Bullhead Area Transit System Commission Regular Meeting - August 7, 2023

The Bullhead Area Transit System (BAT) Commission held its regular meeting on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 1:45 PM. All commission members were present except Commissioner Ramalat. The meeting included approval of minutes, staff reports on grant transitions and facility planning, commissioner comments, and suggestions for future agenda items.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: A motion to approve the minutes from the May 15, 2023 meeting was made, seconded, and approved unanimously by all present members, including Commissioners Meening and Gift who participated via telephone.

Discussion Items

• Program Updates Report (Michael Peluso, Supervisor):

  • Financial & Performance Reports: Presented without questions.
  • 5307 Grant Program Transition: Staff continues working on the transition to the 5307 grant program. A new FTA recipient checklist is being used. Major approvals are pending the creation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which is being handled by the city manager’s office. Updates will be provided as the process moves forward.
  • Transit Facility Project Update: Council recently approved a contract with Selbergan Associates for engineering services for a new dedicated transit facility. A kickoff meeting has occurred. The project is expected to take about nine months. The identified site is a 1.5-acre parcel next to the DMV, across from Public Works and adjacent to Gary Keith Park.
  • Marketing & Advertising Update: At the commission’s prior direction, staff discussed increasing bus stop amenities with the human services director and city sponsorship coordinator. The sponsorship coordinator will continue current responsibilities; no new positions are in the adopted budget. Staff will continue evaluating stop amenities system-wide for future budgets. Commissioners discussed the possibility of local businesses sponsoring benches or shelters, noting a prior list of top amenity locations but that some stops on that list had very low ridership. Staff indicated that driver or public requests for amenities are infrequent.
  • Recent & Upcoming Events: No service on Labor Day (September 4, 2023) and Columbus Day (October 9, 2023) due to staffing levels and historically low ridership on those days. Notifications will be posted on buses.

• Commissioner Comments (Chairperson Gary):

  • Gary, whose term is ending and who is moving outside city limits, shared concerns from a conversation with a bus driver. Topics included: driver safety (cameras, panic buttons, inability to carry pepper spray), low driver pay, high bus mileage, worn driver seats (duct tape), need for driver recruitment/training, cleanliness of buses and stops, and the importance of driver recognition. He suggested periodic forums with drivers and that future commissioners ride buses to hear driver perspectives.
  • Commissioner Gift (via phone) thanked Gary and Jared for their service and proposed future agenda items: consider rebranding BAT (e.g., “Pole Rider”) during the grant transition; make advertising opportunities available to new business license applicants; update the BAT app with physical addresses for stops; and ask council for more funding for shade covers and seating at all bus stops.

• Future Agenda Items: Commissioners discussed adding the rebranding suggestion as a future agenda item. Chairperson Gary encouraged commissioners to work with Michael Peluso to develop ideas and potentially survey the public. No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: Unanimous approval of the May 15, 2023 commission meeting minutes.
• No Other Actions: No requests for postponement/withdrawal, no public comments, and no action items other than the minutes.
• Next Steps: Staff will continue work on the 5307 grant transition, the transit facility engineering project, and evaluation of stop amenities. Future meetings may include discussion on rebranding and other commissioner suggestions.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned without further business.