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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.197605132014 Special Meeting Aspen City Council May 13, 1976 Mayor Standley called the special meeting to order at 5:14 p.m. with Councilmembers Behrendt, Johnston, Parry, City Manager Mahoney and City Attorney Stuller present. CITY ACQUISITION OF BUS EQUIPMENT Stan Snyder, transporation department, had submitted a memorandum to Council outlining City the Bluebird bus equipment looked at in Georgia. Snyder had looked at Bluebird buses acquisition and Twin Coach. They did not look at Mercedes because Mercedes only builds small buses, of bus Councilman Parry pointed ou5 they had picked out the smallest bus Bluebird makes they equipment felt the City could use. Councilman Behrend5 said it was obvious that the City way running fairly empty equip- men~ 3/4's of the time. This seems to be an energy waste and waste of equipment. Councilman Behrendt suggested purchasing a small sized Dodge van for times when rider- ship was not at peak. Transportation director Yank Mojo pointed out the trouble comes when there is a peak demand. Mojo stated it would cos~ money to swap buses and drivers to accommodate the surge. If the City used small buses, and then larger buses for the surge times, there would have to be two pieces of road worthy equipment with increased maintenance costs, employee time, etc. Councilwoman Johnston said the parking shuttle could be a smaller bus; there was not much ridership on this route last season. City Manager Mahoney told Council the decision a~ this meeting is whether to place an order for the Bluebird buses. If the Council wants Mahoney and the transportation department to continue looking into small buses for other routes, they will. Mojo told Council the City would need buses for the Silverking, Snowbunny routes, the parking and skiers shuttle. Mojo pointed out there were additional demands on the service, such as recreation groups, IDCA, M.A.A., RSVP, etc. Mo]o said the proper number of buses to service the City routes would be five; three running and ~wo in reserve or service. Stan Snyder told Council that consolidation of equipment would effect cost savings and would keep things standarized. Snyder stated these Bluebird buses can be run at 10 cents a mile. These buses are made to run and run; they are five or slx year buses. Councilman Parry recommended buying five buses to the specs handed out by Snyder and a sixth bus for road trips that can be used as a back up around town. Councilman Parry said he would like ~o see more experimentation with routes around town. When they picked out these Bluebird buses, they tried ~o keep the bus to 30 passengers. Councilwoman Pedersen entered Council Chambers. Finance Director Butterbaugh told Council there was $142,000 left in the transportation fund; the City did not budget anything for capital expenditures. Councilwoman Johnston asked if the City would be in trouble if the County splits off the transportation department. Ms. B'utterbaugh stated the City and County would have to renegotiate the budge~. Ms. Butterbaugh recommended getting these buses on a lease-purchase arrangement; the first year would be 1977 and that could be included in the 1977 budget. Snyder told Council that for $80 the City could ge~ a 500,000 mile customer registry which covers all major components. Councilwoman Johnston said she felt it was imperative to go into a program of training the drivers properly to drive and 5o care for their vehicles. Mayor Standley agreed with Councilman Behrendt about the need for small buses in the system. Mojo said he had no problem with small vehicles as long as they are additions and not instead ofs. Councilman Parry said the City has ~o start establishing routes and getting ridership on the routes. The rou~es should not be too long. Mojo told Council he would like ~o alter the routes so that they run north/east and south east of Main street. If the long loop route is eliminated, this should generate ridership. Mayor Standley questioned the City buying over-the-road buses when the County is responsible for a bus service to Glenwood and Snowmass. Council decided to go for slx buses and not have one designed for long road trips. Councilwoman Pedersen moved to purchase SlX of the Bluebird buses as described in the memorandum and using the lease arrangement; seconded by Councilman Parry. All in favor, motion carried. Mayor Standley directed Mojo to investigate purchasing small vans and bring his recom- mendation to Council with a comparative of a six month to two year lease. Councilwoman Pedersen moved ~o adjourn at 5:50 p.m.; seconded by Councilwoman Johnston. All in favor, motion carried. Kathryn S~ Hauter, City Clerk