Sunset Empire Transportation District Monthly Commissioners Meeting Minutes Web Page

a.		Special District Election, May 17, 2005
Sunset Empire Transportation District Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes Astoria Transit Center Meeting Room 900 Marine Drive, Astoria December 21, 2004 9:30 a.m.
CALL TO ORDER; PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
Meeting called to order at 9:30 AM.

ROLL CALL
.		Bob Gannaway David Shannon Marcia Fenske Charolotte Mendenhall Vic Kee Rae Goforth Jack Harris Chair

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: None

CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:None

APPROVAL OF NOVEMBER 16, 2004
Change Noted: L & G Plant should be - LNG Plant in the November 16, 2004 minutes.

Motion by Commissioner Shannon, second by Commissioner Mendenhall to accept the November 16, 2004 minutes as revised. Chair Harris, Vice Chair Gannaway, Commissioners Fenske, Kee, Goforth, Shannon and Mendenhall voted yes. Motion passed.

REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS:
Chairman Harris: None

Commissioner Shannon:None

Commissioner Fenske:
Had a really nice comment from a constituent about the transit center and the use of operations.

Commissioner Gannaway: None

Commissioner Mendenhall: None

Commissioner Kee: None

Commissioner Goforth:

FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCTOBER:
Motion by Vice Chair Gannaway, second by Commissioner Fenske to approve the financial report as submitted. Chair Harris, Commissioners Mendenhall, Kee, Gofort, Shannon, Fenske, and Vice Chair Gannaway voted yes. Motion passed.

CORRESPONDENCE: None

PUBLIC HEARINGS: None

RESOLUTIONS : None

OLD BUSINESS:
		Ms. Howe talked about the phone in the transit center available to the public. We are still working on getting one in. However, the customer service area does have a phone that if a passenger needs to make a local call customer service will let them use this phone.

NEW BUSINESS:
		There will be three board members up for re-election.

b.		For the next meeting we will discuss how we want to do the goal setting meeting and discuss the issues of the LNG Plant hazards.

OTHER ITEMS:
a.		Staff Reports - Included in packet
		Ms. Howe talked about the staff awards banquet and how much fun it was. Ms. Howe shared with the board some of the comments that the employees shared when receiving the awards. Many of them said that this is the best organization to work for and the best place they have ever worked.

		Commissioner Shannon asked about the payment from the parks department. Ms. Howe said that we have not yet received the payment, she will pursue this. Commissioner Fenske asked about the cash reimbursement and the new procedure that will take place the first of the year where instead of cash it will be strictly vouchers. Ms. Howe said that herself and the financial officer Brenda Higgins went to a meeting in Salem and talked to the head of Dept. of Human Services about what to do with this process. Ms. Howe will send a notice out to all clients letting them know the changes that will take place January 15, 2005. There will be no cash back the client will get a gas voucher for first and second leg of their trip. Ms. Howe talked about the staffing and some changes that will be taking place that will also save us money. Ms. Howe talked about the great things that are coming about because of this program. There will be joint application for grants. This will allow for more than one county to work together on transportation to hospitals in Portland. The elderly and disabled will be able to really benefit from this because the bus will take them from home to the hospital door.

b.		Construction
		The only thing that Ms. Howe reported was the release of 40k dollars. We are checking the thickness of the sidewalk, a gate valve and check valve in the sump pump. We are holding the rest of the funds until this is taken care of.

c.		Update on MEAD
		Ms. Howe did put a brief update on the MEAD report in the packet. There are some items still being worked on such as: Annual Report Annual Calendar Capital Equipment Replacement

d.		List of grants awarded and status for 03-05 biennium
		(List included in the packet) The match is not hard dollars. Ms. Howe went over the list and plans for the next year. Ms. Howe explained the list in more detail.

		Commissioner Shannon had concerns about the flag stop and picking up people up where there is not a designated stop. Ms. Howe explained that within the cities there will be determined fixed route stops. When going between the cities we will have to have flag stops available. Commissioner Shannon asked about additional insurance because of the safety of flag stops. Ms. Howe said this is not a worry because the federal and state laws that governs yielding to buses. This is why we have lights on the back of the buses so that when a driver is stopping they turn on the flashers and when they go back into traffic the yield light flashes. If the vehicles do not give way to the bus then the vehicle is in violation.

		Commissioner Shannon asked about board training on the upcoming issues in the transportation district. Ms. Howe said that she could make the magazines that she receives available to the Board so they can be updated on current issues.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned 10:38 a.m.

Next meeting scheduled for January 18, 2005











Respectfully submitted,





Secretary/Treasurer



HAPPY NEW YEAR!