Sacramento Regional Transit Board Meeting - May 13, 2024

The Sacramento Regional Transit Board of Directors met on May 13, 2024, to discuss the preliminary Fiscal Year 2025 operating and capital budgets, review employee satisfaction survey results, and receive the General Manager's report. The board approved the consent calendar, opened and continued the public hearing on the budget to June 10, 2024, and adjourned into closed session to evaluate the General Manager's performance. No written public comments were received.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2.1 to 2.12 were approved unanimously by a motion from Director Brewer, seconded by Director Budge. The consent calendar included routine approvals and unanimous actions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Coco Coca-Zola (member of STAR, Sacramento Transit Advocates and Writers) asked questions about the budget details, specifically requesting more granularity on line items and inquiring about capital projects such as the Dos Rios light rail station, ongoing low-floor conversion, bus rapid transit, the Truxel Bridge study, and green line light rail implications. She also questioned the size of a line item for "disruption manager software" ($310,135) already in use.
• Jeffrey Tardigula thanked staff for mentioning city budget impacts, asked about demonstrating changes from the previous year's budget, noted that public notices for the hearing were seen on buses but questioned other outreach, and later raised concerns about the I-80 elevator being out of service and requested reporting on shuttle service usage. He also commented on broken fare boxes and Connect Cards.
• Helen O'Connell expressed support for the youth pass program and encouraged creative funding (RT, city, school districts) to avoid regress. She requested benches and shelters every two to three blocks for disabled riders and noted that the 13th Street station closure lacked shuttle information.

Discussion Items

• Preliminary FY2025 Operating and Capital Budgets (Item 5.1): Staff (Shelley Valentin, filling in for CFO) presented the budget, highlighting no fare adjustments, no anticipated staffing reductions, and use of remaining COVID relief and SB 125 funding to close gaps. SB 125 for operations totaled $60.6 million, with an additional $1.6 million received (increased from $59 million), reducing the need for federal 5307 funds. A temporary state freeze on SB 125 was noted, but staff expressed cautious optimism after the governor's May revise. A $1 million comprehensive operational analysis (COA) is planned for 2025. Capital additions totaled $9 million, with total approved capital projects at $1.95 billion. Revenue projections include growth in sales tax and fare revenue (due to state employee return-to-office). The budget assumes full funding for the K-12 youth pass program, though potential city funding reductions were discussed; staff is meeting with the mayor and school districts on May 14. Board members asked about the $219 million state/local funding increase (from $168 million) and the risk of SB 125 allocations not materializing given state deficit. Staff noted a backup plan but did not detail it. The public hearing was opened and closed, with a motion (Vice Chair Jennings, Director Cerna) to continue it to June 10, 2024.
• Employee Satisfaction Survey Results (Item 7.1): Consultant Conchita Robinson presented results from the 2024 survey (administered January-February), with 53.4% participation (444 of 832 employees). Top four questions scored 90% or higher. Nine of 12 questions received 80% or higher. Categories: employee satisfaction (82%+), engagement (82%+), strategic awareness (82%+). Compared to 2020 scores, most remained stable or increased; the largest improvement was in "timely feedback on performance from my supervisor" (lowest in 2020). Open-ended comments (758 responses) praised camaraderie, pay/benefits, community impact. Improvement suggestions included updated technology, increased communication, safety. Focus group themes mirrored these. Board members commended high participation and engagement, noting employees feel heard.
• General Manager's Report (Item 8.1): GM Henry reported on the successful Hola Mohana festival (RT transported ~1,500 passengers), advocacy trip to Washington D.C. (met with FTA, discussed $80 million grant for McClellan bus facility), APTA mobility conference, and the new Dale Rail Bike Trail (4.5 miles on former RT corridor). RT student ridership increased from 1.6 million to 4.2 million (more than doubled). Light rail modernization is on track for summer 2024 launch of low-floor trains on Gold and Green Lines. A meeting with U.S. DOT deputy assistant secretary was scheduled for May 15. Public comment from Jeffrey Tardigula noted recent operator assaults and ongoing elevator issues; GM responded that major incidents are reported to board within an hour.
• Capitol Corridor JPA Report (Item 9.1): Director Daniels reported that the CCJPA meeting included public comments regarding hydrogen vs. electric trains, but any decision is at the state level.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• Preliminary FY2025 budget public hearing opened and closed; continued to June 10, 2024, for adoption (motion carried with all in favor).
• Employee satisfaction survey received as information; no vote required.
• General Manager's report accepted as information.
• Closed session held for public employee performance evaluation of the General Manager (no report out).