IT, we have some music.

In the background.

We're live.

Okay.

Everyone can please have a seat.

Clerk, I'd like to call this meeting order at 5.06 p.m.

Thank you.

Councilmember Kaplan.

Councilmember Plucky Baum.

Mayor Pro Tem Geta.

Councilmember Jennings.

Council Member Vang.

I expect Mayor McCarty.

Councilmember Dickinson momentarily.

Vice Mayor Talamantes.

You have a quorum.

Councilmember Pluggy Baum.

Please lead us.

Thank you.

Please rise if you're able.

In honor of the Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands, to the original people of this land, the Nissanan people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, Miwok, Pat Winwintu, Peoples 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 in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history contribution and lives.

So pledge.

The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God's civil with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you so much.

Do we have any closed sessions report-outs?

We didn't have a closed session.

Not to report out.

Okay.

All right.

And today we have a special presentation in Jewish American Heritage Month by Councilmember Kaplan.

Next to you, Vice Mayor, I apologize.

It was my error.

That's going to be on the 26th.

Tonight we have Sacramento the Entrepreneurial presented by Councilmember Plucky Baum.

All right, go ahead.

Councilmember Plucky Baum.

I'll start talking, and while I do, if can't come on up.

There we go.

Last year we had a strategic retreat as a council.

We uh discussed the uh important priorities of the city and and uh one of if not the top priority for the city was economic development.

Uh we all know that small business is the cornerstone of uh any economy and and uh um America the entrepreneurial is a uh important opportunity for for our city and for this region to invest in and support uh small businesses.

Uh I personally almost never want to be first at anything, maybe other than elections, but this is an opportunity for the city to do something important and and be a uh first and a leader in the space.

So uh Cameron, please tell us a little bit about what America the Entrepreneurial is doing.

Terrific.

Well, and I'm excited, uh Sacramento's the the first in California to recognize America the entrepreneurial.

Uh my name's Cameron Law.

I'm a California uh coalition manager for a group called Right to Start, and uh the right and right to start is that we believe um every American has the right to start a business and uh this campaign is in celebration of America's 250th birthday and really inspiring our entrepreneurial roots and looking at the future of America through entrepreneurship and you know you might be asking why is entrepreneurship such a core thing to be focusing on.

Um one of the main things is uh entrepreneurship and new business creation is a proven net job creator.

So when we think about driving growth in the city of Sacramento in our region, empowering entrepreneurship for job creation is a vital thing that we need to be focusing on.

Secondly, is when you think about um tackling poverty and uh inequality um for every percent increase in entrepreneurial activity, you drive 400 of average household growth in a particular community, so by empowering entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial activity, we can start to tackle poverty in our community um going forward.

And so I'm just really proud that the city of Sacramento is um you know joining in to this America the entrepreneurial campaign.

Um, one of the key elements is entrepreneurs don't really have a have a voice, they're often building um and they're trying to navigate all that's ahead of them.

And so right to start is a re a really key component to giving entrepreneurs that unified voice and signaling that they have value in our community and driving the future of our region.

So really thank you uh for this recognition and uh look forward to um being the first uh amongst many things around entrepreneurship.

So thank you for the recognition.

Thank you.

Uh mayor and council, if uh it's appropriate, I'd love to invite them down to uh take a quick picture.

You can do it from the back, or you can join us up front.

Council members, we go down there.

I just want to uh acknowledge how great of an institution Sacramento State University is and great to have Cameron Law here and stingers up.

Go Hornets, don't we miss an opportunity?

I'm just gonna make it back.

Three, two, one, two, three, okay.

Thank you.

We now move to the discussion calendar.

Item number one is fiscal year twenty twenty six-27 proposed budget deliberation and council direction.

Thank you.

Um good evening, Mayor, Council members, and members of the public.

I'm Pete Coletto, the city's finance director joining me at the podium is Mirthala Santizo, the city's budget manager.

Uh so tonight you're continuing council's uh fiscal year twenty twenty-six-27 budget hearings.

Last week you heard the city managers proposed budget balance plan closed the sixty-six million dollar deficit.

Uh council asked a lot of questions and identified areas of uh potential adjustment, and as you know, the mayor requested council members to submit uh budget memorandums for uh potential restorations along with how those would be funded.

Uh so tonight Mirthala is gonna give a very brief recap of last week, and then uh I will go through the council member proposals uh and then turn it over to um council to deliberate.

Okay, thank you, Pete, and good evening, everyone.

Um we're just gonna pass this one, okay.

Uh so just uh just to go over what we discussed last week.

Uh this is the fiscal year 27 proposed budget.

It is a one point seven billion dollar budget with general funds being approximately nine hundred thousand.

Uh it is a change of approximately forty-eight million uh over the last um between twenty-six and twenty-seven, and um it's a decrease of a hundred and sixty-four employees uh just because of all the reductions that were occurs.

The uh proposed budget is balanced, and as you can see here, we started off with the mid-year forecast, which is a deficit of sixty-two sixty six point two million.

Uh we've included additional labor contract adjustments of eleven point three million um that would be included in the deficit.

There were some labor costs that were included in the mid-year forecast, which were of all the proposals that were um actually provided to unions at the table, but we knew that we would have additional contract adjustments, which is showing in the table in front of you.

Uh so moving on to the budget balancing strategies.

We have about sixty-nine million in strategies, and using approximately um five point eight in various homeless state homeless funding and other adjustments leads our end balance to about 0.3 million.

And we're also showing the fiscal year 28 budget as well, to just show what the um changes in that we did for fiscal year 27 proposed would do for the next fiscal year.

So, what that would do is bring the end balance to approximately 35.4 million in deficit.

And these are all the budget balancing strategies from last year.

I'm not gonna go through all these, but there are various reductions and cost shifts and um increases in revenues that were provided by all the different departments.

And then just to remind everybody about the five-year forecast after we uh did budget balancing, we are coming in balanced for fiscal year 27.

And then again for 28, it's um at a deficit of 35.4 all the way up to 31, where it's increases to 72.

Okay, back to Pete.

Thank you.

And so as I go through the council member budget proposals, uh one, they're ordered in the order that they came to the finance department's desk, so no special special ordering.

Uh the other only other thing that I would just remind council is any ongoing restoration we make with one-time funding would increase our deficit in the future years.

Uh so I'll start with proposal number one.

Uh it identified four areas of restoring of restorations, uh, youth violence prevention to community based organizations, uh, restoring the waiting pools, and restoring two projects for North Sacramento, one for economic development and another for code enforcement.

And it uh identified $3.3 million of potential financing sources, charging for residential parking uh permit at a lower level than what the strategy staff did not include in the proposed budget, decreasing the old Sacramento Management Services contract, eliminating seven vacant FTEs and parking enforcement, uh, the ethics commission, reducing the economic uncertainty uh fund contribution, which again would be a one-time strategy, and shifting half six funds from fiscal year 28 to fiscal year 27, which would also be a one-time strategy.

Uh proposal number two uh identified four million uh in potential restorations, uh augmenting the hotel motel shelter program versus the proposed budget, uh restoring one million of the GPIT funding for youth violence prevention to CBOs, um, restoring a one-time project that was used for to help support violence prevention, uh restoring a K9 unit officer position, five community service officer positions, so these are in the police recruiting program, 26 park maintenance workers, restoring the waiting pools, the summer at City Hall program, and two uh youth uh development uh workforce development positions.

It identified 9.2 million dollars in funding sources, a partial elimination of some of those vacancies in parking enforcement, uh canceling a parks maintenance contract in district one, eliminating the capital funding for microcommunities, that would be one time of 7.4 million, and eliminating the ongoing funding uh for operations for those microcommunities.

There was additional policy direction around uh restoring school resource officers in Netomas and working with the state to try to receive reimbursement for where our police department provides security for protests at the Capitol that have been approved.

Proposal number three uh proposed 4.5 million in restorations, including the clerks automation project, that would be a one-time restoration, uh staffing in the clerk's office and city attorney's office, uh restoring one million of the youth violence prevention funding for community-based organizations, restoring the mounted unit waiting pools, uh recreation swim hours, and summer at city hall.

It identified uh 10 million of funding sources, including uh which would be the reduction in homelessness services, with some of the savings coming from eliminating microcommunities in D1 and D7, and additional policy direction to restore the school resource officers for anotomists and a cap of 30 million in general fund homelessness service expenses per year.

Proposal number four identified 2.3 million dollars of restorations, including the waiting pools, uh the GPIT funding, the Hart Senior Center, and a partial restoration of the mounted unit.

It identified an equal amount of financing sources, including elimination of the ethics commission, a reduction in commission meetings, uh freezing the parking enforcement vacancies, freezing the community ambassador program, and a reduced contribution to the economic uncertainty reserve.

Proposal number five identified 1.5 million in restorations, including the waiting pools, the youth violence prevention GPIP funding for community-based organizations, and restoring recreation swim hours at South Side Pool.

It identified an equal amount of financing sources, including the parking enforcement vacancies and shifting HAP 6 funds from fiscal year 28 to fiscal year 27.

Proposal number six proposes about 2.4 million in restoration strategies, including the youth violence prevention, the GPIP funds, that was the 1.3 million, as well as the EB VIDS funds for youth violence.

That was the 800,000 that was set to sunset this year, restoring summer at City Hall and the waiting pools.

And it would fund this by eliminating vacancies in the police department.

Proposal number seven, proposed 1.8 million of restorations, including the waiting pools, recreation swim hours, the heart center, and the mounted unit.

It identified funding sources.

There's a range here because there's a range in one of the funding sources, but included residential parking permit charges, parking meter rate increases, reducing homelessness services contracts, and looking at a land sale.

Proposal number eight proposed $3.4 million in restorations, including park maintenance workers, recreation swim hours, the GPIT funding, additional youth violence prevention funding, the Heart Center, and IT positions.

The financing sources up to $5 million, with others requiring more policy direction around identifying savings, but they included decreasing the old Sacramento Management Services, reducing the forensic clean contract.

I believe they're FS Global now, but they provide the cleanup for homelessness services.

Reevaluating some of our contracts, including the unarmed security guard contract, the some plan permit review contracts, and identifying potential savings in outside council contracts, departmental organization, and technology and process improvements.

This chart is just to briefly summarize everyone's, all the proposals that we received, and you can kind of see how they lay out.

You know, one thing I think that everyone probably heard as I went through them is that there are a lot of common themes that we heard across potential restorations as well as potential funding sources.

So what we have here on the two charts, we ranked each of the restorations based on the number of council member proposals it was in.

So the violence prevention and the waiting pools and the recreation swim hours were the top three.

They were mentioned the most.

As far as the cost, we, you know, as you also heard, council members proposed varying levels of restorations, those are the maximums on the right.

Everything that's shaded in green was mentioned by more than one council member.

Everything that is not shaded was mentioned by an individual council member, but not not more than one.

The same thing on the funding on the right, everything in green was mentioned by more than one council member.

We also took the maximum amount where multiple council members proposed the same strategy.

And then just before we wrap up, I know there were uh there were two potential financing sources that staff just wanted to give a little bit more context on the FS Global contract and the Old SAC management contract.

So I do want to invite up Brian Pedro and Megan Van Vooris, Director of Convention and Cultural Services to just give a little bit more context on those.

All right.

Just wanted to provide a little bit of background on the old Sacramento Management Services contract before further discussion.

So that proposed reduction was I identified as you all know during a very constrained budget process, and just to remind you when I made the budget presentation previously.

That doesn't mean the reductions are without consequence.

So the contract does support district coordination, stakeholder engagement, maintenance, marketing and communications, activation support, and day-to-day operational management.

In particular, one thing that I want to call out is that the PBID assessment for old Sacramento does not fund maintenance functions.

So certain baseline operational services have to continue to be supported through this contract.

A reduction of this nature would likely require a broader restructuring and reprioritization of district management services rather than eliminating any one isolated activity.

Given the need for maintenance and day-to-day operations, cuts would likely affect district coordination, stakeholder engagement, marketing communications, and activation support and delivery.

Good evening, Mayor Council.

Uh Brian Petro, director for the Department of Community Response.

I wanted to speak a little bit on our forensic clean now FS Global contract.

The contract itself is 6.7 million, and it is for all uh homeless cleanup in the city.

Uh if we looked at cutting uh 4.7 from that, that's about a 70% reduction.

Just to give us some perspective of what we're looking at in cleanup of what we've done over the past uh few years.

So in 2024, we're uh bringing about nine million uh pounds of um trash and debris off the streets.

Um we reduced that to about six million this past year, and we're tracking to reduce it a little more this year.

So our we're trending in the right direction of getting our city cleaned up.

Um what is reverse of that is last year that we had to renegotiate the contract.

Uh it had to be renegotiated for prevailing wage that increased our contract by about 50% of uh what we were normally spending, and so that pushed us in the other direction, and we did uh cut a little bit of service to try and maintain uh some cost savings uh when we renegotiated that contract.

Um, so with estimated of cleanup that we have right now, if we do a reduction of 70 percent of our budget, which is essentially 70% of what we're cleaning up, we'll still have about uh estimated three to four million uh pounds of uh debris and trash out on our streets.

Our department through DCR and IMT is the only cleanup source that we have right now for debris and trash.

We don't specifically have a department that cleans up trash and debris, it is homeless related, but then there's also uh other debris that's in the city that while we're out in that area, we're cleaning that up.

So, other than residential pickups or solid waste with illegal dumping, uh the this contract essentially picks up uh what's remaining out there.

Thank you, great, thank you.

Uh so this concludes staff's presentation, and we are available to answer questions and support council as you deliberate over the budget.

Thank you.

Before we get to that uh piece, we have 12 or 13 members for public comment.

I will read off a few names.

Crystal Gonzalez, feel free to line up in the middle aisle.

Crystal Gonzalez, Brian Boltzar, Frederick Adams Jr., Sakari Harris, Frederick Adams, well, maybe senior.

Please proceed.

Hi, thank you guys once again for letting me come to speak to you.

My name is Crystal Gonzalez, and I'm from the Sacramento Youth Center.

And I know that right now seems like almost everybody is in support of bringing back the GPIT fund, so I'm really excited about that.

And I just wanted to, I brought some youth with me today.

I was uh copying Paris from Impact SAC.

I was like, oh, she's been bringing all the youth.

I need y'all to see some some other SAC Youth Center faces in addition to hers as well.

So I wanted you guys to see uh more youth.

I wanted to give you guys some numbers as you guys deliberate uh just so you know what impact this money is having.

And so last year in 2025, 586 unique youth received direct services through the Sacramento Youth Center and through specifically the GPIT funds.

That's not even other programs that we do, just specifically through that, and 3,776 indirect um services were provided to youth.

That totals 6,497 hours of life skills, cognitive skills program hours completed, and 665 hours of academic enrichment and 3,002 hours of social justice program hours.

This money is doing real impact in real lives in the community, right where we're at, with youth that look like our community.

We're in schools, we're in community centers, we're all around, and it's not just SAC Youth Center, it's other organizations that are working with the Office of Violence Prevention.

And I thank you guys so much for your consideration and hope that you will continue continue continue to fund us.

And I brought some curriculum for you guys to look at.

I'm gonna just have it passed out to you guys so that you can see it.

Thank you guys once again so much for listening.

Thank you.

I have 24 speakers now.

Um, Brian Boltzar and Frederick Adams.

Hi everyone, my name is Brian Baltasar Martinez, and I am from the Sacramento Youth Center, a nonprofit organization that serves youth ages 14 to 24.

The programs this organization has given the youth across Sacramento are amazing.

They have many enrichment classes such as community peer mentoring, case management, barista classes, and many more.

I am also on the youth advisory board where I can serve as a schedule manager and other roles where I can help create more enrichment classes for the youth.

The youth center is a place where any youth can go and really get those amazing resources that they need, either whether it's just talking to a staff member from that organization or just having that um experience with any personal struggle, struggle you are um experiencing.

It's just a great place that you can be yourself and um get the resources you you just you want and need.

Thank you.

Frederick Adams Jr.

B and then Sikari.

Hello, my name is uh Frederick Adams Jr.

I live around the neighborhood.

I want to thank you guys for uh donating to the SYC.

Your support helps the youth center by preventing gang and it has uh it prevents gang uh prevention violence around the community.

How you uh may ask how the uh prevents gang violence.

We provide programs that teaches students and youth how to manage uh negative emotions in communication in a positive way.

We also uh offer youth mentorship that uh we also provide youth mentorship that helps uh other programs to build trust and guidance to have a stronger connection within the community.

Stickwari.

Hello.

Um before we begin, I want to thank all the councilman, all the council members for the G Pit Fund for one, for two.

I want to say my name is the Corey Harris.

I am uh accountability manager for the SAC Youth Center.

I am also on the youth advisory board, and I also wanted to say thank you for all your time.

Frederick Adams D.

And then John William Gitchell.

My name is Frederick Adams, and I'm also a speaker that represents the U Center.

