This, my friends is how it's done. It's life smart you
my way home and yes I mailed it life smart. You
Cody's on third Is he here yet? Any minute now?
I love you You're smart you
It's Showtime life smart of you
so you've seen it already? Yeah but only twice in life smart you
right on time
you still smart you think they moved this?
Letter? Well no this is I got your here I have your letter.
See where there was
Okay, good afternoon. We'll go ahead and get started. I think Mr. Ray is going to be a few minutes late but he will join us once he arrives. So we'll call the meeting to order and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance
Why don't you just refer
you to the roll call.
Madam Chair Hilary chambers here VICE CHAIRPERSON Mr. Abdullah Hatice. Mr. Royce manacles participating via zoom. Mr. Khalil Rahal present Mr. Bert Reyes again Mr. Dolan Paul rail will be joining us shortly. Miss Vicki Wilbur present.
Thank you do I have a motion to adopt the agenda? So moved support and who didn't support it? All those in favor? Aye. Agenda is approved certification of public notice. Oh, yes,
there is one item to add or delete. I think it was taken off. Yeah, no already. But janitorial. Yes. That
was removed. Okay.
All right. Perfect, sir.
Okay. All right. Thank you.
Public Notice smart will hold the January 26 2023. Board of Directors meeting at 2pm and smarts board room, located on the sixth floor of the building by three five Chris Wall Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226 This meeting is open to the public.
Thank you. Motion to approve the minutes from December 1 2022. so move. Second. It's been moved and supported. All those in favor. Aye. Any opposed? And we'll open the meeting up for public participation. Are there any members of the public that would like to participate?
Yes, Madam Chair. We have Mr. Angelo being Dino Excuse me. Okay, great. Thank you. Our next public is Mr. Mike Reiner. Would you like to stand at the podium sorry?
Get
Started
you'll have plenty of time.
I didn't push hard and say to very much yes, I'm Mike Reiner for Chesterfield Township. And I do have a couple of things. I like to send down the line. I'm sure you can't read it in my five minutes, but it has a lot to do with what we're talking about today. And especially the pictures that I have pictures that I took today in working on the bus stops in the area, so if I can get those two let me
Okay, so what I'm talking about today is what is kind of summarized in a copy of the newspaper article that was done some time ago. And the three key points that I want to cover as quickly as I can, is number one, the the lack of use of the adaptive stop program. It's obvious that the Adapt step program can be a great aid to keep the bus stops, you know, clean and safe. And when I last looked at the material, and looking into adopting one myself, they only had 11 examples of of companies and individuals that were doing that. So I think we have a great opportunity to have others do maintenance for us if we push the adopt this that. The second thing is the need for additional shelters. In my paperwork, you'll see that I put my own shelters up and it worked out very, very well. The response on Facebook was unbelievable. I've got at least a couple of 1000 responses. The problem is about 98% were positive, about 2% We're not and I found out that if anybody complained about them, I'd have to remove them. So at the last meeting at the township, I found out that I have to remove I only have four of them. But they've been very, very helpful. And everybody is really quite disappointed to find out that they're going to go away. So as I mentioned a number of times these were really attention getters, and that's exactly what they were just reminders that we really need more of these shelters. Especially in the high stop areas. In my case where there's a lot of small industry and they're the employees are coming and going on the bus lines. Probably the biggest opportunity that I have is bus lines where the jobs are I went into an employment agency just to kind of get some information about what job she had available. She jumped all over me and I said well, what's the problem here? She said, Well, I could hire about 75 or 80 people tomorrow but there's no bus lines and 23 Mile Road. So she that's ridiculous. I have a lot of good jobs, in fact, some higher paying jobs there and and I can't hire anybody because they can't get there. So I'm hoping that we're taking a closer look or that we use a number of methods that we can to find out from the from the from the businesses and from the employment agencies. Where do you have jobs that you're having a hard time filling because transportation so I find that that's really huge. And I must say the the bus riders have been just wonderful. I mean, the compliments have been unbelievable. Just trying to give them a little more shelter and a little more attention. You know, as they go to and from work. It's really been quite amazing. The maintenance is very bad. I can't have to cover that. If I must say so I've cleaned up human excrement a couple of times. I clean up food all the time. And of course, it's just a few people that do that. And one of the problems that I run into is people seem to say, oh, yeah, those bus stops. They're awful. You know, we don't need those hair. Well, you know, there are a few people who abused them. 90% of the people need them to get to and from their jobs. So there's, you know, there's kind of a kind of a wrong attitude about those. So we want to fix that real quick. So couldn't power wash it because I asked the maintenance guy. So our power washer has been broke for a long time. And so and they never clean up anything, they'll pick up some of the debris, and they'll empty the trash if it's full. But it's a very cursory at best effort to clean up the stops, you know, as far as the maintenance crews go. So I think we need to clean them up. I think we need more of them. And we certainly need to have more bus lines where the jobs are. So I think that's my main concern. I didn't notice and I don't think I included it. Somebody showed me a $500 shelter, which looks very much like the ones that you all have, but it's only 500 bucks, made by a Michigan company. And I thought wow, you know, that's a real opportunity right there. Time's up.
Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you,
Madam Chair. Our next speaker is Steven Holl range and I'll give him permission to talk. Can you hear us sir?
Yes. Can you hear me? Yes. Awesome. So yeah, I'm just start speaking on an update about the Oakland County Extension. And when we should start seeing some bus stops or extensions and I also want to get the first guy who spoke a lot of credit not that many people go out and fix bus stops and putting them out. Just great grassroots work out there. Yeah, that's pretty much all I have to say.
Thank you, sir.
Madam Chair. Our next speaker is Cory row.
