HomeMy Public PortalAbout08 August 28, 1989 Citizens Advisory Committee/Social Service Transportation Advisory CouncilRIVERSI
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION VOMMISSION
040265
AGENDA
CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE/
SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
1:30 P.M., MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1989
PLEASE NOTE NEST MEETING PLACE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION OFFICES
3560 UNIVERSITY AVENUE, SUITE 100
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
(MAP ENCLOSED)
1. Call to Order.
2. Approval of Minutes (July 24, 1989). ACTION
ACTION
4. Social Service Transportation Delivery Study. DISC/ACTION
5. Other Items.
6. Adjournment
3. FY 1989-90 UMTA 16(b)2 Projects.
"
R I V E R S I O C O U N T Y T R A N S P O R T A T I O N C O M M I S S I O N
M i n u t e s o f t h e
C i t i z e n s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e /
S o c i a l S e r v i c e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l
J u l y 2 4 , 1 9 8 9
1 . C a l l t o O r d e r .
T h e m e e t i n g o f t h e C i t i z e n s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e / S o c i a l S e r v i c e
A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l w a s c a l l e d t o o r d e r b y C h a i r m a n C h u c k S c h m i t t a t
1 : 4 0 p . m . , a t t h e S C A G R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y S e r v i c e O f f i c e , 3 6 0 0 L i m e
S t r e e t , S u i t e 2 1 6 , R i v e r s i d e , C A .
M e m b e r s p r e s e n t w e r e :
A c e A t k i n s o n
R a y B a c a
C a t h y B e c h t e l
M i k e B e g g i n s
H e r b K r a u c h
D o n K u r z
M e m b e r s a b s e n t w e r e :
* A l t e r n a t e f o r
O t h e r s p r e s e n t :
L o r i N i c k e l
R e n a P a r k e r
C h u c k S c h m i t t
D o n S e n g e r
D i c k W e e k s
T e r r y A l l e n ( E x c u s e d )
R o s e E l d r i d g e ( E x c u s e d )
J i m J u d g e
J i m K e n n a
J o a n n e M o o r e ( E x c u s e d )
A r n o l d D i c k s o n
D e b r a A s t i n - S u n L i n e
L e e N o r w i n e - S u n L i n e
R i c h a r d C r o m w e l l , I I I - S u n L i n e
2 . A p p r o v a l o f M i n u t e s
L e o n O v e r t o n ( E x c u s e d )
A r n o l d D i c k s o n
D o n H i g h
* T o m P a r a d i s e
P a u l B l a c k w e l d e r - R C T C
H i d e o S u g i t a - R C T C
N a t y K o p e n h a v e r - R C T C
M / S / C ( K R A U C H / K U R Z ) t o a p p r o v e t h e J u n e 2 6 , 1 9 8 9
s u b m i t t e d .
m i n u t e s a s
T h e f o l l o w i n g c o m m e n t s w e r e m a d e , b u t t h e m i n u t e s w e r e
c h a n g e d t o r e f l e c t t h i s d i s c u s s i o n :
A . H e r b K r a u c h .
m i n u t e s s h o w e d h i m a s
a t t e n d a n c e .
N o t e d t h a t t h e J a n u a r y a n d
a b s e n t w h e n , i n f a c t , h e
n o t
F e b r u a r y
w a s i n
" "
P a g e 2
B . D e b r a A s t i n o f S u n L i n e w i s h e d t o c l a r i f y t h e f o l l o w i n g
p o i n t s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e 0 6 / 2 6 / 8 9 m i n u t e s :
1 . I t e m # 3 , P a r a g r a p h 1 r e f l e c t e d t h e a m e n d m e n t s w e r e
r e c e i v e d t o o l a t e f o r H i d e o S u g i t a t o r e v i e w t h e m b e f o r e t h e
m e e t i n g . S h e r e m i n d e d t h e C o m m i t t e e t h a t S u n L i n e h a d s e n t
t h e a n s w e r s t o t h e t w o t a b l e d q u e s t i o n s ( b a c k - u p v e h i c l e
i s s u e a n d d o l l a r a m o u n t o f c o n t r a c t s e r v i c e s f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e
T r a n s p o r t a t i o n D e l i v e r y S t u d y ) t o t h e R C T C s t a f f t o b e p r e s e n t e d
a t t h e m e e t i n g .
2 . I t e m # 3 , P a r a g r a p h s 3 a n d 6 r e f l e c t e d t h a t H i d e o
S u g i t a c o n t a c t e d t h e S u n L i n e s t a f f a n d w a s t o l d t h e y w e r e n o t
a b l e t o b e p r e s e n t a t t h e l a s t m e e t i n g d u e t o s c h e d u l i n g
p r o b l e m s . D e b b i e s t a t e d t h a t S u n L i n e i s a v e r y s m a l l c o m p a n y .
T h e o n l y p e o p l e a b l e t o a t t e n d t h e m e e t i n g s a n d p a r t i c i p a t e
i n t e l l i g e n t l y i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n a r e : D i c k C r o m w e l l - A s s i s t a n t
G e n e r a l M a n a g e r , L e e N o r w i n e - G e n e r a l M a n a g e r a n d h e r s e l f , D e b r a
A s t i n - S e n i o r P l a n n e r . S h e s a i d t h a t D i c k C r o m w e l l a n d s h e w e r e
o u t o f t o w n t h a t d a y a n d L e e N o r w i n e h a d p r i o r c o m m i t m e n t s t h a t
h e c o u l d n o t g e t o u t o f . S u n L i n e w i s h e s t o r e a s s u r e t h e
C o m m i t t e e t h a t t h e y r e a l i z e t h e m e e t i n g s a r e v e r y i m p o r t a n t a n d ,
a g a i n t h e y d i d s e n d t h e i r r e s p o n s e s t o t h e t w o t a b l e d q u e s t i o n s
t o R C T C s t a f f p r i o r t o t h e m e e t i n g .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t s t a t e d t h a t t h e s e i s s u e s w e r e p u t
f o r t h o n t h e t a b l e a t a p r i o r m e e t i n g ; t h e r e f o r e t h i s w a s a
c o n t i n u e d d i s c u s s i o n .
3 . T h e S R T P s t a t e d t h a t t h e y w o u l d c o n t i n u e t h e s e r v i c e
( I n t e r v a l l e y ) u n t i l t h e C o m m i s s i o n h a d a c h a n c e t o r e v i e w t h e
o u t c o m e o f t h e s t u d y .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t r e s p o n d e d t h a t t h e S t u d y i s u n d e r
r e v i e w b y t h e C o m m i t t e e a n d , S u n L i n e ' s r e s p o n s e w a s c o n s i d e r e d
u n s a t i s f a c t o r y a t t h e t i m e .
4 . P a r a g r a p h 5 i n d i c a t e d t h e C o m m i t t e e d o e s n o t h a v e a
l i s t f r o m S u n L i n e w h i c h i d e n t i f i e s c o n t r a c t o r s f o r a p a r t i c u l a r
s e r v i c e . D e b r a r e s p o n d e d t h a t t h e l i s t h a d b e e n s e n t i n t h e p a s t
a n d i t w a s a v a i l a b l e .
5 . P a g e 7 , P a r a g r a p h 1 - P a t P i r a s d i s c u s s i o n
r e g a r d i n g s o c i a l s e r v i c e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . T h e r e w a s a n
i m p l i c a t i o n t h a t S u n L i n e i s n o t w i l l i n g t o c o n t i n u e t o b e a
p r o v i d e r o f r e c o r d f o r d i a l - a - r i d e s e r v i c e s f o r t h e g e n e r a l
e l d e r l y o r h a n d i c a p p e d . D e b r a s t a t e d t h a t S u n L i n e h a s n e v e r
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t b e a p r o v i d e r f o r t h e s e t y p e s o f s e r v i c e s , n o r
d o t h e y h a v e a p r o b l e m i n p r o v i d i n g d i a l - a - r i d e s e r v i c e s f o r t h e
g e n e r a l e l d e r l y o r h a n d i c a p p e d p o p u l a t i o n . T h e s e s e r v i c e s a r e
s o c i a l s e r v i c e o r i e n t e d o r s u b s c r i p t i o n o r i e n t e d . S u n L i n e i s
c o n c e r n e d a n d c r e a t e d a n e e d f o r a C P T A s t u d y . T h i s p a r a g r a p h
m a y h a v e b e e n a m i s - c o m m u n i c a t i o n .
" "
P a g e 3
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - T h e c o n n o t a t i o n o f t h i s p a r a g r a p h i s
o p e n t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . H e a p p r e c i a t e s S u n L i n e ' s i n p u t a n d t h e
n e e d t o s e e s p e c i f i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s i n S R T P t h a t a d d r e s s t h e s e
i s s u e s . O n t h e b a s i s o f t h a t , t h e C o m m i s s i o n c o u l d m a k e v e r y
s p e c i f i c d e c i s i o n s a n d j u d g m e n t s . H e t h a n k e d S u n L i n e f o r
p r o v i d i n g t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e i r p e r s p e c t i v e .
3 . S u n L i n e F Y 1 9 9 0 - 9 4 S h o r t R a n g e T r a n s i t P l a n
P a u l B l a c k w e l d e r - O n e o f t h e t w o i s s u e s t h a t t h i s C o m m i t t e e
n e e d s t o d e a l w i t h c o n c e r n s t h e S u n L i n e S h o r t R a n g e T r a n s i t P l a n .
T h e t a b l e i n t h e S h o r t R a n g e T r a n s i t P l a n s h o w s f u n d i n g
f o r a l l s e r v i c e s e x c e p t f o r t h e F o u n d a t i o n f o r t h e R e t a r d e d
S e r v i c e . T h e c o r r e c t n a m e f o r t h a t s e r v i c e i s t h e I n t e r v a l l e y
H a n d i c a p p e d S e r v i c e . A l i n e f u r t h e r d o w n i n t h e t a b l e t i t l e
" C o n t r a c t e d S e r v i c e s " , h a s a d o l l a r a m o u n t o f $ 3 4 0 , 9 9 4 . T h e
S u n L i n e s t a f f h a s e x p l a i n e d t h e $ 3 4 0 , 9 9 4 i s t h e a m o u n t t h a t w o u l d
b e u s e d f o r c o n t r a c t i n g s e r v i c e s ; w h i c h i n c l u d e s t h e I n t e r v a l l e y
H a n d i c a p p e d S e r v i c e . P a u l s u g g e s t e d t o a d d u p t h e r e s t o f t h e
s e r v i c e ( e l d e r l y a n d h a n d i c a p p e d d i a l - a - r i d e ) t a k e t h e s u m t o t a l
o f t h a t n u m b e r , s u b t r a c t f r o m t h e $ 3 4 0 , 9 9 4 a n d p l a c e t h e n e w
t o t a l o n t h e l i n e a n d c h a n g e t h e n a m e f r o m " F o u n d a t i o n S e r v i c e "
t o " I n t e r v a l l e y H a n d i c a p p e d / C T S A " . T h a t r e s u l t w o u l d b e $ 1 8 4 , 5 7 0
f o r F i s c a l Y e a r ' 9 0 a n d a p p e a r s t o b e a n a d e q u a t e a m o u n t . T h e
C o m m i s s i o n h a s 5 % o f t h e M e a s u r e A f u n d s t h a t w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e
t h i s c o m i n g y e a r . T h e y a r e a l s o c o n s i d e r i n g , d e p e n d i n g u p o n
o u t c o m e o f C T S A S t u d y , h a v i n g 5 % o f t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f u n d s f o r
t h i s a r e a a v a i l a b l e f o r e l d e r l y a n d h a n d i c a p p e d s e r v i c e s . A t
t h i s t i m e , t h e a m o u n t s t a t e d , i s a d e q u a t e t o r u n t h e s e r v i c e s
t h a t a r e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g r u n t h r o u g h c o n t r a c t b y S u n L i n e f o r t h e
f u l l y e a r . I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d , i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y , t h e r e s t
o f t h e L T F f u n d s t h a t a r e a v a i l a b l e a f t e r f u n d i n g t h i s p l a n , w i l l
b e r e s e r v e d f o r c a p i t a l . N o n e o f t h e m o n e y i s g o i n g f o r s t r e e t
a n d r o a d s . S o m e o f t h e f u n d s w i l l b e r e s e r v e d f o r t r a n s i t a n d
t h e r e i s a l r e a d y a r e s e r v e t r a n s i t c a p i t a l a m o u n t o f r o u g h l y $ 1
m i l l i o n . I f , a t e n d o f t h e C T S A s t u d y , t h e C o m m i s s i o n s e e s t h a t
m o r e m o n e y i s a v a i l a b l e , t h e y c o u l d p r o g r a m m o r e m o n e y f o r
e l d e r l y a n d h a n d i c a p p e d s e r v i c e s o v e r a n d a b o v e t h e c o n t r a c t
a m o u n t , s p e c i f y i n g i t i s f o r e l d e r l y a n d h a n d i c a p p e d s e r v i c e s . A
l o t o f m o n e y h a s b e e n r e s e r v e d f o r c a p i t a l f o r f u t u r e b u s
p u r c h a s e s f o r S u n L i n e . H o w e v e r , t h e C o m m i s s i o n m a i n t a i n s
d i s c r e t i o n o n h o w t h e s e f u n d s a r e u s e d .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t d o e s n o t w a n t t h e m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t
t h e r e i s a l o t o f m o n e y b e i n g s t a s h e d a w a y , w h e n i n f a c t , t h e r e
i s a r e a l c a p i t a l d i l e m m a o n h a n d a s f a r a s h a v i n g e n o u g h m o n e y
t o r e p l a c e t h e e x i s t i n g f l e e t .