The U Center is a place where the U Center is a place where kids and young adults could get like into a program where you could get resources or anything that you will be able to like build off of.

And they also help you like they also help, they also help the community get somewhere in life and build a powerful and build guidance, and also they all.

And they also help young young adults and young children build something for themselves.

And I'd like to thank everyone for the the fund that you guys put into the G Fund program.

John William Gitchell, then Patty Waite.

Um good meeting good evening, uh council members.

I would like to formally thank you for funding the SYC and the SAC Romano community to help youth grow and be pointed in the right direction instead of going into bad drugs or gang violence or anything so they can actually grow and learn what to do when they get older.

And that's basically it.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Patty Waite and Don Angelo.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council members.

My name is Patty Waite.

I am an AARP volunteer as well as a lifelong Sacramento resident.

I am deeply concerned with the impact of the proposed 2026-2027 budget on our community.

The budget represents an important chance.

It's an opportunity for the city to consciously prioritize and support our most vulnerable residents, including our growing older adult population.

How are you gonna?

This is a critical moment to reinforce, not scale back, our commitment made to older adults.

The plan reflects the city's vision of being a place where people can age with dignity, and this budget should align with that and continue to advance that goal.

Proposed increases in parking fees, reductions in supportive services, and reduced hours at community centers, will have real consequences.

These community spaces are not just amenities, they are safe, welcoming hubs that are often life-saving and life-changing for older adults.

For many, they are a primary source of connection, support, and stability.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

The next speaker is Don Angelo Lambert and Rick.

Good evening, Mayor and Council members.

I'm here to respectfully urge your continued support for programs and services that help older adults age with dignity, independence, connection in Sacramento as you make decisions regarding the 2026-2027 city budget.

Sacramento is aging with roughly one in three residents age 50 and older.

These same individuals are choosing to remain in their homes and neighborhoods as they grow older.

That makes investments in community-based services, health supports, transportation and housing more important than ever.

At the March 17th City Council meeting, when the results of the 2026 community survey were presented by the city auditor's office, the importance of parks, recreation, fitness, public libraries, health and wellness services were attributed to a high quality of life by respondents.

Council members emphasized that future budget decisions reflect what residents prioritize and cautioned against balancing the budget by cutting services community residents rely on.

We know that investment in these programs is also critical to reducing social isolation for older adults.

Just last Friday, over 150 individuals came together at the Hart Senior Center for an older adult resource fair conducted in collaboration with Councilmember Pucky Baum, and which several of you attended.

Activities such as these are essential to older adults for accessing information to vital resources and support all in one place.

Lastly, transportation options are equally critical, ensuring older adults can access medical care, food, and community life safely.

Affordable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges, particularly for those on fixed incomes.

We encourage continued prioritization of solutions that allow residents to age in place, such as home modification programs, accessory dwelling units, and age-friendly community planning.

Investing in older adults is not just compassionate, it's smart forward-thinking policy.

It strengthens community, reduces long-term costs.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

Our next speaker is Lambert.

Then Rick, then Will Green, then Nick Goling.

Following Nick is Kaylee Olgerson, Madeline Knoll.

Okay, the budget.

First of all, shout out to Pete Coletto and the other person.

They're very thorough.

And then someone like me comes up and I have to study it and figure out what they're doing.

Now, one thing I noticed there was nothing about remote workers not receiving a raise.

I'm the one brought that to City Hall.

According to the millennials, you can save millions of dollars if you don't give someone a raise working remotely.

Now, shout out to the Sacramento B, because this article, and I can't show it here, but the public should know about this.

Shout out to the Sacramento B.

It says that, and I'm the one said that, I saw it on 60 Minutes.

It says that some remote workers from the state and maybe even the city are working remotely, but they've moved out of the state.

That's why they're angry on being returning to their jobs because they've sold their houses in Sacramento and moved out of state.

And I was the one who said that's going on.

They should be terminated for that.

They're earning money outside the state, and they don't have to pay anything to the state because they live outside the state.

There's also people who are applying for working remotely in California from another state.

That's revenue you're missing.

Okay?

And that's why I said Minti Cuppy should be the highest paid.

Why?

Not because she pays me to say that.

It's because she has been in the chamber during the pandemic.

And I go to a lot of commission meetings and I see her there.

That means she should qualify for a six-year hiatus with pay, working remotely.

Thank you, Mr.

Davis.

Next speaker is Rick, then Will Green, then Nick Goling.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

As you're listening now, aware of the weight of 66 million dollars, you may be noticing how easy it is to say this crisis is all one person's fault.

One staffer, that one department head, and as you consider that, a part of you can get curious about what really happens when all that blame is placed on someone small, so that the big person in the room can feel free.

Ralph Waldo Emerson reminded us that an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man, and that the character of the organization follows the character of that person at the top.

When there is courage at the top, courage appears all the way down.

And when there is fear at the top, fear quietly moves through the system in the way people are spoken to, pressured, and or threatened.

Right now, the shadow in this room is not a junior employee on some level.

Everyone here already knows that the real shadow is the way power is being used.

The tone of voice that says the blame lies everywhere except where the power actually sits.

And just noticing that can allow a different possibility to open.

Emerson said that every policy, every use of power was once just one person's expedient, and that we can always make better ones.

Tonight, that one person is not the scapegoat being named, it is a person whose thoughts become everyone else's fear or everyone else's courage.

So I'm asking that the real source of this institution's shadow, the person whose presence defines the safety of this council, feels to let that shadow change now and to allow the buck to stop exactly where the power has been standing all along.

Thank you for your comments.

Will Green and Nick Goling.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayer, City Council, and Will Green, physician.

I'm here to talk about the budget, but typically those are in terms of concrete asphalt infrastructure.

But when we discuss discuss the parks department, we aren't talking just about landscaping.

We're talking about the psychological and spiritual heartbeat of Sacramento.

In a word that is increasingly loud, digital, and demanding, our parks serve as the longs of our community.

They are the only places left where a resident, regardless of their zip code or income, can find a moment of true peace.

Research consistently shows that access to green space is a primary driver of mental health.

It lowers cortisol, reduces anxiety, provides for necessary research for the human brain.

To cut funding for parks is to remove a vital health intervention that prevents burnout and despair in our neighborhood.

Beyond the science of psychology, there's a spiritual strength found in our parks.

They are the secular cathedrals where we witness the changing seasons and remember our place in the natural world.

They are where the isolation of modern life dissolves.

Whether it's a family reunion in William Land Park or a quiet morning walk in a neighborhood pocket park, these spaces remind us that we are being belonged to something larger than ourselves.

Parks are our most democratic spaces.

They offer dignity and beauty to every citizen, providing a sense of pride and belonging that no other can replicate.

If we neglect our parks, we aren't just saving pennies.

We are incurring a soul deficit.

A city with beautiful buildings but neglected parks is the cities that has forgotten how to breathe.

I urge you to maintain and expand funding for our parks department.

Let's invest in the space.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

Our next speaker is Nick Goling, Cayley Olgerson, then Madeline Noel.

Good evening, mayor, council, and city manager.

My name is Nick Galling, executive vice president at the Gathering Inn.

First, I would like to acknowledge the weight of the challenge before you related to your budget.

I understand that council has previously agreed to three top priorities, which are representative of the entirety of your constituency.

Economic development, public safety, and homelessness.

It seems to me that these are both thoughtful and strategic, as all three of these things are interconnected.

I'd also like to applaud Mr.

Pedro and the DCR team on preemptive reductions in homeless services costs, represented by a 20% reduction in most all community programs without reducing the amount of people served.

Our streets look objectively different than they did back when DCR began, and I should know.

This is a direct result of coordinated outreach and indoor programs coming online.

I know there are currently plans to make some long-term needed adjustments to the homeless response system as a whole related to regional governance.

I also know that there's a current city audit of homeless response that's being conducted, which I'm sure will be enlightening and provide concrete suggestions on improving efficiencies and leaning in to what's working currently.

With this understanding, I would like to suggest that now is not the time to cut the city's portion of the homeless response system off at the knees.

Stability now will make way for thoughtful decision making in the future.

Thank you.

Next speakers, Kayleigh Olgerson, Madeline Knoll, Chris Valencia, Annabel Gonzalez.

Good evening, Mayor, Council, and City Manager.

My name is Kayleigh Olgerson, and I'm here on behalf of the Sacramento Metro Chamber and our member businesses throughout the city of Sacramento.

Balancing priorities in a constrained fiscal environment requires difficult trade-offs, and we appreciate the time and seriousness seriousness this council is bringing to the process.

As you evaluate today's restoration proposals, we encourage a focus on long-term sustainability.

Continued reliance on one-time transfers, fund shifts, and temporary backfills may ease immediate pressure, but it does not address the city's underlying structural imbalance.

Real stability will require ongoing solutions, disciplined spending, and a stronger economy that expands the city's revenue base.

We also urge caution when considering reductions to civic assets in visitor serving districts such as the old Sacramento Waterfront.

These areas are important economic engines for the city that attract tourism, support local employers, generate tax activity, and shape outside perception of Sacramento as a place to visit and invest.

Allowing these catalytic destinations to decline only makes future growth more difficult.

Efficient city operations, clean and safe public spaces, dependable core services, and a clear commitment to economic development will all matter when employers and investors decide to grow here.

We urge the council to make decisions that restore confidence, protect the city's economic drivers, and confront structural challenges with lasting solutions.

Thank you.

Madeline Knoll and Chris Valencia.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the council, city manager.

I'm Madeline Knoll with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a property-based improvement district representing 102 city blocks in our central city.

I want to thank the mayor and council for putting forward your reduction strategies, and I know that it's a critical step for tonight's deliberations, which we're all eager to get to, but I do appreciate the opportunity to speak to you tonight about the old Sacramento Waterfront, which falls within our district boundaries at the downtown partnership.

So one of the proposed reduction strategies would reduce funding that directly affects our management services.

As Megan mentioned earlier, these are baseline services that are foundational to keeping this neighborhood clean, safe, and welcoming and economically productive.

And this is critically important because Old Sacramento is one of our strongest tourism and economic assets.

It drives hotel stays, dining, entertainment, and repeat visitation from both locals and visitors.

The city has also recognized this themselves with their own investments with the new children's playground, the waterfront beer garden, and ongoing activations.

So this district matters to Sacramento historically, culturally, and economically.

It connects directly to the momentum at DOCO, the rail yards, and our friends across the river at Sutter Health Park, directly impacting the future of baseball in our region.

All of these things together strengthening Sacramento's regional identity and economy.

So the success of this district depends on more than just the funding for us at the Downtown Partnership for our management plan.

It requires coordinated investment across multiple city departments like police, DCR events, and activations, all working together to bring a positive visitor experience.

And when we bring in public investment, this is generated multiple return through local spending, tourism, and hospitality.

So we must be mindful of the cuts that direct the performance of this district.

So I urge you to maintain funding for our management plan.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Chris Valencia, Annabelle Gonzalez, then Karen Corps.

Good evening, Mr.

Mayor and members of the City Council.

My name is Chris Valencia, and I'm here on behalf of the North State Building Industry Association, and it's 500 members building housing right here in Sacramento.

I first want to uh thank the city manager and city staff for all the work that they've done.

It is no easy task to close a 600 66 million dollar budget deficit.

We do appreciate that there's tough decisions ahead of you to be made, but we do urge caution in the solutions that you take.

Uh one thing that is constantly set up here and amongst uh all of us is that we want to grow the pie, and we just urge that whatever cuts uh and the whatever decisions you make to make cuts are through the lens of how this does bring about greater economic development and doesn't stunt it as the future economic growth.

And I do want to thank you for your time.

Annabelle Gonzalez, then Karen Corbes, then Dimitri Ceres.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Annabelle Gonzalez, and I'm from North Manitomas.

Tonight's budget discussion highlights a bigger problem.

Too many layers, too little clarity, and too much public money moving with that one clear roadmap.

Right now, we are hearing two completely different stories.

The first story says a 66 million budget deficit, positions being eliminated, department cuts across the city.

But the second story says 31.7 million in new hat funding, millions more in shelter contracts, another 270,000 approved today for HMIS.

One story says we are broke, the other says the money keeps flowing.

And that is where public trust starts breaking down.

We should pay attention to what just happened in Oakland.

Last month, after four years, Oakland shut down about a hundred Peralta cabins, also known as tiny homes, micro housing community.

Funding because of the funding runout.

People ended back on the street.

Sacramento is building many of these same systems, and if there is no long-term plan, we risk repeating the same cycle.

So my ask tonight is simple.

Create one plan, English, one plain English public homelessness budget sheet showing every city funded site, every operator, every contract, every funding source, every annual operating cost, every measurable outcome.

Put it online, keep it updated, make it understandable because Sacramento residents should not need to dig through layers of contracts and acronyms just to understand where public money is going.

Show us the plan, show us the money, show us the math.

Thank you.

Next speakers, Karen Corbes, Dimitri, then Stephanie Duncan.

Good evening.

I know this is gonna come as a shock to most of you, but I am not here to talk about the police budget, although I may make a comment at the end.

I'm here tonight to talk about accountability and revenue generation at a time when Sacramento is facing a massive budget deficit.

I'm here to talk about the electric scooters that litter our streets and sidewalks.

I'm honestly surprised the city is not taking a more active role in finding scooter companies when they fail to enforce proper scooter usage and parking laws.

We all drive around Sacramento and see it every day.

Scooters are dumped on sidewalks, blocking ADA access, left in gutters, laying across walkways, and cluttering neighborhoods.

This seems like one of the easiest revenue opportunities available to the city right now.

These companies already know who rides these scooters.

The technology already exists to issue rider fines and improve compliance.

The scooter companies need to require enforcement and impose meaningful penalties when riders fail to do their part.

At a time when the city is scrambling to close a massive budget gap, this feels like hitting the easy button.

The city of Sacramento can make money by increasing the cost to operate scooters, fine scooter companies for more for violations, increase citations for scooters reported, and make scooter companies fulfill their obligations or else be fined.

As an example, in San Diego, the city was charging $65 per scooter and one dollar per day to store them after impounding.

What is Sacramento doing?

I am not anti-scooter.

Scooters can be a great transportation option.

But if private companies are making money using Sacramento's public streets and sidewalks, they should also be responsible for keeping them safe and accessible.

And since I have a little time left, you know what you can do with all that revenue generated from finding scooter companies.

Hand it over to the Sacramento Police Department so we can all live in a clean and safe city.

Thank you.

Antonia Lopez.

Hey, good evening.

I'm here on behalf of East Sacramento Community Association as the president and capacity of the president.

Basically, my members have all said kind of the same thing.

We value public safety, we value upmost Yipsey.

And so I'm asking council to uh reject some reductions.

Specifically, it's more outlined specific in my letter, but uh we'd like you to keep the 26 maintenance workers uh as people uh staff at the city of Sacramento.

We want to have all four waiting pools open, and then we want to maintain the fee waivers uh for community centers.

That's where a lot of organizations in our district and all other districts within the city meet.

Uh, and without those reductions and fee waivers, they uh, well, I imagine C Stimp meet.

Uh and then also we'd like to have uh neighborhood pools fully staffed.

Um, and the way I think these reductions can be done, I don't know this for a fact, but I'd see that the Cultural Arts Awards CAA program uh is not been touched.

The visit Sacramento discretionary measure U allocation, uh Powerhouse Science Center contribution reduction.

There's a footnote on that one.

Uh and the thing that we've contentiously discussed, the board of directors is the magnet program reduction.

Um, we don't quite understand how this impacts public safety and what the conversion rate is, so we asked uh maybe someone who has that knowledge what is their conversion rate so we can understand what the return on investment is.

I do have two quick questions.

I don't quite understand on page 186 what the new mayor council operations division is.

Uh there's an allocation of uh 1.1 million dollars that wasn't in previous years, so I'd like to understand what that is.

And then in the service uh level benchmarks SBI 9, I'd like to understand the police said there will be a reduction, and FIRE said it'll be a reduction in service response times, but they've provided no factual evidence of what a service response time is for emergency and non-emergency calls and what the reduction would be in that service response time.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Stephanie Duncan and Tonia Lopez, then Christina Rogers.

Good evening, Mayor, City Manager Smith and Council.

My name is Stephanie Duncan, and I'm a renter in District 7.

And tonight I want to talk about saving the city money by preventing future lawsuits.

Now, Sacramento is facing a serious budget deficit, as we've heard, and one avoidable liability deserves immediate attention.

ADA-related hazards caused by rentable e-scooters.

Across the city, scooters are routinely left blocking sidewalks, ADA ramps, handicapped parking spaces, they're abandoned in gutters and ridden on sidewalks in violation of the California Vehicle Code.

For many residents, these are annoyances.

For people with disabilities, they are dangerous barriers to mobility.

The city, the city's contracts with scooter companies have included requirements that improperly parked scooters be removed within two hours.

