|
Minutes
PCC Executive Committee Meeting
May 25, 2005
711 Eddy Street, San Francisco
PCC Executive Committee Members Present: Laurie Graham, PCC Executive Committee Chair; Griff Humphrey, PCC Executive Committee Vice Chair; Bruce Oka; Tara Housman; Stu Smith; Genya Ehrlich; Sam Alicia Duke; Lisa Rosene; Jacy Cohen; Lucky Walker for Hal Mellegard; Paul Gillespie; Dee Ann Hendrix; Anthony Nicco; Kaye Griffin; John Lazar; Alice Bray; Erma Brim; Hobart Banks; Luis Calderon; Elizabeth Boardman; Cynthia Petersen
PCC Executive Committee Members Excused: Jewel McGinnis; Cheryl Damico; Patricia Lovelock
Guests: John Murphy, MV Transportation; Derik Calhoun, MV Transportation; Vincent Webster, MV Transportation; Bill Hollabaugh, Advisory Council; Carolyn Devine, Commission on Aging and Adult Services; Cynthia Davis, North and South of Market ADHC; Dorothy Banks
Paratransit Broker: Marc Soto; Kevin McNay
Muni: Kate Toran; Annette Williams
Read and Approve Agenda
Laurie Graham, PCC Executive Committee chair, called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. The agenda was motioned/seconded/passed (M/S/P) as presented.
Cynthia Petersen from Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGBHTD) reported that the district is looking at raising the paratransit fares incrementally. A 5% increase will be effective July 1, 2005. More information is available on the GGBHTD website at www.goldengate.org.
Approve minutes of March 30, 2005 meeting
The minutes were M/S/P as presented.
Comments from the Chair
Laurie Graham reviewed the meeting ground rules that were sent out with the agenda packets. She reminded the PCC members to respect each other and to work together as a team. Laurie also stated that she received a written invitation from the Transportation Authority to select a representative for the Paratransit Working Group. Laurie nominated both Elizabeth Boardman and herself. Each group or agency was asked to select one representative, but Laurie felt that it was important for the Adult Day Health to be represented on the Paratransit Working Group, as well as the PCC. In the TA’s earlier documents, they did indicate that there would be a representative from an “Adult Health Services” agency. Griff was selected as the representative from the Muni Citizen’s Advisory Council
Report from April 6, 2005 PC&O Group Van Meeting
Jacy Cohen gave the following report:
Update on Service Quality:
Lisa Greenberg, the representative from L’Chaim, reported that Medsam provides high quality service. L’Chaim received 6 new 5310 vehicles and they are performing well so far.
Betty Fung, the representative from Self Help for the Elderly, reported that TransMetro’s service quality fluctuates, and is good on some days and bad on others. Some days they are a little late and other days they’re very late. Betty looks at both drop off time and ride time to assess service quality.
The group then discussed the protocol for calling the Broker’s office when there are service problems. Most agencies try to work out the issues with the providers before calling the Broker’s office. Marc stated that the Broker’s office should know what’s going on with the service, and that if it’s serious to bring up at a meeting, then the Broker should know about it.
Cindy Kauffman stated that Medsam provides a consistently good service to the Institute on Aging. There have been a few problems with MV that have been worked out.
Alice Wong stated that TransMetro’s service to Laguna Honda ADHC was improving. There had been some driver issues that are resolved. The service from MV has been declining over the past few months. MV has been very late with pick ups and drop offs, and Laguna Honda ADHC could not get paid from the state because the clients need to be at the center for at least 4 hours. It appears that the drivers have an internal conflict with the office. Alice also stated that it is very difficult to get through on MV’s phone lines.
Alex Kontos reported that TransMetro has added a new vehicle to the fleet. There had been some late trips which were related to a new driver, but that has stabilized now. TransMetro has trained 4 new drivers to replace drivers that don’t show up. They’re also looking to add an additional resource for the afternoon peak time.
Derik Calhoun reported that MV service has been going fairly well. This is the first time that he has heard about the problems at Laguna Honda. MV is bringing on some new drivers and there have been some issues associated with that.
Ridership and Expenditure Update
Annette reported that there are approximately 2,000 more trips per month this year than last year. The group van expenditures have gone over budget one month in the summer/fall but not in the winter months. The Broker’s office has not denied any requests for adding clients. It was noted that the winter months were low attendance months at most agencies because of the severity of the flu season. There is no new news about the continuation of the $280,000 additional funding for next year. Annette did request that this money be included in both the Muni budget and the Department of Aging and Adult Services budget ($140,000 in each budget).
Paratransit Broker Report
Marc Soto reported that the SF Paratransit website is in the process of being updated. The Mobility Master software is also being upgraded and all provider will be able to route and schedule using the upgraded software. Marc is still working on the office relocation. Two sites in the Civic Center area have been identified as potential new office locations.
Report from the May 5, 2005 PC&O Taxi/Ramp Taxi Meeting
John Lazar provided the following report:
The group discussed advanced reservations on ramp taxis. Luxor and Yellow have the capacity for advance reservations and the other companies will have the capacity when the debit card system is implemented. The group also discussed the attendance of cab companies and ramp taxi medallion holders at the PC&O Taxi/Ramp Taxi meetings. Attendance to this meeting is very important. It was suggested that there be a check off list when a medallion holder wants to switch his/her company and attendance to this meeting should be on this check off list. It was also suggested to have an open house and invite 20 or 30 medallion holders at a time and explain what the program is all about and what is expected from them, with a focus on team effort.
