Good morning.

I'm Council Member Gil Schussler, Chair of the Hart Heart Board Chair.

Please silence all electronic devices for the duration of the meeting.

Welcome to the February 2nd, 2026 Board of Directors regular meeting, which is now called to order.

The meeting format is hybrid with board members physically present at the Heart Administrative Offices, 1201 East Seventh Avenue, Florida Conference Room, and participating via communication media technology.

If you are able, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Yeah, before um before staff takes attendance.

I just wanted to state on the record that Councilmember Alan Clenden previously notified staff that he will not be attending the meeting due to a scheduling conflict.

Thank you.

Okay, staff, please take attendance.

Present.

Present.

Director Knight.

Present.

Present.

Director McConaughey.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Director Kniebrick.

Here.

Chair Schisler.

Here.

Director Riera.

Here.

Director Williams.

Here.

Director Wastel.

Here.

You do have a quantum.

Thank you very much.

Next we have public comment, which will we will start with a statement for board council, Mr.

Jeffrey Gibson.

Thank you.

Members of the public have the right to speak on any relevant issue during the public comment process.

However, certain items may be rooted in contract, pending legal recourse, or prohibited by this board's policy, which prohibits involvement by this board in the normal employer employee relationship between the CEO and any other employee or employee or employee union of heart.

While the public could address those matters, board members are advised not to discuss them during this meeting.

Thank you, Mr.

Gibson.

The Heart Board of Directors welcomes comments from citizens about any issue or concern.

Your opinions are valued in terms of providing input to the board members.

When addressing the board, comments should be directed, shall not be directed personally against the board member or staff member, but rather directly directed at the issues.

This provides a mutual respect between board members, staff, and the public.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I want to wait till uh she pass out this uh copies that I've right.

Okay, during the last meeting, um, it was mentioned that the board wouldn't deal with the human resources issues.

So um I brought the book.

This is your contract that the board signed for uh February 20, February 3rd, 2025, uh September 30, 2027.

What I have from this book is an article of out of class work, and uh the CAO mentioned last meeting that all his um managers are here and on top of the issue.

So I want to raise the question about bus drivers versus pair transit, and uh as you can see, uh I put an asterisk or try to put an asterisk by uh six out of class work provisions, and I underline substantially difference.

So, what I want you to do in private is ask the managers and the CEO.

What's the difference?

First is buses, pair transit.

Is it a significant difference in what they do?

Secondly, I would like to for you to pay attention to uh C what is it compensation, right?

So if there is not a difference in how they get pay or a difference in what their work does, I would say that yeah, the pay should be different, and it shouldn't be a class issue.

Uh uh class, a class work issue, right?

So we need to look at this policy, fix it, get it right, because now that eventually you're gonna have to deal with this.

All it takes is a class action grievance for the for you to fix this, the separation in the in the work classes.

So if you don't want to deal with that somewhere down the line, you know the union about to have another uh election coming up, and you never know who's gonna put that class action in.

This has been going on for a while, and it might cost you a lot of money.

So I'm just putting you on notice now to pay attention to this article because it's definitely a dip a big difference.

You probably paid a lot of money to bring the pair of transit up to the salary of the bus operators when you made that the whoever made that decision.

So just a warning might want to look at that.

Thank you, Mr.

Green.

Your your your comments are appreciated.

Um that that's all the people I had signed up.

Is there anybody else that wish to speak at this point?

Appearing to be none, thank you very much.

Um thank you for your comments.

Uh next we'll have a recognition of an outgoing board member.

On behalf of the board, I'd like to recognize recognized director Gary Hartfield for his service uh on the board.

He was appointed on November 1st, 2023, and throughout his tenure, um, he represented the Hart Board on the Affordable Housing Authority Board, the Transportation Planning Organization, and the Tampa Historic Streetcar, and serving as also serving on many uh committees, including strategic planning and external relations committee, finance and audit, and the charter review ad hoc committee.

Um Mr.

Drainville has a uh uh crystal bus as a token of recognition of your service, and he's on his way up there.

Um you'd like to say anything.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, CEO, CEO Drainville.

To the board administration and staff, thank you for the opportunity to serve the nearly 1.5 million residents in Hillsborough County.

As you're aware, our public transit system is integral to all of the indicator indicators that will attract and retain companies and individuals to our county.

Please keep up the important work that we do here at heart.

It is central to the long-term vitality and sustainability of our county.

Thank you again.

Thank you, Mr.

Hartfield.

Okay, next in the election of a hard board member, uh uh to the uh Hard Board Vice Chair.

Um, I'm sorry, I apologize.

I apologize.

Yes.

Um is there anybody who would like to get a picture with with Mr.

Hartfield?

I'm an executive director and the uh Senator from the right.

Come on, but Mr.

Hartfield, come on up.

My apologies.

Bring your uh no, no, your idea, bring your your void.

Yes, ma'am.

All right.

Don't be in the front.

Are we in the world?

Okay, you're good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh given Mr.

Hartfield's resignation.

There's a vacant position for the heart board vice chair.

Um board officers are elected through an open process and nominations accepted from the floor.

Um as director, miss Myers is currently serving as the secretary.

She is serving as the county elective representative, meeting the requirement of Hard Board Policy 120, General Organization of Hearts, Section 120.03 officers.

This process I will ask for nominations for the floor, which do not require a second.

Once nominations are closed, I will ask board members to vote on the nominations in order received to identify one board member with a majority of votes.

The last step will be to confirm the board officers' election with a motion by the board.

Do we have any questions?

And you can nominate yourself if you so desire.

Um do we have any nominations for the floor for the 2026 Hart Board Vice Chairperson position?

I would uh nominate uh Director King.

Okay, Director King.

Director King, you accept that that nomination?

I do, thank you.

Okay.

Any other nominations?

Yes, I'd like to nominate um Commissioner Myers.

Well, she's already see Commissioner Myers is currently board secretary.

Okay, do you want to sell you the in Robert Rule's one vacancy?

You can move on.

Well, that's I mean, do you accept the the nomination?

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

Um do we have any other nominations?

Appearing to be none.

Um staff, would you please do um a cather?

Could you roll call?

We have uh Mr.

Chair.

I'm gonna withdraw because there's only one name, and I just remain the secretary.

Okay, okay.

All right, so we have one name.

We have we have Director King who's nominated the uh uh board vice chair.

So um we'll retain a motion as such.

So moved.

We have a second.

We have a second.

Any discussion on the motion?

Appeared to be none.

Um all in favor, please get by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye, aye.

Okay, Director King, congratulations.

Um, you are the uh vice chair of the board for 2026.

Next on the uh next item we'll have are some appointments that uh have to be made.

First, the first election be for the additional member of the Tampa Historic Streetcar Board, known as the THS board.

Uh this board meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m., which was just recently changed for 1 p.m.

Currently serving as members are Director Melanie Williams and Councilmember Alan Clinton.

Are there any members who wish to be nominated or any nominations or anybody who wishes to volunteer for that position?

Pardon me.

Anybody interested in serving in the historic street car commission?

Anyone want to nominate somebody for serving on the historic street car?

Ms.

Williams, you're a uh regular or you alternate?

You regular?

How many regulars do we need?

I'm an alternate, uh Mr.

Chair, and I'll uh absent any other uh nominations.

I'll put my name in the hat for that role.

But that sounds good.

Okay.

Um Director Nebrick has volunteered to run uh to be the regular member for the THS.

Um do we need a separate motion for each one of these?

Okay, so I'll entertain a motion to appoint uh Director Debrick as the uh uh regular member to the uh Tampa Historic Streetcar.

Second motion is second.

All in favor, please go saying aye.

Aye aye, any opposed, thank you.

Congratulations.

Okay.

Yeah, that could say we got a regular now.

We have we have an alternate position that's open.

Um anybody interested in being the alternate to the Tampa Historic Street Car.

I believe I am an alternative at this point.

Yeah, because I attended the last meeting, and we'll just maintain that at this point if that's all right with everybody else.

Um if we need to do any an additional later meeting, we can do it then.