Since shared ridables launched in Sacramento in 2018, I have personally reported hundreds of improperly parked first jump bikes, now scooters, through 311, and I have never seen that standard met.

Pickups often take days.

Yet 311 reports are quickly closed with no visible system to verify whether companies actually comply.

Through a PRA request, I learned that in 2025 there were nearly 4,800 scooter-related 311 reports, but only about 19% resulted in a fine being issued to the company.

And let's be clear these companies already have the technology to address the problem themselves.

Scooter apps show designated parking areas, approved drop zones, so users know where scooters are supposed to be parked.

Companies have GPS in the scooters to track them and the ability to immediately find users who fail to park properly.

This is not a technology problem, it's an accountability problem.

And without meaningful enforcement, there are no consequences for illegal parking and the hazards continue, and that exposes the city to preventable ADA lawsuits that taxpayers will ultimately pay for.

As mentioned, other cities have acted Sacramento San Diego increased enforcement by impounding scooters and fining companies for violations.

The result was greater compliance and safer streets.

I encourage Sacramento to do the same.

Next speaker is Antonia Lopez, then Christina Rogers, then Mar Baya Sala.

When I was that it is, I'm Antonia Lopez.

I'm the vice president of the Club Los Manitos that has been housed at the Heart Senior Center for the last 27 years.

We're gonna have our 28th anniversary in July.

The Heart Center is a model program.

I hope that one day you'll be able to evaluate the kinds of services that it's provided across the city.

Really, people come to HART from all of your districts.

The array of services that they provide, whether it's an art education or health or physical activities, is really very amazing.

The Manitos Program is the largest Spanish-speaking adult service in the city.

We uh serve, we have 137 registered members.

We have our own registration process.

80 of 40 percent of 137 members are over 89 or 90.

Uh we have one that's just completed 99.

We as a Spanish speaking community, we are so grateful for the kind of uh culturally and comp uh culturally and linguistically appropriate service and response that we've received from HART.

I think it's the kind of service that allows our Spanish seniors to age in place well.

We not only serve, last week we had 95 people and 1058.

We provide meals, we provide activities, we provide exercise, we provide uh educational information, we provide health information without the kinds of service and support that we get from the con uh the heart center staff, this would not be possible.

In 2003, when we came back from the pandemic, or was it 2000 2022?

There were 35 Spanish speaking members attending.

We have 137 uh now.

If you count our our unique participation over a year, we have.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

I have five more speakers.

The next is Christina Rogers, Marbella Sala, Eric Christian.

Good evening, City Council.

I'm here to support our parks budget, which is a core city service.

When people talk about free healthy spaces for our youth, it's our lovely Sacramento Parks.

Clean, safe parks with amenities like baseball and soccer fields, biking trails, and disc golf are free to every child in Sacramento.

And the pool asks for a small fee, which is affordable for families.

Our free parks are Sacramento's youth programs.

Last week, when I saw CBOs asking for you to not cut their funding, it seems strange to me.

The city is not responsible for funding their administrative expenses or keeping them afloat.

That is up to the CBO leaders.

I know nonprofit leaders personally, and they work hard to achieve funding through grant writing and fundraising.

And for what I understand, money is set aside for youth and violence prevention programs.

Sacramento citizens passed Measure U in 2022 and created the Sacramento Children's Fund.

Looking at the city website, Measure L was designed to allocate 50% of the city's cannabis earnings to CBOs via grants.

On the city page, it noted 2026 grants were allocated in March.

We also have Measure U funds, GPIT funds.

So I'm asking, are some local CBO leaders confused how to apply for measure L and Measure U funds?

Do these CBO leaders even know how to write grants and fundraise to support themselves?

Maybe a helpful thing you could do is put together a grant writing and fundraising workshop.

And the goal would be to ensure CBO leaders know how to apply for 2027 grants by the deadline.

My point is the city needs to continue funding, focusing on core services and the youth amenities they provide within our public parks.

And whether it's the city, CBOs, or citizens, everyone should be responsible for managing their own success.

Thank you.

Marbella Sala, then Eric Christian, then John Vignotchi.

Good evening.

First, I want to thank manager, the city manager, because I I noticed you really listened and put together a very difficult challenging budget.

Well done.

And also the mayor for recommending that all of you submit what you want restored and how it was going to be funded.

Great idea, and it was very helpful.

So I'm gonna just it's the all the proposals are good, and there's bits of it I like, and there's bits I don't like.

So I'm gonna try to just summarize what um is important in our community, not me personally.

So, first of all, um the pools and and having them open five days a week in our community is of vital importance because that's our kids have no place to go swimming other than those swimming pools.

They don't have swimming pools in their backyard and community centers, keeping them open.

That's where our youth go, our seniors go, our community go, and to have that cut is um is is uh um is bad for our community.

And um, and then I want to say that the Office of Violence Prevention, it's right now, all of you know it's of critical importance.

People of color, we all understand what public safety is in our community, and that's prevention.

Yes, we need our police officers, but ideally we need to prevent crimes from happening, we need to prevent our youth from going into violence, and these programs do a good job.

And lastly, I do not support cutting anything from the homeless program because I've seen a difference in our community in the last two years.

We don't have the same amount of homeless flipping on the street, we don't see the garbage.

We need to keep on this um path until we find a comprehensive solution to homelessness.

Thanks speakers.

Eric, then John Vignotchi, then Georgia, Miranda.

Good evening, my name is Eric Christin.

I'm the executive director of the coalition for fair employment and construction.

We're a statewide organization that was formed here in Sacramento 28 years ago solely to oppose discriminatory and wasteful project labor agreements.

We're a statewide organization, but we are based here in Sacramento.

This is a good news, bad news presentation.

The bad news is is that usually a city, and I see the statewide that has implemented a discriminatory project labor agreement, are facing budget deficits now.

It's a sign of somebody who hasn't taken their fiduciary responsibility, the citizens seriously.

In 2018, the city council, of which I believe there was only one member still here that was on that council at the time, decided mistakenly to place a project labor agreement essentially on all of your public works projects, and the results have been awful as we predicted they would be.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 90% of the local construction workforce in this region in this state in this country, 90% wakes up on a daily basis and chooses to work in the Union of Free Environment.

These are the men and women who are building California, building Sacramento, building a country.

They want to be able to help build projects here in Sacramento.

Your project labor agreement keeps them from doing that.

The first project you had put to bid under the PLA was Fire Station 14.

Fire Station 14 had five people show up at the pre-qualification at the pre-bid walk.

One bid the project.

It came in 33% over budget, it was behind schedule.

That's what PLAs result in.

Every project you place them in, have place them on have seen similar results.

The good news is you have it within your ability to actually make the project labor agreement something that's fair and that will attract your local workforce.

Nine of the largest 10 electrical contractors in this region are non-union.

They don't bid your work.

If you want them to bid your work, you can change the PLA, and we're gonna be working over the time between now and when the PLA expires to show you how you can do that to make it welcoming to these types of companies who are here locally employing local workers who want to bid your work, thereby saving you money to help you fill this deficit that you have.

Thank you.

Good evening, council uh mayor, city manager Smith.

Uh, thank you.

Um John Banyoki, CEO of the Sacramento Regional Business Leaders Council, and I certainly do not envy uh the seat that you are in right now.

It's very challenging to govern in 2026.

Um there's a lot of challenges at the federal, state, and local level.

Uh, and I think starting in about 2018, um, this budget deficit that we're dealing with here came from a series of uh small decisions and a couple big ones that really led up to this uh really 130 million dollar budget deficit over the next five years.

And uh rather than complain about stuff we like to try to bring solutions to the table, but uh some of these solutions really uh have to unwind some of the special favors that were given out when the times were good.

Um we gave these made these decisions for political reasons, and I think it's time that we put the interests of Sacramento citizens above what's in our best political interests and what are some best uh uh uh self-interest.

Um, an example um of one uh a program that I think is um noble and laudable but not the responsibility of the city is really um the work that DCR does DCR is a fantastic organization I think it has good leadership if you look at the cost structure of per dollar per person serve per day it's really low it's probably one of the best in the city uh or sorry in the state but it's not the responsibility of the city to do homelessness so I think Councilmember Talamantes you mentioned this last week couldn't agree more it's really the responsibility of the state and the county and so how can we work together to get those dollars and demonstrate that what we're doing here locally is the best uh and benchmark of the state similarly like um things that we can find in the yellow pages like park maintenance and arborists probably shouldn't be city employees that have pensions similarly like allied universal you know adding the certain labor requirements that are in those contracts really dries up the cost for no discernible benefit for the Sacramento citizens we really have to rethink this type of stuff we're here to partner we know these are really challenging controversial topics but somebody has to look out for the greater good of Sacramento and that's what we're uh set up to do so thank you for your time Gregovia Miranda um hello this is my name is Gregoria Moranda and I'm here to speak uh on behalf of our seniors from uh heart center the senior heart senior center and uh our manitos uh club we've been meeting there for 28 years um picking back what uh Antonia said a while ago uh reducing the time or cutting the jobs for any of our heart workers there at the heart senior staff um senior um place will greatly affect our senior members uh not just lose but the other seniors there that attend Monday through Friday um our seniors depend on the physical help from the wonderful staff there at the uh center I see the hard workers helping our vulnerable citizens carrying heavy items every day um and especially our manitos that carry heavy things that bring things to the center to share and um with our club so um please consider our vulnerable citizens there and uh at the senior center and our experienced uh staff that works there and that's all I have to say thank you.

Mayor that concludes the public comment on this agenda item.

Okay thank you so now it's uh deliberation time as was noted earlier I I just want to maybe set the stage and focus on the big picture here first of all I want to thank again our our our budget team uh Pete Mirthala thank you for your diligent work over the past uh year since we adopted the budget last year realized that we balanced last year's budget but did most of it with one time um adjustments and so had to come back and focus on more structural things and we listened to the community listened to the council had a series of meetings during the spring kind of outlined a roadmap and I think by and large part we succeeded we were able to um come to the point where we're going to adopt a balanced budget hopefully in the next two weeks there are some employees that potentially will not be working with the city of Sacramento but we managed to mitigate that number as far as sparing impacts on on individuals some of those positions are vacant uh some of those individuals maybe can find another opportunity within the city of Sacramento so we're trying to make sure we don't impact families and I think for the you know you know that's huge for the people who have those jobs, but for the 550,000 plus people who live in the city of Sacramento, you know, they want to make sure that we do this without negatively impact our core city services, whether they're parks and pools, youth programs, co-enforcement, animal care, police and fire in the works.

And so I think that a largely we did that Kit Core city programs whole.

I will note that I think you stated a number, and I'll ask you to correct me that uh if we stay the course here that this addresses roughly 75% of the structural.

That's correct, Mary.

You're about your the budget balancing strategies in the proposed budget are 75% ongoing.

Yeah, so that's not great.

That just means the number next year would be much less than we had to face these past two years.

And I guess the the big picture is uh we've had people testify here tonight, um, council members submitted some ideas we're gonna get to in in a second, and the budget is roughly almost 900 million dollars, right?

And the total of issues that we're talking about is like nine million dollars.

So isn't that one percent?

Yeah, so not we passed a test at 99 percent.

So, Professor, that's an A plus, right?

Yes, so um we're not squabbling, but we're fine-tuning the additional one percent because that additional one percent has big impacts on people.

Some of them we see in the first few few rows here tonight.

So we take those issues um very seriously.

So, so last week um we did ask uh council to focus on the issues that you wanted to fine-tune, and so this is the the fine-tuning hour right here.

Um we asked council members to submit ideas, and and largely there is a a format that most people were able to put forward, which city staff was able to um basically um uh note and report back here.

So there were eight proposals, and you can probably figure out whose was who by who represents the idea to restore stuff in North Sacramento hint.

Uh I will say there are eight proposals and there are eight council members.

Uh there are nine of us up here, so one person did not uh submit, and that's because I wanted to have a chance to look at them all and sit with our city staff and focus on commonality and where we can zero in on our biggest priorities.

So uh I will note that every council member um will have a chance to talk about their priorities and and make a case how we can uh potentially um have this as far as the the final budget deliberations, and so that's certainly part of the evening uh tonight.

I know every council member is already punched up, but what I would like to do at the at the minimum is zero on zero in where we had the most amount of commonality.

Did you want to bring the second slide?

Yeah, if you need to go back first, you just need to go backwards.

No, forward, so I'm gonna we'll toggle back between 18 and 20 people.

Why don't I see it here?

Okay, so if you could first though go to slide 18 first, Pete.

So this is the is the summary of all the restorations.

If you put them all in one list, and uh we did rank them as far as how many council members focused on this as a restoration priority.

So there are of course 18 of these totaling roughly 9 million dollars as far as far as the financing um uh table on the other side.

You know, there are 14 strategies more than the nine million dollars, and some of these um, of course, have a big number in there.

So, what we try to do, council is is with the city manager and the budget team and I zero in on the ones.

Can you go to slide 20?

Zero on the issues that had the most commonality with us, and so the first two issues had seven of eight council members wanted to zero in on restoring funding for the GPIT violence prevention programs and waiting pools, and the third had roughly half the council, as far as recreation uh swim hours.

So at the minimum, I would think that we should go forward and embrace these restorations and focus on uh the total dollar amount, which is 1.9 million dollars, and the funding sources corresponding on the right, which are 1.9 million dollars, which again were the financing strategies that had the most commonality as well, as far as having the least amount of impact, focusing on the parking enforcement vacancies and and some have have asked and asked the same question is like hey, isn't parking a big part of our city financing?

You want to make sure we there's a few people that unfortunately are really good giving parking citations in the city of Sacramento.

Some people don't like that, but um, do we want to lose opportunities to have these people do their jobs?

And and you articulated that uh we are adequately staffed and that these um uh could be thrown on the table as far as having an adjustment, but certainly monitor the situation in the out years.

So we didn't know that.

And then you did note too that um it would be an opportunity for us to to shift uh HAP money from 28 to 27, the 1.3 million, and just to note that you said that that's a one time and we're talking about one-time risk ongoing.

We do think that the violence prevention programs and GPIT grants, um, that'll give us a bridge to have these programs get in the queue to apply for measure L funds next year.

So um this is somewhat of a of a uh uh graceful compromise to zero in on the most um commonality with us, and so at the minimum I would look for a motion to support um these actions to so we have a motion and a second on that, and then um I just want to note for the rest of the council by outlining this by no means am I saying this is done, but the minimum we can start here and then zero in on um on uh what um we have uh else as far as what council members would would like to do.

Yes, so I'm looking for a um uh a already moved in second.

Uh Mayor, if I could suggest maybe because there is so much commonality, I would request that we call the question on this and then return back to discussion on other items.

I mean, I know I'd like to speak on other items, but I do agree with this commonality and make sure we at least give direction staff to move forward.

So that would be my request is to call the question on on this one and then uh then have a bigger discussion on I think on other pieces that we all have concerns about.

Okay, fair.

Okay, we have a motion, a second on I'm sorry, we have a motion, second and third, but thank you.

Um, so again, this is to embrace the restorations outline on page 20.

Yes.

I I just have a question before we take this vote.

I don't have a problem particularly the motion, but I we have had some different numbers float around on the on the gang prevention uh uh issue from 1.3 to 1.5 to 1.8 to 2.

So uh Pete, can you just uh uh uh try to clarify, walk through the numbers for us a little of the of the interplay and primarily what what what I'd like you to address is assuming we approve this motion, do whatever those other numbers are, another.2.3.8.

Do they stand on on their own?

Sure.

Uh so I'll maybe when you do that, Pete.

I'm sorry to interrupt, council member.

Can you go back to slide 18 and then allow you and others to follow along because they're both listed there on that table.

Sure.

So uh the situation in the current year's budget, so fiscal year 25-26, uh, as far as the violence prevention contracts to community organizations, we have roughly 2.1 million dollars.

So 1.3 million is through the G PIT program, and then about 800,000 is from that evidence-based program.

Um that ladder was set to sunset.

Um, under the proposed budget, uh, what we were uh proposing to do was have shift the basic shift most of that funding that was going out from the GPIP program onto this new uh BSCC grant, this new state grant.

But as you heard last week, that has uh different programmatic requirements.

Uh so in the proposed budget, you would have gone from 2.1 million roughly going to community-based organizations through the Office of Violence Prevention, uh, down to 1.1 million.

Um, so what this compromise would do, you still have that 1.1 million going out through the BSCC grant.

This would restore the GPIP funding.

So you would have uh roughly 2.4 million going out.

But to but to pick up on the mayor's use of the chart, the the additional uh 0.8 that you have is number 5 under restorations would stand on its own.

That would be if council wanted to, in addition to restoring GPIT, in addition to um the monies going out via the BSCC grant, if council also wanted to restore the evidence-based uh violence program that was sunsetting this year, that that's at additional 800,000.

Yeah, but what I'm trying to get at is whether whether this the second the point eight really is dependent on the 1.3 or the 1.3 is dependent on the point eight to to keep uh at the existing level of of activity that we've had this year.

