Sacramento City Council Meeting: City Hall Camping Ban Approved, I Street Bridge Funded (July 29, 2025)
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Sacramento City Council Meeting: City Hall Camping Ban Approved, I Street Bridge Funded (July 29, 2025)
The Sacramento City Council met on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:04 PM in City Hall. Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes presided (Mayor Kevin McCarty present from 5:17 PM). The meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM and featured significant debate and decisions on a camping ban at City Hall, funding for the I Street Bridge, and updates on the city’s housing, climate, and general plans.
Special Presentation
Vice Mayor Talamantes presented a resolution recognizing Disability Pride Month. Joseph Wilson (Disabilities Advisory Commission) and Adrian Quintero (Pride Industries) spoke in support of the city’s efforts towards accessibility and employment for people with disabilities.
Consent Calendar
All 27 Consent Calendar items were approved unanimously. Councilmembers highlighted items including:
- Items 1 & 16 (Broadway Vision Zero/Envision Broadway): Praised by Councilmembers Maple, Guerra, and Dickinson for improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Item 5 (Local Partnership Program): Applications submitted for Marysville Boulevard and Broadway Vision Zero projects.
- Item 8 (Fleet Asset Purchases): Councilmember Kaplan noted the $29.45 million expenditure highlights budget challenges.
- Item 11 (START After School Program): Councilmembers Kaplan and Dickinson thanked staff for resolving issues, providing services to 500 students.
- Item 20 (Animal Care Enhancements): Mayor Pro-Tem Guerra thanked staff for addressing facility safety concerns.
- Item 25 (Lobbying Contract): Councilmembers Maple and Kaplan directed the Government Affairs team to provide regular semi-monthly updates to the council on lobbying activities.
Public Hearing
- Item 28 (16th Street PBID Renewal): A public hearing was held for the 10-year renewal of the district. No public comments were received. The council passed a motion approving the assessment and directing the City Clerk to tabulate ballots for a final vote on August 12, 2025.
Discussion Items
29. Prohousing Designation Program Re-Application Staff presented the application for the state program, which involves a new encampment response template. Councilmember Kaplan requested tabling opportunities at her farmers market. Councilmember Guerra noted the designation is critical to scoring state affordable housing grants. The resolution to re-apply passed unanimously (9-0).
33. I Street Bridge Replacement Project Funding Update Staff detailed the $300 million project’s funding plan ($250M federal HBP, $25M state SLPP, $25M local share). Due to Caltrans reimbursement caps, the city will pursue financing via the Sacramento Transportation Authority (STA). Councilmembers expressed strong support for the project’s multimodal connectivity and economic benefits. The council authorized staff to enter into discussions and submit a certification letter. Motion passed 9-0.
30. Ordinance Amending City Code Relating to City Hall Facilities (Camping Ban) This was the most contentious item. The ordinance extends “critical infrastructure” status to City Hall grounds, prohibiting camping and sleeping from 10 PM to 6 AM.
- Staff Data: 355 of 621 (57.2%) employees responded to a safety survey. Custodial costs rose 77% (to over $1M) and security costs rose 89% (to $1.1M) since 2018. 92 police reports were filed in 2024, and 222 in 2025.
- Public Comments: Over 40 speakers addressed the council. The overwhelming majority opposed the ordinance, arguing it criminalizes homelessness, punishes poverty, and will displace vulnerable people without providing safe alternatives. Speakers included unhoused individuals, Angela Hassel (Loaves & Fishes), Ron Hochbaum (McGeorge School of Law), and several community organizers. Supporters included Alison Lee (Region Business) and local business owners who argued for safety near the civic center and emphasized the county’s role in homelessness.
- Council Deliberation:
- In Support (Dickinson, Talamantes, Guerra, Jennings, Pluckebaum, McCarty): Argued the ordinance restores balance, treats City Hall like other critical facilities, and provides a safe workplace. Mayor McCarty committed to a comprehensive homelessness report on September 16, 2025 (916 Day) and promised to offer housing/shelter to the roughly 20 regulars sleeping at City Hall during the 30-day educational period. Councilmember Dickinson stated, “this is not a question of compassion… it is a question of what is appropriate.”
- In Opposition (Kaplan, Maple, Vang): Argued the ordinance is a “whack-a-mole” solution that shifts the problem without addressing the root housing crisis. Councilmember Maple highlighted the lack of “throughput” in the current shelter system. Councilmember Kaplan questioned the enforcement logistics (10 PM to 6 AM gap), the cost-benefit analysis, and the reliability of the staff data. Councilmember Vang framed the choice as aligning with a federal administration criminalizing poverty and stressed the distinction between discomfort and public safety.
