Okay.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

We're gonna be getting started with this meeting of the Sacramento City Council.

This meeting is now called to order at 5.07 p.m.

Please call the role.

Councilmember Kaplan.

Councilmember Dickinson.

Councilmember Plecky Baum is expected momentarily.

Councilmember Maple.

Here.

Mayor Potemgata.

Here.

Councilmember Jennings.

I'm here, Madam Clerk.

Council Member Vang.

We expect Mayor McCarty momentarily and Vice Mayor Talamantes.

All right, thank you.

Councilmember Vang, please lead us in the land acknowledgement, and I'll do the Pledge of Allegiance.

Yes.

Please ride if you are able.

To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mewak, Putwin and Wentu Peoples, and the people of Walton 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 today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples, history, contributions, and lives.

Thank you.

Hello, Pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands for my nation and the God.

Liberty and Justice for awesome day.

Okay, there is no report out from closed session since we didn't have it.

And moving along to uh Mayor Pro Tim Gera's National Engineers Week, and he's an engineer himself, so perfect for this resolution.

Thank you very much, Vice Mayor.

It is my pleasure to do our resolution recognizing National Engineers Week.

And to receive it today, we have two students from Sack State's Math Engineering and Science and Achievement Program.

Let's give them a big round of applause.

And also our staff from the podium here.

Welcome both as well.

As well, come up as well, yes.

Um, and um uh one one, you know, National Engineers Week, it's always in February, and it's in the middle of February, and it lands on a uh starts on a very special day, and that's on George Washington's birthday on President's Day weekend.

And the reason that is is because George Washington, our first president, was also an engineer.

And uh, you know, go figure.

We have an uh engineer who who knew how to solve problems, and uh and is most notably.

So we uh we honor uh uh all of our engineers, and when you become an engineer or computer scientist, um uh you uh you take an oath to uh using your skills, problem solving to better the needs of society.

And um, and so I'm excited today to not only uh uh recognize Julio Tavita Escobar and Brian Mejia Nunez, who are both uh part of the Sacramento the at SAC State, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, which I was a member of uh a long time ago, over 20 years ago, uh, as the vice president of the student chapter, and it's great to see them here.

Uh they're both seniors uh at SAC State uh and uh and are interested in this.

Uh now before they start, because I'd love to have them say a few words.

I also want to recognize and ask if we have any engineers in our room, and I see Ryan Moore over there over there, at least one more, an engineer, to please stand up and join them uh here at the podium.

All our engineers, we have many.

We have civil, mechanical uh and I do want to recognize our city staff uh because they have uh done uh some tremendous work excitingly, right, with a lot of us pulling us together to figure out how we work as a team to get the funding and prepare for the i Street Bridge.

You know, build talking about the most iconic thing on bridges, building bridges, and uh this team here of our city uh workers, uh uh computer scientists and engineers.

Uh they are leading our way not only in our IT management, but also uh the future of AI.

We're started using AI already, so we have engineers and computer scientists of all skills and trades here today.

And so I want to just thank you know uh Ryan Moore and his team and all those in public works and Department of Utilities.

So let me ask if if I if I can to have Julio and uh um uh and and um uh Brian as well and others to say uh couple give or have our students say a few words, please.

Welcome.

Let's give them a big round of applause.

Well, I like to say thank you for inviting us.

We're really happy and really excited to be here.

Um you know, for my organization, our organization, the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers.

Um, for my organization, our organization, the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers, um, our key goal is to make sure to build that bridge between um from going from a student career to now to the professional career.

And by doing that, being able to help them with their resumes, being able to be prepared for their interviews and going to careers uh career fairs.

Um, it really truly helps not only as um to our members but also to ourselves to build that leadership going on in the near future.

Congratulations, yes.

So I'm a part of Mesa as well, the Math Engineering Science Achievement Program that kind of helps students um reach out to like two other groups through there.

Through there, I've joined the um entrepreneurial department on campus, the Carlson Center, through the Al Coras, and you know, um the guy who used to in the Carlson Center.

Uh and I started a company, and you know, this stuff is like being able to be impactful to the community before even graduating.

Um it's been really impactful to me so far through Mason Ship.

Very exciting, very exciting.

Let's give them a big round of applause.

But before they get away, like tell me what you what what's your career, what you hoped your career to be in.

Yeah, so after I graduate, um I'm trying to pursue an IT operations engineering role.

Um, hopefully being able to not only hopefully being in state in California, but also being available to coin outside of California for it.

Fantastic, yeah.

So I'm looking over here at the R to IT department.

Yes, you know, when we're looking at uh future careers.

How about yourself?

Yeah, so I'm hoping to continue the business, right?

We're helping autistic children find a voice that makes sense to how their brain works as opposed to forcing them into our language system and um you know software engineering to help the most amount of people possible.

That's my goal, really.

Great.

Well, thank you very much.

Let's give them a big round of applause, and then if we can, we'll do a quick photo here with all our engineers who are in the room today.

I know sometimes we can be a shy bunch, but when we get to working, we get really uh we really get to work in so awesome.

Thank you, Councilmember.

And I just want to echo what council member Geta brought up.

Uh engineer is a family affairs.

My husband's an engineer, so special love and respect for what all of you guys do.

Come on, like, so much.

Hey, I'm excited to be able to do that.

Good job, yeah.

You know, you engineers.

And then uh we'll we'll put you over here.

You're not gonna block right.

And then we'll go here and then she's gonna be able to do that.

Come on, join us as well.

Okay, I didn't realize.

So it's a good thing there to see.

All right, congratulations.

We're all the students uh study every day.

So thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations, thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And thank you for that.

All right, so uh for public hearings, item number one has been continued to March 17th.

Item number two has been withdrawn.

Item number three has been withdrawn.

So moving along to item number four, the discussion calendar, extension of the opportunity to apply for and operate a storefront cannabis dispensary for the cannabis opportunity reinvestment and equity core program.

Good evening, Vice Mayor and Council.

Um, my name is Al Romero Gibu, cannabis manager with the Office of Cannabis Management.

And to Net's presentation is related to the uh the Sorefront Dispensary Permit Opportunities for the City's social equity, kind of a social equity program, also known as CORE.

