RESEARCH DIVISION
TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY & UTILITIES SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
November 14, 2016,
Council Chamber
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Al Ferraro (Chair), Doyle Carter (Vice Chair), Greg Anderson, Anna Lopez Brosche, Reggie Brown, John Crescimbeni, Reggie Gaffney; Council Member Sam Newby was in attendance. Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Phillip Peterson, Council Auditor’s Office; Jordan Elsbury, Administration, Yvonne Mitchell, John J. Jackson, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 2:43 p.m.
The focus of the Special Committee Meeting was JTA’s transportation for the disadvantaged.
Lisa Darnell, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, made the presentation.
Ms. Darnell reported that on September 1st, the sub-contractor for JTA’s Conexion Services abruptly ended its services that it had been providing for disadvantaged. In the interim, JTA has tried to hire some of the sub-contractor’s 40 drivers. Low salaries results in a high turnover of drivers. There remain 25 vacancies for drivers, though the number of trips has been steadily picking up.
Council Member Reggie Gaffney remarked in his capacity as a provider of transportation for the disadvantaged. He recounted some of the problems that the providers have including losing drivers owing to very low compensation.
Ms. Darnell reported that 6,000 people are registered for JTA’s Conexion services. Conexion operates 7 days a week providing 1,500 trips a day.
For those individuals who demonstrate that they are physically unable to use JTA’s fixed route service, there is an application process for Conexion.
In explaining funding for transportation for the disadvantaged, Ms. Darnell said that JTA pays for the vast majority of the trips. The City provides some funding. Council Vice President Crescimbeni said that he is inclined to think that the funding that the City provides are funds that the City previously had when the City itself provided transportation for the disadvantaged.
Ms. Darnell explained that JTA contracts with a prime contractor who, in turn, hires subcontractors.
Ms. Darnell reported that the vast majority of trips for the disadvantaged are medically related, particularly to dialysis centers.
Council Member Gaffney requested that Ms. Darnell set up a meeting between JTA, its prime subcontractor for transporting the disadvantaged and DBEs to review a number of issues.
In Public Comment, Ms. Denise Hunt was at the meeting with her young son to share her perspective on transportation for the disadvantaged. She was concerned that drivers for the disadvantaged had no CPR training. In the course of the special meeting, the question had been asked about situations when passengers had issues in the vehicles in route to medical centers. Ms. Darnell that the drivers were adept with the procedures in calling the dispatchers for emergency assistance. Ms. Hunt said that the drivers themselves needed training for emergencies. Awaiting the arrival of emergency assistance was perilous.
Ms. Hunt also suggested that defibrillators be equipped in the transport vehicles.
Council Member Gaffney invited Ms. Hunt to attend the meeting that he had asked Ms. Darnell to set up with JTA and contractors.
There being no further business, the special meeting was adjourned at 3:34 p.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
11.18.16
Posted: 4:00 p.m.