P a u l B l a c k w e l d e r - T h e F e d e r a l d o l l a r s f o r c a p i t a l a n d
o p e r a t i n g c o s t s a r e s h r i n k i n g e a c h y e a r . R T A , o r t h e W e s t e r n e n d
o f t h e c o u n t y , g e t s a b o u t $ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 a y e a r t h a t c a n b e p r o g r a m m e d
i n f o r c a p i t a l ( 8 0 % m o n e y t h a t m a t c h e s 2 0 % L T F ) . S u n L i n e g e t s
b e t w e e n $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 - 5 0 , 0 0 0 a y e a r a n d a n e w b u s c o s t s a b o u t $ 1 8 0 , 0 0 0 .
S u n L i n e h a s a p e a k f l e e t o f 3 1 b u s e s a n d w a n t s t o e x p a n d , b u t t h e
" .
P a g e 4
a n n u a l a m o u n t i s n o t a d e q u a t e t o s u p p l y t h e a m o u n t f o r c a p i t a l
n e e d s . T h e w a y S u n L i n e p r o p o s e s f u n d s t o b e p r o g r a m m e d i n t h e
S R T P , i t a s s u m e s e i t h e r L T F o r M e a s u r e A . N o w t h a t t h e r e a r e
M e a s u r e A f u n d s , t h e r e i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o g o o u t t o o t h e r
u r b a n i z e d a r e a s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y t h a t d o n o t u t i l i z e t h e i r
S e c t i o n 9 f u n d s a n d b u y s o m e o f t h o s e f u n d s a t 6 0 - 7 0 c e n t s o n t h e
d o l l a r . T h e C o m m i s s i o n t r a d e d f u n d s a w a y f r o m t h e W e s t e r n e n d a
c o u p l e o f y e a r s a g o , a n d w i t h t h e c u r r e n t c a p i t a l f u n d i n g
s h o r t f a l l , t h e C o m m i s s i o n m a y b e a b l e t o u s e M e a s u r e A f u n d s t o
p u r c h a s e d i s c o u n t e d f e d e r a l d o l l a r s . T h e C o m m i s s i o n i s
p r o c e e d i n g w i t h t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t S u n L i n e w i l l u l t i m a t e l y
r e c e i v e a n U M T A S e c t i o n 3 G r a n t f o r c a p i t a l p u r p o s e s . B a s i c a l l y ,
t h e C o m m i s s i o n i s t r y i n g t o s c h e d u l e a m a t c h t o p u t i n t o r e s e r v e .
I f S u n L i n e i s a b l e t o g e t a S e c t i o n 3 G r a n t , t h e c a p i t a l p r o j e c t
w i l l r e q u i r e a 2 5 % m a t c h . T h e y a r e n o t p u t t i n g m o n e y a w a y t o b e
u s e d f o r a n o n - s p e c i f i c p u r p o s e .
D e b r a A s t i n - T h e r e a r e n o d o l l a r f i g u r e s f o r I n t e r v a l l e y
S e r v i c e . T h e r a t e o f p a s s e n g e r s i s 5 0 - 6 0 t h o u s a n d . T h e r e i s
c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e n u m b e r s r e p r e s e n t e d i n t a b l e s a s b e i n g a n o v e r
e s t i m a t e . T h e r e i s a n e e d t o s t a b i l i z e t h e i s s u e w i t h o u t m o n e y .
S h e d o e s n ' t s e e l a n g u a g e t o c o m m i t S u n L i n e t o e i t h e r a f i n a n c i a l
o r m a n a g e m e n t p o s i t i o n s o t h a t t h e p e o p l e w h o a r e c u r r e n t l y u s i n g
I n t e r v a l l e y S e r v i c e w i l l h a v e s e r v i c e . A l l s h e h a s i s w h a t i s i n
h e r h a n d s a n d i s n o t g o i n g t o b e a b l e t o p r o c e e d a n y f u r t h e r
u n t i l P a t P i r a s ' s t u d y i s c o m p l e t e d .
S u n L i n e w a n t s t o s e e s t a b i l e s e r v i c e a n d
a r e g o i n g t o e n d u p b a c k o n t h e t a b l e , n o t
t r a n s i t p l a n , b u t r a t h e r , o n a C T S A l e v e l .
s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y s t u d y i s d o n e , t h e S u n L i n e
e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n t h e o u t c o m e o f C T S A s t u d y . T h e y
h a v e t a k e n t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t t h e F o u n d a t i o n S e r v i c e , b e c a u s e o f
i t s n a t u r e , i s n o t a p p r o p r i a t e t o p r o v i d e . T h i s h a s r e s u l t e d i n
t h e s e r v i c e b e i n g s e t o n t h e s h e l f t o s e e w h a t h a p p e n s w h e n a
c o n s u l t a n t i s b r o u g h t i n a n d r e v i e w s t h e s e r v i c e i n a n o b j e c t i v e
m a n n e r . E v e r y o n e i s i n l i m b o u n t i l t h e C T S A s t u d y i s c o m p l e t e .
T h e r e i s n o s t a b i l i t y f o r t h e s e r v i c e u n t i l t h e s t u d y i s d o n e .
W h a t h a p p e n s i n t h e s t u d y w i l l d e t e r m i n e t h e o u t c o m e o f
F o u n d a t i o n s e r v i c e . T h i s i s g o i n g t o b e a n e g o t i a t e d p r o c e s s .
f e e l s t h e s e i s s u e s
i n a s h o r t r a n g e
W h e n t h e s o c i a l
B o a r d w i l l b e a n
A c e A t k i n s o n i s r e v i e w i n g t h e c o m m e n t s c o n c e r n i n g S u n L i n e ' s
p o s i t i o n a s a p u b l i c a g e n c y , a n d r e p r e s e n t i n g s e v e r a l g o v e r n m e n t
a g e n c i e s a n d e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s . T h e r e a r e 9 c i t i e s ( 5 p e r s o n
c o u n c i l s ) , 4 5 e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s i n t h e V a l l e y , w h i c h i s u p t o 5 0
e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s w h e n y o u i n c l u d e t h e B o a r d o f S u p e r v i s o r s . T h e
o f f i c i a l s o f S u n L i n e s a i d t h e y a r e n o t g o i n g t o p r o m i s e s t a b i l i t y
o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s e r v i c e s t o p e r s o n s w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t a l
d i s a b i l i t i e s . W h a t S u n L i n e i s s a y i n g , i s t h e e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s
r e a l l y d o n ' t h a v e a c o m m i t m e n t t o d e c e n t s e r v i c e t o p e o p l e w h o
a r e e l d e r l y o r p e o p l e w h o a r e h a n d i c a p p e d c o n c e r n i n g p l a n n i n g a n d
m a n a g e m e n t o f p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n a g e n c i e s .
L o r i N i c k e l a g r e e s t h a t A c e h a s h i t t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e C T S A
s t u d y . H o p e f u l l y , t h e s t u d y w i l l b e a n u n b i a s e d l o o k a t t h e
" "
P a g e 5
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a n d r o l e s o f a s o c i a l s e r v i c e , p u b l i c t r a n s i t
a g e n c y . A c e ' s a r g u m e n t i s v a l i d f o r p e r s p e c t i v e . A l t h o u g h t h e
s t u d y i s t a k i n g l o n g e r t h a n t h o u g h t . F u t u r e r o u n d s o f f u n d i n g
w i l l b e d e f e r r e d u n t i l t h e s t u d y i s c o m p l e t e d .
C h u c k S c h m i t t a n d H i d e o a t t e n d e d t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s
m e e t i n g f o r S u n L i n e T r a n s i t . T h e r e w a s c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s c u s s i o n
a n d i t w a s t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e B o a r d i s o f t h e s a m e m i n d a s
S u n L i n e d i r e c t o r s h e r e t o d a y . T h e y a r e n o t h a p p y w i t h p r o v i d i n g
s e r v i c e u n d e r p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n a n d c o n s t i t u t i o n . O n c e t h e s t u d y
i s c o m p l e t e d , t h e r e m a y s t i l l b e a f i g h t b e c a u s e t h e p e o p l e n e e d
t o h a v e q u a l i t y s e r v i c e . T h e y h o p e t o r e f l e c t t h i s q u a l i t y o f
s e r v i c e i n t h e f u t u r e .
T h i s i s s u e s h o u l d b e d e f e r r e d t o t h e C T S A . S u n L i n e i s
p r o v i d i n g a c o n t r a c t w i t h S h o r e l i n e ' s I n t e r v a l l e y S e r i v i c e a n d i s
a d d i n g n e w m e m b e r s a s s p a c e b e c o m e s a v a i l a b l e .
A c e A t k i n s o n - T h e c a p o n t h e l e v e l o f f u n d i n g i s f a r i n
e x c e s s o f t h e a m o u n t n e e d e d . F u l l a n d l i m i t e d t a x f u n d s a r e
b e i n g u s e d f o r a p a r a l l e l s e r v i c e t h a t S u n L i n e u s e d t o p r o v i d e a n d
c o n s i s t s o f 1 2 b u s e s . T h e p o l i c y i s c l e a r c u t f o r S u n L i n e .
T h e i r s t a f f c o n s i s t s o f 4 3 p e o p l e u n t i l t h e C T S A s t u d y i s
c o m p l e t e . $ 1 9 0 , 0 0 0 h a s b e e n b u d g e t e d f o r t h i s y e a r t o c o v e r
a d d i t i o n a l p e o p l e . I f R T A o p e r a t e d t h e s a m e w a y a s S u n L i n e t h e r e
w o u l d n o t b e a d e q u a t e c o v e r a g e . I t i s u n f a i r f o r R C T C t o a c c e p t
l e s s t h a n a l l t h e c o l u m n s f i l l e d o u t o n t a b l e , a s t h i s r e p r e s e n t s
a c o m m i t m e n t o v e r t h e l o n g t e r m .
