HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08-12-2008 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
August 12, 2008
Mayor Slavik called a Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. in the
Medicine Lake Conference Room of City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on August 12, 2008.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Slavik, Councilmembers Hewitt, Stein, Bildsoe, Murdock,
Willis, and Black (arrived at 5:45 p.m.).
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Ahrens, Public Works Director Cote, Transit and Solid Waste
Coordinator Hellekson, Transit Coordinator Maciej, and City Clerk Engdahl.
Also in attendance were members of the Plymouth Advisory Committee on Transit (PACT) —
Chair Gustafson, Bliss, and Doten.
Discussion of Dial -A -Ride Services
Transit and Solid Waste Manager Hellekson reported on PACT's recommendation to increase
the Dial -A -Ride fare from $3 to $3.50 per ride per passenger and to eliminate Saturday Dial -A -
Ride service. PACT would be conducting a public hearing on August 27.
She stated it currently costs approximately $17 per passenger to provide the service, and the rider
pays $2. The remaining $15 is funded by a portion of the City's share of the Motor Vehicle
Excise Tax (MVET). She discussed a comparison report of similar services in the metropolitan
area. She stated the savings from eliminating Saturday would be allocated towards the Plymouth
Metrolink and to expand service to Northwest Plymouth. She noted that the current agreement
with First Transit to operate Dial -A -Ride expires December 3, 2009 with an option for a two-
year extension.
The Council discussed a number of options/concerns that should be considered:
1. Reduce the hours Monday through Friday to 6:00 p.m. rather than 10:00 p.m. and not
discontinue Saturday.
2. Who's transit dependent on the hours from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. if those hours would
be reduced?
3. If Dial -A -Ride service would entirely be discontinued, would a Plymouth Metrolink
circulator route be effective?
4. Charge $3 or $4 per ride, not $3.50.
5. Revenue from Plymouth Metrolink is allocated towards Dial -A -Ride, rather than
supporting the services that has high ridership.
The Council directed staff to broaden the notice for PACT's public hearing on August 27 to
Adopted Council Minutes 1 of 1 Special Meeting of August 12, 2008
include "public comment on evening and Saturday hours."
Councilmember Hewitt requested that discussion of the Dial -A -Ride service be placed on the
Study Session list for January 2009.
Adjournment
Mayor Slavik adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.
Sandra R. Engdahl, Cg Clerk
Adopted Council Minutes 2 of 2 Special Meeting of August 12, 2008