DATE: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit
ATTENDEES: One hundred-fifty four (154) people were in attendance, including 18 elected officials and media.
PROGRAM: The event began with a video presentation created by SEMCOG called, “Get On Board,” which features regional political, business, and transit leaders explaining the importance of and recent progress on developing regional rapid transit.
CALL TO ORDER: President Chris Frey called the business meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. and welcomed the attendees. He announced that the item of business before the membership is an election of additional board members. He thanked the following out-going board members who had reached their term limits for their many years of contributions:
- Larry Birchfield
- Patty Fedewa
- Steve Gutterman
- Tommy Meadows
ELECTION: Three candidates were presented to the members for election to three year terms. Their election would bring the board membership to nine (9) board members. The members present unanimously approved the following election:
ELECTED for the three-year term (2009-2012) are:
- Jim Hinkins
- Kevin Smith
- Michael Whims
PRESENTATIONS: Executive Director Megan Owens explained the three key questions that have to be answered and agreed upon to achieve quality regional transit:
- What are we going to build?
- Who is going to run it?
- How are we going to pay for it?
She then introduced RTCC Deputy Director John Swatosh who presented the official regional transit plan approved in December by the region’s leaders. This provides the answer to question number one. (Download his presentation here.)
Ms. Owens then introduced RTCC CEO John Hertel who discussed, among other things, the plans for answering questions two and three. He is actively working with leaders throughout the region to develop agreement on a regional transit authority – an agency to coordinate, manage and oversee transit operations and new transit development in the region. He plans to have a proposal together and presented to the RTCC leaders (the region’s big four) for a vote by June, then take it to the state legislature and governor soon after. After the regional authority is created, plans for a local transit funding mechanism will be debated.
Ms. Owens then discussed the importance of active support from elected officials throughout the region. Three elected officials spoke, discussing their support for transit:
- Detroit City Councilwoman Joann Watson (who had to speak at the beginning of the event due to an evening council meeting)
- State Representative Marie Donigan (from Royal Oak / Madison Heights)
- Wayne County Commissioner Tim Killeen (from Grosse Pointe / NE Detroit
Finally, Ms. Owens discussed the need for and opportunities for people to get involved in TRU’s work to improve transit and invited the attendees to participate in any of several upcoming project meetings, listed in the program. Mr. Frey made final remarks and closed the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting ended at 8:15 pm and was followed by a casual reception. Cookies, lemon bars and hot drinks were purchased at cost from the Mercury Coffee Bar. Veggie appetizer and soft drinks were purchased from Costco.
Minutes recorded by Michael Whims and Megan Owens.