T h e r e a r e n o T D A f u n d s f o r s t r e e t s a n d r o a d s i n C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y .
A l s o , C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y h a s c a p i t a l n e e d . S u n L i n e , i n l i e u o f
d i s c o n t i n u i n g s e r v i c e , w i l l c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e s e r v i c e a t t h e
c u r r e n t l e v e l . I n o r d e r t o a c c o m p l i s h t h i s t h e y c o n t r a c t e d w i t h
S h o r l i n e s .
P a u l B l a c k w e l d e r - T h e r e i s a l e v e l o f f u n d i n g t h a t w i l l
s h o w w h e n t h e C o m m i t t e e r e c o m m e n d s p u t t i n g a n u m b e r o n
" I n t e r v a l l e y H a n d i c a p p e d / C T S A " l i n e . W e w i l l k n o w h o w b i g t h e
g r o u p i s a n d h o w t h e y a r e t o b e b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r w h e n s t u d y i s
c o m p l e t e . A t t h a t t i m e , t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w i l l b e b r o u g h t f o r t h
f o r t h e C o m m i s s i o n t o g o b a c k a n d l o o k a t t h e I n t e r v a l l e y / C T S A
n u m b e r . I f t h e n u m b e r n e e d s t o b e b i g g e r , m o n e y i s r e s e r v e d i n
c a p i t a l a n d t h a t c o u l d b e u s e d . T h i s i s s u e s h o u l d b e r e v i s i t e d
o n c e t h e C T S A s t u d y i s d o n e a n d c a n b e i m p l e m e n t e d .
I t w a s M / S ( K r a u c h / P a r k e r ) t o a d o p t t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n t o
d e f e r f u r t h e r a c t i o n u n t i l t h e s t u d y i s c o m p l e t e d . A n A m e n d m e n t
w a s a d d e d d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e r e h a s b e e n a c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e
c i t i z e n s o f R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y i n t h e p a s t a n d t h e w e l f a r e o f
i n d i v i d u a l s u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n a t t h i s t i m e a r e i n t h e C o a c h e l l a
V a l l e y .
D i s c u s s i o n : T h e i d e a i s t o m o v e t h e s h o r t r a n g e t r a n s i t
p l a n o n t o t h e R C T C w i t h t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n t o a d d r e s s t h e i s s u e s
" "
P a g e 6
b r o u g h t u p t o d a y .
W i t h a m o t i o n o n t h e f l o o r , i t w a s d e c i d e d t o c o m b i n e t h e t w o
i s s u e s .
I s s u e # 1 - t h e b a c k - u p l i f t e q u i p p e d v e h i c l e s .
D e b r a A s t i n - T h e r e a r e s i x E & H s e r v i c e s i n t o t a l . ( 1 )
D e s e r t H o t S p r i n g s d i a l a r i d e i s a s e r v i c e o f f e r e d b y S u n L i n e
w i t h o n e l i f t - e q u i p p e d v e h i c l e i n s e r v i c e a n d o n e a v a i l a b l e a s
b a c k u p . T h e v e h i c l e h a s a o n e t i e d o w n . ( 2 ) P a l m
S p r i n g s / C a t h e d r a l C i t y ( p r o v i d e d b y t h e D e s e r t B l i n d
A s s o c i a t i o n ) . T h e r e i s o n e l i f t e q u i p p e d v e h i c l e i n s e r v i c e a n d
o n e b a c k - u p v e h i c l e w h i c h i s n o t a c c e s s i b l e .
( 3 ) P a l m D e s e r t i s o p e r a t e d b y t h e S e n i o r C e n t e r . T h e r e i s o n e
v e h i c l e i n s e r v i c e a n d o n e b a c k u p v e h i c l e . N e i t h e r i s
a c c e s s i b l e . ( 4 ) E a s t e r n V a l l e y d i a l a r i d e i s p r o v i d e d b y a
p r i v a t e c o n t r a c t o r - S h o r e l i n e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n . T h e r e a r e t h r e e
v e h i c l e s i n s e r v i c e a n d o n e i s a c c e s s i b l e . T h e r e i s o n e b a c k - u p
v e h i c l e t h a t i s a c c e s s i b l e . ( 5 ) F o u n d a t i o n S e r v i c e i s a l s o
p r o v i d e d b y S h o r e l i n e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n . T h e r e a r e t h r e e v e h i c l e s
i n s e r v i c e , o n e o f w h i c h i s a c c e s s i b l e a n d t h e r e i s o n e b a c k - u p
v e h i c l e t h a t i s a c c e s s i b l e . ( 6 ) H a n d s o f t h e D e s e r t i s o u t s i d e
t h e D e s e r t H o t S p r i n g s c i t y l i m i t s . S e r v i c e i s p r o v i d e d b y H a n d s
o f t h e D e s e r t A g e n c y . T h e r e i s o n e v e h i c l e i n s e r v i c e w h i c h i s
a c c e s s i b l e , w i t h n o b a c k u p .
D e b r a s t a t e d s h e c o u l d r e a d t h e q u e s t i o n i n t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s m i n d
- w h y a r e n ' t a l l s e r v i c e s a c c e s i b l e o r a s p a r e l i f t e q u i p p e d
v e h i c l e p r o v i d e d f o r a l l s e r v i c e s . T h e r e a s o n i s n o o n e b r o u g h t
u p t h e q u e s t i o n b e f o r e . I n o r d e r t o c u r e t h e p r o b l e m , S u n L i n e
c o n t r a c t e d , f o r t h e F o u n d a t i o n , a l i f t e q u i p p e d b a c k - u p v e h i c l e .
S i n c e t h i s i s t h e f i r s t t i m e t h i s i s s u e h a s c o m e u p i t i s n o w a
" s q u e a k y w h e e l " . O n e s e r v i c e h a s n o b a c k u p - t h e P a l m D e s e r t
S e n i o r C e n t e r C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e . D e b r a s u g g e s t s a s a
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , i f t h e C o m m i s s i o n w o u l d l i k e t o s e e a l l s e r v i c e s
w h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b l e , i t s h o u l d b e m a d e a c o n d i t i o n o f t h e S R T P
- t h a t w h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b i l i t y w i l l b e a s s u r e d o n a l l d i a l a
r i d e s e r v i c e s , a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e , b u t r e a l i z i n g t h a t n o
c a p i t a l e x p e n d i t u r e w i l l p r o b a b l y o c c u r u n t i l a f t e r t h e C T S A
s t u d y i s d o n e - p r o b a b l y F Y 1 9 9 0 .
I n t h e E a s t V a l l e y S e r v i c e t h e r e i s a b a c k - u p v e h i c l e n o w .
S h o r e l i n e d o e s n ' t h a v e a b a c k - u p v e h i c l e b e c a u s e S u n L i n e w o n ' t
p a y f o r i t . T h i s i s a n i s s u e t h a t s h o u l d b e d i s c u s s e d w i t h
S h o r e L i n e - d o e s t h e F o u n d a t i o n s e r v i c e h a v e a b a c k - u p v e h i c l e
t h a t i s l i f t e q u i p p e d ? S u n L i n e t r a n s i t w a s t h e o p e r a t o r o f t h i s
s e r v i c e , b u t s i n c e t h a t t i m e , h a s c o n t r a c t e d w i t h a c o n t r a c t o r
t h a t d o e s h a v e l i f t e q u i p m e n t a n d a l s o b a c k - u p l i f t e q u i p m e n t .
T h i s h a s b e e n a d d r e s s e d i n t h e S R T P . T h e r e i s a s u p e r v i s o r y r o l e
( b y S u n L i n e ) t o s o m e e x t e n t o v e r t h e e q u i p m e n t .
A c e A t k i n s o n - E a s t e r n V a l l e y S e r v i c e h a s t h e s a m e f o u r v e h i c l e s
a s I n t e r v a l l e y a n d i s u s i n g t h e s a m e c o n t r a c t o r . T h e i s s u e o f
a c c e s s i b i l i t y a f f e c t s t h e p e o p l e i n b o t h o f t h e s e s e r v i c e a r e a s .
" "
P a g e 7
I f t h e r e i s a p r o b l e m w i t h a c c e s s i b l e b a c k - u p , t h e r e h a s b e e n
d i s c u s s i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e u s e o f S h o r e l i n e ' s v e h i c l e s .
A c e A t k i n s o n g a v e a b r i e f h i s t o r y o f t h e s e r v i c e s i n t h e
C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y . T h e c o s t p e r p a s s e n g e r f o r s e r v i c e s i n t h e
C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y u s e t o b e c o s t p r o h i b i t i v e . D i c k C r o m w e l l c a m e
o n s t a f f a n d i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h t h e s o c i a l
s e r v i c e a g e n c i e s i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y . I n a d d i t i o n , h e
d e v e l o p e d a R F P t o f i n d q u a l i f i e d d i a l a r i d e p r o v i d e r s t o c o m e
i n a n d t a k e o v e r t h e e x i s t i n g d i a l a r i d e s e r v i c e s . F i r s t o f
a l l , t h e r e w e r e v e r y f e w r e s p o n d e n t s b e c a u s e o f a l a c k o f
i n t e r e s t i n e s t a b l i s h i n g p r o v i d e r o f f i c e s i n t h e C o a c h e l l a
V a l l e y . T h o s e t h a t w e r e i n t e r e s t e d , h a d a c o s t p e r p a s s e n g e r
t h a t w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o s t p r o h i b i t i v e , p r o b a b l y o v e r $ 1 5 t o $ 2 5
p e r p a s s e n g e r . T h e r e m a i n i n g o p t i o n , w a s f o r D i c k t o c o n t i n u e
c o n v e r s a t i o n s , a l m o s t c o e r c i o n , o f o u r s o c i a l s e r v i c e p a r t n e r s .
D i c k w a s a b l e t o l e v e r a g e t h e s e r v i c e s c u r r e n t l y b e i n g p r o v i d e d .
A s w e c o u l d , w e t r i e d t o t u r n o v e r o u r s e r v i c e s t o t h e s e
a g e n c i e s . W e n o w p a y $ 5 . 0 0 p e r p a s s e n g e r f o r d i a l a r i d e s e r v i c e
w h i c h s e r v e s a g r e a t d e a l o f e l d e r l y a n d h a n d i c a p p e d p a s s e n g e r s
i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y . T h e p r i m e p r o b l e m , a s f a r a s b u t t i n g
h e a d s w i t h e i t h e r t h e C o m m i s s i o n s t a f f o r t h e C o m m i t t e e , i s t h e
F o u n d a t i o n f o r t h e R e t a r d e d . T h e r e s t o f t h e s e r v i c e s , a r e
f a i r l y w e l l r e c e i v e d . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n l y g r e a t
o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t w e s h a r e i n t r y i n g t o i m p r o v e t h e q u a l i t y o f
t h e s e r v i c e b e c a u s e m o s t o f t h e s e a r e s m a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n s ,
p r o v i d i n g t h e i r s e r v i c e s w i t h a g r e a t d e a l o f v o l u n t e e r l a b o r .
L o r i N i c k e l s t a t e d s h e n e v e r r e a l i z e d t h a t s a m e v e h i c l e s t h a t r a n
t h e I n t e r v a l l e y S e r v i c e r a n t h e E a s t V a l l e y d i a l - a - r i d e s e r v i c e
a n d b r o u g h t u p t h e q u e s t i o n c o n c e r n i n g b o t h s e r v i c e s n e e d i n g a
b a c k - u p v e h i c l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e .
