Transportation Lifeline Committee
An Ad-Hoc Subcommittee of the Vashon Maury Island Community Council
Formed to Address Ferry Service Issues

Charter To preserve and improve service to Vashon-Maury Island through
efficient water-to-road transportation.

MINUTES
10:00 AM, December 18, 1999 -- Vashon Library


Introductions and Announcements Willem Maas welcomed about 40 attendees
along with Dow Constantine, Vashon Representative and Dick Hayes
representing Kitsap Transit Commission (??name of committee?). Gardner
Perry had a few copies of the previous meeting's minutes and offered them t=
o
people who do not have e-mail. Brief discussion of Governor Locke's
announcement of "restoring funds" -- makes no change in proposed cuts in
service. 

Issue Work Groups The work group leads reported status. Issues were refine=
d
and attendees agreed to lead and participate on the work groups as follows:

Issue Lead 
Budget, Efficiencies and History Willem Maas 
1. Will have a complete detailed budget of the ferry system next week. Wil=
l
have more detailed budget information to report at next meeting. 
2. Have obtained union contract copies=8Bnot to use as weapons but to include
in the mix of looking for efficiencies

Passenger Only Boats Sally Fox 
1. The group is assessing the value of the foot ferry traffic. Considering
growth of the island. The committee has identified how the ease of
transportation has improved the growth of the infrastructure on the island.=

The working group still needs specific information on population trends. I=
t
will work with the realtors 
2. The Kitsap Transit group will work with the Passenger Only group to
identify how much people will pay to continue riding the foot ferry.
3. Nota contacted Ron Sims' office regarding Referendum 49 and the bonds
being sold. 
4. The committee wants to find out the specific status of the Chelan class
of boats.
5. Willem reminded all groups to touch base with him in order to coordinate
the contacts with all jurisdictions=8Bnot as a matter of controlling the
contacts, but to make sure that (a) we aren't duplicating efforts and (b) a
consistent message is sent
6. Question was raised about the value of the workforce available to
downtown Seattle employers.
7. Patti Snyder offered to pass out surveys to commuters.
8. Survey design -- two offers to help (Rob Bordner and ?__________) to work
with this group. .

Legal Issues David Jennings 
1. David reported on his investigation of the amount of money from the
federal government that goes to mass transportation. (Comment that Kitsap
Transit is focusing on federal dollars also.)
2. Willem announced that Lauren Bain, a member of this group has prepared a
detailed background paper identifying legislation that define waterways as
highways and linking ferry system to road systems.
3. Related issues of concern that were raised:
a. The Sidney, BC ferry and related international implications 
b. EPA potential problems if P.O. boat passengers turn to autos
c. Question about car ferries downtown --- related to agreements among the
City, Port of Seattle and Washington Transportation
4. Dick Hayes (Kitsap Transit) reported that Norm Dicks has agreed to help
transfer the responsibilities when they begin boats to Seattle.
5. Willem commented that according to his research most ferry systems in th=
e
country recover most operational costs from the fare box but they rely on
state subsidies for capital purposes. 
6. Everyone should anticipate increases in passenger only fares. Car
ferries recover about 90% of operational costs from the fares while
passenger only boats recover less than 20%.

Island Outreach Bob Pinter & Laura Snyder Report 
1. Bob Pinter reported on the survey conducted at Tahlequah Ferry --- mostl=
y
car commuters; few walk-ons
2. Based on the number of commuters during the time Pinter and Snyder did
the survey, they sampled 30% of the commuters. 
3. A committee member asked that the report of the Island Outreach survey a=
t
Tahlequah be reported in percentages for communication purposes.
4. Areas of the survey were: 
a. Overall --- will you be negatively affected --- yes, no
b. Healthcare 
c. Jobs
d. Education
e. Sports
f. Social
5. From the south end, there are five major hospitals that are closer to
Vashon than Seattle
6. Several comments regarding medical services that would be lost ---
including those for retired veterans.
7. Schools that would be affected --- private school students in Tacoma;
Vashon School District and the sports program. The group has a letter from
District Supt Monte Bridges.
8. Bob noted that while most of the ferry system is expected to be cut 14%,
the Tahlequah ferry would face a 23% cut.
9. Jerry Long filled the group in on the history of how the South End late
PM boats were instituted and made suggestions for this crisis. He
emphasized the importance of grass roots lobbying efforts along with
lobbying by professionals. Jerry also described Ruth Fisher as an effectiv=
e
legislator who must be included in the discussions.