Next election is for a member of the transportation planning organization of TPO, which meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m.

The current alternate is Director King, who is still interested in serving as a member uh as the member capacitor.

Um if he is an appointment if he is appointed as regular, then we'll need an alternate will need to be appointed.

Um are there any nominations for uh regular member uh in uh other than the director king is who has expressed interest in moving up to the regular member appearing to be none.

Uh did we have a can we have a motion then to appoint Director King as the regular member to the TPO?

So move second who's read a motion first.

Okay, also uh motion is second.

Um any discussion appeared to be none.

All in favor, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye, opposed.

Okay, so then we'll need an alternate to the uh TPO.

Anyone interested in being an alternate to the Tampa Planning Organization?

Jurisprudential planning organization.

Anyone?

All uh voluntarily alternate.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Dieber.

So we have we have uh a excuse me.

We have a uh uh an election by uh uh director Diebrick.

Uh we have a motion to appoint him as the alternate to the TPO.

So move it by we have motion by direct by Director Via and second by Director Knight.

Um all in favor, please keep saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Like okay, great.

Uh congratulations, everybody.

We have uh TPOs covered, and last but not least, I believe is the uh alternate for the affordable housing advisory board, which meets on the second Monday of the month at 9 a.m.

Director Williams is currently serving as a member to the board.

Are there any nominations uh from the floor for an alternate?

Do we have any nominations?

Anyone willing to do it okay.

Well maybe you're you'll be well represented because I serve as chair of the board.

Okay.

So we can information we need back to us.

Okay, sounds good.

Thank you.

All right, maybe we can twist somebody's arm between between now and the next meeting.

So we will just stay that is that okay, Mr.

Gibson.

Okay, very good.

Okay, thank you very much, everybody.

Uh, this concludes the appointments for the full board.

Next agenda item is the approval of the uh meeting minutes for January 5th, 2026 for the board of directors regular meeting.

Everybody should have an opportunity to review.

Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

So moved.

Second.

Motion is second.

All in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye, like opposed.

Okay, motion passes.

Thank you.

Uh next, we have an adoption of revisions to heart board policies.

Um, you are recognized to introduce this agenda item.

Thank you through the chair.

In accordance with heart board policy 320.01 pro procedure for amendment of policies.

The board may from time to time amend the policies or other procedures.

This is a review meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the heart board policy, section 500 procurement policies, specifically 510.01 procurement manual and form a recommendation to proceed with adoption.

Ms.

Zikinfos, uh Director of Procurement will provide more details about the proposed changes.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Um Chair, board members, Mr.

Drainville.

Kathy Zickafus, Director of Procurement for the Record.

So there are five proposed revisions to the procurement manual, and I will um go over them.

First is to add a special exemption to 2-305 for litigation expense or professional legal services to include but not limited to court reporters, process service, subpoena services, expert witnesses, and serve surveillance.

And the second amendment is uh to add paragraph 2502 to ensure compliance with FTA requirements.

The head of the procurement department will conduct an annual review of all applicable federal clauses.

This procedure is to be completed by the beginning of each fiscal year for incorporation during the upcoming fiscal year, and serves to identify any new or revised revised clauses as well as to confirm that existing clauses are correctly incorporated into the procurement documents.

The process begins with the head of the procurement department obtaining the most current version of the FTA master agreement and circulars from the FTA official website.

A thorough review of these documents will highlight any changes or additions to the applicable federal clauses, and this clause will satisfy the deficiency of missing FTA clauses found in the fiscal 25 triannual audit.

The third item is to add a paragraph to 2502, Build America by America and exhibit U02 for construction solicitations.02 selection of legislative consultants, general counsel legal services, and chief executive officer recruiting services to read the authority may use a competitive solicitation process or informal competitive process when obtaining legislative consulting services, general counsel and legal services for the recruitment of the of the chief executive officer.

In preparation for this, the board shall appoint an eight the board chair.

I'm sorry, this is the change.

The board chair shall appoint an ad hoc committee to oversee the selection process.

This is in alignment with Hart's policies.

And finally, to incorporate the FTA circular 4220.1G into the procurement manual.

Any questions?

Very good.

Comments.

Okay.

Is there a motion to adopt the revisions of the hardcore policy 500 procurement policies 510.01 and the procurement annuals presented by staff?

Move to approve.

Second.

Okay.

Oh, sorry, to motion and second.

Any discussion of the motion?

Ms.

Mr.

Chair, if you could use your mic.

I apologize.

Um we have motion by uh Commissioner Myers and the second by Director Hart.

Um sorry, Director King.

Um in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

All right.

Motion carries.

Thank you very much.

The heart finance and extra consent agenda, the heart finance, and audit and operations of safety committee metal January 12th, 2026.

And recommended approval of action items 8A through 8F.

Are there any questions for staff on the consent agenda items?

Appeared to be none.

Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda?

Move to approve.

Motion Vard.

Commissioner Myers, seconded by Director King.

All in favor, please saying aye.

Any opposed.

Motion passes.

Action items for presentations.

So next in the heart strategic planning and external relations committee that are January 12th, 2026 to hear a presentation about this action item of recommended approval of it.

Mr.

Jesus produced a Garcia Metagross Services Development.

You are recognized to present this item.

Good morning, sir.

Hi, good morning.

Um, Church is letter board members, Mr.

Drainville.

Uh my name is Jesus Brassarsian.

I'll provide some context on this action item.

Uh the priority list is the first step to get projects into the FDOT work program and the transportation improvement program or TIP, which is important for receiving federal funding.

Uh the priority list uh process also allows us to opt in for specific or to opt for specific parts of TPO and FDOT funding.

Um current funding applications are for fiscal year 2032.

This funds are program five years out.

From the last priority list cycle, Hard Got 11 million dollars program for fiscal year 2031 for our top three priorities, which are heavy maintenance facility, bus replacements on midlife overhauls, and bus stop capital repairs.

Receiving 11 million out of 22 million available in TPO funding is pretty outstanding.

Note that this is pretty much recurring funding we get every year for our top three priorities.

Which leads me to Hart's priority list for this upcoming cycle, which you can see on the screen.

We have the following seven projects ranked in priority order.

Bus replacements and mid-life overhauls, heavy maintenance facility, and bus stop capital improvements.

Those are the recurring top three priorities.

Priorities numbers four and five are the T Coast Street Crow extension and the airport to downtown premium transit corridor, which are City of Tampa projects that we include in our list as a show of support, seeing as HART is a major stakeholder in these projects.

Lastly, we have priorities numbers six and seven, the paratransit CAD ABL project, and the Temperature Bus Rapid Transit or BRT.

After board approval, this letter will be submitted to the TPO by February 20th, along with funding applications.

That said, the action before you today is to authorize the CEO to submit the approved fiscal year 2032 list of priority projects to the TPO.

Thank you for your time and I'm happy to take any questions.

Okay, do we have any questions?

Appearing to be none.

Can we entertain a motion?

I'll return a motion to approve the TPO list for a motion to second.

Any discussion on the motion?

Appearing to be none.

All in favor, please saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Motion passes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And you'll be able to, you'll you'll have you'll get this filed.

It's gonna be filed this month.

Sorry.

It's gotta be filed by the 20th, I think you said.

Yeah, yeah, February 20th.

All right, good.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh next we'll have the chief executive officers report.

Mr.

Drink for your recognized.

Thank you, Chair, and good morning again, board members.

Good morning.

So starting off with some financial highlights, the FY 2025 external annual financial audit is underway and near completion.

It is planned to be presented to the audit, the audit report at the February 16th Finance and Audit Committee meeting and the March 2nd board meeting.

We are aware at this day on this day that the Strawberry Festival Parade for our board members, the county commissioners.

We have we'll have to leave early on that day because of so staff will be cognizant on the scheduling conflict and have this early on the agenda.

The budget and grants department would like to thank everyone for completing their MPRs in a timely manner.

The 2025 NTD annual report was submitted on January 30th.

The FTA uses NTD data to apportion funding to urbanized and rural areas in the United States.

