SMART Board of Directors (missed first 10 minutes)
9:02PM Dec 1, +0000
Speakers:
Keywords:
smart
transit
bus
service
millage
oakland county
people
shelters
year
drivers
madam chair
contract
staff
board
support
award
items
increased
bus stops
hear
voices heard. So. And I know for a fact that some people can't even make it to a lot of public means. So having some kind of form that people can put input in that type of thing. We need to have more opportunities for the public to engage with smart and for smart to communicate with the public. You know, we believe that this is that we believe in public transit. And it's really, really, really important that this big win for public transit isn't squandered and that we keep building on that. So I hope that in the near future, we'll be hearing a lot more from smart about how both expansion into Oakland County and communications gonna be carried out. Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Robert plow ski. I'm a representative for the Wayne County Youth Council Representative representing District 15 in Wayne County, and I'm from Southgate. First off, I'd like to echo a few points from Meghan and Thomas. Congratulations on the millage and Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, we have potential new future for smart and potential expanded services in Oakland County. So you give yourself a pat on the back for all the work you guys have done. And all the sister agencies and organizations that did all the promoting to get this out there. But there's a lot of things that we accomplished this year. And I'd also like to shine some light on that as well. We have a lot ahead of us. And we accomplished so much in terms of our flex service, expanding it and potentially expanding more into next year. So I'm hopeful for next year and just looking forward to all the great things we've done this year going into the future. But there's some other things now since we have a you know, strong support for transit in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, we now seem to find out that there's not a lot of public engagement. And one of the things I've been doing, and this is now going to be a future conversation with Wayne County Commission is to keep the conversation of county wide transit in Wayne County. I know our fellow board member Elda l Hadis. Is works with Lane County Commission. I've spoken with people on the commission that are very supportive of transit. And Wayne County is one of the huge steps to making this region thrive and grow. But we also need to continue on the public engagement and one of the things and echoing on to Thomas's point regarding the, you know, monthly community input meeting, that's something that really we should look into, to get feedback from riders because some folks, you know, can't make it to these board meetings. I'm basically one of the regulars here at this board meeting to be quite frank with you. And I'm always giving you guys input. But it's not just me we need to focus on we need to focus on everybody else get their input each month, pick a time pick a date, we need to start really getting this out to the public, maybe even doing a Citizens Advisory Committee having three members from Wayne Oakland Macomb and because Lake Erie transit provides funding from smart, having three members from Monroe County to be able to sit down bimonthly be able to talk about issues regarding transit service in the communities and really just get in depth on what we need to see going forward. And how the agency can work better. The RTA, I'm a part of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the RTA and we have a Thrive support there. And I think that following the footsteps of the RTA to be able to work something here would definitely benefit this agency and really get more input compared to the local advisory council that kind of is really a ghost around the agency. Nobody really hears about it too much. I know folk that writes the 168 on in Trenton and he's a part of the Local Advisory Council. And that's the only updates I get from him. Maybe even doing writer surveys, writer surveys having a QR code, I know AAA ta does something with their buses, where they have QR codes on bus stops, inside coaches, outside coaches to be able to give folks a opportunity to submit a survey and get their input. And I've also got close word that they're rewarding them for it. And that's one of the things that AAA TA is in conversation with doing. But it's something we also need to lay out here. I know organizations are doing that right now. But it's really something that I think the agency really needs to focus on internally. My story is really simple. I take train that's on my committee board meetings and to work and I get that's how I get around. And my wait times are usually from an hour, hour and a half to two hours. You know, even certain services like flex I was just in Auburn Hills meeting with city council. And my wait time from Meijer and Auburn Hills was all the way down to two hours from City Hall. And that's not acceptable. And I'm pretty sure you guys are working on that. But there needs to be a really a plan in place going forward. Because we really need to start looking at this two hours is not acceptable. And current calling into customer service that really just gets tiring after a while and people want to be able to voice their concerns in front of staff and board members. So I really encourage the board to really look into this once we get into 2023 because this is a big major year for us and we just passed the millage and open County. And like beggin said, a lot of people are skeptical, but I think we can get through it just keep on pushing away and keep on doing good things for the system. But remember, the public is the critical key to this system. And that's how we move forward in the system for good especially once we go into next year. But hope everyone has a great holiday and look forward to speaking with you guys next year. Thank you.
Hello, everyone, my name is Logan and I'm here with transportation matters united. Speaking as resident of Waterford, I'm very glad to see that the smart but I'm very glad to see that the smart bus Expansion Pass and will extend service into Waterford. However, my municipality a slim majority of the people voted no. A big part of the skepticism for smart is a lack of reliability for bus services. The lack of liability and buses being late is something that I hear over and over again, with my workout true and many people who miss buses regularly in Pontiac, share with things like that way the RMA with their neighbors in Waterford. We won't be able to change the poor reputation and public perception of smart unless there's better reliability. And we won't be and we won't even be able to expand service into places like Waterford in the first place. Without more drivers. It's for that reason why I want to speak in favor of competitive wage for competitive wages for bus drivers so that they can afford to remain working at at smart and for the better working conditions that the union is advocating for.