Yeah, so as far as um monies going out, uh if you you if you restore the 1.3, you will have more going to community-based organizations in the budget for next year than you do for this year.

You'll have 2.4 going out, you'll have 1.3 from the GPIT, 1.1 from the um state grant going to communicate community-based organizations.

If you restored the other 800,000, you would have an additional eight hundred thousand dollars.

So you'd have three point two million going to CBOs.

Okay, but I'm not trying to figure out the organizations as much as I'm trying to figure out the activities because what we were we were challenged with and what we are challenged with is the non-supplementation limitation on on the BSCC funding.

So, in terms of activities, prevention and intervention activities, do we need that point eight in order to keep the current level of of activity?

So I'm may ask, I'm sorry.

Oh, so they may ask the police department to come up and just um give maybe a little bit more information on the evidence-based that 800,000 section and how that lines up with um you know what will be funded under the BSCC grant.

Good evening.

So the question is is the additional 800,000 and then the 1.3 and the difference in the work.

Is that your your question?

It's it's do we need the extra uh point eight in order to maintain the level of activity that we that we currently have?

So the the point eight represents our um evidence-based community violence, interruption, disruption, suppression grant.

Um, those are the four organizations that are tasked with disrupting um retaliation, um, gun violence, youth violence, things of those nature.

If the point eight is not there, the we're augmenting that with the BSEC grant is an augmentation.

We cannot duplicate the exact same services, but we can add on to those services.

So the services as you see today and vids, it will look different.

It will look different.

Um, those areas can grow, but they cannot be the same.

And the organizations that carry them out can't carry out the same activities they were and qualify for the BSEC funding, correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

Thank thank you.

Okay.

Thanks.

Thanks, Mayor.

Okay, thank you for the clarification.

We have a motion and second.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

No, there's abstentions.

Hearing none.

Okay, so just to note here, so we have go back to table page 18.

So we've essentially addressed the first three things on the restoration, and note that the financing tools are no longer available, right, Pete, for um one and four.

But that doesn't add up to one point.

So no mayor, you uh, you know, council can move more than um was identified for HAPS.

You had enough room to move more happen sets up.

Okay, but you're correct, you cannot reuse the parking vacancies.

Okay, there we go.

Yeah, so um other council members have certainly um um lined up and uh want to give you all the opportunity to engage.

Councilmember Garrett.

Great, thank you.

You know, first um I think you know I'm not gonna make a motion here.

I'd like to set my priority here, uh, and uh in a singular one, um, and then I'd like to, you know, I'll probably punch back up to work on on a couple thoughts here.

Uh one um uh I'd like to uh one ensure that we're protecting our young people and our seniors.

Those are the our two most vulnerable populations that we want to make sure we do.

So um a very simple one.

I think the the one thing that I heard uh clearly is uh a need to help those to age in place, those who don't have a place to go and our seniors who take advantage of our public senior center.

This is an important place for our seniors to age in place.

Uh and it and it provides so many for also adult adult care for some of those that as we see um even more the the progression of Alzheimer's and dementia uh the the they can be there's a lot of uh evidence to be uh uh to show that it offsets a lot of those needs.

So uh for a very small amount, I think ensuring our heart senior center manages this next year's transition and that we figure out how we how we manage this in the long term, it's important to to push for that.

So um I'd like to you know put you know uh restoration of the heart senior center.

Uh it's at a uh you know uh.27 uh and uh and look at you know uh doing uh you know the reducing um our uh commission meetings um they're important.

I was a planning commissioner, a county planning commissioner, and uh I know the value of that for us to engage with the community uh and it's a it and it's important uh aspect, but I think ensuring we protect our seniors is a is a critical one.

We're not eliminating the commissions, but we're um reducing them.

Um the other thing I'd like to look at in on top of that because that only gets us to point three, and we still then have a gap to go uh is the uh the uh ambassador program stipends and while I appreciate the ambassador programs.

Uh, you know, I've known some great ambassadors uh that are out there communicating and helping with us.

Um but again I go back to who's in greatest need.

And when I've gone uh to the food distribution for our seniors, when I've gone to the wellness programs for our seniors, um they are in desperate need, and so um I think that's a critical piece.

So I want to start there in those uh for discussion uh and uh and and the balance of that uh of the of uh from the the um uh 14 here uh is to look at uh the the uh the UER, you know, and taking a little chunk of the U E uh EUR, so the EUR to get to the balance to get to 2.7.

So that would be my recommendation to my colleagues is take a little chunk of the EUR, look at reducing our our commission meetings uh as well again, and then um and then using the the ambassador program as a way to protect our seniors.

Uh I'll leave that there.

I'm not ready to make a motion because I know there's other interests on the table, and um and uh we can continue the discussion, thank you.

Vice Mayor Talamantes.

Thank you, Mayor.

I do.

Yes, city manager.

Is it possible we can have staff provide some clarification on the heart center?

Because we're not getting rid of programming.

Um so um director, you want to come up and provide an explanation.

Good evening, Council Jackie Beachum, Director of Youth Parks and Community Enrichment.

Um so it's listed up here that says heart Senior Center.

The strategy is for program coordinator older adult services positions.

One of them is assigned to support several programs across the city, and the other three positions are currently assigned to the Hart Senior Center, but they're not always involved in direct program service delivery.

We would be reassigning staff from other programs across the city to provide support.

75% of our programs that we offer at Heart Senior Center are delivered by leisure enrichment instructors and volunteers.

The other 25% are supported by staff that we would be getting support from other senior programs across the city to provide that level of support.

One of those positions is currently will be vacant at the end of this month.

And the other two positions are lower than a 1.0 FTE.

Still significant impacts, obviously, to our employees, but our priority is to ensure that we're continuing continuing to deliver the current levels of service at the senior center.

Thank you, G.

Ms.

Beachaman.

Thank you, City Manager.

I think here let me lay this out.

And you know, we lost this employee because of the fear of the layoff as well.

And this sent a ripple effect in why I think it's important.

Like, yes, we can triage, but an important thing when working with their seniors, they're consistent and continuity in the relationships with the staff that they have.

And I think that's the value that I've learned when I've gone out and talked to them about aging in place.

So while I agree, we're not removing programming, but you know, frankly, it's our our employees that built that relationship.

Even the custodial employees that are there are helping our seniors in many ways that are not part of programming.

And it's it's that environment that I think is unique to the the senior center.

So that that is my concern, but thank you for the clarification.

And it is those two FTEs that I'm concerned about as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Talamantes.

Okay, so I do think that you know the budget time is is the hardest time here at City Hall because we have one budget and meaning many competing priorities in different neighborhoods across Sacramento, and our budget deficit continues to grow uh because of you know unfunded liabilities, which Pete went over, and so I just want to commend you guys for for your work and to our city manager and to the finance team for finding more ongoing budget balancing strategies.

75%.

That's a really good number.

Like the mayor said, 75% of what we do today, and this budget cycle will carry on for the next budget cycle, which I think is really good news for us because we've made a lot of one-time cuts, but this is the this is the bulk of it and necessary.

So for me, my priorities are clear.

Public safety, affordability, and improving the quality of life for residents in Sacramento, which to me means protecting the core city services that the city of Sacramento is directly responsible for.

Families are struggling right now, and people want safe neighborhoods, clean parks, functioning city services, good customer service from our city staff, and opportunities and safe places for their kids to go to after school.

They want to know that their government is focused on the basics and spending their taxpayer dollars responsibly, which is why I support reducing 10 million dollars from the Department of Community Response and capping ongoing general fund homelessness spending at 30 million dollars annually.

This is not about abandoning our responsibility.

The city was never meant to be in this business.

We're responsible for parks, fire, police, code enforcement, building affordable housing, and core city services, like your garbage pickup and maintaining our parks.

This is about sustainability.

The city cannot continue expanding I propose, restoring in one area while cutting services residents rely on every single day.

Focuses on what matters most to my community.

Public safety investments like gang violence prevention, restoring the school resource officers at Natumas High School at no cost to the city, and maintaining our mounted horse unit, which I talked about last week at council.

I think having the mounted horse unit in downtown provides a level of safety that people see, and it encourages people to come out.

So I'm high super um supportive of this.

Protecting summer pools and aquatics programs that kids and families have safe, affordable places to go during extreme heat.

Preserving programs like summer at City Hall that gives young people opportunities and connects them to civic engaged engagement here at City Hall.

Again, it's giving them something to do over the summer so that they stay out of trouble, and they're gonna learn about local government and maintaining strong city operations.

So I do have two asks that I put on my memo.

One of them is the city clerk's automation system.

Um it's an IT program and basically a new state law passed where we have to accept more public comments from areas from people that are not in this room, and she needs the support in order to be able to keep these council meetings going.

And we always ask the city clerk to make city hall more accessible, and she needs these programs, which I mean it's not sexy to fight for $900,000 for an automation program for IT, but it's necessary.

She's the person that keeps the lights on in this room, that does the projector, that helps City Hall going with the day-to-day tasks and the agendas that we ask for.

So I am asking for that to be considered in the budget, so that we can support our city clerk.

I also asked for protections in our city attorney's office and keeping his four senior positions as senior classifications so that he can hire seasoned litigators to handle complex litigation with the current with the current number that he has.

In the long run, we will be saving money by keeping these positions in the city attorney's office in-house instead of him having to use outside contracts for other attorneys that charges three, four times the price.

And we hired him a few months ago, and we asked for stronger litigation team.

We asked, hey, let's protect the city of Sacramento at all cost, and we need to give him the team that he needs to be able to be successful in his role.

And at the end of the day, our city attorney's office is every single department in the city of Sacramento.

They overview our ordinances and legislation that we propose, they make sure that contracts and MOUs that we have are in perfect shape so that you know, for example, if it goes south, we get our money back, or you know, that there's transparency and data protections.

Our city attorney's office has to review every single document that comes before us.

So if we get rid of these positions, the staff time to produce the report is gonna be a lot slower, and the policies that we expect to come to council within 30 days of you know, introducing it are gonna be cut, or you know, it's gonna be it's just gonna be slower.

And so if we're okay with slower response time, then that's our choice.

Um, but transparency and accountability and sound legal advice is important to me.

So I know these two asks are not shiny, but I think that they're necessary to keep our city functioning.

Um, lastly, um council member Dickinson has a few asks for district two.

Um they're at the very bottom of the list.

I know he'll be talking about them.

North Sack Code Enforcement Project and North Sac Economic Development Project.

When we talk about equity, District 2 has 33%, I think you said at the joint.

30% of homelessness in his district.

30% of all homelessness in the Sacramento region lives in Councilmember Dickinson's district.

When we talk about equity, we need to focus our money on the neighborhoods that are most impacted.

And I do think that District 2 deserves these programs and that district two deserves this funding, and I'm happy to support him in what he decides to say today.

Um, but at the end of the day, residents want a city that feels safe, affordable, and functional, and so I just look forward to hearing from my colleagues on what everybody else's asks are and kindly and respectfully asked to include the city attorney and the city clerk and your budget asks.

Okay, thank you.

Council member Dickinson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, and um thank you to my my colleague for the support in advance.

Um I want to suggest a little bit different lens through which to look at the budget.

We've done it to some extent, but I don't think that we've we've done it sufficiently, quite frankly, and for quite some time.

We talked this afternoon about looking at what we do as a city through a racial equity lens.

That is necessary and appropriate, in my in my opinion.

But I think we also need to look at what we do as a city through an economic equity lens.

And when we look at what we do as a city through that lens, I think it clarifies for us what our neediest areas of the city are in terms of our priorities of public safety, of economic development, and of addressing homelessness.

So I would I would offer the following thoughts in that in that context.

If we cut clean up activities, if we cut contracts that allow us to have neighborhoods and areas cleaned up, we're disadvantaging the economically challenged areas of our city more than any other part.

If we reduce beyond what is what is prudent homeless assistance programs, we're disadvantaging the more economically challenged parts of our city.

And as I've said more than once to many of you, I vividly recall the time when the city had virtually no role in addressing homelessness.

So I am not prepared to go further than what seems to be prudent in that direction, and I think I think Brian Pedro has made, and uh the city manager uh has made meaningful and uh appropriate recommendations in that regard.

I'd want to say a word.

I I appreciate the the adoption of the of the motion earlier to uh restore at least 1.3 million uh in uh youth violence prevention funding.

But I want to say a word about this because I think it's important that we look at the additional $800,000 for restoration here.

Part of it's practical.

It is the limitations on the use of the BSC grant because of supplantation limitations for work that's currently ongoing through organizations that we know are being effective in the in the community.

But part of it is to understand the equation of where we make our investments and what we get uh in return, and we talk a lot about return on investment.

National studies show that for every dollar invested in prevention, we get back $15 in savings.

That's an equation that we cannot ignore.

And we know that to the extent we reduce youth violence, prevention and intervention services, that the greater burden will fall on our police and fire most directly as a result.

So to me, it is only the smart thing to make sure that we are investing in prevention and intervention, both for those who will reap the benefit of those activities as well for us as a community as a city as a whole.

So I would like to see the additional 0.8 million added in to the budget.

I want to say a word uh that uh my colleague mentioned about about the economic development funding of 260,000 and the code enforcement funding of 201,000.

It's only up on the list as not mentioned by anyone else, but not a big surprise.

And I I don't blame any of you for not including it on your on your list.

But again, if we look at what we're doing in our budget through an economic equity lens, where do we need the greatest investment in economic development?

There's certainly other parts of the city that are worthy, but where is the greatest need?

And I would submit to you that it is in North Sacramento.

I would also share with you that it is not uncommon for me to hear the refrain from the people I represent, that they believe all too often the city council puts money up for something to be spent in North Sacramento and then takes it away.

I don't want to feed that narrative.

I don't want to create evidence that that's exactly what happens.

And for those of you who are not aware, and I think only Mayor Pro Tem Guerra and Councilmember Jennings were on the council at the time, when a homeless shelter was approved for Railroad Avenue in District 2 in North Sacramento, the council agreed to appropriate $900,000 to be spent in North Sacramento to address issues raised and for prophylactic purposes in terms of economic development.

This remaining money is part of that 900,000.

So I urge my colleagues tonight not to take that money away, not to feed the cynicism of those who would criticize the city for looking like it's doing something with one hand while taking it away with the other.

Finally, uh it's a it was also largely agreed to, I think, as well, and that's the the waiting pools.

Did you include that in your motion?

Yeah, yes.

Okay, I thought you just had the violence prevention.

No, it's one, two, and three.

Okay.

Okay, I didn't realize that was included, but I'm now even happier I voted for it.

So I won't uh I won't tell you how important that is that there's a waiting pool in North Sacramento that as I think uh the vice mayor said, uh, or one of the speakers, maybe it was uh Marvay, as a matter of fact, said people in the in those parts of the city don't have a lot of swimming pools in the backyard, they depend on on public facilities, both for parks and relief uh in the summer.

So I'm delighted to that that's already been taken care of.

So that's that's the my thoughts at this point, Mayor.

Okay, thank you.

Next, uh Councilmember Maple.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I'm taking detailed notes, so I really appreciate everyone's comments because I think um I find that we have a lot of alignment.

I think that is shown by their the motion that was made.

Um I'm heartened that a lot of my colleagues share the concerns that I share, especially about pools, about um community-facing resources like community centers and others.

Um so I want to start by saying um thank you.

Thank you to the mayor, and thank you to the city manager for this process.

Um this is my my fourth year on the council, and I can tell you every budget season, I feel like I learned something new.

Um, and it's often very complex.

Uh and especially when it comes down to time of making a motion and finding the money, uh, it tends to be a free-for-all on the dais, and I think that's not only um challenging for some of us, but it's also challenging for the public to track and the staff.

I think probably most of all.

I remember looking at your faces last time around, and you're like, wait, did that money line up with the other money?

Um, and so I think this process has been really helpful, not just for you know, making sure that we have our numbers right and we're not doing it on the fly on the dais, but but so that we all understand what what we're actually doing and what the priorities of one another are.

And so that's been incredibly helpful.

So I want to start with that.

Um, so as I aligned to my memo, my my priorities uh are first and foremost protecting jobs.

Um I recognize that as we have discussions up here, you know, that our employees and who are also our residents in many cases are watching, and they are wondering about their jobs and their livelihoods and their ability to feed their families.

Um, and so I think that's so crucial that you know obviously we we have a mandate to balance our budget, it is required by law.

It's very challenging when we're a situation like this where we we must make cuts in order to balance our budget, um, but to the extent possible, I want to make sure that we do so with our employees in mind.

Um and so, you know, one of the um asks that I made in my memo was to restore restore our park to make park maintenance partners workers, I can speak.

Um and I know that we are looking into the possibility of contracting that out, but there was at the 2 p.m.

meeting um a gentleman who came who spoke on hey, this has been done before.

We did this in 2008, and uh, guess what happened?

