were gonna have to make sacrifices.
[1:39:36] So kudos to the employees
[1:39:38] and we'll see how they feel about the rest of 'em.
[1:39:40] Feel about it. Come voting time.
[1:39:44] Wanted to give you an update.
[1:39:45] We have seen a, we haven't, we don't know
[1:39:48] what the exact amount is yet,
[1:39:50] but there is going to be a reduction in our federal 53 10
[1:39:54] Valley lift funding,
[1:39:57] which is just one more kick to our stomach.
[1:40:02] But talking with the staff, staff from the state,
[1:40:08] they're trying to find ways of shoring that up so
[1:40:12] that the reduction won't be as hard as we anticipate.
[1:40:15] And they'll be looking at using other
[1:40:17] funding to shore that up.
[1:40:19] So more to come, I'll try
[1:40:21] to let you know as soon as possible.
[1:40:22] But we do know that there is a cut on the,
[1:40:26] but they did not cut the 53 0 7, so we're thankful for that.
[1:40:30] So fixed route is fine, it's just elderly and disabled.
[1:40:34] All the things that they could, would decide to cut.
[1:40:36] They cut elderly and disabled
[1:40:38] and stated good repair vehicle replacement.
[1:40:42] So the two federal bills are not still pending?
[1:40:45] No, they, they passed and been signed by the president.
[1:40:48] So that's where these types are coming
[1:40:50] from, is the build out.
[1:40:52] Yep. Is that right? Okay. Yep. Got it.
[1:40:54] Boy, we didn't know that just a day ago with the MPO
[1:40:58] that it's already been done, but
[1:40:59] It's already been done.
[1:41:00] Now that is the resolutions.
[1:41:02] Now they haven't done the new bill. Okay.
[1:41:05] That's what I'm talking about. The new
[1:41:06] bill hasn't been filed.
[1:41:07] These are just resolutions to the existing bill
[1:41:10] and so they did not include funding those, those things.
[1:41:15] So the fight is still on, ctaa is on it.
[1:41:19] So the Community Transit Association America,
[1:41:22] which we're part of.
[1:41:26] What else did I, so the visioning group,
[1:41:29] so a couple things are happening just
[1:41:31] to bring you up to speed.
[1:41:32] What we're doing, our lobbyists
[1:41:36] and public affairs people are working with me
[1:41:39] to actually put together a group
[1:41:43] of transit agencies from our region.
[1:41:45] So region three. So it would be Curry, Curry
[1:41:48] cos Douglas Jackson, and Josephine Counties.
[1:41:52] And we're pulling a little bit of region four in Klamath
[1:41:56] to talk to our legislators.
[1:41:58] So we're talking to rural legislators
[1:42:00] and educating them as to what is happening in all
[1:42:03] of our transit agencies in this region.
[1:42:07] What RB TT has done, what the rest
[1:42:09] of us are ha are experiencing.
[1:42:12] And we're kind of being the leader on this
[1:42:15] because they don't have public affairs people to do this.
[1:42:18] So our CFM has been setting up meetings,
[1:42:22] we'll be having meetings over in COOs Bay,
[1:42:25] probably in in Douglas County, maybe over in Klamath here
[1:42:29] to get all of our local legislators, both on the Republican
[1:42:33] and Democrat side to understand the importance
[1:42:35] of what's at stake here.
[1:42:37] And it's one of the things that Senator Starr,
[1:42:41] who is working on the transportation package with me
[1:42:47] has said is we have to get a bipartisan package.
[1:42:51] So we need Republicans and Democrats to come to the table
[1:42:55] and agree on something.
[1:42:58] And so that is what we're doing.
[1:43:00] And so that work is moving forward.
[1:43:02] Grace Uniken, who is in charge of,
[1:43:05] she's chairing the visioning group, is coming
[1:43:08] to Southern Oregon in October.
[1:43:10] I think Tanya has been invited to a meeting.
[1:43:13] We've put together your last name again. Would you mind kin?
[1:43:19] And she will be talking with us about what,
[1:43:23] what our region is doing, if anything.
[1:43:26] RVTD has been kind of the beacon of, look at they,
[1:43:30] they got their act together early, they knew
[1:43:32] what they were doing, they made these important cuts.
[1:43:35] They're surviving barely,
[1:43:38] but what is it they need to be able to
[1:43:41] continue having some kind of service.
[1:43:44] I think the biggest conversation that needs to happen,
[1:43:46] one is we're waiting to, for November, we don't know
[1:43:50] what November will hand us.
[1:43:53] And that is going to drive a lot of the conversations.
[1:43:56] So a lot of this is in limbo right now as to really,
[1:44:00] it's just going out to city councils, talking
[1:44:04] to city councils and making sure
[1:44:05] that the local level understands what's at stake here, going
[1:44:10] and working at a regional level with our state legislators.
