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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Minutes - City Council - Meeting Date: 6/20/2000 * PLEASE NOTE: Since the Glendale City Council does not take formal action at the Workshops, Workshop minutes are not approved by the City Council. MINUTES CITY OF GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP June 20, 2000 1:30 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Scruggs, Vice Mayor Eggleston, and Councilmembers Clark, Frate, Goulet, Lieberman, and Martinez ALSO PRESENT: Martin Vanacour, City Manager; Ed Beasley, Assistant City Manager; Gary Verburg, Interim City Attorney; and Pamela Oliveira, City Clerk. 1 . PROVISION OF PILOT TRANSIT SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY OF GLENDALE, ASU WEST, GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND THUNDERBIRD GRADUATE SCHOOL CITY STAFF PRESENTING THIS ITEM: Mr. Ken Reedy, Deputy City Manager; and Mr. Jim Book, Transportation Director; and Ms. Diane Adams, Dial-A-Ride Manager. The Transportation Department staff presented to the Alternative Transportation Committee (ATC) examples of several small-scale transit services to which citizens could relate and that could demonstrate a transit success. The GUS bus, a circulator- type bus service in central Glendale, was the first one of these projects to be implemented. The Gus service was implemented in October of 1998, with current ridership well above expectation. In August of 1999, the Luke Link became a regional fixed route available to all citizens. Ridership on these routes continues to increase every month. Following these successes, the ATC requested that staff determine the feasibility of a circulator bus between some of the major educational and healthcare facilities in the City. The purpose of today's discussion was to brief the City Council on the proposed transit service. The proposed Education Circulator is a pilot program to provide bus service between Glendale Community College (GCC), Arizona State University West (ASU West), and the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird Graduate School). The service would provide alternative transportation for students of the participating schools, and would facilitate cooperative, scholastic programs. The general public would also benefit since the service would be available to all riders along its fixed route, especially those on 51st Avenue from Olive Avenue to Thunderbird Road. In addition, because Glendale would have an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) in place with ASU West, Glendale Dial-A-Ride would be able to pick up and drop off passengers on the ASU West campus and provide the required American with Disabilities Act (ADA) service. The service would be funded through cooperative agreements between the City of Glendale, ASU West, Thunderbird Graduate School and GCC. 1 Under the terms of the agreements the City would provide contracted transit service as a pilot program. The service would operate during the timeframe of July 2000 through June 2001. The route would be from GCC, east on Olive Avenue to 51s' Avenue, north on 51st Avenue to ASU West on Thunderbird Rpad. The bus would then travel west on Thunderbird Road to 59th Avenue, north on 59`h Avenue to the Thunderbird Graduate School. The bus would then reverse the route. If approved, an evaluation of the pilot program would be conducted at the end of one year to determine the success of the service. The total cost of providing the service is $132,536. The City would pay 65% of the cost of the service, which includes 50% of costs for operating during the semesters, and 100% of costs for the summer months when school attendance is lowest. In addition, the City would also pay one-time start up costs of $4,500. The institutions would pay 35% of the cost for the service, with ASU West and Glendale Community College each paying 13% and Thunderbird Graduate School paying 9% of costs. The City would exclusively retain monies collected from the fare box. The City of Glendale received one response to the Request for Proposals to provide this service and the vehicle. The proposal was determined to be fair and reasonable. Even though there have been delays in implementing the service, the successful bidder has agreed to honor the proposal and would implement service as soon as feasible upon approval from the City Council. During the last year and a half, staff and members of the Alternative Transportation Committee (ATC) held discussions with ASU West, GCC, Thunderbird Graduate School, and Thunderbird Samaritan Hospital to determine the need and level of support for this service. ASU West reported that there were 700 Community College students taking courses on the ASU West Campus. Approximately 300 were co-enrolled, taking courses both GCC and ASU West courses. There was also student co-enrollment between ASU West students and Thunderbird Graduate students. Preliminary information was provided to the ATC at the May of 1999 meeting and the Committee requested staff to continue discussions with