RESOLUTION NO. 37-98

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THEREBY SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF THE MESA COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COALITION

RECITALS:

Given that, there are several agencies within Mesa County that provide valuable transit facilities to the disabled and elderly of our community and that those agencies, also known as “paratransit” providers wish to maximize the efficiency of their operations by consolidation of services , the Mesa County Transportation Coalition has prepared an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding.

The Coalition by and through this MOU, together with the paratransit providers wish to assist the Grand Junction/Mesa County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) by providing input into the implementation of the MPO’s 1998-2002 Transit Development Plan and furthermore, the paratransit providers have determined the Coalition is a necessary vehicle for reaching their goal.

At the request of the Mesa County Civic Forum, the City of Grand Junction hereby publicly acknowledges and appreciates the efforts and goals of the Coalition, acting by and through the MOU.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION, THAT:

The Mayor is authorized to sign the Mesa County Transportation Coalition Memorandum of Understanding dated May 27, 1998, and which is hereby made part of this resolution.

 PASSED AND APPROVED this 3rd day of June, 1998.

                                     /s/ Janet L. Terry        

             Mayor, City of Grand Junction

Attest:

/s/ Christine English        

Acting City Clerk

Mesa County Transportation Coalition

Interagency Memorandum of Understanding

To:  Mesa County Board of Commissioners

 Grand Junction City Council

 Fruita City Council

 Palisade Town Council

From:  Mesa County Transportation Coalition

Date:  May 27, 1998

This revised Memorandum of Understanding is written by the Member Agencies of the Mesa County Transportation Coalition ( the “Coalition”). The Coalition has agreed to assist the Grand Junction/Mesa County Planning Organization and the Transportation Planning Region (hereinafter referred to as the “MPO-TPR”), in implementing major provisions of the adopted 1998-2002 Transit Development Plan, particularly in the area of coordination of Paratransit services.

The Member Agencies, by signing this memorandum, desire to strengthen the Coalition and to explore the coordination of transportation services in the most efficient and cost effective manner for the elderly and persons with disabilities in Mesa County, Colorado. The Coalition will act as an advisory body on elderly and handicapped, developmentally disabled and youth transportation to the Mesa County Community Transit System, the MPO-TPR, and other political entities and agencies within Mesa County.

The Member Agencies agree that facilitation of services for the Coalition’s transportation coordination will be provided by the Mesa County Healthy Community Civic Forum. Membership of the Coalition will be comprised of one (1) representative from each Member Agency.

The Member Agencies value maximizing transportation services for people with special needs. The Member Agencies agree that the Mesa County Community Transit System’s principal transit service provider, MesAbility Inc., will be the lead agency of the Coalition in terms of managing and operating the transportation services described herein.

The Member Agencies agree that the lead agency will:

1.  Act as a leader in specific Coalition pilot projects.

2.  Facilitate client referral and information coordination among the agencies through a transportation brokerage system.

Mesa County Transportation Coalition

Interagency Memorandum of Understanding

3.  Facilitate standardization among member agencies in formatted data collection,

 transportation records keeping and “single point of contact” reporting.

The Member Agencies agree that program cost reduction and increased management efficiency for each Member Agency is a primary goal of the Coalition. Toward this goal, the following activities will be explored;

1.  Consolidated contracting for vehicle insurance.

2.  Consolidated purchasing of maintenance services.

3.  Consolidated transportation records keeping and reporting.

4.  Exploration of funding sources not previously available to the Coalition or its  Member Agencies.

5.  Exploration of viability of contracting member services to the Mesa County Transit  System.

The Member Agencies agree that each Member Agency will have authorities, responsibilities and functions as described below:

1.  Provide a representative on the Coalition Advisory Board.

2.  Assist the Coalition in exploring the transportation related activities described  above.

3.  Provide the necessary information needed by the Coalition for planning and  reporting purposes.

By signing below, the Member Agencies of the Coalition agree to support the goals and provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding in order to assist in the implementation of the 1998-2002 Transit Development Plan (“TDP”) as adopted by the City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Town of Palisade and Mesa County Commissioners.

The City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Town of Palisade and Mesa County Commissioners (“Supporting Agencies”), although not in the business of providing transportation, desire to acknowledge, by their signatures below: (a) that the goals of Member Agencies as expressed herein are appropriate and supported; (b) the Coalition’s and Member Agencies’ support of the TDP is appreciated; (c) the efforts of the Member Agencies to maintain contact with the Supporting Agencies, and to keep the Supporting Agencies informed is also appreciated.

MEMBER AGENCIES

SUPPORTING AGENCIES

Mesa County Colorado

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City of Fruita, Colorado

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City of Grand Junction, Colorado

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Town of Palisade, Colorado

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