All posts by Joe "AvgeekJoe" Konzlar

Below is my view of the simple tasks Island Transit is going to need to do to restore transit advocacy community confidence.  Am publishing the day before Island Transit Board Meeting the 17th at 0930 at Island Transit HQ so the Island Transit Boardmembers get the cold water memo.  Because quite frankly… we need to fix Island Transit before we fund Island Transit or we transit advocates are done here.

1. Island Transit must be 100% forthcoming about its financial struggles: Any further deception or opacity, especially with Island Transit still bleeding red ink, is just going to make us transit advocates turn on Island Transit.  A backdrop of Island Transit scandals will only detract from the good work done by Skagit Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro and Sound Transit for starters.  Already we transit advocates will have to contend with addressing state legislation being drafted that could significantly alter the operations of the many, the good transit agencies of this state.
2. Island Transit must stop accruing debt and create a Strategic Recovery Plan: Island Transit needs to assure its creditors and general taxpayers alike that Island Transit will stop accruing debt, pay down the debt Island Transit accrued, get back on track with paying its insurance pool premiums, become less dependent on grants and if the Federal Government requests it the repayment of certain grants.  If Island Transit can do these things, then folks will start to entrust Island Transit again with their money.  If not, well then…
3. Island Transit must develop and execute immediately an Audit Compliance Plan: Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley – Oak Harbor’s alternate Island Transit boardmember – recently said at a Citizens for a Better Island Transit meeting that there will be State Auditor’s Office findings into Island Transit for financial health and not having records available for starters.  There are also concerns the grant money used to build the new Island Transit ornate headquarters were abused.  I personally have also tasked the State Auditor’s Office to look into the serial meetings the former Island Transit Executive Director held with Island Transit Boardmembers as well.  Without a plan to be in compliance with the State Auditor’s Office, how can we trust Island Transit with our money when other transit systems can and do comply but are starving for funds?  Frankly we got transit agencies here on the mainland with issues of our own… why should we transit advocates advocate subsidizing audit noncompliance and Heaven Forbid disrespect towards our State Auditor? WHY?
4. Island Transit needs to have a backup budget not dependent on grant funding: Treating grants as entitlements is not just insulting to the taxpayers whom provide those grants, but also bad fiscal practice.  Some would argue this policy alone led to Island Transit having 5, going strong on 6 end-of-fiscal-year deficits.
5. If Island Transit wants state grants funded by 38 other counties, then it must provide reliable service to connect to Skagit Transit and the Clinton Washington State Ferries Ferry Terminal: Even if this means cutting folks off of other runs/routes; why should Washington State pay into a transit network that the other counties cannot access?  Why not then just have Island County with the highest sales tax possible for transit pay its own system and its own way?  With Paine Field – a major Washington State economic generator – needing more transit service and a few transit agencies still in the hole who haven’t acted immorally why should users of those systems such as Pierce Transit, Everett Transit and Community Transit carry the load for Island Transit’s leaders’ prioritizing an ornate headquarters over fiscal stability?
6. Island Transit needs a new Executive Director whom is not from Island County, preferably soon: The tardy departure of Martha Rose and her insubordinate financier mean that Island Transit’s rudder is broke but replaceable.  One would hope the Island Transit Board would focus on getting this vital task done – and preferably hire an Executive Director outside of Island County loyal to no Island County political clique.  Having a real leader will go a long way to rebuilding public trust.
7. Island Transit needs to be implementing an advertising program: Island Transit needs the money, period.  If that means having an ad for Oreos or preferably an Island County business on the side of an Island Transit bus, okay then.  There was a time when progressives such as this Canadian Tyee.ca fellow could write gleefully “Blessedly ad-free” regarding Island Transit; but Martha Rose’s focus on an ornate headquarters instead of a basic headquarters replacement and not service makes Island Transit seeking advertising funding to address points 2 & 3 an immediate necessity.
8. Island Transit needs to study charging fares with public input: At this time asking riders to pay for the mismanagement of Island Transit is unfair as I’ve explained.  But Island Transit needs to lose the dependency on grants with fiscal constraints at federal & state levels.  A study into fares with public input into both scoping and a draft is necessary to rebuild trust.
9. Island Transit needs to have a Zero-Based Budget: Things like participating in a trip to Alaska promotion for somebody who uses fare free Island Transit just really lacks sense at any time – especially now.  Nor does deferring the insurance premium.  Nor does setting up your budget to where you have to hold a check because you were too grant dependent and budgeted with the wrong priorities.  It’s time Island Transit budgeted on priorities like paying insurance, fixing the reported problems with its headquarters and Paratransit instead of for instance having a trip to Alaska promotion.
10. Island Transit needs to serve their primary customer US Navy a heckuva lot better: Yeah, for 239 years the US Navy has been the “Shield of the Republic”.  With NAS Whidbey Island and its flight operations being not just vital to the safety of the free world plus the survival of Island County’s economy, but also the enjoyment of aviation geeks worldwide why is there no Island Transit shuttle to Ault Field north of Oak Harbor?  It’s time for Island Transit to build on the success of serving America’s OLF – aka NOLF Coupeville.  Heck yeah!

