Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - May 9, 2022

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors held a virtual meeting on May 9, 2022, to address several key items, including the Roseville Road Safe Parking Program, amendments to the prohibited acts ordinance, adoption of the Short Range Transit Plan, and a visual artwork policy. The board also held a public hearing on the preliminary FY2023 budget and received public comments on service reliability and other issues. All votes were recorded with eight members present (Directors Budge, Jennings, and Kennedy absent).

Consent Calendar

• Items 2.1 to 2.11: Approved unanimously (8-0) following public comments from Jeffrey Tartaguia and Nick Bryant. Tartaguia requested that the board ensure public record of comments and consult with Assembly Bill guidelines. Bryant reported graffiti at bus shelter 0119 and urged monitoring.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Consent Calendar: Jeffrey Tartaguia requested the board use transcriptability for public record of comments and invited consultation with Ken Cooley. Nick Bryant reported recurring graffiti at bus shelter 0119 and urged monitoring.
• On Item 4.3 (Roseville Road Safe Parking): Jeffrey Tartaguia (co-chair of Sacramento Pit Committee) expressed concern about enforcement around encampments, citing the W-site experience. Nick Bryant voiced support for the program and offered to help feed the homeless. Barbara Stanton (Ridership for the Masses) fully supported the action. Rick Hodgkins, a disabled rider, supported keeping homeless away from passengers for safety.
• On Item 4.4 (Title 15 Amendment): No public comments.
• On Item 4.1 (Short Range Transit Plan): Jeffrey Tartaguia appreciated the 95 comments received and urged consideration of Los Rios and Route 33 coordination, and awareness of Caltrans I-80 changes. Rick Hodgkins stressed the need for a local sales tax measure and opposed further service cuts. Nick Bryant advocated for Connect card machines on light rail vehicles and RT Go buses, and requested improvements at Watt Avenue station (new elevators, graffiti cleanup).
• On Item 4.2 (Visual Artwork Policy): Barbara Stanton expressed concern about window coverings on light rail and requested limited coverage for safety and visibility. Chair Miller responded that future advertising contracts would cap window coverage at 50%.
• On Item 5.1 (Budget Public Hearing): Jeffrey Tartaguia requested more explicit project details and acronym explanations in budget materials. Rick Hodgkins asked for auditory and braille signage at transit facilities and noted support for new low-floor light rail vehicles. Helen O'Connell urged focus on on-time service for RT Go and standard buses. Nick Bryant repeated requests for Connect card machines and station improvements.
• On Item 6 (Non-Agenda Matters): Barbara Stanton reported 80 bus trip cancellations on 17 routes that day, calling it unacceptable, and requested earlier agenda posting. Alison Castic urged board oversight of the Smart Ride program, citing 30-45 minute wait times after service cuts. Rick Hodgkins thanked Nick Bryant for mentioning elevators, requested auditory announcements for elevator outages, and called for cameras to prevent graffiti. Jeffrey Tartaguia echoed the need for cameras, raised concerns about RT’s planning for an aging population, and noted communication failures on buses regarding wheelchair securement. Glenn Mandelkorn (read by clerk) expressed appreciation for free ride flyers but reported being attacked at Fruitridge station; he thanked SACRT staff for support.

Discussion Items

• Item 4.3 – Roseville Road Safe Parking Program: Olga Sanchez Ochoa (General Counsel) presented the lease agreement with the City of Sacramento and Caltrans. The city agreed to enforce the critical infrastructure ordinance on 85% of the proposed safety zone, including the parking lot and platform, but not on 15% of the transit center (enforcement only for illegal activity there). The city will indemnify SACRT and Caltrans. Weekly coordination meetings will be held. General Manager Henry Lee thanked both teams for collaboration. Mayor Darrell Steinberg spoke in support, calling it a “heroic act” and a compromise. Director Cerna thanked staff and expressed support. Director Harris made a motion to approve. Board discussion included Chair Miller asking for monthly reports on performance indicators. The motion passed 8-0.
• Item 4.4 – Amendment to Title 15 (Prohibited Acts): Olga Sanchez Ochoa presented the amendment to add camping as a prohibited act and incorporate the city’s critical infrastructure ordinance by reference, allowing enforcement by SACRT’s police officers. Director Harris moved, Director Howell seconded. Director Howell noted a typo in the staff report (99710 vs 99170). The motion passed with 7 votes (discrepancy: roll call showed 8 ayes, but chair declared 7 votes; no clarification in transcript).
• Item 4.1 – Short Range Transit Plan (FY2022-2027): Laura Ham presented the plan “SACRT on the Move,” developed in-house with public input. The plan is fiscally constrained, assumes no local sales tax measure, and includes data-driven equity analysis. Service improvements are cost-neutral. Top five public requests were addressed. The plan was adopted 8-0.
• Item 4.2 – Visual Artwork Policy: Deborah Salinas presented the amended policy, which clarifies art in public places and public memorials. Window coverings will be addressed in future advertising procurements. Director Cerna thanked staff for collaboration. Policy adopted 8-0.
• Item 5.1 – Preliminary FY2023 Operating and Capital Budgets: Jamie Adleman (Acting CFO) presented a balanced operating budget of $230.9 million, with 77% for operations, 23% for administration. Revenues: 35% state assistance, 29% Measure A, 26% federal stimulus. Operating cash reserve balance is $23.5 million, on track to meet policy target. Capital budget is $262 million (still developing). No fare changes or staffing reductions planned. Public hearing was held; no board questions. The board voted 8-0 to continue the public hearing to June 13, 2022.
• Item 8.1 – General Manager’s Report: Henry Lee reported on Bike Month, state and federal legislative updates (including $20 billion state infrastructure package, Congressman Bera’s support for low-floor conversion), new elevators at Watt Avenue station, signing of lease for office space at 1102 K Street, and receipt of GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. He addressed bus cancellations, attributing them to workforce shortages and noting they strategically cancel low-ridership trips, keeping cancellations usually under 1% but occasionally up to 8%.
• Item 9 – Reports, Ideas, and Questions from Directors: No comments.
• Item 13.1 – Closed Session: Conference with legal counsel regarding two existing litigation cases (Johnson v. SACRT and Vickers v. SACRT). No public comment. The board adjourned to closed session with no report expected.

Key Outcomes

• Roseville Road Safe Parking Program: Approved (8-0). City will enforce on 85% of zone, indemnify SACRT, and hold weekly coordination meetings. Staff to report monthly on performance indicators.
• Amendment to Title 15: Approved (7 votes, per chair; roll call showed 8 ayes). New prohibited acts include camping within 25 feet of critical infrastructure, incorporating city ordinance by reference.
• Short Range Transit Plan (FY2022-2027): Adopted (8-0). Plan is fiscally constrained with no assumed local sales tax; service improvements are cost-neutral.
• Visual Artwork Policy: Adopted (8-0). Window coverings limited to 50% in future advertising contracts.
• Public Hearing on FY2023 Budget: Continued to June 13, 2022 (8-0). Final budget adoption scheduled for that meeting.
• General Manager’s Report: Noted legislative wins, infrastructure progress, and ongoing workforce challenges leading to bus cancellations.