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Home My WebLink AboutFAC Charter_Page 1 FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHARTER January 1, 2008 Who we are: Ferry Advisory Committees (FAC) are standing committees representing community interests in areas served by Washington State Ferries (WSF). Committee members must reside in the areas served by their respective ferry terminals; they are appointed by county/local governments and serve four-year terms. What we do, and who we do it for: Our miss ion is to advise WSF on ferry issues in general and in specific on the following: pricing policies and fares; operations, changes in service levels, route changes, market surveys and long-range planning. We promote communications by providing a mechanism for customer involvement and recommendations in the decision-making process on the issues that directly affect ferry services. What roles we play: Ferry Advisory Committees: FAC Chairperson: ◇ Arrange and conduct meetings including room arrangements and media notifications. ◇ Submit written agenda items at Executive Council Meetings prior to FAC community outreach meetings. ◇ Attend or appoint a representative for Executive Council Meetings. ◇ Maintain Committee documentation. ◇ Coordinate Committee actions with appointing authorities. ◇ Monitor action items/assignments. ◇ Encourage full participation. ◇ Serve as contact point for communication between Committee and WSF Management. ◇ Meet with other Chairs and Co-Chairpersons to share information. ◇ Coordinate Committee functions with the WSF facilitator as needed. ◇ Chair FAC Public Meetings with WSF. ◇ Will be elected annually during the regular FAC meeting in April. FAC Co-Chairperson: ◇ Perform Chairperson's responsibilities when Chairperson is unavailable. ◇ Assist in Chairperson's responsibilities. ◇ Elected annually during the regular FAC meeting in April. FAC Member: ◇ Support positions adopted by the Committee. ◇ Interact with ferry users, solicit their input, and communicate comments and concerns to the FAC Chairperson. ◇ Recommend improvement opportunities. ◇ Use data to support requested improvements. ◇ Volunteer to participate in projects. WSF Management and the FAC: ◇ Request input from Committees on issues that affect or impact ferry service and facilities. ◇ Request specific data gathering by the FAC to inform WSF about community related issues. ◇ Provide feedback to the Committees on issues where Committees have provided input or presented request s. ◇ Support training for Chairs, Co-Chairs, and Committee members when appropriate. ◇ Consider changes to service and facilities as appropriate based on public input. ◇ Respond in a timely manner to FAC requests for information. ◇ Keep FACs advised of matters affecting ferry operations, service or fares. Page 2 ◇ Respond to the FACs regarding concerns identified by riders on their respective routes and provide direction as appropriate for FAC action. Executive Council of the Ferry Advisory Committees: The council will meet with WSF a minimum of three times per year, including in the months before FAC Community Outreach Meetings, or as requested. Executive Council Chairperson: ◇ Draft agendas in consultation with WSF and Committee Chairs. ◇ Monitor action items/assignments. ◇ Encourage full participation. ◇ Serve as a contact point for communication between Executive Council and WSF Management. ◇ Meet with other Chairs and Co-Chairs to share information. ◇ Seek support from WSF facilitator as needed. o Chairs will be elected annually during the Executive Committee meeting in February. Executive Council Co-Chairperson: ◇ Perform all Chairperson responsibilities when Chairperson is unavailable. ◇ Assist in Chairperson's responsibilities. ◇ Elected annually during the Executive Council meeting in February. Executive Council Member: ◇ Support positions adopted by the Council. ◇ Interact with ferry users, solicit their input, and communicate comments and concerns to the Executive Council. ◇ Recommend improvement opportunities. ◇ Use data to support requested improvements. ◇ Volunteer to participate in projects. Executive Council WSF Facilitator: ◇ Provide facilitation and consulting to Council and WSF Management. ◇ Compile meeting agendas and minutes. ◇ Maintain rosters and attendance lists. ◇ Provide coaching to WSF Management and FAC to effectively work together. ◇ Assists with submitted information requests to WSF Management. WSF Management: ◇ Request input from Council on issues that affect or impact ferry service and facilities. ◇ Provide feedback to the Council on issues where FACs have provided input or presented requests. ◇ Coordinate three annual Executive Council meetings, including meeting location and refreshments. ◇ Keep the Executive Council advised in a timely manner of planned system changes and changes under