Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting (and Closed Session Report) — December 10, 2025

The Elk Grove City Council met Wednesday, December 10, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m., following a special meeting/closed session report. The Council reorganized leadership for the coming year, approved General Plan amendments to comply with SB 1425 open-space requirements ahead of the January 1, 2026 deadline, received annual reporting on the City’s 24/7 homeless shelter operations (with extensive program and police activity statistics), previewed a community co-creation process to repurpose the current library building after the new library opens in summer 2026, heard an implementation update on SB 1383 organics/edible food recovery, and confirmed committee/board appointments. The regular meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Closed Session Report (reported prior to the regular meeting)

• Litigation (5-0 votes):
  • Council authorized and directed the City Attorney’s Office to defend Lindman vs. City of Elk Grove et al. (case number referenced on the Council agenda).
  • Council authorized the City Attorney’s Office to initiate litigation in one matter; defendant names/details were not disclosed (to be disclosed once filed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Suman Sinha (Chair, Elk Grove Food Bank Board of Directors):
  • Reported the Food Bank served about 8,000 clients/month prior to a federal shutdown, and that the number of people seeking assistance “essentially doubled overnight” during the crisis.
  • Stated the Food Bank is now running slightly over 1,000 clients higher than pre-shutdown levels.
  • Expressed gratitude to City leadership and Council members for support and donations.
• Bonnie Stensler (Glenbrook HOA liaison):
  • Offered holiday well-wishes and thanked City leadership/staff and public safety.
• Lynn Wheat (resident):
  • Expressed support for City efforts to expand bike rack planning and safer bicycle parking.
  • Requested an update regarding the “Slow and Low” property and referenced $450,000 the public was “supposed to receive back” from a default.

Vice Mayor Selection / Council Reorganization

• Action: Council selected Council Member Suen as Vice Mayor for the upcoming year.
• Vote: Approved by voice vote (no dissent noted).
• Seating: Council indicated they would wait until January to make any seating changes (“musical chairs”).

City Manager’s Report (Jason Berman)

• Food Bank donation response: Reported total funds generated through City efforts were over $130,000, including approximately $45,000 directly from the City.
  • Mayor also cited specific contributions including: IBEW $10,000, Plumbers & Pipefitters $7,500, Wilton Rancheria Tribe $50,000, and Sacramento Republic $10,000 (among others).
• Illumination Festival: Estimated ~10,000 attendees, with about half from Elk Grove and about half from outside the City, described as a significant increase over prior years.
• Holiday Toy Project: Elk Grove Police Department and Cosumnes Fire Department to support over 130 families and approximately 350 children; toy donations accepted through December 18.
• Hanukkah event: “Light Up Elk Grove” on Sunday, December 14, 2–5 p.m. at Old Town Plaza; includes a nine-foot LED menorah; City-sponsored.
• Scholarship: City offering a $1,000 scholarship (with the Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation) for students pursuing public service.
• Holiday closures/recess: Council recess December 24; City facilities closed Dec. 24–25 and Dec. 31–Jan. 1; trash service on delayed schedules.
• Next Council meeting: January 14.
• Council direction: Mayor requested future Illumination Festival planning include an ADA-accessible/closed-off area for attendees with disabilities.

Consent Calendar

• Approved as presented by motion and second (no public comment; no dissent noted).

Public Hearing — General Plan Amendments (Open Space Element + Implementation Work Program)

• Item: Amendments to update the Open Space Element for compliance with SB 1425 (equitable access to open space, climate resilience/co-benefits, and rewilding opportunities) and to update the Implementation Work Program (Table 10-1).
• Staff presentation (Carrie Whitlock, Long Range Planning):
  • Noted SB 1425 required updates by January 1, 2026.
  • Identified 20+ existing policies supporting SB 1425 requirements; proposed text edits to 7 policies and adoption of 4 new policies.
  • Added explanatory language on rewilding opportunities (including in the context of any future Habitat Conservation Plan) and climate co-benefits.
  • Implementation Work Program updates included removing completed actions and updating priorities/roles.
  • CEQA: Staff recommended finding no further environmental review required (citing CEQA Guidelines sections 15061 and 15183).
• Public comment: None.
• Action/Vote: Council adopted the resolution approving the amendments (approved by voice vote; no dissent noted).