Thank you. Thank you, other members of the public that would like to comment. Thank you for joining us.
Thank you. My name is Steven. I'm I'm a resident in downtown Detroit and I just first want to act on some of the previous comments. I'm just grateful the millage passed, we did so much outreach I even did some myself including riding the buses, all the way from downtown to Pontiac and downtown Chesterfield, giving out flyers, I do have a concern about the expansion. I was going to wait till after I pass, but currently with the shortage of drivers and some of the communications, I just want to make sure this comes as smoothly as possible. Because this could really be something good we could really have a good transit system. But we really got to do our you guys really got to do your part, including community engagement, connecting with leaders, even leaders that were opposed to the millage and just really make sure that this works, because it's just there's a lot of issues, I mean, with the current driver shortage, and I mean, the wages aren't exactly the most competitive. They're better than deedat. But still, I even a couple of weeks ago, I ran into us former smart bus driver at the grocery store, he actually went to Windsor transit, because they paid like almost twice what they did. I mean, these drivers need to be paid more. I mean, the job they have is what they have to deal with. I mean, just even one of my fellow transit activist said that, you know, it's comparable, the cops what they deal with that. So I'm just asking you, for those to make sure that drivers are paid and treated better and also to make sure there's community engagement and make sure this expansion starts as smooth as possible. Because I really think we can get something done in 2023 If we do this right.
Thank you are the members of the public that would like to participate push the button allow her to talk. Excellent. Thank you.
Would you like to speak now? Hi,
my name is Kathy Mayer. I progress by Park Michigan. Thank goodness this millage passed because with everything going on with COVID You know the surface is really cut back and that melts hand pass. Smart probably would have been that we probably would have been defunct by the by June or whatever. err. But I have some concerns. Now the bill just passed because it's really time to get to work because I ride the bus regularly to work as a substitute teacher where I live in Crosspoint. And even there in a suburb right next to Detroit. I've experienced many, many times this bus runs, like I've been waiting for the boss and would never never show up. And I'd have to call Customer Services. The service was tight. The service was cut. Please don't hear me. Yes, okay, the service was cut. And I was like, Darn it. So, you know, this, this inconveniences, the people that I rely on for transportation and mess up their schedule, because my husband who drives around is a visually impaired, he, he works a good distance away. And this interferes with his ability to focus on supporting the family. And also I rely on Ubers and Lyfts. If you know what Smarter the show like, recently, I was waiting Mac for us, I made a big effort to get to that stop the bus did I wave the bus way way when it's freezing out, didn't show up and someone else was wearing called and said the service of a cut. And I'd really like it would be there like the next hour. This is unacceptable. I mean, in a city the size of Detroit even bigger than an arbor. I mean, bus should be running at the most every half an hour. You know, and I was involved in the more buses more places more often campaign at ARPA that expanded the ATA, they've they've gotten their stuff together, it's time for smart to do the exact same thing or, you know, if I support the drivers going to higher wages and better living conditions and treated with respect, you know, because it because just just because, you know, the labor woman's going on all the strikes and everything. Smart, nice to get with the times. So I mean, that's my comment. The number one priority is to restore the service that was cut. When you know when the pandemic hit because an arbor did it. Why can't spark Thank you very much.
Thank you, Tiffany. There are a few other people online.
Yes, Madam Chair. We also have Lucas Liske lisiecki. Can you hear us? We'll move on to Steven.
Steven, can you hear us?
Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, perfectly. All right. Well, I have echoes of basically everyone else. I want to congratulate you on the successful millage. It's a great personal relief, as Oh, I didn't say my name and city Steven Hammond tree from East Point. It's a great personal relief that nothing like 2018 happened again in Macomb County. Even though six out of the county's 13 commissioners tried to stifle our voices. That's not something to be mad at you about though. But I also want to express my displeasure at the complete silence. Now that transit has passed in Oakland County. Why haven't I seen anything in the planning for it? There isn't even anything on this meeting's agenda. I'm excited to be able to go places like Wixom Rochester where I Wixom where I grew up. Rochester I had friends check out events in Novi maybe or the Renaissance Festival. I haven't been there since the stroke. And Bloomfield Hills, you shouldn't even need to wait long for that. That there's already two bus routes running nonstop through Bloomfield Hills, why are they still non stop? But on the other hand, I'm not sure I want to recommend new services quite yet when you can't even deliver the services you're already promising everyone on the current schedules. If you won't, if you can only deliver 70 or 80% of your trips. Why are you still giving us schedules with 100 Let's say I have an appointment in downtown Royal Oak at 2pm schedule says I can hop on a bus at one away get there at 145 but if that bus doesn't show up, now I'm stuck at that stop until two oh wait, and I 45 minutes late to the appointment. Even if I pick an alternate route. quick search on google search shows a three bus trip that was still doesn't mean they're half an hour late. But if the schedule doesn't say I have a one way pm option, maybe I could catch the 12 Oh, wait and get there on time, or pick a different route is what I'd be more likely to do. And speaking of Royal Oak, why is the transit center lobby still closed? It's getting cold and it would basically cost nothing to reopen it. You didn't even need many staff there before the pandemic. So why does that change? Why would that be an obstacle now? And even the outdoor seating is almost gone that all the benches got taken out sometime last year, and I guess one got plugged in since then. But other than that, it's basically gone. And the last thing I want to talk about is lacks, I'm not certain that that's a good service, because 80 or 90% of my attempted trips, just end in sorry, we couldn't find a ride. Um, the thing is, I don't know how many of those are because it's close to fixed route times, there needs to be a different message in the app for that, because there is no way to get a ride. What is very different from you can't get a ride and right this minute, because you could just take fixed route instead. But there irrespective of all that, I hope you have a nice holiday, and a happy new year. And I look forward to seeing what spark does in the future. Thank you.
Thank you, Tiffany, yours any additional comments online?
Yes, Madam Chair. We also have Joel Batterman. And I've just given him permission to speak.
Joel, can you hear us?
I can. Can you hear me? Very well. Oh, good afternoon. My name is Joel Batterman. I live in Detroit and work as Community Engagement Manager for transportation riders united. I'm sorry not to be joining you in person. As I'm afraid my family is a bit under the weather this week. As you've heard voters overwhelmingly support for the transit ballot proposals last month is great news for smart and the entire region. It's perhaps the biggest step forward for transit in the metro area since voters approved the first property tax for smart back in 1995. But even in the wake of that victory, as folks have emphasized, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that due to the acute shortage of drivers, smart is currently in crisis, perhaps the biggest crisis in its history. In the wake of COVID, riders are gradually coming back, ridership has increased steadily over 2022. But the service we need is not. And if things don't change soon, that ridership trend may not last. Due to the lack of operators scheduled service has already been significantly reduced from pre pandemic levels. Even the fast buses, which as their name suggests, are intended to provide frequent service. Even those fast buses are now scheduled to run only 20 every 20 to 25 minutes, instead of every 15 or or less. Those reduce schedules have real consequences to riders, especially as winter comes on. But what's even worse is that with the current number of operators, smart isn't even able to run enough buses to meet the reduced schedules. As you've just heard, Mr. Owens had become endemic buses simply aren't showing up. They're not just late, they're not there at all. This week, as my colleague Thomas mentioned, true staff and volunteers started to go out and survey writers about their experiences. And so far, the majority of folks are telling us they're dealing with these Miss rooms a lot, either often or all the time. This is an emergency, and writers need to know smart's plan to tackle it. According to the drivers union Hu local 1564 smarts currently short about 100 drivers out of 400 budgeted that's proportionately an even more huge shortfall than what DDOT is facing. So true urges smart to take every possible action to get more drivers on the road. One of those is providing more competitive wages. SMART operators are currently in contract with you associations, and we need to pay them what they're worth, and take other steps to make the job more attractive and improve improve recruitment and retention. A living wage in the metro area is calculated at about 28 an hour for a family of four. But the starting wage of smart is just $19 an hour. Over an hour, the ride treats starts drivers at 28 an hour. And although they were hiring earlier this year, they're no longer in the market for more drivers. True urges smart to treat this contract as an opportunity to become an employer of choice and bring the drivers shortfall to a speedy end. The people of this region have shown that they want to need more transit, not less. They put their trust and smart to deliver it. So we implore you, let's act quickly to fix the driver shortfall. Get a better contract for smart's employees and get riders the service we need and deserve. Thanks very much, and Happy Holidays to all.
Thank you any additional members of the public wishing to comment?
