From: Helen Banquer [hbanquer@yahoo.com]

Sent: Friday, March 09, 2012 12:36 PM

To: j.cannon@sjbparish.com; Sandra Miguez; Anedra Coleman; aharmon@wia.nocoxmail.com

Cc: Brent Petit; Petit RPTABrent; Richard Drexel; Rpta Garrick Rose

Subject: River Parishes Transit Authority Board Appointments

Hello all,

As requested, this email is to clarify the information regarding the renewal of St. John RPTA Board members and new appointee to the Board of River Parishes Transit Authority Board (RPTA). Hope this helps you may forward to the Parish Presidents, EDC in St. John and anyone else you deem necessary.

First; the reappointment's of Cindy Clarke and Helen Banquer, we have served on the board since its inception and would like to continue our service.

We started with feasibility studies and planning and now have implemented a full service demand response transit system in the River Parishes, we would like to continue our positions on the Board to develop new services and help the system grow.  As per the legislative guidelines recommendations for Cindy and myself have been submitted by St. John Business Association; with approval from the St. John Parish President, Natalie Robottom and Council we will continue our service to RPTA.

Regarding Richard Drexel's appointment as the At Large Member; The board currently is operating without an At Large Member.  The RPTA requested Mr. Drexel's appointment for several reasons. First, the previous At Large Member was from St. James Parish, with that appointment and two board appointees that gave St. James three positions on the board, while St. John and St. Charles held two each.  While St. James participates on the Board of RPTA they do not utilize RPTA's services in their parish. They decided to continue their own service since it was already in place and working. However, RPTA does have a collaborative relationship St. James to assist riders with a connection to St. James for continued transit services. Also, St. James does not provide any local funding for the RPTA. For these reasons it was decided that the At Large position should be filled by someone from either St. Charles or St. John Parish. That person while having the interest of all three River Parishes would have involvement in St. Charles and St. John Parishes and understand the needs of all parishes. Additional, the need for someone with a accounting and finance background would be an asset to the RPTA when dealing with grants, budgets, and financial matters. The Board of RPTA feels Mr. Drexel meets all of the criteria for the position. He has also been recommended by the St. John Business Association and was verbally approved by St. James and was scheduled to be on the agenda for approval. With the approval of Parish Presidents Natalie Robottom and VJ St. Pierre and their Councils he could join the board of RPTA.

On behalf of the Board of RPTA we respectfully request these appointments be filled as soon as possible as there some pending business to conduct.

Thanks for you consideration in this matter, please feel free to call me with any questions or Garrick Rose, Transportation Planner with South Central Planning and Development at 504-214-4808 is also available for more information. 

Helen Banquer, Vice Chair, RPTA

504-559-3785