Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - December 9, 2016
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Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - December 9, 2016
The meeting was called to order at 3:11 PM UTC (approximately 7:11 AM PST) on December 9, 2016. The board addressed consent calendar items, heard public comments, and discussed key operational and strategic matters. The meeting included the appointment of a new General Manager/CEO, adoption of a transition vision, and an operating budget update. The meeting was adjourned in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Consent Calendar (Items 1-10)
- Approved routine items, including two items with public comment: Item 8 (mobile fare application and fare machines) and Item 9 (waiver of advertising requirement for a bid at the Gold River site).
- Public speakers raised concerns about the mobile app's reliability, noting dead spots at Sacramento Valley Station and the Convention Center, and questioned the lack of thorough testing. Another speaker inquired about the reasons for waiving the advertising requirement and requested notification to other bidders.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Arthur Kitterling (public comment on non-agenda items): Requested that RT continue Sunday service on Route 28 and Route 95, citing schedule changes and inadequate service for riders, especially on weekends.
- Mike Barnbaum (public comment on non-agenda items): Provided information about upcoming meetings: the Transit Coordinating Committee (June 15, 9 AM at SACOG), the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (10 AM at City Council Chambers), and the Rail Yard Specific Plan open house (6 PM at Cecopolis Library Galleria). He also highlighted the importance of these forums for public input.
- Maggie Coulter/Delphine Catcart (public comment during service changes discussion): Expressed concerns about proposed service changes, noting that the discussion had been canceled, but used the opportunity to speak on behalf of Sacramento Transit Advocates and Riders (STAR). STAR urged the board to take no action on fare increases or service cuts until an independent forensic audit is completed and to allow new CEO Henry Lee time to assess the situation.
- Jeff Tardiga (speaker on Item 8): Criticized RT's rushed implementation of the mobile fare app without adequate testing, citing signal issues in thick-walled buildings and lack of public engagement. He claimed RT prioritized revenue over rider needs.
- Ramey Osborne (speaker on Item 9): Represented a bidder on the Gold River site and questioned why the advertising requirement was waived without notifying other bidders.
Discussion Items
- Item 11: Appointment of General Manager/CEO: The board approved the appointment of Henry Lee as General Manager/CEO, effective July 1, 2017. A roll call vote resulted in passage with one abstention (Director Slowe). The board thanked the search committee and outgoing General Manager Mike Spangler for his service.
- Item 13: Resolution Adopting a Transition Vision: Presented by Doug Carter, the resolution outlined goals for service quality, fiscal sustainability, leadership, cultural changes, and partnerships (including the Golden 1 Center). The business community expressed support. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Item 14: Information Operating Budget Update: Presented by Henry Lee, the update detailed necessary workforce reductions (including administrative leave, severance, and COBRA) to achieve long-term sustainability. Board members acknowledged the difficulty but supported the balance between cost-cutting and maintaining service, and encouraged further dialogue with AFSCME on alternatives.
- Item 15: Paratransit Inc. Board Meeting Summary: No additional report.
- Item 16: San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority Meeting Summary: Director Hume noted a summer promotion offering half-price companion fares on the San Joaquin trains, and Mike Barnbaum added that the July 22 meeting in Oakland would celebrate the new Bakersfield-Oakland round trip.
Key Outcomes
- Appointed Henry Lee as General Manager/CEO (effective July 1, 2017).
- Adopted the transition vision resolution.
- Acknowledged the operating budget update and workforce reduction plan.
- Adjourned the meeting in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, with a statement of pride in Sacramento's community response.
- No formal votes were taken on public comment requests or the budget update (information item).
Meeting Transcript
And call the meeting to order. Um thank you. That was good. Want to do the pledge first, or do you want to call the roll? I'll call the roll. There you go. Director Budge? Director Hansen. Director Harris. Hanson is here. He's just stepped down the hall for a minute. Okay. Director Hume? Director Jennings? Director McGlashan? Director Morin? Here. Director Slowe is in for Director Miller. Director Natoli. Direct. Thank you. Director Cerna? Here. Chair Shane. I I'm actually here and sitting here. Me too. You good? And in the door comes Director Hansen. With that, we have a quorum at 100 votes. This meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast without interruption on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel, and will be streamed live on RT's website. Tonight's meeting will air on Wednesday, June 15th at 6 p.m. and replayed on Thursday, June 16th. I'm sorry, before I said June 16th. And replayed on Thursday, June 16th at 6 on Channel 14. And webcast at WWSAC Metro Cable dot TV. It is also closed caption. Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to me or Adam. Please speak into the microphone and state your name for the record. We would appreciate everyone turning off their cell phones. Thank you. Okay. Great, thank you. Mr. Wiley, would you like to lead us in the pledge? Please salute my United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Thank you. All right. On the calendar, consent calendar items one through ten. Do we do public comment first?
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