D e b r a A s t i n - T h e s e r v i c e s w o u l d h a v e t o b e p r e a r r a n g e d , a l t h o u g h
t h e r e h a s n o t b e e n a p r o b l e m u p t o t h i s p o i n t b e c a u s e t h e
m a j o r i t y o f t h e b u s i n e s s h a s b e e n i n t h e m o r n i n g .
A c e A t k i n s o n - B y t h e s a m e t o k e n , i n D e s e r t H o t S p r i n g s , i f t h e r e
i s a v e h i c l e i n f o r m a i n t e n a n c e , t h e n w e a r e w i t h o u t a b a c k - u p
v e h i c l e i n t h a t i n s t a n c e a l s o . S h o r e l i n e i s a f a i r l y w e l l r u n
b u s i n e s s a n d h a s o p e r a t e d t h e s e r v i c e s w i t h o u t m a i n t a i n i n g a
b a c k - u p v e h i c l e . H o w e v e r , t h e r e c o u l d b e a g r e a t d e a l o f s t r e s s
p l a c e d o n t h e s e p e o p l e b e c a u s e , f o r m a n y h a n d i c a p p e d p e o p l e ,
b e i n g s t r a n d e d c o u l d b e b o t h e m o t i o n a l l y a n d p h y s i c a l l y
d a n g e r o u s , e s p e c i a l l y c o n s i d e r i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t i n w h i c h y o u r
d i a l a r i d e o p e r a t e s . I f t h e r e w e r e n o a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g a n d t h e
i n d i v i d u a l w a s s t r a n d e d w i t h n o o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t y t o s e c u r e o t h e r
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , w e w o u l d h a t e t o s e e a n a m b u l a n c e b e t h e b a c k - u p
u n i t .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - A s k e d L e e w h o d o e s S u n L i n e f o r a b a c k - u p
s e r v i c e a n d h e r e s p o n d e d " a t a x i " .
I s i t p o s s i b l e t o h a v e a n e m e r g e n c y b a c k - u p c o n t r a c t w i t h
L a i d l a w ; e v e n i f y o u o n l y u s e i t o n c e a y e a r o r e v e r y o t h e r
" "
P a g e 8
y e a r ? W o u l d t h e y b e a b l e t o a c c o m m o d a t e ? A s e r v i c e " a s
r e q u i r e d " b a c k u p c o n t r a c t w i t h L a i d l a w . T h a t w a y , y o u w o u l d
c o v e r t h e w h o l e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y , y o u c o u l d i n v o k e t h a t a s n e e d e d
w i t h i n t h e i r s c h o o l p r o g r a m .
D e b r a A s t i n - I t i s c e r t a i n l y a n i d e a , a n d i s o n e t h a t S u n L i n e
h a s s u g g e s t e d .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t b r o u g h t t h e m o t i o n t o t h e f l o o r a n d t h e r e w a s
m o r e d i s c u s s i o n c o n c e r n i n g c l a r i f i c a t i o n .
C a t h y B e c h t e l r e c o m m e n d e d t o a s k t h a t a l l o f t h e s e r v i c e s b e
w h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b l e w i t h b a c k - u p s a v a i l a b l e , p e n d i n g t h e C T S A
s t u d y , t h a t n o p u r c h a s e w i l l b e d o n e b e f o r e t h e C T S A s t u d y i s
c o m p l e t e d , b u t t h a t s o m e t h i n g w i l l b e d o n e d u r i n g F i s c a l Y e a r
1 9 9 0 .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t d i s c u s s e d t h e p o l i c y " s e p a r a t e b u t e q u a l " , a n d
s t a t e d i t i s a p o l i c y t h a t c a n b e s u p p o r t e d . H e e x p r e s s e d
c o n c e r n s , a s a h a n d i c a p p e d p e r s o n , w i t h t h e p r o b l e m s t h a t t h e y
h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e p a s t . H e a l s o e x p r e s s e d h i s f e e l i n g s
c o n c e r n i n g w h e e l c h a i r a c c e s s i b l e v e h i c l e s a s p r i m a r y a n d b a c k - u p
v e h i c l e s .
I t w a s M / S / C ( K r a u c h / P a r k e r ) T o r e l e a s e t h e S R T P f r o m t h e
C o m m i t t e e t a b l e a n d m o v e i t f o r w a r d t o t h e R C T C i n c l u d i n g
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s m a d e a n d c o m m i t m e n t s S u n L i n e h a s m a d e t o t h e
s e r v i c e s d e s c r i b e d .
H i d e o a s k e d i f i t i s h e l p f u l t o h a v e L e e a n d h i s s t a f f p r e s e n t t o
a d d r e s s t h e C o m m i t t e e , a n d t h e y r e s p o n d e d p o s i t i v e l y . H e w e n t o n
t o s a y t h a t t h e e a r l i e r s t a t e m e n t s b y S u n L i n e s t a f f o n
i n f o r m a t i o n e i t h e r n o t b e i n g c o m m u n i c a t e d o r i n c o r r e c t l y
c o m m u n i c a t e d t o t h i s c o m m i t t e e i s l a r g e l y d u e t o S u n L i n e n o t
b e i n g h e r e a t l a s t t h e t w o m e e t i n g s , a n d i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y d u e
t o s t a f f b r i n g i n g i n c o r r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e c o m m i t t e e .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - C o n c e r n i n g P a t P i r a s ' d i s c u s s i o n o n P a g e 7 o f
t h e m i n u t e s w h i c h w a s b r o u g h t u p e a r l i e r . P a t j u s t c o m p l e t e d
m o r e r o a d w o r k . T h e S t u d y i s f a r m o r e c o m p l e x t h a n f i r s t
a n t i c i p a t e d a n d s h e f e e l s w e d e s e r v e t h e b e s t p o s s i b l e s t u d y .
S h e i s a i m i n g f o r a l a t e S e p t e m b e r o r e a r l y O c t o b e r c o m p l e t i o n
d a t e .
P a t j u s t r e l e a s e d a s e c o n d t e c h n i c a l m e m o r a n d u m w i t h
c o r r e c t i o n s / i m p r o v e m e n t s t o t h e d r a f t t h e c o m m i t t e e r e v i e w e d . I t
i n c l u d e s i n c r e m e n t a l u p d a t e s o n w h e r e s h e i s a n d w h a t s h e i s
d o i n g . S h e w i l l b e a t A u g u s t m e e t i n g a n d w i l l p r e s e n t h e r w o r k ,
t o d a t e .
A g e n d a I t e m 4 - M e e t i n g A t t e n d a n c e / M e e t i n g P l a c e s / D i s c u s s i o n o n
I n c r e a s i n g C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y R e p r e s e n t a t i o n .
H i d e o S u g i t a - L a s t m o n t h , R a y B a c a b r o u g h t u p t h e i s s u e o f
" "
P a g e 9
i n a d e q u a t e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o n t h i s c o m m i t t e e .
O n e t h i n g w e c a n d o i s l o o k a t t h e i s s u e a n d s t a r t w i t h r e v i e w i n g
c o m m i t t e e a t t e n d a n c e s i n c e C o m m i t t e e ' s b y l a w s s p e c i f i c a l l y a l l o w
u s t o d i s m i s s a m e m b e r o f t h e c o m m i t t e e s h o u l d t h e y m i s s t h r e e
c o n s e c u t i v e m e e t i n g s w i t h o u t c a l l i n g i n o r h a v i n g a r e a s o n n o t t o
b e i n a t t e n d a n c e . W h a t i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e a g e n d a w a s b a s e d o n
r e v i e w i n g s i g n i n s h e e t s a n d m i n u t e s a n d r e c o n s t r u c t a n
a t t e n d a n c e r e c o r d f o r t h e C o m m i t t e e . T h i s m i g h t n o t b e 1 0 0 %
a c c u r a t e , a r e t h e r e a n y o t h e r c o r r e c t i o n s t o a t t e n d a n c e r e c o r d ?
A c e A t k i n s o n - I n M a r c h I d i d n o t a t t e n d b e c a u s e I w a s s i c k . I
s e e t h a t y o u g e t a n A i f y o u c a l l i n . I d i d n o t c a l l i n .
H i d e o S u g i t a - O n J i m K e n n a , t h e r e i s a l e t t e r o n f i l e d a t e d J u n e
1 s t f r o m t h e A u t o C l u b ( h i s s e c r e t a r y ) s t a t i n g t h a t d u e t o
p e r s o n a l r e a s o n s , h e w o u l d n o t b e a b l e t o a t t e n d f o r s e v e r a l
m o n t h s . A l s o , A r n o l d D i c k s o n f r o m t h e G a s C o m p a n y i s a
r e l a t i v e l y n e w m e m b e r . T h e r e a r e 2 0 m e m b e r , o n e b e i n g a n
a l t e r n a t e , ( T o m P a r a d i s e ) a n d o n e s l o t o p e n . I t i s t h e
c o m m i t t e e ' s p l e a s u r e a s t o w h a t t o d o t o a b o u t p e o p l e t h a t h a v e
m i s s e d a n u m b e r o f m e e t i n g s w i t h u n e x c u s e d a b s e n c e s . J i m K e n n a
h a s n o t t h i s a t t e n d e d t h i s y e a r .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - A s a b l e o f a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a s h e i s , w e d o
n o t g e t t h e p e r s p e c t i v e h e w o u l d p r o v i d e a n d w o u l d m u c h r a t h e r
s e e a n o t h e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a p p o i n t e d . H i d e o s p o k e w i t h
S u p e r v i s o r L a r s o n a n d e n c o u r a g e d h e r t o f i n d q u a l i t y
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n f r o m t h e V a l l e y .
H i d e o S u g i t a a s k e d i f i t w a s t h e p l e a s u r e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e t o
r e m o v e t h o s e m e m b e r s t h a t h a v e n o t m e t t h e a t t e n d a n c e
r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e b y - l a w s , i f s o , h e w o u l d a s k f o r a m o t i o n a n d
s e c o n d . M / S / C ( B A C A / B E C H T E L ) w i t h t h e a m e n d m e n t t h a t t h e
i n d i v i d u a l s b e n o t i f i e d i n w r i t i n g t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d b y
c o m m i t t e e . T h e o n e e x c e p t i o n i s ( s u b j e c t t o 4 9 6 c o m m i t t e e
r e q u i r e m e n t ) D o n H i g h w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s M e d i t r a n s . H i s a t t e n d a n c e
f a l l s h a s n o t b e e n r e g u l a r , b u t a p a r a - t r a n s i t o p e r a t o r m u s t b e
r e p r e s e n t e d o n t h e c o m m i t t e e . H i d e o w i l l w r i t e a l e t t e r t o t h e
M e d i t r a n s B o a r d t o h a v e a n a l t e r n a t e a p p o i n t e d .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - P l e a s e c o n v e y t o t h e m t h a t , j u s t i n t h e f o r m
o f d i s c u s s i o n , t h a t w e a r e n o t t r y i n g t o b e p u n i t i v e i n t h i s
d i s c u s s i o n , b u t d o v a l u e t h e i r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o n t h i s c o m m i t t e e .
S i n c e t h e y h a v e n o t b e e n a v a i l a b l e , a n d w e d o u n d e r s t a n d t h e
c o n s t r a i n t s o n c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s , a n d w e a r e l o o k i n g f o r s o m e o n e
t h a t w o u l d b e a b l e t o p a r t i c i p a t e .
