Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Meeting - March 12, 2019

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) Board of Directors met. The transcript indicates Monday, March 11, 2019, but the official meeting date is reported as March 12, 2019. Chair Kennedy presided; a quorum of 91 votes was established. The meeting was cablecast on Metro Cable 14 and webcast. Agenda items included an update on the SacRT Forward bus network overhaul, approval of an Elk Grove service contract, and an informational briefing on a proposed temporary homeless shelter at the Florin Road Light Rail Station.

SACRT Forward Outreach & Marketing Update (Information Item 5)

• General Manager Henry provided an overview of the proposed bus network redesign, noting changes from previous public comment: more late-night service, enhanced peak service on Routes 2 and 6, a new Route 113 peak route, retention of Route 68 on 44th Street, new weekend Route 84 service for La Riviera, and four new peak trips for the San Juan Unified School District.
• Staff announced that the implementation date has been moved from June–July to September 2019 to allow more time for community outreach and communication. The city of Sacramento will fund free summer transit passes for Sacramento Unified students with approximately $1 million in guaranteed fare revenue.
• Devra presented the draft comprehensive outreach and marketing plan, organized in four phases with themes "Look Forward" and "Moving You Forward." Tactics include an outreach bus, sidewalk advertising, a new online forum, media ride-alongs, travel training, and paid advertising.
• Public comments on this item: Jeff Tardiya welcomed the September delay and urged attention to transfer points and scheduling. A teacher, John Perryman, attempted to raise a separate homeless camp issue but was ruled out of order.

Approval: Elk Grove Service Agreement (Item 6)

• The board approved the fixed-route ADA paratransit, Dial-a-Ride maintenance operations contract and the second amendment to the service agreement for the City of Elk Grove. The motion by Vice Chair Hanson was seconded by Director Howell and carried with 91 votes. Chair Kennedy thanked staff and Director Hume for their collaboration.

Florin Road Homeless Shelter Update (Information Item 7)

• Staff presented an update on the potential lease of a portion of the Florin Road Light Rail Station parking lot for a temporary homeless shelter. The ~21-acre site has 1,074 parking spaces with current utilization of 50–200 vehicles. The city proposes to lease ~2 acres for a 100' x 60' sprung structure housing approximately 100 people. The lease would be for 30 months, referral only, and must be approved by the FTA because the land was purchased with federal funds. The city would pay for all operating and modification costs and provide indemnification.
• Board members raised concerns: Director Harris asked about system-wide security and cleanliness impacts, including potential cost reimbursement; Director Natoli raised the Martin v. Boise decision and the risk of camping on adjacent RT-owned land. Staff said fence repairs and gravel for police access were under discussion, and they would look into the Boise issue.

Public Comments & Testimony

Many residents, business owners, and community representatives expressed opposition to the proposed shelter location. Their key positions included:

• Florin Road Partnership representatives (Hilary Gould, Barbara Etrick, Cory DeRue) cited increased trash (27.9 tons in seven months), public safety concerns, and economic harm; they supported transit-oriented development instead.
• Southgate Mobile Estates residents and manager (Elizabeth Delgadio, Melanie Natoli, Jane Shirosky, Sherry Woods) described existing theft, vandalism, fires, slow police response, and fears for children and elderly residents; they opposed the location.
• Southgate Plaza owner (via Ava Gonzalez) reported spending $400,000/year on security, removing 2,000 transients, and a recent revival to 95% occupancy; the shelter would reverse that progress.
• Luther Burbank High School teacher John Perryman said students were 20-to-1 opposed, and parents would restrict after-school activities; he threatened a social media campaign.
• Business owners Dale Vira and Thomas Donaldson described loitering, needles, fires, and called for economic development instead of a shelter.
• David Plagg (Del Paso Boulevard Partnership) said shelters attract campers around them, and the city would not move people.
• Supporters included Bob Erlenbush (Sacramento Regional Coalition to End Homelessness), who noted that homeless people are dying (one in six days, 35% violent deaths) and cited the Railroad shelter as a proven model. Jeffrey Tardiya offered conditional support but criticized the lack of feasibility studies for alternative sites.

Board Discussion

• Director Harris (District 3) defended the triage model, noting the Railroad shelter has housed 171 people and that Sacramento's homeless population (3,600) is smaller than other West Coast cities. He said shelter capacity enables enforcement against illegal camping.
• Director Hume opposed the location, saying spillover effects would harm station and system ridership; he indicated he would vote no.
• Chair Kennedy acknowledged community fears, emphasized the need for city commitments to security and cleanliness, and said triage models can work if done well.
• Director Shanier, a proponent, said the board is not ready for a vote. He outlined additional outreach, including meetings with parents, students, and mobile home park residents, and plans for a transit officer substation, cameras, 24-hour security, a downtown streets team, and an advisory committee. He said the site is not a foregone conclusion and the issue may return on March 25.
• Director Cerna raised equity concerns, asked for an exit plan and ability to respond quickly to impacts, and noted the county's scattered-site model.
• Director Howe (Folsom) clarified the board's role is only to decide whether to lease RT property; the city would operate the shelter. He said Folsom's homeless are mostly local residents.
• Chair Kennedy, speaking as a county supervisor, stated that placing a 100-bed shelter at a light rail station conflicts with RT's goal of clean, safe, convenient service and would likely not gain his support.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Elk Grove service agreement and paratransit contract (91 votes).
• Delayed SacRT Forward implementation to September 2019.
• No vote on the Florin Road shelter; staff will return with additional detail and a potential vote in coming weeks, possibly March 25.
• The board recessed to closed session for anticipated litigation.