Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - January 6, 2020
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Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - January 6, 2020
The Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) Board of Directors held its regular meeting on January 6, 2020, beginning with a closed session and reconvening at 5:30 p.m. The board unanimously approved the consent calendar, honored General Manager Henry Lee as APTA's 2019 Manager of the Year, received green energy recognitions, approved the Causeway Connection electric bus service, conducted a public hearing on the Folsom Light Rail Modernization project, elected 2020 leadership, and accepted the comprehensive financial report.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (motion by Director Howell, second by Director Harris; 100 votes). Included Item 2.6, a sole-source fuel card credit application for CNG fuel within Elk Grove city limits, and Item 2.7, parking capacity (approximately 100 spaces) for the state franchise tax board.
Special Presentations (Items 3.1 & 3.2)
- Shelley Ballantin presented Henry Lee with APTA's 2019 Manager of the Year Award. APTA has over 1,600 member organizations; the award ceremony in New York drew over 2,000 industry leaders. Lee credited the board, staff, and riders.
- Assembly Member Kylie and Supervisor Susan Frost presented Green Energy certificates. Frost listed multiple recent awards, including the Greater Folsom Partnership's 2019 Green Energy Award, TSA Gold Standard, and APTA CEO of the Year.
Discussion: Causeway Connection Intercity Bus Service (Item 4.1)
- Laura Hamm presented a revised plan after board-member and rider feedback. Revisions included an express-focused schedule preserving Davis stops, reduced fares (UC Davis employees/grad students $45 monthly pass; undergraduates free), and an April 2020 launch. Seat belts are not feasible on the Proterra buses; bike racks are limited to three front positions.
- Public testimony: 15 speakers. Riders praised schedule/fare changes but raised concerns about seat belts on the freeway, reduced bike capacity (three vs. eight per bus), the three-year MOU, and data oversight. UC Davis and Electrify America representatives supported the plan. One speaker requested delay to June.
- Board discussion: Director Natoli asked when seat belt-equipped buses could be swapped in; General Manager Lee said ~2 years, funding-dependent. Natoli requested that commitment be documented and data protocols established. Director Budge supported. Director Howell noted YOLO constraints. Vice Chair Hansen suggested rider education and procurement guidelines.
- Outcome: Motion by Director Hume, second by Director Harris, to approve the four resolutions passed unanimously at 100 votes.
Public Hearing: Folsom Light Rail Modernization (Item 5.1)
- AECOM presented the initial study/mitigated negative declaration for 15-minute service. Improvements include double-track segments (0.6 mile in Folsom, 1.2 mile in Rancho Cordova), low-floor platforms at Glen and Hazel, and signal upgrades that reduce crossing gate time by ~14 seconds per crossing.
- Four public comments: two residents opposed double tracking due to traffic/tree impacts, one suggested ending at Iron Point, and the Sierra Club representative supported increased frequency and requested mitigation.
- Staff noted the comment period closes December 12, 2019 (a date conflicting with today's January 6, 2020 meeting). No action taken.
Public Comments on Non-Agenda Matters
- Jeffrey Tardi Gia called for better public notification and policy procedures. Bonnie Lindemann, with 25 supporters, described loss of fixed-route service and reliance on microtransit in her area. Sarah Kerber (Sacramento Transit Riders Union) promoted the upcoming Transit Rider Challenge.
Board Leadership Selection (Item 7.1)
- Steve Hansen was elected Chair and Steve Miller Vice Chair for 2020 by unanimous intent motion.
Comprehensive Financial Report (Item 7.2)
- The board accepted a clean audit with no findings and designated $3,296,647 to the operating reserve (motion by Director Howell, second by Director Shanir).
General Manager's Report (Item 8.1)
- Henry Lee announced a promotion, a bus-vs-bike race win, and the holiday bus. Lisa Hines provided safety/security updates including service animal training and the FormaCast notification system. Paratransit transition updates included branding as "SACRT Go Paratransit Services" and upcoming open houses.
- Public comments from Jeffrey Tardi Gia and Mike Barnbaum were received. Director Hume requested a colorblind-safe logo color.
JPA Reports
- Mike Barnbaum reported on Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin JPA meetings, including the Sacramento Valley Station Master Plan meeting on January 7 and San Joaquin JPA meeting on January 24.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- Causeway Connection approved unanimously; service to begin April 2020.
- Hansen and Miller selected as 2020 Chair and Vice Chair.
- Financial report accepted; $3,296,647 added to operating reserve.
- Public hearing held; comment period open (with noted deadline discrepancy).
- Direction given to memorialize the seat belt bus swap commitment and continue stakeholder engagement.
Meeting Transcript
Director Hansen. Here. Director Harris. Director Howe. Here. Director Hume. Here. Director Jennings. Director Miller. Present. Director Natoli. Here. Director Shanir. Director Cerna and Chair Kennedy are marked as being absent. I'll announce the and Director Budge just walked in. Thank you. McCormick Avenue. The board will recess to close session. Thank you. And the members of the public were just gonna we have a short closed session. We'll be back at five thirty for the regular meeting. Thank you. I guess is the right. Yeah, that's the right term. I would like to do that. I know. I have no idea. I don't mind. Can't tell mine's any higher, but we have to do that. Thank you. Welcome everybody to the evening meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board. Madam Clerk, do we need to redo quorum or are we still good from the We need to redo quorum? All right. Madam Clerk, please call the role. Director Budge? Director Hansen? Here. Director Harris? Director Howe? Here. Director Hume? Here. Director Jennings. Director Miller. Present. Director Natoli. Here. Director Winter. Yeah. And Director Cerna and Chair Kennedy are marked as being absent, and we have a quorum with one hundred votes.
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