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Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Meeting - December 9, 2016

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Friday, December 9, 2016
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateFriday, December 9, 2016
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:27

Good evening everyone.

0:28

I want to call this meeting of the regional transit board such as it is to uh order.

0:34

Cindy, you want to call the roll.

0:37

Certainly.

0:40

Director Sander, you're all the way toward the end of the Director Cerna.

0:49

Okay.

0:51

Director Sander.

0:52

Director Hanson.

0:54

Director Harris.

0:56

Director Hume.

0:57

Director Jennings is marked as being absent.

1:00

Director McGlashin.

1:02

Director Moran is marked as being absent.

1:05

Director Miller.

1:07

Director Natoli.

1:10

Director Cerna?

1:11

Here.

1:12

And Chair Shaneer.

1:13

Here.

1:14

With it, that, excuse me, we have a quorum at 88 votes.

1:21

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.

1:34

Tonight's meeting will air on Wednesday, July 27th at 6 p.m.

1:38

and replayed on Friday, July 29th at noon on Channel 14 and webcast at WWW SAC Metro Cable dot TV.

1:49

It is also closed caption.

1:51

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.

1:59

Please speak into the microphone and state your name for the record.

2:03

We would appreciate everyone turning off their cell phones.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

All right.

2:08

Uh Mr.

2:09

Harris, do you want to lead us in the pledge?

2:15

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice are all.

2:35

Actually, we have public addresses the board on matters not on the agenda first.

2:38

Oh yes, this we do.

2:40

Um Mr.

2:41

Tardi Gia.

2:42

You would be up first, then Mr.

2:43

Barnbaum and Mr.

2:44

Kettering.

2:46

Ketterling.

2:50

Thank you.

2:57

Um Jeff Tardiya.

2:59

Uh three things that I want to address the board about is one you are in to the new fare increases.

3:07

And again, um did the board notice that it's more than 10% um for uh your single ridership uh in your cost.

3:18

Uh again, I bring that up because if you want proposition to pass, this board needs to be supportive of that, you know, when you say 10%, that indeed that's what you mean.

3:31

For the single rider, a new writer, you now are c it costs more money individually than those that are consistent and basic writers.

3:41

The other thing that's for the city, and particularly I speak to Jeff and Steve, is one of the things that for more than five years that has failed to happen is you still have on all maps the old Greyhound station.

3:57

There is no maps that show anywhere that the you're out at Richard's Boulevard.

4:02

The other thing that might be something that might with this regional transit board generate some income is if you consider the possibility of putting a 15 bus stop there by the Sacramento Sacramento Valley Station area.

4:17

It's not necessarily a great place because people race down there, but I have had most weekends that somebody comes to that area, Sacramento Valley Station, and say, how do I get to Greyhound?

4:30

And again, there is no kiosh, and today you're going to be in going into about preparations and other things for the arena.

4:38

And there is nothing that explains about RT at that station.

4:44

And of course at that station, it also where you guys this last year or two have issued where the should we say one place you pick up a ticket is not for buses.

4:56

And yet you have the 30 leaving from there.

5:00

So people buy a ticket, they can't use it.

5:03

Fortunately for the arena, that won't be too difficult.

5:06

And the sign up there will post it, so you just get on the light rail and not trying to go 30, but it's an unintentional consequences of this board's actions.

5:18

The last thing I will bring up is you're working on the arena so thoughtful and everything else is how long is it going to take for some plan to be designated with the I-80 elevator issue.

5:32

It's breaking down consistently, just like our old, shall we say, um, light rail, where I don't know how many times do you have any idea how many times, board members, that the light rail has been broken down and out to how many bus shuttle services have had to be employed, as well as bus shuttle services at I-80 for the elevator, much less how much it's cost you in expenses.

6:00

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transit█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Public Engagement████████10%
Budget and Finance████████9%
Public Safety███████8%
Transportation Safety████5%
Paratransit███4%
Procedural███3%
General Manager Report███3%
Personnel Matters███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Meeting - December 9, 2016