Cindy Ward, General Manager of Desoto Cab, stated that since the medallion holders are independent contractors, they would lose money if they attend meetings. She noted that she has been meeting with Desoto’s medallion holders regularly and she can take back any information to them. She added that bringing color schemes to the meetings are a good start.
Vince Simpson reported that 21 ramp taxi drivers have been admonished, 2 cited, and 6 medallion holders have received admonishment because they are not in compliance with the “three pick-up” rule. Cheryl Damico volunteered to call the small ramp taxi companies when requesting service and keep a log regarding their responsiveness. Kate Toran suggested a taxi/ramp taxi secret rider program such as one in the ADA Access/Lift Van program. The Ramp Taxi Secret Rider program could be developed by recruiting volunteers to fill out surveys based on their experiences using the service. The purpose of the Ramp Taxi Secret Rider would be to gather data on the taxi companies providing ramp taxi service. There have been many concerns regarding the smaller cab companies that have ramped taxis. The Ramp Taxi Secret Rider surveys could help the Broker to determine if the smaller companies with ramped taxis would provide the three trips if they were called, or not.
Dee Ann Hendrix stated that it’s a good idea to have a Ramp Taxi Secret Rider program. Paul Gillespie added that he thinks it’s a good idea and that it will provide real data that can help with accountability. Jacy Cohen stated that there should be across the board representation and that people with developmental disabilities should be included. Kate responded that she would work with Jacy and other agency representatives to be inclusive. Luis Calderon moved that a Ramp Taxi Secret Rider program be instituted. The motion was seconded and passed.
Report from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Taxi Symposium
Annette Williams stated that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approached Muni a few months ago because there has been a lot of interest in the region in using taxis for paratransit and other services. MTC held a symposium to bring together the various stakeholders interested in taxis. There were three general case studies:
- Taxis for guaranteed ride home
- Taxis for seniors
- Accessible taxis for paratransit
Dr. Sandra Rosenbloom from the University of Arizona did an extensive study for Project Action on accessible taxis. Her general conclusions were that both requirements and incentives are needed for an accessible taxi program. Dr. Rosenbloom talked about challenges to starting and maintaining accessible taxi service nationally. In some areas, there is a strong market for accessible taxi service, such as Ft. Lauderdale and Las Vegas.
The Symposium was widely attended by taxi industry representatives, consumers, and city agency representatives.
Marin County is currently working on a countywide ordinance to regulate taxis. There was a meeting in Marin the day after the MTC Taxi Symposium to discuss the demand for ramp taxis in Marin that is currently unment.
Report from the May 12, 2005 Ramp Taxi Working Group Meeting
Marc Soto reported that the Ramp Taxi working group, which is comprised on representatives from the taxi industry, the PCC, Muni and the Broker’s office, held its second meeting on May 12, which was after the MTC Taxi Symposium so that members could bring ideas back from there. At its first meeting, the working group discussed and categorized problems with the ramp taxi program. At this latest meeting, the group went through each category and discussed potential solutions to each problem. Marc is now working on finalizing the minutes from that meeting, prioritizing the solutions and developing an action plan to present to the PCC. One interesting idea that came out of the meeting would be for the PCC to annually endorse a color scheme, and that before a medallion holder can move from one color scheme to another the Taxi Commission would review those endorsements. A similar process was also recommended for individuals getting ramp taxi medallions.
Report from the May 11, 2005 Systemwide PC&O Meeting
Bruce Oka gave the following report:
A systemwide PC&O meeting was held to discuss the taxi freeze, and to brainstorm potential policy recommendations to move people from ADA Access to taxi. The group first discussed the taxi freeze, why it was implemented and reviewed data to get a sense of the effects of the freeze. Data was presented on the number of applications received each year; taxi expenditure trends and the Broker gave a report on fraud mitigation efforts.
There has been a significant reduction in the number of new applications since the taxi freeze was implemented:
FY00/01 |
FY01/02 |
FY02/03 |
FY03/04 |
FY04/05 |
4,467 |
4,634 |
3,302 |
3,649 |
3,144 |
The taxi trend lines show that if the taxi expenditures stayed at the same growth rate, the program would be spending more money than we are now spending on ADA Access and taxi.
The Broker provided a report about the fraud mitigation program. No estimate was provided on the savings related to reduction in fraud, but anecdotal evidence is available which indicates that there has been a reduction in fraud.
The group then brainstormed overall goals of the new policy:
- Implementable (Broker staff is not judge and jury)
- Cost effective
- Service that best meets people’s needs
- Fair (including an analysis of time in the program)
- Rational/sane and flexible
The group then brainstormed about how a new policy might work. Many suggestions were made, and the next steps will be to meet again as a group and to discuss the policy suggestions, prioritize the suggestions and then present a recommendation to the PCC.
Bill Hollabaugh stated that he was at a meeting yesterday where the budget cuts at the Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) were discussed. DAAS Paratransit expenditures have been under spent, and Bill is concerned that people are not being served. Annette responded that DAAS has a group van program, which they fund. Muni recently met with DAAS to discuss their group van program. The rates that DAAS pays the service providers are artificially low because there have been no cost of living adjustments for 3 or 4 years. There is not much of an incentive for the providers to provide more service because the rates are so low. Bill Hollabaugh announced that Anne Hinton has been selected as the new DAAS director.
Public Comment
The next PCC meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2005
10:30 am – 12:30 pm at 711 Eddy Street
|