[1:44:14] And then, you know, at some point we're gonna get our
[1:44:17] federal congressional delegation together.
[1:44:22] And unfortunately we no longer have lobbyists at the federal
[1:44:24] level because we, that was one of the things we cut.
[1:44:29] But with CTAA, I'm on the legislative committee there
[1:44:32] and still president of CTAA.
[1:44:34] So we still have a voice in Washington DC
[1:44:37] So we're working on that end of it,
[1:44:39] but it's gonna be a push pull
[1:44:43] no matter what for the next two years.
[1:44:45] It's gonna be difficult. And so I'm glad that we are able
[1:44:49] to actually roll out service, you know,
[1:44:52] our community supported transit through the levy.
[1:44:55] Thank you community.
[1:44:56] Thank you for believing in an RVTD
[1:44:59] and providing for the people that live here.
[1:45:00] Transportation. And we'll just keep after it.
[1:45:03] But it's, it's gonna be difficult.
[1:45:05] I won't kid you, this is the first week I haven't been in
[1:45:10] Salem and I, they canceled the meetings.
[1:45:13] I was supposed to leave tonight
[1:45:14] to be in another meeting tomorrow morning
[1:45:16] and they canceled it, thank goodness.
[1:45:18] So, but that said,
[1:45:19] but I will be going almost every week to Salem trying
[1:45:23] to finish this work up
[1:45:25] and we have to have everything
[1:45:27] complete by the end of December.
[1:45:29] So questions, is there any publications of any
[1:45:33] of the work on governor's website?
[1:45:35] Not yet. So right now there has been,
[1:45:38] every single subgroup has put together a documentation
[1:45:43] and it is all being compiled now.
[1:45:45] There is work groups that are happening to kind
[1:45:48] of clean it up and finish it,
[1:45:50] and then it'll all be milled together into one big
[1:45:52] publication and given to the governor the big red bow
[1:45:59] look or something.
[1:46:02] So that's where we're at.
[1:46:04] But you can go back in, you can watch the,
[1:46:07] the different meetings.
[1:46:09] There has been presentations on the different
[1:46:11] scenarios and what they're looking at.
[1:46:13] And we finally got the finance committee,
[1:46:18] they were suggesting all these different things for,
[1:46:24] for taxation or ways that we could fund
[1:46:29] transportation, network
[1:46:31] and general maintenance operations,
[1:46:33] major projects, all of it.
[1:46:35] And the one thing they didn't have on the table and,
[1:46:38] and it was like, why,
[1:46:40] why are you not talking about a sales tax?
[1:46:44] And everybody looked at each other and went, oh.
[1:46:48] I go, I realize it's not constitutional
[1:46:50] and we'd have to amend the constitution, state of Oregon,
[1:46:53] but dogone it, people don't leave any rock unturned.
[1:46:58] It's sort of like taboo though.
[1:47:00] No, you know what though? I would, I was shocked.
[1:47:03] And I will tell you this, I was at a tra co meeting
[1:47:06] and heard a, a long time Republican say,
[1:47:10] it's time for a cell sex.
[1:47:12] Really? Yes. Well, let's, let's find out who that is
[1:47:15] and give him a peel him a grape.
[1:47:18] For God's sake. I thought, I thought all of the state senate
[1:47:22] on the omnibus bill were, were opposed. All of,
[1:47:27] Well, we're not talking about legisl
[1:47:28] Except one senator voted in favor of
[1:47:31] It.
[1:47:32] Well, we're not talking about our
[1:47:32] legislators, we're talking about
[1:47:35] The business Person, business person saying it's time
[1:47:38] because none of this other stuff is working. Well, why
[1:47:40] Don't, why don't they jam on the, on their legislation?
[1:47:43] Well, I have a fire under the Jackson County Chamber
[1:47:46] right now to do that. So we'll see what happens.
[1:47:48] Any any prospects of any success with them?
[1:47:52] They're listening. Are They? Yeah.
[1:47:54] I think everybody Is. Let us,
[1:47:55] let us know how they come out.
[1:47:56] Okay. I will Really happened. I was there.
[1:48:00] You were there? Yeah. You heard it.
[1:48:02] Oh, I noted it. Well, I'm just so cynical because
[1:48:07] Don't be cynical because
[1:48:09] They, they took Oh, springs eternal.
[1:48:10] They they rolled the dice and the public
[1:48:13] Yeah, but okay.
[1:48:14] With them, you know.
[1:48:15] Right. They rolled the dice.
[1:48:17] But if they come up
[1:48:18] with a bipartisan package, it's, I know, but
[1:48:21] What's the incentive to do
[1:48:23] that if they know the public supports
[1:48:25] Well, No, no position.
[1:48:27] So, because you know what, I think that
[1:48:31] even on the Republican side,
[1:48:33] people are screaming. Okay. Doesn't matter.