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) Board of Directors met on December 9, 2016. (Note: The meeting transcript indicates proceedings from mid-2016, but the assigned date is December 9, 2016.) The meeting featured detailed reports on system cleanliness, security enhancements, fiscal sustainability, and preparations for the Golden 1 Center arena opening. The board unanimously approved the consent calendar (items 1-13) and heard public comments on multiple agenda items.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1 through 13 were approved unanimously via motion by Mr. Harris and second by Mr. Hanson. Public comment was heard on items 5, 6, and 12, after which the board voted.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jeff Tardiya (first speaker on non-agenda items) raised three points: (1) The new fare increases exceed 10% for single riders, which he argued contradicts the board's message of support for Proposition; (2) RT maps still show the old Greyhound station location, not the new Richard's Boulevard stop, and there is no kiosk at Sacramento Valley Station; (3) The I-80 elevator breaks down frequently, and light rail also experiences breakdowns requiring costly bus shuttle services. He later spoke on arena readiness, urging that the entire system (e.g., Arden Del Paso station) be cleaned, not just downtown, and suggested inspecting air conditioning temperature settings to save costs.
  • Mike Barnbaum (Ride Downtown 916) reported on the July 22 San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority board meeting, including approval of September as Rail Safety Month, selection of Fresno as mid-corridor start/end, support for transportation sales tax measures (including Sacramento County Measure B), and food service updates. He later noted plans to meet with Capitol Corridor about Golden 1 Center readiness, a schedule change for the last westbound train (departing at 10:30 p.m. starting August 22), and urged expanded bus service (routes 30, 51, 2, 6, 62) for arena events, not just light rail.
  • Mr. Ketterling asked about the general manager's reported plan for light rail every 12 minutes after arena events, and whether buses would also see frequency increases. The GM clarified the focus is on moving customers from stations quickly, with a full briefing later in the meeting.
  • Russell Rawlings (Oak Park resident, RT rider) spoke on consent items 5, 6, and 12: (Item 5) Urged the board to keep the provision allowing ADA attendants to ride paratransit for free; (Item 6) Commended the revision of Mr. Spangler's contract to reduce costs; (Item 12) Supported hiring an auditor but cautioned that new operations officers should focus on system rebuilding, not exclusive arena projects, and criticized the “choice rider” concept as discriminatory.

Discussion Items

  • General Manager's Report (Henry Lee)

    • Recognized retiring Director of Procurement Randy Miller, whose position will be eliminated after 17 years, saving nearly $200,000 annually, with savings redirected to service areas.
    • Recently eliminated five director-level positions and used savings to create a Deputy COO role.
    • Presented awards to community volunteer ambassadors Jeff Tardiya and Mike Barnbaum for their tireless advocacy.
    • Announced a $36,000 Homeland Security grant to enhance anti-terrorism capabilities.
    • Reported successful implementation of the new fare structure since July 1, with no major complaints.
    • Highlighted outreach to stakeholders (peer agencies, advocacy groups, unions) and collaborative meetings with the ATU union, including 19 recommendations from AEA leadership.
    • Noted $1.2 million in additional grant funding secured, with another $2 million expected.

  • Cleanliness and Maintenance Updates

    • Mark Lonergan (COO) presented “Back to Transit Basics” focusing on safe, clean, reliable service:
      • Light rail vehicle (LRV) cleaning: Staffing increased by 120% to 10 cleaners, now cleaning 69-76 LRVs nightly and adding midday cleaning. Vinyl seat conversion nearly complete. A customer survey (July 8) showed 33% of respondents noticed improved interior cleanliness. Detailed cleaning of Siemens and Calf vehicles (30 years old) produces dramatic results, though exterior issues remain due to aging paint, adhesive residue, and carbon dust. A vinyl wrap program (including art wraps and sponsored wraps) is progressing through the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission. A lower-paid cleaner position is being negotiated with IBEW to replace seasonal workers.
      • Greg Gamble reported on station cleaning: Staff increased by one-third, daytime cleaning added for public visibility, new equipment ordered (30-60 days out), deep cleaning (power washing, chemical treatment) at stations like 16th Street and Watt/I-80 produces marked improvements. Structural impediments (walls, plants) being addressed. Customers are noticing and providing positive feedback.
      • Director Hanson suggested exploring partnerships with property-based improvement districts and community volunteer days to accelerate landscaping and cleaning.

  • Security and Transit Agents (Norm Leon)

    • New transit agent program with ATU: 25 new hires, 400% increase in staffing, 400% increase in inspections, 600% increase in citations. Positive feedback on presence and professionalism.
    • Beginning August 1, all trains will have coverage (half in mornings, 15 of 18 in afternoons, all in evenings). 69% of survey respondents noticed increased inspections.
    • Some riders complain of over-inspection; lanyards for regular riders being considered.
    • Crime stats: Thefts down 34% year-to-date (42% since 2014), 52% arrest rate for thefts. Navigator program placed 8 homeless individuals into housing.
    • Mobile app for reporting nuisance/crime being tested internally, planned public rollout.
    • Officers will focus more on bus routes and stops.
    • Paid fare zone at stations: mixed reviews, data collection underway to measure effectiveness.