Transit agencies report data on several key metrics, including vehicle revenue miles, vehicle revenue hours, passenger miles travel, unlinked passengerships, and operating expenses.

The 5310 grant applications were submitted on January 27th.

The operating funding request was 3,500,000 to enhance Hart's growing customer choice voucher program.

The capital funding request was 1,521,180 to replace 10 paratransit vans that have reached the end of their useful life.

The budget and grants team collaborated with fleet maintenance operations and other teams to complete these applications.

On January 22nd, Hart received the signed and executed FDOC grant agreements for the customer choice voucher program.

Moving on to the build grant.

Staff is working in developing the application for the FY 2025-2026 build grant that is due by February 24th.

As a reminder, Hart was successful in its FY24 application and secured 23.4 million for the maintenance site and facility modernization project.

In the last two weeks, the Route Maintenance Department installed a new shelter at Gibson Drive and Gibson Street serving District 4.

A developer funded the course for the shelter and concrete pad through a land development agreement.

One new shelter at Bloomingdale Lab and Super Target serving Route 8 in District 3.

Moving on to employee relations.

We continue to offer informational sessions to all our employees.

These informational sessions offer the opportunity to receive the latest updates, ask questions, learn about the current and upcoming projects, and strengthen relationships across the organization.

These sessions are important, an important opportunity to show up listen and connect, reinforcing the trust and pride that make HARC such a meeting from place to work.

Our chief administrator also, Ms.

Hallido, and her team developed a robust schedule for the informational sessions in 2026.

In January, we had three sessions focused on IT, PMO, marketing, and paratransit operations.

Moving forward, we will have at least two to three sessions a month that provide meet and greet opportunities for the finance, administration, operations, maintenance, training and safety departments, among other functional areas.

The Safety Department met this week with our partners at the Emergency Operations Center at EOC and the community services to assist the elderly and unhoused citizens in seeking shelter from the cold weather in the Tampa area.

Was able to assist this vulnerable group with transportation from a local shelter back to the transit center.

It is not often that we see the temperature drop so low, but this is a much needed help.

We were happy to assist our community and the EOC.

Moving on to community engagement, in January Hart's community engagement team was active across Hillsboro County, probably representing a several community events on Monday while honoring Martin Luther King Day.

Team members attended the 46th Annual October MLK breakfast.

The team also visited the University of Tampa and HCC Brandon campuses to welcome students back from their spring semester.

During these visits, staff shared information with students, particularly those new to public transportation, on how to use Hart bus service to travel to and from campus.

Additionally, on Wednesday represented the 12th annual South Tampa Chamber breakfast with May with the mayor's event.

Tampa Mayor Jane Cass addressed attendees and answered questions regarding the city's current initiatives and future plans.

Later that afternoon, staff attended the West Shore Alliance membership luncheon with Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stevens, shared his leadership insights as the guest speaker.

And that concludes my report.

Thank you.

Any questions from Mr.

Drainville?

I apologize.

I see I appear to have made an error in the execution of the agenda.

We do have one more presentation that needs to be made.

This presentation given at the January 12th strategic planning and external relations, Mr.

Donnie Murray, Manager of Community and Business Engagement and Manager of Service Development, Mr.

Pereza Garcia, are recognized to present the June 2020 proposed service changes.

Gentlemen, I apologize.

My bad.

No worries, we appreciate it.

Good morning, board members.

My name is Donnie Murray.

I'm the Heart Manager of Community and Business Engagement.

I am joined again by Jesus Praza Garcia, the manager of service development.

We will be going over today some proposed service changes that we took out, took out to the community, did some public engagement, where we'll be talking about what we heard, and then sharing the final proposed service changes.

Okay.

So a brief recap, we recently finished a comprehensive operational analysis, which was a full review of the HART system, looking at how do we make HART more efficient and effective.

This plan resulted in some short-term service changes.

We took those changes and those recommendations and took them out to the public as a proposed service changes list.

Today's presentation will be reviewing what did we hear from the public about these proposed changes, sharing some adjustments we made to the plan based on what we heard from the public.

The board is required to approve service changes when they reach a certain threshold as part of HART board policy.

Today's presentation is just informational.

We will be coming back to the board next month at the March board meeting for the actual approval.

We make sure we give you time to hear what the final proposed service changes was in between so that you had some time to think about it before making a final decision.

If the board does approve any of the changes at the March 2026 board meeting, those changes would go into effect in June 2026.

And as a reminder, we will be doing a major update to our transit development plan this year, which is where we have those bigger discussions about future vision, long-term plans for new routes and new types of services.

The COA was just focusing on some short-term immediate changes to the system.

So, in accordance with HARP policy to have public involvement and connection with route elimination, we did request feedback from the public about these proposed service changes for a 31-day period from September 15th to October 15th, with a final public hearing being held on Wednesday, October 15th from 5.30 to 7 here at the Ebo offices.

This whole effort was so that the community could have a voice in this process.

We had a variety of different formats where the public could provide their feedback, both physical and digital.

Our main sources were a custom website, HeartserviceInput.com, along with lots of events out in the community to talk with staff in person.

We also set the feedback through email, phone calls, and mail to ensure that those with limited access to online could still participate in the process equally.

And we all these comments were considered equally regardless of any of these formats that they were received.

It all goes into one log together.

To educate people on the proposed changes, we had a flyer that listed all the changes, a flyer that listed all the dates of the opportunities that they could talk with staff or participate, maps that showed individual route changes, a summary video, display boards at events, and handwritten comment cards.

And all these materials were available in English and Spanish.

We also promoted this opportunity to provide feedback out throughout the community, again, both physical and digital formats.

We had posters at bus stops and at our transit and transfer centers, flyers on board all of our buses and vans, information on the HART website, information on our transit mobile app.

We sent out email newsletters, press releases, and put newspaper advertisements.

So HART hosted 21 public meetings and 16 pop-up meetings for a total of 37 community events, which consisted of 63 hours with HART staff throughout the entire process.

These outreach efforts targeted particularly the most affected routes, so we really looked at 24 LX, 25 LX in the Hartflick South County.

During these community events, we talked to a total of 751 people and distributed over 450 flyers.

So this included being at our transit centers 12 different times.

We had four different open houses at community centers, two in English and two in four community centers.

We had four online virtual town halls, two of those were in English, two of those were in Spanish.

And then, of course, our final public hearing here at our eboard admin offices.

We also had pop-up events at the 24 LX and 25 LX parking rides.

And we also had staff riding those routes that have the most proposed impacts, eight different times.

We also coordinated with the Hillsborough TPO who were able to provide us with additional staff support so that we were able to execute all of this outreach and marketing efforts.

The proposed service changes that we did take out to the public was a total of eight different routes, of which three were proposed to be eliminated.

We received a total of 212 comments in the entire month process, and it was a good balance of coming both from in-person events and at online opportunities, thanks to our full outreach efforts.

We read every single comment, we take them in consideration, and we did make some adjustments to the plan based on some of that feedback.

There are some other comments that we heard that were just miscellaneous, unrelated to the plans.

We can include those in our general comments that we receive throughout the year.

For the 24 and 25 LX, we did hear a combined 130 comments, which is about the same as that route, those routes' average daily ridership.

So I believe that we did hear from just about every single rider for those two routes.

Similarly with the Hartflex South County, we did hear 15 comments from that route.

That is also about the same average of its daily ridership.

Based on some of the feedback, we did add into our final proposal to extend the 360 LX to an extra hour.

You'll hear a little bit more about that in a moment.

Another concern we recognized was that there was an improvement being relative to the change and the impact of the area that we were doing.

So we had originally proposed to have a frequency improvement on the Route 9.

We adjusted our proposal based on the feedback, and we're actually going to propose to increase frequency on the Route 38 to have it maintained within the greater Brandon area.

One of the proposals was to remove the loop to HCC Brandon based on feedback.

We have actually removed that proposal from the plan, so Route 37 will stay the same.

And then there are a couple other adjustments that you'll hear about shortly.

A log of all the comments that we heard, a summary of all the outreach efforts, and copies of the market materials are included as a copy in your board packet in the back.

