Chris Peters

Key discussions included the approval of the minutes from the November meeting. Reports from standing committees covered the Finance Committee meeting on December 1st, noting progress under new management and updates on the audit process, which involves retaining a consultant. Another report highlighted the success of the 38th annual Stuff a Bus event, raising a record 14 tons of food, with acknowledgments to various community partners. The General Manager reported that WeDriveU took over operations of CityLift and CountyLink on December 1st, and union negotiations are ongoing. New management staff for CityLift (GM, AGM, and Safety Director) were introduced. Operational updates detailed ridership numbers for November, showing a 6.67% increase overall, though the Sunnyland route saw a slight decrease. Three preventable accidents were reviewed, involving striking a bus stop sign, backing into a wall, and improper stopping distance at a railroad crossing, resulting in retraining for the operators. A fourth preventable incident involved an injury due to hard braking causing a railing to break. New business included the approval of Resolution 2620 for the procurement and installation of Avail Technologies equipment on 10 newly acquired vehicles, funded partially by a Tri County grant. Additionally, Ordinance 2621, levying taxes to subsidize district operations for the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2026, was approved. The meeting concluded with the approval of the November 2025 financial report.

The board meeting addressed several items including the acceptance of the committee appointments slate and the formal assignment of committee chairs for Program Development, Agent Early Pilots Policy, Conflict Resolution, Hartnell Bylaws, and Sponsorships. Key discussions involved the general manager's report on ridership, which showed a significant drop (approximately 47% overall due to the coronavirus situation), necessitating a look at service reductions (10% and 20%) instead of planned expansions, and ongoing deep cleaning/disinfecting protocols for buses. Performance metrics for City Link and County Link services were reviewed, noting furloughed operators. The Board approved Resolution 20-44 to exercise the contract option with Airmark for maintenance department uniforms, towels, mats, and laundry service rentals, and Resolution 20-45 to exercise the contract option with OSF for medical exam, drug, and alcohol testing services. Resolution 20-46 was passed authorizing the application for an Accelerating Innovative Mobility Challenge Grant, estimated at $40,000 with zero cost to City Link. A discussion regarding temporary employment maintenance assistance using People Link as a recruiting service was held. Finally, a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (City Link) was read.

The board meeting commenced with roll call and a motion to add two trustees. Key discussions included communications from the Peoria Public Library and Peoria Zoo regarding the continuation of fine-free partnership programs, with specific thanks directed to Emily Watson for her efforts. An officer report detailed the 36th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive campaign, including kickoff details, scheduled collection events, and goal setting for 13 tons of food. The Accessibility Committee reported on a meeting concerning deficits related to serving the hearing-impaired community. The General Manager's report covered attendance at various conferences (EPIC, ZCON, APTA), a ride-along with Councilman Allen, and the introduction of the new Director of Safety and Security, Miguel Sanchez. The New Facility update provided extensive progress details across multiple contractors for retaining walls, paving, utility connections, interior finishes, and budget tracking, noting 68.4% completion overall. Old business addressed changing the date of the employee Christmas party to December 2nd. New business involved the approval of contract renewals for the Human Group Medicare Advantage plan (with a 6.85% increase) and the Delta Dental and iMed plans (with no increase). Financial reports detailed September 2023 operating expenses, which were 0.28% under projection, and a request for disbursement approval. Concerns were also raised regarding delays in the material delivery for bus shelter improvements at Lincoln and Braley.

The board meeting involved several key discussions and approvals. Discussions included the upcoming fifth-year ADA WOW event, for which a special meeting was scheduled to plan for an extraordinary event. Reports covered transit operational statistics for December, noting a nearly 13% ridership increase on specific routes but a slight decrease on others, and detailing one preventable accident. Attention was given to construction impacts on Routes 7 and 15, including the use of a shuttle to accommodate commuters. Project updates included the completion of the tenth bus refurbishment and progress on future projects like furniture replacement and underground fuel tank replacement. The board approved a resolution to transfer the IMRF authorized agent status from the HR Director to the HR Manager for streamlined payroll and contribution reporting. Additionally, the board approved the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTAP), which outlines safety review processes, training programs, and compliance with 49 CFR part 673. Finally, the December 2025 financial report was reviewed and approved, showing operating expenses of $2,555,734.38 for the month.

The meeting commenced with introductions, noting the transition of a board member and welcoming the new representative for the village of Peoria Heights, Jake Ford, who detailed his background in local government advocacy. The departure of Trustee Dan Morris was acknowledged. Key discussions included the approval of an updated organizational chart, necessary due to staffing and reporting structure changes, which was approved to align with upcoming triennial requirements. Project updates covered the completion of bus refurbishments resulting in a 26% reduction in road calls; progress on fixed route fleet replacement, involving the confirmation of a quote for five hybrid buses and pending grant submission for ten battery electric buses, noting a change in propulsion type due to unreliability issues; and ongoing fairbox discussions focusing on the necessity of retaining cash acceptance and implementing fare capping. Furthermore, updates were provided on the replacement of the 30-year-old underground storage tank system, which requires environmental compliance consultations. Operations reports detailed a nearly 10% increase in overall ridership for January compared to the previous year, though concerns were raised regarding declining ridership on the East Peoria route, prompting consideration of detailed reporting measures. Security updates mentioned the addition of retired police officers to bolster security presence due to increased activity related to extreme temperatures, and upcoming mandatory quarterly safety training sessions for all employees.