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Council allows senior-center round trips in short-term ride-share pilot and will monitor usage
Summary
Council amended a ride-share pilot to allow additional round trips for seniors traveling to the senior center for the remaining pilot months, directing staff to monitor usage and return with data; motion passed 5–0.
During the Feb. 17 consent calendar discussion the council pulled item 11e, a proposed ride-share fee change, to consider senior use. Council members noted that roughly 25% of current ridership is trips to the senior center and that many seniors rely on the program for transportation to activities.
Council members debated options such as exempting senior-center round trips from the pilot limit or increasing the allowed trips. One council member suggested exempting rides "from a residence of a senior citizen to the senior center and back" and monitoring results. Staff warned that the pilot runs through the end of the fiscal year and that usage numbers would become meaningful after a month or two of operation; staff also cited a fiscal estimate saying "the 8 rides is about a $160,000 a year." After discussion the council approved a motion to allow senior-center round trips for the short pilot period and tasked staff with monitoring usage and returning with recommendations; the motion carried 5–0.
Nut graf: The council’s change is limited and time-bound — intended to accommodate seniors for the remainder of the pilot (through June) while staff tracks actual utilization and budget impacts before making any longer-term adjustments.
Ending: Staff will monitor utilization, coordinate with local nonprofit providers and return to council with data and any recommended contract modifications.