Stakeholder Outreach Cliff Goodman 
Research related to stakeholder outreach will continue and be reported on a=
t
the next meeting
Other Comments
1. The total cost of operating the system was $127 million and receipts of
$84 million from fares. The shortfall of $51 million is mitigated from the
reserve and from service cuts. 
2. The low recovery routes: Those lower than 90% recovery are Sidney,
Bremerton-Seattle and Seattle/Vashon/Southworth.
3. Comments -- there would be little complaint about spending additional
money in fares if there were improvements in service.
4. Question raised about concern for low-income users of the system.
5. Several questions were raised about the legal precedents set about
ferries as extension of roads.
6. Discussion of historical mandate for using the MVET for the ferry system
and how that happened.
7. Gardner Perry reported on his attending the Transportation Commission
meeting and the discussion that went back and forth on whether or not the
ferries are "roads" or "transit" systems.
8. .Question about contacting the federal legislators --- when and how.
9. General discussion ensued about methods of contacting stakeholders.
10. Willem identified steps that the group will be taking and how attendees
will be most effective:
a. Strategy for how to begin addressing the issues with the legislators and
other stakeholders;
b. Fact Sheet will be prepared. It will be available the first of the week
(after Tuesday, December 21st
c. Letter to each legislator from the Committee that identifies the plight
and makes it clear how the crisis affects their constituents.
11. Discussion of how large employers are impacted and how to address those
impacts
12. Need information to provide Island suppliers (e.g. Associated Grocers,
et al)

Dow Constantine
1. Described Ruth Fisher as critical to the discussions. She has a lot on
her plate. She is very involved in Sound Transit; she represents Tacoma;
but she needs nothing. She has no needs --- policy arguments work well for
her.
2. Off-island businesses must be involved.
3. We must persuade every legislator whose district is touched by a ferry
dock.
4. NEED Republicans' help. Need to show how this is a conservative, an
economic issue --- not merely a social service concern.
5. Lots of lobbyists living on Vashon. They do a lot of off-the-cuff
lobbying in Olympia --- those are people who know how to operate in the
Olympia system.

Willem suggested creating a lobbyist/legislative working group. Such a
group would help present a unified message. -- This would probably be a
separate working group from the stakeholders group --- more narrowly focuse=
d
on Olympia.
General Open Discussion 
1. Another comment about needing a fact sheet and contact sheet. After
brief discussion --- consensus that everyone will compile individual contac=
t
sheets and transmit them to Gardner Perry via e-mail. Gardner will compile
all contacts from those we have submitted.
2. Discussion moved to how the City of Seattle should participate --- and
that the City needs to be influenced.
3. Form letter for employers on how to support the efforts of this group. 
Effects on their workforce(s)
4. Sally Fox commented on the need to contact the Seattle Chamber of
Commerce (Bob Watt, Exec Director.
5. Bob Pinter has contacted the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce
6. Visitors Bureau --- Tourist attractions.
7. Perle Mack asked that the group influence Community Council to return to
the Precinct Representative method of organizing the Council. 
8. Organizing Island lobbying efforts. Patty Snyder and Kermit Goering wil=
l
work on local lobbying efforts --- after there is a fact sheet and sample
letter
9. Medical Profession --- need to approach the major medical centers for
their support

Privatization vs Continuing Public Operations
Discussion turned to a concern about the two possible avenues the efforts
could take. Nota expressed concern that they might be at cross-purposes. 
While Kitsap Transit Commission is focusing on the Privatization, there
appear to be strong support for insisting on the State doing its job. 
Nota's concern is on having a clear strategy. 

Discussion evolved in forming a group to work together to develop a clear
strategy that would start with a fact sheet. Volunteers for the Fact Sheet
were Tim Roth, David Jennings, Nota Lucas, Patti Snyder, Claudia
Gross-Shader, Sally Fox, Cliff Goodman, Kermit Goering, George Lewis,
SharonLee Nicholson, Gardner Perry, and Willem Maas. The group will meet
Tuesday, December 21st at 7 pm in the Library.

In the meantime, a list of State legislators (senators and reps) and state
highways in each person's district will be prepared for their use in writin=
g
a letter to each State legislator. That list will be ready before the
Tuesday meeting.

Review of the Committee's Next Steps 
1. Identify issues clearly and factually 
2. Contact all stakeholders with a unified front
3. Prepare a specific strategy for addressing each stakeholder

Concurrent with the three steps above, the group will continue to look at
analysis and contact legislature.