It was we ended up going back to what we did before because ultimately, like with many contracts that we have with the city of Sacramento, they they offer you a very low price.

They say we're gonna do all this great work for you, don't worry.

And then guess what?

They things get added on, it's gonna cost more.

There's gonna be changes in the invoices, and then before you know it, um it's ballooned and you're and you're paying the same, if not more, as if you had your own in place.

And so I just I worry that that might be the case that we end up in if we don't keep keep the jobs because we know that we really need to maintain our parks.

Um we we all have parks throughout the whole city of Sacramento.

It's one of things that people love about our city is that they have these amazing public amenities to be able to go to, and they can also be um lifelines for folks.

They're places for kids to play, there's places for programming, they're places to stay cool if you need to, and so I'm I'm very keen on finding ways that we can we can keep our our employees whenever possible, recognizing that we're gonna have to cut somewhere and that may have to be vacancies in other places.

Um and then secondly, my other priority is as I already mentioned is maintaining the spaces that that are that are public facing our community centers and our pools in particular because as I mentioned in a previous hearing, uh, for a lot of folks in the communities that I represent, that pools are not just a nice-to-have amenity, they're a lifeline.

Uh people use them to stay cool in the summer.

Many places in my district folks do not have air conditioning in their homes.

They don't have tree canopy that shades their homes like other places in the city.

This is literally life or death for people.

Um, and so I worry that by changing hours on pools that may that may make the difference.

And so I'm really grateful that that's what was included in our motion.

Um I'm also grateful that we've included the violence prevention funding because that's another um key important area for for my the communities I represent.

Uh we know that investing in prevention is one of the most important things that we can do because while we can respond after it happens, we only have so many resources.

We need to make sure that we're reducing the amount that is happening, and that goes through our wonderful organizations, many of which are in this room that are doing that work, and some really thrilled um that we're keeping that.

Um I do have a question related to um violence prevention, Dr.

Clava.

I'm sorry, I know that you sat down.

Um, but I do have a question related to that.

And I'll provide a little bit of background while you walk over.

Thank you.

Um, so one of the questions that I have is we have a lot of programming that is in response when incidents happen.

Um, but what I'm hearing, and I think we have a family here in the audience um from Oak Park that recently went through a horrific shooting.

Um and luckily the folks who did that have been now been caught and will be go through the criminal justice system, but the family what I've heard from the family unfortunately is that they they feel as though they haven't received the resources that they need.

Um, and so I'm I'm wondering do the the programs that we fund through the violence prevention and GPIT and others, do any of them provide familial support or victim services after the fact.

No, they're not funded for um those type of resources.

They can do uh referrals.

I did speak with um one of the family members that is present, I believe, and I haven't met her in person, but I believe she's here present, and I did refer her to the DAE's advocate's office as well as to Rose Family Empowerment who have some resources through other grant funds, but not through the Office of Violence Prevention.

Okay, and and then I on that note, because I recognize that there's things that the city does, there's also things that, for example, the District Attorney's Office does, or that the county might do.

To what extent do we or do any of the the organizations that we fund help support the victims to be able to go through these processes or find the right connection, even if it's maybe not us that's providing the actual resource?

Um, it would definitely be referral services, and so many of them have they have collaborative meetings to discuss actually on the 14th on Thursday, they will be meeting um at Jackie Rose's center on Franklin, and they will be having a huge collaborative meeting just to continue to work on the processes of how they referral and cross-referral to one another or to organizations that do that does have those services.

Okay.

I think that's really important because I again I support this funding.

I think it's crucial, and I want us to continue to do it, but I also think we need some process improvements to make sure that we're truly connecting folks to the resources that they need, even if it's not us.

Because I recognize that's a lot of what we do as constituent services every day, is you know, oftentimes you know, the city's not the end all be all that that person or or group may need, but they really need someone who's gonna hold their hand and walk them through every single person that can help them.

Um, because when you especially when you're going through something traumatic like that, as you well know, um, it can be really hard to understand and to know where to go who's the right person, especially when you've been passed off several times.

And so um, I just I I hope that it sounds like that's part of what this meeting is is to make sure that those all those connections are really strong between the different organizations and government entities.

Yes, it's what it's been part of our process to have those collaborative meetings and to meet with one another just to continue to um make sure that everyone understands what services or resources they have.

Again, the city funds are not the only funds that some of these organizations are currently receiving, and so fortunately for organizations like Ms.

Jackie, she has different resources and different avenues and things that she can offer that OVP cannot.

Okay, that's really helpful to know, yeah.

So, for example, if you're getting money from county or the state or something else, you might be able to offer multiple different kinds of resources in one place.

Yes, ma'am.

Okay, that's really helpful.

Thank you.

Those are all my questions on that front.

Um, and so I'm just gonna name the other thing, um, and I think Councilmember Plucky Baum mentioned this in his his initial comments um last Tuesday was we have the decisions that we're making today and up until June when we'll pass the final budget, which are you know related to this year, but we also know that we have many years to come.

Um, and if we don't make different choices in the out years, we're gonna continue to be back here.

I've been here every year since I've been elected, having to make these choices, uh, and I I worry that that will be the case for the next four years if we don't find a way to make some more substantial long-term truly systemic changes that will hopefully put us in a better position so that we don't have to do that, and that's for whomever may be here and um and the future, and so some of the things that I I mentioned in my memo is I really think we need to do a top-down review of of our organization.

What often happens as I see it is that the easiest and lowest hanging fruit from a budget perspective is to cut the jobs at the bottom, and you can only do so much of that because those are the people that are providing the day-to-day services, they're showing up, they're picking up your trash, they're cleaning something, they're pruning the tree, all of that is really important.

Um, but we also have I would say at times a very bloated organization.

You can look at the top of our chart and you can see some very um high-paid jobs, and I and I'm not, I'm not suggesting that any one of those people does not deserve a job, but I do wonder if we've done an assessment of all the different jobs, um, titles, the the um roles and responsibilities, and if there is any duplication or areas where we can improve, we should take a look at that.

Um, and that includes, you know, upper and middle management in every single department, um, because I think we owe it to all of our employees to say that we've done this assessment, whatever may come out of that, so that we know that we've done our due diligence.

I know that's a hard thing to say, but I think it's important.

Another thing that I think I've mentioned here many times is finding opportunities to use technology to our advantage whenever we can.

I, you know, I used to work in the Capitol in the chief clerk's office, and that I will tell you still to this day that there is a person's, there's two people's jobs sitting in the basement of the Capitol reading a from a paper bill that has been printed out loud to one another, where they take a pen and find it's really true.

I used to do it, where they find errors in the bill, and then they send them to print.

Guess what?

Um, that's probably not a job that a human needs to be doing anymore, but it's a job that exists there.

I wonder, as happens in government often, if there are more jobs like that, even in our own organization where we could be finding opportunities to use technology, not to take away a job, but to make someone to give open up someone's time to do other activities that are more important.

So using things to our advantage like AI, using customer service systems, code enforcement.

I've talked about drones here before.

There's a lot of opportunities, I think, with the right tools to look into how we can improve our processes.

I don't know what all of those are, but I do think that we it's time for us to take a look and see if there's other ways that we can do it.

And I also want to acknowledge that I know a lot of that work is already underway.

Um we have an awesome IT department that is constantly looking at those, but we've got to continue to do it.

Um I would say the biggest uh through line in my budget memo is contracts.

Um so I know that we had a list sent to us of all of the city contracts, thank you.

Um it was a PDF of a spreadsheet, which is always very challenging to navigate, and including everything back to 2021, I believe.

Um so I'm not it was hard to tell which of those were already completed and fully paid and which ones were currently active.

And so I think there are ways that we can break that down to make it even easier for us to take a look.

Um, but that's where I came up with some of the suggestions, things like forensic clean, things like um our um unarmed security services contract, um, plan review, permitting inspection, and um outside legal counsel talked a little bit about that too.

I think that I'm not suggesting that we cut any one of these contracts in its entirety.

I think that there's a good use for each one of these things.

My question is have we really taken a look at each one and assessed how necessary the totality of the contract is?

So, for example, every place every building in the city of Sacramento that has an unarmed security officer outside of them that may be sitting there and nothing happens for you know years on end, um, maybe we can take a look at whether or not that's necessary versus um places where we actually do need it and we know that we need it for forensic clean.

I I heard Mr.

Pedro, I know that it's necessary.

Um I think that if we got rid of forensic clean entirely, um, community members from all over my district would probably be calling for my head.

Um but I wonder, you know, if there's ways that we can pair it back, because you know, we also know that we need to find funding.

So this is one of the areas where I again I don't think this is anything we can do this year, um, but these are opportunities for us to look in the out years to save costs and opportunities for us.

Um and so I've spoken long enough.

Um the last thing on my budget memo is about the Xtreet Navigation Center, and so I recognize that we have the lease with Caltrans up till 2027, March 2027, and that we've also aligned the funding that we currently have in the contracts with the organization that runs it up until about point.

Um, but I really wonder in the long term whether this is an appropriate place for a shelter or even recuperative care in the long term.

One, we don't know if Caltrans is gonna renew our lease there, we just don't.

So even if we even try to plan beyond, then without that information, we just don't know if that's gonna happen.

But lastly, you know, I've heard I've spoken with folks who are on house and folks who are going through the system.

Being in a tent under the freeway underpass, where 100 people are crammed in there is like the least the option that people least want to choose, right?

And I can understand that.

If I'm a single woman or if I'm someone that may have disabilities or other challenges, you really don't want to be in that kind of situation.

And so when we talk about things like service resistance, I think it's more like we don't have necessarily probably the right option for that person.

And so I wonder if um there's a better use for our our dollars to still pivot and use it for the services that we need, but not at that location.

So with that, those are my comments.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Council member Bang.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, thank you so much uh to Pete and the entire team and city manager for working through our proposals.

Um I want to first just start off and set the stage.

I think folks kind of know what my priorities are in terms of supporting our young people and our workers and how we're gonna fund it.

I think it's pretty obvious which proposal is my of the a proposal.

Uh, but before I go into that, I definitely want to set the stage.

Um, and before I walk through my budget restoration recommendation, I do want to ground this conversation in what we heard last council meeting.

So, one, I think we clearly heard that the current funding for violence interruptions actually sunset this year.

Um, and that's the $800,000 that we know uh is a three-year grant that Dr.

Clavel has been working on with community partners.

We also heard from PD directly that when school lets out for the summer, um, at the moment, um, if uh we eliminate these programs and under the new Calvit model, uh, there is still not a clearly defined process for how community-based organization will receive referrals if if school is not in session, because most of the referrals will now be through school under the new Calvit program.

Um, and um under the Calvit program, uh, we also heard, uh, I heard directly last week that we have not yet, we're still ironing out the details, uh, but that we have not yet have a comprehensive referral plan for young people who are not enrolled in school since the referral will go through the school.

And I'm sharing this because uh the youth programs are incredibly important to me.

That matters to me because violence prevention can not only be uh dependent on uh a connected school system, but also why we need our community partners now more than ever.

They are usually our frontline defense when things happen, and we have to make sure that our community partners are part of that ecosystem.

And so uh it's really important for me that we're able to reach out to youth that are disconnected, that are unhoused, that are justice impacted, or otherwise are just outside of the traditional system, which is why I uh am a big supporter of making sure we restore the violence prevention um and also um the violence interruption programs as well.

Um, today three of my colleagues actually held a press conference to urge the city to protect funding for our programs that support our youth and keep our community safe.

Um, and last year I was on the dais and I made the same plea.

Uh we held a press conference with dozens of youth, and this council saved 1.3 million of uh youth funding for this current year budget for summer youth programming, and yet we are here again having the same conversation, and so uh we have to ask ourselves again will we fund violence prevention strategies that just go beyond policing?

Because every year we'll be back at this conversation if it is not ongoing.

I think we talk a lot about also budgeting our values, um, and if public safety is truly a council priority, and if we have a shared definition of what public safety is, because for me it goes beyond fire and police, that we also have to make sure that we're investing in youth violence prevention in these programming.

Um, I made my request to restore critical programs that include the 1.3 for the violence prevention, which we just voted on briefly, so that's great.

I also requested for us to restore our waiting pools.

I see that that made it as well, and also for the 800 uh for our violence interruption disruption program.

And I know that council member Dickinson uh mentioned his support for this, so I also want to add my voice to that as well.

Uh, because um this program cannot be done under the Calvit program because it has to be a different model.

Um, overall, these programs would require 2.3 million.

Uh it is a relatively small investment with significant community impact.

Um, and it's incredibly important.

And for me, eliminating these programs actually risk undoing years of progress that Dr.

Clavo, our community-based organization, has done for over the years, uh, really preventing uh violence but also building community trust.

I also want to know, I noted this last year as well, because there's a lot of conversation around measure L, but the Measure L initiative and the Sacramento Children's Fund was not meant to supplant current programs.

I know the conversation is maybe we can redirect and have nonprofits or city staff apply for Measure L fund.

But what I want to share with you is that Measure L is less than 1% of the budget.

And it was never meant to cover all youth programming in our city, but to expand the work that we're doing.

And so I'm going to reiterate that because the intention was not to supplant, it was to expand youth programming in this city.

I want to support my colleagues in restoring some additional items.

The 260 for North Sacramento Economic Development Project.

We just earlier at 2 o'clock talked about the budget equity tool and how we need to invest in underserved community that often have been left behind.

And so I want to throw my support for councilmember Dickinson in this one-time fund to support Del Paso Heights.

And also, I want to also mention that Councilwoman Maple had this on her priority as well, but protecting workers in our city and making sure that we maintain our park maintenance workers.

So how would we fund this?

It is no secret, my position over the past four years, that my position on how we could restore these funding of these funding and programs is that right now the city currently has substantial funding tied to long-term vacant position.

And that includes millions of dollars in unfilled vacant police department allocation.

And my main proposal focus on reallocating dormant funding from position that the city has already operated without without years, right?

And so I am again urging the city manager and my colleagues to restore funding back in the budget by eliminating PD vacancies.

I know that item is uh up on the slide, but it definitely didn't make the overlap, but I will just put that on record.

Look, all eight restoration proposals uh ranges between 1.9 million to 4.5.

And literally, we are all fighting for crumbs of the entire budget because the majority of the budget it is tied up in PD.

And it is the largest cost of this city.

Um police budget and resources are currently at an all-time high, and people still do not feel safe even though crime has been down.

And when we had a presentation earlier this year, uh our former chief also mentioned that crime has been down.

And since I've been in office, the police budget has increased by 100 million dollars.

So for me, before we make any cuts to economic development projects in more challenged neighborhoods like Del Paso Heights, before we lay off any filled position like maintenance workers, before we lay off any individuals in our city who actually takes home a paycheck to purchase food for their families and provide housing for their loved ones, it is incredibly hard for me to support a budget that does that.

We need to have the courage to eliminate vacancies in the police department.

And if we're not bold enough to do that, ultimately I'm gonna vote no again on this budget.

And I know that that final vote won't happen till June, but every year we have an opportunity to reimagine what our budget can look like, and more importantly, what our priorities say about who we are as a city.

And so I'm encouraging my colleagues to make budget decisions driven by real people, by our youth, by our seniors, by our workers who actually need help in this critical moment and not make our decision based on fear.

The reason why we have a large police budget is because we make decisions based off of fear.

Our budget is more than just numbers on a page, it is a reflection of our values, and I believe that we have a responsibility to continue investing in the people that work in our city, our young people, our seniors, and that is what I believe will make our community strong.

And so that was my proposal for this year's budget.

Thank you, Council Kaplan.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I like many of my colleagues want to center what I wrote my budget memo about uh first and foremost are our city employees.

Those are that are at the heart and the workforce of uh making this city go about public safety and about protecting our youth and our parks.

Uh I want to start with where I think um we can address some additional budget savings, or if we want to call them financing.

Uh, as I've sat and I've listened to my colleagues, my budget proposal, which was proposal number two.

If we didn't name them, we need to name them, had that we find an additional uh seven point, uh it was in BCP number 12.

Take the capital funds that were set aside for the construction of two uh emergency shed units, uh, 40 each, which would cost 7.4 million uh for a total of 80 sheds, which would also have an ongoing savings for operation costs of 1.5 million, so in total, 8.9 million dollars in savings.

But as I listen to the vice mayor, I'm I'm supportive of when we look at are we actually hurting services if we take 10 million from DCR, we're not, because 7.4 is one time capital cost, which are actually not providing any services, and the 2.6 million ongoing is really you have to look at when uh HAP 5 to HAP6 funding, the city lost approximately um 11 million dollars in hat funding.

We have to make sure that if we've cut that 11 million, it comes out of our budget because this comes out of general fund if we don't do that.

So if we don't take that 11 million less that we got from the state, we're backfilling it from general fund, and that's why you see cuts with our youth and our parks and our programming, because that's going out to our homeless services, which is absolutely needed, but I think we have to come into alignment, which I really appreciate our auditor for finding ways that we can make and streamline our program.

