Tom Appelbaum

The meeting established a quorum and proceeded with discussions regarding potential focus areas for the council's work. Key discussion topics centered on issues impacting St. Louis County Youth, including mental health, opioid usage, gun violence, lack of educational resources, emergency preparedness, community cleanliness, and support for the unhoused population. Members shared their current community involvement related to these issues, such as tutoring, FEMA youth preparedness council work, and organizing fundraisers for homeless shelters. The council discussed the procedure for formalizing a top list of issues (proposed to be five) to be addressed and delegating members into smaller groups for focused work in subsequent meetings, with the goal of compiling a formal report for Dr. Sam Page and the St. Louis County Council.

The meeting included expressions of sympathy for the unexpected passing of Cora Faith Walker, the chief policy advisor to Dr. Page. Key discussions covered a pilot program for single-car train sets to test system flexibility and security capabilities, noting early feedback on social media was not entirely positive but understanding that new initiatives often face initial negative reception. The commission is proceeding with service changes implemented on March 21st, necessitated by an operator shortage, which involved reducing frequency on some routes to maintain reliability and control overtime expenses. Significant time was spent discussing the management of the Loop Trolley to avoid a default on the federal grant, involving negotiations with the FTA for limited, seasonal, tourist-oriented service for a three-year evaluation period. The commission confirmed they can utilize existing expertise for trolley maintenance, including specialized wheel truing, and will seek additional CMAQ funding. Overall system performance review indicated ridership is recovering post-COVID, currently down about 38-39% compared to pre-COVID levels, with expectations that gas price fluctuations and the potential removal of the transit mass mandate in April might further boost recovery.

The meeting commenced with introductions from committee members and initial attendees from the county counselor's office and the building plan review section. The committee then elected Arthur Merdinion as the new chairman. The primary focus of the new business was a proposed code change concerning temporary structures and membrane structures, specifically addressing the duration of temporary building status. The proponent, Horizon Companies, requested to change the status from 90 days back to the standard 180 days, which involved proposing corresponding changes to sections 3103.1, 3103.1.1, and 3102.1 of the code to eliminate inconsistencies stemming from historical BOCA code conflicts. The committee subsequently voted to approve the proposed changes to the 90-day limit across the specified sections.

The meeting commenced with a role call, establishing a quorum. Key discussions included the status of the State's budget bill, with the County Council actively reviewing the recommended budget, and concerns raised about transparency in the budget review process. Monthly operational reports covered Metro ridership, which continues to improve approximately 6% annually post-pandemic, necessitating an increase in the workforce. Significant efforts in hiring and retention for operators were noted, attributed to a new contract and a $5,000 sign-on bonus. The commission also discussed the completion of the Realtime Camera Center for Metro Link security upgrades and the awarding of the construction contract for the initial package of the Secured Platform Plan (SPP). Furthermore, the successful completion of the single-card ticketing pilot program for Metro Link was confirmed, and the ongoing committee review following the October cyber attack was highlighted. Contract negotiations for the Colorado service provider were mentioned.

The meeting commenced with a roll call, after which discussions proceeded due to the absence of a representative for St. Louis County old business. Financial reports for the first two months indicated favorable status, with increased revenue (including passenger revenue and sales tax) and decreased expenses, primarily in wages, benefits, and services. System performance review noted regained ridership on the bus and MetroLink services, though Call-a-Ride service was dipping due to employment challenges and retirements. Efforts to counter employment issues include a $2,000 bonus and monthly recruiting events. Performance metrics compared favorably to other national transit lines, especially concerning recovery from pre-pandemic levels. The Metro via contract showed growing ridership. The five-dollar day pass pilot program was officially adopted after successfully doubling revenue. Updates on the North Hanley Transit Center noted that the Transit Stop Transformation Project's fourth site was ready for a grand opening ribbon cutting, despite potential rain. Marketing and Communications reported improved public sentiment following July's flash flooding incident. Discussions also covered future service adjustments, including slightly reducing frequency on some Missouri lines in November to right-size service based on current staffing levels and ensure high on-time performance. Finally, the Alternatives Analysis contract for the North Side South Side line alignment was executed, initiating alignment discussions.