Good afternoon everybody hear me? Yes. All right. Good afternoon. My name is Corey Rome in Rochester Hills regular rider in Auburn Hills on the Woodward corridor better riders since about mid 2018. I didn't really have a chance to attend the past. Few meetings. So I wanted to start off by saying congratulations on the millage passing and all three of the counties are really excited to see the start of the upcoming expansion in the coming months here. We've been looking forward to it for a really long time. That said I just didn't want to address a few concerns leading up to this expansion. Mainly I wanted to talk about how it runs. So I realized that smart like a lot of our agencies right now is in the midst of a driver shortage but I do want to stress that with the exception of our major corridors like Woodward, Michigan Gratiot. Most of our service is hourly and that means account runs a little more than just an inconvenience it can make a trip impossible especially if we're doing a Crosstown trip that involves a transfer. A lot of those are already two or three hours long as it stands. And when a trip is that long, what we run into is that dispatchers don't know if the second or third leg of a trip is going to be cut until it's too late to actually plan around it. And I just want to emphasize that when you write a schedule, that's essentially a promise you're making to Ryder saying a bus is going to show up at this location at this time give or take a few minutes and when the performance rate of those buses actually showing up a 7080 90% that can cause an issue because if you don't know for sure that a bus will show up when that's scheduled because it's going to show up and you try to bring somebody new to the service or try to show a friend or family member that hey, here's how smart works. Here's where you can write it and that it doesn't show up. That can cause a bit of an issue and a bad first impression. And especially with this major expansion coming down the pipeline here I just want to make sure that smart is only advertising service they know they can deliver and if that means that temporary rollbacks are necessary. Well, we're still solving this driver crisis as a temporary thing. I would encourage the board to consider that idea because I just want to make sure that all of us riders out here can trust that our buses are going to show up when they're scheduled to actually show up. And in that same note, I did want to express my assured support for a fair wage for the operators. As I understand it, negotiations are still ongoing there. Take note that your regional peers like the right over Ann Arbor they're paying the new hires almost double what we're currently offering here at smart and there are experiencing a severe shortage. So you need to offer a competitive livable wage if you do want to resolve that. And just literally lastly, a quick note on some of the branding and advertising we've been working on over the past few months here. You offer a lot of wonderful services to writers just don't be afraid to show those off. I noticed a bit of an internal push to market as an overall mobility solution, not just buses. But future riders need to understand who smart is you can't assume they know who's smart is especially in Southeast Michigan here because a lot of people don't ever take transit. Just showing that stock footage and brief glimpses of vehicles isn't really enough. You should be telling people how the services actually work, what fast is what flexes where they go, how to ride them, how to buy if there's them, and marketing to those future riders, not just community officials in general. And just as a last note, I just want to firstly ask that please make sure your AV equipment actually is working during these meetings. There have been a couple of cases now at the last meeting and then once back in the summer, where there were some of us who wanted to offer come on Zoom and we weren't heard because of a tech issues. So I just asked it that's addressing instead of moving forward, I appreciate the providing the opportunity to speak here. And I am excited about the upcoming changes here and getting to see service in these new areas. I just want to urge you to make the changes you need to make to ensure you're delivering the quality service that I know you're all capable of delivering. Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Rowe. Madam Chair, our next speaker is Steven heartbreak. Oh, I actually are
ready when um, but I do want to say I do support a fair wage. You know, the previous speaker said that, you know an arbor doesn't have as severe of a shortage. They don't have any shortages because they pay double over. So hopefully negotiations will make some progress.
Thank you sir. Next speaker Madam Chair. Is THOMAS Yes back.
Mr Yes, back
can you hear us sir?
Okay, our next speaker Madam Chair will be Joel Batterman. Hello, can you hear me? Yes.
Hi, my name is Joel Batterman and I'm a resident of Detroit. I also serve as Community Engagement Manager for transportation riders united through first I'd like to thank Mr. Rainer for taking it upon himself to build shelters for riders like him. I'd love to see more shelters and accessible concrete sidewalks and bus pads at stops around the region and also more seating as well. And I'm curious if the county, county governments and the Oakland County Road commission might be able to shoulder more of that burden of making sure that the transportation facilities that they maintain are accessible to everyone one thing I'll note too is that a lot of transit agencies around the country provide a simple bench at stops where it might be harder to install full size shelter, and that's something that I think smart and its partners might want to consider as
well. I'd like
to, I'd like to thank smart Deputy Director Tiffany Gunther for taking the time to meet with myself and several other riders and advocates last week, and discuss smart's plans for tackling the operator shortage and restoring service for riders, which is as Cory mentioned, is just such such a crucial, such an urgent task. We're pleased to hear that smart is taking the operator shortage seriously and bringing on a full time recruiter to help to address that.
I'd still like
to further underline for the board though. The seriousness of of this operator shortage and the missed runs that are resulting. As we mentioned them as Gunther true has been serving riders both in person and online about their experiences riding smart and more than half of the roughly 90 respondents that we've had so far more than half report that they're experiencing no show buses, either often or all the time. One respondent from Roseville reported that he'd been waiting at the bus stop in the cold for over an hour, unable to feel his hands because his scheduled bus didn't show up as promised. Another brought up the smart television ads that we saw earlier, which show folks getting to work on the bus. And they said that you know they really beg to differ with those that due to the problem of missed runs. If you relied on smart to get to work, you stood a good chance of losing your job. I know that smart realizes that there's a problem and I'm glad that you're taking taking action to address it. But I'd also really like to see the county governments that the board represents. I'd like to see the county governments think about what they can do to work with the agency to make operator recruitment a priority using your media and communications and just coordinating with all of all of the offices that you have. As Corey mentioned earlier, a schedule. Transit schedule is a promise to riders and we have to deliver on that promise. If we're going to fulfill our obligation to the people of the region. Thank you so much. And my colleague, Thomas Yazbeck asks if you might be able to call on him again.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Batterman. Our next speaker Madam Chair is THOMAS Yes. Back.
Hi, can everyone hear me? Yes.
