Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 24, 2024
Subject
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENTS TO METRO’S SERVICE COUNCILS
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE nominees for membership on Metro’s Westside Central Service Council (Attachment A).
Issue
ISSUE
The Westside Central Service Council has two vacancies that need to be filled.
Background
BACKGROUND
Metro Service Councils (MSCs) were created in 2002 as community-based bodies that serve to improve bus service and promote service coordination with municipal and local transit providers. The MSC bylaws specify that Representatives should live in, work in, or represent the region, have a basic working knowledge of public transit service within their area, and understand passenger transit needs. To do so, each Representative is expected to ride at least one transit service per month.
The MSCs are responsible for convening public hearings to receive community input on proposed service modifications, rendering decisions on proposed bus route changes, and considering staff’s recommendations and public comments. All route and major service changes approved by the MSCs will be brought to the Metro Board of Directors as an information item. Should the Metro Board decide to move an MSC-approved service change to an Action Item, the MSCs will be notified of this change before the next Service Council monthly meeting.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The Council’s nominating authority has nominated the individuals listed below. If approved by the Board, they will serve for the three-year terms specified. Attachments A and B provide a brief listing of qualifications for new nominees and the nomination letter(s).
For reference, should these nominees be appointed, the 2022 American Community Survey demographics and 2023 Metro Ridership Survey demographics for each region are compared to the seated membership.
Westside Central Service Council
A. Steven King, New Appointment
Nominated by: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Term: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
B. Jennifer Nazario, New Appointment
Nominated by: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass
Term: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2026
With the appointment of these nominees, the Westside Central (WSC) Service Council membership will compare to the region and the region’s ridership as follows:
Table does not add to the exact number of Councilmembers as it incorporates each race Councilmembers self-identified with; some current Councilmembers identify as multi-racial.
The gender makeup of the WSC Service Council will be as follows:
Los Angeles County data is taken from the Census 2022 Quick Facts, which includes a question intended to capture current sex but does not include questions about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Metro recommends appointing Service Council members who represent the diverse needs and priorities reflective of the demographics of each respective region. To encourage nominating authorities to nominate individuals who closely reflect the region and its ridership, the staff shares regional ridership, resident, and Service Council membership race/ethnicity and gender demographics with each nomination request. This practice has resulted in the Service Councils becoming more diverse in terms of both race/ethnicity and gender over the last several years. However, approximately half of LA County residents and Metro riders are women and work still needs to be done to achieve gender equity in some of the Service Councils. Staff will continue to share demographic information and encourage nominating authorities to give weight to gender equity when considering individuals for nomination.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Approval of this recommendation supports the following Metro Strategic Plan Goal: 30 Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to monitor the major contributors to the quality of bus service from the customer’s perspective and share that information with the Service Councils for use in their work to plan, implement, and improve bus service and the customer experience in their areas.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - New Appointees Nomination Letters
Attachment B - New Appointees Biographies and Qualifications
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Dolores Ramos, Senior Manager, Regional Service Councils, (213) 922-1210
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
