MINUTES OF THE METRO COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

Tuesday, November 17, 1998

Metro Council Chamber

Members Present:  Ed Washington (Chair), Susan McLain (Vice Chair), Jon Kvistad

Members Absent:  None.

Chair Washington called the meeting to order at 3:32 PM.

1.  INTRODUCTIONS

Paul Bender, Jenny Minner, and David Straus introduced themselves to the committee. They worked as interns for Metro last summer on the MILT bus. They were present to give a summary of their experience with the bus later in this meeting.

2.  CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 20, 1998

3.  RESOLUTION NO. 98-2731, FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING CITIZEN APPOINTMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY ALTERNATIVES COMMITTEE (TPAC)

Andrew Cotugno, Director, Metro Transportation Department, introduced Pamela Peck, Public Involvement, Metro Transportation Department, who would give the report.

Ms. Peck said the process had just been completed to nominate six citizens to serve on the Transportation Policy Alternatives Committee (TPAC). Councilor Washington chaired the nominations committee, which also sat Mr. Cotugno and Councilor Monroe. The committee received 15 applications to fill six positions. Three of those positions opened at the beginning of April of this year and three will expire this coming April. To streamline the nomination process, the committee decided to choose nominees for all the positions at the same time.

Ten people were selected to interview, and the six nominees chosen from that group. For the three currently open positions, the nominees are Lynn Peterson, Jon Putnam, and John Stewart. For the positions that will open in April of 1999, the nominees are Gary Katsion, Ted Spence, and Rick Williams. The committee tried to select people who represent a variety of interests and different areas of the region.

Mr. Cotugno added that two of the applicants were consultants. In the past consultants have not been selected because the committee did not want members who were might be there to promote their own business interests. This time one of the nominees, Gary Katsion, is a consultant. He was selected because the committee felt comfortable that his interests are civic rather than for business development. He has been active in a civic capacity with the Western Economic Alliance.

Councilor McLain will carry the resolution to a meeting of the full Council.

Chair Washington turned the gavel over to Vice Chair McLain to preside over the MILT presentation, as that is an area of particular interest to her.

Vice Chair McLain thanked everyone for being there.

4.  MILT¾METRO’S INFOMOBILE: SUMMER 1998 PROGRAM.

Gina Whitehill-Baziuk, Metro Public Involvement Planning Supervisor, said MILT has had a good summer. She recognized two members of her public involvement staff, Marilyn Matteson and Susan Finch. Ms. Matteson, scheduled events for MILT and coordinated bus maintenance and operations with Tri-Met. Ms. Finch, coordinated the interns who staffed the bus.

Councilor McLain said she had worked with this group of interns at two county fairs. She praised them for their stability, creativity, and sense of fun. She said these characteristics are crucial to the success of this outreach effort.

Paul Bender, student in Portland State University’s (PSU) Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program, introduced himself and his fellow interns, Jenny Minner, also a MURP from PSU, and David Straus, graduate of PSU’s community development program. He noted that Mr. Straus will begin a new job as an alternative-transportation planner in Boston next month.

The interns showed a series of slides to summarize the goals and successes of last summer’s MILT program and made recommendations for the future. (A detailed written report of this material is attached to the meeting record).

Chair Washington asked Ms. Whitehill-Baziuk how many locations MILT visited last summer. She said last year the bus visited Fred Meyer sites during the week, but attendance was poor. This year those sites were dropped in favor of attending weekend events and events such as county fairs. She estimated the bus visited some 40 events.

Chair Washington suggested that next year the program might consider approaching Tri-Met for a donation of five monthly passes as prizes for a drawing for people who visit MILT. He thought this might be a good outreach tool.

Vice Chair McLain said this summer they did try a drawing for a T-shirt, but it didn’t generate much interest. She said a certain group of people will try for a chance to win anything free. But she agreed that a pass might be helpful at events near light rail stations. In the outlying areas, she thought the bus might offer a different prize.

Vice Chair McLain commented on the high quality of the data the interns had assembled for their report. She said this is the kind of data that can support the value of this program and will be important in justifying a budget request for next year. She noted that in answer to Chair Washington earlier question, the report shows the MILT bus attended 52 events. She praised the interns for being able to adapt the message to suit the event and the audience. She suggested that the program consider doing what the Greenspaces department does with its outdoor displays, and that is creating displays specifically for different areas of the region. She also suggested simplifying the message. She said the messages had been simplified since last year, but they still were not simple enough. She though a “passport” that contains very simple messages and given to visitors as they leave the bus would help, as visitors would have simple reminders of key messages to take home with them. She said the displays on the bus also needed to be kept up to date. Some of the “correct” answers on interactive displays no longer apply. These improvements should be presented when the budget season arrives.

Councilor Kvistad asked whether the department had thought about doing more outreach to schools.

Ms. Whitehill-Baziuk said yes. She described two possible scenarios for the MILT bus. One would be to develop curriculum for a middle schools program. The interior of the bus would be revamped to coordinate with the curriculum program. The hope was that the bus would visit a different middle school four days a week, Monday through Thursday, from November through April. Then beginning in July, the bus would be used for events in the community. Scenario two would expand the bus into an outreach bus for Metro as a whole--a “livability bus.”--rather than one so heavily focused on transportation and growth management. That bus would operate only during four months spanning the summer. Both of those scenarios were presented to Metro’s communications group. The communications group had showed little enthusiasm for continuing MILT with funds from all the departments, given the coming budget constraints. Therefore, the bus has been budgeted as a transportation and growth management vehicle, tied to the schools program. In addition, she said she is looking for outside foundation dollars and private sponsors.

Councilor McLain suggested a third scenario, and that would be an outreach tool with a primary connection to transportation, with growth as it relates to transportation. She said transportation does not exist in a void. She said if this is connected with a schools program, then the bigger picture still needs to be presented. She said other departments do not necessarily need to buy into the program in terms of providing funding, but their messages should still be included. She said she would support the MILT bus at the Council level as a valuable outreach bus for the agency. She suggested simplifying the bus by eliminating some of the high-tech displays that have not worked very well anyway. She encouraged seeking outside sponsors, such as Intel. She offered her assistance.

Vice Chair Mclain again thanked the interns and the staff and returned the gavel to Chair Washington.

Chair Washington thanked the interns for their good work on behalf of Metro. He thanked those who work behind the scenes at Metro, the “invisible” staff who make things happen. He congratulated Lynn Peterson on receiving a nomination for TPAC.

5.  COUNCILOR COMMUNICATIONS

None.

There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Washington adjourned the meeting at 4:11. PM.

Prepared by,

Pat Emmerson

Council Assistant

ATTACHMENTS TO THE RECORD FOR NOVEMBER 17, 1998