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18677 | Social Service Human Relations Board Minutes of the Regular Meeting, Thursday, January 26, 2012 1. CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL President Wasko called the meeting to order At 7:05 p.m. Present were: Vice-President Villareal, members Biggs, Dailey, and Nielsen. Absent was: Member Holder 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the December 1, 2011 Regular Meeting were approved as amended. Motion / Second: Dailey / Biggs Unanimous 3. AGENDA ITEMS 3-A. CITY OF ALAMEDA PARATRANSIT TAXI SERVICE MODIFICATION -- PRESENTATION BY GAILPAYNE, TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR - CITY OF ALAMEDA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Gail Payne explained that her department manages the City of Alameda Paratransit Program in partnership with Mastick Senior Center. The program has four components: a Scholarship Program, a Paratransit Shuttle Program, a Free Trips to Mastick Senior Center Program, and a Taxi Program. Tonight's presentation is on proposed changes to the Medical Return Trip Improvement Program (MRTIP), which currently provides free trips to eligible residents (East Bay Paratransit certified riders) when returning home from medical appointments within Alameda County. Public Works Department staff is recommending charging eligible residents $2.50 per MRTIP travel voucher. Staff conducted a review of Paratransit taxi services offered by other cities in north Alameda County, and determined that these jurisdictions - except for Berkeley - charge a nominal fee for their services. For example, Oakland charges $3 for taxi travel vouchers valued at $10; Albany reimburses 70 percent of the metered fare; Emeryville reimburses 90 percent of the metered fare. This recommendation will reduce the overall costs to the program, is consistent with neighboring jurisdictions, and allows the City to apply the cost savings to the Alameda Paratransit Shuttle service. This recommendation is consistent with the service level guidelines that the Alameda CTC PAPCO have approved and with Alameda CTC's Draft Implementing Guidelines for Measure B funded City-based programs. Ms. Payne explained the average cost of a taxi trip is $24, and that, while the program has sufficient funds available for the program in FY 12-13, it needs to identify additional funds beginning with FY 13-14. A recent survey indicated 96% of the participants in the taxi program were satisfied with the services provide, and 75% were willing to pay $2. The scholarship program, for those unable to pay, is currently at $1,000. Discussion: A brief discussion followed, which included comments from member Biggs that sufficient scholarship funds should be made available to assure that low-income riders can be accommodated. He also asked that, if the Board is to support the staff recommendation, we receive periodic reports as to the usage of the taxi and scholarship programs. |