I really want to thank Mr.

Pedro at DCR, who's done an amazing job of trying to streamline, but I still think we as a city sometimes need to pause and look at the policies and the programming where we're putting in place, and is it the most efficient that we can do, or is it time to pause?

So I am supportive of the 10 million that the vice mayor put forward, knowing that it really is uh a majority is coming out of one-time costs and really isn't affecting any programming uh that is going on so that we have the funding to invest in our employees, public safety, and parks, as well as not fully restoring everything, so we're also addressing our structural deficit.

So we go to where, you know, when Telamonte's Maple and I got on, that's all we've been doing since we've got we've cut.

This is our fourth year in a row of cutting, and I think everybody knows I've been beating the drum for four years.

Of we should adopt a two-year budget.

We should balance the first year and be within a percent or two balanced in the second year, and realize being being balanced means we could be at a deficit of 25 million because our total budget is 1.17 billion.

Um, so that's a that's a drop in the bucket of uh and a budget is is a living uh document.

Also, I think it's something we all kind of agreed to last Tuesday when we looked at contracting out, which was actually going to service two of my new parks that are going to be opening uh this summer in D1.

So I am supportive of which I think you heard from council last week that all of us of holding off and not contracting out, and that's another hundred thousand dollars in savings.

And then before I go to uh what I think we should look at.

Oh, and then I am supportive, Council Member Maple.

I brought this up AI efficiencies.

I'm I'm on board.

I would love an analysis of staff savings and contracting out as well.

I think that's just smart.

Now that you know uh Madam City Manager, you're here, getting your hands around the budget, what we're doing, a fresh set of eyes, what is efficient with staff, what's not?

What could we do better?

What can we do in-house?

How does AI come in and potentially offer some savings without replacing uh employees but just efficiencies?

I think we can find find some savings there.

Um, Miss Beecham, can you come up and ask a couple of questions before I make some comments?

In my budget memo, uh, I brought up that I wanted to make sure that any cuts that were happening around our community centers and senior centers would not affect programming.

You can confirm that the same hours and programming are going to exist.

That is correct.

So in the initial baseline proposal that included a reduction of community center hours down to four days a week, there would have been an impact to programs and services at community centers and the Hart Senior Center.

With the restoration of that in the newly proposed budget, that has all been restored.

So they're back to five days a week.

That is correct.

Okay.

Um, and then I want to talk to you when we um I want you to tell me a little bit about how because I want to, you know, of priority is putting those 26 park maintenance workers back into our city.

Like it is absolutely essential knowing that, you know, some are our new parents, some have been with the city for a very long time.

I know my small little parking uh maintenance workers by name, I actually have their phone numbers.

So I think it's important because they are a fabric and part of our city that it was estimated that the savings would be about 550, 546, uh hundred thousand.

And then with the not contracting out, that's like another savings of a hundred thousand.

What is your proposal to be able to address, keep the 26 employees, but also bring in some savings.

I just want to give you a chance to talk about that a little bit.

Sorry.

Um, um as we've been having these budget discussions really over the last three years, and staff have continued to try to identify operational efficiencies.

Um, we've invited staff to you know come up with proposals and help us to identify new ways of operating that help support savings.

And our park maintenance team, really over the last three years, but especially in the last several weeks, have been working on different strategies for updating how we are deploying our resources.

Um, and so we would be prepared to implement a new staffing model that really um deploys our resources based on the demands that we're seeing in our neighborhood parks.

Um so we would be visiting our parks based on the amenities that are existing, based on the level of permits that we're seeing happening in our parks.

Um, with this new model of service, it'd be more tiered maintenance level approach to our non-landscape services, where we would be deploying our services.

We would anticipate not seeing any visible level of service impacts.

Our landscape services would be maintained the same as you currently see them by city staff where we currently have contracts in place, those would remain, but we wouldn't intend on contracting any additional services out.

Um, so there'd be no visible maintenance landscape maintenance service impacts, restrooms would be continued to maintain daily.

Um we would just be adjusting the way we're currently doing business and really trying to address based on what the actual demand is at each of those neighborhood parks.

So, for example, um, my the park behind my house is just a tiny little strip parklet.

Um, so I wouldn't see city staff coming by daily to pick up trash, which I'm pretty sure not one can is full.

Uh, and it probably takes three or four days for even one of them to get halfway full.

So they just wouldn't be coming every day, maybe every third day they would come to pick up trash.

Sure, yeah.

So depending on the size of a park, if there are um if we have athletic fields there, if we have a high level permit usage, if there's a restroom there, they would certainly be visiting there on a daily basis.

If it's a really small park with just turf, or perhaps it maybe has just a small tiny top playground, they might visit that park two to three days a week.

We're really getting feedback from the line staff.

Um, I have to give them credit for really stepping up and sharing ideas.

We asked that of them.

Um, so they've been really engaged in this process over the last several weeks, just trying to strategize and be a part of of the discussion.

Um, and and to have an opportunity to sort of pilot this using the existing staff that we have, maybe an opportunity to bring some of those contracts potentially back in-house.

We know what our current cost of contracts, you know, per acre and the staff per acre is right now, but if we're able to update our staffing model and operate a little bit more efficiently, this could be a chance to test that out.

Well, you know, my district one residents love their parks.

I'm all for saving our park employees and looking at this dynamic staffing model to make sure the new parks are just as well taken care of, but saving those employees as is a priority.

I wanna, so thank you for that.

I want to ask you also about summer at City Hall, which I think is really important.

That's the cost of a restoration of 132,000.

Can you tell me what that 132,000 would go towards?

So the 132,000 dollars for summer city hall would be specifically staffing.

It's only staffing, it would be a program supervisor and a recreation aide that would directly be supporting the summer at City Hall program.

And we have basically almost a hundred kids that participate.

Is it 80 to 100?

I forget.

It's 100.

We have 100 kids.

Council members, I think it's really important that we prioritize saving summer at City Hall.

I can tell you I have run into some college students who have graduated who come back and say, you know, I looked at city government differently.

I looked at potential jobs because of what I did at Summer City Hall.

I think sometimes government lives in an anomaly and people don't understand what happens, but when we have our teens come in, and we're always talking about giving our teens something to do.

Summer at City Hall is an amazing program that really trains and uplifts, you know, 100 teens every year and is a model.

I just can't see in any way, shape, or form the benefit of eliminating those positions.

So I hope that I can get more support for keeping summer at City Hall.

And then one of the other things I put up there was youth workforce positions, restoration, I think that was 107,000 for youth workforce development.

Can you tell me what that is before I argue why it's important?

So there were three strategies for the youth workforce development program.

Two of them were stipend-based, were stipends.

Um the one that is listed, I think that you included for the 107,000 dollars was uh positions.

It was eight position, two positions, excuse me.

Um a program coordinator, a full-time program coordinator, and then also recreation aid that would directly support the primetime teen, young leaders of tomorrow, and junior rec aid programs.

Um so we would need those staffing to ensure that those programs are not reduced by 50% by 50%.

So prime time teen, what else?

Young leaders of tomorrow and junior rec aid.

So I have had numerous parents who have had their their teens go through these programs.

I think they're pretty amazing as well.

Of hands-on prime time teen, really um is just another way for the for the city to get our teens of what what is real life, um, resumes, what do they want to do with their life, um, public speaking, um, it is an amazing program, and we talk about how we invest in our youth.

I think this is another thing that we need to make sure the positions are there that we invest in our youth.

And I hope that I can have the support of my colleagues for keeping uh those.

So thank you, Ms.

Beachum.

Uh, you know, when we talk about our youth, I think what we're arguing over is really about how how we protect protect the future of the next generation, and we've got some really good programs that have shown a return on investment because hands down when Chief Lester worked uh with OVP and we set up some really good uh youth violence prevention programs with some really outstanding community-based organizations.

I'm gonna say that that really is the reason why we had violence reduction uh from 2023 to 2025.

It's because of addressing youth violence at the root, where they are with individuals who know these kids on the streets.

So that's where I will also say again, I am hesitant with the new Calvet uh program and how the referrals are coming from our schools.

As a former school board member uh for 20 years, I know how important our teachers do know, but I also think it's really important that our officers who run into kids and know kids still have the ability to work with directly our CBOs, and it not only is just a youth or a school uh referral.

So I am supportive of restoring the 800,000 into the program of the last year at OVP for for the grant um for uh violence interruption uh to go back in.

All right, I do support this is at no cost to the city.

I was a school board member when we worked with our Sacramento Police Department and brought in school resource officers, and we were a school district that did it differently than every other county, every other school district in the county of Sacramento.

We worked in partnership to find the right officers for school resources that were able to connect with our students so that they knew our students and knew when something was going on and they knew how to interrupt it.

That contract was eliminated last year without coming to council, without a council vote, without a council decision.

I heavily objected, and just a couple months after that was eliminated, for the first time we had a student shot and killed on our Natomas campuses.

School resource officers matter.

Youth violence is now on an uptick.

We need our school resource officers back, and by the way, Natomas Unified pays for that, not the city.

So I would I would hope that those positions could be authorized and go back in.

Because the number one thing I hear from my community, and we have a lot of crime that happens, that is neighborhood disruption crime, not the violent crime.

We have some but not a lot.

So you know what Natomas doesn't have, and my predecessor, Senator Ashby, who sat in the seat for 12 years, argued for was more police presence in the North.

And guess what?

We don't have it because there is less officers on the payroll and they're addressing violent crime.

And our school resource officers help address that when they're in Natomas and help with that safety in the community, and Notomas deserves that since we are consistently understaffed with police presence, and I hear consistently my community, why should I call the police when they never show up?

It's a source of frustration that I think we have to do better at while we understand that our officers we don't have enough on the streets.

Um, one of the things uh I want to also have my colleagues consider is that while I have advised that we should cut the uh homeless sheds uh which would house 40 seniors uh at each of them, which would be 80 seniors.

If you look at our hotel uh motel system, right now we limit it as a policy just to women and children.

I think it's untenable that we would have seniors live in these.

I go camping a lot.

They're camping cabins, they got a bed, a small fridge, and hot pot.

There is no bathroom, there is no running water, um, and it's not dignified for our seniors.

But if we expand our hotel meltel program where it's a bed and a bathroom, that's giving dignity to our seniors.

And I looked at the cost of that, and it would cost one point, approximately 1.1 million dollars to open up our hotel motel program to allow 80 seniors to have a spot.

So in actuality, instead of 7.4, we're only gonna spend 1.1, and we're gonna get 80 seniors off the streets with their own bathrooms at a congregant shelters and off of our streets and treating with dignity because these hotel motel programs have services on site, and I think that is how we have to look at things different in the city of Sacramento when we are facing a structural budget deficit and how we do things uh differently.

And and honestly, what I haven't heard from any of our colleagues while we talk about safety and we talk about youth violence, a significant amount of cuts and positions are being eliminated from our Sacramento Police Department, our mounted unit, K9, our community officers that do the hiring pipeline, our forensic, our auditing.

I think we should consider restoring a million dollars back to the police department and allow the chief to put it into positions that they find the most useful because when we talk about partnerships and crime, there are significant amount of positions being eliminated in the police department that not one of us has brought up except for me.

Mounted unit is great, but let's do an analysis of what is the most effective and gonna have the most amount of safety impact for our city.

And I think we should give our police chief a million dollars to figure out what should be restored that is the most effective for our community.

And when you add all those together, I still have about 5 million that's gonna go to ongoing savings to address our structural deficit that this addition is only 5 million, and I do support the extra 460 for D2 projects.

Um that should absolutely be restored as an equity item.

Thank you.

Next up, we have Councilmember Jennings.

So if you've been sitting too long and you need to get up and stretch, you can get up and stretch now.

This would be the time.

Go ahead, get up, stretch, go ahead and hold it up, hold it up, okay.

That's good.

That's good.

Stay where you are, just turn around, get to know your neighbor.

Okay?

That's good.

All right, okay.

Good job.

Good job.

Good job.

Come on, give yourselves a big round of applause.

Come on, come on.

So I know I was hurting myself.

I needed that probably more than any of y'all did.

But I I just want you to know I appreciate you hanging in there with us as we go through this process.

This is a process that's very important to the city of Sacramento, and we got to get this right.

And this is the time to get it right.

So we're gonna all kind of throw out our our ideas and what we're talking what we're trying to figure out, and then at some point in time, we're gonna have an opportunity to sit down with you so you can share with us what your ideas are that can make it better as well.

So we got time because we're not gonna do this budget until June 2nd.

Is that right?

June June 9th?

June 9th.

All right, so June 9th.

So we got time, right?

So, um, I love the decision that we made earlier when we were all in alignment for the waiting pools, for the youth violence prevention program, and for the south side pools or the pools, whatever pools were in your area.

For me, it was South Side Pools.

Um, and we seem to be in alignment on that, and then one of my colleagues says something that really intrigued me every dollar invested in prevention and intervention gives us back $15, and so if that statement stands true, we need to invest in prevention and intervention and invest in it heavily.

So, my my conversation is gonna be about youth, and the other end of the spectrum, seniors, so I really want to focus on youth and seniors.

So, let me start off with our start off with our seniors, uh, and that's the seniors at the heart senior citizen.

Um, I've heard many of my colleagues talk about that already, and many of them are in alignment.

I got a chance to go to uh senior citizen center a week ago.

What I was impressed with was all of them that were in there doing the arts and the crafts and the exercise.

I was impressed with the artistic part of them that came out while they were there.

And nobody looked at each other's art and said, Oh, that's ugly.

They all looked at it and said, That looks good, because in their eyes it looked good because it was something that they hadn't been able to do before, but now they could, and nobody was criticizing them, they were complimenting them.

So they got love from doing what they wanted to do.

And then when I got there, and all of them came running to me, showing me what they had done, then they wanted me to take it home.

Right?

So I end up walking out of there with like bags of stuff.

That now I gotta figure out what to do with, right?

But they said, no more, no worry, Rick.

We're gonna do this again tomorrow, right?

And so it was just amazing what happens when you see our elders who are in an environment where they can grow and they can develop and they can be loved and they can they can be important.

I happen to know one of those.

She's 96 years old.

She happens to be my mother-in-law, and she spends way too much time in the house as opposed to with others who can uplift her and help her to be the best version of herself.

And so for me, one of the priorities is our youth, I mean, our elders.

I want to make sure that we take care of our elders, because I'm gonna be one in the next short period of time.

And I also want to make sure that we take care of our youth.

So those are my two priorities that I wanted to focus on.

And when we did the first analysis when we went around, we talked about being an alignment.

I had the waiting pools.

I was number five on your list if you if you want to grade my seat.

I was number five, and we had the waiting pools, we got that.

We had the youth violence prevention uh GPIT, uh, I got that, and then we had Southside Pools, and so all that's good because we had that.

And what I feel like is missing is we gotta, we're gonna have fun this summer getting in the water and having a great time.

We're gonna do that's gonna be fun.

This is gonna be hot, and you're gonna need to get in that water.

Just like I made you get up and stretch, you're gonna need to get in that water because it's gonna be hot, and you're gonna need that cool water to cool you down.

Okay.

What else you're going to need is summer at City Hall.

So I see you already.

I see how excited you got when I said that.

Summer at City Hall.

Yeah.

You guys know what that is, right?

You don't know what summer and city hall is?

Let me let me let me let me do what y'all do.

You go to your phone and you pull it up.

The summer and city hall program is compelling collaboration between the City of Sacramento's Department of Youth Parks and Community Enrichment Youth Division, youth division, along with the Sacramento City Unified School District, the Twin Rivers Unified School District, the Natomas Unified School District for the upcoming year.

Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are invited to apply for this amazing summer program.

Students must attend Sack City Unified School District, Twin Rivers Unified School District, and the Thomas Unified School District, or live in the Sacramento City limits to qualify.

Now you can read all the rest of it, but it's a great program because when I see the youth who come there and they come down here to City Hall, they learn firsthand how to sit in this seat and how to govern.

So you can then go back to your community and you can govern in your community and in your school, and you can learn leadership early so that you can be ready when you get here to do what we do.

That makes that make sense.

Get up to that microphone without fear.

And speak your piece.

Speak what you got to say, right?

Get up and know that you got all of us up here supporting you, loving on you, helping you to be the best version of yourself.

Summer at City Hall.

It's the best vacation you will ever take.

I guarantee it.

Right?

And the council members come in and they talk to you about how they got into the position they got into and what they're doing now to change government and all the different things that they're doing.

So it's a learning experience that you could you will never ever forget.

And it's five weeks during your summer.

You got a question.

Oh gosh.

I got you.

I got you.

I'll make sure before you leave here, we got you covered to sign up for that.

So I'm glad.

Yeah, go ahead, give them a round of applause.

So I love summer at City Hall.

I wish it was there when I grew up.

Maybe I would have gotten into what I did earlier than later.

But I did.

I got into it.