So for some background, uh the City of Sacramento has a storefront dispensaries being the only cannabis permit type with a CAP.

Uh it currently is at 43, 43 permit opportunities.

Uh, these uh permit opportunities are issued only to core participants, and this is these are opportunities that are uh in alignment with the RFQ process back from 2021, what is also known as the list.

Um with every uh permit opportunity that is issued.

Operators have five years to uh become operational.

Once a business uh permit uh opportunity expires, the next person on the list uh would receive that opportunity.

Um currently we have one core permit opportunity expiring on April 1st of this year.

Uh the core participant has informed the city that they would not be able to meet this April 1st deadline.

Uh and they have requested the city an additional one year extension to complete the project.

We are bringing before you two options.

The first option is no extension.

So this permit opportunity would effectively expire on April 1st, and the next highest scoring core participant on the list would receive the business opportunity.

And the second option is a one-year extension, uh, where the permit opportunity uh would be extended to April 1st of 2027, and the next high highest score uh core participant on the list must wait until another opportunity becomes available.

Um I should also point out that if council grants an extension, which would not be for a total of six years, uh staff recommends that this also apply to all new core permit opportunities moving forward.

That concludes my presentation, and happy to answer any questions you may have.

Great.

Um, how many um items or public speakers?

I have one speaker on this item, Lambert.

Lambert is our first speaker on this item.

Mr.

Davis.

And I have seven total speakers, Vice Mayor.

Following Lambert is Carlos Ramirez, Fred Barnum, Christopher Cannon.

Yes, I I was asked to come down and speak on core.

I'm not directly involved with uh cannabis, but uh I am an advocate for core graduates because they have had to go through a lot to become uh qualified.

They have had a lot of barriers put in front of them, including I believe it's 17% tax.

I'm not sure if that's the right number, but I know it's more than what I pay as a business owner, and that's uh a crippling effect to a business if you don't know about a business is very crippling the taxes are now.

In my case, uh I have a shrewd CPA, so we know how to deal with taxes, and you won't see me in any problems with the IRS because I expect to be audited.

I always expect to be audited, so I'm ready for that.

But I think you should give them this person an extension because he from what he told me, he has a building, he has everything in place, he just needs time, just like you give time to some of these contractors that you need to re-evaluate, just like they were saying earlier today.

Shout out to the millennials on the Rostrum.

Most of them were talking about let's take a look at the contracts and evaluate what they're doing.

That's that's that's the millennials around me.

They were the ones who saved our business when we during COVID.

I don't know how they found me, but they did.

So give this person a one-year extension.

He's he's followed all the rules from what he's told me, and I just took him at his word.

And I was gone after two o'clock, and he cornered me and asked me to come back.

Next speaker is Carlos, then Fred.

Good evening, members of the city council.

My name is Carlos Ramirez, and I'm here to support my colleague Jarrett Hill and his request for an extension.

Now I want to reassure the council that I'm prepared to move forward with this project quickly and efficiently.

Um I serve as legal counsel and head of regulatory compliance for GCI Green Capital Investments, which is a vertically integrated cannabis company.

That and in this role, I oversee 10 licenses, eight of which are here in the city of Sacramento, and this includes all aspects of the market.

I've served in this role since 2017, and as such, I'm very familiar with the regulatory and legal aspects of this industry.

I want to emphasize that we've secured a location for Mr.

Hill's uh proposed dispensary that has an approved uh CUP for storefront.

I've also begun the application for a minor modification to this CUP to accommodate his particular floor plan.

Um, in addition, I also begun the application for the BOP from OCM, as well as a state license from the DCC.

Now, finalizing these applications requires a significant investment in resources, requires us to submit floor plans, odor control plans, security plans, all items that require us to hire to hire other licensed professionals.

As such, we've reached an impasse and we cannot move forward unless we receive assurances from the council that this extension will be granted.

I want to note that Jared and I met with OCM back in December to discuss our plan, which OCM supports, but they don't believe that we'd be able to meet the April 1st deadline.

And based on my years of experience, I believe this is correct.

They informed us that the only way this would work is if City Council were to grant an extension.

And if granted, OCM assured us they would work, they would work closely with us to move things forward.

As such, I requ I respectfully request that the council grant Mr.

Thank you for your comments.

Our next speaker is Fred Barnum, then Christopher Cannon, then Jared Hill.

That was founded right here in Sacramento in 1990.

I'm also the CEO and owner of Green Capital Investments GCI, which is a statewide cannabis organization.

All these offices are right here in the North Sacramento area, and we employ over 400 people.

The dispensary operator introduced me with the hopes that I might be able to help Jared and Chris.

After hearing their story, um, I knew I should I knew I should do something to help.

I told Jared and Chris the only way their dreams could be realized was by getting a 12-month extension, and if they could get the extension, I would provide the capital and a location for the dispensary.

I own a building at 135 Main Avenue that is currently has a dispensary CUP.

The location simply requires a minor modification, a small remote, small remodel, and the dispensary can open.

Carlos works well with both agencies on a regular basis and is an expert in licensing and permitting.

If you vote to extend Jared and Chris's core license, I will guarantee that we will get their dispensary licensed and operational within 12 months.

I hope you'll support their mission.

Thank you for your comments.

Christopher Cannon, then Jared Hill.

Good afternoon, uh Mayor and Council.

My name is Chris Cannon.

I'm a life lifelong uh Sacramento resident here.

And I'm a partner with Jared uh in the core project.

Uh I'm here today to respectfully request an extension for our core license, equity license, to ensure that this project reaches the finish line.

Uh this isn't just a business venture for us, it's a commitment to Sacramento Corps.

Uh I've aligned with the Jared and I have aligned our resources and reputations to make this a success.

We've invested uh significant personal capital and years of equity sweat because we believe in the intent of this project to create local uh minority-owned success stories.

So, as many of you know, our original site was lost to a devastating fire.

And for most, that would have been the end, okay.

But we didn't walk away.

We stayed in Sacramento, we kept our team together, and we navigated the complex regulatory landscape to find a new path forward with our new partners here.

So uh, you know, throughout this uh hardship, we've remained transparent with city staff and move forward with integrity, right?