Discussion Item — Annual Report on Elk Grove Homeless Shelter Operations

• Staff report (Sarah Bontrager, Housing & Public Services Manager):
  • Shelter location: Calvary Christian Center site; capacity up to 30 adults/night plus 5 emergency police drop-off beds.
  • 24/7 operations began November 5, 2024.
  • Operated by The Gathering Inn (TGI); referral-only entry via Homeless Services Navigator verifying an Elk Grove tie; pets and a reasonable amount of belongings allowed.
  • Services: three meals/day, showers, laundry, case management, behavioral/mental health connections, housing navigation, and workforce development.
  • Partnerships highlighted: Elk Grove Food Bank (breakfast/lunch donations), Turning Point (behavioral health/day center), and Elk Grove Heart (move-on deposits/furniture).
  • Neighborhood impacts: stated relatively few complaints; new shelter manager recruitment underway.
  • Shelter utilization/outcomes (past year):
    • 93 people stayed at least one night.
    • Average 24 people/night enrolled.
    • Nearly 9,400 bed nights.
    • Ages 19–74; 27% were 55+.
    • 64 men, 28 women, 1 non-binary person.
    • 3 veterans (described as quickly connected to other resources).
    • More than half had a disability; 23% had a chronic health condition.
    • A little over half were unhoused more than a year before entry.
    • Housing moves: 14 moved to permanent housing; 6 left to family/friends (tracked separately as temporary/unknown permanence).
    • Behavioral health: 54% referred; about 25% successfully linked to a provider and receiving medications.
    • Employment: 7 arrived with jobs; 12 found new/better employment while sheltered.
    • Food support: 740 meals donated by the Food Bank; 278 “Serve Partner” dinner meals (approximately 5 per week).
• Police report (Lt. Josh Magdaleno, Elk Grove Police Department):
  • Police used the 5 emergency beds 25 times.
  • Reported 65% decrease in homeless encampments since the shelter opened.
  • Reported debris collected during bi-weekly cleanups dropped by over 40,000 pounds.
  • Calls for service within a 0.3-mile radius: 711 in the year after opening vs 595 in the year prior (+9.1%).
    • Increase largely attributed to suspicious trespassing calls, which rose 115%, concentrated in nearby commercial areas (Walmart/Elk Village Shopping Center).
  • Calls directly involving the shelter: 51 public-initiated calls total (6 from the public, 32 from employees, 13 from guests).
• Community partner testimony (Elk Grove Heart — Debbie Shanna Safer and Frank Lucia):
  • Described the shelter as a stabilizing resource (especially during cold weather) and cited Sacramento-area street deaths due to hypothermia.
  • Shared success stories emphasizing employment and housing transitions (e.g., a parent reunified with children; a couple working toward apartment eligibility).
• Council comments: Councilmembers expressed support and emphasized partnerships among the City, nonprofits, and public safety; no formal vote was required for receipt of the report.

Discussion Item — Old Library Site Reuse Project (Community Outreach/Engagement Plan)

• Presentation (Jackie Guzman, Assistant City Manager; Ash Kumar, Senior Management Analyst):
  • Purpose: determine future use of the current library building before the library moves to its new location in summer 2026 (building expected available July/August 2026).
  • Introduced a “co-creation” engagement model where residents generate and help design reuse ideas (rather than staff presenting fixed options).
  • Building/site facts: purchased in 2006; 13,875 sq. ft., two-story; 0.88-acre parcel; 45 parking spaces.
  • Key parameters described: maintain existing building footprint, retain parking count, maintain community commercial zoning, preserve façade and height.
  • Proposed timeline/phases:
    • Phase 1 (Preparation): develop visuals, initial reuse scenarios, engagement tools.
    • Phase 2 (Community co-creation): planned for summer 2026 (in-person and online activities).
    • Phase 3 (Analysis/decision): fall 2026, including preliminary cost estimates and feasibility findings; potential return to community for additional input.
• Council direction: General support voiced for the approach and early community input.
  • Mayor asked whether a community suggestion such as selling the property could be considered; staff stated Council could set parameters and that options could be brought back depending on feedback.

Discussion Item — SB 1383 Implementation Update and Edible Food Recovery Working Group Achievements

• Presentation (Kim Taylor, Recycling & Waste Division Manager, Public Works):
  • SB 1383 focus: reduce landfill methane by keeping organics out of trash; includes residential/commercial organics diversion, procurement of recycled organic products (compost/mulch), and edible food recovery.
  • Elk Grove program milestones:
    • Organics expansion began 2022, adding food waste to the green cart.
    • Distributed 13,000+ kitchen-top pails.
    • Conducted route audits/contamination monitoring with Republic Services.
    • Commercial/multifamily compliance: site visits, inspections, technical assistance, and recordkeeping/contamination oversight.
  • Procurement/circular economy actions:
    • Piloted a community compost giveaway.
    • Began using SB 1383-compliant compost/mulch at City sites including areas around the homeless shelter, animal shelter, special waste collection center, corp yard, and police facilities.
  • Regional edible food recovery:
    • Participation in the Capital Food Access Alliance (seven-jurisdiction collaboration).
    • In FY 2024–2025, awarded over $2 million in grants.
    • 29 organizations expanded capacity; 15 serving Elk Grove.
    • Reported over 3 million pounds of edible food recovered through the grant program in Sacramento County.
• Council comments: Supportive comments; no formal action taken.

Key Outcomes

• Closed session litigation actions approved: both items 5-0.
• Vice Mayor selected: Council Member Suen appointed Vice Mayor (voice vote; no dissent noted).
• Consent calendar: approved (no dissent noted).
• General Plan amendments adopted: Open Space Element updated for SB 1425 compliance; Implementation Work Program updated (voice vote; no dissent noted).
• Homeless shelter annual report received: key reported outcomes included 93 guests served, nearly 9,400 bed nights, 14 permanent housing placements, 65% reported encampment decrease, and 40,000+ pounds less debris collected.
• Old library reuse outreach plan endorsed conceptually: Council supported co-creation framework; staff to proceed toward engagement in early 2026/summer 2026.
• SB 1383 progress reported: continued residential/commercial organics programs, procurement steps (compost/mulch), and regional food recovery collaboration.
• Appointments: Council adopted a resolution confirming regional/committee appointments (voice vote; no dissent noted); local appointment list maintained as status quo.