OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Virtual Meeting – August 22, 2022

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Monday, August 22, 2022
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateMonday, August 22, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay, that sounds good.

0:06

Well, thank you.

0:07

And good evening and welcome to the August 22nd, 2022 meeting, virtual meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District Board.

0:16

And Tabitha, if you could read the uh uh virtual information tonight, I'd appreciate it.

0:21

Sure.

0:22

This is a virtual meeting.

0:23

All speakers, the board and staff.

0:25

If you could please announce your name when you begin to speak.

0:28

The meeting is being live streamed, and the slide on the screen shows the information on how to join the webinar via Zoom.

0:35

You can also call into the meeting at 253158782.

0:42

And the webinar access code is 813 1432 1628.

0:48

If you are participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment.

0:53

If you're joining us online through Zoom, please push the raise hand button.

0:58

Be sure to unmute yourself when it is your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record.

1:10

You're muted, Chair Miller.

1:13

I just wanted to thank you for reading that, Tabitha.

1:15

And please alert me to any hands up.

1:17

I cannot see them tonight.

1:18

So any board members or uh public just alert me.

1:22

Thank you.

1:27

All right, would you like me to call the roll?

1:30

Uh yes, please.

1:31

I thought we had a uh TV statement too.

1:36

Oh, we do.

1:37

I I usually call the roll and then read it, but I can there you go.

1:40

No, I said call the roll, please.

1:43

Is this your first meeting, Steve?

1:45

It is officially.

1:49

All right, Director Budge here.

1:53

Director Harris is absent and director Howell is absent.

1:56

Director Hume.

1:57

Here.

1:58

Director Jennings.

2:01

Absent.

2:02

Director Kennedy?

2:03

Here.

2:04

Director Natoli.

2:06

Here.

2:07

Director Shaneer.

2:08

Here.

2:09

Director Cerna.

2:11

Here.

2:12

Director Valenzuela.

2:14

Here.

2:14

And Chair Miller.

2:16

I'm here.

2:17

All right.

2:17

With that, we have a quorum at eight votes.

2:20

And this meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on Comcast, Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse.

2:31

Today's meeting will air on Wednesday, August 24th at 2 p.m.

2:34

and Saturday, August 27th at 2 p.m.

2:37

on channel 14 and webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.net and is closed captioned.

2:43

This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash Metro Cable 14.

2:52

Thank you.

2:53

And with that, would everyone please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

2:59

I pledge allegiance.

3:05

And to the republic for which it stands.

3:08

One nation.

3:11

Indivisible.

3:16

All right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transit█████████████████████████████████████37%
Public Comment██████████████████████████████30%
Procedural████████████████████████24%
Economic Development████████8%
Pending Litigation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit District Board Virtual Meeting – August 22, 2022

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) Board held a virtual meeting on August 22, 2022, beginning at approximately 5:37 PM. Chair Miller presided, with 8 directors initially present (quorum). Director Jennings did not join the meeting. The board approved the consent calendar, heard public comments on fare and operational issues, received the General Manager’s report, and deferred an emergency resolution to the next meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 2.1 through 2.5 were approved unanimously on a motion by Director Budge, seconded by Director Kennedy. The roll call vote passed 8-0. Directors Harris, Howell, and Jennings were absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jeffrey Tartaglia (on Consent Calendar item 2.3 – Connect Card) expressed concern about the future of the Connect Card, phasing it out without a replacement for light rail, and the need for further assessment. He also later commented (on public addresses) about difficulty finding the RT calendar on the website, the closure of O Street station not being web-visible, Connect Card failures at 65th Street station, and suggested reviewing the stroller folding policy for new low-floor vehicles.
  • Glenn Mandelcern (on Consent Calendar item 2.3) asked about procedures to alert agencies when the Connect Card system goes down, and whether drivers can allow boarding when the card cannot load due to system issues. He described a recent incident where he could not use the card between SacRT and Roseville Transit and had to seek help from an alternative transportation center. He requested that SacRT, now taking over the system, implement better procedures.
  • During public addresses on non-agenda items, Glenn Mandelcern asked about a rumored SacRT policy allowing passengers to board buses during hot days (100°F+) while buses are in layover. Chair Miller directed staff to respond directly.
  • Helen O'Connell (on General Manager’s report) expressed gratitude for progress on light-rail vehicles and connectivity, and requested a hard copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