So, you know, we no longer just have a plan on paper, but we've secured a lease, and we're working with the landlord there.

We've got our permits and applications in, and it's in the final stages of processing.

So we have a dream team together and ready to contribute to uh this community, which was always our intention.

This extension would uh extend the bridge of just a missed opportunity, but it'll make it the core success story.

So thank you for your time here, okay.

I appreciate your consideration.

I have three more speakers.

Jarrett Hill, Michael Milton, then Zion Taddis.

Here we go again.

Good evening, all I'm proud to stand here before you tonight.

I'm humbled, I'm humiliated, um, infuriated.

I'm sad, and I'm speaking from the heart.

I can't even read what I was asked to read.

I believe in how those people raised me.

Henderson and Dorothy Hill in District 2 in North Sacramento.

Taught me to tell the truth.

This has been hard, it's been a lot, but we won't walk away.

And we won't.

We're close.

We didn't set that fire at 1511.

Del Paso Boulevard on fire.

We bought it.

Shane Curry, the owner and his wife agreed to lease it to us and sold it to us at favorable terms.

And know we were gonna turn that into something that Sacramento can be proud of.

And it burnt down.

Other buildings in Northside burning down.

Now we found one in District One.

Lisa, thanks for meeting with us.

Roger, thanks for coming out, meeting with us.

Those of you that had your staff reply, we appreciate it.

Brother Jennings, I want to interrupt you at church, but I'm gonna leave him alone at church.

But I'll be there every Sunday.

I was in the in the court program at the Urban League.

But Sunday, let the man go to church.

So I didn't, so I haven't, but I see you there all the time.

I appreciate that.

My point is, ooh, this two-minute thing got to change because I'd be having so much to say.

Just know we are earnest, we're honest, our integrity.

We're gonna make Sacramento proud.

Like we bleed 916.

We are Sacramento's own sons.

Help us get this done and help us bless somebody else.

We all not only did we offer a $50,000 bond to if we don't get it done now in this last year after all these things out of our control.

Then give that money to somebody else.

But we are serious, we're ready, and we need your continued support.

Thank you for your time.

Katie, you good too.

Thank you for your comments.

Michael Melton, Zion Taddis.

Michael.

Okay, here I go.

Good afternoon.

I mean good evening.

Okay, I say approve everything concerning marijuana is all lucrative.

Uh and also I think uh remember uh people who had old marijuana charges before it was legal.

Uh I thought we were supposed to have the upper hand uh, you know, funding to have uh shops and things like that.

But it seems like, you know, people with the wealth, you know, couldn't buy a couple panels right now and really get rich.

You know what I'm talking about.

But um uh, you know, in 1993, I got in trouble.

I've been knowing about weed, the San Luis for a long time, but you know, under the table.

But um, it's a million-dollar industry, you know.

Uh I got a DWI in in Washington in 2001 before it was legal, and now weed is legal, you know.

Uh, you know, okay, and uh it uh it would never would happen today.

Excuse me, in my Trump voice.

But uh uh let all the shops uh get open in Sacramento, get them chances, uh the bud lounges, uh drinking in and uh the smoking areas downtown and uptown through K Street uh from those certain areas.

Let those let's try it.

Oakland in the Bay Area, they already got those things going on in different cities, they already got these things that are going on that makes them lucrative.

These that's money, and as long as y'all can get some some money off of it, weed is like a peaceful thing too.

People if smoking weed and um alcohol, that calms people down from the alcohol.

You know, you could be drunk, but then you smoke weed, and you the people that smoke weed are more calm.

So I think the bud lounges and all that and open up shops for the weed people is good.

Thank you for your comment.

Zion Taddis is our final speaker on this item.

Hi, so my name is Zion Tedza, the um founder of Shasha Manet Institute.

And absolutely, I support uh Jarrett 100%.

Five years, so he's finally getting there to his success.

So we really have to support him.

There's no brainer, but the meantime, this is how you know the core actually miserably failed us.

So when we fought the core equity, because we wanted to go and look at the budget and how it's even been distributed.

There's no uh, I mean, there's no point for Jared to come in here and have you know beg for extension because so far we only want two, three percent of a sofa success.

So I mean it is uh it is what it is, but we still need more uh dispensary licenses too, because you know, like I said, every time we get uh held back because we're not getting no dispensary licenses now.

And then the whole point of the core was to find us fund to find us resources, which we have resource now, but we don't have the spaces.

So I mean, we really need to get it into the business department as well, because right now it's in the finance department.

I don't even know what's in the finance department.

It should be moving to the business department, so in that way it can actually function accordingly the people uh trying to get into the cannabis industry that systematically we were left behind.

So there is no way we're gonna be left behind on the cannabis industry, especially black community.

Right now, the core, you really need to go and look at it.

What percentage of us the past five, six years?

I was standing here when we vote for cannabis equity.

We still less than four percent of us uh um uh license holders.

So that means even the mayor, you gotta look at it because everybody has to look at where we at.

So next thank you for your comments.

Mayor, I have no more speakers on this agenda item.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Kaplan.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, thank you, colleagues.

Um, I really appreciate the advocacy of Mr.

Hill uh and the process to allow this discussion to happen on the agenda.

I am very supportive of the existing structure that gives our core members the five years to open up.

I think while it's not in law or really in statute, and that's us.

I always think boundaries and timelines are good.

What I appreciate here is we're looking at something that it's a force de jour.

Mother Nature had her own designs on what was happening as they were going through the process.

So I think it's appropriate that we look at items that have maybe a one-time uh exception.

That if if we have, you know, wind fire, Mother Nature, you know, comes in that disrupts the process, that we take the time and handle it on a case-by-case basis.

So I don't want this to set a precedent.

I want it to set it that if something uh outside of the control of the business happens, it allows us uh uh council for it to come.

So I am knowing that uh I know about the fire that happened because that was uh in D2.

Uh I have met with uh Jarrett, the business owners.

Um I feel very comfortable of the business plan, knowing that they have a qualified attorney who actually has done this.

Um, you know, if they know they're they're in a timeline.

Uh I have told them very strictly that this is this is it.

You get one time.

Uh I would hope that the council would indulge and give them that one year extension, but this is it.

You get that one year extem extension to get it up and going.