[1:48:35] They're getting yelled at. Everybody's yelling at 'em.
[1:48:37] Good. Because at this point it's like,
[1:48:39] what are we doing here?
[1:48:41] Everywhere. Gambling, nothing working.
[1:48:42] Something must change. Okay. I like it. Okay.
[1:48:46] I'll try to be So
[1:48:47] You think you might pick up some votes
[1:48:49] from them on this round?
[1:48:50] Is that right? I hope you're right.
[1:48:53] I'm gonna get my magic wand out
[1:48:55] and put everybody under a spell.
[1:49:01] Are There, I'm trying, are there any reports
[1:49:02] From any other staff tonight?
[1:49:05] I won't let 'em report. Okay. No reports guys. All right.
[1:49:09] Oh No,
[1:49:14] Everybody received the financial reports
[1:49:16] for July and August.
[1:49:18] Yes. And are there any general questions
[1:49:22] or comments from the board?
[1:49:25] Okay, now we're moving on to reports from board liaison.
[1:49:28] So start with RV cog
[1:49:30] Rev Cog.
[1:49:32] The, the principal of discussion for us today was
[1:49:36] a discussion by one of the RIV COD employees
[1:49:39] who specialized in, in bicycle safety.
[1:49:42] So he brought some maps
[1:49:43] and told us about the importance of bi bicycling,
[1:49:47] us being safe, but also the importance of good facilities
[1:49:51] that some fac he, he pointed out that some fac
[1:49:56] city facilities
[1:49:57] for biking go all the way from very dangerous to very safe.
[1:50:01] He also pointed out one statistic,
[1:50:03] and that is the accident rate is higher
[1:50:06] amongst the bicyclists than it is the automobile drivers.
[1:50:10] I regret that. But
[1:50:11] Do you know his name offhand or is he associated
[1:50:14] With some of the, let's see.
[1:50:16] I can, it's okay. I, I think I, I think I still have it.
[1:50:19] I I'll give him, give him that info.
[1:50:20] I'll give you that info meeting
[1:50:22] In the meantime.
[1:50:23] Yeah. Okay. So MPO, we,
[1:50:27] the biggest issue at the MPO was
[1:50:31] they didn't have a quorum last meeting, which I missed.
[1:50:33] And so there were considering a letter
[1:50:39] to our delegation regarding the Bill Act
[1:50:43] and the basic act, there's two potential,
[1:50:45] there's two federal acts pending.
[1:50:48] I think that at least one of them, both of them gotten
[1:50:50] through the house already.
[1:50:51] Yes, yes. So, so we staff
[1:50:56] and I had had a conversation about this letter
[1:51:00] of recommendation because it looked like it was an error
[1:51:03] because it suggested
[1:51:05] that the BUILD act was actually proposing
[1:51:08] to increase transit funding and it was not.
[1:51:10] So at the TAC meeting,
[1:51:12] which is the technical advisory committee meeting,
[1:51:15] Paige brought that up and the TAC agreed that, you know,
[1:51:18] we don't want it to not state the truth,
[1:51:22] but I, I think there was some,
[1:51:25] some something lost in the translation
[1:51:28] because the TAC wanted it, the letter to say
[1:51:30] that we support current funding for transit
[1:51:33] and support additional funding.
[1:51:36] Ultimately it ended up in the letter, the revised letter
[1:51:39] of suggesting that that's what the BUILD Act does,
[1:51:42] is it maintains current funding
[1:51:44] and of course then would also support additional funding.
[1:51:47] So I had a concern about it.
[1:51:48] 'cause again, I still feel like it does
[1:51:50] not reflect the truth.
[1:51:52] So I raised the issue and I spent just a minute
[1:51:55] because I, I had spent three
[1:51:58] or more hours actually deep diving into these bills.
[1:52:03] And so I spent a minute just telling them that
[1:52:05] that's not what's happening.
[1:52:07] There's some other issues.
[1:52:08] I didn't specify anything other than the fact
[1:52:10] that there's the Highway trust fund
[1:52:13] is really not resolved by this.
[1:52:16] And I just told them I wasn't gonna be able to vote for,
[1:52:20] you know, I acknowledged that there's a lot
[1:52:21] of really great stuff in there except for transit.
[1:52:24] So I, you know, didn't necessarily wanna discourage them,
[1:52:27] but I couldn't vote for it.
[1:52:28] And so I just want you to know I did not vote for it.
[1:52:31] And I, you know, I've got a whole list of things that are
[1:52:36] of concern and I don't think there's some other things
[1:52:38] besides that are a little adjacent to transit
[1:52:41] that are more like alternative transportation kinds
[1:52:46] of things that, programs that they're cutting
[1:52:48] that I think this board would also not agree with.
[1:52:51] So I, I don't want us to be signing onto that
[1:52:55] and I don't think you would either.
