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Minutes
PCC Executive Committee Meeting
August 24, 2005
711 Eddy Street, San Francisco
PCC Executive Committee Members Present: Laurie Graham, Chair; Griff Humphrey, Vice Chair; Bruce Oka; Cheryl Damico, Secretary; Jeanne Lynch; Genya Ehrlich; Erma Brim; Paul Gillespie; Michael Gurevich; John Lazar; Byron Yan; Elizabeth Boardman; Gilda Chico; Subiani King; Willie Mae Parish; Lucky Walker for Hal Mellegard; Janet Gillen; Anthony Nicco; Byron Yan
PCC Executive Committee Members Excused: Hobart Banks, Vince Behan; Sam Alicia Duke; Jacy Cohen; Lisa Rosene; Patty Clement
Guests: Bienestar Davis; Dan Hines, National Cab; Ed Burke, GPS Data Solutions; Bill Hollabaugh, District Advisory Council; Derik Calhoun, MV Transportation; John Murphy, MV Transportation; Alex Kontos, TransMetro Express
Paratransit Broker: Marc Soto; Kevin McNay; Rich Conklin
Muni: Kate Toran
Read and Approve Agenda
Laurie Graham, PCC Executive Committee chair, called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. Cheryl Damico read the agenda. The agenda was motioned/seconded/passed (M/S/P) as presented.
Approve minutes of June 29, 2005 meeting
The minutes were M/S/P as presented.
Comments from the Chair
Laurie Graham stated that a controversy regarding the debit card program, and she asked Kate Toran to provide background. Kate stated that the cab companies were informed by the former project manager of GPS Data Solutions that they would be able to choose the in-vehicle hardware. The cab companies supported GPS Data Solutions in their bid for the debit card project with the understanding that they would be able to choose the in-vehicle hardware. This is not the case, and the cab companies are disappointed and feel that they should be able to choose the hardware. DDS hardware will be provided under the Muni contract. Muni has been meeting with the cab companies to try to come to a positive solution.
Bruce Oka asked if companies can get their own hardware if they don’t want the DDS hardware. Kate responded that yes, the debit card system can link up with any hardware, and that was a requirement of the RFP. John Lazar stated that this project is about the debit card and nothing else. Luxor wants the debit card system installed so that they can get rid of handling the scrip. John also stated that the debit card system won’t create a monopoly as the other cab companies fear because other systems will work with the debit card system.
Kate stated that this issue will be discussed at the Taxi Commission meeting on September 13, 2005. That will be a good opportunity for PCC members and others to show up and have their voices heard on this topic.
Report from the July 6, 2005 PC&O Group Van Meeting
Bruce Oka gave the following report:
Agency representatives reported that overall service is going well. There were no major complaints.
MV reported that they hired a new staff person to help out with operations.
Marc Soto reported that the number of formal complaints regarding MV Transportation in June is down by 50%. Marc also reported that there have been some cost increases for the Office on Aging service providers.
Report from the August 3, 2005 PC&O Taxi/Ramp Taxi Meeting
John Lazar provided the following report:
The SFPD provided a report on the number of times ramp taxis are at the airport. The report showed that some medallion numbers are at the airport excessively. The group will discuss enforcement issues next. Cheryl Damico provided a report on her attempts to schedule a ramp taxi ride with one of the smaller cab companies. She had a very negative experience, the driver didn’t know the securement system and she was thrown out of her chair and needed medical attention.
Kate Toran presented a draft Ramp Taxi Secret Rider form for the group to review. The form was amended upon suggestions from the group, and was sent out with the agenda packet for PCC members to review.
Paul Gillespie stated that it’s a great idea to have a Ramp Taxi Secret Rider survey, but that it should be designed right. There have been poorly designed surveys in the past and it’s hard to impossible to make any conclusions from the data collected. It was suggested to add the question, “Did you call the driver directly?” and to change the securement question to read, “Was your wheelchair properly secured to the floor before transport.” It was also suggested that the survey instructions include a note that the secret riders should fill out a survey every single trip and not just on the good trips or bad trips. We’re looking for consistency.
There was a motion to approve the Ramp Taxi Secret Rider Survey and Instructions as amended. This was approved with one abstention.
Marc added that Regents Cab had the highest number of ramp taxis at the airport. Marc, Heidi Machan and Kate met with Phil Anton informally to discuss this with him and to encourage him to attend the PC&O Taxi/Ramp Taxi meetings.
Report from July 28, 2005 PC&O Systemwide Meeting
Bruce Oka provided the following report:
The committee discussed the cost impact of the proposal to offer taxi scrip to active ADA Access consumers after they have been in the program for at least 6 months.
If the current active ADA Access users were offered $30 scrip per month, it would cost the program $800,000 per year, $60 $1.6M and $90 would cost the program $2.4M on an annual basis.
After looking at the cost impacts and discussing the item further, the group would like to make the following recommendation to the PCC Executive Committee:
The first 100 active ADA Access consumers to have been registered after the taxi freeze (January 2002) be offered $60 worth of taxi scrip. They will be treated like any other taxi consumer, and therefore can request an increase in scrip if needed.
The PCC Executive committee M/S/P the recommendation from the PC&O Systemwide committee as presented. Kate Toran stated that she would take the recommendation back to Muni management for a decision.
