CC_Minutes_2019_0909 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday, September 9, 2019 Page 6 ridden it at different times. The areas where there is no rider support is where there is lack of management efforts to promote ridership. Mayor Roe offered an opportunity for public comment. Public Comment Ms. Sara Barsel Ms. Sarah Barsel stated without Mr. Scott Olson or Mr. Mark Nichols, none of this would have happened and they have knocked themselves out to make this program happen. The idea of the need for transportation and the issue of social isolation were identified when CHAT's precursor did the survey and then reiterat- ed again when the city had all of the discussions on public transportation. The needs have not gone away and part of what Mr. Olson and Mr. Nichols have tried to address is ridership. She thought part of the problem is ongoing, there is not consistent buy-in or cooperation from senior housing residences, so potential rid- ers do not know this service is there. She stated the same thing seems to happen with faith communities. Some Southeast Roseville groups came to the city when funding was first sought out and despite all of the issues of how the servicing should be redirected, these individuals never came through with anything substan- tive to help get riders or continue doing anything else. She thought the needs have not gone away, the question becomes how to find a viable way to address them and part of that, in her opinion, seems to be how the council puts some kind of pressure onto housing sites in order to provide awareness of resources for their residents. Mayor Roe indicated he appreciated all of the insight and thought on this and he thought the clear answer is that while this program was not a complete solution, it was a step towards a solution, an innovative idea, and still merits some kind of consideration from his part but needs to figure out how it goes forward. He noted he received information that the Roseville School District Shuttlebug may not be offered anymore in the city because of issues with funding versus ridership and brings about a potential for more NewTrax ridership. Mayor Roe thought as a city, he would be supportive of some level of support but did not know if it would be at the same level the city has been at. He stated there needed to be more partners in the mix, the county and more regional organizations are a key part of it. Potentially, from an operating point of view, one way to get the word to people is to bypass the gate keepers at the various buildings and may involve some expense to obtain an age specific mailing list in the geographical ar- ea. He did not know what the answer was for this. Councilmember Etten agreed with Mayor Roe and indicated the capital costs to find riders is a key point. He thought the council and staff needed to have more discussion around that first. He noted NewTrax is providing a much better finan-