  • Fiscal Sustainability Report (Laura L. and Brent)

    • FY16 ridership down 4.9% year-over-year; fare revenue down 1.2% ($1.9 million below budget). Farebox recovery ratio: 20% (down from 21.3% in FY15).
    • Preliminary FY16 budget results: $3 million loss (positive expense variance of $500,000, but revenue shortfall of $3.5 million). Operating reserve drawn down to $4.2 million.
    • Historical trends: Revenues grew at 3.9% vs. expenses at 5.6% over four years, depleting reserves from $8 million to projected $1.2 million.
    • Future forecast: Without cost controls, expenses will continue to outpace revenues, including $5.5 million annual debt service for the 2012 bond ($86 million, callable in 2020).
    • General Manager Lee acknowledged the structural deficit and promised to bring solutions in the next 6-12 months.

  • Golden 1 Center Readiness (Laura L.)

    • Arena opens October 4, 2016 (67 days away), 17,500 capacity, 45 Kings games, 125 other events.
    • RT will run 15-minute frequency before/after events, with six additional trains (two extra per direction) for post-event surge, operating for about an hour after events end.
    • Key park-and-ride stations identified (Roseville Road, Sunrise, Watt/Manlove, Franklin, Florin) with 10,000 total spaces.
    • Downtown stations (7th & Capitol, 8th & K, 9th & K) receiving over $1 million in upgrades (lighting, cameras, signage, fare equipment). 16th Street station to get mural and short-term upgrades.
    • Additional staff deployed for customer assistance; coordination with city, SACOG, Uber/Lyft, and downtown partnership.
    • Contingency planning includes bus bridge and communication plan for service disruptions.

  • Paratransit Inc. Board Report (Directors Hume and Natoli)

    • Director Hume and Councilmember Harris attended a meeting with Stanford Settlement and Sister Jean to discuss fare changes and CAP limitation on paratransit trips. The meeting was productive, with give-and-take about trip efficiencies and combining trips to reduce costs.

  • Reports from Directors

    • Director Hanson noted that the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority board meeting lacked a quorum and came one vote short on a regional benefit item; he urged the board to consider adding a second alternate to ensure voting power.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent calendar (items 1-13) was approved unanimously.
  • No formal votes were taken on the substantive reports; the board received information and provided direction to staff on cleaning, security, fiscal sustainability, and arena preparation.
  • Staff committed to continuing cleaning improvements, negotiating cleaner positions, monitoring budget, and developing a plan to address the structural deficit.
  • The board will receive regular updates on Golden 1 Center readiness and performance metrics.
  • The meeting adjourned to closed session for public employee performance evaluation (chief counsel), with no report expected.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening everyone. I want to call this meeting of the regional transit board such as it is to uh order. Cindy, you want to call the roll. Certainly. Director Sander, you're all the way toward the end of the Director Cerna. Okay. Director Sander. Director Hanson. Director Harris. Director Hume. Director Jennings is marked as being absent. Director McGlashin. Director Moran is marked as being absent. Director Miller. Director Natoli. Director Cerna? Here. And Chair Shaneer. Here. With it, that, excuse me, we have a quorum at 88 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, July 27th at 6 p.m. and replayed on Friday, July 29th at noon on Channel 14 and webcast at WWW SAC 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. All right. Uh Mr. Harris, do you want to lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice are all. Actually, we have public addresses the board on matters not on the agenda first. Oh yes, this we do. Um Mr. Tardi Gia. You would be up first, then Mr. Barnbaum and Mr. Kettering. Ketterling. Thank you. Um Jeff Tardiya. Uh three things that I want to address the board about is one you are in to the new fare increases. And again, um did the board notice that it's more than 10% um for uh your single ridership uh in your cost. Uh again, I bring that up because if you want proposition to pass, this board needs to be supportive of that, you know, when you say 10%, that indeed that's what you mean. For the single rider, a new writer, you now are c it costs more money individually than those that are consistent and basic writers. The other thing that's for the city, and particularly I speak to Jeff and Steve, is one of the things that for more than five years that has failed to happen is you still have on all maps the old Greyhound station. There is no maps that show anywhere that the you're out at Richard's Boulevard. The other thing that might be something that might with this regional transit board generate some income is if you consider the possibility of putting a 15 bus stop there by the Sacramento Sacramento Valley Station area. It's not necessarily a great place because people race down there, but I have had most weekends that somebody comes to that area, Sacramento Valley Station, and say, how do I get to Greyhound?

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