Sacramento Transportation Authority Board Meeting - October 16, 2024

The Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA) governing board met on October 16, 2024, at 11:43 AM (call to order). A quorum was established with members Terry, Rodriguez, and Desmond absent. The meeting adjourned at 2:24 PM. Key actions included prioritizing SB1 grant applications, approving the fiscal year 2023-2024 transportation mitigation fee program and budget, authorizing staff to pursue state legislative modernization, and creating a temporary subcommittee to explore a future transportation funding measure.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3-7 were approved unanimously by voice vote (motion by von Sweden, second by Maple). Specific consent items were not individually discussed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Allison (Sacramento resident) commented on:
  • Item 8 (SB1 prioritization): Expressed no strong preference but criticized the I Street Bridge as an expensive "trophy bridge" and urged caution on hydrogen fuel cells for SACRT, noting hydrogen technology is immature and green hydrogen is expensive and scarce.
  • Item 11 (Legislative changes): Supported modernization of STA’s statutory authority, stating it is a partial movement toward including non-traditional transportation solutions (e.g., housing) and noting polling for the Steinberg proposal was more favorable than prior measures.
  • Item 12 (Subcommittee creation): Supported forming a subcommittee, emphasizing the need to address past opposition from transportation advocates and to create a progressive, innovative measure.

Discussion Items

• Executive Director’s Report (Item 2): Kevin Busey reported:
  • SACOG’s regional priorities include 11 STA-prioritized projects (e.g., I Street Bridge, Stockton Boulevard Phase 2).
  • The Measure A Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee (ITOC) reviewed four capital projects in 2024; STA staff met with the Sacramento Taxpayers Association to discuss safeguards.
  • SACRT is transitioning Smart Ride microtransit service to a lower-cost model due to fiscal challenges; a grant amendment will come to the board.
• SB1 Cycle 4 Local Partnership Program Prioritization (Item 8):
  • Staff explained the competitive process (up to $25M per project, 1:1 match). Two projects nominated: I Street Bridge ($25M) and “Transforming the Sacramento Region” ($17.6M, partnership with SACRT, Citrus Heights, etc.).
  • An unofficial poll ranked projects: members voted 9 to 3 (with one abstention) for Transforming the Sacramento Region as priority 1 and I Street Bridge as priority 2. The ranking was confirmed by roll call vote.
  • Discussion clarified that the City of Sacramento could submit the I Street Bridge independently as its own priority.
• Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (Item 9): Dustin Pierrington presented the FY 2023-2024 annual report, showing fee collections and balances by jurisdiction. Approved by voice vote.
• Budget Performance Review & Amendment (Item 10): Staff presented budget-to-actuals for FY 2023-2024. Notable variances: sales tax revenue up 2.2%, development mitigation fees increased significantly, capital program underspent. Budget amendments were approved by voice vote.
• Legislative Changes (Item 11):
  • Staff proposed creating a new section of the Public Utilities Code to modernize STA’s authority (current law dates to 1987). Key updates: allow VMT mitigation, transit-oriented development, and flexibility in taxable areas (not necessarily countywide).
  • Board member Maple supported nimbleness; member Karpinski Costa questioned carve-out jurisdictions. Hume requested seeing specific language before final adoption.
  • Motion to direct staff to explore legislation and return with draft language passed by voice vote (unanimous, with Hume clarifying support for exploration only).
• Creation of Temporary Subcommittee (Item 12):
  • Staff reviewed challenges of past measures (lack of public awareness, opposition, two-thirds vote threshold). Recommended a 7-member subcommittee to assess whether to pursue a new measure and recommend timeline, community engagement, and principles.
  • Board member Frost opposed, citing existing tax burdens and lack of visible results. Others (Maple, Karpinski Costa) expressed interest in serving. Chair will select members with geographic diversity.
  • Motion to create the subcommittee passed by voice vote, with Frost opposed.

Key Outcomes

• SB1 Prioritization: The board approved (roll call: 9 ayes, 3 noes [Talamantes, Valenzuela, Chair Gietta], 1 abstention [Maple]) to rank “Transforming the Sacramento Region” as priority 1 and I Street Bridge as priority 2 for the November grant application.
• Transportation Mitigation Fee Program (Item 9): Approved by voice vote.
• Budget Amendment (Item 10): Approved by voice vote.
• Legislative Exploration (Item 11): Staff directed to draft modernizing legislation, including provisions for VMT mitigation and flexible taxing areas, and to bring language back to the board before any bill is introduced. The fiscal year 2024-2025 budget was amended to fund professional services for this effort (approved by voice vote).
• Subcommittee Creation (Item 12): A temporary 7-member subcommittee formed (motion by Cerna, second by Rodriguez). The subcommittee will study the feasibility of a new transportation funding measure and report back. Chair will appoint members, considering geographic diversity.