OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - May 8, 2023

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Monday, May 8, 2023
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateMonday, May 8, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening.

0:01

Welcome to the May 8th, 2023 meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors.

0:06

Would the clerk please call the roll?

0:19

Director Budge.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Director Daniels?

0:23

Here.

0:24

Director Hume.

0:27

Director Jennings?

0:28

Here.

0:29

Director Kozlowski?

0:30

Here.

0:31

Director Lilowy.

0:36

Director Maple.

0:38

Director Cerna?

0:40

Here.

0:40

Director Suen?

0:42

Here.

0:43

And for the record, Director Suen is here as alternate for Director Sing Allen this evening.

0:48

Director Valenzuela?

0:50

Here.

0:50

And Chair Kennedy.

0:52

Here.

0:54

All right.

0:54

I will remind everybody.

0:55

This is a hybrid meeting, meaning members of the public can participate in the meeting either in person or virtually.

1:01

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

1:08

You can also call into the meeting at 253 215 8782.

1:14

And the webinar access code is 837 9338 8162.

1:22

If you'll please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:04

I just want to comment, Chair.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Item 2.01.

2:10

The amendment to the SPTCJPA Authority was approved this morning at the SBC SVTCJPA.

2:20

Thank you.

2:21

Chair Kennedy.

2:22

Yes.

2:23

Do you mind if I read the replay statement really quick?

2:25

Please do do it.

2:26

Sorry.

2:27

Sorry.

2:27

Okay, so 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 Cable Systems.

2:40

This meeting is closed caption in the webcast at webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.gov.

2:47

Today's meeting replays Wednesday, May 10th at 2 o'clock p.m.

2:51

and Saturday, May 13th at 2 p.m.

2:54

on channel 14.

2:55

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

3:00

And we actually have nine votes for quorum.

3:04

And members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to myself or Adam.

3:11

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

3:16

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

3:19

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

3:23

Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.

3:25

At this time, then is there any other member of the board that would like to uh make a comment or question or pull an item from the consent calendar?

3:35

Seeing none, is there any member of the public that would like to comment or pull an item from the consent calendar?

3:41

Ronnie Miranda has his hand up.

3:46

Ronnie.

3:58

Ronnie Moranda, are you there?

4:01

Yes, this is Ronnie Miranda.

4:03

How are you?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transit██████████████████████████████████34%
Public Comment█████████████████████21%
Procedural██████████10%
General Manager Report████████8%
Public Engagement█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Climate Action Planning████4%
Public Safety████4%
Pending Litigation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors Meeting - May 8, 2023

