Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners public meetings in 2024
17 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System (CATS) Board will consider and vote on the 2025 proposed budget and a 2024 budget amendment. The board will also vote on a Baton Rouge Police Department contract renewal and several other contract amendments. In executive session, the board will discuss the CEO's performance, litigation, and collective bargaining negotiations.
- Consideration and approval of the CATS 2024 Budget Amendment
- Consideration and approval of the 2025 CATS Proposed Budget
- Consideration and approval of Baton Rouge Police Department Contract Renewal
- Executive session discussion of CATS CEO Theo Richards' character and professional capabilities
- Executive session strategy session regarding collective bargaining with ATU Local 1546
The Board of Commissioners approved the 2025 proposed budget and an amendment to the 2024 budget. Several contract amendments and a police department contract renewal were also approved. The board entered an executive session to discuss the CEO, litigation, collective bargaining, and a safety assessment.
- Approved November 17, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (8-0)
- Approved 2024 Budget Amendment (8-0)
- Approved 2025 Proposed Budget (8-0)
- Approved Baton Rouge Police Department Contract Renewal (7-1)
- Approved Carr, Riggs & Ingram Contract Amendment (8-0)
- Approved Build Construction North Transit Center Change Order (7-1)
- Approved Chief of Minds Contract Amendment (8-0)
- Approved motion to enter and exit Executive Session
🗳️ How they voted — 2 divided votes
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to review administrative reports and committee updates. The board will vote on several action items, including health benefits and construction changes. A portion of the meeting will be held in executive session to discuss personnel, litigation, and labor negotiations.
- Approval of Build Construction North Transit Center Change Order
- Approval of 2025 Health Benefits Renewal
- Proposal to waive bus fares for the December 7, 2024, Election
- Executive session regarding William Deville vs. Capital Area Transit System litigation
- Executive session regarding collective bargaining negotiations with ATU Local 1546
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Board approved the 2025 Health Benefits Renewal and a proposal to waive bus fares for the December 7, 2024, election. A change order for the Build Construction North Transit Center was deferred. The Board also entered and exited an executive session to discuss personnel, litigation, and collective bargaining.
- Approved October 17, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (6-0)
- Deferred Build Construction North Transit Center Change Order
- Approved 2025 Health Benefits Renewal (6-0)
- Approved waiving bus fares for December 7, 2024 Election (6-0)
- Approved move into Executive Session at 4:55 p.m. (6-0)
- Approved exit from Executive Session at 5:38 p.m. (6-0)
🗳️ How they voted (3 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners approved the waiving of bus fares for two specific dates in late 2024. The board also accepted the minutes from the September 17, 2024, meeting.
- Approved waiving bus fares on October 26, 2024 and November 5, 2024
- Accepted September 17, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes
🗳️ How they voted (2 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss administrative reports and approve previous meeting minutes. The board is considering a proposal to waive bus fares on October 26 and November 5, 2024, to facilitate voting.
- Proposal to waive bus fares on October 26, 2024, and November 5, 2024, for voting
- Approval of September 17, 2024, Board Meeting Minutes
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will consider resolutions to levy 2024 ad valorem taxes on property in Baker and Baton Rouge, including adjusting millage rates back to the prior year's maximum. The board will also vote on several contract extensions and authorize a contract for ADA-accessible bus stop improvements. An executive session is scheduled to discuss litigation settlement and an internal safety assessment.
- Resolution to levy 2024 ad valorem taxes for City of Baker
- Resolution to adjust 2024 millage rate back to 2023 maximum for City of Baker
- Resolution to levy 2024 ad valorem taxes for City of Baton Rouge
- Resolution to adjust 2024 millage rate back to 2023 maximum for City of Baton Rouge
- Consideration of October 2024 Comprehensive Operation Analysis Service Change
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Board approved resolutions to levy and adjust 2024 ad valorem taxes for the cities of Baker and Baton Rouge. Members also approved a comprehensive operation analysis service change for October 2024 and several contract extensions. The CEO was authorized to execute a contract for ADA accessible bus stop improvements.