And now I'm I'm telling you a secret that I think will help you for the rest of your life.

And so I want to tell you about that.

So that's one thing.

So council member, can I pause you real quick?

Yes, please.

It seems like we have some summer at City Hall.

Folks want to keep talking about that potential.

I'm not adverse to that.

Question.

Put you on the spot back there.

Parks director, Jackie Beachum.

It says in my um phone here, the app here, that um applications are due in April or May.

So is it shut down for this year?

We don't know.

So let's see these young people want to apply for this summer.

Is it closed down?

If not, there's next summer.

If it's still around.

Okay.

Just a yes or no.

More information.

Yeah.

And also he didn't know too that it comes with a $500 stipend.

I'll wait.

You're taking my thunder.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Sorry.

Okay.

Summer at City Hall program right now is open on ActiveNet for registration.

I would have to double check to see where we are.

Some of the some of the sessions are full, depends on which school district you're at on there.

I do encourage uh registering and getting on the wait list.

Maybe you can find out and get back to us the next hour.

Thank you.

Alright.

So it's a good thing you're here because if he comes back and says it's open for you, you got to get on your phones and you got to make some quick moves, okay?

You with me?

So just wait until he comes back and then you can do that.

So I'm a I'm a big fan of summer at City Hall.

I want to make sure that that gets done.

And I want to do continue to do that.

So then I want to go back to our seniors.

And already got the um, already got the waiting pools, recreation swimming.

I got that.

We just talked about summer at City Hall, the Heart Community Center.

I started off talking about that.

Um I want to make sure that the Heart Community Center gets refunded.

Um, in addition to the Heart Community Center, I want to look at other community centers that service our seniors, and I want to make sure that if it's possible and we can find the dollars, that they also can get it because they're in different areas of Sacramento, and it's easier to get to one versus another.

So whether it's the uh Bell Coolidge Community Center or the um, there's one more.

Phil, you know what that one more is, right?

An hour ago.

Anyway, so we'll I'll get all that information, but I want to make sure that the community centers that service our seniors have the opportunity to be funded in this program, and so um those are the two things I wanted to get done today.

Um from a financing standpoint, are you looking for money on how we pay for this?

I want to continue to go to the uh eliminating the 7.0 vacant FTEs and parking enforcement.

I want to look at shifting half funding from uh four-year 28 to four year 27, um, on a one-time basis.

So those are the two things I at least want, huh?

All of it.

Oh, okay.

I didn't realize that.

So I gotta go find more money.

Yeah, okay.

Okay, I'll I'll do that in my time, so I won't take up time of anybody else.

So I think um I got the top six things I wanted early, three things I wanted early.

And Mayor, I think I was on the exact same page as you.

The violence prevention, waiting pools, recreational swim hours.

We now have summer at city Hall is what I'm talking about, and the violence prevention uh in the heart community center.

And um so those are the things that I want to focus on uh in making sure that uh our seniors and our youth are taken care of because that's my number one priority.

Youth are our future, and I want all of you to be up here on this dais one day making the decisions that we're making right now.

I want you to start seeing yourself up here and eliminate all fear and go at it and be intentional about getting up here and making your way up your ladder of success and having a plan that's gonna take you there.

So I know I can count on you, and you can count on me whenever you need me.

I'll be there.

Thank you, Mayor.

Hey.

Earlier, I asked Councilmember Jennings if I could follow him.

That is the last time I make that mistake.

Before I start, I owe uh a big apology.

Last week I um popped off a little bit and uh said some things that uh were not intended in the way that they came out.

Uh it was late, I was tired.

That's not a defense, that's just what happened.

And so to DCR to the city and frankly the whole region, I apologize.

My intent is not to defund the work that you're doing.

Obviously, there's a lot more work to do.

Um, but uh with that said, I am looking for a work plan that gets us to functional zero.

What if if you tell us what it will cost in time and treasure?

I know all of us will work uh just as fast as possible to to get that that money so that we can uh fund the work that we know we need to do uh for people experiencing homelessness.

We owe it to the city and the region, and most of all to everyone without homes.

Uh budgets, uh, what we've been discussing all day, uh and frankly, for uh last couple of months, are not all or nothing propositions.

Uh, we adjust them all the time.

Reasonable people can disagree.

Uh, but the more prudent we are today, the better off we'll be tomorrow.

It's just pretty cliche standard budgeting principle.

All of us in our homes right now are struggling with economic uncertainty.

I know I am.

Rising costs continue to outpace incomes.

There are multiple possible headwinds in our economic forecasts, and I think we can all just feel uh a bit of unease in the economy and sort of what's happening out in the world.

Uh unfortunately, we can't do all the things we want to do, which is why I'm so glad last fall, the city council uh decided to focus aggressively on growing our revenues as a strategic priority for the city.

Uh but until that happy day, when supply exceeds demand, we have some hard choices to make.

We are going to embark upon uh a new era of accountability in the city.

Uh our new city manager has launched a metrics program.

Uh I've heard this council say in the past if you're not measuring, you're not managing.

Our manager is working to develop very smart, specific metrics that are not just quantitative, but qualitative measures of success for our city.

And we should insist that all of our boards, commissions, JPAs do the same.

Uh especially with respect to services for people experiencing homelessness.

We owe the public a clear and accurate picture that explains what they're getting for their taxes.

Now, on equity, uh proximity to parks is obviously a real property benefit.

Some of our most affluent neighborhoods are built around our regional community and neighborhood parks.

Uh economic segregation may be the last legal form of segregation.

We we have neatly divided all of our communities throughout this country and and maybe throughout the world by income.

And while we work as a city to create better mixed income communities, we must continue to recognize and address the realities of the world we live in.

And the equity focus will continue to be a big part of that discussion.

Now, I was recently given a book uh called Leadership on the Line, in which the author author argues that leaders find ourselves having to tell people what we think they need to hear rather than what we what they want to hear, and that the hope of leadership lies in the capacity to deliver unwelcome news in a way that people can absorb.

This requires real courage.

It's much easier for all of us just to do the minimum, balance this year's budget, negotiate a few uh priority programs, and make the restorations that we can we can find easily.

And that's exactly how we got to this position that we find ourselves today.

Now it's time for a new approach.

I call upon this council to do more than the minimum today, so that tomorrow we can do better together.

If we do the hard thing now, and make the cuts that are required of us next year now, we will find ourselves in a better position tomorrow to to weather the storms that come and grasp the opportunities that we find.

Mayor, I yield the floor.

Thank you.

Okay.

Kind of all went around.

And I know some people are taking notes apparently.

So Councilmember Guerra, you're here for round two.

Yes.

Yes.

And hopefully this will help alleviate my colleagues at least to provide some direction.

Uh but first let me start with uh my dear friend uh you know Council Member Plucky Baum.

I don't disagree.

And Councilmember Talemates to your point uh about where the costs are that have uh that continue to put pressure on uh on the city, and that is it's on on homelessness.

Um, and I do appreciate the ability for Brian Pedro to go out and negotiate all those contracts.

And this is one of the reasons why I think we also uh in the city county partnership agreement.

One of the the ways that we stopped uh the continued growth was in the agreement, the city would provide shovel-ready projects, but the county would operate them, and that uh that for that's what what the future operation requires of them at a minimum of 200 beds.

Now we need to negotiate renegotiate that so that that 200 goes up higher so that the county takes on its responsibility.

I think that needs to be uh, you know, a reopener here as well.

And that was intended for us to basically uh prohibit or at least uh uh maintain cost pressures on our own city budget for operating those shelters.

So uh I appreciate those concerns and uh and uh and so that I think is more work to do.

Uh the second thing I want to uh recognize council member uh maple on our concerns of the contracts.

I I do think that this uh for our city staff uh that the next conversation we need to have is reevaluating all those contracts and looking at where those contracts uh are uh either um uh not providing as much of the service that we need, or is it uh or is there less of a service that we need uh to accomplish our principal responsibilities of ensuring safety for the public and addressing those who are most vulnerable.

Um so here's what I'd like to do, Mayor, is there's some themes that I heard from my colleagues here about where we're aligning.

Um I I think it would it wouldn't be prudent to uh to put a motion on the table with the exact math today, and I want to have the staff actually work out this math and see if it actually works, okay.

But it's roughly about what I what I calculated here, it's about 1.75 to 1.

Uh 7 in solutions, but um uh let's let's look at uh what I'd like to see is if the if the staff can look at where these themes are so my motion mayor is directing staff to look at uh both solutions for revenue and cost uh uh in these areas on on the on the uh cost side here.

What are the things that we're trying to protect?

Number one, um, as someone who was here when I voted for the Sacramento, the the North Sacramento Economic Development Uh Fund to look at improving that area because we want to have more property tax revenue, address the blight that's in that has occurred and and look at our local businesses growing.

Um, you know, I I feel that uh we have to as a city honor that commitment.

Okay, that we benefit when North SAC benefits.

So I think number one in that area was uh common uh a common theme, along with um the the issue of code enforcement, making sure that we're making positive improvements there.

Seniors, okay.

I heard a lot about protecting our seniors.

We need to.

And the reality is it's the staff that uh that are the ones who build those relationships that help seniors, they welcome them.

Uh they they give them the ability to be in that space uh uh as well.

Uh and so I want to make sure that the heart center is there.

Uh our workers are park workers here.

Um look, I I've been at all these parks.

Uh, and uh, and yes, and we could probably contract out more park maintenance workers or whatnot.

But when an issue happens in a local park, the neighbors know who to call.

When a big tree comes down, they know who their local park maintenance worker are.

And frankly, a lot of them live in my neighborhood and live in the neighborhoods we represent as well.

They love being part of it.

They actually, if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have the number of volunteers.

It would probably cost us more in the future for all the maintenance work we do, because they're the ones who actually encourage people to come and help for all those massive volunteer days.

When we did our our cleanup days and tree days, they uh they brought in uh, you know, uh, and at the minimum, at the minimum, 50 different you know, employ uh volunteers each one of each time we had those days.

So there's there's a benefit to that, and then obviously summered city hall, you know, we're trying to create young leaders to help us in our engagement.

Uh, I do think that there's a value to engaging young leadership, and this is you know, obviously why I also in my office have interns at every level high school, college, postgraduate fellows as well.

We have to be building our next cohort.

So, where are the revenues here?

You know, these are things that I think um, you know, are that uh we like but are uh but um you know are they necessary today?

Um, and that are helpful, and again, I mentioned earlier on reducing the commissions, um, you know, the looking at how we not eliminate the commissions but reducing the the frequency of the commissions.

Um the one that I want to be cautious about though um is the planning commission.

We have to make sure we make get through the applications that we need to uh and uh that one I think we need to be cautious about, but let's look at reducing the commissions.

Um the the stipends um, you know, I appreciate the ambassador program that I think they've been engaging, um, but when it comes to making sure we're servicing uh our seniors and our young people, I think that we need to focus on our seniors and our young people.

Um and uh and then the parks contract.

You know, we need to look at that uh and say can can that be uh can the work that the workers that we have already make sure we address that.

And then um, you know, the the EUR, uh, you know, if we're if we're holding uh if we're laying people off and we're holding revenue uh when we actually have work to do, um, you know, there's a there's enough uh damage that's happened from the lack of maintenance uh of some of our trees that have caused uh cost us more.

Let's make sure that we look at our in-house folks there to do that work.

So uh my motion is to look at those mayor in in that realm, uh, and it's about 1.75.

I I think uh um I'd like I'd like to uh come back also either either before the council or even at the council with also looking at some of these contracts that we still have outstanding and see do we need it need to renegotiate some of those contracts.

But let me stop there and say that's my motion to give guidance in those themes uh and see if uh if I have a second.

Okay, so before we call on the next speaker, so to make sure that Pete, are you are you clear on the outline there?

So I forgot one uh that I'll add it up to 17.

No, no, I actually I forgot.

I appreciate that the GPIT uh question here, but um you know, in order to make this happen to find that revenue, I'd like to increase the GPIT by 2.75, um, you know, to for that balance.

And that's that I think gets us close to about 1.75.

But this is why I'd like to think staff to look at these numbers and see if if they get us to to that to that point.

And just clarification for North SAC.

Were you talking about the North SAC economic development and the North SAC code enforcement?

Correct.

That's point two, yeah.

0.2, 0.26, point two six for point two for code, 0.26 for economic development, 0.27 for GPIT, 0.27 for HART, uh, point five seven park workers, Summer city hill 0.13, that gets to 1.7.

On the revenue side, we got 0.03 on uh on the commissions, 0.11 on the stipends, 1.5 on the EUR, and then uh park constructs that's 0.1.

Okay.

So I just want to clarify just a bit.

So but also to the 1.5 is is um one time one time ongoing.

So just big picture, we're making subtle amendments to your overall budget that you proposed to uh city manager on May 1st.

So so earlier tonight we did have a motion and the second we adopted making those adjustments totaling just under two million on those three items.

So this one is not an action just yet, but want to have further exploration.

Further exploration.

So uh it was a motion to uh direct you to help us understand this package how that would um materialize and the consequences of those actions.

Correct.

So just um so I understand.

So the OVP, the additional OVB OVP funding um is 270,000 one time.

Correct.

In addition to what council already gave us directions for yeah, we've already done the 1.3.

This would be 1.3 plus 0.26 to address the concerns we have on the restrictions of the state funding and what could it be used for.

Gotcha.

And then um are all of so the North Sac economic development code projects, those are one time.

Were these other restorations heart senior center parks workers?

Some are at City Hall uh ongoing.

Oh no, I think these would be one time.

One time, I think I think everyone needs to understand as council member plugabon mentioned that we've got to make harder decisions each time.

We're at seventy-five percent of a structural budget this year.

We need to get to a hundred percent of a structural budget, and so every year we're gonna have to look at one how we're growing our revenue and how we're reducing our managing our expenses as well.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Dickinson.

Uh thanks, Mayor.

I I was gonna second the motion, but Councilmember Maple beat me to it.

I think so.

Um I I uh I do support uh this direction uh and um I I would hope that it would be seen as something with uh a bit of flexibility.

Uh we're we're um not uh as I understand it prescribing precise precision here.

We're we're using the numbers we have, but but looking at at some uh degree on the margin uh for the um for the staff to make its own uh uh judgments and assessments uh as well.

Um in that in that vein, I uh I would also be supportive of of uh going higher on the on the on the violence prevention um uh number, but but I understand uh the direction that that we're giving.

So with that comment, I uh just simply express my uh thanks to the uh to the mayor, to my colleagues, um, to the staff and to those of you who have come tonight and communicated and been here other nights and will be here again.

Thanks very much.

Thank you.

Councilmember Kaplan.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh to the makers of the motion, I think when we talk about summer at City Hall, we're also talking about you know, when you look at prime time teen and some of that workforce, that that if you wouldn't mind adding that, that in uh those positions.

Yeah, what's uh and what uh I think it's number 18, it's the workforce development positions.

Okay, or 18.

110,000 dollars, or 10,000.

Yeah, 107 to be extended.

107.

Yeah, it's up there 110 easy number.

But yeah, let's let's add that in there and uh and then we're gonna have to I mean figure out how we're gonna cut this.

Well, and and that's where you had at least three of us.

There might be others that would support looking at the capital costs.

Uh they are one time, and as we're looking at adding one time, um looking at DCR and in and cutting because you had several of us that brought it up, but only one or two talked about commissions because I'm not really supportive of reducing commissions in time uh because they're the voice and they continue to ask for that.

So I I know uh Councilmember Garrett, you you brought that up, but there were more people who actually supported cuts to DCR than supported cuts to boards and commissions.

So I I'm just wanting to make this this fair when we talk about where council member direction is that we should be fair and in those who who looked at uh cuts equally.

This is uh look, this is uh again um giving staff some time home.

I'm trying to put up here a cost.

I've got my Excel spreadsheet that I'm putting together.

Right time.

That was uh.1.10.

Yeah, 107 on line item 18 workforce development positions.

0.107.

Okay, all right, and then that puts us, that'll put us at least in my numbers, it puts us in the negative.

But let's look, I'm I'm willing to accept that if the second or will accept that, and then uh we'll have to make a further decision here.

But I want to give staff the latitude to that point.

Uh uh, Councilmember Dickinson.

Uh, this is kind of a guidance on where we're at.

Obviously, council member Dickinson wants to go higher on GPIT.

Councilmember Campbell wants to look at uh uh at prime time team, but um I think what this what I want to accomplish out of this motion is helping our staff have a little more focus and direction, and then uh we ultimately will have um the May 18th, uh May 26th also um budget not at committee hearing, and um and this will be at measure U on May 18th as well.

So I think this is if we're directing to explore what this would look like, this is coming back to the council before we go to the budget and audit committee.

Yeah, just gonna point that out.

And then nothing changes on your financing proposals.

What you outlined earlier is still the motion.

Yep, still the motion now.

Okay.

