TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Salvador Llamas, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: Media and Public Statement Policy
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider the adoption of Board Policy 455 - Media and Public Statement Policy. [Requested by President Shaw - 10/23/24; Director Walsh - 11/13/24] [Previously considered by the Board of Directors on December 10, 2025.]
Staff Contact:
Robert Lyles, Media Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Manager
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
There is no strategic importance associated with this report. However, maintaining credibility and transparency in the District's official communications remains essential to engagement with riders, stakeholders, and the many communities served by the District.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this action.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Staff Report 25-525a is an amended item to proposed Board Policy 455 - Media and Public Statement Policy, which was initially presented at the December 10, 2025, Board of Directors meeting. At that meeting, the Board approved a motion requesting additional clarity to what was originally Section F: Media Contact with Board Members, specifically subsections (1) and (2).
In response, staff developed and incorporated a definition of Official District Matters, which clarifies that the term encompasses matters related to how the District is governed and operated, how services are delivered, how public funds are used, and how the District represents itself to the public; particularly those matters that reflect the District's official position or may affect its interests.
In addition, a new subtopic, Section E: Communications on Official District Matters, has been added to the Policy. This section clarifies the applicability of the Policy and outlines procedures for referring media inquiries that seek District attribution, while preserving employees' righ...
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