And knowing that he has knowledgeable people on his team that have run these businesses, know the CUP process, know the the cannabis permit process.

I am comfortable that uh we adopt a resolution extending the opportunity by one year for a new expiration date of April 1st, 2027.

And I just want to do a little side flag that we hear how they're doing by December 31st, so we would know if they are going to meet that or not.

Um so December 31st, 2026.

I just want kind of a heads up of whether they're gonna meet that that one year or not, because if they're not, I think we could start the process who's who's next in line.

Um so uh I would do that, but I would not apply the new uh opportunity from five to six years.

Keep it at the five years, and I would make that my motion.

Thank you, Councilmember Dickinson.

Uh thanks, Mayor.

I have a I have a question.

I have a question for you.

Uh you gave us two options.

Yes.

One is to uh give an extension for a year.

One is to uh give an extension for a year and treat the others with an ex another year's six years, or or deny it and go to the next per the next uh applicant on the list.

I'm curious whether whether you considered the option of grant an additional year, but also let the next person on the list be uh given the opportunity also to uh establish their business within five years.

So um council member, um this presentation was um uh specifically about the um the question around the the options for the extension.

Uh we did receive uh some direction to um you know in the future, specifically after the zoning to look at um some opportunities, but I'll just have Pete.

Yeah, yeah, thanks, Councilmember.

Um so yeah, as you remember last time when we did the extension for the three, we also granted three permits, and certainly if council wants to give us direction uh to grant an additional permit, we can come back with a resolution to do so.

Uh but what Al was mentioning is we're uh we're in the midst of finalizing a market study uh which was uh part of uh law and ledges um direction a couple of years ago to look at additional permit opportunities.

So uh that's why we didn't bring it forward just because we're in the middle of doing that and we would bring that forward to council later.

But certainly if it's the will of council um to uh go to the next person on the list, uh we would come back with a resolution to do that.

Okay, but just not incorporate to incorporate it tonight, but you want to do it as a separate if that's the will.

If that yeah, if it's the will of council to bring another permit opportunity, we would have to come, I think again, um, just so we would have the resolution if that's the direction, but just know that um you know we are finalizing the study and uh we would have that information for council in the future.

Okay, thank thank you for the response.

Uh uh I would just say I think there's there are equities here on on both sides.

Uh and council member Kaplan has pointed out the equities of giving an extension of of time to this to this applicant, but uh that alone then denies somebody else who otherwise would have been able to pursue establishing their business.

And so uh it seems to me that that there are equities associated with with being in that position as as well.

And I don't know how council member Kaplan feels about about this having made the motion, but for my part, um I don't have a problem with giving an extension of a year as as you have moved.

Uh but I but I I do think the equities move in the direction also of giving someone else a chance who's been waiting and who otherwise if uh having this applicant not having met their five-year deadline, that next person in line is is being denied the opportunity to to move ahead, which they otherwise would have had would have if we lived up if we held to the five-year rule.

So for my part, I um since uh it wouldn't be incorporated as such in the motion necessarily, I guess, although it could be direction, I suppose.

I would I would favor the motion, but giving direction to come back to let the next person have a uh a shot at uh establishing their business as well.

Is that a substitute motion or ask it?

Let's ask the maker of the motion whether whether she'd like to incorporate that or not.

Um I am okay having direction because what I think we need to finish because we're in the middle of of changes with Title 17, and council already gave direction for the next set that the process may change, and I understand the equity, but I don't want to bring in something that may be set off old standards when we're already bringing in potentially new standards.

So if there's any way to expedite the the finishing of the market study and bring it to us because council direction has already been given to expand.

Um and I wasn't sure if we were keeping the same set or we were starting new.

I might if I'm I'm just afraid of it opening something that I think is a larger council discussion that I think we can we should have based off of what the market study and the changes in Title 17 are bringing.

Because Title 17 may expand the opportunities where CUP is versus the current structure we have now.

I think uh we should have the results uh or the final market study by the time we bring back Title 17 in April.

So I I think we could bring those together if that's what council is.

I would like to bring um I'm okay with direction being given as part of my motion when that comes that we that this is part of the discussion of how many more uh potential licenses we want want to give because I think it's important if you look at the current CUP process and where they can go, it's much restricted where Title 17 is potentially expanding those opportunities, and I would bet anybody coming next wants expanded opportunities be considering how hard it is to find a place.

And I would bet anybody coming next wants expanded opportunities be considering how hard it is to find a place.

Okay, so uh may maybe um what I'll say what I'm hearing.

So uh when we bring forward the we can bring them forward the market study with the Title 17 changes in April, and as part of the market study, we'll bring for council consideration, at least for the next person on the list um an opportunity.

Does that well that that tiptoes up to the water's edge, but it doesn't actually walk into the and into the water.

I mean so because what I was suggesting is that it is that we give direction to let the next person move forward, not not have the hope of that when this the study comes back.

Correct.

We would need to bring for the next person to get an opportunity.

We would need to bring a resolution for council to vote on.

So this is a question of when we're gonna do that.

I'm not I'm not ready at this time to say we're gonna do a one off because I think it has to be with all the changes we're making.

I think it's important that we have that comprehensive conversation.

I hear you.

I think it's just the timing of everything and the policy questions it brings up at that because they would be approved under old stuff, and I think they may be next in line anyways, because that conversation is going to be happening.

I just think it should all occur at once.

Um, and we don't have the information all in front of us to have that.

It's always hard to come in in the middle of a movie.

Um Pete, can you can you come back for a second?

Is this is this study going to entertain the idea that more uh licenses or permits would would be granted?

That's uh well, that's the question that we asked that we're asking in the study is hey, uh, based on your expertise, how many dispensaries can the Sacramento market um hold?

Um, and so you know, we currently have our 43 storefront um opportunities.

That that's the cap after council's action last year with the extension and additional permits.

And so, you know, the question we are asking them is okay, well, what you know, do you think the market can accommodate more storefronts?

Okay, and I thought it was more the locational um aspects than the number of businesses.

It's the number of businesses.

The other uh kind of nuance uh I'll just put out there is the next uh slot on the list is actually a tie.

Um so if we were to grant one, we would have to do a tiebreaker um as well.