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors held a hybrid meeting on May 8, 2023, at 5:32 PM UTC. The board approved the consent calendar, continued a public hearing on the FY2024 budgets, heard public testimony on transit service and policy, received the General Manager's report highlighting a $45.1 million federal grant and awards, and discussed several operational issues.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 2.1 through 2.14 were approved unanimously with 10 votes.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Ronnie Miranda (disabled passenger) expressed frustration with the Smart Ride paratransit service, citing lack of available time slots in the downtown area and unresolved complaints. He requested staff follow-up.
  • Robert Copeland urged the board to address low-income housing and eliminate canceled bus trips, stating that each city and county must do its fair share to increase ridership.
  • Paul Andrews commented on the budget, arguing that funding for electric car charging infrastructure is classist and should be redirected to transit. He advocated for making transit free, 24/7, safe, and frequent to increase ridership and reduce vehicle miles driven.
  • Jeffrey Tartaglia noted that free Tuesdays during the 50th anniversary saw high bus occupancy and bus stops blocked by cars. He urged better advertising for free-ride events and coordination with city planning to address stop obstruction.
  • Rick Hodgkins asked about raised light rail platforms, crossing tracks at Mather Field, potential track relocation at MTRAC station (Sac Valley Station), and raised concerns about paratransit policy requiring passengers to sit in the back seat of UZO vehicles. He also noted that no fixed-route bus serves Delta Shores, urging service expansion.
  • David Von Aspurn (resident of South Tothomas) reported two unresolved customer advocacy complaints dating from September 2022 and February 2022, and requested a meeting with management within two weeks.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing on FY2024 Operating and Capital Budgets (Item 5.1): Staff presented the preliminary budgets. No board or public questions were raised. The board voted unanimously (10 votes) to continue the public hearing to June 12, 2023.
  • General Manager's Report (Item 8.1): GM Henry Lee reported:
    • SACRT received a $45.1 million federal grant from the FTA's new rail car vehicle replacement program (one of only six nationwide) to purchase 16 new low-floor light rail vehicles from Siemens.
    • SACRT has secured funding for about 44 new light rail vehicles (two-thirds of the needed fleet); about $100 million more is needed for full modernization.
    • Three congressional community project funding requests totaling over $40 million were submitted to support low-floor vehicle transition.
    • An $8.5 million state award for light rail technology improvement was received.
    • SACRT kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration with pop-up events and a launch featuring former GMs, including 96-year-old founding GM William Barnes.
    • An open house on the SACRT GO paratransit service (operated in-house since July 2021) drew over 70 attendees; riders expressed satisfaction but sought improved on-time performance.
    • Two journeyman bus mechanics graduated, including the agency's first female journeyman.
    • SACRT won the APTA Rail Safety Certificate of Merit (to be awarded June 2023) and previously earned federal TSA gold standards.
    • The SACRT mobile app now sends positive event notifications (e.g., free rides for Second Saturday) thanks to Director Budge's suggestion.
  • Board Questions & Comments:
    • Vice Chair Jennings confirmed that the app alerts are available on all trains.
    • Director Leloy thanked staff for behind-the-scenes work leading to awards and positive news.
    • Director Cerna offered to join David Von Aspurn in a meeting with management regarding unresolved complaints.
    • Director Valenzuela reported participation in the AB 1234 Cap-to-Cap convening, covering public safety, transportation, and flood control.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (10 votes).
  • Public Hearing Continuation: Motion carried 10-0 to continue the FY2024 budget hearing to June 12, 2023.
  • Staff Directives: Staff committed to follow up with speakers Ronnie Miranda, Rick Hodgkins, and David Von Aspurn on their respective concerns.
  • Closed Session: The board recessed into closed session for two litigation items (Maria Giacomo vs. SACRT and Templin vs. SACRT) with no report expected.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the May 8th, 2023 meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors. Would the clerk please call the roll? Director Budge. Here. Director Daniels? Here. Director Hume. Director Jennings? Here. Director Kozlowski? Here. Director Lilowy. Director Maple. Director Cerna? Here. Director Suen? Here. And for the record, Director Suen is here as alternate for Director Sing Allen this evening. Director Valenzuela? Here. And Chair Kennedy. Here. All right. I will remind everybody. This is a hybrid meeting, meaning members of the public can participate in the meeting either in person or virtually. This meeting is being live streamed, and this in the slide on the screen shows the information on how to join the webinar via Zoom. You can also call into the meeting at 253 215 8782. And the webinar access code is 837 9338 8162. If you'll please rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I just want to comment, Chair. Thank you. Item 2.01. The amendment to the SPTCJPA Authority was approved this morning at the SBC SVTCJPA. Thank you. Chair Kennedy. Yes. Do you mind if I read the replay statement really quick? Please do do it. Sorry. Sorry. Okay, so 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 Cable Systems. This meeting is closed caption in the webcast at webcast at Metro14Live.sackCounty.gov. Today's meeting replays Wednesday, May 10th at 2 o'clock p.m. and Saturday, May 13th at 2 p.m. on channel 14. This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash metro cable 14. And we actually have nine votes for quorum. And members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located at the rear of the room and provide it to myself or Adam. If you're participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment.

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