The Elk Grove City Council convened on January 28, 2026, at 6:01 p.m. for a regular meeting that addressed multiple city initiatives, homeless services, community partnerships, and legislative updates. The meeting featured proclamations, new hire introductions, public hearings on zoning amendments, and discussions on regional homelessness governance.
Mayor Bobby Singh Allen called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. following a closed session where the Council authorized, by a 5-0 vote, the City Attorney's Office to initiate litigation in one undisclosed matter. All council members were present: Vice Mayor Suen, Council Member Robles, Council Member Spees, and Council Member Brewer.
The meeting began with a land acknowledgment honoring the Plains Miwok people and the Wilton Rancheria tribe, the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by former staff member Darren Wilson.
The Council proclaimed February 2026 as Black History Month with the theme "A Century of Black History Commemorations." The proclamation recognized the Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP) and its President and CEO Laureen Pryor for their work empowering students and families to overcome educational barriers through culturally responsive advocacy.
Laureen Pryor thanked the Council and Police Chief Bobby Davis for their partnership, noting that BYLP serves all children but specifically addresses the disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates of Black students in Elk Grove Unified School District. Mayor Allen acknowledged Pryor's longstanding work to close achievement gaps and change administrative policies affecting Black youth.
The Council welcomed numerous new hires and promotions across city departments:
Police Department:
Other Departments:
Several community members addressed the Council:
Kara Lack and Becca Smith-Hart praised Musical Mayhem Productions (MMP), a youth nonprofit theater company, for winning excellence in music at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. They invited Council members to upcoming performances of "Annie Kids" (February 7-9) and "Rent Teen Edition" (February 20-28) and requested city support for arts programs.
Bonnie Stensler thanked Sergio for his regular visits to Glenbrook, noting residents appreciate his responsiveness and community engagement ("he brings bagels").
Lynn Wheat praised staff's outreach for the permanent homeless shelter and encouraged Council members to personally visit and evaluate each proposed site by walking, waiting for buses, and assessing accessibility to resources before making a decision on February 11th.
Carolyn Soares reported ongoing drainage problems from a neighboring development on Pleasant Grove School Road. Despite repeatedly warning city engineering that changing drainage direction from west-to-east to east-to-west would flood her property, the change was approved and her crawl space now has six inches of water, causing potential structural damage. Staff confirmed they received her email and photos and are working with the developer to resolve the issue.
The Council held a public hearing on an ordinance amending zoning code Title 23 to allow outdoor event center use in agricultural residential (AR) zoning districts and approving conditional use permits for Bartholomew Winery.
Planner Sarah Kirsch-Gessner presented the amendment request for the 10-acre winery site on Elk Grove Boulevard in the Eastern Elk Grove Community Plan area. The project includes:
Text Amendment: Allow outdoor event centers in AR-10, AR-5, AR-2, and AR-1 zones with conditional use permits, requiring:
Conditional Use Permit Amendment:
A professional noise study measured amplified music at the winery and surrounding residential properties. The consultant found that with an 80-foot sound wall, single-story homes (by deed restriction), and existing landscaping, noise levels at property boundaries would comply with the city's 50-decibel standard (daytime 7 a.m.-10 p.m.). The furthest residence measured 525 feet away would experience 41 decibels at 85-decibel source levels—9 decibels below city standards even without accounting for sound wall attenuation.
Opposition:
Support:
Darren Wilson (representing the winery) clarified that typical winery events (48/year) differ from outdoor event center events (18/year on weekends only). Winery events include Rotary/Chamber luncheons and birthday parties, not necessarily with amplification. He researched eight regional wineries within 50 miles—all offered amplified music or weddings, with four located 150-215 feet from residences (closer than Bartholomew).
Wilson emphasized 39 conditions of approval include unprecedented restrictions: no bass-enhancing equipment or subwoofers (except during event center events), no amplified drum kits for winery events, required sound logs with date/time stamps, published contact information for complaints, and real-time sound monitoring. The 80-foot sound wall with single-story homes and trees provides significant sound attenuation beyond the study's conservative measurements.
Council Member Spees proposed amending Condition 23 to require sound logs be retained for only 60 days (instead of indefinitely) to provide reasonable audit standards and prevent compliance issues years later.
Council Member Brewer highlighted Condition 22 requiring immediate reduction if sound exceeds 85 decibels at the reference point, praising the accountability measures and community-business balance.
Vice Mayor Suen noted the project as a "trial run" under Condition 26, which allows revocation or modification for cause with police services available for enforcement. He supported allowing business flexibility on event numbers while maintaining sound standards and accountability.
