A proposed transit advisory group for Jefferson City is moving forward after a City Council committee put its stamp of approval on the proposal.
At the Council Committee on Administration meeting Wednesday, an ordinance was presented to create a public transit advisory committee, an idea that was first brought to the council by the Citizens for JeffTran group in spring 2013. According to the proposed ordinance, the committee would consist of seven members: one from the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, one who regularly uses public transit, one who is employed by a public or private school or by a not-for-profit organization, and four members of the general public.
The committee would be required to give biannual reports to the Public Works and Planning Committee, either orally or in written form. The committee would be responsible for:
• Seeking partnership opportunities with local businesses for financial support of JeffTran;
• Researching and exploring funding opportunities for JeffTran and ways to expand ridership;
• Reviewing and advising on any bills to change JeffTran routes;
• Providing a public forum for transit discussion;
• Providing input to staff on rules or policies concerning JeffTran;
• Promoting transit use; and
• Making recommendations for additional services or improvements as funding becomes available.
Fourth Ward Councilman Carlos Graham, who in late June requested the city move forward with the formation of the advisory group, said he hopes the council can continue to move the group forward and put in place.
Fifth Ward Councilman Larry Henry said the proposed ordinance will go to the Public Works and Planning Committee for further review and discussion before going to the full council for a vote.
"I think, for the most part, everyone seems to be on board," Henry said.
The Public Works and Planning Committee is scheduled to meet Aug. 21.
In other business, a proposal to implement a citywide suggestion program failed to move forward after several council members indicated they were uncomfortable with the monetary reward included in the program.
Fourth Ward Councilman Glen Costales brought the proposal to the committee in May, which would seek to reward both employees and members of the public for cost-saving ideas by awarding a portion of the savings to whoever submitted the idea. The proposal would have allowed for up to $10,000 in cost savings to be awarded for an idea that was approved and adopted.
But Henry and other council members said they had an issue with the monetary award involved. Henry said suggestions should come in for no reward other than being a good Samaritan. As for employees, Henry said finding cost savings is generally part of their jobs and an additional incentive shouldn't be needed.
"I'm not for the monetary reward," Henry said.
Third Ward Councilman Ken Hussey agreed, saying he was uncomfortable with that aspect, though he liked the overall idea of a formal suggestion program.
Many cities have some type of employee suggestion program that seeks input from current municipal employees on ways to improve efficiencies and cost savings, with some programs offering cash rewards.
But Mansfield, Massachusetts has a cost-savings incentive program open to all residents that states if an idea is implemented and at least $100 is saved, "the submitter will be eligible for a reward of 1 percent of the savings actually realized as a result of the suggestion."
The state of Connecticut has its own suggestion program open to all residents and employees that offers rewards for adopted suggestions. According to the state statute establishing the suggestion program, suggestions that are adopted but "produce benefits not measurable or impractical to measure in dollar savings" will be awarded no more than $100. Other suggestions are eligible for an award of either $10,000 or 25 percent of the net savings during the first year of implementation, whichever is lower.
The proposal failed to move forward after Costales provided the only "yes" vote on the measure.