8/25/23 - Part 5 - Santa Cruz Metro Board of Directors Meeting

CEO Michael Tree's CEO Oral Report.SC Metro CEO Tree discussed several key points related to their operations and future plans:Federal Funding for Hydrogen Buses: The company received a $20.4 million Low No Grant from the federal government for hydrogen buses, celebrated in Watsonville with Congressman Panetta and Congresswoman Loughgren attending.California Transportation Commission Funding: The California Transportation Commission fully allocated $38 million from the TIRCP Grant Cycle for purchasing hydrogen buses, building a hydrogen station, workforce development, and upgrading maintenance facilities.Hydrogen Bus Fleet Expansion: Plans to purchase 57 hydrogen buses, which would be the largest single purchase of hydrogen buses in the nation, are drawing attention in Washington DC and Sacramento.Financial Management Excellence: Wondimu Mengistu, a key team member, successfully arranged funding for the hydrogen buses, with only 1.1% of the $89 million coming from local sources.Partnership with Central Coast Community Energy: A partnership is being formed to include battery electric buses in the fleet, with plans for an agreement to be presented in October.New Website Development: The company is creating a new website, aiming for a spring launch.Triennial Audit Results: The company recently underwent a major triennial audit, with excellent results showing only two minor findings, indicating strong operational and financial health.Customer Service and Personnel Policy: The CEO shared an experience of personally answering customer service calls, emphasizing the importance of hiring for personality and training for skills.Future Plans: Next month's board meeting will focus on transformative changes to the bus system, aiming for a more efficient, frequent, and convenient service to enhance ridership and community satisfaction.These updates reflect the company's successful grant acquisitions, strategic planning for future growth, emphasis on sustainability through hydrogen and electric buses, financial prudence, commitment to customer service, and a focus on workforce development.The SC Metro meeting packet with all presentation graphics is here: https://scmtd.com/images/department/board/archive/minutes/2023/2023.08.25-Regular-Board-Minutes.pdf