So that's just another kind of nuance.

Uh well, Mayor, uh uh I respect uh obviously my colleague and and she's not quite ready to go as far as I'm suggesting we we go.

So I don't uh uh and I don't know what the rest of the members feel in terms of sentiment or sentiments on this, but um one way to do this is to take the motion that's made by councilmember Kaplan and treat the direction if that's the will of the council as a separate uh motion.

Okay, thank you, Councilmember Maple.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, and and thank you uh for the presentation and for the applicant for coming.

I know that um I want to really appreciate you because you've been very diligent.

You've shown up here many times.

I know you and I have talked outside of these chambers a few times as well, and um I'm sure you've done the same with other council members and people in the city.

Um, you know, for me, a few things.

One, we know it's really challenging for anyone to open up a dispensary in this industry, and especially under the regulatory structure that's not just in the city but the state as well.

There are a lot of layers, a lot of uh rules you have to follow, a lot of things you have to pay for, a lot of things that can come up in the process of getting you know a conditional use permit that you didn't expect, a pipe burst, something else.

In this case, a whole building burn down.

Um, and I think that that is something that's just completely outside of your control and absolutely would fall in line with a reason for us to grant an extension.

So I will absolutely be supporting that and obviously seconded the motion.

Um and then I just wanted to add the layer that it's even more challenging for our core applicants to do this than uh the average person who might be trying to open up a dispensary because of the the barriers to to funding.

It's very, very difficult to get your project funded in the cannabis industry.

You don't have access to normal banking in the way that a normal business would do.

You can't go to the bank and say give me a loan.

You gotta figure out how it's gonna be funded some other way, and then when you don't have traditional access to those revenue sources, um it's even harder.

So I just want to I just want to say that because yes, it does it does.

We've had to do a couple of these now of these extensions um for core applicants, and I think that that really speaks to how challenging it is for those who are in the program to navigate it with the additional barriers of being in uh a core applicant.

Um and uh just want to appreciate all the work that you put into this.

So obviously, I'll be supporting this on the broader question of um additional licenses for dispensaries.

Uh, I think it's no secret to anyone on this dias or in this audience that I am always a very big proponent of more of this, um, and have even said that I think it's um I don't think it should be the city's role to artificially cap it at all.

Uh I think that the market should drive it just like we do almost any other business.

Uh however, that is not the predominant opinion on this council, and maybe that's true also in the community.

And so, with that view in mind, I would say a little like historically on this council.

It's been very contentious, the idea of adding more licenses, even if it's one or two or five, or so it's it's wouldn't be something that we probably would do like offhand in this, it would have to be a bigger discussion.

So I I actually support Council Member Kaplan on that because we want to make sure that everyone's comfortable with you know the amount that we have, the reason why we're doing it, whether or not it matches up with the studies that we have in place, and so on.

And so just I thought that context would be important.

So with that, thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

So we do have a motion and second.

Motion did not change.

Okay.

Further comment.

Seeing none, all in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

He knows your abstentions.

Seeing hearing none.

I didn't pass this.

So, Mayor, we now move to questions, comments, ideas, questions, and AB 123 reports.

Okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to invite everyone, not this Saturday, but next Saturday.

We have our North Notomas Kite Festival, which is in the North Lake Community Park, which you've ever been by it.

It's next to I5, so it is the perfect windy place.

So come out, bring your kite.

Uh, it will be our uh, I think our third annual, and it's from 11 to 3 p.m.

Actually, it's our fourth annual North Natomas Kite Festival.

Uh, and it's in partnership with our local veteran and kites for kids founder, Gary Kubadora.

Uh, so come on out, put it on your calendar.

Um Guerra.

Uh thank you very much.

Um I wanted to uh mark everyone's calendar for next week, and I'll make another announcement next week, March 11th.

Um, the uh city manager is gonna be doing a town hall in conjunction with myself and council member uh Plucky Baum at the Coloma Center, and so we encourage everyone to come out there.

Uh we'll uh be out there at five o'clock, and uh opening remarks will be around 5 30.

So encourage people to come out uh for the um uh little welcome to the city manager uh at uh the Coloma Center.

Thank you.

Councilmember Vice Mayor Talamantes.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I have my annual town hall tomorrow at Natumas High School at 5 30.

So if you are in the neighborhood, please come come on by and say hi.

Thank you.

Councilmember Maple.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so uh one well, two exciting announcements.

First one um is we are having a groundbreaking ceremony for our Mangan Park Tree Nursery.

So this project has been in motion before my time in office, and I want to um give special thanks and appreciation for former councilmember Jay Shane, who really helped get this under the over the finish line.

I believe I believe our former assembly member McCarty may have contributed financially in this to this project as well.

But it's taking a uh old dilapidated lot uh near Mangan Park that has been long been an ISOR and an issue for the community and turning it into a beautiful tree nursery and park.

They will be um growing vegetables and fruits that they will then be giving out to the community.

They'll be employing people who have formerly been um incarcerated and treat teaching them job skills.

It's so exciting, we can't wait.

So that is March 12th from 9 a.m.

to 11.

It's gonna take place at 1920 34th Avenue.

We invite the community to join us.

Uh, we're so excited to break ground.

And then also I would like to enjoy uh uh invite everyone to our uh District 5 Town Hall.

It's gonna be on March 18th from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

at the Oak Park Community Center.

So come by, say hi, uh, get your questions answered.

Thanks.

Thank you.

City manager, do you have a report?

Yeah, thank you.

I do.

So I would like to announce that uh staff were gonna conduct a pothole blitz uh here in the city.

So if you could work with your constituents to get a list of locations, uh staff is gonna be following up with you in the next week or two, so we can uh get a list of streets.

Uh it's been one of the most consistent uh things I've heard uh on my ride-alongs are the potholes.

Now we're not going to meal and pave over any streets.

We're just gonna focus on potholes.

So if you could work with your constituents so we could lodge that in the next two weeks, that would be great.

Excited.

I like the name.

Okay.

So mayor I have 11 speakers for matters not on the agenda.

Shall we take those now?

Yes, please.

Michael McKenna is our first speaker.

Following Michael is Leah Heinz.

David Weitzel, Richard or Rick Locke.

