I. Call to Order – 9:00 A.M.

II. Roll Call & Introductions

Present:

Don Bergen - Transit Advisory Board Member

Rich Miers - Transit Advisory Board Member

Pat Rahnefeld - Transit Advisory Board Member

Dean Barlow – Councilmember, Lake Havasu City

Staff:

Gary Parsons – Transit Division Manager – Facilitator

Guest:

Chris Bergen

III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes

Dean Barlow made a motion that the minutes from the

January 7, 2009 meeting be approved. Rich Miers seconded the motion and the board unanimously approved the minutes.

IV. Service Update – ARRA – Transit Presentations

Gary Parsons gave the board an update of service for January.

Although January had one less service day in 2010 vs. 2009, ridership increased by 1.5% or 144 rides. Rider increase was from the fixed route service and Seniors on the Move. Transit continues to reduce labor hours and fleet mileage whenever possible.

Transit will hold a Free Ride Day on Saturday, February 6, 2010 for Winterfest 2010. All HAT service will be free on that day.

The Section 5311 grant application was completed and sent to ADOT for the 2010/2011 fiscal year.

Advertising contracts were slow in coming. Gary was contacting City Finance to see if it was okay to reduce the contract term from 12 months to 6 months or 3 months.

Gary pointed out that the board was now down to three appointed members and one assigned Councilmember. With five vacancies, should one member not show at any meeting a quorum would not be reached.

ARRA (Stimulus)

Transit was still waiting for release of funding for the administration building and was expecting the release in the near future. The project would then be presented to the City Council for bid award.

Transit Presentations

Gary has sent out letters to service clubs and committees in the area offering to give them presentations on transit. Gary gave presentations to the Democratic Association of Lake Havasu City and the Golden K Kiwanis in January. Don Bergen thought a presentation to the ADA Advisory Board might be a good idea. Gary said he would contact them.

V. Budget Concerns – Fare Increase – Loss of LTAF & LTAF II

Gary informed the board that at the City Council Retreat in January that he was instructed to submit revenue figures for a fare increase in the upcoming budget. Gary reported that the increase would consist of the following:

Fixed Route:

Regular Fare - $1.25, increase of 25 cents.

No Charge to 5 years and under, no change.

30 pack of Bus Bucks - $30.00, increase of $6.00 per book

Monthly Pass - $36.00, increase of $6.00 per pass.

Don thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to increase to $1.50. Gary agreed that rural systems stay about 50 cents below urban systems. Urban systems may charge more but they offer a higher level of service in that they operate every 10 – 15 minutes instead of once per hour.

Gary informed the board that the State was considering sweeping the Local Transportation Assistance Fund (LTAF) and LTAF II. These funds support HAT with over $200,000 each year. Gary commented that was funding he simply could not make up. LTAF & LTAF II funds were used to match federal funding and it could possibly mean a major reduction in transit service up to 45%. Gary said that this will be a decision for the City Council and nothing has been decided yet.

When asked what the 45% reduction would include Gary responded that it would mean the elimination of two fixed routes, the reduction of curb-to-curb service down to the ¾ mile requirement prescribed by the ADA and elimination of transit service in the county areas including the Shops at Lake Havasu due to the sheer distance it lies north of the town.

Dean Barlow asked if it would be possible to run out to the Shops two or three times each week. Gary replied that to make up the loss of LTAF with cuts would mean a “bare bones” service and that there would simply not be enough funding to operate beyond that. Gary commented that the State Senate was looking at a bill to protect LTAF & LTAF II from sweeps this week and hopefully the State Legislature with consider the same within a week or so.

HAT will be conducting a survey of fixed route riders from February 9 – 12. The survey will have two questions. The first asking what is the rider’s trip purpose that day (work, shopping, medical) and the second question asking how much money the rider earned or spent in the community that day because of the transit ride. This information will be provided to the City Council during the budget process to help the council determine the worth of transit in the community.

VI. Call to the Public

Chris Bergen thanked Gary for the work he has done and improvements to the transit system.

VII. Next Meeting and Future Agenda Items

9:00 A.M. Thursday, March 4, 2010.

· Rich Miers would like a discussion regarding a means to return intercity bus service (Greyhound or Coach USA) to Lake Havasu City.

Adjourn – 9:51 A.M.