Yes, Madam Chair, we also had Chris Cappuccini. Hi, there,
my name is Crystal Patia. I'm resident of Berkley, Michigan, I just wanted to just kind of a of course echo a lot of the sentiments that have been brought up about definitely like to see the pay of the drivers be competitive, because it is really important. Also, I'm a person that rides from Berkeley to Detroit for as well as I have a father who has some disabilities. And I would really like to see, you know, additional attendant pay to those folks and connecting them through the throughout the whole of Oakland County, his brothers live out in the northern suburbs. And it's, you know, it's almost, it's actually impossible for him to get out to like, let's say, for instance, Rochester, you know, in any kind of reasonable timely manner. And you know, that we're going to see, we're going to start seeing more of that with the community aging. And then the other thing I wanted to kind of bring up was just also paying a bit more attention to safety of riders, riders. For instance, one example, the fast stops along Woodward, are not well lit at nighttime, and the buses are still running at nighttime. So, you know, there's definitely it creates a inequitable experience for people, especially for women who, you know, might have to ride at nighttime and might be a little bit more concerned in this society that we live in. Without whining at those stops, it makes it very discouraging to want to use the those, those buses in those stops at all. So I definitely encourage you to look at that and your considerations as you're going forward.
So thank you. Thank you. That will be thank you so much. So that will close public participation. Thank you for your participation. Moving on to number nine financial reports. Is there a motion to accept this audit presentation? Is that what we're doing?
Have an audit presentation for the board. It'll be information.
Good, thank you so much.
Teach Mansky here from claim Moran. He is the I guess, head of the audit or external audit team. So he's going to go through a little bit of a schpeel. I will share my screen and as you kind of go through each of you should have a packet with three deliverables in it one, the annual report, the second being the schedule of expenditures of federal awards. And the last piece being the antibiotic letter, we'll move through really quickly. If you have any questions feel free to stop us. The only other thing I will say is overall smart is in a very stable financial position. We are primed to go into this next year with a very healthy balance sheet and a balanced budget. So we were in good shape. There was one finding this year which we'll elaborate on a little bit in a second that came up during our Triennial Review. Sparta is in the process of working with the FDA on on wrapping that up. We're just waiting on a volley back from them on a couple of things. The I think one important thing to remember is that it did not impact or it should not impact the overall net position of smart. Well, we'll just be moving some money between grants. So with that, I will hand it over to Pete.
Thank you, Ryan. Good afternoon, everyone. It's nice to be here with you today. Happy to say that I have got some positive results to share with you as well. Regarding the financial statement audit and single audit for the fiscal year ended June 30 2022. We did present the results in depth to the audit committee a few weeks ago, to be here today to share some of the highlights of those results. So starting with the financial report, the independent auditors report is on pages one and two. It is an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance we can give to the set of financial statements, and lets the readers know that they can rely on the numbers that follow. Within the statements themselves beginning on page number eight the statement of net position. As Ryan said, smart continues to maintain a stable financial position and in many cases, the balance sheet improved over the last year. Total Assets increased by about $6 million in our more liquid form than they were a year ago. Smart has $160 million of cash and investments on hand, as well as $35 billion of receivables, and over $150 million of capital assets. Then the liabilities section, those decreased by approximately $14 million. The largest items, there are the long term liabilities for pension and retiree health care. The pension liability is measured as of December 31. And so at the end of 2021, that was approximately 87% funded. And the retiree health care liability measured at June 30 2022 was 63% funded. Total Net position for smart increased by approximately $32 million in the last year. $160 million of the total is the net investment capital assets already in the form of buses, buildings and equipment. But there is a positive $37 million of unrestricted net position. It's worth noting that has been steadily increasing for the last several years. In the last year in particular, that went up nearly $30 million. But it's also worth noting that smart has benefited from several large awards as a result of COVID funding coming from the federal government. So there are still significant amounts left to be spent on those awards. But it's also important to be mindful that that will eventually be spent those one time awards will will dissipate and start will be left to operate under its standard budget in terms of revenue on an annual basis. Speaking of that, move on to page number 10, where we have the income statement for the last two years. operating revenue including fares increased over the last year, mostly due to the fact that fares were suspended until March of 2020 2021. So the previous fiscal year included only three months the fair revenue, whereas 2022 had $5 million of fair revenue for the entire year. Operating Expenses increased more than $10 million to my main items, there were a nearly $3 million increase in micro transit expenses, that activity was just ramping up in the previous fiscal year. And then under materials and supplies, fuel costs were significantly increased compared to a year ago. Non operating revenue grant activity remained fairly stable, and local contributions, which is the property tax millage throughout the three counties increased by about 4% as a result of taxable value increases