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Sunset Empire Transportation District
Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Astoria Transit Center Meeting Room
900 Marine Drive, Astoria
November 14, 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:
a. New Business: Flags for the meeting room.
 
APPROVAL OF OCTOBER 14, 2004
Board Action: Motion to by Commissioner Kee, second by Commissioner Goforth to accept the minutes as submitted. Chair Harris, Vice Chair Gannaway, Commissioners Mendenhall, Fenske and Shannon, Kee and Goforth voted yes. Motion passed.
 
REPORT FROM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS:
Chairman Harris: None
 
Commissioner Shannon:
Commented on the Roberts rule of order and how it works. Commissioner Shannon wanted to also go over the new L&G plant that is going in close to the bus barn and offices on Skipanon Drive in Warrenton. Some of the Questions regarding this plant are what is the safe distance for a public transportation district to be from it? There should be government rules on this and we should be alert to these rules.
 
Commissioner Fenske:
Attended the City Council Meeting and Questions came up about the 9th street park. Ms. Howe said that there would be an article in the paper about the park.
 
Commissioner Gannaway:
Would like an update on the Mead report at the next meeting.
 
Commissioner Mendenhall: None
 
Commissioner Kee: None
 
Commissioner Goforth:
Went to the NW Ride Center meeting and said she thought this was a very productive meeting. Ms. Goforth talked about the cash voucher program. One of the things she was startled about was the .25 cents a mile. Ms. Goforth is very happy with the advisory board and the job they are doing. She wanted to comment on the Great job Dave Hablewitz is doing with this board.
 
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR OCTOBER:
Ms. Howe answered some Questions that Commissioner Shannon had asked last month regarding the statement of cash flow. She continued to explain the different financial reports and breakdowns. Commissioner Goforth asked about the cleaning budget and what this covers. Commissioner Gannaway asked about the insurance expenses and wanted to know what insurance was included in this. There were several Questions about how the gas vouchers system works. Ms. Howe has been working with Larry Daimler at OMAP on working out the bugs of the system. Commissioner Fenske has concerns about giving cash instead of vouchers. Ms. Howe said that staff is looking into ways of streamlining this process and making it more cost effective. Ms. Howe said that everybody agreed that as of January 1st everybody would receive a gas voucher then they will be reimbursed after the fact. Ms. Howe explained that there are several different things to work out before this will be a statewide program.
Board Action: Motion by Commissioner Shannon, second by Commissioner Fenske to approve the financial report as submitted. Chair Harris, Vice Chair Gannaway, Commissioners Kee, Mendenhall and Goforth, Shannon and Fenske voted yes. Motion passed.
   
CORRESPONDENCE: None
 
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
 
RESOLUTIONS : None
 
NEW BUSINESS
a. Payphone - a memo is enclosed
  Qwest will install a payphone - Ms. Howe went over what it will take to get a pay phone installed. Chair Harris asked about a contract and how long we have to sign up for. Ms. Howe said that you have to sign up on a 6 month contract after this period if we do not see that the phone is being used a lot we can have Qwest come and take it. We do not get the $415.00 back. Commissioner Kee shared with the board that he is working with NC Phone Company and that they are giving him another quote. Ms. Howe said that she could investigate further. The board would like for us to pursue a phone outside.
 
b. Billboard - A memo is enclosed on the status of this issue.
  All has gone to Heather Reynolds. Ms. Howe will have another report at the next meeting.
   
c. Construction Report - As requested, a memo is enclosed detailing the latest status of the finalization of the construction project.
  Ms. Howe went over the memo and talked about what was included in this memo. Ms. Howe did have a conference call with Skanska and OTAK. Ms. Howe talked about the sidewalks and the joints in the concrete. Ms. Howe also talked about the 9th street park and how expenses will be distributed to the City.
   
d. Inventory/Asset/Depreciation Report
  As requested, a spreadsheet of the district's assets and their depreciation enclosed. Ms. Howe talked about this report and commented on that this is what the Auditors work from. Ms. Howe went over the grants. Ms. Howe will have a list of the grants and what they will be used for. Commissioner Fenske talked about what SETD has to do with the Senior Center and who the bus is available to for use.
   
NEW BUSINESS  
Regarding the flag for the meeting room. Commissioner Shannon feels that this is something that needs to be purchased. We have a beautiful building and we need the American and State flags displayed. After discussion it was decided that we would shop around a bit more to find the best price.
 
OTHER ITEMS:
a. Staff Reports
  Included in packet for your review
   
  Commissioner Fenske wanted to comment on the OMAP program. One of the wives of a dial-a-ride client called and was very upset. Her husband is a regular client for dialysis in Astoria, however, her husband was admitted into Portland Hospital so he would not need his rides for a while. She said that DAR told her that she has to call every day or the rides will be considered a no show. After discussing this for a while it was decided that Ms. Fenske was not getting the whole story from the wife and should talk to Tami in DAR. Ms. Fenske stated that in her efforts to research this issue, she contacted Shannon at Dialysis and Echo at Astoria PT and got very good feed back on the DAR department and the job they do.
   
  Ms. Howe shared with the board that Lynne Kesterson is recovering and in fact has taken a position at the Transit Center working the customer service counter. We are very pleased with her ambition and willingness to continue working for the company in whatever position she can. Ms. Howe also had a thank you letter from the Friends of the Columbia River Maritime Museum thanking Ms. Howe for the impressive presentation at the last meeting she attended.
 
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned 11:10 A.M.
 
Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 21, 2004
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
 
 
 
 
Secretary/Treasurer
 
 
 
 HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU!