ALAMEDA-CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT DISTRICT  
MINUTES  
Board of Directors/Board Officers Retreat  
HYBRID MEETING  
AC Transit General Offices  
2nd Floor Board Room - 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, California  
Phone (669) 900 6833 Webinar ID: 984 8717 5063  
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 9:00 AM  
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
JOEL YOUNG, PRESIDENT (AT-LARGE)  
DIANE SHAW, VICE PRESIDENT (WARD 5)  
JOVANKA BECKLES (WARD 1)  
JEAN WALSH (WARD 2)  
SARAH SYED (WARD 3)  
MURPHY MCCALLEY (WARD 4)  
H. E. CHRISTIAN PEEPLES (AT-LARGE)  
BOARD OFFICERS  
MICHAEL A. HURSH, GENERAL MANAGER/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  
JILL A. SPRAGUE, GENERAL COUNSEL/CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER  
LINDA A. NEMEROFF, BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER/DISTRICT SECRETARY  
1.  
CALL TO ORDER  
The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District held a Board of Directors/Board Officers Retreat on  
Wednesday, August 30, 2023.  
The meeting was called to order by President Young at 9:00 a.m.  
2.  
3.  
ROLL CALL  
Director Beckles arrived at 9:39 a.m.  
Vice President Shaw arrived at 9:01 a.m.  
Present:  
YOUNG, SHAW, BECKLES, WALSH, SYED, McCALLEY, PEEPLES  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
[Written comment received prior to the meeting is incorporated into the minutes by reference  
as Exhibit A.]  
Sasha Przybyla commented on a petition that had been started at Change.org to add a 3:15  
PM time to the P line schedule. (submitted written comment)  
4.  
DISCUSSION ITEM(S)  
4.A. Employee retention.  
23-349  
Staff Contact:  
Sebron Flenaugh III, Executive Director of Human Resources  
Executive Director of Human Resources Sebron Flenaugh made a presentation  
addressing the retention strategy, workforce needs, professional development and  
succession management. General Manager Hursh committed to providing regular  
quarterly progress reports to the Board.  
Public Comment:  
Vanetta Keefe commented that screen went blank during the presentation.  
The report was presented for information only.  
4.B. Receipt of recent polling results and efforts to engage with local cities  
23-348  
to fund public transit [Requested by Director Beckles - 12/8/21]  
Staff Contact:  
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing &  
Communications  
Presenter:  
Sara LaBatt, EMC Research  
Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing and Communications Beverly Greene  
introduced Sarah LaBatt with EMC Research, who presented a summary report of  
polling results regarding a potential parcel tax measure in 2024. Director of Legislative  
Affairs and Community Relations Claudia Burgos made a presentation about partnering  
with municipalities to fund public transit.  
Public Comment:  
Jane Kramer commented that community and neighborhoods need to own their  
transportation systems. Kramer also believed that motorists benefited when taxes were  
raised, not public transit riders.  
Darrell Owens commented that fewer people have a connection to busses and that  
local policymakers are detached from public transit affairs.  
Adina Levin commented that AC Transit needs to have a positive vision and collaborate  
with cities on its specific and regional measures.  
George Spies commented that when a clear added value is defined such as service  
improvements, the measures are more effective, and the public would be inclined to  
support.  
The item was presented for information only.  
4.C. Transit Priority. [Requested by Director Walsh - 4/12/23]  
23-347  
Staff Contact:  
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering  
Transportation Planning Manager Jim Cunradi made a presentation about challenges  
facing the District in making the streets bus and pedestrian friendly as well as the  
efforts to upgrade transit signal equipment.  
Public Comment:  
Adina Levin commented that a great deal of information paints a positive picture of  
more reliable and cost-effective transit.  
George Spies would encourage the City of Oakland to partner with AC Transit on signal  
priority projects.  
The item was presented for information only.  
The Board took a brief recess at 12:23 p.m. and resumed the meeting at 12:26 p.m. All Board  
members were present.  
4.D. Overview of Switzerland Study Tour and the American Public  
Transportation Association (APTA) Study Tour & International  
Association of Public Transport (UITP) 2023 Summit in  
Madrid-Valencia-Barcelona, Spain.  
23-350  
Presenters:  
Ramakrishna Pochiraju, Executive Director of Planning & Engineering  
Vice President Shaw  
Director Syed  
Director of Service Development and Planning Robert del Rosario made a presentation  
on key observations from the study tour in Switzerland. Service Planning Manager  
Michael Eshleman, Vice President Shaw and Director Syed provided an overview of the  
American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Study Tour & International  
Association of Public Transport (UITP) 2023 Summit in Madrid-Valencia-Barcelona,  
Spain.  
Public Comment:  
Jane Kramer commented on differences between European and local transit systems.  
The item was presented for information only.  
5.  
6.  
BOARD/STAFF COMMENTS  
(Government Code Section 54954.2)  
Congratulations were offered to the General Manager and staff on AC Transit's designation as  
Outstanding Public Transit System by the American Public Transportation Association.  
ADJOURNMENT  
There being no further business to come before the Board of Directors, the meeting adjourned  
at 1:17 p.m.  
Respectfully submitted,  
/s/  
Linda A. Nemeroff  
Board Administrative Officer/District Secretary