OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - January 8, 2024

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings — Monday, January 8, 2024
BodySacramento County, California
SessionSacramento Regional Transit Board Meetings
DateMonday, January 8, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

January 8th, 2024 meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors.

0:04

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

0:10

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

0:17

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

0:24

The webinar address code is 83738.

0:44

Here.

0:46

Here.

0:48

Here.

0:49

Director Jennings.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Director Kozlowski?

0:52

Here.

0:53

Director Maple.

0:55

I am here and I would like to request the ability to participate remotely due to an illness.

1:01

And I'm the only person in the room.

1:03

Thank you, Director Maple.

1:05

Director Cerna?

1:06

Here.

1:07

Director Singh Allen.

1:09

I pardon me.

1:10

I'm present.

1:12

Pardon my voice.

1:13

I also would like to participate remotely because I am sick.

1:18

I cannot be there physically in person.

1:21

Thank you.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

And Director Valenzuela.

1:25

Here.

1:27

And today the City of Sacramento appointed Director Vang to take over for Director Lillowy.

1:36

Director Vang.

1:37

I am here.

1:38

Director or and Chair Kennedy.

1:40

Here.

1:42

All right.

1:43

Well, want to start uh before we get into the uh message.

1:46

I just I do want to extend a hearty welcome to uh Director Vang and Director Brewer.

1:52

Welcome to Regional Transit.

1:54

I think that uh you'll find that uh we're a pretty easy bunch to get along with uh and uh look forward to working with you.

2:06

And with that, can the clerk please read the statement?

2:08

Okay, with that, we have a quorum with 12 votes in 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 ATTU verse cable systems.

2:23

This meeting is closed caption and webcast at Metro 14 Live.satCounty.gov.

2:28

Today's meeting replays Sunday, January 14th at 11 30 a.m.

2:32

and Wednesday, January 17th at 2 p.m.

2:34

on channel 14.

2:36

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

2:42

Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located on the side of the room and provide it to myself or Adam.

2:49

Once the item has been called, additional speaker cards will not be accepted.

2:53

The time allowed for public comment is at the chair's discretion.

2:56

The timer will chime when you have 30 seconds remaining, and then again when your time is up.

3:00

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

3:04

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

3:07

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

3:12

Any written comment that was received by one o'clock p.m.

3:15

today has been provided to the board and will be filed in the record.

3:19

Thank you very much.

3:19

Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

3:25

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

3:33

One nation under God, individual with liberty and justice for all.

3:40

All right, that takes us to consent items 2.1 to 2.6.

3:46

There are any members of the board that would like anything pulled from consent or have any questions of staff at this time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transit█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Procedural█████████████17%
Public Engagement█████7%
Community Engagement████5%
Public Comment██3%
Public Education██3%
Budget and Finance██2%
Affordable Housing██2%
Public Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - January 8, 2024

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors met on January 8, 2024, in a hybrid format. The board reconsidered and ultimately approved the Dos Rios Light Rail Station project, acted on consent items, extended officer terms, and made committee appointments. Public comment was overwhelmingly in favor of the station, and the general manager provided an update on finances and operations.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 2.1 to 2.6 were approved unanimously (12 votes), with Director Vang abstaining on item 2.1 due to absence at the prior meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Barbara Stanton (Ridership for the Masses) urged approval of the Dos Rios station, citing light rail reliability and promises to residents.
  • Robert Copeland suggested contacting federal representatives for funding.
  • Dan Allison (Sacramento Transit Advocates) supported the station, linking affordable housing and transit.
  • Catherine Kinepa (Civic Thread) emphasized community benefits and ending the transit desert at Marisol Village.
  • Coco Cocazela (District 4 resident) supported the project, noting the need for permanency over a bus alternative.
  • Jeffrey Tardi Gia (transit advocate) supported approval and urged better public procedures and anticipation of resident needs.
  • Sam Greenley (Alchemist CDC) appreciated the reconsideration and noted the regional need for transit equity.
  • Devin Strecker (River District PBID) thanked the board and highlighted the importance for future developments without parking.
  • Dylan Tucker (river district resident) supported the station for equitable neighborhoods.
  • LaCelle Dozier (community member) thanked the board, committed to help fill funding gaps with Senator Ashby's support.
  • Keisha Harris (resident) expressed support and hope.
  • Marcelina (resident) thanked the board.
  • Patty Gaynor (phone) supported the station as a justice and equity issue for people with disabilities and seniors.
  • Gail Morgan (phone, SHRA commissioner) favored rail over bus in this case due to long-term costs and accessibility.
  • Steve Cohn (phone, SMART Sacramento) thanked the board and noted the project's policy connections.
  • Rick Hodgkins (phone, Citrus Heights resident) supported the project as a step toward airport light rail.
  • Written comment from former Assemblymember Roger Dickinson conveyed support.