L e e N o r w i n e w i s h e d t o t h a n k e v e r y o n e f o r l i s t e n i n g t o d a y . W o u l d
i t b e t h e d e s i r e o f t h e c o m m i t t e e t o h a v e a g e o g r a p h i c a l
c o n f i g u r a t i o n t h a t w o u l d s o m e w h a t r e p r e s e n t t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e
a r e a . T h a t w o u l d b e a b o u t 1 / 3 C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y a n d 1 / 3 W e s t E n d .
A l s o , r e q u i r e m e n t s c a l l f o r C T S A r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f r o m b o t h t h e
e a s t a n d w e s t e n d t o b e a t t h e m e e t i n g , w h i c h w o u l d i n c l u d e b o t h
S u n L i n e a n d R T A .
" .
P a g e 1 0
H i d e o S u g i t a - Y e s , c o m m i t t e e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n r e q u i r e s
p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f a C T S A . T h e i n t e n t i o n , t h r o u g h t h e s t u d y , i s t o
f o r m a n i n d e p e n d e n t C T S A , a n d t h e r e f o r e , w e h a v e a c o m m i t t e e
p o s i t i o n o p e n . T h a t i s w h y t h e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y 1 9 m e m b e r s .
L e e N o r w i n e - S u n L i n e w o u l d l i k e t o t a k e a n a c t i v e r o l e a n d b e
w i l l i n g t o h o l d t h e m e e t i n g s a t t h e i r f a c i l i t y . S u n L i n e d o e s h a v e
a r o o m l a r g e e n o u g h t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e c o m m i t t e e .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - I n p r e l i m i n a r y d i s c u s s i o n w i t h t h e m e m b e r s ,
t h e r e h a s b e e n a d e f i n i t e i n t e r e s t i n h o l d i n g s o m e m e e t i n g s i n
t h e a r e a . W h e r e , s p e c i f i c a l l y , h a s n o t b e e n d e t e r m i n e d . T o t h e
m a t t e r o f a g e o g r a p h i c a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r t h e c o m m i t t e e , w e c a n
t a k e t h i s u n d e r a d v i s e m e n t a n d d i s c u s s i t m o r e f u l l y a t a l a t e r
d a t e . W e w i l l b e s e r v i n g m o r e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m t h e C o a c h e l l a
V a l l e y t o p r o v i d e p e r s p e c t i v e . H e c h a l l e n g e s t h e p e o p l e f r o m t h e
C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y t o s e n d p e o p l e w i t h g o o d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e
c o n c e r n s o f t h e p e o p l e i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y . E v e r y o n e h a s
b e e n c h o s e n , n o t b e c a u s e t h e y r e p r e s e n t a p a r t i c u l a r
v i e w , b u t b e c a u s e t h e y a l l h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d i n t h e
f o r a p e r i o d o f t i m e a n d h a v e v a r y i n g i n t e r e s t s i n t h e
o n t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . W e n e e d t o l o o k a t m e m b e r s h i p
b e f o r e c o m i n g u p w i t h a r b i t r a r y a s s i g n m e n t s .
p o i n t o f
C o m m u n i t y
C o m m u n i t y
c a r e f u l l y ,
H i d e o S u g i t a - I f i t i s c o m m i t t e e ' s p l e a s u r e t o m o v e f o r w a r d w i t h
i n v o k i n g t h e a t t e n d a n c e r u l e , t h e o t h e r i t e m w o u l d b e t o l o o k a t
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f m e e t i n g , m a y b e t w i c e a y e a r , i n t h e C o a c h e l l a
V a l l e y , e i t h e r a t S u n L i n e o r a t t h e C V A G o f f i c e s .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t - T h e b o a r d r o o m a t S u n L i n e w o u l d b e a n
e x c e l l e n t p l a c e t o m e e t , w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e m e m b e r s o f
t h e c o m m i t t e e t h a t h a v e n o t h a d a c h a n c e t o s e e t h e S u n L i n e
f a c i l i t y m a y d o s o . I w o u l d l i k e t o s e e a l l o f u s c o m e d o w n a s a
g r o u p , r a t h e r t h a n i n s e p a r a t e v e h i c l e s . I w i l l a c c e p t t h e
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n b y s t a f f t h a t a m i n i m u m o f t w o m e e t i n g s b e
s c h e d u l e d i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y .
L e e N o r w i n e w o u l d l i k e t o c h a n g e t h e m e e t i n g t i m e a t t h e
C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y a n d h e w i l l w o r k o n t h e l o g i s t i c s . S e p t e m b e r i s
b e t t e r f o r S u n L i n e b e c a u s e o f p r i o r m e e t i n g c o m m i t m e n t s .
5 . O t h e r I t e m s .
S B 8 2 1 - B i c y c l e p a t h s s i d e w a l k f u n d s . . N e e d
S B 8 2 1 f u n d s t h i s y e a r . T h r e e m e m b e r s f r o m
a n d t h r e e f r o m T e c h n i c a l C o m m i t t e e . M e m b e r s
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t , L o r i N i c k e l a n d R a y B a c a .
c o m m i t t e e t o a c t o n
C i t i z e n s C o m m i t t e e
t o s e r v e a r e t o b e
6 . A d j o u r n m e n t - T h e m e e t i n g w a s a d j o u r n e d a t 3 : 4 8 p . m .
D o n K u r z - T h e R i v e r s i d e C T A C r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e r e b e a n
e l e c t r i c d o o r a t t h e c o u n t y b u i l d i n g f o r h a n d i c a p a n d e l d e r l y .
" "
P a g e 1 1
T h i s w a s r e c e n t l y i n s t a l l e d . I f y o u t h i n k o f t h i n g s t h a t a r e
n e e d e d , l e t t h e c o u n t y k n o w .
A c e A t k i n s o n - W e o w e s t a t e m e n t o f g r a t i t u d e t o S u p e r v i s o r
C e n i c e r o s w h o , w h e n u s i n g a w h e e l c h a i r f o r a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d o f
t i m e , m a d e t h e f a c i l i t y p r o j e c t s u c c e s s f u l .
C h a i r m a n S c h m i t t r e c o g n i z e d f o r M e l b a D u n l a p ' s e f f o r t s o n
e n c o u r a g i n g t h e c o u n t y b u i l d i n g d e p a r t m e n t a n d c o u n t y f o r m a k i n g
t h i s p r o j e c t s u c c e s s f u l .
R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d ,
H i d e o S u g i t a
S e n i o r S t a f f A n a l y s t
" I i R I V E R S I D E C O U N T Y T R A N S P O R T A T I O N C O M M I S S I O N
T O :
C i t i z e n s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e / S o c i a l S e r v i c e A d v i s o r y
C o u n c i l
F R O M : H i d e o S u g i t a , S t a f f A n a l y s t
S U B J E C T : F Y 1 9 8 9 - 9 0 U M T A S e c t i o n 1 6 ( b ) 2 P r o j e c t A p p l i c a t i o n s
U M T A S e c t i o n 1 6 ( b ) 2 i s a p r o g r a m w h i c h p r o v i d e s c a p i t a l s u p p o r t
t o p r i v a t e n o n - p r o f i t a g e n c i e s f o r t h e p u r c h a s e o f l i f t e q u i p p e d
v a n s a n d s u p p o r t e q u i p m e n t f o r s p e c i a l i z e d t r a n s i t s e r v i c e s . T h e
p r o g r a m p r o v i d e s f u n d i n g f o r a p p r o v e d p r o j e c t s o n a n 8 0 %
f e d e r a l / 2 0 % l o c a l m a t c h b a s i s .
F o r t h i s y e a r ' s f u n d i n g c y c l e , f o u r a g e n c i e s i n R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y
h a v e a p p l i e d f o r 1 6 ( b ) 2 f u n d i n g , a n d t h e y a r e :
o M e d i t r a n s S e r v i c e s , I n c - ( 5 ) l i f t e q u i p p e d v a n s , ( 4 )
r e p l a c e m e n t , ( 1 ) e x p a n s i o n , a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n d e v i c e s
( c e l l u l a r p h o n e s / r a d i o ) .
o F a m i l y S e r v i c e s A s s o c i a t i o n o f R i v e r s i d e - ( 1 ) s i x t e e n
p a s s e n g e r b u s w i t h ( 3 ) t i e d o w n s , o n e m o b i l e r a d i o a n d o n e
b a s e s t a t i o n .
o M o u n t R u b i d o u x M a n o r - ( 1 ) f i f t e e n p a s s e n g e r v a n w i t h a
m o b i l e r a d i o a n d b a s e s t a t i o n .
o R i v e r s i d e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l H o m e s ( D B A ) P l y m o u t h T o w e r - ( 1 )
f i f t e e n p a s s e n g e r m o d i f i e d v a n w i t h l i f t a n d ( 3 ) t i e
d o w n s .
T h e p r o j e c t r e q u e s t s w e r e r e v i e w e d b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e
R i v e r s i d e O f f i c e o n A g i n g , D e v e l o p m e n t a l D i s a b i l i t i e s B o a r d A r e a
# 1 2 , C a l i f o r n i a D e p a r t m e n t o f R e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d C a l t r a n s . T h i s
c o m m i t t e e m a d e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o t h e s t a t e w i d e I n t e r - A g e n c y
R e v i e w C o m m i t t e e w i t h e i t h e r a " h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d , r e c o m m e n d e d ,
o r n o t r e c o m m e n d e d " f i n d i n g . T h e r e v i e w c o m m i t t e e r e c o m m e n d e d
t h e f o l l o w i n g :
o M e d i t r a n s - " H i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d " w i t h a c o n d i t i o n t h a t
M e d i t r a n s p r o v i d e c e l l u l a r p h o n e s f o r t h e i r f l e e t .
o F a m i l y S e r v i c e s o f R i v e r s i d e - " H i g h l y r e c o m m e n d e d " n o
c o n d i t i o n s .
o M o u n t R u b i d o u x M a n o r - " r e c o m m e n d e d " w i t h a c o n d i t i o n t h a t
t h e v e h i c l e b e l i f t e q u i p p e d w i t h a t l e a s t ( 1 ) t i e d o w n .
o R i v e r s i d e C o n g r e g a t i o n a l H o m e s ( D B A ) P l y m o u t h T o w e r
" R e c o m m e n d e d " f o r a p p r o v a l .
41P -
Staff has reviewed the applications and agrees with the
recommendations for Meditrans and the Family Services of
Riverside. The only question is how did the review committee come
up with the idea of cellular phones as communication equipment
for the Meditrans application? Staff believes that given the
80/20 matching provision of the UMTA program and the lower
operating cost of a radio alternative, (Don High, Director of
Meditrans has a received a bid from a radio vendor for an
operating cost of $125.00 per month for the entire fleet (12
vehicles)) it appears that this condition is not justified. Staff
would recommend that Meditrans amend its grant application to
included 11 radios and base station for a cost not to exceed
the standard Caltrans specified costs for this type of equipment.
For the Mount Rubidoux Manor and the Plymouth Tower applications,
given what we were able to assess with the evaluation of the
Riverside Special Services transit system, it appears that at
most times of the day there is adequate service available within
the City of Riverside. In recognition of the value, both mental
well-being and social , of recreational group trips for the
people who live in these facilities, it is not appropriate to
recommend not supporting their applications. However, staff
believes that it would be appropriate to recommend, given the
relatively close proximity of the facilities, that they
coordinate their activities and combine their request into a
single lift equipped vehicle. Staff believes that this would
provide a higher rating for the project, thereby increasing the
probability of approval.
Recommendation: Recommend the Commission to support the FY 1989-
90 (Cycle 21) UMTA Section 16(b)2 applications with the following
conditions:
o That Meditrans amend their application to include radio
equipment, both mobile and base station, at a cost not to
exceed Caltrans cost specifications.
o That Mount Rubidoux Manor and Plymouth Towers combine
their applications into a request for (1) van and
coordinate their services.
