OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Funds Commission Meeting – August 26, 2026

Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Funds Commission — Wednesday, August 26, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionAnn Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Funds Commission
DateWednesday, August 26, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 43:13

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Absent Commissioner Brown here.

0:02

Commissioner Stevens?

0:03

Here.

0:04

Commissioner Ubad.

0:05

Here.

0:06

Commissioner Seymour is absent.

0:08

Commissioner Rule.

0:09

Here.

0:10

Vice President Smith is absent.

0:12

And President Ellis.

0:13

Here.

0:14

Thank you.

0:14

We have a quorum.

0:16

Before we begin, a brief reminder for members of the public in attendance.

0:21

Speaker slips are to be submitted digitally.

0:24

You can register to speak by scanning the QR code posted at the back of the chambers or through the kiosk.

0:31

Submissions must be received prior to the item being called.

0:36

Once the item is called, public comment will be closed.

0:40

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak.

0:50

Please rise if you're able for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramentals, indigenous people, and tribal lands.

1:00

To the original people of this land, the Nissan people, the Southern Maidu Valley Plains, Me Walk, Put One Toon Peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancher Real, Sacramentals, only federal recognized tribe.

1:17

May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the act of practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives.

1:37

Thank you.

1:38

Please remain standing if you can for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:51

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:01

We will now proceed to today's agenda.

2:10

We will start with the consent calendar.

2:14

Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

2:20

Yes, thank you, Chair.

2:21

We do have one speaker that is registered to speak.

2:24

Jesse M.

2:26

Jesse M does not appear to be in the audience.

2:29

So that does conclude our speakers for this item.

2:33

Thank you.

2:34

Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on the consent calendar?

2:43

Thank you.

2:45

Is there a motion and a second for the consent calendar?

2:52

So moved.

2:53

Okay.

2:57

Okay.

2:58

So I have a motion for the consent calendar by Commissioner Contreras and then a second by Commissioner Rule.

3:08

All in favor?

3:10

Aye.

3:11

Aye.

3:12

Any opposed?

3:15

Any abstain.

3:18

The motion passes.

3:23

Okay.

3:26

Now we will move on to the first agenda item.

3:33

Approval of the land and birthday Hintra Memorial Funds Commission meeting minutes.

3:39

Chair, that was actually on the consent count oh, I'm sorry.

3:43

We will now move on to the discussion.

3:46

Discussion calendar.

3:47

Okay.

3:47

I apologize.

3:48

Let's move on to the discussion calendar.

3:52

Okay.

3:53

This is the 2027 grant cycle dates, forms, and process.

3:59

Is there a staff presentation?

4:05

Full presentation, but there is some information to be provided to commissioners.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Grant Management█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Procedural██████████16%
Public Comments███████11%
Facility Management█2%
Public Records Act█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Funds Commission Meeting – August 26, 2026

The Ann Land and Bertha Henschel Memorial Funds Commission held a regular meeting on August 26, 2026, at 5:40 p.m. at Sacramento City Hall, chaired by President Sheila Ellis. Commissioners present: Alex Brown, Joseph Contreraz, Catherine Ruhl, Kim Stephens, Teresa Ubag, and President Ellis. Absent: Peter Coletto, Khalil Malik, Christion Seymour, and Talbott Smith. The meeting covered routine approvals, the 2027 grant cycle process, and semiannual reports, concluding at 6:24 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of April 29, 2026, Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2026-00064): Passed by motion (Contreraz/Ruhl) with a unanimous vote of 6‑0. The vote formally approved the draft minutes.
  • Site Visit Reports 2026 (File ID: 2026-01535): Received and filed as part of the same consent motion, with a unanimous vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Consent Calendar: One speaker, Jesse M., was registered but did not appear; no public comment was heard.
  • Matters Not on the Agenda (Public Comments): Jesse M. spoke, raising concerns about oversight of community-based organizations receiving grants, including effectiveness measurement and grievance procedures for people with disabilities. He also described personal difficulties contacting a city representative regarding alleged misconduct by a nonprofit. Chair Ellis acknowledged the comments and indicated follow-up would be arranged.