Let’s just be clear here: It’s just not fair for transit advocates on the mainland with issues of our own to defend a transit agency that wastes grants funded by the same pools of grant funding that could rehabilitate transit agencies with both moral conduct and transit cuts to repair.  Transit cuts that hit riders during the Great Recession while Island Transit did not make any route or staff cuts to restore an honorable financial position until June 2014, after $2,100,000 of operating debt had piled up while the new Island Transit HQ was being built.

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One last thing: This is solely about working to inoculate other transit systems in this state from the Island Transit fiascoes.  January is coming up in the window rather fast and when the State Legislature is in session, we better get it together or cut from the team Island Transit.This is a personal editorial with many sources, not a news item.  Also furthermore these views are not necessarily the views of the Seattle Transit Blog Editorial Board, hence the title.

“You can’t serve the public good without the truth as a bottom line.”
Source: Carl Bernstein

I post this Carl Bernstein (of Watergate fame) quote for a reason and I’ll get into why.  Thanks to Jeff Lauderdale of Citizens for a Better Island Transit going though the Island County Treasurer Reconciliation Reports, we have a good idea of Island Transit’s cash flow.  Below is the actual table:

View post on imgur.com

For those of you who don’t do spreadsheets, let me put into text.  Feel free to ask for clarification…

Island Transit’s been bleeding red since 2008.  Not to mention burned through $7.72 million in investments starting out with January 2008.  Not to mention accumulated $2.35 million in operating debt since July 2013.

Island Transit did not make any route or staff cuts to restore financial position until June 2014, after $2,100,000 of operating debt had piled up while the new Island Transit HQ was being built.  After the grants for the Camano-to-Everett Connector got veto’d by the State Legislature in part because Island Transit was supposed to find other sources of funding.

Island Transit has written up budgets with grants embedded into them, although it’s not legally required and has dug in against an alternative.  Only the City of Oak Harbor’s alternate Island Transit Boardmember Scott Dudley has forced the issue, getting an admission out of an Island Transit senior official, “Island Transit is not mandated to include potential grant funds in the budget, however, the majority of Island Transit’s Board is choosing to include these as a part of budgeting practice” (emphasis mine).

Island Transit’s excuse for a “budgeting practice” of writing “potential grant finds” into their budgets has been various grants require the grant moneys be written into a Transit Development Plan (TDP) budget to be given to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to apply for federal & state grants as per this WSDOT PDF.  Yet for the sake of convenience the TDP and the annual budget are merged.  One can only wonder what the State Auditor’s Office has to say about this business practice… and they will speak about the financial health of Island Transit on 24 October at 1000 Hours at Island Transit HQ.

Overall, we have an Island Transit that :

• According to brochures on their own website had an ornate headquarters instead of just an updated facility, and Island Politics has a full list of expenditures made on that facility – some of which boggle the fiscally conservative mind,
• Has burnt through its reserves as the Washington Policy Center has exposed,
• Has laid off good employees,
• Has at least one lawsuit over a firing with threat of a second,
• Has lost the confidence of the transit advocacy community,
• Has not been able to pay its insurance premium and therefore requested a deferment without Board knowledge much less Board approval according to multiple videos of Island Transit Board meetings & Island Politics,
• Has cut service,
• Has a credible report the State Auditor’s Office is going to make multiple findings against Island Transit,
• Is still bleeding red ink,
• Is still relying on grants in its budgeting process, and
• Lacks a “strategic recovery plan” and counts on “future grant money to carry them through” according to Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley, on Temporary Duty (TDY) to the Island Transit Board

Meanwhile King County Metro is debating how much in reserves to hang onto with its Executive Director campaigning here at STB for hanging onto more reserves.  Two agencies run mostly by left-of-centre folks.  Just to help create some perspective.