- Outcome: The ordinance (No. 2025-0021) was adopted by a vote of 6-3. Voting Yes: McCarty, Talamantes, Dickinson, Guerra, Jennings, Pluckebaum. Voting No: Kaplan, Maple, Vang.
31. Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAP) Annual Progress Report Staff highlighted achievements (28% of new cars ZEV in 2024, adopted Urban Forest Plan) and funding challenges from federal policy changes. Public commenters urged the council to support the “Make Polluters Pay” Climate Superfund Act (SB 684/AB 1243). Councilmember Maple (Law & Legislation Chair) committed to pursuing an endorsement resolution. The report was received and filed.
32. 2040 General Plan Annual Report for 2024 The report indicated 11 of 79 implementing actions are complete and 47 are in progress. Housing burden increased slightly. Councilmember Dickinson flagged concerns with the Missing Middle ordinance in Robla. Councilmember Kaplan noted the lack of community centers in District 1 (North Natomas) versus original plan goals. The report was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (Items 1-27): Approved unanimously.
- Item 28 (16th St PBID): Hearing concluded; ballot tabulation pending final approval on August 12.
- Item 29 (Prohousing): Resolution adopted (9-0).
- Item 30 (City Hall Camping Ban): Ordinance adopted (6-3). A comprehensive homelessness report is scheduled for September 16, 2025.
- Item 33 (I Street Bridge): Motion passed (9-0) to advance funding and financing plans.
- Items 31 & 32 (CAP & General Plan): Reports received and filed; council provided direction on funding and implementation priorities.
- Board & Commission Appointments: Khalil Malik (Ann Land/Bertha Henschel Funds Commission) and Wade Arden Lee Corless (Youth Commission) were confirmed.
Other Public Comments
During “Matters Not on the Agenda,” David Bach advocated for safety markings on light rail tracks, Kyle Williams commented on political cooperation, and Margarita Beltran pleaded for the council’s assistance for her incarcerated son’s safety.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:03 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Thank you so much for coming to our council meeting today. We're gonna be getting started right now. I'd like to call this meeting to order at 5.05 p.m. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Kaplan. Councilmember Dickinson. Councilmember Plucky Baum. Councilmember Maple. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Geta. Here. Councilmember Jennings. Councilmember Vang. Here. We expect Mayor McCarty shortly. Vice Mayor Telamantes. Here, you have a quorum. Wonderful. Uh, Councilman Mayor Pro Tem Gera. We please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and land acknowledgement. Thank you, uh, Vice Mayor. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments to in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Bally and Plains Miwok, the Putnam and Winton people, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally 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 together today in the active practice of knowledge of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous peoples history, contributions, and lives. Join me the Pledge of Allegiance, salute, pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic, which stands one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you so much, Mayor Fotem Guerra. And we are going to be starting off with special presentations. And today, as Vice Mayor, I get the honor of presenting this resolution recognizing disability pride month. Disability Pride Month is the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990, a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment, education, transportation, and public services. As a city, we have a responsibility to ensure that Sacramento continues to foster a truly inclusive and accessible community. I've been proud to work on making our council chamber doors ADA accessible and advocating for the Kings to improve their ADA drop-off on the Golden One arena, along with many of my colleagues here, many years in the making. And I want to take this moment to recognize local organizations leading the way, such as Pride Industries, headquartered right here in Sacramento, who has been a national leader for nearly 60 years, creating job opportunities and providing support services, along with the Alta California Regional Center. Thank you. Serving over 34,000 people across 10 counties, offering vital services like early intervention, individualized planning, and supported living to individuals and families throughout the region. So I'm honored to present this resolution today and to share this moment uh with individuals here, but first I want to give a shout out to a few members of the Disabilities Advisory Commission. Mike Barnbon, thank you so much for being here, Mark Laver, uh Lori and Adrian Quintero, Joseph Wilson, Gabe Corey, my intern. Um, and so now if I can please have our two speakers come up. Uh Joseph Wilson, who's a member of the Disabilities Advisory Commission, and Adrian Quintero from Pride. And if I called your name, feel free to just hang out at the podium. First up, we'll have Joseph Wilson. Okay. Thank you. Can I also commissioner? Because of disability, advisory commissioner. Assistant Treasure Advocate for Research Living.
openpublica.com