Discussion Items

  • 2027 Grant Cycle Dates, Forms and Process (File ID: 2026-01490):
    • Staff (Brian Vargas and Julie Garrin) presented updates, including a new online grant management system (used previously by Sacramento Children’s Fund). Issues from past use were noted (e.g., un-saved scores, attachment viewing) but were largely resolved.
    • All commissioners will score applications; final funding decisions will be made collectively in the November meeting after applicant presentations and score averaging.
    • Commissioners proposed edits to the 2027 Grant Guidelines and Application:
      • Remove the COVID‑19 section.
      • Add a field for the applicant’s website.
      • Include “mental well‑being” as a funding priority.
    • Commissioner Stephens and Commissioner Ruhl raised challenges reaching grantees for site visits; they urged better communication of contact expectations to grantees. Staff indicated they would include language in grant agreements and award letters.
    • Commissioner Contreraz asked about the scoring process and how divergent scores among commissioners are handled; it was clarified that scores are averaged and funding thresholds decided collectively.
  • Semiannual Reports 2026 (January–June) (File ID: 2026-01534):
    • No formal presentation; staff provided a summary table of carryover and explanations.
    • Commissioner Ruhl noted difficulties contacting some organizations for mid‑year visits and highlighted that reports were submitted on time but site visits were delayed.
    • Commissioner Ellis identified apparent typographical errors in the table (duplicate comments for different organizations). Staff agreed to correct and re-issue the document.
    • A discussion arose about whether grant funds could be used for facility/equipment needs (e.g., refrigerators for food storage). Commissioners agreed current guidelines do not allow this, but the suggestion was noted for future consideration.

Key Outcomes

  • Motion (6‑0, unanimous): Passed to approve final updates to the 2027 Annual Commission Funding Priorities and the 2027 Grant Guidelines and Application, incorporating edits: removal of the COVID‑19 section, addition of a website field, and inclusion of mental well‑being as a priority. The motion (Ellis/Stephens) also confirmed that the application will open on August 31, 2026, and close on September 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
  • Semiannual Reports: Reviewed and commissioners made comments; no formal action was required. Staff will correct the formatting errors in the table and re-circulate.
  • Commissioner Comments: President Ellis noted that a new board president and vice president will be elected in January 2027 and suggested that the vice president attend pre‑meetings to ensure continuity.
  • Next Meeting: The next meeting will address the grant scoring process and funding allocations in November 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Absent Commissioner Brown here. Commissioner Stevens? Here. Commissioner Ubad. Here. Commissioner Seymour is absent. Commissioner Rule. Here. Vice President Smith is absent. And President Ellis. Here. Thank you. We have a quorum. Before we begin, a brief reminder for members of the public in attendance. Speaker slips are to be submitted digitally. You can register to speak by scanning the QR code posted at the back of the chambers or through the kiosk. Submissions must be received prior to the item being called. Once the item is called, public comment will be closed. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak. Please rise if you're able for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramentals, indigenous people, and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissan people, the Southern Maidu Valley Plains, Me Walk, Put One Toon Peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancher Real, Sacramentals, only federal recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the act of practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing if you can for the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We will now proceed to today's agenda. We will start with the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Yes, thank you, Chair. We do have one speaker that is registered to speak. Jesse M. Jesse M does not appear to be in the audience. So that does conclude our speakers for this item. Thank you. Are there any commissioners who wish to speak on the consent calendar? Thank you. Is there a motion and a second for the consent calendar? So moved. Okay. Okay. So I have a motion for the consent calendar by Commissioner Contreras and then a second by Commissioner Rule. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstain. The motion passes. Okay. Now we will move on to the first agenda item. Approval of the land and birthday Hintra Memorial Funds Commission meeting minutes.

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