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A few editorial comments since this writer is part researcher, part editorialist: Perhaps we overuse references to Watergate in American culture, but quite frankly I sought a non-Heather Brooke quote in part to protect the luster of Heather “Newsbrooke” Brooke being used in my mastheads and in part because truth has not been the bottom line out of Island Transit’s senior leadership.  Multiple Island Transit employees have reported a culture of intimidation.   Efforts were made to opaque the coming State Auditor’s Office Exit Conference with Island Transit.  Island Transit has always budgeted with grants embedded into the budget so if they vaporized there was no “Plan B”. Island Transit leaders also did not advise the media when the Camano Connector was cut as both the Stanwood-Camano News & Whidbey Newsgroup have reported. Island Transit executive leaders did not advise or consult with the Island Transit Board either about making the second round of cuts (the 1st round being the Camano Connector to/from Everett) or deferring its insurance premium.  All bordering on if not untruthful and dishonest.  Yet somehow we’re supposed to rally the troops and fight the “Road Bullies” as I’d say come January?  Even I’m saying NO.

Frankly I wish my Whidbey neighbors had an Island Transit Executive Director write on STB as King County’s did, “The question of reserves is a legitimate policy issue and open to honest debate and one our customers are watching carefully as they make life choices based on what transportation system we can commit to over the long haul. … I am confident we can arrive at a solution that responsibly secures Metro’s present and future – so that when the economy changes, as we know it will, our riders won’t be left to wonder what’s going to happen to their bus.”

There you go.

My snap of a “Please VOTE” sign from Sound Transit Central Link Light Rail

To begin, this endorsement list is solely my personal endorsement list.  That said, here goes:

[Off topic with respect to transit]

Congressional District 2, Rick Larsen (D): Congressman Rick Larsen is a reliable pro-transit voice, having been there to get our fair share of federal funding for Washington State Ferries, been there in defending our transit infrastructure and even been there in helping Community Transit’s Swift Bus Rapid Transit get started.  His opponent is a class act through and through but sadly the US House of Representatives is a seniority club – not a meritocracy.  Personally I hope B.J. Guillot – although an excellent debater is lacking a position on transit – will get the name recognition from his efforts and run again when Representative Larsen retires.

Congressional District 3, Jaime Herrera Beutler (R): I think frankly the last thing we transit advocates need is another transportation boondoggle to deal with in our state that would have been on par with Bertha, been too low for Columbia River barge traffic and already taken money away from genuinely pressing transit goals.  Congresswoman Herrera Beutler helped pressure if not lead the way in slaying the CRC boondoggle for now and has earned one more term.  For helping impugn the monstrosity that was the Columbia River Crossing project while her opponent Bob Dingethal publicly supports the Columbia River Crossing I-5 Bridge Replacement Project and for being a Republican, AvgeekJoe endorsement for again one more term.

Washington State Senate, District 21, Marko Liias (D): Considering his opponent didn’t get back to me to clarify “Use Public/Private Partnerships to fund transportation infrastructure; end inefficient public transit monopolies by allowing private companies to bid for services?”, that increases fears this is about more than having a private operator of public transit systems.  Furthermore Liias will be “championing ST3”, “voting for more state and local funding” for transit and fight for light rail to service Paine Field.  His opponent is awkwardly silent on all of those.  Hence the AvgeekJoe endorsement for leadership.

Washington State Representative, District 10, Incumbents Norma Smith (R) and Dave Hayes (R): Both of whom are strong transit supporters in a House Republican Caucus with few transit supporters of any kind.  Both of ’em are bringing the heat to hold Island Transit accountable and keep Northwest Washington State interconnected.  With Dave Hayes’ opponent saying on his webpage, he “is intimidated by King County and other large metropolitan areas and will fight for fair and equitable transportation funding” the last thing we need are more wimps in politics.  I’m going to stop there instead of go into Zone 5 Afterburner.