throughout so the overall change in net position was an increase of more than $31 million bringing the ending net position to nearly $200 million. Over Again, from the financial statements, the next item in your packet and I know right I'll bring it up on screen is the federal awards report. I'm going to skip ahead there to page number 11, which is the schedule of finding in question costs, and again repeats the fact there was an unmodified opinion on the financial statements, and indicates there were no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies related to that audit. So talk more about that in a bit. But that is a tremendous accomplishment for the 1000s of transactions that are processed throughout the year. And the tremendous effort that goes into closing the books, the fact that there were no internal control items that we identified or misstatements that required correction as a result of the audit is a tremendous credit to the entire finance team. Under federal awards, there was the one material weakness that Ryan alluded to. Before we get to that I'll point out the major program tests of this year was the Federal Transit cluster was $41 million dollars of funding under that cluster in terms of a total of 44 and a half million. So 93% of the federal spending over the last year was subjected to the financials or the single audit, and we've had just the one finding detailed on pages 12 and 13. On this item, as you read through the details should look fairly familiar to you. It is basically a repeat of an item that was identified during smart's most recent trade annual audit that relates to the fact that once Smart received its Cares Act award, it sought to pass through some of that funding to community partners. Many of them only provide service to seniors and individuals with disabilities 53 times services, which were not eligible under the Cares Act. They are however, however eligible under Chris on so of the $1.1 million that was passed through to those entities in the previous fiscal year. I know Ryan is in communication with the federal agencies in order to get that repurpose to another grant and expects to have that resolved soon. So smart will not be out any of the money. If that's able to be fully resolved is all in the patients are it will be less item to go over this afternoon is our end of audit letter addressed to the Board of Directors. Keep my comments fairly brief on that there's not a lot outside the ordinary or new items to be presented in there. But within section two, we have some legislative and informational items we think might be of value to anyone who's interested. That includes a blurb on cybersecurity in the middle of page four. I know there's a much more in depth discussion later on the agenda today. So I won't say too much about it. Other than this is is an item we've included in the letter in the past, just because of the significance, increasing significance really, to smart in all units of government. We simply want to encourage smart to continue to keep an eye on this when setting the budget, as well as ensure that you're having periodic assessments performed in order to identify risks, and take the necessary corrective action, if any risks are identified. Then lastly, on page five, we'll detail out some of the upcoming accounting standards. There was one fairly significant standard effective this year is bat seven related to leases. So that activity is now recorded on on the statement. There'll be a similar one for subscription based it arrangements next year, and then a few more standards in the years that followed. So key takeaway here is that the Governmental Accounting Standards Board remains very busy. There are new standards effective basically every year. And the finance team has to deal with those that have been implemented in previous years as well as the new ones. So while that, while the staff remains, you know, it's difficult to add staff to the finance department as well as other departments in maintaining the budget. What's been asked of them continues to increase year after year, not just because of the accounting standards, but also state and federal compliance requirements and many other items. So again, want to recognize the tremendous effort Ryan and his team put in to be well prepared for the audit and to keep a close eye on sparts. Finances and allow us to come here and present these positive results to you. With that, I'll pause for any questions.
Well, thank you, that is a very positive report. We appreciate it. Ryan, we appreciate Is this your second audit season, or this would be the third third already. Okay. Well, well, congratulations to you and your team for such a positive report. And I think all of us who live who the cares expending can certainly understand what's behind that finding. So are there any questions of the of my colleagues or my colleagues?
If you might just touch on Gatsby 101. Compensation, absences?
Yes. So compensated absences is the formal term for sick and vacation and other paid time off awarded to employees. So that has already been measured and recorded as a liability on the statement of net position. This standard is basically updating the existing rules to recognize the factors more than sick and vacation time. And then the rules for measuring and recording that time off, oh, two employees needed to be updated. So we do expect it will require some additional time to analyze and perhaps adjust the calculation, but is unlikely to have a truly significant impact on on the statements when we come to you a few years from now after that's effective.
Any additional questions that we need a motion to accept the audit presentation.
Also move amateur?
Thank you moved in supported all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Thank you again for all your work on that very positive.
Madam chair from just my as chairman of the audit committee, I'd like to thank you, Brett and John Paul for their hard work at the meetings that we had, and certainly to the platform and staff. I think they provided and answered all your questions. A Pam Hill Kisa Mansky, and Tyler, loose. It is, and certainly to our staff, sharply Ryan has been very accommodating to any of the questions I had as chairman and the other board members. So, excellent. thank the staff for their assistance, sir.