General Manager's Report

  • General Manager Henry Li reported on several topics:
    • FTA Triennial Review: SacRT received a final report with only minor deficiencies in four areas; staff acknowledged special thanks to Jamie Adman, Shelly Rellington, Choi Carter, and Sarah Kerber.
    • Watt/I-80 Station Elevator: New elevator components have failed; a special bus service is operating between the Watt Avenue west bus platform and the library station. Station is a frequent target for graffiti and vandalism, requiring continuous cleaning and a dedicated security guard. SacRT was awarded nearly $900,000 from a federal security grant for upgrades.
    • Tri-City Bridge: In partnership with the City of Sacramento, K-rail will be installed to prevent illegal dumping and speeding ahead of a safe parking operation launch at Roseville Road station.
    • Overgrown Weeds: Responded to a Rancho Córdoba council member’s concern at Bloodshole and Folsom, clearing weeds near tracks.
    • Sacramento Works Board: SacRT was added to the board of Sacramento Works Organization, which connects employers and job seekers.
    • Zero-Emission Transit Tour: Li, Vice Chair Kennedy, and others visited Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) and BYD to learn about transitioning to a fully electric bus fleet (AVTA became the first all-electric local fleet with 80 buses).
    • Funding News: Congressman Ami Bera requested nearly $4 million in community project funding for the Folsom light-rail station modernization. A video message from the visit was shown.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7.1 – Emergency Resolution (Deferred): Resolution 2022-08097, declaring damaged electrical service at 7th and Capitol an emergency requiring a four-fifths vote, was deferred to the next board meeting after a motion by Director Budge, seconded by Director Kennedy. The deferral to September 12, 2022, passed 7-0 (Directors Harris, Howell, and Jennings absent).
  • The board also noted that the closed session (Item 13.1) would be held in a separate Zoom meeting with no reportable action expected.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar approved with 8 votes.
  • General Manager’s Report received; public comments were taken and staff directed to respond to specific inquiries.
  • Emergency Resolution (Item 7.1) deferred to the September 12, 2022 board meeting.
  • Closed Session held without reportable action.
  • Staff instructed to provide direct responses to public questions regarding bus boarding policy in hot weather, Connect Card procedures, and a hard copy of the presentation.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, that sounds good. Well, thank you. And good evening and welcome to the August 22nd, 2022 meeting, virtual meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District Board. And Tabitha, if you could read the uh uh virtual information tonight, I'd appreciate it. Sure. This is a virtual meeting. All speakers, the board and staff. If you could please announce your name when you begin to speak. The meeting is being live streamed, and the slide on the screen shows the information on how to join the webinar via Zoom. You can also call into the meeting at 253158782. And the webinar access code is 813 1432 1628. If you are participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment. If you're joining us online through Zoom, please push the raise hand button. Be sure to unmute yourself when it is your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record. You're muted, Chair Miller. I just wanted to thank you for reading that, Tabitha. And please alert me to any hands up. I cannot see them tonight. So any board members or uh public just alert me. Thank you. All right, would you like me to call the roll? Uh yes, please. I thought we had a uh TV statement too. Oh, we do. I I usually call the roll and then read it, but I can there you go. No, I said call the roll, please. Is this your first meeting, Steve? It is officially. All right, Director Budge here. Director Harris is absent and director Howell is absent. Director Hume. Here. Director Jennings. Absent. Director Kennedy? Here. Director Natoli. Here. Director Shaneer. Here. Director Cerna. Here. Director Valenzuela. Here. And Chair Miller. I'm here. All right. With that, we have a quorum at eight votes. And this meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit District will be cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on Comcast, Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse. Today's meeting will air on Wednesday, August 24th at 2 p.m.

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