Is Michael here?

He said no.

Yeah, he'll be right back.

Lena following Lena is David.

Um good evening, council members and mayor.

Um, my name is Lena Shea, and I'm a resident of the West Shore community.

District one.

My husband and I are both college professors, and we chose to buy a home in West Shore because it is safe and vibrant community.

Today I'm here to express my deep concern about the proposed microcommunity on Elk Central Road and Arena Boulevard in District One.

The proposed site raises serious safety and community impact concerns.

It is located right next to many well-established neighborhoods and schools, including Wita Ranch, Iron Gate, Stadium Club estates, Sundance Lake, West Shore, West Lake, Hueley Creek, and three schools.

Every day I see children, school children walk around this proposed area all the time.

In last three days, uh, after you know, our council member Coplin uh revealed that this site uh will, you know, that this site will be built in April.

Then I start to talk to my neighbor, everyone I encountered, and they also expressed the serious anxiety, frustration, and they feel unheard regarding how this location was selected.

Moreover, this microcommunity site will be only 470 feet away from City Park, and a popular trail is just right across this site.

It is too close to residential areas.

We recognize the importance of homeless issue, but we also believe that together with full council discussions, we can find a true wing-wing approach.

There's a better location, you know, out there.

And thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

David Weitzel and David Locke.

Thank you.

Um council uh mayor.

Um speaking on behalf of the microcommunity in Nathomas, it's being proposed.

Uh, this is like Lena said, it's within 500 feet of a city park.

Um, as far as I understand, the city's not abiding by its own rules in terms of placement with us.

Um, this is also no uh not best practices.

Um there are no bathrooms inside each unit for these people.

What are they supposed to do when when it's inclement weather, whether it's freezing cold, whether it's raining, whether it's 105 degrees.

Um there's also no running water in in each unit, so um washing dishes is gonna be an issue.

No no full kitchens.

Um restaurants are you know, a few and far between in that area.

There's no public transportation that's within about a mile.

Um the only grocery store is one of the more expensive grocery stores in in the Sacramento region.

They're gonna allow up to um I've heard there they there could be up to 40 dogs, which could be a huge, huge, huge nuisance to the to the mobile home park stadium club estates.

Um most importantly, the city's got a structural deficit budget deficit coming up, and what happens to this community when it if and when funding for these for the contracted services dries up.

Um for the community, huge concern for the for the residents.

Um there's also a more appropriate site.

Um so for all these reasons for backing or adding to that um council member Kaplan's gonna have a proposal to uh to make a few changes, removing the city manager's authority to award up to five million dollar uh contracts for to combat homelessness and to stay uh contracts that are currently in place.

I implore you to at least put this up for a vote.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you for your comments.

Rick Locke, then Mike Michael McKenna.

The amazing Rick.

I return.

Uh good evening, Mayor and Council members.

I am a fiduciary by profession.

My daily work requires me to operate under what the law calls a prudent person standard.

That standard is simple.

A fiduciary must manage resources with the same care that a prudent person would use when managing their own serious financial affairs.

California a law applies to the exact applies the exact same expectations to public officials.

Council members are trustees of the public treasury and stewards of public trust.

The question before you is therefore not political, it's fiduciary.

Would a prudent person delegate millions of dollars of public spending authority without clear oversight, without competitive safeguards, and without routine reporting back to the body responsible for protecting public interest.

A prudent person would insist on transparency, a prudent person would insist on oversight, a prudent person would insist on an accountability.

This is not opposition, this is stewardship.

I respectfully invite this council to demonstrate that stewardship by bringing council member Kaplan, Vice Mayor Tamil Talamontes, and Councilmember Jennings proposal before the City Council as soon as possible.

Let it be discussed openly, let it be evaluated carefully.

Let the public see that Sacramento governs with ethical clarity and fiduciary responsibility.

Thank you again for your time and your service.

Peace out, love you all.

Speaker is Michael McKenna.

Then I believe it's Rosie Lair.

Hello, Michael.

My name is Michael McKenna.

I live within a short uh distance of the proposed homeless park.

Uh 70 years ago, I saw my uh two-year-old brother get hit by a car.

Uh and uh he was almost killed.

He was uh severely hit brain damaged, spent a year in a coma.

So I know full well there are some vulnerable people in our society that need help.

But this project is just wrong.

Putting the homeless center in a quiet family neighborhood with no transit or support service is a terrible idea.

In the city's pictures, it shows feeble old women surrounded by beautiful open fields.

This is a lie.

On the other side of that fence is a wonderful clean, quiet senior mobile home park.

Their lives would be greatly impacted by all the people and their dogs right over a short fence from them.

In fact, when I moved back to Sacramento 10 years ago, I thought about putting my brother and his wife in one of those mobile homes to be near me, but realized they would need services that were not available to them there.

Not only will there be no transit and services, but these people will have to go outside at night to use a communal bathrooms, which is almost criminal for older people, especially women.

And as desperate thoughtless as the mayor is in proposing this project, it is easy to see that it could eventually see the 40 tiny houses with a fence around them and a guard would be perfect for a halfway house for parole felons and sex offenders or residential drug treatment center.

This within 500 feet of a family park and a grammar school.

The mayor is so desperate to take advantage of the free federal money that he is grasping at straws and trying to force a round peg into a square hole.

Sacramento is blessed with a lot of vacant land that would be much better suited for such a purpose.

Please do not allow this terrible illegal and short-started property to destroy our safe, quiet family neighborhood.

Thank you very much.

And then Liana, then Sierra, then Rosa.

Hi, my name is Razi Lear.

I have been in front of you before.

A little bit more fiery than I'm feeling tonight.

And I'd like to talk to you a little bit about the subject at hand.

I was all fired up.

Not in my backyard was our battle cry.

But upon further investigation, I have discovered that it is illegal to break ground without the guarantee of state monies.

Do you have that guarantee?

No.

Further the wraparound services promised seem to be decreasing one by one.

This city is not exempt from planning laws and ordinances.

I could mention to you the scrambled planning.

I could mention to you the lack of concern for the floodplain.

I could also mention the 67 million dollar deficit.

The barking and defecation of 40 dogs.

The no inside toilets and running water.