- Approved 2024 ad valorem taxes for City of Baker (7-0)
- Approved 2024 ad valorem tax millage rate adjustment for City of Baker (7-0)
- Approved 2024 ad valorem taxes for City of Baton Rouge (7-0)
- Approved 2024 ad valorem tax millage rate adjustment for City of Baton Rouge (8-0)
- Approved October 2024 Comprehensive Operation Analysis Service Change (8-0)
- Approved Robert Half Contract Extension (8-0)
- Approved Chief of Minds Contract Extension (8-0)
- Authorized CEO to execute ADA Accessible Bus Stop Improvement Project contract (8-0)
🗳️ How they voted (11 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners approved the CATS Drug and Alcohol Policy. The board also accepted the minutes from the July 23, 2024, meeting.
- Approved CATS Drug and Alcohol Policy (3-0)
- Approved July 23, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (3-0)
🗳️ How they voted (2 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to review administrative reports and committee updates. The board is scheduled to consider and approve the CATS Drug and Alcohol Policy.
- Consideration and approval of CATS Drug and Alcohol Policy
- Approval of July 23, 2024, Board Meeting Minutes
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to review administrative reports and approve several operational policies. The board is considering a construction inspection contract and a tax reassessment. The meeting includes an executive session to discuss four active litigation matters.
- Contract for Administration and Construction Engineering Inspection Services with Waggoner Engineering for $524,214.00
- Approval of the CATS Purchasing and Contracting Policy
- Approval of the closure of 2022 Single Audit Findings 2022-015 & 2022-018
- Consideration of CATS Board of Commissioners Tax Reassessment
- General Planning Consultant Services Master Agreements
The Board approved a contract for engineering inspection services and general planning consultant master agreements. Other actions included approving the 2023 compliance questionnaire and a tax reassessment roll forward.
- Approved Contract for Administration and Construction Engineering Inspection Services with Waggoner Engineering for $524,214.00
- Approved General Planning Consultant Services-Master Agreements
- Approved 2023 Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and authorization for Board officers to execute it
- Approved Tax Reassessment – Roll Forward
- Approved June 25, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes
🗳️ How they voted — 1 divided vote
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will consider approving a $1,488,107.12 Genfare bus farebox upgrade (funded by $1,158,485.75 federal and $289,621.37 local dollars), disposal of surplus equipment and vehicles, and a CEO contract. Routine items include minutes approval, committee reports, and meeting dates.
- Action item: Genfare Bus Farebox Upgrade for $1,488,107.12 ($1,158,485.75 federal, $289,621.37 local)
- Action item: Disposal of surplus equipment and vehicles
- Action item: CEO contract consideration and approval
- Action item: Remaining 2024 board committee meeting dates (July–December)
- Committee reports from Finance & Executive, Technical & Policies, Audit, and Community Relations
The Board of Commissioners approved a contract for Genfare bus farebox upgrades and the disposal of surplus equipment. The board also approved the CEO contract and the remaining 2024 meeting schedule.
- Approved Genfare Bus Farebox Upgrade for $1,488,107.12 (6-0)
- Approved Disposal of Surplus Equipment and Vehicles (6-0)
- Approved CEO Contract (5-0)
- Approved Remaining 2024 Board Committee and Meeting Dates (4-1)
- Approved May 28, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (4-0)
🗳️ How they voted — 1 divided vote
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting to approve previous minutes, receive reports, and consider three contract amendments (MV Transportation, Robert Half, Chief of Minds). The board may also enter executive session to discuss CEO contract negotiations.
- Consideration and approval of contract amendment for MV Transportation
- Consideration and approval of contract amendment for Robert Half
- Consideration and approval of contract amendment for Chief of Minds
- Authorization to enter into contract negotiation with CEO Theo Richards (executive session)
The Board of Commissioners approved three contract amendments for MV Transportation, Robert Half, and Chief of Minds. The board also accepted the monthly board minutes from May 28, 2024.
- Approved contract amendment for MV Transportation for $166,376.79
- Approved contract amendment for Robert Half for $80,000.00
- Approved contract amendment for Chief of Minds for $50,000.00
- Accepted May 28, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes
🗳️ How they voted (4 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to review committee reports and administrative matters. The board will also consider approving a solicitation for the North transit center and updating authorized signatories for Whitney/Hancock Bank accounts.