Washington State Representative, District 39, Position Two, Charles Jensen (D): Being his opponent in my home legislative district is on the theological far right, not a transit advocate by any stretch of the imagination and perhaps anti-anything-government in a quest to be the next Val Stevens, enough said.  Better to stop folks like that from getting too much seniority if we want public services of any kind.

Island County Commissioner, Rick Hannold (R): In this race crucial for the future of Whidbey Island are two candidates.  One of whom is backtracking from previous anti-Navy rhetoric which could endanger Whidbey’s economy and lacks a position on Island Transit hiding behind a desire to wait for the audit & to demand more funding – easy cop outs that don’t embody leadership.  Her insistence structural change is unnecessary to the Whidbey News-Times also discredits her as a credible leader in Island Transit’s moment of maximum crisis.  Alternatively her Navy veteran opponent Rick Hannold wrote out a thoughtful, businesslike position on rescuing Island Transit in long form and I hope his enthusiasm for a transit fare will dampen after Island Transit does a study into charging fares.  Unless, that is, Island Transit is truly nearing the brink…

Kitsap County Auditor, Dolores Gilmore (D): Her Republican opponent sat on the Island Transit Board as Island Transit imploded.  Need I say anything more except “Payback time“?

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Personally I hope you’re pleasantly surprised I didn’t back only Republicans… also this is as far as my endorsement list goes.  Feel free to ask for more details in the comments.

The world isn’t a fairy tale, and it could be more brutal than we want to acknowledge. Equally, it could be better than we’ve been led to believe, but either way, we have to start seeing it exactly as it is, with all of its problems, because it’s only by seeing it with all of its problems that we’ll be able to fix them and live in a world in which we can all be happily ever after. — Heather Brooke
(SOURCE)

Beginning with another Heather “Newsbrooke” Brooke quotation because folks, we could sure use one.  Many, including I, thought last Friday’s supposed end of the Martha Rose era was not the beginning of the end but a finite end of the beginning to play off of a famous Winston Churchill quotation.  The Wednesday afternoon Island Transit Board Meeting, being held under the cloud of the Island Transit Acting Finance Director’s insubordination and outrageous allegations, did not resolve the issue to the point where a long sortie full of detail is now necessary.

At least Common Sense and Island Politics took video of the latest Island Transit meeting and provided commentary.  The mainstream media hasn’t launched a response yet.  I have helpfully clipped the video to the most important part of the meeting – namely addressing the solvency of Island Transit and the epic failure of Island Transit’s Acting Finance Director to report to the Island Transit Board on the status of Island Transit’s deferred payments to the Washington Transit Insurance Pool.

Before posting the video, I would like to note as a lapsed Washington Coalition for Open Government member that for the record Island County Commissioner Helen Price-Johnson was right in citing RCW 42.30.080 on special meetings that states, “Final disposition shall not be taken on any other matter at such meetings by the governing body.”  However Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley was also right in stating the meeting’s agenda said only “Management Transition” and “Executive Session if necessary” arguably giving him clearance to address the Island Transit Acting Finance Director issue.  Clearly clarity from the state legislature or from a set of Attorney General’s Office Model Rules on the Open Public Meetings Act or a more finite Island Transit Board Meeting agenda would be constructive.

That said, here’s the clipped video – originally from Common Sense:

If I may be snarky, perhaps there’s a reason why the picture for this news story is of a driverless Island Transit Bus.  While writing this story, Island Politics got part of the scoop on an e-mail the Acting Financial Director sent to many if not all Island Transit employees defining McCarthyism.  But Seattle Transit Blog obtained an e-mail sent this morning from Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley to the Island Transit Acting Executive Director Bob Clay confirming an Island Transit response to a Seattle Transit Blog public records request there still is no Executive Director Martha Rose resignation letter – fueling suspicions Martha Rose didn’t resign and certainly creating more chaos at a bad time.