[1:52:57] I'm at a place where I don't want our delegation
[1:52:59] to necessarily think that support them.
[1:53:02] So I may try to, since I don't think
[1:53:06] propose our own letter since I spent so much time on it,
[1:53:10] making some comments and see if we want to approve
[1:53:13] that at the next meeting.
[1:53:14] So I'll get that to you.
[1:53:17] I guess one thing I wanted to point out was that staff
[1:53:21] actually, you know, has a memo that suggested
[1:53:23] that there is a fix for the Highway trust fund,
[1:53:26] which is a new electric vehicle federal fee
[1:53:30] that's gonna automatically go up.
[1:53:33] And while that is, you know, going to be collected
[1:53:36] by the hand, the Highway department
[1:53:39] or whomever, it's gonna be collected
[1:53:41] or it's gonna be remitted there, it's not earmarked
[1:53:44] for transportation or the highway fund in the bill.
[1:53:48] That's still up to ways
[1:53:49] and means as to what they do with that money.
[1:53:51] So, and the current Secretary
[1:53:54] of Transportation is pretty hostile, I would say,
[1:53:59] frankly, to public transportation and alternative mode.
[1:54:03] So we, we should be working on that.
[1:54:06] And so that's what happened at the MPO
[1:54:08] and I will bring something to you guys to consider soon.
[1:54:12] Okay. Next meeting was track and they
[1:54:16] Did not meet.
[1:54:17] Okay, that's good. And then finally, RV act.
[1:54:21] RV ACT did meet, and I'm not gonna
[1:54:26] go into a whole bunch of detail,
[1:54:27] but they talked about the Capital Investment program
[1:54:30] and where they were at and with our community,
[1:54:32] if you wanna dive into it, go to their website
[1:54:35] and you can actually see the plan.
[1:54:36] What, what programs were actually funded.
[1:54:39] There were some here in our region, not very many.
[1:54:44] I think what the whole idea
[1:54:46] behind the capital investment plan was
[1:54:49] to look at a 10 year look on, on road project 'cause
[1:54:51] or projects that belonged to ODOT
[1:54:53] and try to prioritize across the state and fund them.
[1:54:57] But I think what it shows is there's not enough money.
[1:55:01] It doesn't even touch what needs to happen here.
[1:55:05] And we're talking anything, you know,
[1:55:06] we're talking about bridge culverts, roads, you know, again,
[1:55:10] most people don't even understand that the pavement
[1:55:16] in your county, your county road pavement, all
[1:55:18] that stuff comes from gas tax.
[1:55:21] So on in your gasoline, when you buy a a gallon of gas,
[1:55:25] a percentage of that 30% of that gas tax goes to our county
[1:55:31] to actually repave your roads.
[1:55:34] But that doesn't help with the bridges
[1:55:36] and the culverts and everything else. I mean, I think
[1:55:38] The build out does put some more money in It
[1:55:41] Does put some more money, but it's,
[1:55:43] but it's, right now it's at the hands
[1:55:46] of the federal government
[1:55:47] and we don't know what they're gonna do.
[1:55:49] Yeah. So the other thing was they kinda just gave a update
[1:55:53] on constructions
[1:55:55] that construction projects were happened here.
[1:55:58] And then the one thing is they're looking at their charter,
[1:56:01] so RVX charter and making sure that it's up to date
[1:56:05] because it hasn't been up to date
[1:56:06] and everybody kind of just forgot about the charters
[1:56:10] and making sure that it's in compliance with what,
[1:56:12] because these are advisory committees to the commission.
[1:56:16] And so what has happened, I was saying
[1:56:18] That there was an attempt by, I think Talend to raise,
[1:56:23] the charter needed to be amended
[1:56:25] after OO amended the, you know,
[1:56:29] organizing document.
[1:56:32] And it was not, it was just not picked up by the chair.
[1:56:35] So I'm glad to hear that they're talking about it again.
[1:56:39] 'cause it needs to be done. I agree. Yeah. Okay.
[1:56:41] And that's what happened at the RV Act.
[1:56:44] Alright, anything else for the good of the order? Okay.
[1:56:49] It's been a nice long meeting. Lots of business Got done.
[1:56:52] Thank you. Staff and everybody that came out.
[1:56:54] And do we need a motion to adjourn
[1:56:57] or did we decide I can do that.
[1:56:58] Call it. I do. Okay. Adjourned. I'm declaring as adjourned.
[1:57:02] Thank you. Adjourn. Things have been changing.
[1:57:07] I just needed to double check.
[1:57:09] Thank you board for, for, for being our, our
[1:57:13] Recommendation.
[1:57:14] Okay. Absolutely. Heck yeah. Super hyped to do it. Yeah.
[1:57:18] After our first meeting was cutting it all, it was nice.