Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting – March 13, 2024
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Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting – March 13, 2024
The Elk Grove City Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, beginning at 6:07 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations for Women's History Month and American Red Cross Month, public comments on school clubs and the winter sanctuary, approval of the consent calendar, continuation of a public hearing, and appointment of a voting member to the Sacramento Environmental Commission. Councilmember Kevin Spease was absent (out of town for work). The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Presentations/Announcements
- Proclamation – Women's History Month (March 2024): Vice Chairwoman Raquel Williams of the Wilton Rancheria Tribal Council accepted the proclamation. She highlighted the role of Indigenous women and women of color, and thanked the city for its land acknowledgement. A public commenter, Michael Monoski, criticized the proclamation, arguing that it glossed over systemic issues women face and that the city's recognition was superficial.
- Proclamation – American Red Cross Month (March 2024): Councilmember Suen presented the proclamation to American Red Cross representatives Michael Lau and Mark Montgomery. Lau thanked the city for its support. Monoski again commented, citing NPR/ProPublica reports on Red Cross spending after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and a pending lawsuit, calling the city's recognition “glad-handing” and embarrassing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kirk Thompson spoke about rainbow clubs (GSAs) at elementary schools, alleging that at Pleasant Grove Elementary a teacher recruited children as young as eight without parental notification or permission slips. He criticized the school district for training staff on how to handle parental resistance, and urged parents to contact school officials.
- Keith Dieterick (President/CEO of The Gathering Inn) praised the city’s winter-only sanctuary and listed many partner organizations and volunteers. He highlighted the story of Councilmember Robles who drove a homeless person to the shelter on a rainy night. Two formerly homeless individuals, Tina Green and Danny Snyder, shared their success stories of obtaining housing through the program. The city council expressed appreciation and pride.
- Michael Monoski commented on Consent Calendar Item 7.4 (delegation of conflicts waiver authority), arguing it would enable loose ethics and urged the council not to approve it.
General Administration Information
- Deputy City Manager Kara Reddick reported:
- The enhanced winter sanctuary will be extended through the end of April 2024 due to careful spending and savings.
- The federal spending bill signed into law in March 2024 included more than $2.2 million for three Elk Grove projects: domestic violence intervention/prevention, zero-emission vehicle municipal infrastructure, and Bruceville walkability improvements.
- A monthly Latin Night Market at District 56 starts Friday, March 15, 2024, from 5–9 PM.
- The Youth Commission will host a Youth Leadership Forum on Thursday, March 21, 2024, 5:30–7 PM at District 56 (free, registration required).
- The State of the City speech is scheduled for Friday, March 29, 2024, at 12:30 PM at District 56 (tickets from Chamber of Commerce; live streamed).
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent calendar (items 7.1–7.9) by a 4-0 vote (Spease absent). Items included:
- Approval of meeting minutes from February 28, 2024.
- Reports on City Manager approved purchases, RFPs, and bids.
- Resolution delegating authority to City Manager and City Attorney to waive conflicts of interest in legal services (Item 7.4).
- Resolution approving Final Map for Arbor Ranch, Phase 1.
- Resolution approving the FY2024 Citywide Crack Seal Project ($913,004.90 contract with Global Road Sealing, Inc.).
- Resolution authorizing amendments to contracts with Azteca Systems, LLC and Timmons Group for Cityworks Permits, Licensing, and Land System module.
- Resolution increasing change order authority for Pavement Repairs and Curb Ramp Improvements.
- Resolution approving the 2024 Pavement Maintenance Project – ADA and Concrete Repairs ($1,304,999 contract with FBD Vanguard Construction, Inc.).
Public Hearing: Sheldon Park Estates Amendment (Item 8.1)
- The public hearing was continued to the March 27, 2024 regular meeting as recommended by staff. No public speakers were signed up. The council voted unanimously to continue.
Regular Agenda Action Item: Appointment to Sacramento Environmental Commission (Item 9.1)
- City Clerk Jason Lindgren reported that the previous appointee, Eric Rivera Montes, served three terms and was unable to continue. Two candidates applied: Michael Monoski and Eugene Lee.
- Public comment: Michael Monoski spoke in support of his own application, citing his professional background in energy policy and his role as a climate ambassador. He submitted a complaint regarding a health impact assessment for the zoo project.
- Mayor Singh-Allen nominated Eugene Lee, citing his extensive experience and ability to represent the city well. The council unanimously approved the appointment of Eugene Lee as the Elk Grove voting member to the Sacramento Environmental Commission.
Council Comments / Reports / Future Agenda Items
- Councilmember Robles: Nothing to report.
- Councilmember Suen: Attended a brief SAC Sewer meeting.
- Vice Mayor Brewer: Reported on a SACRT transit board meeting discussing federal funding and branding.
- Mayor Singh-Allen waived her report.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved 4-0.
- Public hearing for Sheldon Park Estates continued to March 27, 2024.
- Eugene Lee appointed to the Sacramento Environmental Commission.
- Winter sanctuary extended through April 2024.
- The meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM.
Meeting Transcript
We convene. And I would like to make the following disclosure by a four to zero vote with uh council member Spees absent. The City Council authorized and directed the city attorney's office to defend the cases of Rogers, the County of Sacramento and all, and Teodoro Tristan v. City City of Elk Grove and all, as identified by the case number on the City Council meeting agenda. With that, we will adjourn the special meeting at 6.07 p.m. And at this time I would like to call to order the Elkgrove City Council regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, March the 13th, 2024. It is 6.07 p.m. Clerk. Thank you, Mayor. This meeting the Elk Grove City Council be cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast Consolidated Communications and ATT Uverse Cable Systems. The meeting is closed caption and webcast at Metro14Live.gov. Tonight's meeting replays will be on Friday, March 15th at 1 p.m. And Sunday, March 17th at 6 p.m. on Channel 14. Previous meetings can be viewed online at the 3Ws.lgroveCity.org or YouTube.com backwards slash Metro Cable 14. For members of the participating audience who may have personal electronic devices, please place them on silent mode during the meeting or on mute when you are not speaking. So at all present will have time to participate. City Council reserves the right to reasonably limit the total time for public comment on any particular notice agenda item as it may deem necessary. Pursuant to resolution number 210-24, no individual speaker concerning public comment may address the city council for more than three minutes. If you wish to address the council during the meeting, please complete a blue speaker card, which can be found at the back of the chamber and provide to assistant City Clerk Hagard prior to consideration of the agenda item. Thank you, Mayor. And with that, I'll be moving on to the roll call. And for the roll call, I will be starting with Councilmember Robles. Present. I'll note that Councilmember Spees is absent. Councilmember Sewen. Here. Vice Mayor Brewer. Present. And Mayor Singh Allen. Here. And we have four members. For the record, I would like to note that Councilmember Spees is out of town for work. So he wanted to make sure that you all knew that. Thank you. Next up is our land acknowledgement. Would the Vice Mayor please read our land acknowledgement? Thank you, Mayor. We honor, respect, and acknowledge Elk Grove's first inhabitants, the Plains Miwok, who lived as sovereign caretakers of this land and these waterways since time immemorial. We commemorate and advocate for their descendants, the Wilton Rancheria tribe, the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County who endure because of their bravery, resiliency, and determination of their ancestors. Tribal members and leaders. All right, thank you. Next up is our Pledge of Allegiance. Would Councilmember Robles please lead us? Pledge. Thank you. Please join us for a moment of silence. Thank you. Next up is our approval of the agenda.
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