But I'll leave that to others.

Somebody else can talk about that.

My empathy to the homeless is running thin.

Choices were made.

Some of us are disabled or in well.

And this is our final destination.

The community that we live in is not the fanciest, nor is it inhabited by the rich and famous.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

Our next speaker is Liana, then Sierra, then Rosa.

Phil, Kevin.

A glance.

That's it.

Thanks for actually looking at me, Phil.

Thanks for looking at me, Kevin.

It's nice to know sometimes you guys actually pay attention to what we're saying.

Sometimes.

Not all the time.

Clearly, very rarely.

I do not agree with most of you on your opinion about the homeless project.

I gotta be honest, so don't worry about clapping for me.

Um, but you guys need to give the teepee back.

You made promises after you broke the Native American religious freedom treaty.

You had no problem taking a teepee.

No problem.

And then having them register as a tarp, which apparently one of you.

And so you look like fool, Phil.

You look like a fool.

You said it would be amazing if it took a week.

And yet the TP, which is logged in as a TARP, is still being held by SAC PD.

We need the TP back.

This is American Indian Freedom of Religion Act, and you all are really not gonna be happy with the results if you guys don't get the TP back.

Lawsuits are not very fun, and you guys are already kind of fucking broke, right?

So maybe let's not.

Maybe we actually fight for our people.

A number of you do, and a number of you have empty promises and do things that go against us, and you really need to look at yourselves and reflect whether or not you actually represent the community that voted you in.

The answer would probably be no.

Have the day you deserve.

Then Rose Valdez.

Falling Rosa is Lambert, then Ernesto de Galdo.

I am Lakota, Dakota, Cheyenne River, says Tinuap Tenoyate.

I come from, I was actually born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I come from the land of Dakotas.

I came here for prayers, and instead of respecting any sovereign rights, any treaty rights, or any, I mean, you guys start this with your little land acknowledgement.

I want you guys to acknowledge the sacred Native American items that you guys desecrated and stole.

And from my understanding, Marquisha Smith, rumor is it, you called the order to desecrate my teepee.

So I think a little responsibility needs to be held over here, and you guys need to acknowledge the land you're on and actually represent the Native Americans that are here.

You guys desecrated my church.

I don't go into your churches and take your Bibles and desecrate your churches.

So why are you guys doing that to mine?

And then you have it labeled as a tarp and bamboo sticks, so that nobody would notice it.

Native American Heritage Commission, you need to call them and tell them what you guys did.

TP back now.

TV back now.

T be back now.

T B back is Rosa Valdez.

T be back now.

T T be back now.

T be back now.

T me back now.

Rosa Lambert, then Ernesto.

Hi, my name is Reza.

I'm a resident of West Sacramento, and I'm here to express concern regarding the confiscation of the teepee.

As a daughter of Mexican immigrants and a mother of federally recognized tribal kids, I actively seek opportunities for my kids to engage in their indigenous identities.

This teepee gave my tro my children as well as others in the community the opportunity to connect with the native heritage.

The TP provided feelings of warmth, tranquility, healing, and unity, which are especially important to have in these times.

The TP was not just there for decoration.

It was bringing people together and at the same time actively supporting my kids' education.

By confiscating the TB, SAC PD demonstrated a total disregard for sacred rights.

SAC PD treated the TP as ordinary property, ceased it without exploring alternatives, and did not even stop to consider what religious significance there was.

There is no compelling justification as to why this TP continues to be held by SAC PD.

Therefore, I demand the TP to be returned back now.

TV back now.

Mr.

Davis back now.

TB back now.

TV back now.

TB back now.

TV back now.

T me back now.

TV back now.

T me back now.

T me back now.

TV back now.

TV back now.

Following Mr.

Davis is Ernesto.

T me back now.

Mr.

Davis.

First of all, I have to say to have a problem shocker.

I would like to say that's a very kind thing you did.

Councilwoman Kaplan.

You know, we we've had our issues.

But that was very kind because he approached me when I was leaving.

My daughter was waiting for me.

And he said, could you come and support it?

And he said you were behind it, and I almost got in my daughter's car and got on out of here.

But I'm glad I came back because that was very kind of you to lobby for him.

I've never seen a team that organized with the business.

That's an incredible team they have.

And they also wanted to talk to me about what I do.

I told them I don't do cannabis.

But they said we want to talk to you about what you do.

That's good.

Now I wanted to send a shout out to somebody.

I think his name is Matt Ironman.

I think he's back there.

And his staff, I got a ticket in Del Paso Heights.

I got a ticket, and some lady sent me a copy of the ticket, and I sent it to him and his staff, and I didn't even know the buses have uh cameras on them until they took a picture of my truck.

But the the good part was they took a picture of my truck and it was parked at my neighbor's house.

So it showed I wasn't parked illegally.

Not only did they clear it so I could go to DMV, but they said they were stunned because that was my first citation ever, and I'm a baby boomer.

And I grew up here.

I should have had some tickets somewhere, but I didn't.

And they I think it was Matt, if he's back there.

That was wonderful what he did.

Wonderful.

So, and also I want to say thank you for the city manager's report.

Thank you for your comments.

Ernesto Delgado, then Gary Fleshman, then Michael Milton.

Ernesto.

Hello, Mayor Council, City Manager and City Attorney's Office.

Um I was here last Tuesday to talk about a couple break-ins.

Um at Mercado Urbano on 9th Street and Octopus Peru.

Um this was Sunday, last Sunday morning, Sunday night, uh, Monday morning, early Monday morning.

There was two break-ins the same night.

And I'm here again today to speak to you all because we were broken in again.

This last Sunday night, Monday morning.

And I, you know, I always have a great attitude about, you know what, it's just kind of part of business.

But it it uh not only hurts the my uh enthusiasm and the love that I have for just pushing forward sometimes, which will like I will keep doing, yet it does affect and hurt the businesses.

Um when these doors and windows are broken, um cost thousands of dollars.

You can't, it's really difficult to claim for the insurance because of the deductible.

Um I know it's a difficult thing to do or to figure out, yet I just wanted to mention it and let you all know that you know this happened in two weeks.

Um hopefully we can all figure out what can be done.

Thank you.