The way that we explain these changes to the public is that these removals are part of a trade-off.

So we do have limited resources when it comes to the number of buses we have and the number of hours we can even afford to have service out on the road.

So with the COA, if we want to prioritize how we're using these resources and able to serve the entire community in the best way we can, that trade-off does come with removing some of the inefficient services in one area and reallocating them.

What that does get us with this plan is improving frequency on a route that has high demand and only comes every hour, and also improving on-time performance and overall just improving customer experience.

And these changes are cost neutral.

The goal was not to save money, the goal was not to spend extra money, it is all cost neutral.

And now I'll hand it over to Mr.

Jesus, who will talk about those changes one by one.

Thank you, Donnie.

Good morning.

The first proposed service change is the removal of routes 24 LX and 25LX, which are limited express routes from the Brandon East County area to downtown and McDeal Air Force Base, with only three one-way trips in the morning and three one-way trips in the afternoon.

There are several reasons behind the proposed removal.

First, these two routes are among the least productive in the system because they travel long distances without picking up many passengers, particularly along long expressway segments.

These routes serve mostly commuter trips for one primary employer, the Air Force Base, and some downtown workers.

This makes them highly sensitive to ridership swings tied to changes in work schedules and working conditions.

Other routes have a more diverse and stable ridership base with different trip purposes such as air-ins and recreation, serving multiple types of jobs, and serving more destinations.

I will elaborate on this a bit more on the next slide.

The alternative for riders of 24 LX and 25 LX is the Enterprise of AMPOL, which may be a better fit for this type of trip.

It can provide more flexibility with direct trips, shorter trip times, and choosing your own schedule, including times uneven days per week.

Vample is already a well-established program among McDeal employees.

Currently, there are 43 VMPOLs that go to the Air Force base with 205 participants.

27 of those 43 VMPuls drive in from the general East County area.

And thanks to the federal transit benefit, most federal employees pay nothing out of pocket for the VAMPOL service.

Route 25 elect riders also have the option to use Route 360 LX, which goes from Brandon to McDeal Air Force Base as well, but with all day hourly service.

Additionally, we're going to improve service hours for Route 360 LX to start an hour earlier.

We have already engaged with Enterprise regarding promoting their van pool program among riders of 24 and 25 LX.

And we have also reached out to McVeal Air Force Base to let them know about this potential removal removal and the Vampel alternative.

One of the proposed improvements is to increase frequency on Route 38 from hourly to every 30 minutes on weekdays, which is reallocating the resources from 24 and 25 LX.

The initial proposal was to increase frequency on Route 9, but we chose Route 38 instead, so that those resources will go back into the greater Brandon area in a way that serves more people better.

Route 38 serves Mango and Brandon, and it is 100% within unincorporated Hillsborough County.

All Brandon routes are currently hourly, as seen on the image in purple.

So this would be a significant improvement for the area.

Route 38 is a high ridership route, and out of all our hourly routes, it is the most productive.

Also, Route 38, buses are regularly full.

Data shows this route has high loads, and we sometimes get comments from operators about limited wheelchair space.

All of this considered, there's a strong need throughout the day for higher frequency on this route and in this area.

Additionally, Route 38 serves workers from several industries, including service workers, retail, healthcare, and the casino, to name a few.

On average, it only carries one person per trip for a total daily of 30 rides, which means this service costs hard $60 per ride, whereas the average cost of a bus trip is only $9.

There are many factors that hinder the success of this service.

It is hard and unsafe to walk in this area, for one.

Also, the landscape is dominated by gated communities and a fragmented street network, which is not prone for typical transit service.

Also, our technology only allows for two-hour advanced reservation, which isn't the most convenient for riders looking to get a curb-to-curb trip.

For those who qualify, Sunshine Line is an alternative to Hartflight South County.

Sunshine Line is an existing door-to-door transportation service for elderly, low-income and people with disabilities who do not have other transportation options.

It is run and operated by Hillsborough County.

We have already engaged with Sunshine Line staff, and they are aware they would need to take over some of this service area if the flex goes away.

We have also given some thought to a microtransit concept, which is shown on the next slide.

The annual operating cost of this conceptual microtransit zone ranges from 1 million dollars to 1.4 million.

The cost of microtransit varies based on number of vehicles, response time, and contract rates.

Compare that to the operating cost of our current hard flex at less than half a million.

Also, current service requires only one vehicle in operation, while the microtransit zone would require four or five vehicles.

The reallocation of resources in the COA does not allow to cover that cost.

New funding would need to be identified.

As such, microtransit is not presented as a viable alternative at this time.

Microtransit is just an exploratory conversation.

There is no scenario in which a microtesting service would be ready in time for June implementation.

The reallocation of resources in the COA does allow for on-time performance improvements to one or two or two routes.

The exact route will be determined during the scheduling process.

There are many factors to consider when choosing which route gets the resources freed up by the route removals and adjustments, things such as on-time performance data, ridership, operational efficiency, operator feedback, and conditions on the road.

This slide shows the bottom OTP performers with the lowest ranked on top.

As you can see, route seven and nine are strong candidates to receive this OTP improvements.

We hear a lot from operators about the struggles on those two routes.

Lastly, we are removing the last trip in one direction for Route 7 and 46.

This is because these trips have the lowest ridership by trip in the system.

Sometimes there is one person on board, sometimes the bus is empty, empty.

For Route 7, the last eastbound trip would be removed seven days a week, which is the 1125 trip departing for Marion Transit Center.

For Route 46, it would be the last westbound trip that would be removed seven days a week, which is the 1045 trip departing for Brandon Mall.

The alternative in both cases is to take the previous trip, which would be the new last trip.

Note that this are only scheduled changes.

There are no routing changes.

Now here's a summary of all the service changes, which is the final proposal after public input has been incorporated.

We have three improvements, more frequency for Route 38, on-time performance improvements for routes to be determined, and an extra morning trip for Route 360 LX.

We have three removals, 24 LX, 25 LX, and Hardflex South Kenny.

And we have adjustments to the schedule of two routes, seven and 46.

In total, all of these changes together would gain a projected 200 new rides versus an average of 178 daily rides that would be impacted with the frequency and on-time performance improvements proposed.

A total of 1900 rides would benefit.

As a result, both ridership and customer experience are improved by these changes.

Finally, here's a recap of the next steps.

This proposal will be discussed with the full board today.

After that, this item will come back as an action item to the committee in February and full board in March for final approval.

Once approved, the service changes would process will start for an implementation date of June 7th.

Lastly, the COA will fit into the TDP, which you will hear more about next month as well.

With that, we thank you for your time and we're happy to take any questions.

Thank you, sir.

Any questions by the board for staff?

Yes, I I don't have a question.

I just want to say thank you.

This was a very good overview.

It's grounded in data, and it really makes sense to get that type of run return on investment.

1900 more rides and a better customer experience.

Um definitely support it.

Thank you for the work done.

Mr.

Hobbs?

You actually said what I was gonna say, so thank you for that work.

We appreciate it very much.

Thank you.

Any other comments or questions?

One Mr.

Chair.

Mr.

Marsh.

How many would qualify for South County?

Because in your notes, you were saying if they qualify for the ride, yeah.

So sunshine line uh criteria is uh low-income people with disabilities or seniors and have no other choice of transportation.

Uh we we um given the demographics of this area, we expect the majority of Hard Fly South County users to qualify for that.

Uh the people we talked to, they were either senior or disabled, and they their only transportation choice was hard flex, so if it goes away, they would qualify for Sunshine Line.

Okay.

So we want to make sure we don't leave anyone behind who does not qualify and writing the bus now.

So whatever we have to do, we need to consider making those adjustments.

Okay.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Commissioner Wastel.

Um to that point, you said that that hard flex south only had about 15 riders.

That's why you had 15 on slide six of 15.

Um, you said that the 15 people against were about the amount of daily riders.

Yeah.

So it's 15 people were expecting for Sunshine Line to possibly have to absorb.