Paratransit Broker’s Report
Office relocation: Marc Soto reported that February 1, 2006 is the target date to move the office. The Broker is still working with the landlord at the new space to address one or two more issues. Marc expects to have a lease executed in the next 15 days.
Customer Satisfaction Survey: The Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey has been completed and the analyst has prepared a report. The Broker is not ready to present the results at this time, but Marc noted that there has been some improvement in the survey results. The report should be ready by the next PCC meeting and the Broker can ask Jon Canapary of the firm Corey, Canapary and Galanis to attend and present the results.
Lift Van/ADA Access RFP: The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Lift Van/ADA Access services was released in July. The pre-bid meeting was held and there has been a lot of interest expressed in the RFP. The Broker has issued two addenda to answer questions posed at the pre-bid meeting and to clarify numbers provided and to change the due date from August 29 to August 31. The reason for the delay is that the Broker received a letter from the Transport Workers Union (TWU 250A) which stated that they wanted the companies bidding to be aware that they now represent certain MV employees and they want to be sure they are recognized by any winning bidder. Marc included ATC’s response to this letter with the addendum stating that because ATC is a private entity that they do not believe they are not bound by the referenced labor regulations in the same way that Muni is, and as such, it is up to the winning bidders and the union to work out an agreement after the contracts are awarded.
Information Technology (IT) Update: Jay LaViolette has left the Broker’s staff and Marc introduced Rich Conklin, the new IT manager.
Accidents and Incidents
An incident is different than an accident. An example of an incident is when two passengers get into an altercation on the van. Or another example is when a driver accuses a passenger of an inappropriate activity. The Broker is not required to report incidents to the federal government.
The federal definition of a major accident is:
Major accident:
Existence of one or more of the following:
- A fatality other than a suicide
- Injuries requiring immediate medical attention away from the scene for two or more persons
- Property damage equal to or exceeding $25,000
- An evacuation due to life safety reasons
- A collision at a grade crossing
- A mainline derailment
- A collision with person(s) on a rail right-of-way (ROW) resulting in injuries that require immediate medical attention away from the scene for one or more persons
- A collision between a rail transit vehicle and another rail transit vehicle or a transit non-revenue vehicle resulting in injuries that require immediate medical attention away from the scene for one or more persons.
There were no (0) major accidents in FY04-05.
Non-Major accident:
Incidents not already reported on the Major Incident Reporting form. Existence of one or more of the following conditions:
- Injuries requiring immediate medical attention away from the scene for one person
- Property damage equal to or exceeding $7,500 (less than $25,000)
- All non-arson fires not qualifying as Major Incidents
During the Fiscal Year 04-05, no major accident/incident was reported and 7 non-major accidents/incidents were reported.
In addition to these seven non-major incidents, paratransit providers reported 25 minor accidents/incidents.
Public Comment
Dan Hines, the President of National Cab Company stated that all the members of the San Francisco Taxicab Association have supported the debit card project. Recently they became aware of problems with the project. According to Dan, the single vendor approach creates issues for the cab companies, and they wrote a formal letter of complaint to Muni.
Ed Burke, GPS Data Solutions, responded that the debit card project was delayed because he had trouble coming up with the bond requirements. GPS Data Solutions has an operating agreement with DDS, who bonded the project. If there was unlimited money for the project there could be multiple vendors, but given the budget, a single vendor solution was presented by GPS Data Solutions.
Dan responded that the cab companies supported GPS Data Solutions in their bid for the debit card project based on the understanding that there would be a competitive vendor approach. This system will provide a platform for the companies to provide service for many years and it’s important to get it right.
Laurie Graham stated that DDS only provides the hardware but that five other companies write software. The cab companies don’t necessarily have to go with a pure DDS system if they don’t want to. There’s room for choice.
Paul Gillespie asked if existing dispatch systems will be able to plug into the debit card system. Ed responded that yes, they will be able to plug in and that DDS provides more flexibility than other companies.
Genya Ehrlich stated that she has the impression that the complaint is not in the interest of the paratransit consumers and that nobody wins in this situation. She urged that the cab companies get together and think in the interest of the people who use the service.
Bruce Oka stated that he has been getting calls from supervisors asking, “what the hell is happening with the debit card?” Supervisor Peskin won’t stand for any further delay. The Supervisors may take it in their court if we don’t solve it here.
Byron Yan stated that he waited one hour for a ride today and that MV has not been doing well lately.
Bienestar Davis stated that she uses paratransit to go to and from work. In general it’s a wonderful service and she is pleased, but she has a concern. In the afternoons, she has to wait a long time for her pick ups. She is off work at 5:00 p.m. and sometimes she is not picked up until 6:00 p.m.
Derik stated that he will research Ms. Davis’ situation.
Kate Toran announced that the Paratransit Working Group will have their first meeting on September 19, 2005 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 100 Van Ness, 25th floor. Kate also announced that Hobart Banks has been ill. Cheryl Damico added that she talked to him this week and he’s doing better.
Jeanne Lynch announced that there will be a traffic safety campaign with AAA and SFPD and there will be a kick off on Thursday, September 8 at 251 18th Avenue.
The next PCC meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 28, 2005
10:30 am – 12:30 pm at 711 Eddy Street.
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