Elk Grove City Council Regular Meeting – April 8, 2026

This meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned at 7:38 p.m. The council approved the agenda, received several proclamations and awards, heard public comments on housing and the Flock Safety camera contract amendment, approved the consent calendar (including the Flock amendment), adopted an updated development‑fee schedule, and received a report on the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts for 2025.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Autism Acceptance Month – Councilmember Brewer read a proclamation recognizing April 2026 as Autism Acceptance Month and April 2, 2026 as World Autism Awareness Day. Representatives from Gold’s Growth‑Oriented Adapted Learning Skills (GOALS) accepted and spoke about their inclusive bowling program.
• American Muslim Appreciation & Awareness Month – Vice Mayor Suen read a proclamation declaring April 2026 as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month in Elk Grove. A member of the Tarbiya Institute accepted, emphasizing the Islamic concept of neighborliness (jira) and the importance of local community strength during global instability.
• 75th Anniversary of the Elk Grove Lions Club – Councilmember Spees presented a certificate of recognition. The Lions Club has donated over $2 million and thousands of volunteer hours since 1951, raised nearly $35,000 last year, and contributed 2,400 volunteer hours.
• Stars of Service Awards – The mayor announced seven awards:
  • Residents, Neighborhoods & Community Groups: Yana Schober (over a decade supporting cultural events)
  • Social & Community Services: Carolyn Bronkowski (30 years of volunteer service, blood donor, suicide hotline)
  • Arts: JYL Foundation (youth arts, leadership, community service)
  • Culture & Heritage: Eva Zhu (founder of “California is my home,” cultural events, translation services)
  • Sports & Recreation: Bianca Solano (soccer coach promoting inclusion)
  • Service Organizations & Groups: Visions in Motion Adult Day Program (nearly a decade supporting adults with developmental disabilities)
  • Young Volunteer of the Year: Carly Clark (youth commissioner, service projects)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joey Mai – A guest at the Elk Grove Home Shelter, he expressed frustration about delays in being housed at Adam’s Town (the housing manager had been in place for nine weeks but he had not been approved). The city manager’s office (Sarah Bontrager) said they would follow up with him the next day.
• Item 7.11 – Flock Safety Contract Amendment – Six speakers (Ellen B., Lindsay Halsell, Rico G., Alison Randall, Jeff Toon, Sydney Poole, and Stefan F.) urged the council to pull the item from the consent calendar and wait for an independent audit by the California Department of Justice before expanding the Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) system. They cited security vulnerabilities, privacy concerns, and documented sharing of data with federal agencies (including ICE) in other California cities. They argued that a competitive bidding process should be required and that the contract amendment should be delayed until the audit is complete.
  • The Police Chief responded, stating that Elk Grove has not shared data with federal agencies, uses secure systems, and that the reported breaches (e.g., in Dunwoody, Georgia) involved a different camera type not used in Elk Grove. He emphasized that the technology aids public safety and that the city was voted #1 place to live in California partly because of effective policing tools.

Discussion Items

• Consent Calendar (including Item 7.11) – After hearing public comments and the chief’s response, councilmembers (Vice Mayor Suen, others) expressed confidence in the police department’s safeguards and the value of the flock system for solving crimes. The City Attorney clarified that the council has discretion to award the contract under the “best interest” exception without a formal competitive process. The consent calendar was approved unanimously (5‑0).
• Item 8.1 – Development Fee Schedule Update – Community Development Director Christopher Jordan presented the proposal to align fees with actual costs, move to time‑and‑materials billing for improvement plan review and inspection, and update obsolete fees. The fee schedule had not been comprehensively updated since 2011. No public comments were received. Councilmember Brewer asked about the “at contracted cost” language for on‑site noticing; Jordan clarified it reflects the current contract rate. The resolution adopting the updated fee schedule was approved unanimously.
• Item 9.1 – DEI Update (Calendar Year 2025) – Deputy City Manager Kara Redig reported:
  • 328 non‑sworn staff and 106 sworn officers trained on DEI‑related topics; 96.1% of the organization received training.
  • The city again scored 100 on the Municipal Equality Index (LGBTQIA+ inclusion).
  • New hires: 57% non‑white, 53% female.
  • Employee diversity ratio (non‑Caucasian): 47%, a consistent five‑year increase.
  • Initiatives include a second DEI trainer (Ready Set), continued blind‑screen recruitment, mentorship, diversity festivals, and flag‑raising ceremonies (Pride and Wilton Rancheria tribal flags). Councilmembers praised the progress and leadership.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar Approved – Including Item 7.11: the sixth amendment to the Flock Safety ALPR contract was approved without being pulled from consent. The council rejected calls for a delay pending a DOJ audit.
• Development Fee Resolution Adopted – The updated schedule took effect with the vote (unanimous).
• DEI Update Received – The council accepted the report with commendations; no formal action needed.
• Referrals: The housing concern raised by Joey Mai was referred to city staff for follow‑up.
• Upcoming Events: City Manager reminded of immigration enforcement listening sessions (April 14, District 56), Pan Dulce Fest (April 12), Family Fun Day (April 18), and used oil filter exchange events.