Yeah, and if they some of them are hard plus users already, and they would still have Hard Plus service, they would be grandfather.

We wouldn't cut part plus as well for them.

So even less than 15.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

Any other questions or comments?

Director Hart.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh, just to be clear, no one is going to be left stranded by these changes, correct?

No, that's why we uh propose alternatives so that people have options even when the services change.

And the most drastic changes are going to be to the 24 and 25 LX, right?

Correct?

Yeah, the removals.

Okay.

And but that ridership will be absorbed by other transportation means.

Yeah, we expect them to transition over to pay and pool.

Uh Enterprise Vampol is not a hard service.

But it's at no cost to them though.

So the majority of federal employees, they don't pay anything out of pocket for VAMPOL.

But specifically, these employees, do they pay anything out of pocket?

McDill employees?

Correct.

No, they would likely qualify, they would qualify for the transit benefit, the federal transit benefit, which is like a stipend they get a month, and they use that towards VM pool, which pretty much covers the cost.

Yeah, I'm I'm just concerned to make sure that people who are at the lower end of the um salary ranges in terms of their position in the military.

Uh lower the listed personnel who live out in Riverview and other places because of the relative cost of living there as opposed to anybody else's more beneficial to them, aren't going to be stranded.

Yeah.

The federal um the transit benefit, it's like a benefits package thing.

As an employee, you get that stipend.

If you're a trend if you're a non-driver.

So if you drive your car to the base, you don't get that stipend.

But if you're if you get to the base by other means, you get that stipend.

And that you use that towards Fample.

Thank you.

Jobs.

Thank you.

Um, so just kind of following on that line of questioning.

So you have the 89 people who opposed it their information.

Is there any way to reach out to them and see how many of them actually get or qualify for that stipend?

I don't know how you gathered the data, so I'm trying to see if there's a way to figure out the first half is what we do, yeah.

So with all these comments, just about everyone specifically with the 24 and 25 gave us some sort of contact information.

We either have their email or phone number.

So our plan was if any of these changes went into effect, we were definitely going to reach out to them.

We'll also be popping up again at the parking rides to be giving them information, partnering with enterprise, providing them with the BAMPO information, getting them set up and everything like that.

Um we can definitely work with them hand in hand.

Again, there's already, I think what it was like 50 BANPO programs already operating from Brandon to McDail Air Force Base.

Um they run five days a week.

There's different schedules that they follow.

So we'll be able to work with them, and there's already pretty pre-established schedules set in place to get them on boarded and figuring out hey, who do you talk to to get your federal transit benefit?

How do you make your schedule?

How do you find people in your band pool?

All that to say yes, we'll be working with them to make sure that we get them into the program, get them all the education that they need.

Okay, great.

Thank you very much.

Director Williams.

Yes, just I think it's important to note that even though we we implement some new some changes after June.

We still have the ability for customers or riders to go online and hit the radio button and give feedback at any given time.

So I think we just call that out and make sure that people know that for whatever reason that opportunity is there, and at least we can track that feedback when they go in online and provide their feedback.

Yeah, we have our customer service portal that's open.

Um not related to the changes just all the time.

So they could and we monitor those things before and after changes as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And after the activity that happened in June, can you all come back and report to this board?

Um any changes, how many people uh was able to make the transition into Rodership and etc.

So we make sure we don't leave anyone out.

Yeah.

Okay, thank you.

Very good.

It appears to be all the comments.

Thank you, guys.

Good job.

Thank you for the uh feedback and the outreach and the continued outreach to to the public to make it as easy a transition as possible for them.

Good job.

Appreciate it.

Okay, uh next would be the chair's report.

Uh just want to thank the uh fellow board members for uh stepping up and filling the gaps in the board appointments.

Um I urge everybody to stop outside and see the new bus, the re the newly wrapped bus, I guess is the best way to put it, um, for the uh Black History Month.

It looks great.

And uh get your picture taken there.

It's a good job.

And um I heard that there was a lot of volunteers by Hart staff for the for the Gasparola this weekend.

Thank you to everybody who braved the cold and the the hordes of people down there, but uh I heard it was a fun time, and everybody did a great job.

Thank you very much.

Um next on our list is the board council report.

Mr.

Gibson, you are recognized.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

The topic today is the CEO performance-based merit consideration.

Um we we previously um presented this to the board.

Uh the board asked for additional data to be provided while I'm presenting it.

Um I take no credit in and the staff did a wonderful job in collecting the data.

Um so our plan is to present that data to you uh and then allow the board uh to talk about it.

Um I I believe staff forwarded this information to each of the individual board members last week so that you'd have an opportunity to review that.

Uh but we will spend a little bit of time going through that.

Um thank you.

Um section seven of the current CEO's contract deals with um the um merit increase at our previous board meeting.

Uh this board voted for a five percent increase effective January 5th.

Uh the the section seven of the contract provides a two-part mechanism for merit increase.

Number one is grounded in the evaluation, which you're which your board members reviewed.

Part two is an evaluation on quote more subjective criteria that the board should deem appropriate.

Asked for uh guideposts.

Our current CEO secured 72.3 million in federal funding, uh, awarded uh the largest grant in HART history, 32 million low no emission buses, uh 23.3 build grant, heavy maintenance facility.

Um over the current leadership, we've uh the HART has built reserves to 32 point excuse me, 37.2 million, 120 and 25 percent of required levels.

Um like I said, um, the the board was provided this information before.

Here the next slide has a litany of of accomplishments by the current CEO.

We don't need to go over that.

The board has it, and certainly if the board has any questions, we can talk about that.

Um the next slide is again the language from the contract is other more subjective criteria that the board should deem appropriate based on our prior meetings.

Um members of the board asked for specific data that be to be provided, for example, CEO salary from other uh operating budgets, total operating and capital budgets, the complexity of operation, uh, the funding sources.

Additionally, the board um asked for information regarding direct report salaries and prior CEO salary.

So, based on those requests from members of the board, uh staff put put all that uh information together.

So, number one, uh direct report salary.

Uh here we present uh to the board as was requested, uh the current chief executive officer salary and and then those direct reports, uh the chief operating officer, the chief financial officer, the chief administrative officer, and the chief safety and security officer.

Um the findings support appropriately differentiated from senior leadership roles and alignment with accountability scope and governance responsibility again as was requested.

Here is a uh a view of prior of the prior CEO.

Um what what's shown in the blue line is the actual uh amounts that the CEO over the past several years uh was provided.

The the orange line assumes a three percent increase from the prior CEO of where that would be, just to give the board some context of what what that would be.

Um next, um, and this really I I I cannot commend the staff for the data that they they really did a lot of work, I have to say.

Um, and here we see uh transit peer agency comparisons.

Uh we have um the blue we have in blue we have Florida uh transit agencies, and then in black we have some other um transit.

We have the total operating budget, the capital budget, uh, and the total budget.

You see that HART really just fits right in the middle there, uh ranked number six out of twelve um of those um operating budgets uh comparison.

This is uh 2024 data.

Next we have transit peer agency comparables by the number of budgeted employees.

Uh we see here that uh HART ranks number nine of the 12 uh based on the number of employees of 821.

Um I actually I think that number's a little bit higher now, uh, but uh that that's based on the 2024 um data.

Next, um we have transit peer agency comparables based on the complexity of operation.

We see the number of modes of transportation, the number of buses, as well as the number of bargaining units.

And you can see here that HART ranks number four in the complexity and the number of modes, uh, that number number nine and the number of fixed route uh bus modes, and then number two in the number of bargaining units being that we have uh two bargaining units, most of the other comparable uh transit organizations have only one bargaining unit, um, and then New Orleans has three as opposed to our two.

The next slide um shows peer agency comparables of the salary uh for the chief executive.

Uh you can see that we rank number 10 um out of the 12 comparables.

Uh we we tried to provide the board with as much data as we could with respect to 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Uh, but you can see uh the comparables for that.

Next, um it was requested that we uh that staff provide the funding and taxing authority comparison, how how our peers rank, uh and you can see uh how heart is funded uh versus the comparables and how they are for funded, whether it be sales tax or um ad velorum, uh local gas tax um and the like.

