Thread by @mirgray

This will be unpopular. Please read full thread before telling me off. #transit #octranspo #meeting #ottpoli 1/n

The Nov 6th #Transit Commission will be extraordinary meeting and should be treated as such. #ottpoli

This #transit meeting should NOT include public delegations. It should be committee of whole with all active councillors and the citizen commissioners. #ottpoli

It must be held in council chambers. Have Rogers Cable handle broadcast not just static cameras. We will want to see displays and faces. #ottpoli

Post presentations to YouTube channel and Twitter in real(ish) time. The TV display makes them very hard to see. #ottpoli

I propose no public delegations because it is not useful to have many individuals tell their similar stories of how #reallybigservicechange has not worked for them. #ottpoli

It isn't I don't care. I have my woes too. These emotional stories have a place. It just isn't this meeting. #ottpoli

Tell your story with details by email to your councillor. It is helpful to collect data at the ward level for specific local route adjustments. #ottpoli

The Nov 6th meeting is not about individual problems. It is about systemic issues, mitigation plans and budget implications. This are city-wide concerns, not individual concerns. #ottpoli

A public castigating of the many people in getting us to this point is not going to address any problems we have with #transit, road congestion or costs. #ottpoli

We don't have a time machine. A public inquiry into the chain of decisions that got us to Oct 20th to 25th with 9 reported significant train outages in one work week is needed but not on Nov 6th meeting. #ottpoli

The Nov 6th meeting needs special rules to be useful. Here are some suggestions. A . Set agenda by topic so ground is covered once. We have many engaged councillors and commissioners. All will want to ask specific questions. But jumping all over is not effective. #ottpoli

Here is a suggested agenda. 1. Brief report from Manconi. Max 5 minutes. 2. Report on trains - doors, computers, bogies, communication. 3. Report on switches, and dead train removal process. 4. Problems specific to Blair station. 5. Full break for lunch. #ottpoli

B. My experience is council gets hangry without lunch. In unimportant meetings, people step out briefly. Emotions will be high. Model self-care and take 30 min lunch break. #ottpoli

6. Problems specific to Tunneys.
7. Problems specific to Lyon, Rideau or Parliament . 8. Problems specific to any other station. #ottpoli

Depending on time, add a 7th inning stretch here. It's going to be a grueling meeting. #ottpoli

9. Am peak issues (shorter more intense rush) 10. Pm peak issues. 11. Communication with riders issues. 12. Challenges with bus changes. 13. Union comments 14. Other issues not yet covered. #ottpoli

C. The meeting will run more smoothly if first staff present on topic, then one designated councillor asks consolidated questions submitted by all in advance on the topic. Then new questions from councillors/commissioners. #ottpoli

The standard approach of one councillor asking all their questions then another is not workable when such a major topic is discussion. For example, the budget discussion is by area then overall.

D. For staff presentations, I would do them with 2 speakers. 1 summarizes the issues. The other discusses mitigation steps already taken and those proposed. Manconi and Scrimgeour should not do each of these. All senior folks will present.
#ottpoli

Manconi and Scrimgeour are present throughout and can address questions. But the presentations come from whole team. E. At least one train operator, senior driver, senior route planner and ambassador should be available for whole discussion. #ottpoli

E. Another unpopular idea: grant 2 union reps voice at the meeting. They have important comments and need to be part of the way forward. @atu_279 send a team committed to working together to resolve issues #ottpoli

F. Decide in advance how long the meeting will go on Nov 6th. It may be wise to book Nov 7th as well. A two day meeting is better than an 18 hour meeting. #ottpoli

G. Call a regular transit commissioner within 2 weeks. That is the time for followup on mitigation. #ottpoli

H. Open Engage Ottawa consultation to collect ideas from public. Have 3 people to triage. 311 leader, best ambassador and senior route planner. Provide brief replies like rejected because... or sent to team for consideration. #ottpoli

I. Be gentle on each other. I'm angry too about how we got here. But that is a different meeting. #ottpoli

Nov 6 is summary of facts, mitigation efforts so far and proposed and budget impact. It is not an instant fix to our every issue. #ottpoli

If your solution involves a magic wand or endless money, you are not moving the discussion forward.

Focus on near time mitigation and long term fixes. The blame game still us all angry and stick. #ottpoli

Thanks for reading. I will try to reply to tweets but I do have a day job to attend to as well.

These are the thoughts of a meeting process nerd, city hall watcher and transit nerd. Bring your expertise to the issue, not your anger.
#ottpoli