Thank you for your work on the on the audit committee. Thanks. So I just want to say in terms of the next item on the agenda, which I think is the chairpersons report. First, I think that all of my colleagues on the board, join me in thanking the residents and the voters of the of Southeast Michigan, in terms of the time that they spent reviewing and educating themselves on the millage, you know, in the aftermath of COVID. And you're reaching the conclusion that they did in terms of the services and the importance of public transit. So we are very pleased with the with with with the response that we received from the residents really, of the of the entire region, I think it was really an important voice that was lifted up for public transportation, two words that I would not use to describe what has been, you know, the last 23 days, or the last 11 work days, since that election would be silenced or secretive. In this in Oakland County, our board and our equalization division and our treasurer took immediate action to place the millage on the winter ballot and the winter tax bills. So the residents of Oakland County should know that that's the result of the November election. So they will see that on their winter tax bills going forward. And we're pleased that that action was taken so quickly following the November action. Next week, our board of commission will vote to create a new division within economic development that will be focused on transit that we'll have three members of that initial team that will work in conjunction with Mr. Raza against planning division. So we're really proud that they're working so quickly to stand up the infrastructure that will be needed to move forward, a county wide transit system in Oakland County. We've also had the pleasure of meeting with all of the providers in Oakland County mentioned in the border commission resolution to begin conversations with them about the services that they provide now and expansions that they can undertake immediately. So I think in those 11 days, work day since the election, we've made a lot of progress. We understand and we appreciate the interest of people. I wish some of the folks that were able to comment during public participation would have been able to stay for the board meeting to hear what has already been underway. And we're proud of the efforts and we very much look forward to what we have planned for the next weeks and what we have planned for the first board meeting in January. And what we have planned to really maximize the the confidence that voters have given us and their desire to have a countywide transit program in in Oakland County. So I just wanted to kind of make that statement and move on to the General Manager's report.
Well, at one point, I thought I wasn't going to have much of a report and then things have changed a little bit since then. But I'd like to echo what the chairs statement was as relates to the passage of the millage in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. Certainly as an organization, we put forth a lot of effort to educate the communities about what smart is and what smart is going to be. And we will continue to do so. Community engagement was mentioned very often in our public comments, and we are quite aware of that community engagement is required. In fact, one of the things that you will hear from this body at the next board meeting is the number of contracts we will be awarding to help facilitate community engagement planning and a whole host of things in order to make sure that the public transportation service that we provide to Southeast Michigan is 21st 21st century. One of the things we'll be doing is a bus stop study there close to 6000 bus stops in the service area that have not had a comprehensive review in forever. And so part of that is to make sure that we can provide better service to our customers. I also want to speak to to one thing as it relates to Employees and I too wish that there were people who had stayed who made public comments. To stay in here this, we are going to be an employer of choice. And I want to be clear to everybody who's listening, that smart is going to be competitive and his wages and his work benefits. As somebody who has started his career as a bus operator, I am keenly aware that the work rules that were applicable in 1980, no longer apply today. And we have a number of work rule changes that we, as management are putting forward to improve that. So want people to be clear, it's not that we are not trying to pay competitive wage, and it is not that we are not going to have an environment that people want to work in. As the leader of this organization that is important to up to important to me personally, we can't provide the service without people, I want to be clear that everybody understand that we as an organization know that there are a number of changes that we're trying to do to be able to make that happen, we've got some interesting ideas to recruit that we're going to be doing in the in the first quarter of next year, that I'll speak to more in January, that we want to do to make it easier for people to to accept this job, these jobs. And the other thing that we're also going to be doing just so people will know is we'll we're looking to work with Second Chance programs to be able to increase the options for operators and mechanics as we go forward. So and we already are we've got bored, we've got billboards up, we doing digital advertising, we've got a whole bunch of advertising is going on, not to mention a rather substantial hiring bonus for people that exceeds $3,500. So that's just the sum of it. So I want to make sure that anybody who is looking at this, whether you made a comment or not understands the smartest committed to delivering quality service. And recognizing that there are a whole host of things that that have to be in place to do that. And we want to do so as quickly as possible. So the other couple of things that I want to I want to mention is that we're about to exercise an option with via or our leg service. And at some point is I mentioned to you, I think I mentioned earlier in my comments, we're going to be bringing to the board a list of contracts we will be seeking to solicit next year, one of them is for our mobility app that allow for you to plan your trip pay for your trip and what have you. And that is going to allow integrations with all mode in order to be able to do that. And we're also going to be working collaboratively with the community partners that have 300 plus smart vehicles out there to help with the resources necessary to be able to expand flex and improve it's it's it's reliability. So the Danny has a flex report. But before we get to Danny's flex report, Mr. manucho asked at some point and we provide a briefing on security system security. So mail Evans is going to do their presentation at this time to see where we are and then following that. Dan is going to do a flex update.
So who's who's up in?
Chair? Okay. One second. And I'll tell you what, why don't we do this?
We can defer this until January.
I think I would make one olixar. Okay. Put it on the agenda. Oh, it's coming
before these total January those? That'd be fine.
Both both of those in January. I'll be fine. Thank you. Okay, so moving on to new business. There's three items on the agenda for new business. So I accept a motion and the resolution authorizing additional funding for plumbing repair services contracts. I'm sure. Moved in supported. Mr. Burton.
