CATS board to explore restructuring options, but no vote expected

In anticipation of greater-than-usual interest in today’s CATS board meeting, the transit agency has moved the meeting location to a space that can accommodate more people. The issue that’s generating a lot of buzz is the much-anticipated report from a New Orleans-based consulting firm that will recommend a handful of restructuring options for CATS, including farming out management of the agency to a private company. But CATS board Chairman Jared Loftus says “privatization” is too strong a term to describe what will likely be in the report, which has been kept under tight wraps, adding that no vote on any sort of restructuring option will be taken this afternoon. “Privatization will not be on the table,” he says, “but I imagine that making people understand what ‘privatization’ means will be part of the conversation.” Loftus says “privatization” means turning over all the assets and liabilities of the agency to a private company, something CATS will not be considering today. Some sort of outside management contract, on the other hand, is an option that will likely be vetted in the weeks to come. Sources say several private companies will be considered for such a contract. Loftus says whatever is recommended today, the board will take it under advisement and spend several weeks discussing it in committees, executive session and future board meetings before voting on it. The CATS board meets at 4:30 p.m. at the BREC office at 6201 Florida Blvd. —Stephanie Riegel