Minutes from
Unclassified Senate Meeting
Thursday, April 13, 2006

Attendance:  Jennifer Brooks, Maxine Younes, Rick Whitmore, John Augusto, Jason O’Connor, Mark Nesbitt-Daly, Ola Faucher, Aaron Brown, Ronda Consolver, Dan Consolver, Danny Kaiser, Jeannette Johnson, Jill Hummels, Sheri Perry, Dee Steinle, Kathy Sheldon, Susan Teague, Lucille Marino, Martha Hodgesmith, Kevin Curry

Guests: Peg Livingood, Donna Hultine - Park and Ride new system presentation

Committee Reports

1. Treasurer – No money was spent and the balance remains the same.
   
2. Ad Hoc – Aaron Brown
   • Upcoming elections
   • Elections 20th-28th Thursday-Friday
   • Enough nominees for openings

     Academic                          9 nominees for 3 spots
     Admin.                               2 nominees for 2 spots
     Info. Serv./Library             2 nominees for 2 spots
     Research                          5 nominees for 4 spots
     Student Success              6 nominees for 2 spots

   • E-mails will be sent to announce in the next several weeks
   • Mark Nesbitt-Daly: Suggested we do a category review to clearly define sections (include library, etc.) Aaron Brown said he would add descriptions to election page.  Mark began a discussion about how it would be a shame to turn away people who are interested in participating. Jeannette Johnson suggested we invite unelected people to work on committees.  Maxine Younes suggested At Large/Alternate positions to fill when some can’t attend.  Danny Kaiser pointed out that Jason O’Connor is on the 3 year track and we should eliminate his slot to fill. (Still to go - President then Past President)  Mark thanked the Ad Hoc Committee.
     
3. Professional Development – Jeannette Johnson
   • Planned Thursday April 27th. Edwards Campus 1 or 1:30.  $390 motor coach / $330 minibus (25 people). Email announcements and start the signup.
   • Jeannette suggested that there be a link on our web site to sign up.  Aaron said he could add a form that would email the list.
   • Jeannette: We will defer the Fine Arts tour until Fall; schedule others this summer.
   • Consider once again Constitution Day in September. There is still more time for planning. Possibly schedule something with the Dole Center. Mark can assist with speakers.
     
4. Public Relations – Jill Hummels
   • Know your University tour - details forthcoming
     
5. Gov. & Rep – Sheri Perry
   • Meeting on survey, met with OIRP to make the survey useful to better represent and profile. Moved deadline back to Fall launch. Web-based survey.
   • A signup sheet for volunteers was circulated to gather to make sure documents are accurate (bylaws, constitution, etc) Mark will send out the documents to volunteers with critical eyes to help this process.
   • UPSA- link updates - find them and report them so they can be changed.
   • Jeannette inquired about deadline for governance changes (structures) to forward all together.
   • The Ombudsman had expressed concern about such large changes in governance not going through his office during process. Dan Consolver suggested he attend open meetings. Jeannette questioned his role, the minutes are posted.
     
6. HREO
   • U.S.S. Title Change
   • Merit Increase
     • If there are less than 3 USS in a sector, the deans/school make the merit raise decisions to increase fairness.
   • Is this the last year for unclassified staff tuition assistance? Yes.
     
7. USS – reported by Maxine Younes
   • Elections yesterday: Dennis Constance new President
   • Signed up for University Committees
   • Retreat, 3rd Annual, to determine direction we go for USS
   • Web: look up people. Still calls people classified online.
   • Tuition survey will be done.
     
8. Student Senate – Hannah absent
   • They just had elections
   • Sheri reported that Hannah has been helpful in finding funding for Edwards Campus student groups.

Guest Presentation

Danny Introduced Peg Livingood (PM for DCM) and Donna Hultine (Parking Director).

A comment included that is was obvious that a lot of time and effort is reflected in the planning. Many questions were answered and it seems to look like a good plan to all of us.  Danny Kaiser provided his presentation notes. They follow the meeting conclusion.

• Approved meeting minutes from February.

• June 8th meeting will be the last of the year.

Meeting was adjourned.

Presentation Notes:

Just a year ago the “Ten Year Parking Strategy Final Report” challenged KU to rethink how the campus addresses parking and transit.  Accordingly, in May 2005 the Provost appointed a Transit Task Force and charged it to conduct a transportation study to review legal issues, options for providing services, proposed routes, estimated costs and methods for recovering costs.  I was called upon to chair the group.  Two priorities identified were 1) defining the services needed to promote the use of shuttles instead of private vehicles for trips between the Main and West Campus, and 2) to consider the various possibilities for the coordination of transit efforts between KU, KU on Wheels, and the City Transit System.

Over the course of the summer the task force, made up of students, faculty staff, and City representatives, met weekly to examine the issues and opportunities.  In its report the task force determined that a transit system, coordinated with the City and with access to federal funds could successfully serve the needs of the University.  The expertise of a consultant hired jointly by the University and the City would be essential to the planning process for coordinated service.  And, work should begin to plan implementation of a shuttle to provide service between the Main Campus and the 1500 space Park & Ride lot currently under construction on West Campus. 

The Provost accepted the report and recommendations of the Task Force and directed a new Transit Implementation Task Force and smaller Steering Committee to move forward.  We are here today to inform you of our progress and our plans. 

• The City and KU have jointly funded a study which will begin as soon as a consultant is hired.  A study management team made of 5 representatives each from the City and KU will work with the consultant over the next 7-8 months to learn how an effective and efficient coordinated transit system can be designed and managed.  There will be numerous opportunities for public input.  We encourage you to participate.
• Because Parking and Transit issues are interrelated, the administrative home for University transit programs will be the Parking Department.  A search for an Assistant Director for Transit will be under way shortly.
• Current faculty, staff and students will have the first opportunity to sign up for the Park & Ride lot.  The balance of the permits sold in the lot will go to incoming freshmen who live off-campus.  All Park and Ride permits will include a KU on Wheels bus pass.  (See Park & Ride Lot graphic.)  A number of meters will also be available to visitors.
• Federal funds have been provided by the Kansas Department of Transportation to fund 80% of the cost of a fleet of 5 new buses.  KU is providing the required 20% matching funds.  (See bus graphic.)  These are low-floor, accessible buses.
• A route has been outlined for the first year of service.  (See route map.)  There will be no fare associated with riding the Park & Ride buses.  Service will begin at 7:00 am and end at 10:30 pm.  During peak periods on class days a bus will come by every 6 minutes, and every 10 minutes during off-peak hours.  From 5:30 to 10:30 a bus will circulate every 20 minutes.  On non-class days buses will circulate every 20 minutes.  Service will begin August 14. 

Anticipated benefits of this service include:

• Decreased traffic congestion.
• More available spaces in current lots, especially Yellow Zones.
• No-fare campus circulator service for members of the University community.
• Less expensive than building more multi-deck parking closer to Main Campus.
• Preservation of Core Campus open space

A Community Transit Open House is schedule for May 9, 11-3:00, on the Kansas Union Plaza.  Representatives from Park & Ride, KU on Wheels and The T will have information tables set up to inform members of the campus community of their services and to listen to feedback from potential users.  A new Park and Ride bus will be on display.

The visuals we have presented today are also available on the Park & Ride web site, which you can access through the Parking Department’s site.