- Approval of Solicitation #2024-Northtransitcenter-001
- Authorization to add Sunnie Hines as signatory for Whitney/Hancock Bank accounts
- Removal of Eddriene Sylvester as a signatory for Whitney/Hancock Bank accounts
- Approval of March 26, 2024, Board Meeting Minutes
The Board of Commissioners approved the solicitation for the North Transit Center. They also authorized a change in bank account signatories for Whitney/Hancock Bank accounts.
- Approved Monthly Board Minutes (8-0)
- Approved Solicitation #2024-North Transit Center-001 (8-0)
- Approved adding Sunnie Hines and removing Eddriene Sylvester as signatories for Whitney/Hancock Bank accounts (7-0)
🗳️ How they voted (3 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Board of Commissioners approved a security detail contract renewal and updated several administrative policies. The board also approved the minutes from February and March 2024.
- Approved Renewal of the BRPD Off Duty Security Detail Contract for $279,000.00 (5-2)
- Approved Renewal of Finance Manual, Real Property Acquisition, Equal Employment Opportunity, and CEO Contract Authority Policies (7-0)
- Approved February 27, March 11 and March 12, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (7-0)
🗳️ How they voted — 1 divided vote
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will hold its annual meeting to elect officers, followed by a regular meeting. Action items include approval of previous meeting minutes, renewal of the BRPD Off Duty Security Detail Contract, and renewal of several policies (Finance Manual, Real Property Acquisition, EEO, CEO Contract Authority). The board will also discuss litigation and a safety assessment in executive session.
- Renewal of BRPD Off Duty Security Detail Contract
- Renewal of Finance Manual, Real Property Acquisition, EEO, and CEO Contract Authority Policies
- Executive session on litigation update in Garner v. CATS (Suit No. 682134)
- Executive session review of CATS Safety Assessment
- Election of officers for the upcoming year
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss and vote on several action items, including approval of the January 30, 2024 meeting minutes and multiple contract renewals. The board will also hear committee reports and a CEO search update. No executive session is scheduled.
- Renewal of Mansfield Oil Contract
- Renewal of Caerus Advisors Contract
- Robert Half Contract
- Atlas Technical Consultant Contract
- RFP 2023 – ADA Paratransit-010
The Board approved several service contracts and the January 30, 2024, meeting minutes. A proposal regarding RFP 2023 – ADA Paratransit-010 was deferred.
- Approved January 30, 2024, Monthly Board Minutes (8-0)
- Approved Mansfield Oil Contract renewal for $2,092,340.00 (8-0)
- Approved Caerus Advisors Contract renewal for $150,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved Robert Half Contract for $80,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved Atlas Technical Consultant Contract for $56,250.00 (8-0)
- Deferred RFP 2023 – ADA Paratransit-010
🗳️ How they voted (3 roll-call votes)
Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners
The Capital Area Transit System Board of Commissioners will meet to review administrative reports and committee updates. The board is scheduled to vote on multiple service contracts, including legal services and microtransit renewals.
- Renewal of the RiverNorth (Microtransit) Contract 60
- Contract Amendment for P&N Audit Services
- Contract Amendment for MV Transportation Services
- Professional Services Contract with Keystone Consultant Group
- New legal services contract with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP
The CATS Board of Commissioners approved the renewal of the RiverNorth microtransit contract and several professional service agreements. The board also accepted audit closure findings and updated existing contracts for audit and transportation services.
- Approved RiverNorth (Microtransit) Contract 60 for $1,650,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved new legal services contract with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP for $450,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved 2024 insurance policies with Stone Insurance Agency not to exceed $200,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved professional services contract with Keystone Consultant Group for $150,000.00 (8-0)
- Approved MV Transportation Services contract amendment to $1,169,456.81 (8-0)
- Approved P&N Audit Services contract amendment from $123,500 to $129,700 (8-0)
- Approved Audit Committee Closure Findings 2022-005, 007, 0011, 0014, 0022, 0024, & 0025 (8-0)
- Approved November 28, 2023, Public Hearing & Monthly Board Minutes (8-0)