Bullhead Area Transit System Commission Regular Meeting – August 4, 2025
Bullhead Area Transit System Commission Regular Meeting – August 4, 2025
On Monday, August 4, 2025, the Bullhead Area Transit System (BATS) Commission held a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the Bullhead City Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations on a new MPO grant and public participation plan, updates on transit finances, ridership, complaints, and federal grant applications, as well as discussion of volunteer and staffing needs.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (May 5, 2025): The commission unanimously approved the minutes after correcting spelling errors: Chairman Pompos’s name (spelled with an O instead of A on pages 2-3) and Commissioner Frizel’s name (missing an E on page 4). Motion carried by voice vote.
Presentations
- Bullhead City MPO Presentation – Executive Director Steve D'Amico: D'Amico announced the start of a 45-day public participation process (August 5 to September 18) required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The process includes town halls on August 11 and September 8 at 5:30 p.m., interviews, presentations to Rotary clubs, Kawana’s, the Chamber of Commerce, County Board of Supervisors, and other organizations. He also detailed a $235,750 grant (93% federal, $14,250 local match) for a regional transit plan, awarded before his tenure by Danielle Brunch. The public participation plan draft is available on the MPO website and at City Hall, District 2 office, and Supervisor Ron Gould’s Fort Mojave office.
Discussion Items
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Transit Program Updates/Reports – Staff Member (Michael):
- Financial and Performance Reports: The 5311 grant was closed out; ridership continues to trend upward, with a projected total exceeding 150,000 rides for the year.
- Passenger Complaint Reports: No complaints were received in the last quarter.
- 5307 Program Update: Staff updated Title VI plan (adopted in May) and is finalizing a Transit Asset Management (TAM) plan, expected to be completed in August or early September. Once approved, the city can apply for annual apportioned operating funds, with reimbursements possibly starting in November.
- 5305(e) Grant Award to BHCMPO: The $250,000 grant (93% federal, ~$14,000 local match) for a short-range transit plan was awarded. City and MPO staff completed the scope of work; the RFP is being finalized with the city attorney’s office and should be issued within weeks. The consultant selection will involve city and MPO staff review, with final approval by the MPO board.
- Staffing & Volunteer Update: A transit office specialist and full-time/part-time driver positions are open. Senior transportation service has had zero rides for several months due to loss of volunteer drivers; volunteer fairs are ongoing. Volunteers need no CDL and can drive a low-floor van for senior/disabled clients one day per week.
- Holiday Closures: Service will be closed on Labor Day (September 1) and Columbus Day (October 13).
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Commissioner Comments & Discussion:
- Commissioner Cindy questioned how underserved populations (e.g., those without internet) will be reached. D'Amico listed newspaper, radio, nonprofit groups, churches, and placement at the library and county offices. Michael added that postings will be placed on transit vehicles.
- Commissioner Cindy noted improved bus routing at Safeway Shopping Center; the bus now pulls up directly to the bench.
- Commissioner Cindy asked about real-time bus tracking displays at the transit building. Michael said this could be considered as part of future facility projects.
- Commissioner Sandy noted the September suicide awareness walk was cancelled due to medical issues.
- Future agenda items: Cindy asked about service expansion to Fort Mojave. Michael responded that the short-range plan will include recommendations for Fort Mojave, Mojave Valley, the tribe, and possibly Laughlin connectivity with Silver Rider.
Key Outcomes
- Minutes approved with corrections.
- No other formal actions taken; discussion items were informational only.
- Next steps: Public participation process begins August 5; town halls on August 11 and September 8. RFP for transit plan consultant to be issued within weeks. TAM plan to be completed by September. Staff to continue recruitment for drivers and volunteers. The commission will receive updates at future meetings.
Meeting Transcript
No, Garn will not be here today. Perfect. Okay. Uh, welcome. This is the Bullhead Area Transit System Commission regular meeting. Monday, August 4th, 2025. Uh call to order. Uh Madam Secretary Rocal. All commission members that are present. Commissioner Frizal is joining us via telephone. Commissioner Frizel, can you hear me okay? Yes, I can. Thank you so much. Thank you. Okay, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge elections to the night. And for which it stands. One nation under God. With liberty and justice for all. All right, presentations. Hi, Vice Chair, Board, City Clerk, Michael. I'm just gonna be very brief today. Um, give a little quick update on our um our grant that uh we're working with Michael on, and then uh tomorrow we're officially with the Bullhead City MPO. We're gonna be starting our public participation process for our public participation plan. It's a 45-day plan, but I'll get into that here briefly. Uh right now I'll just get into the to the grant that we got. Has Michael uh shared that with you already? Um a little. For the regional transit plan. It's one of the things we do through the MPO. It's a four-year plan. Um three to four years, could be five, could be six, could be seven, could be, but technically it is supposed to be like a four to five year plan. Um, but they're gonna be going out for a consultation. Michael's done all the scope work and everything so far. Uh, the amount, and actually, I want to give props to Danielle Brunch right here. She actually got this before I come on board. It's a 235,750 uh grant that she got with a local match of 14,250. Um, this will get started. Uh we have to do this public participation plan first, which will take 45 days going out into the public. There'll be multiple different uh um ways we're gonna do that. We're starting here today, even though officially tomorrow will be the first day of the 45 days that we start. We'll announce at the council meeting. We're gonna have tonight we have some hard copies in the back. Uh we'll have them also at tomorrow night's council meeting. Uh we'll be going out to um uh uh the chamber of commerce government affairs meeting. We'll have two town halls here, one on 811, another one on 9-8. Uh we'll be doing uh interview with Make Bullhead Better, uh the Finley Bod uh podcast. We'll be doing both rotary clubs here in uh in Bullhead and in Fort Mojave. Uh Kawana's in Bullhead City, we'll be doing the County Board of Supervisors, and uh since I talked to Robin, uh hopefully we'll be doing military moms as well. And if any organization uh would like to have us come out and talk about the participation plan, we'd love to do that.
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