Council agrees to hear transit authority and union after morning service disruption; no negotiation scheduled

Council members raised concerns about an immediate morning transit service disruption described by members as a "blue flu" and agreed to let both the transit authority and union representatives speak during the meeting so each side could state its case.

Council member Carroll said the disruption had a significant impact on riders in his district, including people who rely on buses for medical appointments and work. "My district takes a major hit when there is no bus transportation," he said, urging the council to hear both sides and help facilitate a resolution. Council members repeatedly emphasized that the forum was for listening, not bargaining: "We are not negotiating today. We are simply listening," the presiding officer said.

Council members discussed whether to waive rules to allow speakers who had not signed up, with some cautioning against setting a precedent for routine departures from the agenda. Ultimately the body agreed to permit one speaker from management and one from the union to speak and allowed council members to ask questions after both sides presented. No formal action was taken and the council did not engage in negotiations on the record during that meeting.

Council members mentioned the city's long‑standing transit contract and said their oversight avenue would be through existing contractual leverage rather than an on‑the‑spot negotiation; an amount of "$10,000,000" for a city contract with the transit authority was referenced in the discussion about leverage but not asserted as a new obligation. Members asked administration to pursue information and to facilitate conversations so service could be restored.