Any transit task force created by the city should involve stakeholder groups, says Jennifer Ellis, a member of the Transit Improvement Committee.

'I see it as a cooperative (move),' Ellis told city council Monday night.

She suggested various organizations throughout the city should each have a seat on the task force and be involved in developing the terms of reference for the group.

The Transit Improvement Committee is a group, independent of the city, focused on enhancing the bus system.

At Monday night's meeting, administration proposed setting up a task force to look at making improvements to the bus system in time for the 2005 budget.

Administration would also develop a terms of reference for the task force by the end of June.

As transit manager Dave Muir pointed out, council amended the 2004 budget to include $10,000 to look at options for transit earlier this year. In April, the city had meetings with stakeholder groups, the public and staff.

Among the common recommendations coming out of those meetings were:

• establishing a citizens' advisory group for continuing transit improvements;

• there be a clear statement on how important transit is for the community;

• there be a review of the route system looking at the possibility of using transit loops;

• a transit improvement strategy be developed to address short-, medium- and long-term goals; and

• there be a user-oriented service based on the principles of on-demand service that's sustainable.

Muir noted the goal for the task force would be short-term, immediately looking for improvements for 2005.

Recommendations for the budget would need to come forward in September.

'It might be a bit tight though,' Coun. Yvonne Harris of the schedule.

It would also mean that any public input the group seeks would happen through the summer when many people are out of town, Ellis argued.

'It's a very superficial (task force),' she said.

She also suggested the 2005 budget does not give enough time to come up with solutions to transit problems.

As Muir noted though, the task force would focus on some things that can be dealt with in the short term for now. The city also wants to look at long-term goals. The task force may continue to operate past the fall discussion on the 2005 budget to work on other issues if required.

Ellis suggested the task force should have a mandate for at least one year with the possibility of renewal.

Muir said the city could look at hiring a transit consultant to come up with recommendations. However, a number of groups which attended the public meetings spoke out against hiring someone from Outside, whose solutions might not work in the North.

It was also noted the city has no money in the budget for more consultants to work on the project.

As Ellis said though, any group that's established will need some money to operate and could need advice from city staff on possible recommendations.

'This work takes a lot of time,' she said.

Any task force or committee set up for transit should also have a say in the terms of reference governing the group.

'I don't agree with (that) at all,' Coun. Doug Graham told her.

Normally, the terms of reference are developed by the city before a group is formed. The group then works within the terms, Graham explained.

Coun. Bev Buckway said she agreed with her fellow councillor on the issue. She suggested producing terms of reference to get a common base for the group to focus on, she said.

Ellis argued having the task force consulted on the terms of reference would give ownership and be a gesture of good will.

She then suggested council have a roster of groups that could have seats on the task force.

There are many stakeholders who pay property taxes who need to be represented as well, Graham said.

'I am a taxpayer,' Ellis responded, adding that members of the Transit Improvement Committee are taxpayers as well.

Committee members may have their names put forward for the task force, but Graham stressed the city doesn't have to accept the names.

'Council's got to have that last say,' he said.

Council will vote on the recommendation at its meeting next week.