Thank you. Sorry for the little mix up there. So I am Thomas. I work for a transportation writers united with Joel Batterman who just spoke and I want to reiterate everything that he said and everything that preceded spoke as speakers have said the bus drivers shortage is the crisis of the day that needs to be averted. And so I want to express my hope that a fair contract that will help recruit and retain more bus drivers is quickly settled. I live in a community that until 2022 opted out of the smart bus system, Rochester Hills and so I'm very very impatient that we need willsey I really want to see that expansion of smart services into my community as soon as possible and so we need to solve the driver shortage before I do that. I want to also mention though that I see in the agenda that there is a micro transit project manager that smart is seeking to hire and acquisition of more micro transit vehicles for the FLEX program. I am fully in support of micro transit where it makes sense but there are some issues with micro transit it's not as efficient as fixed route transit and it it's the laborers who provide the service to drivers are not union. So I have a problem with that and I would like to see I would like to see micro transit expand but I would like to see only expand as a supplement to fixed route transit and not a replacement because if anyone here has tried to use flex it the it's very often that because of its such limited capacity, you can't get a ride and response times are a lot longer than advertised. So I want to make sure that I like to see smart taking due diligence to make sure that it's that expansions of micro transit are not adversely affecting the fixed route services. Another final thought here is that, you know, as many people have mentioned, the process for expanding smart into more of Oakland County has been promised but I would just like to see from the agency in addition to court to coordination with the county an interest in just letting us know as soon as possible, what the schedule for the for for the engagement process is going to be when public hearings will be held and where and also being open and and receptive to suggestions for how to make that process better from from transit advocates and other members of the public. I also think as other people have mentioned that smarts, advertisements, while they're very well done, could use some work in better illustrating what the services are. I think as well smart social media could be improved and to be more responsive. You know, as commute as smart is expanding into more of Oakland County. You will be running into people who have questions about transit it's new to them and having a responsive and courteous social media. Team and presence is going to be really important especially when you have people that you know may not may have problems that they want, that they are bringing with smart that they will bring forward. So I want to make sure that smart is a responsive. You know actually I mean why not? Do what DDOT doesn't have monthly public meetings at a time. You know, most people can't make it to these 2pm board meetings so that there really should be more opportunities for the public to engage with smart not only to ask questions and express concerns, but to praise you guys for the amazing work that you're doing connecting Metro Detroit and the region. So I don't want to take up any more time but I really hope that these concerns that I brought up are addressed and I really hope to see smart going into 2023 with a success mindset. Thank you.
Thank you Mr. Yazbeck. Our next speaker is Robert Palacky. Mr. Polaski Good afternoon. Can
everyone hear me? Yes. Perfect. Thank you so much. Good afternoon, everyone. Robert Pulaski. I represent the Regional Transit Authority Citizens Advisory Committee and I'm also a part time volunteer with transportation riders united. First thing I like to echo some of my colleagues for mentioning what we've been seeing the last couple of months mostly with our driver shortage our cut runs, but also the newly passed millage that we see an expansion in Oakland County. You know, one thing that we've seen is a lot of full support in Oakland County for transit. And we've also lifted a lot of headaches and also options for seniors and people with disabilities and other areas that didn't have transit before. You know also funding our other agencies Noda and Woda for our seniors and people with disabilities. The demand for transit is real here in Oakland County. In our other areas like Macomb and Wayne, we're starting to see a strong full support for it. You know, and we cannot push transit without a full system with reliable service. You know, I've spoken with drivers the last three to four weeks and one of the things that really sticks out in my mind and I've mentioned this at the December Board meeting was they're not getting the proper tools from the union. They're working without a contract. They're working over and double the amount of time and they're working to their limits. It's not feasible for these drivers. These drivers are working day in and day out for the system. They put their pride in and they're working without a contract. That's a concern of mine. And you know, that's why we've seen a lot of drivers leave smart and especially DDOT most definitely to go to systems like the ride that are paying double and you know, have a union on their back. That's the one thing that really sticks out. So you really and you know one thing that we need to focus on as our contract we need to take care of our drivers if we want to retain drivers and attract drivers from other agencies, especially all across the state. We need to look at the bigger picture and that means putting a bigger marketing push out just like the DoD is doing. And that's the concern, but also we also need to look into the the frequency on these routes. They're now running two hours at a time. You know, I'm now relying on rides and Ubers more than ever than just the bus alone because these you know these routes aren't coming on time, especially in downriver alone. Half of the routes that are showing up are the alary hourly routes for example 161 40 To 75 to 8305 but the 125 alone that is supposed to have 30 minutes service, a very very heavy ridership route in downriver alone is almost two hours apiece. And a lot of people are standing at bus stops freezing sometimes without jackets sometimes, you know, without even hand warmers. It's an it's very sad to see that you know, we're not seeing a change but you know once we get into this new year, I'm hopeful for smart I'm very hopeful for how much work they put into the micro transit, fixing the fixed routes and also putting a bigger marketing push out. We need to start taking accountability and we need to start holding the union to where it meets the standards for these drivers. Because right now the union is scrambling, and that's not a good thing. And if the union scrambling drivers don't come to work, if drivers don't come to work, we have to our runs. We need to fix that. We're already in January we're at 2023 There's a lot of hope for smart we've had a big marketing push, but there is change there is change that needs to be done before we start implementing changes and expansions in Oakland County because that's going to really be a concern for riders, especially in these opt out communities that just went through a public engagement process. Without you know, drivers. Drivers are going to be the biggest thing they asked once they go through this public engagement process. So just keep that in mind. But I have hope for smart you know, I love this organization. I see a lot of change. And you know, there's hope. So keep on doing the good work and just keep on following along but also just take accountability and try to fix the problem at hand. That's the one thing I express my support for the board today. And the last thing I'd like to thank Mr. Reiner for all the hard work he's doing on keeping the shelters in Macomb County clean especially in Chesterfield Township. I'm actually doing the same in Southgate housing three shelters right now and keeping them in tip top shape since I started the program last year. We need more people like that. And also I'd like to see more elected officials in cities get more involved with this partnership. You know, we have shelters like in at the ride that are full in shape, but also DDOT that's starting to fix that process with with the reimagined plan. So there's a lot of potential with this adopted stop that's really giving us a change in how to improve smart and give the vision and best impression for smart. My time is almost up but I appreciate your time and you know, let's keep smart rolling and you know, we have a hopeful future. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Pulaski, madam chair that will be all for public participation.