consideration. ◇ Where feasible, ask the FACs to provide representation in processes that will result in significant changes affecting ferry users. ◇ Request support from the Executive Council and local FACs to address issues as appropriate. How we intend to accomplish our mission -Executive Council Executive Council Membership ◇ The FAC Chair, FAC Co-Chair or FAC Member, as appointed by the FAC Chair of each Committee. ◇ Ad hoc members will address specific issues as decided by the Council. Executive Council Meetings ◇ FAC Chairs and/or Co-Chairpersons attend meetings. ◇ Any and all FAC Members are welcome at all Executive Council meetings, but it should be understood that only the Chair, Co-Chair or designated representative may represent the Committee and individual members in attendance are not representing or speaking on behalf of their committee. Page 3 ◇ Meetings are to provide a forum to discuss the agenda. ◇ The Council will meet with WSF three times per year in the month before FAC Community Outreach Meetings. ◇ Meeting dates to be established by WSF and Executive Council Chairperson in November of each calendar year. All FACs shall be informed of the meeting schedule/location by WSF. ◇ Meetings are open to the public and are held in ADA accessible facilities. Executive Council Meeting Minutes ◇ Minutes will be taken at all meetings by the facilitator. ◇ Minutes will reflect all action items/assignments, presentations, and define projects discussed and/or undertake n. ◇ Minutes will not reflect personal judgment of Chairpersons or Members. ◇ Minutes will be distributed to all Council Members, Chairs of each FAC, and WSF staff after approval by the Executive Council. Executive Council Meeting Agendas ◇ Agendas will contain topics for the Council that were submitted through their Chairs and WSF topics submitted through the facilitator and those items identified in the prior Executive Committee Meeting. ◇ Agendas will be distributed to members and WSF staff prior to the meetings. Requests for Information ◇ Council requests for information from WSF Management will be responded to in a coordinated and efficient manner. o WSF may request information from the FAC and the FAC shall respond as soon as practical. How we intend to accomplish our mission - Ferry Advisory Committees FAC Membership Members are appointed by their county commissioners or community council. FAC members are obligated to coordinate their actions with those appointing authorities. Currently RCW 47.60.310 sets forth the number of members, membership criteria and terms of members, as summarized in the following: ◇ San Juan, Skagit, Clallam and Jefferson Counties have five members each. The legislative authorities of other counties that contain ferry terminals shall appoint FACs consisting of three members for each terminal area in each county. Vashon/Maury Island has one committee and at least one shall be a member of an established ferry user group or a frequent user of the ferry system. ◇ Members of each terminal committee shall be appointed for four year terms. ◇ Members shall reside in the vicinity of the terminal represented by the committee. ◇ Vacancies will be filled by the appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. FAC Meetings ◇ Each Committee will meet at least quarterly throughout the calendar year. ◇ Chair and/or Co-Chairpersons will attend Executive Council meetings. ◇ Meetings are to provide a forum to discuss service and policy issues and to solicit public input. ◇ Meeting dates to be established by Committee Chairs and Co-Chairpersons in November of each calendar year. ◇ Meetings are open to the public and are held in ADA accessible facilities. FAC Meeting Minutes ◇ Minutes will be taken at all meetings. ◇ Minutes will reflect all action items/assignments, presentations, and define projects discussed and/or undertaken FAC Community Outreach Meetings ◇ Agendas will contain topics from the affected Committees that were submitted through their Chairs, and WSF topics submitted through the facilitator. ◇ Agendas will be distributed to members, media, commissioners, citizens and WSF staff one week prior to the meetings. ◇ There shall be adequate public notification of the time, date, location and general topics being discussed at the meeting. ◇ Meetings shall allow opportunity for public comment, verbal or written, on issues being discussed and a period allowed for topics from the public not on the agenda. ◇ Meetings will be co-chaired by the local FAC Chair and the facilitator. Page 4 ◇ Meetings shall be held three times a year for each travel shed and shall include issues relative to the routes and communities involved. ◇ The WSF facilitator shall take minutes to reflect all action items/assignments, presentations, and a summary of public input. ◇ Meetings shall be at an ADA accessible location. Page 5