Resolution three Transit Employee Appreciation Day

35:18Rest three.

35:25Resolution number 25, 145, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, observing Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as National Transit Employee Appreciation Day in Pasco County. Whereas March 18th was selected as National Transit Employee Appreciation Day in commemoration of the very first bus line launched in Paris in 1662 called Cares Al-Sigsoul. And

35:56whereas the American Public Transportation Association and its partners celebrate Transit Employee Appreciation Day. On March 18th, 2025, and whereas transit bus operators, mechanics, supervisors, maintenance staff, station agents, and customer service representatives keep our communities moving no matter the circumstances, and should be recognized for outstanding contributions in planning, building, maintaining, and delivering safe, reliable, and courteous

36:26transportation service. And whereas the bus operators and support staff of the Pasco County Public Transportation are the backbone of GoPasco in providing equitable. public transportation in Pasco County and whereas GoPasco employees navigate public transportation smoothly, safely, and effectively. And whereas GoPasco bus operators who work beyond the call of duty, especially during Pasco County emergency operations, deserve

36:57to be recognized for their extraordinary efforts. And whereas transit agencies around the country are taking the shared opportunity to honor their workforce on National Transit Employee Appreciation Day, showing their gratitude to the industry's dedicated employees through kind words, gestures of appreciation, and by actively promoting the use of public transportation. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that the said board hereby

37:27observes Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as National Transit Employee Appreciation Day in Pasco County, and expresses its sincere gratitude for the prep professionalism and dedication of transit employees. The border encourages all citizens to thank their bus operators and engage on social media using the hashtag hashtag Transit Employee Appreciation Day. Dun and resolved in regular session with a quorum president voting this eleventh day of March

37:572025. Approval. Second.

38:01All in favor? Aye.

38:03Aye.

38:03Um I want to welcome you here, but I think there are more. So if you would also have a lot of people who are not sure transit folks would come up, that would be awesome. And stand there behind the podium.

38:13So good morning, Commissioner Oakley Paulo Recology Support Services here with Annette Orlanding, our operations manager, representing our assistant county administrator, uh, Kathy Pearson, who could not be with us today. Proudly standing here with the GoPasco team, supporting our bus operators who are the backbone of the services. That they provide to the community. And so with that, I'll leave it to Annette to share a few words about the team. Thank you.

38:34I want to sincerely thank you, Commissioners, for recognizing Transit Day and acknowledging all the vital role public transportation has in our community. And I want to thank all of the people behind me from bus operators, supervisors, superintendents. Safety, um, who make all this happen every day. Thank you.

38:55That's awesome. And how and how many people do you have in your department? Do you know offhand?

39:00Um we have 180.

39:02180?

39:04120. 120. Yeah, 120.

39:07Wonderful. Um well I'll let my other commissioner speak and then I'll speak. So anyone else want to say anything about

39:13I certainly appreciate the work y'all do. It's not an easy job. I know that y'all do a very good job servicing our citizens all over the county. So I certainly appreciate that.

39:24Commissioner Yeager.

39:25Yes, I just want to say thank you. Um you guys were amazing, especially during the storm. I would call last minute and say, Hey, I've got a bunch of people and you guys would go pick them up or and you even were willing to stay late. Like truly your dedication to your job just comes through and I appreciate that so much for everything you guys do in our community. So thank you.

39:47Commissioner Mariano?

39:54Get 'em to where they gotta go, so it's very important. And I'm just disappointed you only got a day, you should get a whole week.

40:01Mr. Wait.

40:03Moving people It's not easy, let alone driving, keeping your head on a swivel, keeping yourself safe, keeping your ridership safe. You know, it's a lot going on, a lot to think about when you're doing your job for your safety and the safety of our ridership. And it's a big job that you do. And uh thank you all for for choosing to to work in this department and providing the service uh to the folks of Pasco County.

40:28You know, um, I grew up part of my life in Cal Northern California And fifth, sixth and seventh grade. I lived in the hills above Oakland. It's called Montclair, Piedmont, this area. and we looked out over the Bay and San Francisco where I was I was born in, Redwood City. And uh I literally Took the bus with the girlfriend. It must have been eleven? Then? To San Francisco to get my ears pierced.

40:57No. Yeah. I mean they weren't with me. Uh, but one of my friends had gotten her ears pierced at this jewelry shop and so that's where I went. And um I also used to take the bus with my friends downtown Oak to downtown Oakland to the library. to work on class projects. I mean I also took the bus just with my brother and sister. From Phoenix, Arizona. To Southern California. And my dad would just say to the bus driver, keep an eye on

41:27them. Yeah. I mean Yeah, crazy stuff that no one would do for their parents today. But uh kids today, no parents. Um but here I am, I I survived it all. So I I have yes, go ahead. Whenever you're done. Well I'm just saying I I um used the bus a lot in my youth and and as uh now vice chair of the TMA Um it is our responsibility in the Tampa Bay area to find a transit solution. for our crowded roads. And if you think they're crowded now, just wait.

41:57So it's very, very important that we figure out this this solution and we move people more efficiently than the way we're doing these days. So Mr. Karbala.

42:07Thank you, ma'am. Yeah, I would just like to just to add on to that. Mobility is central to our economy. I mean, if we cannot move people, goods and services, things just don't happen. So I'm always in awe at how you guys pull it off in terms of of scheduling and getting to places on time and getting getting folks moved around. It's it's absolutely amazing work. So just thank you. Like Jack, I think you should get a whole week. But uh good day and uh but but thank you. Thank you for the hard work that you do and and you know and the things that you have to put up with. I know

42:37there's there's certain things that that come with the job, but uh you guys uh handle it like yeomen and and and get it done. So thank you for that.

42:43Yeah, thank you. I I don't think I've ever had a complaint from the any any issue with the bus our Go Pasco, so um Thank you so much. There's so many of you. I think I will come down myself and board members stand behind and we'll Yeah, they're near Well I I I have

43:08Front center.

43:12I don't know what you're gonna do.

43:17As much as we could

43:19count the

43:19attorney.

43:32You have to write it, yeah.

43:57It goes with the frame of stuff?

44:02You want this match here? No.

44:06You really want to stand in front of this bus?

44:11Now you're good.

44:38Uh what are we on? Four?