Mayor Allen emphasized the city's objective sound standards (50 decibels at property line) provide clear protections, the winery's right to compete with neighboring wineries, and appreciation for the Bartholomew family's generational commitment to Elk Grove. She supported real-time complaint mechanisms and enforcement protections.
The Council unanimously approved (5-0) both ordinances with amendments to Conditions 23 and 25 requiring 60-day log retention.
Housing and Public Services Manager Sarah Bontrager presented information on Senate Bill 802 and Sacramento County's revised homeless partnership structure.
The Sacramento Continuum of Care (CoC), managed by Sacramento Steps Forward since 2011, awards approximately $40 million annually in federal HUD funding plus state HAP grants. The CoC runs the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), Coordinated Access System, and conducts the point-in-time count (conducted January 27-28, 2026, with results expected in coming months).
Elk Grove has managed homelessness effectively with less than 2% of the region's unsheltered homeless population despite being a major city. However, regional negative sentiment persists, particularly regarding the City of Sacramento, with perceptions of inadequate coordination and accountability driving two major governance proposals.
Senator Ashby's SB 802 originally proposed creating the Sacramento Area Housing and Homelessness Agency (SAHHA), a Joint Powers Authority replacing the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) and incorporating Sacramento Steps Forward and the CoC into a new homeless division.
Amendments (January 26, 2026): Following negotiations led by City Manager Jason Beerman in summer 2025, recent amendments removed Elk Grove's most significant concerns:
Remaining Concerns:
The County proposed two options following an October 2025 joint meeting with all city mayors and Board of Supervisors:
Recommended Option: Reconstitute the CoC Board to include a majority of elected officials, providing leadership and policy direction while advising the Board of Supervisors and individual city councils—without authority over local spending or land use. Requires CoC agreement (ongoing discussions).
Alternative Option: Create a separate Sacramento Housing and Homeless Board (SHHB) of elected officials to coordinate programs between cities and county, with no formal relationship to the CoC Board.
Both options maintain local land use control and funding authority, which smaller cities (Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Galt, Rancho Cordova) strongly supported at the October meeting. Rancho Cordova approved the recommended option the previous night (January 27). The City of Sacramento expressed interest in a JPA model different from SB 802.
City Manager Jason Beerman clarified that while SB 802 as originally proposed "would have been devastating for the city of Elk Grove" by taking all affordable housing and homelessness funding, the amendments address substantial concerns. He requested authority to move from "oppose" to "neutral" once final technical amendments protecting city funds are confirmed.
Staff recommended supporting the County's recommended option (CoC reconstitution) or alternative option (separate elected board) if the CoC does not agree to restructure. Both maintain Elk Grove's autonomy while improving regional coordination.
Council Discussion: Vice Mayor Suen emphasized Elk Grove's fiduciary duty to residents first, supporting regional collaboration only with protected local autonomy and resources. Mayor Allen noted Senator Ashby's original goal was improving fractured city-county relations and moving the needle on coordination—goals the County has achieved. She supported allowing the County to succeed while remaining neutral on SB 802 with protected amendments.
Council Member Brewer highlighted the January 26 amendments' language protecting Measure E funds (Elk Grove's local sales tax) and praised Beerman's summer 2025 negotiations. He emphasized constant communication with Senator Ashby and the County is essential, with timeline pressures as all amendments must occur before the bill reaches the Senate floor (by June 2026, with final session ending August 30, 2026).
Council Member Spees sought clarification that land use authority concerns (beyond funding) were resolved in amendments—confirmed by Beerman.
The Council unanimously (5-0) authorized staff to:
Mayor Allen thanked Supervisor Hume (present in audience) for leadership on the County proposal and expressed hope Senator Ashby would allow the County opportunity to implement their governance structure, which represents meaningful progress toward her original legislative goals.
Public Works Director Jeff Warner presented the CLEAR (Collaborative Local Efficiency Alignment Review) initiative to streamline landscape maintenance responsibilities between the City and Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD).
Approximately 530 total acres of landscaping outside parks:
The overlapping responsibilities create confusion, inconsistent service standards, delays when calls get passed between agencies, and inefficiency. Both agencies contract with third-party providers for actual maintenance work.
Staff from both agencies developed preliminary alignment principles:
A consultant RFP releasing February 2026 will identify all assets, maintenance costs, and appropriate funding splits to implement this framework over time.