Good afternoon, Madam Chair, SMART Board of Directors General Manager Faro and Deputy General Manager Gunther smart staff and participate in public is the recommendation for smart means department at the borders after the resolution authorizing additional funding For a plumbing repair service contract to address unforeseen plumbing services to us plumbing and sewer at a cost not to exceed $20,000 For the base three year contract and subsequent $20,000 for each optional year on March 21 2020, smart enough to a contract with USA plumbing and sewer, Inc. for plumbing repair services. The terminals are aging and require replacement of pipes parts and additional Plumbing Repair Services. Additional funding in the amount not to exceed 20,000 is necessary to pay for unforeseen Plumbing Repair Services with a three year contract and subsequent amount not to exceed $20,000 for each optional year. Any questions?
Any questions for Mr. Bert? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? And the motion is approved. I'll accept the motion for a resolution authorizing to award a contract for 53 transit bands. So move Madam Chair, moved in supported Mr. Burt.
There's the recommendation that the board adopts the attached resolution authorizing the award of a contract for the purchase of 53 Trans advanced poster transportation, where this is a one time purchase not to exceed 3,000,802 $591,000 million dollars. Smart has a need for 50 pre trans advance 19 Vans will be used to replace vehicles that are age eligible for retirement and smart fleet and 34 will be or these vans will be used for Community Community Services. Any questions?
Being none all those in favor? Aye. Any opposed?
Excellent. Yes, yes, yes.
Thank you. Moving on, I'll accept a motion for a resolution authorizing to award a contract for bus shelter, maintenance and repair services.
Support Mark Starnes quality script supervisor. Thank you Madam Chair, smart staff and smart board. It is our recommendation for the Board approval resolution authorized for the contract to award for bus shelter, maintenance and repair services. Allied building services of Detroit are a three year contract with a two year one year option. Renewal costs of $1,127,843 Mart has 295 bus shelters in Macomb, Oakland Wayne, and counties required maintenance repairs throughout the year and installation. The word crowd director shall buy monitoring of functionality of the 32 inch screens located on the enhanced bus shelters maintenance parts, labor and repair services for all bus shelters in need. For this service available funds are through the authorities general fund.
Thank you. In preparation for this meeting, I just want to ask the general manager because we did have a conversation about this. I think that bus stops, the conditions that are in the need to add bus stops, update bus stops, move bus stops is of incredible importance to this board. So Mr. Farrell had kind of told me a little bit more about our plans for the near future. So this resolution does not does not does not conflict with what we have to do ahead of us. But I don't know if you want to say anything about the importance of this and our plans for
the future. So for now, this is to make sure that the shelters that we have are in good state. What we are planning to do is to first award a contract for someone to assess our shelter, our bus stops overall. And ultimately it will become a policy of this board to adopt where shelters would be placed how you know, how many boardings and landings are going to be there in order for them to be able to qualify for shelter. So basically it will be in writing in terms of how and where we play shelters, benches, whatever. And so that's something that we'll be looking to do. Tiffany, I think it's but no, it's in the first court. But because we want to award the contract the first quarter because it's now's not necessarily time to be out in the cold trying to do that, but that sort of It will be something that will be done in the spring and summer months. Also, part of this is to facilitate to look at how we can better facilitate transfers between smarting DDOT. It'll also look at the safety of bus stop locations and shelters in particular, the accessibility aspect of them, and what have you, it is also going to require coordination with the various cities and municipalities and townships that currently have them. So the idea behind all of it is to have basically a policy that says, Okay, this is how you get a shelter, this is a down this are for bus bus stops would be one of my observation since I've been here, which is really, that I think doesn't help from a customer point of view. In most places, when you get off of a bus stop, you can look across the street to see the bus you're supposed to come back. Well, you can't do that here. And so that's just one of the many things that we'd be looking so I looked will be comprehensive. It was mentioned before in public comment about places that have QR codes and that sort of thing on bus, yep, bus stops. Those are all things that we are looking to be able to do as we go forward. And so that's all part of it. And in terms of what makes sense for us to be able to, you know, better communicate to customers about frequency. And so
thank you. Thank you for that information. Is there any other questions regarding this specific resolution before us or on the
Madam Chair? How many of the bus stops we have solver at the present time I see in some of the maintenance to use chargers?
Yeah, have, we have two types of solar shelters. And one type is the previous ones that we purchased years ago that are solar powered and lights on that number, from my understanding is it's somewhere in the 50 of those shelters. Other type is the kind of with the 32. Those shelters we are in.
So it's a little bit higher. So So one of the things that I want us to look at is solar power for lighting, as well, as was mentioned earlier, and also want to get us to a point where we can take advantage recognize that not everybody has a smartphone, but a lot of people do in being able to have somebody who can use a QR code reader on your phone to be able to index buses and that sort of thing. And again, the whole idea behind the app is to be able to do the same thing. So having less infrastructure, and a shelter, accepting lighting, and what have you. And being able to take advantage of other technology to be able to provide customer customer information is is where we try to go. I'll also say that. And I recognize there are some laws currently in the state of Michigan that prevent us from doing it. But we want to explore the possibility of advertising on shelters. Because they certainly can help with the expense of maintaining them, as opposed to spending 1.3 million $1.1 million a local money for doing that when we can find businesses who can do that. So that'll be something that we will be exploring as well.