There's a gentleman in the in the audience I'd like to be
Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Could you please come to the podium?
Hello, my name pardon me. Hello, my name is Steven Hammond tree from Eastpointe. In fact, I'm wondering if you misread My name as the second time you mentioned harboring um, but I would like to echo the previous comments I've heard about the schedule being promises you're making that smart will show up. In fact, I've had one of those missed runs recently myself. I went for breakfast at Panera then a shopping trip at Meijer, Panera and Roseville Meijer at 10 and Shaner. And so the bus between those the five to five didn't show up and the grocery pickup that I had scheduled for 11 to 12am I didn't get there until 1230. And that was an extra hour that I couldn't bring the food home to my mom who was waiting for breakfast. I couldn't go anywhere really. I just had to wait at Panera fortunately they didn't mind me staying an extra hour in the cafe. And then I was late after that. I also want to see more going along the lines of the Oakland expansion because I've been eager I grew up in Oakland County even though I live in southeast Macomb now. I grew up in Wixom going to Novi a lot. Pine knob even or the renaissance fair. I missed those places. And I can't wait to see where smart is going. But right now smart hasn't really shown anything to the public that they're willing to expand. There's even a bus route that runs through a current or previous opt out. That could now stop there. And that has not even started happening yet. But I want to see Yeah, I just want to see what smart's doing about that. When am I going to start hearing about it? I also echo Mr. Yazbeck. Talking about public meetings. I would like to have more opportunities to meet with the staff maybe in a less formal, less time limited setting. And I also echo Mr. Rose comment about tech issues. I was one of the people affected that he mentioned in the summer that did not get to speak at that meeting. And I also know someone who was affected last meeting last month so I'd like to make sure that tech checks are done before these board meetings.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you sir. Is there anyone else from the public that would like to speak? Thank you
thank you for all those comments and we shall close public participation. Item number eight is a financial report. Mr. Bern, do we need a motion to be up to date? Okay, perfect.
Green thank you
so I'm going to present the first quarter financial report for fiscal year 2023. Be the period from July 1 through September 30 of 2022. Now it's a little odd that we would be presenting September information in January so I thought it might be helpful if we just went through kind of the schedule for the year. At our last board meeting we finalized the fiscal year 2022 audited financial report. Currently we need to close and finalize the year before we can move and close and do everything we need to do to close subsequent periods. So this being the next board meeting available. I have a pointer I can
pull up. There we go.
This being the next board meeting of the Board of Directors. We are presenting the first quarter our goal is to close the quarter approximately one month after the last date. So for December our goal is to close that by February 1 So we will be presenting to the board the next quarter at the February Board meeting. Same logic for quarter three where we will be presented we were close in March at the end of April and present to the board in May. Then we would move on to kind of closing the year in total, which takes a little bit longer because there's a number of things additional things we need to do as well as we start preparing for the audit. So we close the year in about August with an audit committee kind of reviewing those results in October. And again coming right back to December where we would finalize the audit report for fiscal year 23. So that's why we're talking about September in January. For anybody following along with the board packet. This is actually the fifth page. It's a little a little summarized so that it's a little bit more readable on screen. But I have a couple of comments. On smarts revenue for the first quarter operating revenue for the first quarter. It's drawing your attention down to the bottom line. We are about $6.8 million under budget as it relates to revenue and that's for a couple of reasons. The first of which is we haven't recorded any federal relief funding, which is basically that cares grant. We are utilizing some of that to fill a couple of holes. We use this report to determine how much and how much we how much we can and how much we should draw. So that's part of that, that deficit. The other major reason is that a large portion of our funding comes from reimbursements through the state act 51 program where they reimburse us for a portion of our eligible revenues. We have lower expenditures so they're not reimbursing us as much. Thus we have approximately a $6.8 million under budget for sports revenues. Last comment on revenues this this report does only include Oakland County property tax revenue, at its budgeted amount. So that is before any expansion as we work with them to figure out exactly what that's going to look like and how much more or the exact numbers that will get. We will update that in future
periods.
Couple of quick comments moving on to the smarts wage expense. Again, I'll draw your attention down to this bottom line. Overall smart is under budget by about $3 million as it relates to wages and fringes. This is again primarily a result of our understaffing as a primarily as it relates to operators and mechanics.
Moving on,
with regard to smart's other operating expenditures. A couple of quick comments we are utilizing a little bit more contract maintenance than we had originally anticipated. Again, this is just to fill in that gap as we try and recruit more mechanics overall with regard to fuel smart budgeted approximately 360 per gallon and fuel, diesel fuel. We're currently running at about 377 On average for this quarter. So we're a little over budget there but we are running less miles. So you will notice that diesel fuel is still under budget but perhaps not as far as it would otherwise be. Overall other operating expenditures are well within budget though. And that was my
last comment there.
Smart admin expenditures again, are well under budget we budgeted about $1.5 million, but spent nine a little over 900,000. So these are things like outside professional services, marketing, software, maintenance expenditures and things of that nature. Smart did budget and did have some expenditures is it related to our contingency expense most of these related to COVID 19 legacy stuff, we still have quite a few programs in place. And so things like temperature checks, there's some online health forum tracking, as well as certain run cancellation programs that we're utilizing. So that is the bulk of those expenditures.
Lastly, I
want to take a quick second just to talk about the amount of community funding that smart has provided during the quarter. So between our purchase of service so us going out and having community partners provide service for us as well as our community credit program. We've had about 1.1 to choose me 1.25 of of local revenue funding those programs as well as an additional $2.4 million have passed through funding through state and federal programs. Overall, that leaves us in a position of negative $2 million. But remember, we haven't recorded that federal relief funding. This is as we determine that in the next period. I don't anticipate any deficits for smart into the future. Moving on to the balance sheet, I don't have a lot of comments here other than smarts current position remains very strong. We continue to try and work down our grant receivable balances and make sure we're staying on top of collections. Our current liabilities we have plenty of resources currently to to provide for those so nothing out of the ordinary there. I do want to make one comment we continue to make good strides in our unrestricted net position, which is you can see year over year has has increased so that's consistent with the last financial report that we saw other than that, I I'd be happy to take any questions or if there's anything I can elaborate on.