Transfer 64 acres of streetscapes, medians, and trails currently CSD-maintained (on City's behalf) back to City maintenance:
Remaining 62.5 acres stay with CSD due to complex overlap requiring broader CLEAR analysis. This reduces CSD's maintenance-on-behalf-of-City from 127 to 62.5 acres (approximately half).
Staffing: One new Maintenance Specialist position requested in mid-year budget to hire, train, and prepare before July 1 transition. No additional administrative/management staff needed.
Fiscal Impact: Expected to be neutral—similar administrative overhead, similar third-party contract costs subject to same market conditions, eliminates inter-agency billing/invoicing overhead, allows performance data collection to inform ongoing CLEAR discussions.
Process: City Manager and CSD General Manager have MOU authority to execute amendments (updating exhibits only, not overall framework). Changes effective 30 days after written agreement—no Council approval required.
Vice Mayor Suen praised the "clearly the right thing to do" approach that aligns with public intuition (city maintains streets/medians, CSD maintains parks/trails). Council Member Brewer thanked CSD Parks Superintendent Mike Dobson and Recreation Director Tracy Ferris (present in audience) for partnership. Council Member Spees called it "government efficiency" and appreciated the cooperation ending the "antagonistic relationship" from years past.
The Council provided unanimous support and direction for staff to proceed.
Community Engagement & Government Relations Manager Crystal Love-Lazard presented the annual legislative update covering 2025 state and federal legislation.
Shaping Events:
Arts and Community:
Homelessness:
Environmental:
Government Operations:
Housing and Land Use (Major Changes):
Public Safety:
Public Works/Transportation:
Redistricting:
The Council received the report with no questions.
Council Member Brewer reported the Sacramento Public Library Authority Board met January 22, approved the budget audit, and transitioned board leadership to Sacramento City Council Member Katie Maple (Chair) and Citrus Heights Council Member Mary Jane Lopez-Taft (Vice Chair).
Vice Mayor Suen reported the 2025 Blueprint kickoff for Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) occurred January 27 with Council Member Robles attending. The Seward District meeting was canceled.
Council Member Robles thanked city staff and Police Chief Bobby Davis for work on immigration issues and funding for the Fuel Network, encouraging residents to "check in on your neighbors" during divisive national times, specifically referencing Minnesota incidents.
Mayor Allen reported Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) canceled its January 27 meeting due to point-in-time count volunteer commitments. She approved Council Member Robles' request to remain on the Wilton Rancheria two-by-two committee (typically Mayor/Vice Mayor) due to his established relationship and the tribe's irregular meeting schedule. Vice Mayor Suen concurred.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. with Mayor Allen dedicating the adjournment to "all those lives that have been lost in Minnesota, elsewhere in the United States and in the world" and praying for "brighter days ahead" amid national division.
Here, we have reconvened from our closed session, and I have the following item to report out. By a 5-0 vote, the City Council authorized the City Attorney's Office to initiate litigation in one matter. The name of the defendant and details are not subject to disclosure at this time. Once litigation is filed, this information will be disclosed to any person upon inquiry. So with that, we will adjourn our special meeting at 6.01 p.m. And at this time, I will call to order the Elk Grove City Council regular meeting. Today is Wednesday, January the 28th, 2026. The time is 6.01 p.m. Would our assistant clerk here please read the announcement? This meeting of the Elk Grove City Council is recorded with closed captioning. The recording will be cablecast on Metro Cable Channel 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and DirecTV U-Verse cable systems. The recording will also be video streamed at Metro14live.saccounty.gov. Today's meeting replays will happen on Friday, January 30th at 1 p.m. and Sunday, February 1st at 1 p.m. on Metro Cable 14. The Elk Grove City Council welcomes, appreciates, and encourages participation in the City Council meeting. The City Council requests that you limit your presentation to three minutes per person so that all present will have time to participate. The City Council reserves the right to reasonably limit the total time for public comment on any particular noticed agenda item as it may be necessary. Pursuant to resolution number 2010-24, 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 speaker card and give it to the deputy city clerk prior to consideration of the agenda item. All right. Thank you. Next up is our land acknowledgement. Assisting will be our vice mayor. We need to do roll call. Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, roll call. Mayor Bobby Singh Allen. Yes, here. Vice Mayor Suen. Here. Council Member Robles. Present. Council Member Spees. Present. Council Member Brewer. Present. All right. Now, our land acknowledgement. All right. 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 the bravery, resiliency, and determination of their ancestors, tribal members, and leaders. All right, thank you. Next up is our Pledge of Allegiance. I would like to invite up our former Rockstar staff members, Mr. Darren Wilson, if you could join us and help leading the pledge this evening. I'd be honored.