Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Meeting - December 9, 2016
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Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Meeting
On December 9, 2016, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) Board met to address a packed agenda, including system improvements, new staff, and a contentious fare increase proposal. After extensive public comment and deliberation, the board approved a phased fare increase for 2016, with modifications to paratransit and student passes, while deferring a second increase pending future reviews.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 through 6 were approved unanimously without public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- G4S / Procurement Policy (under General Manager's Report and Items Not on Agenda): Multiple speakers urged RT to adopt human rights criteria in contractor selection, citing G4S abuses. Speakers included Nancy Fleischer, Mikos Faberson, Maria Cornejo, Dr. Harry Wang (representing Physicians for Social Responsibility), Patricia Doherty, Jeffrey Tardigia, Rick Hodgkins, David Mandel, Farris Shields, Tim Stoddard, and Nikki Meta. They argued that RT has authority under existing UN principles and urged socially responsible procurement.
- Fare Increase (Item 11): Over 60 speakers opposed the fare increases, particularly impacts on low-income riders, seniors, and people with disabilities. Paratransit users like Scott Levington, Stacey Shaw, Thomas Hopkins, Stephanie Watts, Swami, John Marant, Helen O'Connell, Alice Kimball, Rick Hodgkins, and others testified that the proposed cap of 44 rides would force them to choose between medical appointments, work, and basic needs. Dan Allison (STAR), Maggie Coulter (individual), Delphine Brody, and others proposed alternatives such as 5% increases, transfers, and better cost control. Many speakers also criticized RT management salaries and called for bringing paratransit in-house. Some, such as Mike Barnbaum (Ride Downtown 916) and Chris Yatuma, supported the staff’s revised proposal as a necessary step toward fiscal stability.
Discussion Items
- General Manager's Report: Mike Wiley reported on state legislative changes and staff Laura Hamm updated on station improvements, homeless outreach, and cooperative union efforts. Chair Shiner provided an update on California Air Resources Board zero-emission bus regulations. Legal counsel Tim Spangler outlined ongoing analysis of human rights criteria in procurement, noting no immediate connection to G4S contract.
- Commendation and New Staff: The board commended retiring executive Mike Maddows (14 years of service) and welcomed new Assistant General Manager Henry Lee.
- New Job Descriptions (Item 10): Staff presented a cost-neutral plan to hire 25–30 transit agents (fare checkers) and part-time cleaners, funded by savings from G4S and RT police services. The plan was developed cooperatively with ATU and IBEW unions. The board approved the resolution unanimously.
- Fare Increase Proposal (Item 11): Staff (Doug Carter, Brent Berniger) presented a revised two-phase fare increase after extensive public outreach (800+ survey responses, five open houses). The original 20% one-time increase was split into 10% in FY2017 and 10% in FY2018, with modifications to paratransit and student discounts. The financial forecast showed a $23 million five-year shortfall without action. The board discussed options, including 5% increases and different paratransit caps. Directors expressed concern about ridership loss (projected 1.3 million boardings) and impacts on vulnerable populations.
Key Outcomes
- Fare Increase Motion (passed 67 votes to 33): The board approved a modified motion by Director Hansen, seconded by Director Miller, effective July 1, 2016:
- 10% increase on most fares (base fare up $0.25; discount single up $0.10).
- Paratransit monthly pass increased from $125 to $137.50 (instead of $150) with an option: 60 rides per month OR unlimited fixed-route rides plus 44 paratransit rides.
- Student free/reduced lunch pass increased from $12.50 to $15 (instead of $17.50). The board directed staff to work with school districts on a match program to offset further increases.
- The second phase (additional 10% in FY2018) was deferred. Staff will report back at the first September 2016 meeting to review financial progress and again at the November 14, 2016 meeting to assess the potential sales tax measure outcome.
- New Positions Approved: Item 10 passed, authorizing transit agents (at $16.26/hour) and part-time cleaners, with implementation pending union votes.
- Direction to Staff: Staff were asked to return with multiple options (3–5) for paratransit cost reduction, including in-house operation, contracting, and sliding-scale fares based on income.
- G4S Contract: No action taken; a separate update on the procurement policy analysis will be presented at a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Of the regional transit board. Um Mr. Barnbaum, do you want to lead us in the pledge? Everyone could please stand and join me. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for Stanis. Thanks, Mike. All right, just a couple of housekeeping items before we get started. We have a lot of people in here today, obviously, on a couple of important issues. Um we will be limiting public comment to two minutes per person, so you all know that walking in, we probably have at least two and a half hours of public comment on a couple of issues. Um just as to be clear on the the G4S, we have an update on the process, and I think repeated this about three times last meeting. We have an update on the process by Mr. Spangler today. We're not taking up the G4S contract. Um, so that is not on the agenda. You'll hear about when that will be uh coming back. And then obviously on the fair piece, uh, we have quite a few people who are going to want to speak about that as well. So with that, we'll go ahead and get started. Um call the roll. Director Budge? Here, Director Hansen, Director Harris, Director Hume, Director Jennings, Director McGlashon. Here, Director Moran, here, Director Miller, Director Natoli. Director Cerna. Here. Chair Shane. Here. 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, March 16th at 6 p.m. and replayed on March 17th at 9 o'clock a.m. on Channel 14 and webcast at WW SAC Metro Cable.tv. It is also closed caption. Members of the audience wishing to address the full board should spill out fill out a speaker's card located at the rear of the room and provide it to me, Adam, or a member of the RT staff. You will be given two minutes. Please speak into the microphone and state your name for the record. We would appreciate everyone turning off their cell phones. Thank you. With that, moving on to the consent calendar, items one through six. Okay, we don't we have no comments on that from the public. Approval. Second. Okay, I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. Set first, uh approved. I'm sorry, I'm not all here tonight either. Mr. Miller, Miss Vudge, second in that. All those in favor signify by aye. Aye. Opposed, stay in. Motion carries that 100 votes.
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