The Salem Area Mass Transit District’s board approved an $4,474 annual raise for Cherriots’ top executive during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 28.
Board members also heard a report detailing how reports of disorderly conduct on buses have risen sharply in the past year.
At the start of the meeting, representatives from the LGBTQ group Imperial Sovereign Court of the Willamette Empire gave a brief presentation to thank the transit agency, known as Cherriots, for decorating a bus in honor of pride month in June. The “Ride with Pride” bus featured a rainbow in the shape of a heart, which the representatives said had a positive impact.
“I know that sometimes it takes great courage to do the right thing, and you did. We know that you took a little backlash for it and we certainly understand that. And thank you, for who you are, thank you for what you did,” said Beth Delaney, prince royale.
No one signed up for public comment for Thursday’s meeting, which had two action items that the board passed unanimously.
General manager evaluation – approved
Board members approved a raise for General Manager Allan Pollock following months of performance evaluation.
The vote approved a 5% base salary merit pay award and a 2% base salary merit increase, retroactive to July 1, 2023. His salary before the increase was $223,772, and is now $228,196, according to spokeswoman Patricia Feeny.
The process started in June 2023 with his self-evaluation, followed by evaluations by the board and human resources. The board reviewed the results in an executive session in July, and again on Sept. 14.
Board Vice President Ian Davidson said the process included peer surveys,. salary comparisons with local positions such as the superintendent of Salem-Keizer Public Schools, and regional public transit leaders in Oregon and Washington.
“We as a board are united in this, and this was deliberate, this was thoughtful and this reflects the trust that we have, as a board in you, General Manager Pollock,” Davidson said.
Equity program – approved
Board members approved updated guidelines outlining protection for people from discrimination based on race, color and national origin. The guidelines are required to be updated every three years and submitted to the Federal Transit Administration.
The updated program incorporated data from the 2020 Census, a recent equity analysis and a report on bus performance on routes serving communities with above average populations of people of color.
Cherriots is working to finish updating its complaint procedure, so front-line staff know the procedure if a complaint about discrimination is made, said planner Ted Stonecliff who presented during the meeting.
More disruptions on buses
The board also heard a presentation on the annual report on security issues and emergency preparedness measures from Emergency Management Manager Karen Garcia.
Cherriots has seen a sharp rise in disorderly conduct, including yelling and cursing, and trespassing, loitering and drug and alcohol violations according to the report, which Garcia partly attributed to trespass incidents being counted as disorderly conduct in the agency’s effort to reduce calls to police.
Between the 2022 fiscal year and 2023, exclusions due to conduct rose from 106 to 257. The presentation attributes this to an increase in ridership overall and among youth between those years.
Electric buses nearing deployment
The district is working to launch the first fleet of 10 electric buses in the coming months on Route 11, which connects Southeast Lancaster Drive with the Keizer Transit Center.
Chief Operations Officer Tom Dietz presented an update on construction to host electric bus charging stations at Cherriots’ facilities and getting its fleet of electric buses on the road.
“We’re so close you can feel the electricity,” he said, drawing friendly boos from the board for the pun.
Construction should be complete at the Keizer Transit Center around December. Cherriots’ goal is to complete construction at the Del Webb facility in April 2024.
He said that drivers are currently undergoing training to operate the buses, which are heavier and move differently than normal buses. Tests will include running the buses on routes, he said.
Original story:
The Salem Area Mass Transit District board will consider approving an updated anti-discrimination policy to submit to the federal government and will hear an update on construction to charge its fleet of electric buses.
The board meets Thursday, Sept. 28. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and will be in person at the Senator Hearing Room at Courthouse Square, 555 Court St. N.E. and live streamed by Capital Community Media.
The public is invited to comment in person during the meeting, over Zoom, or in writing submitted via email or mail. Comments are limited to three minutes and can be about anything relating to the board.
Written public comments are accepted until 5 p.m. Thursday to [email protected], or by mail to Attn: Cherriots Board, 555 Court St. N.E., Suite 5230, Salem, OR 97301.
READ IT: AGENDA
Equity program
The board will consider approving its updated Title VI Program to be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration by Oct. 1.
The program outlines protections for people from discrimination based on race, color and national origin, and is required to be updated every three years for review by the federal agency.
The 2023 program updated demographic data using the 2020 census and 2017-21 American Community Survey, according to a meeting memo. The updated program also includes copies of equity analysis done since 2020, and includes a report on bus performance on “minority routes versus non-minority routes.” Minority routes are defined by the FTA as “routes that provide at least one third of their service to above average minority populations,” of which Cherriots has 13 according to the report.
The report found that minority routes more often have service available within half a mile of people’s residences, at a rate of 49.4% compared to 41.5%, but those routes have slightly lower on-time performance.
The whole Title VI Program, nearly 700 pages, is included in the agenda.
Security and emergency management
The board will view the annual report on the district’s security and emergency management, provided by Cherriots workers; Salem Police; DPI Security; Allied Universal, who provided security from July 2022 to May, and PPC Solutions who started in June.
Cherriots has seen a sharp rise in disorderly conduct, including yelling and cursing, and trespassing, loitering and drug and alcohol violations according to the report. Between the 2022 fiscal year and 2023, exclusions due to conduct rose from 106 to 257. The presentation attributes this to an increase in ridership overall and among youth between those years.
They also saw a sharp rise in ordinance warnings given to drivers using the bus lane, which the report said brings risk of collisions.
This year, the most common incidents were disorderly conduct, medical emergencies, trespassing and graffiti or vandalism.
During the meeting, Security and Emergency Management Manager Karen Garcia will present the findings.
Future goals for enhancing security includes de-escalation training, having quarterly meetings to discuss concerns and solutions, and public education campaigns.
Electric bus update
The board will hear an update on their goal to have an all-electric fleet of battery-powered buses.
The service received grant money for a combined total of 15 electric buses, which were delivered in June. They received $6.6 million federal funding for five additional buses in June, plus a total of $22.7 million in federal funds with awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The district has invested an additional match of $6.7 million, spokeswoman Patricia Feeny said in June.
The district is working to launch the first fleet of 10 electric buses in the coming months on Route 11, which connects Southeast Lancaster Drive with the Keizer Transit Center.
Board members will hear an update on the construction for the needed infrastructure, including charging stations, at the Keizer Transit Center and the Del Webb facility in northeast Salem.
According to the presentation, construction at the Keizer Transit Center is set to finish in December, and construction at Del Webb could start in October for an April completion date.
General manager evaluation
Board members will also consider whether to complete the performance evaluation of General Manager Alan Pollock, which started in June 2023 with his self-evaluation, followed by evaluations by the board and human resources. The board reviewed the results in an executive session in July, and again on Sept. 14.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