Are there any questions from line?
Motion receiving File Manager support
we can support it all those in favor to receive and file i Very good job Ryan. Thank you that
was very helpful.
Okay, moving on to
number nine chair portion of persons report. If my colleagues won't mind a quick update, since it was the subject of some of the public comment regarding the expansion in Oakland County. First I would like to thank the gentleman who provided the information on the bus stops and for the work that you're doing in Chesterfield. I can assure you that the bus stops is a subject that we've had around this table and with with Dwight and with Tiffany a lot and it's something that smart is focused on. It's going to be part I believe, have a comprehensive work plan this year in terms of some creative ideas on on the bus stop. So it is of it's on everybody's radar. As it relates to Oakland County, we definitely appreciate everybody's interest. We talked about this a bit in November and then in December we Brett and I continue to work on what we are calling kind of the foundational contracts with the four providers that were mentioned in the millage that would be smart North Oakland Transit Authority, Western Oakland Transit Authority and the older persons commission. So we hope to bring those contracts to the board of commissioners in February. Our immediate focus given the constraints in terms of purchasing new vehicles, especially the larger connector buses, is expanding services within the current infrastructure owned by the providers. There are some of the local providers who can in 3060 90 days purchase them some of the minivans and smaller vehicles that they use. So that may be in their first in their first contract. But I think you will see expansion of hours you'll see among the local providers, uniform fares, and some other improvements in terms of their service area. So we're excited about that. But postponing, for the future, have a larger expansions because of the planning and the vehicles that go with that. We want to make sure that instead of just simply using the millage funds for $1 to dollar payment on some of these vehicles that we're making sure that there aren't any grant opportunities out there to purchase the vehicles. So we'll be postponing large purchases until later this year. Although you will see the large purchase from some of the local providers you know towards the end of the year, they do have those vehicles on order. So those are the local efforts. We are also having conversations with the communities in Oakland County in the southwest who have currently contracted with people's express to see if there's a short term partnership that we can have with them as we figure out the best long term solution so there may be a version of the Community Credit program for those communities that Oakland County implements with the Board of Commissioners. We have really want to thank smart and all of the staff here in terms of planning and routes who have come forward with some creative and aggressive plans to expand service in Oakland County to the Nov eyes the rod Chester's the waterfords so you will see some of that in this initial contract, probably in the area of seven to $8 million worth of expansions in the first year. Feeling that within the current infrastructure, smart Can, can can can implement those those expansions and we're really excited about that. We're getting towards the end of those efforts. So for those of you who are anxious to, you know to see some of those plans. You'll see them if you follow the Board of Commissioners, committee and board schedule because we'll be bringing those over to the board of commissioners in the next two to three weeks. So very excited about that. Also continue to staff the transit division within economic development. So for those individuals who are interested in public participation, that is certainly in our plans later this spring, we would like to have the staff on board and any of the outside consultants who would organize those public professional public engagement opportunities. So that is in the in the plan for this year, but just later this spring, early summer for those engagements to happen. The the expansions that smart it talks about Of course, if it triggers a larger change, you know, they will do public hearings to inform the public about any change that I think is greater than 20 or 25% of the current service. So that's basically where we're at in terms of the Oakland County expansions, but we continue to work aggressively on it and we appreciate the intense interest that people have because it is an important expansion for our region. So with that, we will go on to the General Manager's report.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Oh,
oh, well, one of the things I'd like to remind the board during executive session, you will be briefed on contract the status of contract negotiations from all four unions. So that will be provided there and also, unlike for Miss Jackson. Miss McKinney Jackson is our new Vice President of HR. She's also part of our labor negotiations teams but what I've asked her to talk about right now. Is smarts efforts for recruiting operators. And I think that you will be pleased where when she talks about and mentions is I don't want to steal her thunder. But I guess I am a little bit about our efforts to recruit in minority communities in places that we have not recruited before. So with this, I will turn it over to Miss Jax.
Good afternoon, everybody. Um, we are excited about some of the things we're doing to recruit new operators to smart. Right now. We have upcoming operator training on the 13th and the 27. We do not have an exact number because the applicants are still being interviewed and having to go and do their pre employment verifications, but we do have trainings coming up the 13th and the 27th. We are also working to hire a recruiter who so work so job sole duty is to bring on operators to meet the needs of our shortage. And they're having in person hiring event on February 7, and sixth one will be at the floor community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, the other will be at the Northwest activity activity center in Detroit. We are also in conversation his kickoff date, with Focus HOPE to focus on as a program where their workforce is already equipped to see deals and so we're working with them to get some interested in coming on as operators and that will take place on January 31 2023. Another part of our effort is making sure that we are getting the advertisement or marketing out to these communities in Dearborn, Southwest Detroit, Detroit area and we're making sure that we're using a radio social media and also that the language that's used is not just English, but Spanish and Arabic. And we know that there's a high Hmong community and the Pontiac area, Oakland County, so we will be doing things in that area as well. The month of February, the later part of the month, the month of March, we'll be moving into community areas in Oakland County and then we will continue and follow up and finish up in Macomb County.
Thank you and I, I also wanted to mention because this came up during public comment to you know, to that to assure the public that each of the counties are also working in collaboration with smart in terms of this important group recruitment effort. I know that our Oakland County Michigan Works met recently with smart about efforts that they can undertake and maybe I'm speaking a little prematurely but I loved the one idea that came out of that conversation, which is, you know, potentially using the M one concourse for recruitment fair because I would like to drive a bus so that people could actually get a sense of what it's like by driving it at the concourse. So we are all working together on this really important task.