As if this crisis needs to be put into more stark relief, recently Seattle Transit Blog received a comment stating in part with my emphasis:

The employee manual section 2.03 prohibits any employee from speaking out for fear of being terminated. This is a bizarre code of ethics section which is ambiguous enough to be used against anyone attempting to reveal just how badly Island Transit is mismanaged. Any employee questioning anything is quickly silenced and counseled not to ask disruptive questions. Senior drivers who are not in jeopardy of losing their stature also defend the regime without question, to show loyalty in order to save their paycheck. Fear and intimidation are the workplace standard.
Martha has help in the blame game with former finance manager now reinstated finance manager Sandra Kuykendall who also made statements against Barbra Savary. Martha stated in the newspaper she brought in Kuykendall after Barbra Savary was fired. This is a complete lie. Barbara and Sandra worked side by side for two weeks during the transition period of Barbara’s voluntary resignation of the position. If the Board of Directors wants to investigate and audit, simply look at the days on payroll for both of the financial managers and question the overlapping time period.

According to the Island Transit Personnel Policies Manual, section 2.03 contains in part, again with my emphasis:

Actions of an uncivil, immoral, or indecent nature and use of profanity or vulgar language while on duty (on-the-job) or on ISLAND TRANSIT property are prohibited. Employees must remember that, as public servants, they are expected to present a favorable public image and to cooperate with the public and their fellow employees. Employees are reminded that disruption of the workplace with loud, obnoxious, unruly behavior will not be tolerated.
. . .
Reporting to management suspicious, unethical, or illegal conduct by coworkers, customers, or suppliers

I’m sure the Kuykendall sortie served as a strong validator of allegations of a hostile work climate in Island Transit – and those of other former & current Island Transit employees posted to multiple websites.  I’m also sure the fact the Island Transit Board does not know if its payments into the state insurance pool – with no less than two lawsuits having been field – is equally unsettling.  No wonder Oak Harbor Mayor Dudley has grave doubts about the solvency of Island Transit and made the public allegation the Island Transit Board with a “lack of accountability and lack of responsibility” is “responsible for the financial situation we find ourselves in today”.

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Personally, it would take serious changes arguably on Island Transit’s behalf to convince me to ever again sortie to the Washington State transit advocacy community and ask the 38 other counties of our state to rescue any services of Island Transit.  It’s time we in the transit advocacy community started openly discussing options what to do with Island Transit and keeping Island Transit’s reputation separate from other transit agencies’ reputations.  In military aviation, they’d call it “Response Options”.  Response Options we’re going to need as the State Legislature restarts in about three months in January…

One of the things the transit advocacy community is going to need to do is explain Island Transit is the outlier, not the ‘new normal’ of transit governance.  That politics on Island County are bordering on dysfunctional – Exhibit A being the Beyond Stupid land use policies around NAS Whidbey Island’s Ault Field and Outlying Field Coupeville that sparked the progressive anti-Navy insurgency in Central Whidbey.  That Island Transit has suffered from Leaderism for some time.  That we in the transit advocacy community are open to new vaccines to keep another bout of “Island Transit cancer” from spreading to our local agencies.

So here are four ideas for transit advocates to consider:

• Perhaps we would be willing to grudgingly accept having all of Washington State’s transit boards elected by their district elected statewide instead of appointed in return for Sound Transit 3/ST3?
• Perhaps we should let Island Transit go down the tubes if the Island Transit Board and/or Island Transit Administration reacts inappropriately to the upcoming release of the Washington State Auditor’s Office Audit and continues to react inappropriately to the issues of the Island Transit Acting Finance Director’s insubordinate misconduct?
• Perhaps we could demand transit administrators forgo the company cars and use the transit system they administrate to commute to/from work at least 75% of the time each month?
• Perhaps we should sign a petition demanding a study be done within 365 days of the logistics of collecting a fare on Island Transit – not saying I’m pro a fare, but I’m pro an updated conversation.

Just attempting to spark a conversation among the wider transit advocacy community… one we need to start having.

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Finally, just an editorial note of reassurance that at some point I need to insert: I am doing some research on Paine Field’s transit situation.  Non-financial research that is so Everett Transit & Community Transit you may exhale.  Please do.

Once the Island Transit crisis simmers down, I will pick up where I left off on my Sound Transit Sounder North research as well.  However, we do have a crisis that is being closely monitored in Olympia and it seems happily ever after is bordering on impossible here.

At some point, I also want to poke around Washington State Ferries…