PATPIRAS
892 GRANT AVENUE
SAN LORENZO, CA 94580
Consulting Services (415) 278-1631
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC)
SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY STUDY
REVISED TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #1
DEFINITIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSPORTATION
July 17, 1989
Prepared In Association With:
Virginia Cerenio
Dennis Guinaw
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC)
SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY STUDY
REVISED TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #1
The purpose of this first report is to provide a basis for
defining what is "public transportation" and what is "social
service transportation". It is intended to discuss the generic
characteristics of the various types of transportation services,
and to provide a basis for discussion and consensus among the
interested parties throughout Riverside County. This memo is not
intended to discuss the specific services and funding programs
now found in Riverside County; those are discussed in future
memos.
Background
In 1979, the California Legislature enacted AB 120, the
"Social Service Transportation Improvement Act". Regional
Transportation Planning Agencies and County Transportation
Commissions throughout the state (such as RCTC), whose primary
transit funding responsibilities lie with UMTA and TDA moneys,
were required to develop an inventory and an action plan to
"coordinate and consolidate" social service transportation.
However, the term "social service transportation" was nowhere
defined in the legislation, and there was no requirement that
other state departments participate in the local planning and
consolidation activities. In their Final Report to the
Legislature (dated July 1982), Caltrans presented a definition of
a social service agency and defined social service
transportation costs as "encompassing the following four major
categories of activities:
o Transportation services provided by social service agencies
(e.g., vehicles purchased, drivers hired, and maintenance
and operating costs furnished).
o Cash payments, i.e., chits or tokens given to securing
transportation for an approved activity.
o Purchase of transportation services from public, private, or
private, nonprofit providers for eligible clients.
o Payments made to social service agency personnel or
volunteers for transporting clients in their personal
vehicles to approved locations (mileage)."
In each of these cases, however, applicable transportation
costs were those relating to specified clients or activities.
AB 120 also exempted certain types of transportation costs and
activities (schools, AFDC/welfare, and Social Security Title XX)
from the consolidation requirements.
1
An additional provision of AB 120 required the Department of
Finance to identify in the state budget "all state funds that
are available for the support of social service transportation
services", as well as applicable federal funds, to the extent
possible. The compilation has been continued. A listing of such
programs for social service recipients (which have changed
little, except for magnitude, from the 1982 budget submittal) is
shown as proposed for the 1989-90 fiscal year, by state
department, at the end of this report. It should be noted that
the entries in this table are determined by the Department of
Finance and have not been adjusted in any way by consultants.
Like social service transportation, public transportation is
seldom clearly defined. In the Transportation Development Act
(TDA), Section 99211 of the California Public Utilities Code
defines a public transportation system (in relevant part) as "any
system of an operator which provides transportation services to
the general public by any vehicle." The federal Urban Mass
Transportation Administration (UMTA) provisions generally refer
to "mass transportation" services.
Discussion
In general, public transportation is perceived as that
available to the general public, on an open, non-discriminatory
basis, of a level and type determined by a local policy board of
elected or publicly appointed officials. TDA law requires that a
public transit operator "own or lease the equipment, establish
routes and frequency of service, regulate and collect fares, and
otherwise control the efficiency and quality of the system" (PUC
Section 99209.5). Service may be provided via fixed -routes,
demand -responsive (dial -a -ride), or some combination. The
purpose of the service is to provide the greatest number of
trips, to the greatest number of users, at the lowest possible
cost. Fares are payable on an individual basis, either on a per -
trip, or some cumulative (daily, weekly, monthly) pass, basis.
Users of the service are referred to as passengers or riders.
Social service agencies can be organized as public or
private non-profit entities. Availability of services usually
requires some determination of eligibility, with the criteria
based on the agency's self -defined mission, or funding program
restrictions. In turn, this implies that people not deemed
eligible for the social services may be excluded from the program
or its benefits. Social service transportation services usually
pay particular attention to the "personalized" aspects of the
transportation, and often provide significant levels of
assistance to users, sometimes including provision of an escort.
Payment for transportation services may be based either on an
individual payment, or to reserve use of the vehicle for a
specified group; under some programs, no user fees are allowed,
2
although donations may be permitted. Service hours and area for
transportation are generally geared to provide a catchment for
schedules of other agency programs. Users of the services are
most often referred to as clients.
The charts on the next three pages depict a number of
characteristics that may be generally ascribed to public
transportation or social service transportation. The list is
intended to be expansive rather than exhaustive, and to portray
the range of characteristics of the types of service. It may be
more useful for readers to think of public transportation and
social service transportation as elements of a continuum (rather
than as polar opposites), for there are a number of areas of
overlap, interface, and even, similarity. However, there are
also areas where the two types of service are dramatically
different. What these charts try to portray, by checking off
applicable characteristics, is the relative shade of "grey" along
this multi -faceted continuum.
Characteristic of:
Public Social Service
Functional Indicators: Transportation Transportation
A) Eligibility/Availability:
-Open to the Public X
-Specified (Exclusive) Clientele X
B) Destinations restricted to agency- X
approved activity.
C) Specified purpose is to aid in
alleviating social, health, or X
economic conditions.
D) Transportation is part of a social
service program or episode. X
E) Freedom of choice for trip purpose, X sometimes
time, frequency, and destination.
F) Public body sets service policies. X sometimes
G) Opportunity required for public X sometimes
input for service changes.
H) User referred to as:
-Passenger X
-client X
I) Relation of transportation to agency mission:
-Purpose of trip is to support
agency's mission. X
-Transportation is agency's mission. X
Operational Indicators:
A) Mode of service:
Fixed -route X X
Demand -responsive X X
Subscription X X
B) Fare Payment:
Required X
Per Person Basis X sometimes
Exclusive Use of Vehicle X
Paid by Passenger X sometimes
Paid by Third Party X X
C) Eligibility Criteria for Use some specialized X
services
D) Publicly available notification
of service X
E) Published schedules X X
F) Serves specific area X X
G) Service hours:
"Business Hours", generally Monday
through Friday X X
May include evenings/weekends often sometimes
H) Routes and schedules based on:
Public Usage X
Individual requests dial -a -ride X
Other agency programs X
I) Level of Personal Assistance minimal can be
considerable
J) Required Productivity Measures X
4
Financial Indicators:
This part of the chart is somewhat different from the
previous page. It depicts a number of funding sources, and
characterizes them both by their intended purpose or target group
and by identified types of uses. The two are not necessarily the
same, often (particularly in recent years) because limited
funding leads to either a pooling of resources or the imposition
of new restrictions on eligibility or use. For example, as shown
below, TDA funds are originally intended for public
transportation purposes, but, in many areas, programs funded
under Articles 4.5 or 8 have become "more like" social service,
because limited funding often results in eligibility criteria
and/or trip purpose restrictions, in an attempt to equitably
distribute a limited amount of service. On the other hand,
transportation funded through health departments, Regional
Centers, and the Dept. of Rehabilitation is targeted toward
services for particular client groups, but it may be more cost
effective to spend the funds on public transit services, again in
order to maximize the "bang for the buck". Thus, the cross -over
in use of a number of these funding sources goes both ways,
although it may not be consistent with a purely technical
interpretation of the purpose of the funding programs.
Public Social Service
Transportation Transportation
Intended Purpose or Target Group of Funding Sources:
TDA 4 X
TDA 4.5 X varies
TDA 8 X
UMTA 9 X
UMTA 16(b)(2) X
UMTA 18 X
Local X X
Fares X
Donations X
Health & Human Services (federal)
Older Americans Act X
Medicaid X
Head Start X
Public Health X
Mental Health X
Title XX X
Regional Centers X
Dept. of Rehabilitation X
5
Public Social Service
Transportation Transportation
Identified Use of Common Funding Sources:
TDA 4 X
TDA 4.5 X varies
TDA 8 X varies
UMTA 9 X
UMTA 16(b)(2) X
UMTA 18 X
Local X X
Fares X varies
Donations X
Health & Human Services (federal)
Older Americans Act sometimes X
Medicaid X
Head Start X
Public Health X X
Mental Health X X
Title XX sometimes X
Regional Centers X X
Dept. of Rehabilitation X X
6
Summary:
One way to look at the qualitative differences between the
types of service would be to characterize public transportation
as "off the rack" clothing, and social service transportation as
"tailor-made". The former is based on quantity and uniformity;
the latter is based on personal attention and a concept of
individual needs.
It should also remembered that public transportation cannot
serve all transportation needs for all persons. Its
efficiencies are based on mass transportation; to the extent
that other (including social service) funding is available to
supplement, or cost savings can be realized through coordination,
public transit may be able to expand to serve additional needs
and specific constituencies.
Future reports will discuss opportunities for coordination
in Riverside County, including possible funding and institutional
arrangements. Other areas in California have been, or are,
developing funding policies relating to the interface between
public and social service transportation -- these include CTSA
organizations in Fresno, Placer, and Santa Cruz counties, and new
sales tax measures in Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and San
Mateo counties.
Recommended Definitions:
Public transportation is a service that is available to any
member of the general public, upon payment of a fare, upon
generally established routes or openly -available demand -
responsive services (which may include subscription trips). It
has a publicly -accountable policy board, and is subject to
performance and/or revenue requirements, usually legislatively
imposed by its funding source(s).
Any other transportation service has elements of a social
service nature. This is the open-ended side to the continuum.
To the extent that any particular service is restricted to
certain types of users or purposes of use, it takes on greater
aspects of a social service nature.
The general distinguishing characteristics of public
transportation include:
o Available to all; limited personal assistance
o Fare required
o Directed by a public policy board
o Opportunities for public input required
o Generally longer hours of service.
The general distinguishing characteristics of social service
transportation include:
o Availability limited to a specific type of person(s)
o Generally for specified purposes or destinations
o Decisions on service use are made sponsoring agency,
rather than by individuals
o Highly personalized and driven by agency activities.
7
Excerpt from the Governor's Proposed Budget FY 1989-90
(Budget Category #2650 as prepared by the State Dept. of Finance)
Transportation Services
for Social Service Recipients
(in $1,000)
1987-88 1988-89 1989-90
actual budgeted proposed
Dept. of Developmental Services
Regional Centers - Day Program 50,374 55,329 69,122
Dept. of Alcohol & Drug
State Drug Programs
State Alcohol Programs
Programs
(state $)
(federal $)
(state $)
(federal $)
Dept. of Transportation
Special Transit Services
Special Transit Equipment (state $)
(federal $)
Equip. Research & Develop.
Dept. of Rehabilitation
Purchase/Alter/Maintain Client Vehicles
Client Travel Costs
Dept. of Aging
Access Services for Older Persons
Dept. of Mental Health
Short -Doyle Trans. Program
196
84
0
21
282
333
453
106
1,288
4,518
3,814
63
84
139
22
350
514
252
126
1,338
4,688
63
84
139
22
371
546
273
135
1,471
5,156
3,900 3,970
4,300 4,300 4,300
8
PAT PIRAS
892 GRANT AVENUE
SAN LORENZO, CA 94580
Consulting Services (415) 278-1631
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC)
SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY STUDY
DRAFT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #2
COORDINATION ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES
July 17, 1989
Prepared In Association With:
Virginia Cerenio
Dennis Guinaw
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC)
SOCIAL SERVICE TRANSPORTATION DELIVERY STUDY
DRAFT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #2
The purpose of this report is to identify opportunities and
processes to coordinate social service transportation and
specialized transportation services in Riverside County. The
report first defines the terms "coordination" and "consolidation"
specifically as these terms relate to the provision of social
service or specialized transportation. The report also lists
types of activities which have successfully been coordinated or
consolidated. Recognizing that coordination and/or consolidation
each require a significant amount of consensus building among
providers, the report then offers alternative opportunities and
processes that should be considered in the Coachella Valley, as a
case study.
Background:
For the purposes of this study, coordination is defined as a
set of administrative and operational activities that can be
performed jointly by social service transportation or specialized
providers to achieve improved efficiency or effectiveness.
Examples of such activities may include fuel purchase, parts and
vehicle purchase, and developing reporting formats. Consolidation
takes the concept of coordination one step further by merging an
activity performed by several providers into an activity
performed by only one provider. Examples of consolidation may
include centralized dispatch and scheduling, joint ownership of
vehicles, pooling of insurance or maintenance facilities, and
unified data collection services. A brokered system of
transportation services usually consolidates several
administrative activities and often involves several modes of
service delivery, usually involving contractors. (In some areas,
the term "unification" has come into recent favor, indicating an
institutional arrangement with a single policy board and
administrative structure, but with multiple service providers
and/or service areas). Efforts to consolidate service functions
are usually more difficult to achieve than coordination
activities. This is due, in part, to a certain loss of
"corporate" control and identity that may be a result of the
merge, or is feared to occur as a result.
The use of coordination techniques as a management tool has
been recognized at the Federal level, the State level, and at
several regional and local levels. In 1986, the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Transportation entered into an agreement with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate services
funded by the two agencies. A federal Interagency Coordinating
Council was established to review state and local efforts to use
this technique to improve service, and to identify barriers
arising from each of the governmental levels. In 1979, the
California Legislature enacted AB 120, the "Social Service
1
Transportation Improvement Act." The Legislature acknowledged
what it saw to be the value of coordination by requiring an
extensive review of such efforts and, subsequently, county -level
plans were developed that were expected to lead to improved
services through coordination. Many examples exist of local
coordination efforts. The value of coordination has also been
stressed in industry publications, for example:
"The benefits of coordinating or consolidating
transportation services ...are:
1) reduced duplication and administrative activities;
2) increased service capacity;
3) improved vehicle productivity through more effective
use of that capacity; and,
4) reduced costs through group purchasing of supplies
and other services." (1)
However, achieving these results often involves the investment of
a considerable amount of work and compromise, and the "downside"
of coordination attempts has seldom been reported. (2) There is
strong evidence that, while coordination may foster reduced unit
costs, due to increased efficiencies or greater capacity, the
total costs seldom decline.
Coordination opportunities are as varied as the community
environments in which they exist; however, as discussed below,
certain activities are common to all paratransit providers, and
understanding these can provide a framework for examining
coordination opportunities.
Coordination Activities:
The following is a list of all the functions or
responsibilities that every paratransit operator must handle to
at least some extent, no matter what the size of the operation:
1. Fundraising and Grantsmanship. ("Getting Money")
2. Budgeting and Accounting ("Spending Money")
3. Reporting and General Administrative Services
4. Purchasing and Inventory Management
5. Risk Management and Insurance
6. Personnel Management and Volunteer Recruitment
7. Management Decision -making (by policy board and staff)
8. Organizational Effectiveness
9. Public Relations/Marketing
1) Joseph S. Revis, Coordinating Delivery of Rural
Transportation Services, 1980.
2) Jon Burkhardt of Ecosometrics reported on efforts to
coordinate UMTA/HHS funded programs in Coordinated
Transportation Demonstration Results, NTIS, 1980. This report is
currently out -of -print, but consultants are expecting a copy
through transportation library processes.
2
10. Client Registration and Referral (through eligibility
criteria)
11. Passenger Reservations (order -taking)
12. Scheduling and Dispatching
13. On -street Service Delivery
14. Vehicle Maintenance and Storage
15. Safety and Training
Essentially, every paratransit provider in Riverside County must,
to some extent, handle every one of these functions. It is
clear that it would be both more efficient and more effective to
coordinate and/or consolidate at least some functions among some
agencies.
One task of this study are is to determine which activities
lend themselves to coordination in Riverside County. In order to
address this question, it may be useful to consider which of
those activities can be coordinated County -wide, which activities
can be coordinated at a more local level, and which may be
candidates for full consolidation.
Coordination/Consolidation Opportunities :
To graphically illustrate the opportunities to coordinate
certain functions the following chart has been developed:
CAN BE CAN BE BEST APPLICATION
FUNCTION COORDINATED CONSOLIDATED STATE COUNTY LOCAL
Fundraising X X X X
Budgeting X X X X
Reporting X X X X
Purchasing X X X
Risk Management X X X X
Personnel X X X X
Decision Making X X X X
Structure X X X
Public Relations X X X X
Registration X X X X
Reservations X X
Scheduling X X X
Service Delivery X X X
Maintenance X X X
Safety/Training X X X X
Certain functions are controlled outside of the discretion
of the provider, such as reporting requirements and accounting
procedures. Coordination or consolidation of these functions,
therefore, may actually be required of providers. However, the
majority of coordination activities depend upon the voluntary
participation of the providers.
3
Most coordination activities work best at the local level
wherein day-to-day monitoring can occur and service adjustments
can be made quickly. Other coordination activities work best at a
regional or County -wide level. This is especially true of those
activities that rely on or benefit from economies of scale, such
as vehicle purchasing and driver selection. A few activities can
produce best results if performed State-wide. Examples include
participation in State-wide insurance pools similar to the
Paratransit Insurance Corporation (PIC, for non-profit providers)
or the California Transit Insurance Pool (CalTIP, for public
agencies) or State-wide industry associations like the California
Association for Coordinated Transportation (CalACT). These
State-wide activities also provide excellent opportunities for
legislative influence.
Prescription for Coordination (What Makes It Work?):
Having defined coordination, discussed the benefits of
coordinating activities, reviewed functions which can be
coordinated and determined at which organizational level
functions can be coordinated, it is now necessary to focus on
factors which may be able to lead to successful coordination.
As early as 1980, James Miller of Penn State University
discussed key elements that existed in successfully coordinated
services in Pennsylvania. Those are:
"1. Self Interest
2. Local Political Support
3. Competent Personnel
4. Local Leadership" (3)
* Self Interest -- The participant must recognize a tangible
product or result. This may take the form of reduced
costs, increased service, or improved efficiency.
Linking revenue enhancements to coordination
participation is another form of motivation.
* Local Political Support -- Policy makers, including those
who are making funding decisions, must recognize the
value of coordination. Issues of "turf" and
"responsibility" are resolved at this level. Perceived
barriers to coordination are removed by such
individuals.
Political support is not restricted to elected
officials and should include appointed agency board
members and advocacy groups as well.
3) James Miller, Coordination in Pennsylvania from the Local
Perspective, 1980.
4
* Competent Personnel -- Clearly, staff responsible for
establishing and implementing coordination activities
need to possess the appropriate knowledge and skills.
These include the ability to work cooperatively with
others, the possession of a comprehensive knowledge
of the community, as well as appropriate technical
skills.
* Local Leadership -- In the transportation community, an
individual or agency needs to be acknowledged as the
leader in coordination efforts. In several California
communities, this role has been assumed by designated
Consolidated Transportation Service Agencies (CTSAs)
as provided in AB 120. In other cases, a single
dynamic individual can play this role.
All of these key elements must exist in order for
coordination to be successful. If not, things "just don't seem
to work", and bitterness by/toward participating agencies, or
toward the concept of coordination itself, may ensue.
According to Caltrans' report to the Legislature in June
1982, the effectiveness of the initial AB 120 planning effort
varied widely throughout the state. Although substantial
progress had been made in understanding the barriers to, and the
problems of, coordination, the results generally fell short of
legislative expectations. For the most part, social service
agencies based their decision to participate in a coordination
project on an expectation of attainable benefits. Coordination
does not always translate into appreciable cost savings or
improvements in the quality of service. When cost savings do
occur, they are often in the favor of the funding source or other
agencies. In effect, the mandate of AB 120 was to maximize the
transportation resources within a given area without specific
regard to the benefits, or lack thereof, which may accrue to
individual agencies or their clients.
Additionally, it was documented that the AB 120 planning
effort (and, by extension, many other efforts at coordination)
has been influenced, to varying degrees in different communities,
by:
o The geographic and demographic characteristics of the area
served -- Urban and rural environments have significantly
different operating characteristics. In rural areas, many
social service transportation providers were faced with
geographical barriers; large, often multicounty service
areas; and low -density settlements.
o Social Service agencies' previous involvement in
coordination, or lack thereof.
5
o The number of public agencies responsible for planning and
service delivery.
o The size, type, and scope of the transportation services
provided -- Small social service agencies, particularly
those which provided little or no transportation on their
own, were more eager to coordinate. Additionally,
enthusiasm for coordination was influenced by the type of
clientele served and the number and type of trips provided.
o The prevailing assumption that coordination applied solely
to vehicle operations.
o The presence of unfavorable conditions, including
understaffed social service agencies and TPAs, lack of
additional funding for the planning effort, tight deadlines,
and lack of local political support.
o The ability of the implementors to identify and utilize
appropriate coordination strategies.
o Perceived barriers to coordination, often more so than
actual or legal constraints. (4)
Coordination Processes:
There exist several approaches, or processes, that can be
used to develop and implement successful coordination programs.
This section will discuss three such processes:
* the voluntary, self -motivated approach;
* the externally mandated approach; and
* the combination of both voluntary and mandated.
The voluntary approach requires participants who share a
common vision (or are affected by a common problem) and are
willing to devote the time and energy to develop programs. This
approach works best in a cloistered situation wherein a "common
enemy" has been identified or a crisis has occurred. Examples
of external motivators include cuts in funding, rising fuel
prices, loss of maintenance facilities, or a lack of skilled
personnel available for hire. In a typical situation, providers
will jointly develop programs to resolve the presenting issues
and then explore other areas of potential coordination.
A second approach to coordination is in response to a
mandate (usually tied to funding) from an oversight or "regional"
agency. An example is the coordination effort that must be
4) Caltrans, AB 120 Final Report to the Legislature, 1982
6
"
i d e n t i f i e d b y a p r i v a t e n o n - p r o f i t a g e n c y a p p l y i n g f o r f u n d i n g
u n d e r U M T A S e c t i o n 1 6 ( b ) ( 2 ) . W h i l e t h i s e f f o r t i s o f t e n
t e m p o r a r y a n d s u p e r f i c i a l , i t c a n r e s u l t i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
o n g o i n g r e l a t i o n s a m o n g p r o v i d e r s a n d t h e s h a r i n g o f t e c h n i c a l
i n f o r m a t i o n . S o m e t i m e s t h e m a n d a t e d c o o r d i n a t i o n r e s u l t s i n
v o l u n t a r y c o o r d i n a t i o n . I n t h e a b o v e e x a m p l e , i t i s n o t u n c o m m o n
f o r U M T A S e c t i o n 1 6 ( b ) ( 2 ) a p p l i c a n t s a n d r e c i p i e n t s t o i d e n t i f y
C a l t r a n s a s t h e " c o m m o n e n e m y . "
I n m a n y c a s e s , t h e t h i r d a p p r o a c h c a n y i e l d t h e m o s t
p o s i t i v e a n d l a s t i n g r e s u l t s . T h i s a p p r o a c h l i n k s r e v e n u e t o
c o o r d i n a t i o n b u t d o e s n o t m a n d a t e w h i c h c o o r d i n a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s
n e e d t o b e p u r s u e d . T h e a p p r o a c h c a n b e v e r y e f f e c t i v e i f t h e
r e v e n u e s o u r c e i s n e w t o t h e c o m m u n i t y ( s u c h a s i n t h e c a s e o f
R i v e r s i d e C o u n t y ' s M e a s u r e A f u n d s ) . I n t h a t c a s e , t h e p r o v i d e r
h a s a n o p t i o n t o j o i n i n c o o r d i n a t i o n e f f o r t s a n d t o r e a p s o m e
f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t s , o r t o o p e r a t e i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h o u t
a d d i t i o n a l r e v e n u e . U n d e r t h i s p l a n , i t i s i n c u m b e n t u p o n t h e
f u n d i n g a g e n c y t o d e v e l o p a s t r u c t u r e , o r m e c h a n i s m , f o r
c o o r d i n a t i o n , a s w e l l a s a n o n g o i n g m o n i t o r i n g ( a n d e n f o r c e m e n t )
p r o c e s s . T h i s s t r u c t u r e c a n b e c o m e a n o n g o i n g f o r u m f o r t h e
r e s o l u t i o n o f p r o v i d e r p r o b l e m s , a s w e l l a s t h e c o o r d i n a t i o n
m e c h a n i s m .