All attendees will need to be prepared (with somewhat short notice---a
couple of days or so) to board the Victoria Clipper at Dockton Park to go t=
o
Olympia and lobby the legislature.

With two to three days notice, the Clipper will begin at Kingston, stopping
at each ferry-dependent community along the way picking up passengers to go
to Olympia

Allison Arthur (The Beachcomber) agreed to put a notice in the paper for
people interested in going to Olympia with a number to call and sign up 

Media Strategy
Willem expressed appreciation to The Beachcomber and The Ticket for their
work. Discussion of TV journalists and how the message was garbled on stat=
e
funding 

Brief discussion on the "Island Rats" perception --- and the need to correc=
t
perception of others. 

Commitment by Beth de Groen to contact several journalists. Patty Snyder
agreed to contact Eric Lacitis

Origin-Destination Study Results
Dick Hayes (Kitsap Transit Commission) --- several comments
1. Their group has been working these issues for some time.
2. There was an early decision for alternative to the passenger only boats
3. Two alternatives in the private-public approach.
a. Public continue to subsidize by 30 to 50% but not participate in the
operation of the boats; private operators would be contracted with for
operation
b. Capital investments by public. Propose public agency would provide
equipment --- Equipment should be standard and public agency would get
better interest rates on the equipment.
c. Concerns about risks in assuming the State labor contracts.
d. They are proposing that funding would come from a single county ---
Vashon could participate but would have to bring its own money. 
e. Public agency would have to take responsibility for the docks. They are
the only people who can go through those processes.
f. Need all governments to work together in the terminal downtown. There
are good opportunities downtown that the City could be very helpful with.
g. The docks would have to handle seven to ten boats in the morning and
seven to ten boats in the evening with Kingston, Bremerton, Southworth and
Vashon all coming into downtown.
h. A back-up plan if Vashon can't go along then Kitsap would have to go
alone and from Port Orchard. 
4. Another alternative is to acknowledge the Clipper's franchise rights. 
Then we would have a Private-Public version -- identify the franchisee and
run similar to the Hilton Smith operation.
5. Kitsap has a specific, firm PUBLIC-PRIVATE recommendation.
6. Projected fare estimates of $3 to $5 one way.

Mike Heavey has commented that there are nine highway projects with funding
set aside but that have not been affected by I-695. It returns to the
Question of Fairness'

Resource materials that are available and Miscellaneous Comments 
1. Tim Roth has information on bridge costs --- Wenatchee, Hood Canal and
Lake Washington --- all From Dept of Transportation
2. Dept of Transportation --- Performance Audit --- favorable toward the
ferry system's performance available from Tim Roth
3. Dept of Transportation Highway and Railways performance audit is also
available from Tim Roth
4. Tourism --- State receives $10 billion in revenue annually
5. Need to prove explicit damage to the economic condition of the STATE by
the effects of the ferry system cutbacks.

Marching Orders Each group will meet and continue working its issue,
preparing a written report on the outcome of research and analysis for the
next meeting of the Transportation Lifeline Committee. 

Next Meeting The committee will meet on Monday, December 27, 1999 at 7:00
pm at Chautauqua Elementary School

Questions about logistics can be directed to Gardner Perry. All questions
for legislature, Dept of Transportation, Ferry system officials will be
coordinated through Willem who is the spokesperson for the group -- in effor=
t
to keep unified front and a unified message. 

Submitted: Attested:



SharonLee Nicholson, Secretary Willem Maas, Chair

List of Attendees (added by Gardner)
Rick Ault Lita Baum John (Pete) Baum
Patrick Booth Rob Bordner Beth de Groen
Sally Fox Shelly Frankel Kermit Goering
Cliff Goodman Claudia Gross-Shader Lon Hoover
David Jennings George Lewis Jerry Long
Nota Lucas Willem Maas Prl=E9 Mack
Carol Merz Cara Nelson SharonLee Nicholson
Max Perena Gardner Perry Jonathan Platt
Jane Rady Deborah Reilly Michael Romanowski
Tim Roth Julie Selman (The Ticket) Doug Shaw
Laura Snyder Patti Snyder William Wood
Anne Woodward

Guests =

 ERRATA:
Dow Constantine, 34th District Representative Add John Collins to
list of attendees
Dick Hayes, Kitsap Transit 
Meeting times should have been 7:30PM
Allison Arthur, The Beachcomber Dow noted Ruth
Fisher is partial to business interests