City Council

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS SIOUX CITY, IOWA SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE TRANSIT SYSTEM ADVISORY BOARD A Joint Meeting of the City Council and Transit System Advisory Board was held on September 17, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. The following Council Members were present on call of the roll: O’Kane, Schoenherr, Scott, and Watters. Absent: Moore. (Moore entered at 12:02 p.m.) Staff members present: Michael Collett, Interim City Manager; Nicole M. DuBois, City Attorney; Heidi Farrens, City Clerk; Jason Allen, Transit Operation Supervisor; Brian Lake, Driver Supervisor, and Heather Hansen, Transit Administrative Assistant. Members of the Transit System Advisory Board present: Angela Drent, Dawn Kimmel, Mary Martin, Michael Tokarczyk. Others present: Brian Pearson, SIMPCO. Allen welcomed the City Council. Allen reviewed activities of the Board over the previous year including preparing for Mobile Pay, training, and community outreach. The Board reviewed passenger fares. The upcoming installation of mobile ticketing will allow passengers to use a mobile device to purchase tickets. Allen discussed Tap and Ride Tokens. The token can be a mobile barcode or a smart card. Collett noted that the department will be generous with riders as the new program is implemented. Moore entered the meeting at 12:02 p.m. Allen provided an update on the implementation of the Passio GO app. The app provides real- time tracking and notifications. The number of new users and daily active users continues to increase. Allen discussed community outreach partnerships. The Transit Department held various team events including a holiday bus decorating contest and alternate dress holidays. The Board and staff participated in Transit Appreciation Week. Collett reviewed ridership statistics for 2021 to present. Rider numbers dipped slightly in the last year. Paratransit passengers, however, continue to increase. Collett shared that the current presidential administration is less invested in the benefits of electric buses. As a result, the City will not be obtaining electric buses. Collett provided a cost comparison of building a new maintenance and storage facility or renovating the existing. The Department has chosen to move forward with renovations. Collett discussed funding sources. Sioux City’s estimated allocation of FY 2025 State Transit Assistance is $495,000. Collett discussed grant applications and awarded funds and summarized the FY 2025 budget expenditures and revenue. Planning for the future includes obtaining funds for the rehabilitated maintenance facility. A Bus Facilities grant is available at 80/20. The projected total cost is $12.5 million - $10 million/$2.5 million. $394 million was available in FY 2024. $2 billion available over 5 years. (September 17, 2025 - Joint Meeting Minutes) Page 1 Collett discussed goals and challenges for the department moving forward. While bus replacement funding has been more readily available, increased pricing and long lead times on bus purchases affect service timing. Providing safe quality transportation while maintaining fiscal responsibility will continue to be a customer service goal for the department. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:36 p.m., on motion by Scott, seconded by Moore, all voting aye. ATTEST: ____________________________ _____________________________ Heidi Farrens, City Clerk Robert E. Scott, Mayor u:\City Agenda\Agendas and Minutes\Council Minutes\2025\091725m Joint Transit System Advisory Board (September 17, 2025 - Joint Meeting Minutes) Page 2