You have Gary Fleshman.

Following Gary's Michael Milton's and LR Roberts.

Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, and City Council members.

My name is Gary Fleshman Cupadera.

I grew up in Sacramento in the Postal Heights area.

And the last 17 years I've I've actually uh lived in the uh West Shore Development.

Um first off, I want to say thank you to Mr.

Brian Pedro.

He took two hours and talked things over my concerns about policies and stuff that were being proposed for the micro community in North Nathomas.

Um I think we all believe that we share the same goal, safe, humane, and sustainable housing solutions in our senior seniors in our city.

A couple of things that we actually talked about was you know, uh possibly forming a memberhood complaint board so that way when there's stuff going on, that the people around us can actually have some input about it.

I'm also a disabled US Army veteran, so you know, I talked about ADA accessibility, the uh preference for veteran preference for 50 up to 50 percent of the small homes, uh, possibly making this only a female residents.

Um the big issues as you probably heard is security, the fencing, the issues of sex offenders, um, as well as violent felons in the in the small home community, as well as background checks.

And um, and uh one of the things I was really encouraged about, you know, with originally they came out with 40 pets, and after talking with him, he his latest uh statistic was 15 pets instead of 40, which I thought was a big step in the right direction.

One of my requests tonight is simple.

There's an alternative proposal that has been submitted by Lisa Kaplan.

I respectfully request that that proposal be placed on a city agenda as soon as possible so it can be met reviewed publicly and evaluated alongside with the current plan.

It's my understanding this this other site already has existing infrastructure in place.

So it would be a great opportunity to save somebody and possibly plan not just small home community but also affordable housing in that area.

And my second reason why I came to you is um my name is uh my name is Gary Fleshman Cooper.

Thank you for your comments.

Our next speaker is Michael Melton, then LR Roberts.

I left you some uh think your comments, your time is complete.

Thank you, Michael.

Calling Michael is LR Roberts, then Deanna Gold, then Fayo.

I have four more speakers.

All right, good evening.

Hey, Mr.

Mirror, I see you on TV.

And I seen uh did you go or uh building those uh tiny homes?

And instead of doing the tiny homes, why don't you just build apartments, man?

Why don't you just build apartments?

Why don't you make something stability why waste the money?

It's a waste of money, man.

Why something that you're gonna have to tear down?

Why something with no bathrooms?

Why make that parking lot?

Why take that parking lot?

Why not take the the uh the county the welfare department's about to close on the 24th?

You could use that parking lot for parking.

Why not use the parking lot on floor and parkings and and uh and and in Kiefer?

It's in the city for uh for the parking where the old probation office is and it's and it's a park, it's a it's a parking lot right behind it, it's a washman, you know, where we're it was a car wash, and it's a banded land right there, and nobody's nobody's doing nothing with that.

But it was the probation, and it's it's it's pulling your places to park.

Man, I still got and got my RV back.

I still don't got no housing, but you guys are making places for the 55 and up.

Why is everything based on 18 to 25?

What about the people in between there?

Why is everything 55 and up?

I'm not 55 and up.

Okay, I'm 44, and I I'm divorced, and I got eight kids and child support, and I'm homeless, and I'm trying to get back on my feet.

My RV's gone.

I went to jail for something I didn't do.

I got found not guilty, but guess what?

I'm back in the streets taking care of my kids and and doing everything that I'm supposed to do.

But child support didn't take the the days off that I was in jail.

The 60 days that I was found not guilty was still up in there.

They didn't take that, they didn't take that off.

I'm buried in it.

I need help.

We need help.

But but instead of um making uh uh uh things, uh little blue box homes, build apartments, man.

Build apartments.

I think that'd be a lot better, and it'd be uh uh more lucrative and save more money, or you mean instead of waste of money.

All right, I'm Michael Meldon, and uh please help me out get my RV, man.

I can't get more uh Pete Mr.

Pizzo said he was gonna try to get it.

Thank you for your comments.

LR Roberts is our next speaker, then Deanna Gole.

I'm LR Roberts.

I spoke last week.

Um Katie Maple's staff person spoke with me about these threats and thefts.

He was fortunately on the phone when the local thief threatened me for reporting his license, and uh since then the man has threatened and stalked another elderly disabled neighbor.

If you remember, last week 911 was uninterested in this issue.

Three neighbors have spoken to me in the last week, and they have reached their limit.

Meanwhile, our police go after homeless people sleeping or the people speeding homeless people.

Also, our police have detained anti-ICE demonstrators 24 times.

But we are a sanctuary city.

And to have innocent people harassed for zero help with violent threats near our families is not okay.

Then Fago.

Deanna?

Is Deanna here?

No, Deanna?

So Fago.

So I want to start off talking about the TP issue.

You know, we talked to you already before about it, and there were some promises made that there would be some stuff done.

We were told should we should have the TP back by the end of the week.

That was three weeks ago.

There's still no TP back.

We're still fighting for that.

We've also been told that there was gonna be uh some pressure put on the police to back off of us.

But since that conversation, the police have made us take away our porta potty that we were using so that we could keep sanitation around where the protest is at the ice facility.

We've had multiple arrests by Sack PD, harassment by SAC PD.

Um, so I'm wondering, you know, we we've been trying to have faith in the city council to you know actually keep any of their words, but that's not what it looks like is happening.

Instead, the encrassment by harassment by PD has increased.

There's been arrests, and some of our property is still being held, including the TP, which let's be clear that was a sacred item.

A sacred item, a sacred artifact in use for a religious ceremony, a religious ceremony to honor the people that have been killed by ice.

They weren't even allowed to finish their ceremony before Sacramento Police destroyed their teepee.

Using laws that you use against the homeless, and that brings me to my other point.

Just last week we're out here feeding like we've been doing with community dinner projects since 2014.

And you know, the city council likes to say they have compassion and they care about their community, but then why were we being harassed last week for feeding people here at City Hall?

You know, I don't know if maybe your city manager isn't doing their job and relaying your desires to the police department since they're the ones that has the call on what the police do.

Or if the city council is just full of shit and like shining us on like the like I'm used to.

Have a good day.

So, Mayor, you have no more business to come before the city council.

Thank you.

With that, we'll adjourn.