METRO OPERATIONS COMMITTEE OPEN ... - Metro Transit

METRO
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
OPEN SESSION MINUTES
FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012
Committee Members in Attendance
Hugh Scott, Chairman
Michael Buehlhorn
Kevin Cahill (absent)
Fonzy Coleman
Jeffrey Watson (absent)
Metro Staff Present
Ray Friem
Jessica Mefford-Miller
Janis Shetley
Paul Stefanski
Leroy Cox
Chuck Clemins
Debbie Erickson
Suzanne Whitehead
Larry Jackson
Robin Salters
Other Commissioners in Attendance
David A. Dietzel
Aliah Holman
Tadas Kicielinski
Metro Staff Present
Bernadette Marion
Scott Grott
Martin Gulley
Patti Beck
Chris Poehler
Kathy Klevorn
Kelly Hamm
Frederick Bakarich
Item 1
Item 4
8:00 a.m. Commissioner Scott called the Open Session Meeting to order. Roll call was
taken. No public comments were made.
8:01 a.m. FY2013 Fare Increase Options.
Jessica Mefford-Miller provided a presentation summarizing the three proposed fare increase
options and the public comments received from e-mails, the hotline and social media as well as
the three public information sessions and a public hearing held last week. Option 2 was
recommended based on research analysis and public reaction. Discussion regarding ADA riders
and discount passes took place. Commissioner Buehlhorn requested a copy of the public
comments. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation is attached to the minutes.
A motion was made to refer Option 2 to the Board of Commissioners for approval at the May
18, 2012 meeting by Commissioner Dietzel and seconded by Commissioner Kicielinski. The
motion passed by voice vote.
Item 5
8:25 a.m. Long-Range Plan Update – High Capacity Corridor Alternatives Analysis Project.
Ray Friem requested authorization to enter into negotiations with the highest ranked firm and to
enter into a contract for services not to exceed $910,000. Commissioner Buehlhorn inquired as
to the deviation from normal procedure. Discussion followed. Mr. Friem explained urgency due
to Federal government timeline for grant funds.
Motion to move forward with the Project was made by Commissioner Buehlhorn.
Commissioner Coleman seconded. Motion passed by voice vote.

Operations Committee Meeting
Open Session Minutes
April 27, 2012
Page 2 of 3
Ms. Mefford-Miller provided a presentation summarizing the project and reviewing the
procurement timeline. A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes.
Item 6
8:45 a.m. Sole Source Contract Award: Trapeze Software Group – Customer Service
Improvement Initiative Phase One INFO-Agent, INFO-Web, Mobile Apps.
Paul Stefanski and Ms. Mefford-Miller gave a presentation outlining the Customer Service
Improvement Initiative Phase One (CSII 1). Discussion ensued. Ray Friem explained that the
addition of the software would take pressure off the call center, help with the transition to Smart
Card calls and be a return on the investment across the board. Commissioner Kicielinski
inquired about the role of firewalls in protecting this technology and associated data. Mr.
Stefanski and Debbie Erickson explained the unlikelihood of the system being hacked. A copy
of the PowerPoint presentation is attached to the minutes.
A motion was made by the Committee to refer this item to the Board of Commissioners for
approval at the May 18, 2012 meeting.
Item 7
9:10 a.m. Contract Assignment Award – Purchase of Fifty-One (51) 35 and 40 Ft. Low Floor
Buses under Duluth Transit Authority Contract.
Larry Jackson provided information regarding entering into an Intergovernmental Agreement
with Duluth Transit Authority that allows Metro to use Duluth’s contract. Commissioner
Buehlhorn expressed concern about the concept of “piggybacking” among Transit Authorities.
The issue was discussed. Implementation would take six to eight months to complete.
Commissioner Coleman made a motion to approve and refer the purchase to the Board of
Commissioners for approval at the May 18, 2012 meeting. The motion was seconded and
passed by voice vote.
Item 8
9:18 a.m. Contract Modification – Health and Welfare Consulting Services
Larry Jackson requested approval by the Operations Committee and referral to the Board of
Commissioners for authorization at the May 18, 2012 meeting to exercise the Option Years 2
and 3 on the Contract 08-RFP-5401-DRfor consulting services with Aon Hewitt not-to-exceed
$775,709.00.
Motion was made by the Committee and carried.
Item 9
9:20 a.m. Contract Modification Eads Bridge Rehabilitation ARRA – Engineering Services
Supplement.
Fred Bakarich presented, for discussion and referral to the Board of Commissioners for
approval at the May 18, 2012 meeting, a contract modification for additional engineering
services on the Eads Bridge Rehabilitation ARRA project with TranSystems Corporation in an
amount not to exceed $2,000,000 and to extend the performance period through October 2015.
Discussion ensued regarding justification for the extension.
Commissioner Kicielinski made a motion to approve and refer to the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Dietzel seconded. Motion passed by a voice vote.

Operations Committee Meeting
Open Session Minutes
April 27, 2012
Page 3 of 3
Item 10
Item 11
Item 12
9:30 a.m. Operations FY2012 - 2 nd Quarter Performance Report
Ray Friem discussed a nearly 4% increase in passenger revenue; expenses are lower than budget
due to lower labor costs; the fuel hedging program; and delivery of new buses replacing older
models with higher maintenance costs. System ridership is up 8% from the same quarter a year
ago with MetroBus showing an increase through 2 nd quarter of 11.08%. There were no
questions.
9:35 a.m. MetroLink Capital Maintenance Plan
Scott Grott gave a detailed presentation highlighting the MetroLink system; the MetroLink and
Maintenance of Way organization; and maintaining MetroLink infrastructure and equipment.
Commissioner Scott inquired about recent accidents and whether Metro crossings had failed.
Mr. Grott stated that these accidents have been the fault of the automobile drivers and not
anything Metro could have prevented. A copy of the presentation was distributed with the
meeting materials.
10:15 a.m. Commissioner Scott recommended the facility tour should be postponed until after
the meeting adjourned.
There was no motion to hold Executive Session. Commissioner Dietzel made a motion to hold
Executive Session at June 19, 2012 Committee Meeting. Commissioner Kicielinski seconded.
The motion carried by voice vote.
No unscheduled business was presented.
Item 16
Item 17
10:20 a.m. Call for Date of Future Operations Committee. June 19, at Metro HQ.
10:20 a.m. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn Open Session was made by Commissioner
Scott and seconded by Commissioner Coleman. Motion carried.
Submitted by:
Hugh Scott, Chairman
Attachments