Sunset Empire Transportation District Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes PO Box 68, Warrenton, OR 97146 Phone (503) 861-0657 Toll Free 866-811-1001 Fax (503) 325-1606 www.ridethebus.org
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May 26, 2009
	Members Present: Chair Fenske, Commissioners, Bline, Conner, Gaebel, Gannaway
	Members Absent:Commissioners Mendenhall, Goforth
	Staff Present:Executive Director Howe, Sarah Dailey, Brenda Higgins, Roni Shaw, Lori Karl, Pat Ehrlich
	Guests: Mary McArthur
	Meeting called to order 10:10 AM
	Pledge of Allegiance
	Roll Call
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:
	(Comment time limited to 3 minutes per guest)
	No audience present.
CHANGES TO THE AGENDA:
	Added Mary McArthur to the agenda under NEW BUSINESS to discuss and approve the new SETD MIG plan. Also, Commissioner Conner will be arriving late, so the board will not have a quorum until that time; therefore all voting items will wait to be discussed until she arrives.
APPROVAL OF APRIL 2009 MINUTES :
	One small change was made to clarify the discussion regarding SETD and the Bank of Astoria. The previous sentence implied SETD was a new client of Bank of Astoria, when actually we've been a client for many years. The clarification is that SETD has recently begun research comparisons of other banking institutions.
	COMMISSIONER BLINE MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE APRIL 2009 MINUTES. COMMISSIONER CONNER SECONDED. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND MOTION PASSED.
REPORTS FROM CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS:
	Commissioner Conner said an incorrect sentence was included in her quote in The Daily Astorian. It mentioned that we were working to provide service from Cannon Beach to Astoria; this is not the case since the SETD service already exists.
	Commissioner Bline reported on his NWACT meeting. ODOT is looking at all of the alternatives to the fuel tax in order to raise revenue. ODOT has fewer dollars each year for road improvements, and repairs are not highest on the priority list.
	Chair Fenske reported that she has seen the decline in our roads in Oregon State; OR 47 is one of them that she has recently driven and it could use some additional guard rails in areas where the road drops off. She congratulated those people who won their elections, Commissioners Gannaway, Conner, Bline and Mendenhall.
	Director Howe will be meeting with someone from Seaside's Transportation Systems Plan, regarding SETD's operating expenses for running the Trolley in Seaside. Since Transit has become a main focus of the plan, they are looking at unique transport options that tourists, businesses and locals alike would utilize.
	Commissioner Bline added that fixed route services often get overlooked by downtown businesses as a great resource for their employees, and bulk passes may be a good option for them.
	Chair Fenske asked if there is a timeline for getting the Astoria Bicentennial Committee (ABC) decals onto the back of the buses.
	Director Howe said the first Whitewater Institutes were comprised mainly of educators, and that is why there are still a large number of educators involved. The institute hosts a summer, week-long rafting trip funded by grant money. The trip includes team work and network discussions in an outdoor environment. She has been invited, but is undecided whether she will attend.
	Director Howe said things are progressing; however the ABC Committee has to approve everything, so it's just a matter of going through the right steps.
FINANCIALS :
	Commissioner Bline mentioned the comparison from last year to this year on page 9, that show SETD's revenues have increased 17.7%, while expenses have increased 27.8%. He hopes those two eventually even out.
	Director Howe said it's difficult to look at those particular percentages, because often there are grant funds the district has not yet received. Also, the increase in expenses was due to the new routes.
	COMMISSIONER BLINE MADE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE APRIL 2009 FINANCIALS AS PRESENTED. COMMISSIONER CONNER SECONDED. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND MOTION PASSED.
OLD BUSINESS
a.	Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) Alternate
	a. The board discussed this item, and decided to select a CEDR alternate at a later time, when the regular SETD board election takes place, so long as one is chosen in time to attend the July meeting.
b.	Tote Bags- Update
	They are finished! All board members are receiving a bag; if you have not yet, please contact Sarah Dailey. A complementary bag will be sent to all Dial-A-Ride clients, and the bags are also used for promotional events. They will also be available for purchase at the Transit Center for $1 each.
NEW BUSINESS
a.	Resolution 2009-02-Authorize Issuance of Tax Anticipation Notes
	A RESOLUTION OF SUNSET EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT IN CLATSOP COUNTY, OREGON AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX AND REVENUE ANTICIPATION NOTES, SERIES 2009A.
b.	Mary McArthur- SETD MIG
	Mary McArthur, the coordinator for Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook County transportation plans. She reviewed the changes being made to the May 2009 Coordinated Plan. A few clarifications were made: monthly passes for SENIOR/DISABLED were reduced from $45 to $30, service to meet with Columbia County Rider Transit is to WESTPORT (not Svenson), and there is a reference to CSR, which should instead be CRS (Coast Rehab Services),
	Director Howe provided clarification about the MIG item that refers to a stakeholder advisory group, separate from the SETD Board, which would be comprised of system users. The group would look creatively at potential improvements from a stakeholder perspective, rather than based on the inherent limitations to the current district system. The goal is to have a group established by the end of the year.
	COMMISSIONER GANNAWAY MADE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MAY 2009 SETD MIG INTO THE SETD COORDINATED PLAN WITH THE AMENDED CHANGES. COMMISSIONER CONNER SECONDED. ALL WERE IN FAVOR AND THE MOTION PASSED.
OTHER ITEMS :
a.	Operations, Human Resources, and NWRC Reports
	Director Howe reminded the board of the minor route changes that will take place on June 1st. Fliers are posted to let riders know, and schedules are available now.
	Roni Shaw explained the new changes will help eliminate longer wait times between some of the routes, especially with the Express Route and Seaside.
	There was some discussion about Seaside wanting to re-initiate use of the trolley bus downtown. It was mentioned that many of the businesses in that area should utilize fixed routes for employee transportation. However, many of the businesses simply aren't aware of the services and programs available.
	For the NWRC Report, there was a question regarding the NWRC Report and total Medix wheelchair trips being much higher than SETD's DAR wheelchair trips. It was noted that Medix transports outside of Clatsop County, while DAR is strictly local. Medix is also licensed to provide a higher level of service, unlike DAR.
	Chair Fenske asked about the reports she's been reading regarding Astoria Airport transportation services.
	Director Howe said we already have basic service in place, and any detailed communication is taking place between Bruce Conner and Seaport Airlines.
	Meeting Adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
	Sarah Dailey Recording Secretary
Approved:
	Commissioner Goforth
	Secretary/Treasurer
THIS MEETING IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED, AN INTERPRETER FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED MAY BE REQUESTED UNDER THE TERMS OF OS 192.630 BY CONTACTING SUNSET EMPIRE TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT AT 861-7433