P r e l i m i n a r y C o n c l u s i o n s a n d R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r t h e C o a c h e l l a
V a l l e y C a s e S t u d y :
I n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y , i t a p p e a r s t h a t m a n y a g e n c i e s t h a t
p r o v i d e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s a r e f i n a n c i a l l y s t a b l e a n d d o n o t
p e r c e i v e a n e e d t o c o o r d i n a t e s e r v i c e s f o r e c o n o m i c a l r e a s o n s .
T h e s i t u a t i o n a p p e a r s t o b e e x a c e r b a t e d t h e r e l a t i v e l y e a s y
a v a i l a b i l i t y o f p r i v a t e a n d p h i l a n t h r o p i c f u n d i n g s o u r c e s . T h i s
s i t u a t i o n l e a d s t o a f r a g m e n t a t i o n o f s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y a n d i s
l i k e l y t o m a k e c o o r d i n a t i o n e f f o r t s d i f f i c u l t . H o w e v e r , t h e
l e v e l o f i n t e r e s t i n i m p r o v i n g l o c a l s e r v i c e a n d t h e g e n e r a l l a c k
o f t e c h n i c a l o p e r a t i o n s e x p e r t i s e m a y p r o v i d e a b a s i s f o r
p u r s u i n g c o o r d i n a t i o n .
C o n s u l t a n t s ' p r e l i m i n a r y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r c o o r d i n a t i o n
o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e C o a c h e l l a V a l l e y a r e d i s c u s s e d b e l o w . A t
t h i s t i m e , c o n s u l t a n t s d o n o t y e t , i n g e n e r a l , p r o p o s e t o a s s i g n
" r e s p o n s i b i l i t y " f o r a l e a d a g e n c y f o r t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s , a l t h o u g h
s o m e k e y p a r t i c i p a n t s h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d :
o E f f o r t s s h o u l d b e m a d e t o w o r k w i t h p r i v a t e f u n d i n g
r e s o u r c e s ( e . g . , B o b H o p e C l a s s i c , U n i t e d W a y , l o c a l
f o u n d a t i o n s ) t o c o o r d i n a t e t h e a w a r d i n g o f f u n d s w h i c h
i n v o l v e a t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o m p o n e n t ( e i t h e r o p e r a t i o n s o r
c a p i t a l ) .
7
o Sunline and its contract providers should work closer with
local and regional medical facilities, especially
Eisenhower, Loma Linda, and Riverside General to establish
appointment schedules that can be coordinated with
transportation schedules. Medical facilities and practices
should be strongly encouraged -- or required -- to
contribute to the transportation programs.
Consideration should be given to the development of service,
possibly through a private contractor or a reduced fare on
common carrier tickets, to provide regular, occasional
(e.g., one or two round trips a week) to Riverside or Loma
Linda.
o A data base of equipment and services should be developed
and shared by the providers. Procedures for the use of this
equipment in emergencies by other agencies should be
developed. RCTC's SB 826 Inventory may provide much of this
information.
o Opportunities to share use of vehicles during off-peak hours
should be investigated. This may include Sunline and its
contract providers, the Office on Aging, and various small
agencies. This may also include a "pool" of back-up drivers
for agencies.
o A collaborative workshop on transportation services in the
Valley should be held. Sponsors could include RCTC, Sunline,
the Office on Aging, and other provider agencies. The
agenda for the workshop should include a brief description
of existing services; a discussion of attempts to meet
perceived needs through existing resources; a wish list of
additional resources; and a commitment to meet again to
share information and develop plans to meet needs.
Ideally, such a workshop should be able to develop into an
ongoing mechanism for information -sharing and problem -
solving focused on transportation issues, perhaps modeled on
the Aging Services Network in the Valley. Meetings should
be regular, but not burdensome; quarterly may be sufficient.
o RCTC or Sunline, together with other key agencies, should
establish a special services coordination committee that can
serve as a forum for coordination services and recommend
policy for the distribution of Measure A funds. The
development of such a committee can provide the structure
necessary for ongoing coordination activities. The
committee should be free to review all issues related to
service provision, including organization, operations,
legislation and funding.
8
Composition of the committee should include policy makers,
providers, and representatives of consumers of special
services. A decision would need to be made as to how such a
committee would feed into, and interact with: 1) the Sunline
Board; 2) the Citizens' Advisory Committee; and 3) other
RCTC advisory processes.
o Sunline (with cooperation from its contract providers)
should prepare -- and make available to the "general public"
senior and disabled residents of the area -- an
informational brochure that explains the local specialized
services and the policies of the program. This current
study may help to provide guidance or clarification on such
policies.
Consultants believe it is premature to make a recommendation
at this time regarding the institutional structure for
coordinating specialized and social service transportation
services in the Coachella Valley. However, there are some
apparent pros and cons for a number of agencies which have been
identified as potential CTSAs (Consolidated Transportation
Services Agencies). These are summarized on the following pages.
While the specific responsibilities of such a CTSA have
likewise not yet been delineated, in other parts of the state,
they may range from direct service provision, or administration
of contract services, to simply providing information/referral/
ombudsman services. The 1982 Riverside County AB 120 Action
Plan, which designated Sunline as the CTSA for the Coachella
Valley, assigned it the following responsibilities:
o Centralized Service Information
o Funding Review Agency
o Combined Purchasing Agreements
o Grant Application Agreements
o Maintenance Programs and Assistance
o Driver Training (5)
The CTSA designee for western Riverside County (RTA) was assigned
similar responsibilities within its service area.
5) Riverside County AB 120 Plan for Coordination/
Consolidation of Social Service Transportation Programs, January
1982, pp.8-9.
t '
POSSIBLE CTSA DESIGNEES (Coachella Valley Case St udy)
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION (RCTC)
The Commission could establish a private non-pr ofit age ncy
or a subsidiary, with RCTC Com missioners ser ving as the Board
of Directors. The agency would a ct as broker for specialized
services currently prov ided by Sunline in the C oa chella Valley.
The agency could also assum e a lead rote in coordi nation of
transpo rtation services in the Valley. An alternative str ucture
would be the establishment of a " parallel" Joint Powers Agreement,
with the same membership as the Commission, to serve as a service
provider and claimant.
SUNLINE TRANSIT
Sun line could take administrative responsibility for
coordin ation activities as well as existin g services.
COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (CVAG)
CVAG could assume transportation provision and coo rdination
activ ities for the Va lle y.
A CURRENT CONTRACTOR
Although a curren t con tractor has not readily made itself
kn own as a leading can didate, it is possible that services
contracted by Sunline could be consolidated under one of them.
ADVANTAGES
The agency would r elat e dir ectly to the only
organization in th e C ou nty r esponsible for
tra nsportation coordi nati on.
The role of th e agency could easily be expanded
Countywide if necessary.
The agency would be accountable to elected
officials from thro ughout the County.
F unding of administrati ve activities would be
r elativ ely simple.
If established as a privat e no n-profit, would be
eligibl e for 16(b)(2) funds.
ADVANTAGES
Su nline already provides servic e in the com mu nity.
Su nline has, or can hire, necessary expertise.
Sunline is accountable to elected officials.
ADVANTAGES
CVAG poss ess es th e administrati ve ability necessary
to perform the task.
CVAG is account able to elected officials.
CVAG is well respected in the commu nity.
CVAG has a regional/co ordination philos ophy.
ADVANTAGES
Contractors are familiar w ith the operation.
Procedures fo r service prov ision are somewhat
established.
Most contractors hav e a good reputation in the
com munity.
DISADVANTAGES
May be to o re moved from local issues.
May be perceived as interf ere nce in
subregional iss ues/s ervices.
May be difficult to establish legally .
Need to resolve TDA Article 4.5 funding
issu es.
DISADVANTAGES
Su nli ne doesn't appear to wa nt to do it .
Sunli ne's reputation for providing this
service is poor and may affect credibility .
DISADVANTAGES
CVAG would be placed in a politically
diffic ult positio n.
CVAG doesn't want to do it.
CVAG already has a full workload and wo uld
consider this ser vice as a low priority.
CVAG has no experience in transportation
provisi on .
DISADVANTAGES
Most contractors h ave a n arrow focus .
Co ntractors may not hav e adequate
technical or administrati ve capability.
Most contractors pr ovid e a variety of
other services and may consider
transportation as a lo w priority.
4
4'
UNITED WAY
United Way could assu me tra nsportation provision and
c oo rdin ation activities for the Valley.
A FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER
A for-profit prov ider could be designated to deliver
transportation serv ices and coordination activities for the
Valley.
OFFICE ON AGING (0oA)
The 0oA could assume transportation provisio n and
coo rdination activ ities for the Valley.
A NEW AGENCY/BROKER
An agency, or a consortium of agen cies, could be formed for
the pu rpose of providing transportation services and developing
coordination programs in the Coachella Valley.
ADVANTAGES
United W ay
co mmunity.
United Way
United W ay
United Way
c ontributions .
has a sensitivity for social needs in the
is politically neutral.
is a respected organization .
can help to coordinate private fundi ng
ADVANTAGES
The pr ofit motive could res ult in efficie ncies of
operation.
The org anization presu mably w ould have the
experience necessary to do the job .
Depending upo n the co mpany selected, co uld bring
additional res ources and expertise to the s er vice .
ADVANTAGES
The 0oA is well r esp ected in the commu nity.
The 0oA is involved nutrition transportation and
has some experience with ser vice pr ovision.
The OoA is responsible to elected officials (Board
of Su perviso rs).
ADVANTAGES
A new agency wou ld provide a fresh approa ch to
transportation serv ice s.
A new agency could be organized to focus o nly on
transportation se rv ice s.
A new agency could hav e a Board that had
tran spo rtation as a main interest.
A brokered approach can bring consisten cy to
o perating policies an d serv ice delivery.
A ne w agency could be structured to represent
all client/interest groups.
DISADVANTAGES
United Way has no experience in
transportatio n provision.
The Board of United Way is n ot totally
composed of elected officials .
The management of United Way may n eed to
be strengthened.
With its broad range of responsibilities,
Unit ed Way may not be abl e or willing to
fo cus on tra nsportation.
United Way does not usually participate in
direct service provision .
DISADVANTAGES
There co uld be limited accountability
for the ser vic e.
The "social co mmitment" may be lacking.
DISADVANTAGES
The focus of the OoA is restricted to
seniors .
The experienc e of the 0oA is limited.
0oA does not usually participate in (
direct ser vice provision.
DISADVANTAGES
It will req uire a great deal of ti me to
resolve orga nizational issues and to legally
for m the agency.
It will require n ew start-up funding for
administrative servi ces.
A new organization c ould be duplicative
of other agencies .
Board co uld beco me fractious if agency
interests predominate.