HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1997 0115 CC REG ITEM 10KTO:
FROM:
DATE:
CITY OF MOORPARK
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
The Honorable City Council
Mary K. Lindley, Assistant to the City Manager 'I
December 23, 1996 (CC Meeting of January 15)
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SUBJECT: Consider Request from the Moorpark Unified School District for Student
Discount Bus Fare
The City Council is being asked to consider a request from the Moorpark Unified School District
to reduce the cost of the one -way bus fare on the City bus for students participating in a school
sponsored tutoring program. This Agenda Report identifies several options and requests City
Council's direction.
The City is receipt of a written request from Kristin Deike, Title VII Project Director for
Moorpark Unified School District, to reduce the cost of a one -way bus trip. Ms. Deike
coordinates a school tutoring program where students from Mesa Verde Middle School tutor
students at Peach Hill Elementary School in reading and other academic subjects (see attached
letter).
The tutors need transportation in the morning from the Town Center to Peach Hill School and
then back to Mesa Verde Middle School. Based on my discussions with Ms. Deike, the students
will get to a bus stop at the correct time; therefore, no changes to the bus route or schedule are
being requested.
The City does not currently offer a discount fare for students, although some transit operators do.
The follow is a summary of the student fares charged by other transit operators in Ventura
County:
T t rator Adult Fare Student Fare
ransi
VISTA
$1.00
$ .75
Thousand Oaks
$.75
$ .75
Simi Valley
$1.00
$1.00 one -way or
book of 50 @ $33.25 ($.67)•
SCAT (Vta, Ox, Pt Hue, Ojai)
$1.00
$ .75
Camarillo
$1.00
$ .50
Moorpark
S. 75
$ .75
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Discount Bus Fare
2
Both Santa Paula and Fillmore operate dial -a -ride services only which tend to higher bus fares:
one -way adult fare $1.50, students $1.00. Camarillo's fares will soon change since it is scheduled
to replace its fixed route with dial -a -ride service.
Staff has identified three options the City Council may wish to consider: 1) establish a discount
bus fare for all students between the ages of 5 and 18 years old (children under 5 ride free); 2)
establish a discount fare for students participating in MUSD sponsored programs only, including
the Mesa Verde Middle School tutoring program; or 3) establish no new discount fares.
The City of Moorpark currently offers a discount fare of $.50 to senior citizens. Staff proposes
that if the City Council wishes to establish a discount fare for all students or just those
participating in MUSD sponsored programs, that fare should be set a the senior citizens rate. It
should be noted that if the Council elects to implement a discount fare for all students, the bus'
farebox return (the ratio of fare revenue to operating expenses) and the City's General Fund will
be negatively impacted. Moorpark's farebox ratio goal, as set by the Transportation
Development Act (TDA) regulations is 14.9 percent and the bus currently operates at
approximately 12 percent. Any shortfall in the farebox return must be made up by the general
fund rather than TDA funds. For the past two years, the City has budgeted about $2,000 to make
up the farebox shortfall. If all students (Option 1) are offered a discount fare, staff estimates that
the additional shortfall for FY 1997/98 will be approximately $1,800 ($3,800 total).
On the other hand, if the Council chooses to establish a discount fare of $.50 for the students
participating in MUSD sponsored programs, the City will be forgoing new revenue but there will
be no additional farebox shortfall. Based on the participant numbers provided by Ms. Deike, the
City would forego $19 per week (approximately $600 annually).
If the City Council decides to establish a discount bus fare of some type, staff recommends that
the fare be established on a trail bases and reevaluated during the FY 1997/98 budget process due
to the impact on the General Fund. In addition, staff will prepare a resolution establishing the
discount fare for approval at the next City Council meeting.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a discount bus fare of $.50 for students
participating in Moorpark Unified School District sponsored programs, on a trail bases through
the end of FY 1996/97, and direct staff to prepare a resolution establishing the approved discount
fare.
CADOCS \TRANSPOR \STUDFARE.AGD '000220
PEACH HILL SCHOOL
13400 Christian Barrett Drive, Moorpark, California 93021
December 18, 1996
Mary Lindley
City of Moorpark
799 Moorpark Avenue
Moorpark, CA 93021
Dear Ms. Lindley,
(805) 378 -6307
RECEIVED
DEC 19 1996
CITY OF MOORPARK
I am writing this letter to request a reduced rate for bus tickets for students participating in a
school tutoring program. These students, who attend Mesa Verde Middle school, are
volunteering their time in the mornings to work with Peach Hill Elementary students who are
having a difficult time with reading and other academic subjects.
This cross age tutoring program was initiated last year and was only offered to Middle School
students who live in the Peach Hill area. Research indicates, however, that service oriented
projects of this nature serve as an intervention for students who may be "at- risk ". This type of
program serves both the Peach Hill students who experience increased self - esteem from further
success in school due to the tutoring program, and the Mesa Verde students who experience
increased self - esteem from being able to help the younger students. For these reasons, it was our
goal to expand the program this year to include students living in the downtown area of
Moorpark.
Since these students are volunteering their time and transportation is of necessity in order for
them to participate in the tutoring program, we are asking for a student discount rate for buses to
accommodate the attached transportation schedule. We have tried to accomodate this
transportation need through our District transportation services, but have been unable to do this
due to scheduling difficulties.
Thank you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Kristin Deike
Title VII Project Director
XC: Bernardo Perez
Frank DePasquale
Carlos Pagan
0 �!
Mesa Verde Tutors
(To ride on city bus from Hughes to Peach Hill at 7:18 a.m.)
Student Monday Tuesdav Wednesday Thursday Friday
Gabriella Cortes
X
X
X
x
Maria Medina
X
Julia Russel
X
X
X
Lupita Aguirre
X
X
Ana Solano
X
X
X
Carmen Venegas
X
Denise Dominguez
X
X
X
Maribel Hernandez
X
X
X
Martha Venegas
X
X
X
X
Micaela Troncoso
X
X
X
X
Marylu Tejeda
X
Teresa Calvario
X
X
X
X
Rosa Cuadros
X
X
Guadalupe Grajeda
X
X
X
X
TOTALS:
9
6
11
12
0002ZZ