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Ordinance changes approved by the Warsaw Common Council on first reading Monday night define what a fixed bus stop is and how they will operate within the city limits.
The amendments are necessary as the Kosciusko Area Bus Service (KABS) continues working on implementing a deviated fixed route.
KABS General Manager Kristin Rude and Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) Senior Transit Planner Jeremiah Cox had presented the route to the council on July 7 and were back Monday with City Planner Justin Taylor to request the ordinance amendments, the next step toward implementing the route.
“These changes are necessary for launching the fixed route service and ensuring a safe, organized operation,” Rude said.
Key updates in the ordinance, she said, include designation and installation of signage, bus operation standards, passenger engagement and motorist guidelines.
Full implementation of the route, called The Lake City Loop, is expected this fall.
Councilwoman Diane Quance asked if curbs will be painted or anything so people know the size and location of the bus stops. Rude said at this point in time, there’s no plans for the curbs to be painted outside of the stop on Main Street at the Warsaw Community Public Library possibly.
Mayor Jeff Grose asked Taylor if the ordinance language was all new and if they’ve ever had bus stop language in the city code before. Taylor said as far as he was aware, there hasn’t been any bus stop ordinances in the city’s municipal code previously, so they would definitely want to have city attorney Scott Reust review the ordinance before the city council approved it on second reading. Reust was absent Monday.
“But KABS has been diligent in working with city staff,” Taylor said, acknowledging that there will probably be changes to the route as it’s implemented. “But we feel like something like this is very beneficial to our community, especially at the cost they’re proposing for the people who use the system. It seems like a really good system.”
The previously announced cost to board the fixed route is $1, but a person could pay an additional 50 cents for a deviation off the fixed route (limited to one deviation per hour). KABS is considering a limitless ride pass for $20 per month. KABS also plans to continue to offer its on-demand bus service.
Councilman Mike Klondaris asked if the bus stops were in the public road and if they all were in the lane of traffic.
“Not all of them,” Rude said. “A majority are on the side of the road. There are some that are in private business property. The majority are in the road though.”
Klondaris asked if there was any thought to the buses pulling off the road and loading/unloading at places where the bus wouldn’t be blocking the flow of traffic.
Rude answered, “We did give consideration to try to place stops as strategically as possible to limit the blockages of traffic. However, there are some stops that we know will block traffic, traffic will have to merge over to pass a vehicle. It’s part of the way these routes are designed where, to save time, to keep that loop on that hour route, we’re not pulling off the route every single stop.”
Grose said there’s a total of 16 stops and several are on the road.
Cox said since they’re just launching a pilot program at this time, cost is also a consideration.
Council President Jack Wilhite said he appreciated letter “e” in the ordinance, which states, “Surrounding motorists may pass by a stopped bus with caution, while continuing to obey all other roadway markings and regulations. This provision does not apply to school buses.”
Councilman Josh Finch said, “I think this is a really neat opportunity for the city. Obviously, you go to larger cities and all of them have some sort of public transportation, and I think that’s a really cool sign that Warsaw is growing enough to entertain public transportation in this way.”
He made a motion to approve the ordinance on first reading and Councilman Juergen Voss seconded it. The motion passed 6-0, with Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins absent.
In other business, the council approved:
• A resolution approving the Warsaw Plan Commission’s approval of a declaratory resolution for the consolidated Northern and Central Economic Development Area adopted by the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission.
Reading the memo from Warsaw Community and Economic Development Director Jeremy Skinner - who was unable to attend the meeting - on the resolution, Mayor Jeff Grose said the resolution approves resetting the allocation area that includes most of the 100 acres the city purchased to create the Warsaw Tech Park in 2012. The resolution will reset the 25-year life of the property and allow the city to designate Autocam Medical as a taxpayer within the allocation area.
The Redevelopment Commission and Plan Commission approved their resolutions and the Warsaw Common Council had to approve theirs, at which time it will go back to the Redevelopment Commission for final approval.
“At the same time, we have completed the final plat creating the 15 acres that will be disposed to Autocam Medical, executed the development agreement and are working on closing on the 15 acres,” the memo states.
On June 16, Autocam Medical announced plans to construct a 100,000-square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Warsaw Tech Park. The facility represents an investment of over $70 million in building and advanced manufacturing equipment, according to a news release provided then. The company is expected to create up to 300 high-skill jobs with the expansion.
• A transfer request of $40,000 out of improvements other than building into debt service within the North Residential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) budget, as requested by Skinner.
A memo from Skinner indicates, “We have closed on the RIF bond for the Belle Augusta project, and I need to transfer funds to cover the first bond payment.”
• A conflict of interest statement for George Clemens, who sits on the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety and the Redevelopment Commission. He is an owner of Rabb Water Systems Inc.