Um so you can see that um with that um again I want to commend staff for the research that they did.

They did a lot of work.

This was hard work for them, and I really commend them.

Um and so I would turn it back over to the chair for comp for discussion.

Thank you, Mr.

Gibson.

Um do we have any questions or comments for Mr.

Gibson and or the staff on the information presented and I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you say, sir.

No, I was just just uh thanking thank you, staff and and and asking if there's any comments or questions for staff or give um regards to the information presented Mr.

Chairman.

Is it appropriate to discuss now the resolution of the issue or over the case?

That was gonna be that was gonna be very next step.

Yes, sir.

May I?

Please thank you.

Yes, sir.

So I I had supported last time uh additional funds above the cursory five percent.

I do think that a lot of these the statistics and everything that we see sort of validate that.

I I base that on a number of things.

Number one is uh just the objective monetary amount of grants uh that our CEO Drainville has helped to procure um as being chairman for three years.

I've been there firsthand when he works with people ranging from uh Congresswoman Laurel Lee, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and different people in both political parties who I think really really respect him.

Um there's another issue, frankly, of just a lot of respect that he has garnered from people in the community, including a lot of elected officials again of both parties.

Uh it's it's you know, there are things that transcend politics, and I think the ability to be respected per your integrity and your temperament and the work that you put forward, I think is one of the things that makes Scott or or CEO Drainville uh very, very um uh uh attractive to people in that regard, and then trust very true to me, he's a very trustworthy person, a very decent person of integrity, and then he's also, and I can't overestimate this stability.

Um, you know, when when I first got on this board, we were in the middle of a whole bunch of different transitions ranging from past CEOs, the penny sales tax in 2018, right?

The aftermath and the litigation, penny sales tax in 2022, preemptive litigation gets struck down in the circuit court and so forth.

So, you know, I think CO Drainville has really provided us with some very good stability through some very difficult times, and therefore some level of additional compensation above that five percent um that I think would would is justified by these numbers as well as just the objective facts and the reputation that I've seen with my own eyes, it certainly warrants it.

So that's my view.

Any other comments do we have uh anybody care to throw out a number?

Um this is mechanic here.

I'm sorry.

I I want to echo what uh commission uh council but Viera suggested, uh although I don't think he picked a number uh but I I I would just like to say I mean I've served uh at various times on the hard board over 20 years.

I think I've worked with five different CEOs, and uh Scott is by far the most responsible and uh uh intuitive and aggressive leader that we've that we've had at that time period.

Uh I just can't speak highly enough.

I'm going to suggest uh a number just to get the ball rolling.

I'm gonna say uh I propose and I'll I'll make this a motion.

I move that we uh allow another five percent on top of the previously approved five percent increase.

Thank you.

Mr.

Chairman Um I and I appreciate board member mechanics sentiments.

I was actually gonna say 10 percent, um, but whatever is the wish of the board, so long as there's some additional uh I'm fine with that, but I think uh I would be fine with 10 percent.

But Mr.

Chair, we have a motion on the floor.

Yes, do we have we have a motion?

Do we have a second?

I second uh second percent.

Okay, board discussion.

Additional.

Pardon me.

I second his um the 10 percent yes above the five, yeah.

All of that by motion to ask percent over the five percent previously approved.

Any other discussion or comments?

I'm sorry, Commissioner Myers.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

So we're saying the five percent we voted for last month.

Correct.

And then now coming back with the 10 percent.

Correct.

So that's a total of 15 percent.

Total fifty.

Which we voted down last month.

Am I correct?

Uh don't believe we voted that we just settled for the five percent.

I think the motion was made.

Well, the motion was made for five.

Correct me, fine.

The motion was made for five with the uh with the any additional merit as per the contract kicked back to be more information brought back to the board at this meeting.

Was not formally rejected to go higher.

It was just they didn't board thought they didn't have enough information.

And if I'm or if I may correct on that, please please feel free to correct me.

That was my understanding.

That's the way that uh uh finance and auditor approached the issue.

I was by recollection as well.

But then there was a discussion of the 15 percent, and we're still trying to get to the 15 percent um today for total salary increase.

But when you look at the information that was presented to us on the salaries and looking at the peers, and right within our region, he's right in the ballpark with the within the region of Hillsburg County.

Um I will support a five percent increase on top of the five we voted for last month, but the 15 percent I will not support.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any other comments?

Uh uh Commissioner Watson.

So this will bump him to about 308.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Say again, will this bump him to about 308?

No, it would bump in 940.

Yeah, 295.

Be under three.

15 percent is too rich for my blood, thanks.

I would think that somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 percent would put um the position in a competitive range with uh his peers in the state of Florida, and I I think that would be uh commensurate uh for the authority and responsibility that uh that he bears.

Uh one other thing that we wanted to keep in mind is that his present salary acts as a cap on uh senior staff being able to raise their level of compensation, and if we're not careful, we will have a we run the risk of having a brain drain of people leaving because they can get um better compensation in other places, and these are some people that we would probably uh not want to lose.

Okay, thank you.

Any other questions?

I I have one.

Should we tie the five percent to something in the evaluation?

You know, we when we hear the public comments and all in the turnover that this agency continues to have.

That is a concern to me.

Uh so but I would support this, but I think we need to tie the five percent to something, not just uh here's a five percent increase Mr.

Gibson.

I don't know that there's anything we can do at this point with that five percent uh the contract provides a two-step uh analysis.

Number one is performance-based, and then the the second analysis is literally other subjective criteria.

So it's whatever the board does understood.

Understood.

I just have one more.

I have one more clarifying question.

Yes.

Is it correct that the Miami Dade CEO gets paid 303,000 to manage 3419 employees?

According to slide nine, Miami Day Transit 3419,000.

According to slide 11, Miami Day CEO 303,000.

Yes, sir.

So I just want to make the point to the board.

Um, while that was a rather passionate and emotional speech to advocate for 15 percent raise, they have 400 percent the amount of employees that Hillsboro area regional transit has, and we're about to pay the CEO the same amount to manage um basically 25 percent of the amount of employees that Miami Dade has.

That's based off of the charts that's right in front of us according to slide eight and slide nine.

That's that is what the data says, correct?

Correct.

Okay.

So yeah.

It just doesn't.

It just doesn't math out.

Thank you.

Commissioner Speeder.

You're like, did you have something?

Oh okay.

Um Mr.

Dyke.

Okay.

Uh so it was said that about 126 employees was hired.

Um through heart new employees.

Yes.

Can you tell me how many either either left or retired?

Uh how do you uh what happened to get those numbers like that?

Is it new employees?

I understand new employees, but what happened?

Uh how many did we lose and and uh is it through retirement or you know leaving somewhere else?

What do we lose in order to increase to 126 by hiring?

I'm not sure we can answer that at this at this moment.

Um is there anybody anybody who can in staff Ms.

Jackie you're recognized?

Uh Jacqueline Haldo, Chief Administrative Officer.

Yes, uh thank you, Director.

It is 124 hires for the year.

Um there is attrition and retention, and I think that number uh uh retirements and uh I'm sorry, retirements and some terminations, and I think that number was about 100 employees for the year.

Do you know the breakdown termination?

Um retirees, um I don't have it off the top of my head, but we could get that information for you.

Um Director Waves, you wouldn't have to do that.

Can we put slide nine back up on the uh screen?

Can you back one more seven?

Thank you.

You got a question?

Okay.

Okay, Director Williams, you were recognized.

I was just gonna thank you.

Um look look at page seven, just to make sure I understand uh the way it's determined.

250,000 was a previous CEO, different from the 287.

Those are two different people, is my understanding.

And then we bring in Mr.

Dreamville at 240, and we move him through to 2675.

And when I look at the the orange line, it indicates that are we talking three percent based on the two hundred and eighty-seven thousand five hundred, and then three percent three additional percent each year.

Yes, ma'am.

So it's it looks like he is he we the request is to reconcile the initial two forty to bring him up because of the the gap in the two eighty-seven.