the proposed partners. In May of 1999, the Transportation Advisory Commission (TAC) was provided with details of the proposed service. The Commission recommended that the City go forward with this project. In October of 1999, the Transportation Advisory Commission was asked to recommend a fare structure. Its recommendation was to use the regional bus fares for the service, with a $2.00 all-day pass option for students commuting between schools. At the November of 1999 ATC meeting, the Committee directed staff to proceed with the process and develop intergovernmental agreements with the schools and hospital. In December of 1999, the City issued intergovernmental agreements to the interested parties. Thunderbird Hospital declined to participate in the project due to a reorganization. Signed intergovernmental agreements were received from ASU West, and Thunderbird Graduate School. GCC received approval in April to enter into the agreement. In April of 2000, the Alternative Transportation Committee directed staff to bring this item to a Council Workshop. Staff met with representatives of the major education and healthcare facilities along the route to determine their interest and the need for the service. The service would be marketed at each of the institutions and to the general public through the City's Marketing Department. The proposed service was noted in the City Council budget hearings for Fiscal Year 2000/2001 and also at a Council Workshop held in October of 1999 on proposed House Bill 2565 expenditures. Total cost for one year of this service is $132,536. The cost for the City's share is $90,648. All monies collected from the fare box shall be exclusively retained by the City to offset expenses. Funds for this project are available as one-time funds through House Bill 2565. This item was presented to Council for review and a request to provide staff with direction. Councilmember Goulet asked Mr. Book if there had been any discussion about offering students a semester fee. He also inquired as to the frequency of the trips. Mr. Book stated that they ran a single bus route, which they knew could make a complete circulation in one hour. He explained that they tied the fee to the standard Valley Metro bus fare, with the idea that they could issue transfers. He noted that people can buy bus cards, which can provide considerable savings. He also pointed out that the institutions could choose to issue bus cards that they discount for the students. He stated that they had decided to do an all-day pass for $2.00. Councilmember Goulet asked if bus service would be available for evening classes. Mr. Book stated that they would offer daytime service only because they were not sure that they could get the necessary ridership for evening service. He noted that most evening students come directly from work and drive to the campus. In response to Councilmember Goulet's question, Mr. Book confirmed that the entire fleet would be equipped to carry bicycles. Councilmember Martinez welcomed Councilmembers Clark and Frate. Councilmember Martinez asked Mr. Book if he believed Thunderbird Graduate School would sign the intergovernmental agreement at a later date. He also asked if the fares would be revenue generating. Mr. Book stated that they estimated the fare box revenue to be 20% of the operating cost. He said that he did not know if Thunderbird Graduate School would sign the intergovernmental agreement at a later date. Councilmember Martinez indicated his support of the program. Councilmember Lieberman also welcomed Councilmembers Clark and Frate. He also voiced his support of the program. 3 Councilmember Clark stated that she supported the program because it would reduce the number of car trips. She asked if the ridership would be assessed after a period of time to determine where the majority of the students were coming from. She also asked, if it was established that a majority of the ridership came from ASU West, if they could negotiate with ASU West to have them cover a greater share of the cost. Mr. Book stated that they had discussed the issue of assigning appropriate costs and felt that a one-year test period would provide a better understanding of where costs should be assigned. He stated that ASU West would consider a higher allocation. Councilmember Lieberman asked for confirmation that maintenance was part of the contract and that the City would not bear the cost of maintaining the vehicles. Mr. Book stated that maintenance would be part of the contract. In response to Mayor Scruggs' question, Mr. Book explained that House Bill 2565 funds would be used and that those funds expire in 2003. Mayor Scruggs asked if they would have completed an assessment and decided whether they wanted and could afford to keep the system by the time the funds ran out. Mr. Book explained that they have no financial commitment beyond the first year. Mayor Scruggs told Mr. Book that he had the Council's support for this program. Mr. Book stated that they would ask for a formal commitment at the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 p.m. 4