HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBMinutes_2010_02_16S:\Cityhall\Bonnie\Citizen Advisory Boards\Transportation\TBMinutes_2010_02_16.doc 1
Transportation Board
Brookings, South Dakota
February 16, 2010
OFFICIAL MINUTES
The Brookings Transportation Board was called to order by Chairperson
Terrell Spence on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 2:00 PM in the City Hall meeting
room. Members present were Art Conners, Roger DeGroot, Michael Forgy, Jeff
Weldon, Deanna Santema, Dean Kattelmann, Jerry Raabe, Robb Rasmussen,
Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, and Spence. Rob Jones and Teresa McKnight were
absent. Also present were Brenda Schweitzer Brookings Area Transit Authority
(BATA).
Item #2 – (Conners/Santema) Motion to approve the minutes from the January 19,
2010, meeting after amending the final sentence in the first paragraph of Item #5
to read “…Brookings will not have fixed routes as federal funding regulations state
the population must be over 50,000.” All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Hartenhoff-Crooks/Forgy) Motion to approve the agenda. All present
voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Update of Brookings Taxi Service by Tom Aulner – Aulner said his taxi
service runs from 6:00 PM to 2:30 AM. He would like to run more hours but cannot
afford it at this time, and a city subsidy would help. Aulner said he drives the taxi,
plus he has a few part-time drivers. He would like to run from 6:00 AM to 2:30 AM if
the subsidy were large enough. He has two vans and one car, none of which are
wheelchair accessible. He charges $6.00 in city limits and within 1.5 miles of the city
limits. If there is more than one person riding, there is a $3.00 charge for the second
person. If the rider is over 60 years of age, the charge is $4.00. Aulner said he is
considering having a punch card for frequent riders, and he drives at SDSU as well.
Aulner said if a patron goes to a store or a bank for a couple of minutes, he adds a
$2.00 charge for the return ride. If the trip is longer, then it is $6.00 each way. He
started his business on December 17, 2009. He feels the service is needed. He is
available by phone, but he doesn’t have an office. Kattelmann asked if he has
advertised his service, and Aulner said yes, in the Shopper. His number is 692-TAXI
which he purchased from the previous taxi owner. Spence thought it was
important to have Aulner update the committee. Aulner said the cost of the driver
is $1,200 a month plus insurance and $450 for a vehicle which equals $1,500 a
month to have all day taxi service. Rasmussen thought the previous taxi service
received $5,000 annual subsidy. Weldon asked how many calls Aulner received
for taxi service. Aulner said on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, he gets between 50
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– 70 calls. He added that many people may not know about the taxi service.
Rasmussen said Aulner would need to apply at City Hall for a subsidy in May or
June for 2011 financing.
Item #5 – Update of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant – Rasmussen said he met
with Mike Struck, Community Development Director, and personnel from the
Brookings School System. He said the extra funds not spent from SRTS Phase I will
need to be sent back. There are three more years available for funding. Weldon
indicated we have received a grant two years in a row, but the projects are not
built yet. He wasn’t sure there was a strong push for Phase III. The next deadline is
March 2010, and the city and school have decided to wait until 2011 to apply for
the next project. The first two phases will need to be evaluated after they are
completed. Rasmussen said the Camelot School and the Middle School plan to
have numerous students per day crossing 22nd Avenue to the bike trail, or they
might ride to the new nature park. DeGroot asked what the next projects could
be. Rasmussen said Dave Fiedler, Camelot School principal, would like to have
enhanced crossings on 22nd Avenue and 12th Street South. Rasmussen said that
five physical education classrooms a day will utilize the bike program. Weldon said
that the city and school could apply for a grant for year 4, one year from now,
and the needs can be evaluated at that time.
Item #6 – Update of the status of the SDSU representative to the Transportation
Board – Weldon reported that the SDSU Student Association is supposed to
recommend a person to serve on the Transportation Board, but they have not
done so yet. They also need to recommend an alternate. After Mayor Reed
receives the names, he will make the appointment.
Item #7 – Discussion on Resolution of Support – City Engineer Jackie Lanning read
the prepared resolution to the Board. Weldon explained that there was funding in
the transportation bill earmarked for a rail spur in the City. He would like to apply
that funding for the future rail crossing improvement projects in Brookings. Weldon
asked for the committee’s support.
(Santema/Kattelmann) Motion to approve Resolution 01-10, a resolution in
support of releasing funds to rail safety improvements. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #8 – Updates on other committee projects –
• Kattelmann reported on the Ad-Hoc Parking Committee. He said the group
is discussing parking issues and how to proceed. He added that they would
meet for four months. Rasmussen said parking issues also cause issues with
the bike routes. Weldon said that the Traffic Safety Committee also has an
appointed member on the parking committee.
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• Weldon described the request for the city-wide transportation study
including pedestrian and bicycle transportation. The city would commit up
to $35,000 which is for the 20% match.
• Weldon added that County Emergency Management has a committee
that studies emergency transportation. Brenda Schweitzer, BATA, stated she
would like to be involved with emergency notification discussions so BATA
could provide services in the case of an emergency. Kattelmann said the
plan is probably already in place, but it may need to be updated. The
Transportation Committee could provide input if necessary.
• Schweitzer discussed the City of Brandon’s issues. If there is an existing
transportation service in a town, then BATA cannot compete with that
program. BATA may need to modify its services if a private provider says he
could handle the number of clients. The Committee was not sure how to
address the issue of the taxi not being accessible. BATA does same day
service now because they have an agreement that allows them to do it.
Item #9 – Review/discussion of Transportation Board priorities – Spence stated that
In May 2008, the Committee did a priority exercise. He wondered if the group
should look at that list again. Spence encouraged everyone to review the list and
see if they think there are any changes that need to be made.
The next meeting is March 16, 2010.
_________________________________ __________________________
Jacking Lanning, Acting Secretary Terrell Spence, Chairperson