Any other questions?
About the maintenance. After Nico's
time in the past we have a problem
in you. Exactly. So So one of the things that we're going to be doing as part of our outreach with Oakland County and with Macomb is in Wayne, as we talk about what service should look like, we're also going to be talking to Mr. Municipalities about them, doing the something to clean up and us paying them so that they have a you know, a much better I mean, they are already into communities. And it's more cost effective for us to pay them to go and clean up around shelters once a month and we'll get whatever their frequency is. And so that's what we will be exploring as we go forward to address that particular issue. It's the lady What, what? Well, I think, Michigan? Yes, it is. I think that those are all things we'd have to explore. I don't have any stock in Amazon or rain. So I want to qualify that upfront when I make this statement. But they bring cameras ring off as a camera that has batteries in it, but it's also solar powered. So the solar power charges the battery, so that when the days aren't quite as sunny, it can power that. So we want to look at options like f in terms of shelters. So that, you know, on when we've got a string of, you know, dreary days where the sun isn't what it could be that heaters and things like that will still work. So that is something that we're going to explore. But I also want to I want to want to save this just for the for the future. We don't want to put anything in that we can't maintain. And so we can get capital money to do a lot of stuff. But it's the maintenance of it, when it goes in, that's the issue. So we're not going to do anything that is going to put more of a burden on us to be able to keep it up. So that that's going to be part of it either way. I spent rice city street like many municipalities, so don't, those are all things, that's a great idea. Those are all things that we are open to the idea if we can do something and have somebody else maintain it is going to be the key. Because the more that we can pay a fee for somebody to maintain it the better for us, particularly somebody who has the resources to do that. Because if we're struggling trying to hire operators and mechanics, the last thing we need to do is try to hire and hire somebody to, you know, keep up, you know, facilities and that kind of stuff. So
I'm sure just a comment. I know, most young people today can use secure QR codes for easily. I use them in grocery shopping. Unfortunately, I wasn't a technical wizard like my daughter who showed me that little tiny little icon in the corner that I pressed, and then I could scan that QR code. So sometimes you're just a little thing. So the staff can make it as easy as possible for everyone
what Well, one of the things that that we are going to do is our YouTube channel is going to have much more information as we roll these new things out. So that people can say, okay, here is how you use it. And so that's certainly one way in order to be able to do it. And recognize and also that everybody doesn't have access to YouTube, I got it. But there are different brochures and what have you that we can do, or even be able to put signage on the shelf and it says, Okay, this is this is how you do it. And there's always going to be a telephone number. I mean, you know, I mean, let's just get real. That we will we will also have. But just for those of you there are there are actually books out there that you can find that are for iPhone and Android. The look about this for my sister. It is for iPhone or Android for seniors. So you don't have to ask your grandma, your grandchildren.
Oh, my eight year old telling you how to use your equipment. All right, any questions? Are right. Hey, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? So the resolution is approved. So I'll take a motion to go into closed session. Support for that. We need to vote on that. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you we will return
was in favor. If you have the language of the resolution, we take a motion to Oh, any other board member business
is for the good of order. I have two items. Madam Chair I brought to you some time ago. Along with staff, the carbon reduction program grants that some cog head for about, I think eight and a half million dollars. The first round was announced. And I'm glad to say that there were two grants that I was pretty proud of one bike smart, or $4 million for Macomb County, and the other one for a little over a million dollars by Lake Erie transit. And they were part of this carbon reduction program. Le TC which finished number one for carbon reduction in all the grants that were submitted. So I'd like to say thank you staff, guys did a good job. The second round is coming soon. They're not going to some fun public transit on the second round. So local communities, you might have an opportunity here, if you come up with a good carbon reduction program, go to Sim cog, they have the online applications you'll be able to close off. The second thing. One of the things that you hate to see when your transit operator in in Monroe County for Lake Erie transit, we had a evacuation of a middle school with a bounce here. And as you might know, the weather was pretty cold and windy this week. The middle school was out there with no overcoats. And the first thing they called was their bus garage, but they had no bus drivers. They had nothing to bring in as a worming shelter for the students. So they called Lake Erie transit. Lake Erie transit provided several vehicles for them to get the students out of the cold. They took them all of less than 15 minutes to get those buses to the bomb scare so I'm sure there are many in your community. That seems to be the sign of the times but I was glad to see like your trips and jump to and help the community. They were there less than an hour and then the school buses started arrive as they were checking out this thing. So you never know when emergencies occur within your organization. Thank you Madam Chair. Messenger I