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SacRT board tightens and expands travel policy, approves $26,000 annual travel baseline
Summary
The board approved an amended travel policy (resolution 202602014) that lists permitted transit conferences, allows certain non‑transit but transit‑related events, specifies international travel parameters and sets a $26,000 budget baseline; directors debated the meaning of 'advocacy' and the policy's scope.
The Sacramento Regional Transit Board voted to adopt an amended travel policy (resolution 202602014) on Feb. 23, formalizing when board members may travel for conferences and other transit‑related activities.
Shelly Valentin, who presented the policy update to the board, said the revisions codify allowances for up to four transit conferences annually (listing APTA and California Transit Association as examples) and provide guidance for unplanned events that may be transit‑related. The proposed FY budget for board travel was presented as $26,000, compared with roughly $16,000 in actual travel costs last fiscal year. The policy will continue to require chair review and approval of travel and remains subject to Brown Act limitations on participation.
Valentin described a process to survey board interest at the start of the fiscal year and noted the policy contemplates up to three board members per international event and up to two international trips per board member per calendar year, with priority given to chair and vice chair. "This is really the perfect timing because we are going through our budget cycle," she told the board.
Directors pressed for clarity about the word "advocate" as used in the policy. Director Dickinson asked whether the policy would allow attendance simply to learn at conferences that do not involve an explicit advocacy role; other board members said the chair will retain discretion in approving travel deemed to advance SacRT's interests. Director Sarna asked whether the travel line is zero‑based and whether unused funds could roll forward; staff said the travel budget is zero‑based consistent with the agency's budgeting practices.
After discussion, a motion to adopt staff's recommendation passed with an affirmative voice vote and no recorded noes or abstentions.
Resolution: 202602014 (amending and restating Title 9 — board travel authorization procedures).
