Nene Israel

The meeting agenda was amended to include item eight, a recognition of service for Sean Pierce, who was retiring after 40 years of exemplary service, including being named a Bus Operator of the Year. The Board adopted the consent agenda with the exception of item 8. A key general business item involved the adoption of a change in the Transit Asset Management Plan to reflect the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) revised guidelines, increasing the asset recognition threshold from $5,000 to $50,000 to reduce paperwork for small dollar items. The Board also considered and approved the final Fiscal Year 2020 Program of Projects after public comment yielded no significant feedback. Human Resources provided updates on 2019 activities, including hiring statistics, a 24% turnover rate (compared favorably to national averages), and recruitment efforts utilizing wrapped buses, banners, shelter decals, and planned radio spots. Extensive work on standardizing and reviewing all job descriptions in preparation for an upcoming 2020 classification and compensation study was detailed. Employee benefits updates included the introduction of voluntary life and disability options in 2019 and the launch of an employee-funded wellness initiative in 2020, supported by a grant. Training efforts included annual operator training (OTA), professional development on maintaining a positive work environment, strengths finder training for supervisors, reasonable suspicion training, and the development of remedial training standards following incidents or accidents.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda items 5 through 8. During the open forum, there were no speakers. General business included the consideration and approval of the final fiscal year 2026 program of projects, following a public review period without feedback. A key discussion involved the consideration and subsequent approval of proposed changes to HR policy six regarding employee compensation, specifically to introduce flexibility in addressing internal and external candidate qualifications during hiring and promotion processes. Additionally, the Board authorized travel for two individuals to engage with Church Associates, based on recommendations from their lobbyists, for lobbying efforts related to state and federal representation.

The meeting covered discussions on ridership performance for December, noting an overall increase in fixed-route trips, with Route 6 showing the largest gain and Route 21 increasing by 13%. Dial a ride services also saw an increase year-over-year. Updates were provided on the Metro Bus Forward project concerning schedules, stop finalization, and route naming. Results from the Jolly Trolley Food Drive were presented, showing $3,038 collected and 9,211 pounds of non-perishables gathered. The committee also reviewed updates to the Metro Bus website, including reconfiguring the landing page and noting the unavailability of the old online trip planner, directing users to mobile applications or Google Transit instead. A feedback period was announced for January regarding the website changes.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda as presented. The Consent Agenda items approved included the minutes from the November 18, 2025, regular meeting, the November 2025 financial statements (Balance Sheet and Income Statement), the November 2025 List of Bills, and the November 2025 Ridership Reports for Fixed Route, Dial-a-Ride, and Northstar Link. Under General Business, the Commissioners approved updates to HR policies, specifically Policy 5.3 (Meals and Breaks) for Minnesota state compliance and Policy 8 (Holidays) concerning the Christmas Eve half-day. There was a discussion regarding entering into a professional services agreement with David Turch and Associates for calendar year 2026, though no motion was made. The CEO update covered the rollout of new bus route signs aligned with the Metro Bus Forward plan, addressing concerns at a recent Waite Park City Council Meeting regarding the Waite Park Transit Station, and noting the receipt of a federal grant for future CNG replacement buses. It was also mentioned that the fiscal year 2025 financial audit was completed, with a presentation from BerganKDV expected in early 2026.

The board meeting focused on procedural matters, including the approval of the agenda and consent agenda items five through eight. The general business segment featured a comprehensive update regarding the COVID-19 pandemic response. Key topics included the development of a preparedness plan aligned with state guidelines, the installation schedule for operator barrier shields on fixed-route buses, and the distribution of approximately 4,000 face coverings received from the FDA. Service levels are being monitored, showing an uptick in ridership. Staffing updates were provided, detailing the phased return of maintenance and administrative staff to normal schedules, with a planned full fleet return to regular service by July 12. The Transit Center and Mobility Training Center hours were also scheduled to resume regular public access around mid-July. Concerns were raised regarding the start time for dial-a-ride service.