So just to take what the chair said just a step further. What we're planning for and we're planning to do this in all three counties is accom, Dr. Abbas day. So a lot of times in the people that I've talked to driving the bus, they're intimidated by it. So what we plan to do is have buses and paratransit vehicles there for people to come and see, yes, I can do this. And at the same time, we will they can fill out an application that interview will make offers the whole nine yards. So our process is going to be ongoing in this effort. And I want to share the board. My very first meeting with this body in September of 2021. The issue of operators came up and we have been trying since then to be able to do that. I also would like to be able to communicate to the public, that we are very well aware of what others pay and how we need to be competitive. But I also want to like make sure that people know that it's beyond money that we're looking at. There have to be some changes in how we do business work rules, etc, etc. Because a lot of the rules quite frankly, that we have are in place when I drove and the things that moved me don't move the people that we're trying to recruit today. So, it is a I wished it was as simple as saying I could we could pay as much as what somebody else pays and that would fix it. But that by itself will not get it and just so that I can give the board just some magnitude these are these are not excuses these are just facts that we have to deal with. The MBTA in Boston has 2000 vacancies right now, of which 1000 of them are bus operators and so the bus operators shortage is across the nation and it is not new. What we've been trying to do is keep the service levels that we have. And so I want to apologize to the board and to the public for the service that we cut. But what we are going to look at is making sure that service that we put out is something that we can that people can depend on even if that means coming back to this board saying that we will have to temporarily reduce some service in order to be able to do it. Yes, sir.
Madam Chairman, two things I would just say just want to remind everyone that you've got to Semco board members, including the Chairman of the Board of psutka, which is one of the highest performing Michigan worse agencies in the state of Michigan and I'm sure they'd be willing to support Absolutely. Second thing I would just say is, you know, most of the time and I found I'm really glad to hear you're working on focus. So I have found in my experience, those nonprofit agencies are really embedded into the community and have greater outreach and access to the people. And so when you do these events, in Dearborn, I highly recommend that you reach out to organizations like LHC and access. They serve 10s of 1000s of people with civil services already. And you know, they are trusted organizations. Sometimes when government comes calling it's not always easy for people particularly a foreign descent to answer that call. They try. So you know, just always please lean on us any way you can for us to help make those connections,
Madam chairs in response that is part of our plan is to us that the members around this board. I fully recognize that. There's a lot of untapped talent that's out there that we've got to we've got to modify how we do business in order to be able to reach them. And so, Mr. Hall as certainly understand how certain communities can be closed because of their fear. And so we're going to be working as my understanding that the city of Detroit has a Hispanic population that exceeds 13%. That's a lot of people. And so my commitment to this body is to have this organization from top to bottom reflect the community that we serve. So and I also want to say that not only are we focusing on bus operators, but mechanics and mechanics and cleaners, and we're also looking at some second chance opportunities that we did I mean, there's a huge population of people who this would be these would be great opportunities if they could get a second chance to do so that's what we're also looking at. And so we will keep the board abreast of what we're doing. In fact, if it's the board's pleasure, we can certainly come back monthly with our efforts and that sort of thing. Thank you,
Madam Chair. You know, I see we focus in the level of the pay smart pay the driver and some of the employee and I never heard anything about the benefit because they're important thing to the people some time, more than the pay and certain and too many different boards. I find out still people interested in the benefits or the long term, and they look for retirement for stuff like that. We ever evaluate where we add and the benefit we offering to the new hire or the people who work for us. To make sure we could keep the one who worked for us, and then include and give something for the people to look for.
Well in response to that. I've kind of touched on this a little bit, but I'll kind of go into a little bit more detail. Long back ago when I started people were looking for benefits in retirement. So people my expectation when I started my career was to work 37 years and retire, maybe make supervisor one day I had no expectations beyond that. As an African American male with some college. Well, if anybody who's listening or anybody on this board has a millennial child, which in which is plus or minus anybody who's 30 to 40.
Yeah, plus or minus Yeah.
If you do any kind of research at all, attracting that demographic is very different. And the things that we have to do, quite frankly, as part of our conversations with all of our unions is to create an environment that's conducive to them. So we're looking for ways to be flexible in areas about retirement, that somebody says, Well, I only intend to work smart for three years because it's going to do something else for me. And so therefore, having a 10 year invest doesn't work for me. So so we're prepared to look at all of those things as we go forward. You know, I've said this before, with my own children. My oldest son's quality of life was as far as he was concerned dad was making money to buying toys. He was okay as long as he had toys. My youngest son who's on the other end of millennial strength spectrum. His issue was he was there to spend time with him. And so we have to take into consideration and create an environment where people who work for us regardless of their job, have opportunities to spend time with their families. So this is not something as simple as Okay, I'll pay you as much as somebody else makes it then you will get hired. I wished it was but it is this is a fundamental change in how we do business. As much as what happened with the pandemic has changed administrative life and people going back and forth. That same thing is happening in the transit space. And I just want to close with this one thing. The the environment that most of us function in is an environment that was set by and set for baby boomers. That was the largest demographic. You notice I said was the largest demographic in the United States is millennials. The things that attract them to any employer, it doesn't matter if it's smart or anybody else is not what attracted their parents. And so, that's a huge huge change that we have to make in this organization. And it's interesting, quite frankly, to be able to do that. So what I'm hoping that those people who called in and spoken what have you understand? This is not as simple as paying somebody more money. It's a much more complex problem that the industry has been struggling with, quite frankly, for the last five years. So with that, that concludes my report
to industries really, I mean, we have that same issue in terms of people looking for but thank you. Thank you very much for that HR update. Any other questions for the general manager? Okay, so we'll go on to new business number light. Number 11. Make a motion on a resolution authorizing a contract for is it clever devices?
Yes. Yes. So move is not is not true.
Then again, supporting.
Alright. Okay, I recommend that the Board approves the resolution authorizing the sole source procurement of the clever devices automated, automatic vehicle location system or AVL. system, refreshed program of projects at a cost not to exceed $4,634,966 The clever devices ABL system went into production in August 2013. This program of projects will address the following needs one, the improvement of real time data and communications with our passengers this will be this will be accomplished with new vehicle hardware and the addition of new software to the clever system cloud disruption management. We're looking to improve the voice communication system that is utilized which will emulate or act like a land mobile radio solution. Also the program of projects will also include training for staff and will use any excuse me, what will be training for staff they use any of the clever devices applications and will assist with meeting the national transportation data or NTD reporting requirements that smart has to
adhere to. That's a new requirement for 2023.