Is that my assumption?

It's completely the will of the board.

And how's it how the it's completely up to the board and the the you know the board has subject other subjective criteria, so it's completely the will of the board.

This was just to show the board had there been a three percent increase from prior, what that would number would be correct.

Okay, thank you.

So I'd like to change my um after look hearing some of this additional information here, um, to second the five percent, the additional five percent.

Well, I think we have what's proper so we have a motion.

We have a motion.

Over send a second withdrawal, and then we send your second okay.

All right, 100%.

How now also with the merit part?

We're not five and in talking about an increase in five more to ten, and then also the component of the merits, right?

Besides, what about the merit part of it?

Well, that this is all it's together.

Yeah, that we're talking about the five percent that was approved last time it's already done.

And this isn't approved.

This is a uh discussion on the uh the second part of the increase per the contract, which would be up to 15 percent additional.

Okay.

So Mr.

Chair, we currently have a motion, we need a second to proceed.

What's can you repeat the motion, please?

We have a motion by a member uh mechanic for a 10 percent increase.

Um and it's needing a second.

All second may I speak?

Please please.

Yes, so thank you, sir.

So I I second the 10 percent still.

I think that's proper.

However, um, if if this is going to appear to fail, I don't think anybody here wants to vote against uh our CEO's salary increase, so I would suggest maybe if that is 7.5 percent, if that's something that people are more comfortable with, just throwing it out there.

Um, but I I do second that okay.

So what is the current motion?

Do we have a motion for a 10% increase and a second?

Okay, so let's let's settle this.

Do we not also have a motion to amend?

We did.

Mr.

Director McCannick amended his original motion to the 10 percent that we now have a second board.

Okay, but Commissioner Sopeda made a um substitute motion as well for five percent.

I don't know if she got a second.

I think she did.

No, no, she didn't you didn't after the discussion that we had.

Okay, so let's restate the the the existing motion, the current motion on the floor is a ten percent increase that council member uh mechanic made that's been seconded by council uh director beer.

Okay, okay.

So you withdrew your second, you made the and you reinstituted the second.

Um yes, sir.

Board members appear to you.

I suppose the one motion for we came starting to pot on this if we can't.

Okay, I'm gonna call for the vote so we don't get confused.

That's what I'm saying.

Okay, ums Catherine, would you roll call vote, please?

Director Cameron Sapeda, yes, yes, Director Hobbs.

Yes, Director King.

Yes, Director Knight.

No Director McAlfric.

Uh no.

Director McCannick.

Yes.

No.

Director Myers.

No.

Director Niebrick.

Yes.

Yes.

Chair Schisler?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Director Wallstall.

No, and Mr.

Chair, I believe you have a question.

I'm sorry.

Yes.

Yes, so I was when commit sorry for the confusion, but um Miss Commissioner Myers, um, when she said that I thought she was uh sample hers for the um additional five percent.

Yes, and not the 10 percent.

So that's why it's for clarification on the motion at this point.

Just to clarify, that was five percent in addition to the 10 10 percent in addition to the five percent.

That says the motion has been presented, yes.

Between the two, the two levels.

Yeah, yeah, the question, but this is commissioner more.

Yes, Ms.

Um, I've had my hand up for quite some time.

I'm not supposed to be sure you're supposed to be monitoring that.

I can't see that.

Um but a couple of things.

One control over the motion of the floor would help those of us that are remote, and two, if people would actually turn their mics on when they're speaking, that would also help those of us that are remote.

Um there was some confusion on the actual motion we were voting on.

I believe my vote was correct for what I thought.

If I understand correctly, we are currently voting on the 10 percent over the five.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

That's the motion that's on the floor right now.

And I my vote remains the same.

Thank you very much.

Okay, thank you.

My apologies, I did not see the the the screen was obscured.

Yes, sir.

Okay, um hold on a second, Ms.

Catherine Catherine.

What was the uh roll call?

I have eight, yes.

Eight, yes, five, no.

Okay, so at this point the motion carries.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Knight.

Yeah, a motion carried, but it was still some confusion, and even though uh Commissioner Myers uh asked for a vote, that was some question because I was thinking five percent, and it was a second motion for additional five, not ten percent.

Um that should have been on the uh discuss.

That's why I asked for clarification of the motion from this the board attorney.

I understood it.

The motion was a 10 percent.

Um that uh was seconded by director.

Yes, sir, but the motion was not clarified prior to you calling the vote, sir, Mr.

Chair.

Yes, sir.

Um, as is appropriate in Robert's rules on the prevailing side, somebody can make a motion to amend something previously adopted since there was confusion for the motion on the board.

So anybody who made that yes vote that was confused can motion to amend something previously adopted, and we will re-vote.

So yes, if if one of the eight yes votes would like to have a revote, that now would be the appropriate time to make that motion.

You know what?

I'll I'll make that motion just so we can have full clarification on all of this.

Okay, we have a motion.

Do we have a second?

In the interest of transparency, I think so.

For complete so for clarity, what the motion on the floor has that has been made is a 10 percent uh section seven of the contract provides for two merit two increases.

One is based on the performance appraisal.

This board prior vote was a five percent increase based on the performance appraisal.

Uh the second analysis is other subjective criteria that the board members may consider, and so that that's the motion on the floor now.

Is other subjective criteria the board member can take anything into account?

Uh and the motion on the floor is a ten percent increase that's now um that's been reconsidered, uh, but that's the motion on the floor.

Is it 10 percent increase in addition to the five percent the board has already voted uh in a in the prior meeting?

Mr.

Chair, yes, um just really quick.

If I may this may withdraw the second, is there anyone who voted yes who wishes to flip their vote by a raise of hand?

Well that that we we just need to have the vote with with all due respect.

Okay, we have a motion to reconsider that's been seconded by the case.

Okay, it would be that there is so my second stance, yes.

This is a motion to reconsider.

I have a question.

Yes, sir.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Uh are we not in discussion on whether we want to reconsider?

Correct.

Yes, that's where we have to do that.

Okay, we're in, but we are in discussion.

We're not going to show the motion to recognize it.

Then then I have a question I'd like to ask, and I don't think I've ever heard an answer to this.

What is the practical effect on our current budget, if any of either the five or the ten percent increase?

If it's not going to blow our budget, that might be something we need to know.

That's something that we've reached.

The the budget has been prepared with a fifth assuming a 15% increase.

So anything uh uh that would be 15% for the merit increase, correct?

Correct, correct.

Okay, lower than that would be lower than what's been what's been budgeted.

So there would be no adverse effect below 15 percent.

Correct.

The current budget approved by the board assumes a 15% increase.

All right, thank you.

Correct.

Commissioner Myers.

Yeah, I made a substitute motion for 5%.

So we should have been able to vote on the five percent, because the 10% I think was made forwards and then I made a five percent.

And so we should have been able to vote on both motions without making it so confusing.

That's that should have been handled, council.

I apologize for the confusion that I may have caused.

And may I say something, Mr.

Chair, quickly?

Thank you so much.

So I seconded this in the interest of transparency.

I will be voting against the motion to reconsider because I support the salary increase, but I'm doing that in the event that there were board members who erroneously voted that way, because that's that's to see if there's a majority.

So just explaining that.

Thank you, sir.

What's before the board right now is a motion to reconsider its prior vote.

So if you want to reconsider it, you want to vote yes.

If you want to keep the vote as it stands, you want to vote no.

Catherine, would you please do a roll call vote?

Excuse me, I do I do have a question.

10% we're taking is 294,000.

Oh, I just asked a question just to clarify.

The the 10 percent there that's on the table at this point, takes us from 275 267500 to 294 250.

I just want to make sure we're all is that what that's what the motion to reconsider had done, correct?

Okay, okay.

Ms.

Catherine, would you go a roll call vote on the motion to reconsider over?

Yes, Director Hobbes, yes.

Yes, Director Knight.

So a yes vote would be to reconsider the vote, a no vote would be to keep the vote as it stands.

I'm sorry, yes.

Yes, Director McCannick.

Director McCannick.

