Expired Spring Workshop 2025
- April 14, 2025 - April 16, 2025
1:00 pm - 12:00 pm
Time:
- Monday: 1pm–5pm
- Tuesday: 8am–4:30pm
- Wednesday: 8am-12pm
When you register, we will assume that you will be in attendance for all three days. If you only plan to attend for only one of the days or part of the day, please let us know so we can plan meals appropriately. If you have any accessibility needs or dietary requirements, please contact support@mnrtap.net.
Agenda
Final details are still being worked out, so it’s possible that some of the titles/descriptions may change. This page will be updated with any changes.
| 2025 Spring Workshop Agenda | |||||
| Last Updated 4/8/2025 | |||||
| Day 1 (Monday, April 14) | Day 2 (Tuesday, April 15) | Day 3 (Wednesday, April 16) | |||
| 7:45–8 | -breakfast and networking- | -breakfast and networking- | |||
| 8-8:15 |
Transit Jeopardy
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Grant Agreement Review
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| 8:15-8:30 | |||||
| 8:30-8:45 | |||||
| 8:45-9 |
Advertising on your Buses Panel
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| 9-9:15 |
Transit Facilities: Let’s Get Started
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| 9:15-9:30 | |||||
| 9:30-9:45 | |||||
| 9:45-10 | -break- | -break- | |||
| 10-10:15 |
OTAT Communications Update
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Competitive Grant Writing Made Easier and Operating Grant Deep Dive
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| 10:15-10:30 | |||||
| 10:30-10:45 | MPTA Legislative Advocacy | ||||
| 10:45-11 |
Breakout Session 2
—Marketing Procurement Guidance and Questions (Jean Meyer) —Disaster Preparedness Plans (Amy Nieland) —Drug & Alcohol Program Questions (Annette Marier) |
-facilitated stretch break- | |||
| 11-11:15 |
Competitive Grant Writing Made Easier and Operating Grant Deep Dive
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| 11:15-11:30 | |||||
| 11:30-11:45 |
-lunch-
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| 11:45-12 | |||||
| 12-12:15 | |||||
| 12:15-12:30 | |||||
| 12:30-12:45 |
Registration & Networking
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Facts about CDL and Non CDL Requirements
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| 12:45-1 | |||||
| 1-1:15 |
Introductions & Welcome
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| 1:15-1:30 |
DBE Goal Setting
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| 1:30-1:45 |
Asking for Local Support
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| 1:45-2 | |||||
| 2-2:15 | -break- | ||||
| 2:15-2:30 |
-Group Activity-
Unique Facts |
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| 2:30-2:45 | -break- | ||||
| 2:45-3 |
-Group Activity-
Transit Superlatives |
Comprehensive Review Finding Results: Updating Transit Systems’ Vehicle Maintenance Plans
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| 3-3:15 | |||||
| 3:15-3:30 | RTAP Resource Overview & LTP Info | ||||
| 3:30-3:45 |
Breakout Session 1: Hiring & Staffing
—Hiring and advertising your open positions (Cathleen Amick) —Developing a good organizational structure/staffing needs and challenges (Elizabeth Hensrud) —Retention (Cecilia Kenneh) |
Governance Structure Breakout Sessions
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| 3:45-4 | |||||
| 4-4:15 | |||||
| 4:15-4:30 | |||||
| 4:30-4:45 |
Electric Vehicles Guide
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| 4:45-5 | |||||
Session Details:
| Session Title & Description | Presenter(s) | Session Length | Audience |
| Transit Facilities: Let’s Get Started | Brien Konkol and Paul Miller | 30 min. | 5311s, 5307s |
| Grant Agreement Review What to know about your grant agreements. Contract terms, what’s changed, and what’s new. |
Chad Hermes | 1 hr. | 5311s, 5307s, Tribal Transit |
| MPTA Legislative Advocacy The 2025 Legislative Session is in full swing. MPTA is working to speak out for transit systems around the state. We will let you know the latest action impacting transit in Minnesota. |
Margaret Donahoe (MPTA) | 15 min. | All |
| Facts about CDL and Non CDL Requirements | Michael McKay and Christopher Ludgate | 45 min. | All |
| Comprehensive Review Finding Results: Updating Transit Systems’ Vehicle Maintenance Plans As a result of the comprehensive review findings, transit systems discovered there are areas in their Vehicle Maintenance Plan that are outdated or are not identified. This session will go through an updated and current Vehicle Maintenance Plan template to review the new or updated sections and to identify all the areas to meet full compliance in vehicle maintenance. A copy of the template will be released to all transit systems following the Spring Workshop. |
Jean Meyer and Gary Taft | 45 min. | 5311s |
| DBE Goal Setting Let’s talk about DBE goal setting, how it affects the public transit systems, the importance of the DBE provisions, and when, how, and by whom the provisions are completed. |
Melyssa Mdumuka (Supervisor), MnDOT Office of Civil Rights and Jean Meyer | 45 min. | All |
| Competitive Grant Writing Made Easier and Operating Grant Deep Dive *For competitive grants, we will work with agencies providing real examples and case studies to highlight successful practices. *For operating grants, we will discuss the application and supporting documentation in detail including how to make key portions consistent and clear. |
Glenn Gadbois and Noel Shughart | All | |
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Advertising on your Buses Panel Discussion on advertising on buses (including bus wraps) and using marketing to raise funds for local share. |
Panelists: Amy Nieland (CCT), Shawn Schloesser (Mankato), Bill Spitzer (Rolling Hills Transit) | 1 hr. | All |
| Asking for Local Support Facilitated group discussion about engaging your local boards and TACs, asking for money at the local level, and talking to local elected officials |
Melinda Estey, Cathleen Amick, Ted Nelson | All | |
| OTAT Communications Update | Melinda Estey | 30 min. | All |
| RTAP Resource Overview Scholarships, training calendar, and opportunities for managers and staff to participate in training |
Mariah Kathan | 15 min. | All |
| Governance Structure Breakout Sessions | CAP Agencies (Jim Wolter) County Board (Tina Neary) City (Cathleen Amick) Non-Profit (Ted Nelson) Joint Powers Authority (John Groothuis) 5307s (Ben Tomhave) Tribal Transit (Matti Gurney) Other Agency Types Based on Registrants (TBD) |
1 hr. | All |
| Electric Vehicles Guide | Rashid Mfinanga (Humphrey School of Public Affairs) | 45 min. | 5311s and 5307s |
| Breakout Session 1: Hiring & Staffing | Breakout Session Facilitators: Cathleen Amick, Elizabeth Hensrud, and Cecilia Kenneh | 45 min. | All |
| Breakout Session 2 | Breakout Session Facilitators: Amy Nieland, Jean Meyer, and Annette Marier | 45 min. | All |
Who: This workshop is for Minnesota transit agencies who receive FTA section 5311 and 5307 funding and Tribal Transit agencies. If you work with a transit system not listed above and you’d like to attend, please reach out to learn more about the agenda and if the content will be relevant for you!
Meals:Â Monday afternoon snacks will be provided. Tuesday breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks will be provided. Wednesday breakfast will be provided.
Hotel Block Information: The room block has closed, but you may still book the following hotels at their regular rates. They are connected to the venue.
Hilton Garden Inn St. Cloud: Call 320-640-7990
Residence Inn St. Cloud:Â Call 320-640-0200
Venue: Park Event Center
Venue Website: https://theparkeventcenter.com/
Address:Login to request a different date or venue for this course — or request a new course entirely.