Sacramento City Council/Housing Authority Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Sacramento City Council and Housing Authority convened on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting was called to order at 2:15 PM and adjourned at 4:53 PM to closed session. The agenda included consent calendar items, three public hearings on nuisance abatement fees and a road easement vacation, and discussion calendar items on annual housing reports, the CDBG allocation process, and a joint application for State HomeKey+ funding for a senior housing project. A total of 14 consent items were approved, and all public hearings were concluded. The council voted unanimously to authorize the HomeKey+ application after extensive public comment and deliberation.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Passed a Fourth Amendment to the Purchase and Sale Agreement with Phoenix Enterprises, Inc. for properties at 1022 and 1030 Del Paso Boulevard (Successor Agency Motion No. 2025-0002). Councilmembers Dickinson, Pluckebaum, and Mayor McCarty recused.
• Item 2: Received and filed the March 2025 Monthly Investment Transactions Report.
• Item 3: Approved a $150,000 supplement to contract with Dean Gazzo Roistacher, LLP for legal services (Motion No. 2025-0126, not-to-exceed $245,000).
• Item 4: Authorized supplemental agreement with Graymont Western US Inc. for quicklime, increasing the total to $500,000 (Motion No. 2025-0127).
• Item 5: Passed for publication an ordinance revising parking meter rates effective July 1, 2025.
• Item 6: Approved a supplement to contract with Dean Gazzo Roistacher, LLP increasing the amount to $350,000 (Motion No. 2025-0128).
• Item 7: Approved the City Auditor’s Recommendation Follow-Up Report for the six months ending December 31, 2024 (Motion No. 2025-0192).
• Item 8: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0112 authorizing a $643,000 budget increase and a $467,608 professional services agreement with Environmental Science Associates for the Sacramento Valley Station Regional Bus Mobility Hub NEPA review.
• Item 9: Authorized supplemental contract with Goodwin-Cole Co., Inc. for shade canopy repair, extending the contract to June 30, 2026, and increasing the total to $597,694 (Motion No. 2025-0130).
• Item 10: Passed a motion supporting three Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant applications for transportation infrastructure at 1517 I Street, 1601 69th Street, and 7595 Wainscott Way (Motion No. 2025-0131). Councilmember Kaplan discussed the project near Sac State.
• Item 11: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0113 establishing the Stone Beetland Development Parks project with a $40,000 budget.
• Item 12: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0114 authorizing the City Manager to sign a petition supporting renewal of the Del Paso Boulevard Property and Business Improvement District (PBID). Councilmember Dickinson noted the importance of the PBID for economic development.
• Item 13: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0115 accepting a bequest of up to $2 million from the Estate of Edward L. Prindle for animal shelter funding and establishing a new Capital Project Fund 3705.
• Item 14: Passed Resolution No. 2025-0116 awarding a $568,763 contract to Imagecon, Inc. for Thelma Park construction, approving the park name, and authorizing removal of four trees.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing – Item 15 (Housing and Dangerous Buildings Fees): One speaker, Luke Sharr, requested postponement of a property at 418th Street pending an administrative hearing. The council proceeded with the resolution as amended.
• Discussion Calendar – Item 20 (HomeKey+ Application): Eleven speakers addressed the council. Supporters included Michael Bevins, Dahlia Ramirez Robles, Daniel Savala, Timothy Smith, Varun, Aaron Thompson, Sherry Kirk Lang, Jermaine Dinkins, Marilyn Woods, Damond, and Jonathan Cook. They emphasized the need for permanent supportive housing, especially for seniors and veterans, and highlighted the project’s potential to transform a vacant lot and reduce homelessness. Opponents included Mary Tappel, Nancy Azevedo, and Theresa McConnell, who raised concerns about overconcentration of services in District 2, safety along the bike trail, and the lack of community input in the placement process. Some speakers, like Sonia Smith and Dr. Gina Warren, supported the project but urged prioritization of District 2 homeless residents and local hiring.

Discussion Items

• Item 18 – Annual Housing Reports: Christine Weichert of SHRA presented the 2024 annual report on housing trust funds, mixed-income housing, SRO units, and the city-county affordable housing plan. Key statistics: $39.7 million collected from the Housing Trust Fund since 1989; $10.8 million from the Mixed-Income Housing Ordinance since 2015; 303 permanent supportive housing units created in 2024 (exceeding the 300-unit goal), and over 1,100 affordable housing units. Councilmember Kaplan noted that the high production was due to prior funding, and future production may decline as one-time COVID funds are exhausted. The council reviewed and provided direction.
• Item 19 – 2026 One-Year Action Plan CDBG Workshop: Stephanie Green presented the second workshop, recommending $1.16 million for infrastructure and public facilities, including Robla Park Restroom Project and Earl Warren Park Restroom Project. Councilmembers discussed the need for restrooms in parks, the CDBG eligibility boundaries, and the importance of leveraging state funds. Vice Mayor Talamantes suggested splitting design and construction for future projects like Mangan Park. Councilmember Vang noted that District 8 had no projects in the current list but had received funding in prior years. The council reviewed and provided direction.
• Item 20 – HomeKey+ Application for Rio Linda Senior Housing: Brian Pedro (DCR) and John Vignocchi (Urban Capital) presented a joint application for up to $28.4 million in State HomeKey+ funding to build 100 permanent supportive housing units for seniors and veterans at 2809 Rio Linda Boulevard. The project would be 100% HomeKey-funded for capital costs (approx. $200,000 per unit), with the city committing $1.5 million in HHAP 4 and 5 funds for services. The units would be 240-square-foot studios with kitchenettes and bathrooms, set within a gated community with security cameras and a good neighbor policy. Councilmember Dickinson expressed initial struggle but ultimately supported the application, emphasizing the need for equity and housing across all districts. Councilmember Vang and others asked about prioritization of District 2 homeless residents, capacity constraints, and maintenance reserves. The council voted unanimously to authorize the application.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Adopted by a single vote with recusals on Item 1. All items were approved as recommended.
• Public Hearing – Item 15: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0117, making unpaid nuisance abatement expenses (totaling $56,249.65 on 80 properties) personal obligations and special assessments. The motion passed 9-0 (Guerra/Maple).
• Public Hearing – Item 16: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0118, making unpaid code compliance fees and penalties (totaling $758,585 on 385 properties) personal obligations and special assessments. The motion passed 9-0 (Guerra/Talamantes).
• Public Hearing – Item 17: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0119, vacating a portion of the public road easement at 1016 Carmelita Avenue. The motion passed 9-0 (Dickinson/Talamantes).
• Item 20 – HomeKey+ Application: Adopted Resolution No. 2025-0120, authorizing the joint application for up to $28.4 million in HomeKey+ funding and committing $1.5 million in HHAP funds. The motion passed 9-0 (Dickinson/Vang). The council also directed staff to prioritize District 2 homeless seniors and veterans, ensure a strong good neighbor policy, and report back on the project’s progress.