This this project program is funded with federal and state grants. The training program and the QA process, which is listed will be funded with operating funds. I'm available to answer any questions you may have about this program of projects.
I'm sure yes.
Just you know, it says here that they're the only ones that can provide IT technology, its sole source contract $4.6 million. I just want to ask
your desk because it is a nice way to put it is their program is their hardware. They have developed it and it's a sole source thing it will be something similar to like your Apple phone. If we wanted to change the Apple phone we have to do what by another apple phone to do it. We can add applications to it in on an Apple device to give you a parity but in this case, this is a closed system. There is no application that I can bolt on. All applications have to come from the developer and the owner of the product.
So we currently have clever and in some instances this is an upgrade for things that that we have. And so one of the things that based on your conversation of your question, Mr. Ra. We will come back to the board with a detailed briefing and presentation on clever so that you can see what it does and the services that that it provides to smart Yeah, it's something that you're already using. Yes, yes. No, this is not this is not new. We've got millions invested in clever is as I think when did when did Smart Start using clever 2013 So this is a 10 year investment that we have that it's on everything, every vehicle every bus that we have. This is this is the this is the system in terms of how we do radio communication, and real time information. You're going to
hear questions from our social sole source contract to that low,
New York firm of course. Any other questions all those in favor say
aye? Aye. Aye.
Madam Chair, no, nothing that have to do with this. If if you think it would be helpful to the board, we have a number of contracts that we have that are proprietary so that when we have to make any upgrades, they're the only game in China. And so, what we will do is we will go through like clever and trapeze and some of these other companies. Those are the only ones that we have. So if we can we'll work on doing that and then providing that back to the board.
Okay, that sounds good. So I think we have that as any one oppose. Motion is approved. Going on to item number b resolution amendments to the fiscal year 2022 23 general operating budget micro transit service expansion and consultant, some of them to support energy supported for discussion, Ryan.
Yes. So I am proposing an amendment to the 20 to 23 operating budget. In a moment the next two agenda items, the VP of paratransit and on demand services will elaborate on some very exciting things that we're doing regarding micro transit expansion as well as hiring a consultant to help us with the overall strategic plan as it relates to micro transit. But in order to do that, we need to make sure that budget is available in fiscal year 2223. To accomplish that, I am proposing increasing the operating draw from our federal relief funding by $500,000 as well as utilizing unspent driver platform dollars through December of this of 2022 to cover these additional additional expenditures, so we're going to draw a little bit more. We're going to utilize some unspent funding to cover what Danny's about to talk about in just a minute.
Any questions.
What are driver platform wages? We
the way we budget? That's a very good question the way we budget. The way we budget driver costs is we break it into sections so platform our being like the time that they have people on the bus, the deadhead and the time it takes him to turn the bus in and out. The other things that they could have are training or whatnot but it's all budgeted separately. This being the largest line item it has the most room available in it so we
this is actually the savings because we haven't been able to hire bus operators. The savings that we had through December are funds that are already in the budget. We're not going to spend the between that and the end of the budget year. So we're using those dollars to reallocate them in order to be able to do this.
Okay, any other questions?
All those in favor? Opposed? Motion is approved.
So now moving on to what Ryan said was be exciting. Read the questions.
I know I cringed a little bit ah, I mean I personally think it's exciting. So I hope you get as excited as I am. So I try to
stay calm, Danny.
Oh yeah. Authorizing additional funding for micro transit services contracts, support, just supporting the first two right Danny?
That's correct. Okay. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Madam Chair, members of the board. I'm here today to request the board approval and the resolution to authorize a contract change. With via transportation from $14,653,118 to $16,253,113, which is an increase of $1.6 million for micro transit service. These funds will be covered with operating funds as Ryan had just mentioned. The funds will be used to outfit and ramp up to 28 additional wave vehicles and a wave vehicles a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Those are in service in all of the zones across our existing fleet as well as to add 800 hours weekly of additional service across the zones. The terms of the contract with Vo will remain in place with the option you're still ending on December 15 2023. little background on this smart currently has eight wave vehicles in operation covering the five current SmartFlex downs. This number is proven to be inefficient in meeting the equivalent response time between riders needing a wave vehicle and those who do not need a wave vehicle. Adding these additional vehicles as well as the accompany hours will allow for greater accessibility as well as reduce wait times and implementation schedule and allocation of the hours will be available at the February meeting. I'm here to answer any questions from the board.
I have a question and then and then read. Do we the smart own all of the big vehicles?
That's a great question. The via leases the vehicles through Avis car rental. And so one of the things that we have mentioned them is to get an understanding from them of what will happen to the vehicles at the conclusion of the contract, especially those wave equipped vehicles that have been outfitted for that purpose. So as soon as we get that understanding from them, we'll pass it on to the board.
So these 28 vehicles would be leased. That's correct. Yeah,
it's Yeah, there'll be up to 28. They will be there'll be an implementation schedule, as we monitor the equivalent response times to where we feel that we need to be at to provide that equal access between WAV and non wav response times. And that's in addition to the eight that are already in place, Madam Chair,
when smart entered into these pilots, this is a turnkey application. So rather than having to acquire vehicles or anything like that it was put out so that they would provide the vehicles and so this in they leased those vehicles back for that specified period of time. So as we go forward there how we do connect or quote unquote service is going to be incorporated into what Dan is going to be talking about next. And so those will be smart vehicles. So the expansion once we get the get fully implemented, any expansion from from flexible ultimately, the smart vehicles correct. So this this is a stop gap for lack of a better term. Until such time as we make that transition.
Great. Thank you. It may be on the next item down but I wonder this increases, improves response time any expansion of WordPress and geographic footprint
now so it's covering the existing zones. As we put those vehicles out. We want to make sure that there's adequate hours to deploy those vehicles any additional they're going in the 20 up to 28 will replace some of the existing vehicles and service but we will also be adding additional so we're we're doing two different things are improving response time with current vehicles but adding vehicles so seeing increased coverage in each town.