Discussion Items

  • Reconsideration of Dos Rios Light Rail Station (Item 4.1): Staff presented new developments since the November 13, 2023 vote: SHRA received a 60-day extension from the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to submit a corrective action plan (due February 1, 2024), with SGC stating alternatives must have permanency and community support. SACRT secured $10 million in SB 125 funding (approved by SACOG), bringing available funding to approximately $33.8 million. Bids were released (due February 22, 2024). Cost efficiencies reduced the projected shortfall by $1.2 million to about $8 million. Senator Ashby expressed strong support for additional funding. Staff recommended rescinding the November vote and directing the general manager to proceed.
  • Director Cerna made a motion to rescind and proceed with the station, emphasizing regional consideration and improved process. Director Singh Allen seconded, noting assurances that other communities would not be harmed.
  • Director Jennings supported due to new funding certainty, the SGC extension, and Senator Ashby's advocacy.
  • Director Budge reluctantly supported, citing long-standing unfulfilled promises in Rancho Cordova and environmental cleanup concerns, but voted yes.
  • Director Daniels opposed, arguing the $43 million cost for a station only one mile from the next station was poor stewardship, and that the board is not acting regionally (44 of 53 light rail stations are in Sacramento city).
  • Chair Kennedy supported, citing community patience and the need for due diligence.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar passed with 12 votes.
  • Reconsideration of the November 13, 2023 vote on the Dos Rios station passed (11-1, with Director Daniels dissenting).
  • Motion to rescind the November vote and direct the General Manager/CEO to allocate sufficient funding to fill the shortfall and proceed with construction of the Dos Rios Light Rail Station passed (11-1, Director Daniels opposed). Construction is expected to commence spring 2024, completion late 2026.
  • Extension of Chair Patrick Kennedy and Vice Chair Rick Jennings for one year (2024) passed (12 votes).
  • Reappointments to committees (five retirement board, ad hoc real estate, ad hoc composition and voting structure) approved (12 votes), with all existing members continuing.
  • General Manager Henry Lee reported a clean FY23 audit, a $3.2 million operating budget surplus despite $8 million in cost spikes, ridership recovery (~23% higher than 2022, bus ridership nearly 100% pre-pandemic), ongoing construction in Folsom for 15-minute service, platform modifications for low-floor trains, and continued advocacy for local transit funding.

Meeting Transcript

January 8th, 2024 meeting of the Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors. This is a hybrid meeting, meeting members of the public can participate in the meeting either in person or virtually. 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 253-215-8782. The webinar address code is 83738. Here. Here. Here. Director Jennings. Here. Director Kozlowski? Here. Director Maple. I am here and I would like to request the ability to participate remotely due to an illness. And I'm the only person in the room. Thank you, Director Maple. Director Cerna? Here. Director Singh Allen. I pardon me. I'm present. Pardon my voice. I also would like to participate remotely because I am sick. I cannot be there physically in person. Thank you. Thank you. And Director Valenzuela. Here. And today the City of Sacramento appointed Director Vang to take over for Director Lillowy. Director Vang. I am here. Director or and Chair Kennedy. Here. All right. Well, want to start uh before we get into the uh message. I just I do want to extend a hearty welcome to uh Director Vang and Director Brewer. Welcome to Regional Transit. I think that uh you'll find that uh we're a pretty easy bunch to get along with uh and uh look forward to working with you. And with that, can the clerk please read the statement? Okay, with that, we have a quorum with 12 votes in 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 ATTU verse cable systems. This meeting is closed caption and webcast at Metro 14 Live.satCounty.gov. Today's meeting replays Sunday, January 14th at 11 30 a.m. and Wednesday, January 17th at 2 p.m. on channel 14. This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash metro cable 14. Members of the audience wishing to address the board should fill out a speaker card located on the side of the room and provide it to myself or Adam. Once the item has been called, additional speaker cards will not be accepted. The time allowed for public comment is at the chair's discretion. The timer will chime when you have 30 seconds remaining, and then again when your time is up. If you're participating by phone, please push star nine to indicate a desire to comment.

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