Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting - November 13, 2024

The Elk Grove City Council held a regular meeting on November 13, 2024, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, a consent calendar approval, a public hearing on Old Town Special Planning Area amendments, and a fiscal year budget report. Council also set future agenda items.

Presentations & Announcements

• Proclamation recognizing November 2024 as Native American Heritage Month: Presented by Councilmember Suen. Accepted by the Vice Chairman of Wilton Rancheria, who highlighted the tribe’s resilience and recent milestone as majority owner of the Sacramento Republic FC soccer stadium.
• Proclamation recognizing November 2024 as California Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month: Presented by Mayor Singh-Allen. Accepted by members of the Bradshaw Sikh Society, who honored the mayor’s leadership and noted the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh genocide.
• Proclamation recognizing November 2024 as Global Entrepreneurship Month and November 18–22 as Global Entrepreneurship Week: Presented by Councilmember Robles and accepted by representatives of the Carlson Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and local business owners.
• Diversity and Inclusion Commission Annual Update: Chair Tina Levote reported on 2024 activities including proclamations, Pride events, the Cultural Connections event, and the September cultural celebration attracting 5,000 visitors. Upcoming initiatives include proposed changes to the city’s code of ethics and the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index results.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kirk Thompson: Supported the recent council pay raise but criticized its timing (after the filing deadline for elections), urging a rule to limit future pay increases to non-election years or before the filing deadline.
• Mark Graham (twice): Urged the council to address understaffing in financial crime investigations, noting one detective handles 125 cases. Proposed adding 2–4 investigators and suggested a closed session with police to assess needs.
• Lynn Wheat: Urged the council to donate $2,500 received from RJ Reynolds Tobacco to a high school health academy or scholarship fund, referencing the Great American Smoke Out.
• Suzanne Pesci (twice): Highlighted flood risks in Zone 13 (Deer Creek area) with a 10-year levee, and supported the ordinance on drainage features (item 7.15). Recommended a community outreach plan to educate residents on drainage maintenance.
• Alan Vito: Expressed support for Old Town revitalization but stressed the need for unified safety measures among businesses to avoid shootings, trash, and illegal food vendors.
• Peggy Forsyth Andrews (on item 8.1): Voiced concern that the Historic Preservation Committee was not consulted on the Old Town SPA amendment, citing the committee’s charge to review historic district plans.

Consent Calendar

• Items approved unanimously (7.1–7.15): Included approval of meeting minutes, monthly disbursements, ordinance adoptions (CFD annexations), reimbursement agreements, fee waivers for ADUs, final maps, contract amendments, library project re-bidding, and an ordinance amending construction and drainage regulations.
• Public comment on item 7.15 from Suzanne Pesci supported the drainage ordinance; staff noted they have issued maintenance letters to affected property owners.

Discussion Items

• Item 8.1 – Old Town Special Planning Area Amendment (bars, breweries, wineries, brew pubs): Planning Manager Antonio Ablog presented the proposal to increase the cap on Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) from three to six. The third CUP was recently approved. Staff indicated no specific projects are pending, and each CUP would be reviewed case-by-case with conditions. The Planning Commission had recommended approval unanimously. Councilmembers expressed concerns about safety, enforcement of existing CUPs, and the lack of input from the Historic Preservation Committee. Councilmember Suen suggested a comprehensive safety plan for Old Town. The item was continued to February 12, 2025, to allow further engagement with the HPC and Old Town Foundation, and to develop a safety plan.
• Item 9.1 – Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Year-End Report: Budget Manager Nathan Bagwill reported general fund revenues exceeded budget by $4.6M (5%) due to higher investment earnings. Expenditures were $3.8M under budget due to vacancies and operational savings. The city allocated $5.8M in excess funds to the Pension Trust. The council adopted the resolution amending the FY 2024-25 budget and reserve policy. Councilmember Robles requested a future budget table showing the true cost of homelessness across departments.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Old Town SPA Amendment (8.1): Continued to February 12, 2025, with direction to engage Historic Preservation Committee, Old Town Foundation, and develop a comprehensive safety plan.
• Budget Year-End Report (9.1): Resolution adopted unanimously, including allocation to Pension Trust. Staff to include a table on homelessness costs in the next budget cycle.
• Future Agenda Items: Council directed staff to prepare a report on the feasibility of reimagining the Arts Commission as an Arts and Creative Economy Commission, to be presented at the next meeting before opening the recruitment process.