Board Meeting - February 14, 2008

1. Revisions to U-Pass Policy Framework (For Action) (Presentation Available)

A. Giambrone (Chair), J. Mihevc (Vice-Chair), B. Saundercook, G. De Baeremaeker, S. Bussin and A. Perruzza (Commissioners), G. Webster (Chief General Manager), R. Cornacchia (General Manager – Operations), J. Sepulis (General Manager – Engineering & Construction), B. Leck (General Counsel), A. Smith (Chief Marketing Officer), M. Anders (Marketing Research Director), W. Buffett (Assistant General Secretary) and F. Stanois (Coordinator – Secretariat Services) were  present.

A. Giambrone was in the Chair.

Chair Giambrone moved that the Commission waive section 13a of its procedural by-law in order that public presentations could be made by those individuals who did not meet the registration deadline of 12:00 noon the day prior to the meeting.

The motion by Chair Giambrone carried.

a)Revisions to U-Pass Policy Framework

Nora Loreto
Ryerson Students Union

Chris Drew
Vice-President of Finance and Services
Ryerson Students Union, Local 24
Canadian Federation of Students

Paul Brown
Commissioner of Academic Issues
Student Association of George Brown College

David Scrivener
University of Toronto, St. Georges Campus

The Commission received the deputation

Nil

1. Reports with Confidential Attachments (Committee of the Whole)
Nil
2. Presentations
Nil
3. Budget Matters
Nil
4. Procurement Authorizations
Nil
5. Procurement Authorization Amendments
Nil
6. Notice of Awards
Nil
7. Service Matters
Nil
8. Other Business

1. Revisions to U-Pass Policy Framework

M. Anders, Marketing Research Director gave an overhead slide presentation entitled, “U-Pass Briefing to TTC Commission” dated February 14, 2008.

The Commission received the presentation.

Chair Giambrone moved that the Commission approve the staff recommendations embodied in the report, as listed below:

“It is recommended that the Commission consider on a case-by-case basis the merits and impacts of exceptions proposed by post-secondary institutions to the approved U-Pass policy framework.  It is further recommended that based on the estimated financial impacts, that the Commission approve the exceptions to the current U-Pass policy framework proposed by the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), and negotiations continue within the revised policy framework.”

Chair Giambrone moved the following ancillary motions:

1. Staff, the Chair and Vice-Chair continue negotiations specifically with University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) with the objective of holding a referendum in March 2008 and implementing the U-Pass program in September 2008 under the following terms and conditions:

A) Mandatory participation by all full-time and part-time students at UTSC with no opt-outs;

B) Monthly price is held at $60 until may 2010;

C) U-Pass is semester based and is offered for 3 semesters per year;

D) U-Pass is a non-transferable pass containing a photo;

E) An agreement is reached with UTSC on the sharing of incremental production costs associated with offering the U-Pass on a semester basis;

F) Access is provided to commuter parking lots on the same basis as regular Metropass users; and

G) The TTC will conduct regular rider counts on routes serving UTSC and regularly adjust service levels on those routes within a reasonable time to meet demand, as determined by TTC loading standards.

2. the Chair, Vice-Chair and staff continue discussions with GO Transit and York Region Transit (YRT) with the objective of finalizing their participation in the U-Pass program, recognizing that both organizations have now agreed, in principle, to offer service in the U-Pass program based on approval at the staff level, noting that the participation of GO Transit will be limited to full-time students.

3. Staff be directed to continue working with Durham Region Transit with the objective of providing improved service to UTSC which could include better integration of service between the transit properties or the provision of additional service.

4. Staff be directed to finalize the draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UTSC as soon as is possible, with this document setting out the key terms and conditions of the U-Pass agreement with UTSC.

5. Any institution that successfully passes a referendum prior to the end of 2008 will have the monthly price held at $60 until May 2010.
 
The motions by Chair Giambrone carried.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m. 

9. New Business
Nil
10. Correspondence
Nil