Oh.

Director Miller.

Yes.

Director Myers?

Yes.

Director Nieberick?

I'm sorry, no.

Chair Schesler?

No.

Director Vieira?

No.

Director Williams.

Yes.

Director Wolfstall.

Yes.

Motion passes.

Okay.

All right.

So the motion to reconsider passed.

So we would now open the floor back up to a motion to uh on what to do with the second portion or the merit increase over the the 15% for the uh CEO.

The floor is open to a motion.

I have a point of order.

I don't know if may I please do we do we now vote on the do we reconsider then the 10% now?

Or is that what's going on?

I guess we're jobs.

My apologies.

Okay.

So we have a uh a motion on the floor to recu reconsider the 10% um uh increase vote.

So we have a roll call vote then.

Yes, yes, sir.

I'm I think we we've already approved to to reconsider.

My suggestion would be that rather than voting if we can procedurally voting again on the 10% motion that we vote on a different motion uh that that Miss Myers had had indicated.

I mean that seems to me that's if that's that's not that's not allowed under Robert's rule I think we have to reconsider the motion.

Voted up or down.

Yeah, we currently have a motion on the floor that's been reconsidered.

So we now have a motion and a second, unless the maker of the motion wishes to withdraw it.

We now have a motion to vote on, which is a 10% um increase.

Okay.

That uh I'm sorry.

Thank you, Chair.

The the motion could also be amended at this point for absolutely absolutely five percent uh increase.

Okay, then do we have do we have to withdraw the original 10% motion first, or is this just an amendment?

If if if the maker of the motion wishes to amend his motion, we can otherwise we need to have a vote on the 10% and then another motion can be had.

That's my understanding.

Okay, this is a mechanic.

Are you willing to modify your I believe you debate the original motion?

No, sir.

I have not so we need a vote on the original motion, and then a substitute motion can then be made.

Okay, so we come back to back to the original motion of 10 percent on top of the 5%.

Okay, roll call vote, please.

No director Hobbes, no.

Yes, Director Knight, no.

No.

Director McCannick, yes, Director Miller, no.

No, Director Kniebrook.

Yes, Chair Schesler, yes, Director Vieira, yes, Director Williams, no.

No.

Motion does not pass.

Okay, thank you.

So that's let's go back to the drawing board then.

So we uh will somebody care to make a motion on the merit increase for CEO Drainville.

I move for five percent increase.

Okay, we have a motion.

Who's second?

Commissioner Miller.

I'm sorry, thank you, Commissioner Miller.

Okay, so you have a motion, uh five percent and a second by Commissioner Miller.

Do any discussion on the motion?

If I may, Chair Pussy.

Sir, just to explain my vote.

I will be respectfully to my dear friend Commissioner Myers, uh, voting no on this because I do believe that something higher is warranted.

So I'm not voting against uh our CEO salary, but rather against that level of increase.

I think something is higher is warranted, just FYI.

Thank you, sir.

I have one c and other comments.

Your lights on my day, thank you right on the any comments, um yeah, if I may, Mr.

Chair, please, Mr.

Nieberg.

Um just in the you know, we're we're five percent versus ten percent.

Uh, I think it's worth considering that in 2022, the CEO that didn't perform well, uh, was paid 2875 at a five percent increase now in 2026.

We're not restoring even to that level.

And so it would seem appropriate to me given the performance uh that we all agree, or that many people agree from his 2025 accomplishments that um moving the CEO's pay so that it's at least equal to what it was in 2022, sounds appropriate.

Um to my math, subject to verification, that would be a 7.5 percent increase.

And so I'm supportive of this second merit increase above the five percent already approved.

I was supportive of the 10 percent uh for the sake of approving or getting something approved.

Um sounds like the right number to me because it puts the CEO at the same level of pay uh that this rule had back in 2022, and so I don't know to what extent that can be considered.

Uh I am supportive of the pay raise.

If five percent is all that this board will agree, then you know that will be um an acceptable outcome, but I do think a higher increase is warranted up to seven and a half percent.

Okay, thank you.

Believe yes, I believe a amendment can be made on the original.

So if Commissioner Nieberg wants to make the motion for an amendment on the five percent to seven and a half percent, that can then be considered.

Is that correct?

Well, the maker of the motion, Commissioner has to accept it, yes.

We need to accept it, right?

No, I will not vote.

Okay, the vote needs to be had on the current motion that's been seconded.

Yes, okay.

Any other comments on the current motion at 5% uh merit increase?

Uh my only comment is I will be I will be voting no against it because I believe that the 10% is warranted, and it's not an indication of the uh negative against Mr.

Drainville, it's just indicative of the the work that that he had is uh he has his led.

So with that, we'll call the Mr.

Chair.

Oh, sorry, Mr.

That's okay.

I just wanted to make a quick comment to board member Nebrick, um, that it'd be valuable to understand that the past CEO's salary salary was negotiated with the fact that there was the all for transportation unconstitutional sales tax that was um anticipated to drastically increase the amount of annual revenue that was going to be available to the agency, which would have expanded um how much they could have had available for revenues and salaries.

So I just want you to keep that in mind that that was a a different time with largely different financial variables that were available to the industry.

So I will be supporting Commissioner Myers' uh motion of a five additional percent.

Thank you very much.

Council Mr.

Chair, I also had a comment.

Uh yes, I'm sorry, please.

Mr.

Miller, all right, thank you.

I also wanted to comment um very similar to Commissioner uh Wussel's uh remarks, um, but I wanted Mr.

Nieberg to know, and also our our CEO.

While I it's easy to compare a salary to say a previous performance, especially since you're doing such a fabulous job.

Um if you take the facts based on um the comparables that were provided to us and take away that factor.

I think that um that's largely where my um vote is coming from.

It's not about your performance or you know, sort of equating it to somebody that came before you.

I mean you have to remove that and look at the comparables that were provided to us in the backup data earlier this week.

So I will be voting yes on this.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Um any other anybody else?

Okay, very good.

Can we have a uh roll-call vote, please?

Yes, Director Camera Cepeda, yes, Director Hobbs, yes, Director King.

No, Director Knight?

Yes, Director McCall trick?

Yes, Director McCannick uh have voted yes because I feel he deserves at least the five percent.

So yes, Director Miller, yes, Director Myers?

Yes, Director Nieberick.

Director Riera?

A stubborn no.

Director Williams?

Yes.

Director Wallstall.

Yes.

Motion passes.

Very good.

Thank you.

And this will be retroactive, I believe we agree to the uh uh beginning of the year, the January 5th meeting.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh next your package of the uh hard board committee reports under section 14.

And then we have heart uh reports from the hard board representatives of section 15 and information uh reports to provide under uh section 16.

Um is there any old business?

In the past, I asked for information about the Tico Street car naming rights and the monetization of that.

Has there been any more progress on that, or do you need an official motion from me?

Miss Bailey, can you can you speak on that?

Good morning, everyone.

Um not much progress.

Um we have had some communication with T C Hull's council, and they are extremely adamant about no change.

So yes, I would implore you to um take action if that's necessary.

Um what what do you need?

Do you need um is the board ever been briefed on this?

I can't remember I can't recall it kind of slipped through the cracks.

Um I don't believe so.

Um I would I would motion that we bring back a status of the street Tico Street car naming rights, the history of it, and the potential value that might be open to this board.

It's a kind of an antiquated contract with really old language, so I could understand, I appreciate Tico, but I can understand why they would like no changes.

Um but I believe that this board has a duty to look at all revenue um generating options that we have.

So um it's just a an a status report that I would like brought back to the board so we can make a decision on whether or not we would like to pursue that avenue to potentially monetize the naming rights of the street car again.

Thank you.

That's my motion.

Second.

Okay, the motion uh by Commissioner Wastel and a second with Mr.

Cepedo.

Any discussion on the motion?

All in favor, please have to get by saying aye.

Aye, aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries, and you'll bring that back at a subject board meeting.

Okay, very good.

Any other old business?

Any new business?

Thank you, everybody.

This meeting's adjourned.

Thank you, staff.