Any other questions? All those in favor? Aye. Any
resolution is approved. That takes us to the next resolution which is authorizing a contract to award a contract for Miko transit project manager. That's correct.
Thank you again.
Is there a motion to so move?
Second? All right. Thank you discussion. Thank you.
So I'm again here today to request the board to approve the resolution to award a contract to Baker and Associates in the amount not to exceed $2,538,761. This contract is for project management management services for an operational analysis and recommendations for micro transit as well as other smart services. This is a three year contract with two one year options. There are two vendors who bid on this project and through the evaluation and selection process. Baker and Associates was found to be the most advantageous to smart smart currently is in need of a project management service to provide assistance in the acquisition and implementation of a passenger application for multimodal service. These consultants will also help in an updated evaluation of all of our services, including the fixed route connector general service, as ridership patterns have changed. Since the completion of our comprehensive operational analysis. This consultant will also provide technical and operational assistance in the expansion of micro transit services throughout the service area as it relates to zone design, hours of service for each zone and the vehicle needs for each zone. Baker and Associates also plan and implement a significant public engagement effort to ensure input from residents, communities, businesses and stakeholders. And again I'm here to answer any questions on this project.
Sure, is this some part of what we talked about and trying to better coordinate between note a welder OPC and smart. Dan with this touch on that
topic, yes, yeah, this will touch on that and getting feedback from the from all of the areas and you know, looking at the design of micro transit and other services, the hours that would be a need in each of those zones, how many vehicles and how the how we find it, what the costs would be all those factors will be part of this evaluation.
It will also take into consideration since there's a common fare now. How those how those services would integrate with smart, you know, one of the things that we've been talking about is making sure that all of the providers were on the same platform. And so, this is all part of that effort.
In terms of evaluating fixed route, is that evaluation as to if that area would be better served by a different transit option?
Yes, yep. Okay, correct. And then this is the first thing we mentioned the bringing out of a solo application that will assist riders in a unified application to then reach all services. So that's one of the big parts of this project that they're going to be starting with.
So one of the things that I'd like to point out to the board is prior to me coming here, and then after I came Danny's made two trips to Dallas, who right now seems to be far and away further out on the whole micro transit pieces than anybody else. And in fact, when he went to second time, Marta from Atlanta was there at the same time trying to learn from them. And so, the project manager was the first thing they said that we needed to do. And then that whole idea about, you know, zone size and all those characteristics and what have you. So we're not going to do it in a vacuum, you know, like some mad scientist say, Okay, this is what it is, and we think that so therefore, go ahead and do it. So this is going to have that and also take into consideration that in some instances, this could potentially replace flex fix rack, if it makes sense. But, but it's really about how to create an integrated system that takes into consideration micro transit and fixed route it taking into the consideration the fact that this organization and most transit organizations cannot function with this peak, you know, am and pm peak where everybody is because that just doesn't work. So NASA more about how you can circulate people around their community and how you can provide greater frequency of service.
So they it says it's a three year contract was to one year renewal options correct. In the procurement process. Did they? Did they have to provide any type of schedule? Like are we to anticipate that it will be able to take three years before we actually change any service?
No, that's what that's Yeah, so the initially when they come on, they're going to start with bringing on that application that's there. Okay, then there, at the same time going to begin the public engagement process. And then through that, and through the evaluation of our current services, begin to plan out what the recommendations are, and a potential implementation schedule. The reason that we did this is for a three year contract with the to one year options is to ensure that we had them on staff for all those implementations that they are recommending to continue the public outreach, the public engagement and education, to assist smart to make sure that there is that the proper education that riders in the region need.
One more question is the expansion of the new millage funded routes fixed routes in Oakland County part of this?
The the things that we could do on the short term No, right. But the longer term Yes. So So when when we're talking what Dan is talking about is a comprehensive that includes all of Oakland, all of Macomb and the portions of Wayne that we serve so this would be done in concert with Oakland, about where service needs to be whether it needs to be flexed, whether it needs to be fixed route, etc.
So I think the answer to this question is yes, though. Yes, right. Because if we have a expansion, let's say continuing our route out to no lie. I mean, they would consider that right? Yeah, possibly. Yes. They may, you know, we might pivot and there may be something that is worked out differently.
That's correct. Okay. Okay.
Any other questions? This is exciting. It is. It was. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? The eyes have it. So that takes us to? Well, boys thinks this is exciting and authorization to work at Cracker Lake Erie transit center. Zhan 29. But medium duty bus. So moved, support and supported Mr. Berg.
Good afternoon Madam Chairman, SMART Board of Directors. General Manager Pharaoh, Deputy General Manager Gunther smart staff and participate in public. This recommendation that the board has adopted a test resolution authorizing the award of a contract for one purchase or purchase of 129 Medium Duty bus from hoaxers transportation. This is a one time purchase at a cost not to exceed $229,987.50. Lake Erie transit has a need for 120 foot medium duty bus the medium duty bus will be used as a replacement for age and mouse eligible medium duty bus
any questions?
Is that diesel? Yes, yes.
Any additional questions? All those in favor? Aye. Aye.
Any opposed? And the resolution is approved. Thank you. Well, you can stay there I guess we have right on see when resolution authorizing to correct the non fixed route tire contract.
Some smoke recorded discussion, Mr. Bern. On
January 27 2022. The Board approved a contract for non fixed route tires, with Schrader tire and oil in the amount not to exceed $152,000. For three years, it has been determined that the not to exceed mount should reflect $456,000 on behalf of smart and maintenance department. It is the recommendation that the Board adopted the attached resolution to authorize an increase of $304,000 to fund the second and third year of the contract the terms of the contract will remain as is.
Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? The resolution is approved. So it will take a motion to go into closed session some of them Sure. Yes, please.
Thank you. Roll Call.
This totally changed her.
Yes. Yes. Well, he is in your movies watching Mr. Kinda wrong. Yes. All right. Yeah. Yes. Yes. We will. Be