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Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - November 14, 2022

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Monday, November 14, 2022
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateMonday, November 14, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:02

I guess I would meet my cue to uh welcome our board members, staff and public members to tonight's meeting for November 14th, 2022 of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors.

0:14

This is a virtual meeting, and all speakers, the board and staff.

0:17

We ask that you announce your name when you begin to speak.

0:20

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

0:28

You can also call into the meeting at 253 8782.

0:33

And the webinar access code is 87837 9338162.

0:41

If you're participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate the desire to comment on an item.

0:48

If you're joining us online through Zoom, please push the raise hand button and be sure to unmute yourself when it's your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record.

0:57

Would you please call the role, Tabitha?

1:00

Sure will.

1:00

Director Budge.

1:02

Here.

1:03

And I have a comment.

1:06

Mr.

1:06

Chair.

1:07

Yes.

1:08

Our mayor.

1:10

Uh, who is an Apple uh uh user says that there's something besides star nine and apple.

1:19

So um perhaps we can ask staff to look that up for Apple users.

1:25

Well, I think that's true of the phone, but uh um uh yeah, if our IT folks can take a look at that.

1:31

And I I don't know.

1:32

I just know that Donald always says that he probably owns an Apple like me.

1:41

Okay, I'm here.

1:42

You're here next.

1:43

Next, please.

1:44

Okay, and real quick, can I just have Henry speak to make sure we can hear him?

1:50

Okay.

1:51

Hey, hello.

1:52

Sorry, um, my computer has some issues.

1:55

But we can hear you well.

1:57

Thank you.

1:59

Okay, Director Harris.

2:01

Herector Hal.

2:06

Here Director Wynne.

2:10

Here.

2:11

And for the record, Director Wynne is attending on behalf of Director Hume this evening.

2:15

Director Jennings.

2:19

Absent.

2:20

Director Kennedy is absent.

2:22

Director Natoli.

2:26

Absent.

2:27

Director Shaneer.

2:28

Here.

2:29

Director Cerna.

2:31

Here.

2:32

Director Valenzuela.

2:34

Here.

2:35

And Chair Miller.

2:36

Here.

2:37

All right.

2:38

With that, we have a quorum at eight votes.

2:41

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

2:53

This meeting is closed captioned and webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.gov.

2:59

Today's meeting replays Wednesday, November 16th at 2 p.m.

3:03

and Friday, November 18th at 2 p.m.

3:05

on channel 14.

3:06

This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash metro cable 14.

3:13

Thank you, Tabitha.

3:15

And with that, can we put the flag up and uh once that's up, I'll have everybody join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3:29

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████27%
Homelessness██████████████████18%
Public Comment███████████████15%
Public Transit██████████████14%
General Manager Report█████████9%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Election Integrity█████5%
Transit-Oriented Development████4%
Pending Litigation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - November 14, 2022

This virtual meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) Board of Directors, held on November 14, 2022, at 5:30 PM, included approval of the consent calendar, public comments, a report from the General Manager, and director discussions. The meeting was live-streamed and closed-captioned, with a quorum of eight votes present.

Consent Calendar

  • The board unanimously approved the consent calendar (items 2.1 to 2.5) with eight votes in favor. No items were pulled or questioned.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jeffrey Tartagia commented on a growing hazard at the intersection of 5th and L Streets, where multiple yellow buses (likely transit buses) are stopping, creating a driver hazard for right-turning cars. He thanked James Drake for addressing Fifth Street becoming a two-way street and noted an upcoming meeting on Broadway. He also speculated about potential board changes if Pat Hume becomes a county supervisor.
  • Glenn Mandelkern spoke about the upcoming California Transit Association Fall Conference, highlighting SacRT staff presentations (Jessica Gonzalez, Deborah Salinas, Henry Lee). He also noted a panel on operator recruitment and retention by Patrick Barence, a former bus operator, and encouraged SacRT attendees to bring back innovative ideas.
  • During the General Manager's report, Glenn Mandelkern added that he participated in a bus stop improvement walkabout in the Meadowview area on October 29, led by Civic Thread and SacRT planner James Drake, and found it informative.

Discussion Items

General Manager's Report (Henry Li)

  • Operator Mentorship Program: Launched in collaboration with ATU and California Transit Works, this program focuses on safety training and skill development for new operators. A photo of participants was shown.
  • Wexler Apartments TOD: Opened two weeks prior at the University/65th Street Library Station. This 223-unit, 800-student housing project is the first student transit-oriented development in the region. It modernized bus stops and added ADA-compliant crosswalks. The station serves 40,000 light rail riders and 30,000 bus trips monthly. Board members Harris and Jennings attended the opening.
  • Rancho Cordova Youth Center: Congressman Bera used light rail and Smart Ride to attend the grand opening. He secured nearly full federal community project funding for four SacRT library stations. Director Budge was acknowledged for her leadership.
  • Golden Harvest Parade and Festival: Held October 29 in downtown and Old Sacramento, celebrating multicultural music, dance, and food. Director Valenzuela attended.
  • Election Follow-Up: Measure A (countywide transportation initiative) appeared likely to be defeated. SacRT provided free rides on election day. Li noted the need for more aggressive local funding for transit, climate, and equity goals.
  • Safe Parking Program at Roseville Road: SacRT received a letter from the City of Sacramento on October 28 canceling the NIS agreement, ending progress on a safe parking site for homeless individuals. Li thanked partners for collaboration.
  • Holiday Bus: Free rides on the SacRT holiday bus from December 1, 2022, to January 2, 2023. Donations benefit the Front Street Animal Shelter.

Director Comments

  • Director Budge thanked Henry Li for providing free rides on election day and praised the Smart Ride service to the Rancho Cordova Youth Center, noting its accessibility for students from Cordova High and Mills Junior High. She also thanked Congressman Bera for a $350,000 contribution to the youth center.
  • Director Cerna thanked Li and staff for attending a recent community meeting with Director Valenzuela and city/county staff about homelessness and safety/cleanliness issues at the Broadway station. He emphasized interagency coordination to address homelessness impacts.

Reports, Ideas, and Questions from Directors

  • No director comments or public comments were offered under this item.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar approved (items 2.1–2.5) unanimously with eight votes.
  • No action taken on the General Manager's report or director comments; items were informational.
  • Closed session (agenda item 13.1) was held to discuss existing litigation (Maria Venegas vs. SacRT, case number 3420190268307). Chair Miller indicated no report-out was expected as no settlement was anticipated.
  • The meeting adjourned to closed session at approximately 6:15 PM.

Meeting Transcript

I guess I would meet my cue to uh welcome our board members, staff and public members to tonight's meeting for November 14th, 2022 of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors. This is a virtual meeting, and all speakers, the board and staff. We ask that you announce your name when you begin to speak. This 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 253 8782. And the webinar access code is 87837 9338162. If you're participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate the desire to comment on an item. If you're joining us online through Zoom, please push the raise hand button and be sure to unmute yourself when it's your turn to speak and voluntarily state your name for the record. Would you please call the role, Tabitha? Sure will. Director Budge. Here. And I have a comment. Mr. Chair. Yes. Our mayor. Uh, who is an Apple uh uh user says that there's something besides star nine and apple. So um perhaps we can ask staff to look that up for Apple users. Well, I think that's true of the phone, but uh um uh yeah, if our IT folks can take a look at that. And I I don't know. I just know that Donald always says that he probably owns an Apple like me. Okay, I'm here. You're here next. Next, please. Okay, and real quick, can I just have Henry speak to make sure we can hear him? Okay. Hey, hello. Sorry, um, my computer has some issues. But we can hear you well. Thank you. Okay, Director Harris. Herector Hal. Here Director Wynne. Here. And for the record, Director Wynne is attending on behalf of Director Hume this evening. Director Jennings. Absent. Director Kennedy is absent. Director Natoli. Absent. Director Shaneer. Here. Director Cerna. Here. Director Valenzuela. Here. And Chair Miller. Here. All right.

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