Then if if uh which I appreciate adding in uh youth workforce development, but I I will have to oppose this if we're not looking at additional financing, specifically knowing that we've gotten 11 million dollars less in hap funding.

There's a way that we can house 80 seniors for a million dollars and still and it costs 7.4, so we're still saving about six point four million dollars if we switch to housing our seniors in hotel motel and take the one time capital costs out of DCR, that then goes into uh additional savings and getting towards what council member plucky bomb in indicated for uh for having addressing our structural uh deficit.

So uh if if that consideration and direction is not given to staff to be open to taking out uh DCR's uh capital funding, um I can't support this much.

Thank you, Vice Mayor Talamantes.

So kind of like Council Member Kaplan said, I think we did have three of us that were interested in exploring some element.

I know I had asked for 10 million dollars from DCR.

I'm willing to you know do less, um, but some whether it's a million, two million, three million, some element to from DCR.

Um I do think that you had three of us that recommended interest in that.

So to the city manager and to Pete, like if you and Martha, if you guys can at least explore what that can look like for us, I think that'd be greatly helpful.

Um additionally, just respectfully that that's not part of the motion.

If you want it part of the motion, you need to ask the maker of the motion to include that in there.

The exploration is just what we have on the floor right now.

Okay, all right.

Would the maker of the motion be interested in at least exploring this?

Um and what's the and how what's the cut on that?

We're talking about 0.057 as at least what I'm looking at.

Yeah, I mean, just in general on the financing strategies uh for DCR.

I mean, there's different recommendations, and you know, we had a presentation of how much we spend on DCR for like um congregate shelters for tiny homes for our different programs, like looking at some form of having a reduction on this, even if it's not 10 million, some form of reduction.

Um I'll ask uh I'll ask uh oh, here's what we can do.

Here's I'll include in the ma uh in the motion that we look at solutions for.057.

That's that's at least how I calculate the math in the in that area.

And if it's from um that capital program or another capital program, that's one-time money, then let's focus focus on that.

Okay, that'd be 500,000.

Okay.

Um, and then additionally, and then for budget and audit, is it gonna be like the final budget, or are we gonna have an opportunity to do more input?

No, we we I just concur can um concluded.

I'm getting tired.

We need to stretch again, coach.

Yes.

I just um clarified that this will not go to budget audit because this is such a big issue that we're all essentially on the budget and audit committee overseeing the audit.

Most importantly, everybody is the budget.

So this will come to the council for further deliberation, potential action.

Okay, then um, and I'm not sure if this might not not have to be part of the motion, but the like I said, the city clerk and the city attorney have positions that just kind of it keeps the city functioning, and I don't want them to not be able to be successful at their job.

So, um at mid-year, or if our charter officers find themselves in a position where they can't complete their tasks because they don't have what they need to be able to do it, to please come into close session and let us know so we can figure out a solution for you because we should be able to support you.

Um, and like I said last week, we do have the quarterly reports that Pete sends us about contracts that we have with different third parties, whether it's utilities, fire, police, parks, and from for the January 2025 through June 2025, total dollar amount, it was thirty million nine hundred and ten thousand dollars that we had solely on contracts for that time period.

That is thirty million dollars that we have to dissect, look into, and see where we can make additional cuts.

Because like Councilmember Guerra said, here we're fighting for 110,000 for summer at City Hall.

Meanwhile, we have 30 million dollars in contracts in these last few months, and so we have to explore that we have to dissect it.

And I know in this budget cycle it's not enough time, and we have a new city manager who's like coming in and making stuff more efficient.

Um, but we do have to look into it because this is such a large pot of money, and um would love to the forensic audit that we have coming up, look into it and see how it can better support our budget.

That's it.

Okay.

So do we need to oh council member bank?

Uh, just for clarity, um, the item that was used for financing to eliminate community ambassador stipends that wasn't part of the original budget from last week.

Is that accurate?

That's just a proposal from one of our colleagues.

That was not in the list of uh savings strategies that staff had considered.

Okay, yeah, I I can't support that because is that on your motion right now?

It is, yeah.

It was in the council member um proposal.

It wasn't the council proposal, but it wasn't in the original budget proposal from the city manager.

Uh that's correct.

Okay, yeah.

Um, yeah, it's gonna be really hard for me to take this off the table because we have core city services and we rely on our community ambassadors to actually share in multiple languages the services that we provide.

Um, and so um if that item is not gonna be in the motion, then um I can't support it.

Okay.

Okay, so we have a motion on the floor and a second with a recent addition clarification.

Maybe before we take a final vote, can we have the budget director?

Read into the record what you think we're doing.

Okay, so here is um staff's understanding.

So uh one-time restorations of the following, of the of the following items.

Uh the North Sac Economic Development Project for 260,000, the North Sac Code Enforcement Project for 200,000, uh Heart Center Restoration, 274,000, Parks Workers, 570,000.

Some are at City Hall, 132,000.

Uh Office of Violence Prevention, 270,000, and Yipsey workforce development, 107,000.

And for us to look at what's that add up to like one, so that's roughly 1.8 million.

Yeah, 0.07, yeah.

And then for us to look at as far as financing, uh exploring reduced savings from reducing commission meetings, uh, ambassador stipends, um, bringing park eliminating the parks contracting out, and then looking at the EUR and savings, one-time savings in DCR of around half a million.

Exactly.

Okay.

Thank you.

That's what I had in my notes right here.

That's about 1.9, roughly.

The balance would be the UR.

So what we would add up to the correct.

The restorations adds up to like 1.9.

Roughly, yeah.

Yeah.

Exactly what we did two hours ago on the first round.

Yes.

I guessed it.

I thought it was around.

We're spending you know, the last one percent of the budget is the most likely.

So these decisions are aren't easy and come with consequences.

So with that, no further uh comments or questions from council members.

We do have a motion and a second.

All those in favor, yes.

Please call the roll.

Councilmember Kaplan.

No.

Councilmember Dickinson.

Vice Mayor Talamantes?

I'll pass on this one.

Come back to me.

Councilmember Pleckibong?

Councilmember Maple.

Mayor Pro Tem Guerra.

Aye.

Councilmember Jennings?

Yes.

Councilmember Vang.

No.

Vice Mayor Talamantes?

No.

And Mayor McCarty.

Aye.

The motion passes.

Okay.

All righty.

So that concludes our budget deliberation for the evening.

Thank you.

Next item.

So Mayor, we have 28 speakers.

Do you want to do council?

From members of the audience that are leaving, please exit quietly.

We do have 28 speakers for matters not on the agenda.

So members of the audience, if you're exiting, please do so quietly.

We have 28 members of the public wishing to speak for matters not on the agenda.

Staff.

You can stand up, you can walk around.

We're resuming city council.

We're going to do public comment matters not on the agenda.

Yes.

I have 28 speakers for matters not on the agenda.

So if I call your name, please line up in the middle aisle.

The first speaker is Lambert.

Christina Rogels, Andrea Collins, Sarah Mohammed, Anthony Kirby.

Is Lambert still here?

Thank you.

Based upon what I've heard tonight, and I took some some notes.

And that's puzzling to me because here you have a potential cash cow in district to Mr.

Dickison and the rest of you, including uh the economic department.

I've never heard any phone calls from you.

We're going to prove to you in the next eight months that we're gonna dwarf these numbers, I've been hearing tonight.

These numbers are small to me, 200,000, 300,000 and stuff.

How's that gonna help you get out of a deficit?

Uh the other thing is uh city attorneys, you don't need a lot of city attorneys, you have about six right now.

You're uh city managers.

You have about five assistant city managers.

That's that's that's uh Mr.

Jasso just left.

Did his money get deducted from the payroll, or is he like Howard Chan, still getting paid after he left?

You have to eliminate things like that.

The city clerk, top notch.

Some of the millennials tonight have impressed me.

They asked some very hard questions, and I agree with them.

You should look at those contracts.

I've always said no bid contracts, uh suspended competitive bidding.

That's how you end up with people giving contracts to their family members.

That's what happened to Mr.

Laloli with regards to um COVID money.

I remember going to him for COVID money, and comes to find out he was stealing from the city.

Christina, I believe the mayor has a comment to make before you.

Thank you.

I have some um breaking news for the young people in the three rows.

We did the research and we found out that there are spaces for summer at City Hall for students from Twin Rivers from Twin Rivers, and there's the waiting list for students from Sack City and the Thomas.

But if you're on the waiting list, we'll we'll try to make sure we we uh we get you in.

So make sure you apply.

Okay, I'm going to assume that all of you may not know about the harm reduction resources that will be offered at or that are being offered at our city libraries during the month of May.

And this is an example where compassion and common sense have kind of gone their separate ways.

My kids practically grew up in our Sacramento Library system, and I understand the value of free books and services to children, families, and the elderly, especially those on a tight budget.

And the library has always been considered a trustworthy safe space.

And although library is welcome to the public, inviting active drug users is not smart.

There are plenty of other places to offer harm reduction resources where children do not frequent.

The library is comparing harm reduction materials to blood pressure and vaccine resources on their website post.

This is also very unwise.

Are health programs good?

Yes, but are but you are not a good person if you invite drug users to visit spaces where children and families are, period.

Because if you're telling drug users this is a safe space for them, it means you are telling families they can no longer trust the library to be a safe space for their children.

For example, who determines which addicts are harmless and which are not?

How do you manage active drug use outside the library grounds?

You can't.

As noted, the city has had to manage a budget deficit, which means there isn't enough security and law enforcement to babysit libraries to keep families from being impacted by illegal drug behavior and use.

So again, there are many other places to distribute harm reduction services without involving public spaces, children and families rely on, and I'm very disappointed that this is how the city and our library system plan to celebrate the month of May.

Thank you.

Andrea's our next speaker.

Then Salah.

Hi.

Good evening, everyone.

So I'm here tonight on behalf of the public bridge, which you see behind me, right?

These are the kids we brought, the youth that we brought in.

Um so let me introduce myself.

My name is Andrea Collins.

Um I am the supervising chaperone with the public bridge corporation.

I spent over 30 years working within the juvenile justice system as well as corrections.

Uh, I'm currently a youth mentor and a life coach as well.

I've spent many days inside of courtrooms uh while working in juvenile hall as a courtroom clerk.

And I've watched many of our youth get sentenced daily to sentences that were oftentimes more years than they've been here on this earth.

Um, and this is, of course, due to their poor mistakes, various crimes that were made in a split in a split second.

What I learned is that the kids did not recognize the consequences of their poor choices because of their age.

Uh to take these kids around the corners that they don't see around.

And what we do is we take them into the prison system as a diversion program.

And again, we take them around the corners where they can see firsthand where their bad choices will lead them.

Most of our kids that we have, they're not kids that have been in trouble.

These are good kids that go to school.

We try to get them before the trouble starts.

Um these young men leave prison with a spirit of gratefulness, humility, and respect for themselves and for others.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Salah Mohammed, and then Anthony Kirby.

Start off with your name, how old you are, what school you go to.

That's it with everybody.

Good evening.

My name is Salah Mohammed.

I'm from Sheldon High School, and I'm seven years old, seven years old from Sheldon High School in El Grove, California.

Um, as a kid, I always wondered what prison was.

Because when I was young, my brother was locked away, and all I knew about prison was it's a place for bad people.

After my visit from Folsom State Prison with the public bridge program, it opened my eyes to what prison really means to me.

After conversations with the Saperones that walked us around the prison, I found out that they all had a catalyst in their life, and it was either a bad decision or they made it or they had a misguidance since an adolescent.

I learned that a developing adolescent mind could be affected heavily in any wrong action I make, or if I'm around the wrong crowd, it could cost me everything I value.

Coming home to my grandmother that night and telling her that I what I experienced and what was on my mind.

She commended me for understanding that it that it matters who I surround myself with and how I carry myself as a person.

The public bridge program has the right intentions and the right ideas with the right execution.

I am blessed to be a part of and to stand with this program.

I love nothing more for it than to nothing more than for it to continue on because this program not only empowers but lights the youth to be on the right path.

Thank you.

Anthony Kirby.

Anthony Kirby, then Luke Wolf, then Suzanne Wolf.

Hello, my name is Anthony.

I'm 12, and I go to Rich Point Elementary School.

And my experience was really impacting, and it made me look at what I did before I did it, and it let me it made me move from some of the people that I was hanging around and making better decisions from what I was already making.

So it was it was what was your experience?

Where did you go?

To Folsom State Prison.

And it was a lot when I what I what I got from that.

Yes.

Luke Wolf, then Suzanne Wolf.

Good evening.

My name's Luigi's.

I go to Kima school.

I'm 14 years old.

Recently I visited Folsom State Prison, and it changed how I think.

Seeing how confined the prisoners really are with very little freedom or privacy made me realize how much we take for granted every day.

Some things as simple as choosing where we go, what to do, or who we spend time with can be taken away.

The visit made me think more carefully about the uh choices I make and how important freedom really is.

It taught me how that one bad decision can seriously change your whole life.

Thank you.

What I want to share today is how much the public bridge program and the tour at the Folsom State Prison changed my son's life for the better.

Before this experience, my son did not fully understand how quickly poor choices, negative influences, and the desire to fit in could lead him down a dangerous road.

Like many young people, he thought he was just spending time with certain people, not realizing how slowly becoming connected to gang related activities and behavior could have destroyed his future.

But the moment he walked inside those prison walls, everything changed.

For the first time, the consequences became real.

He realized prison is not something to glorify.

It is isolation, it is regret, is lost time that can never be returned.

The experience forced him to look honestly at his own life in the direction that he was heading.

He realized that he did not want to be a part of that world.

He did not want to lose his freedom, his family, the opportunity to build the future for himself.

And what stayed with me the most, being a parent was hearing him talk about appreciating the little things, sleeping in his own room in his own bed, being home with his family instead of confined inside a prison cell.

Those may sound like simple comforts, but to a young person finally understanding what incarceration means, those are big and everything.

That is why the program like this matters.

Taking away programs that help trouble youth before they come incarcerated is like taking away therapy from somebody who's struggling with mental illness.

Um, and then can and then you act surprised when they spiral deeper into crisis.

Prevention matters, intervention matters, guidance matters.

Not every child responds to lectures, not every child learns from warnings alone.

Some need to see reality firsthand, truly understand the consequences of their choices.

This program gave my son understanding in a way that nothing else could.

Because of this experience, he thinks differently, acts differently, sees a future differently.

Thank you for your comments.

Your time is complete.

Our next speaker is Nale Collins, then Nicholas Lopez.

Nale, N A H L E.

Nage, then Nicholas Lopez.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Najee.

I graduated from American Legion High School, and today I'll be speaking on the Folsom State prison tour and how it's helpful for the youth.

Uh the Folsom State prison tour can help with under, can help youth understand the serious consequences of making bad decisions.

It gives people a real life look how prison life can affect a person's future and freedom.

Hearing personal stories from your inmates, uh, may encourage youth to avoid crime and make positive choices.

The tour can tease the importance of education, responsibility, and respect in the law.

Many students leave the experience with a greater appreciation for their families and opportunities.

Seeing their prison environment firsthand can inspire youth to focus on their goals and stay on the right path.

Uh the right experience may also help teens develop empathy about understanding the struggles and regret regrets, sorry, of incarcerated people.

And that's it.

Thank you.

Nicholas Lopez, then Caleb Johnson, then Nehemiah Bowling.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Nicholas Lopez.

I'm a freshman at Sac State.

I graduated from Center High School.

I'm 19 years old.

When I first heard about the opportunity to visit Folsom State Prison, I honestly didn't know what to expect.

I thought it would be just another school trip or a presentation, but it ended up being something much more than that.

Walking through the prison and hearing the stories from the inmates made everything feel very real.

A lot of them talked about how small, short decisions eventually led them down the wrong path.

What stood out to me the most was how many of them said they wish they had better guidance and support when they were younger.

That experience made me think made me think differently about my own future.

It reminded me that every choice matters, even the ones that seem small in the moment.

It also showed me how important it is for young people to have positive programs, mentors and opportunities that help keep us focused and in the right direction.

I believe programs like this are important because they do more than just warn the youth about prison.

They encourage us to think bigger about our lives, our goals, and the kind of future we want to build for ourselves.

I'm thankful I was given this opportunity, and I hope more of my peers can experience the same opportunity that I had.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Speaker's Caleb and Mia Maya.

Hello, my name is Caleb Johnson.

I'm 17.

I'm going to Rio Casadero High School.

I'm here representing Public Bridge.

It was brought to my attention recently.

My mom, I haven't been yet, but I just came to support and say that I think it's a really good opportunity.

A tour of Folsom State Prison gives young people a real and educational experience that cannot be fully understood through movies or books alone.

With this tour, we get the chance to see the reality of prison life, learn how the correctional system works, and understand the consequences of crime and poor decisions.

This experience can encourage young people to make smarter choices and appreciate their freedom.

Overall, the tour is good because it combines educational history and personal reflection.

It can help others think more carefully about their future, understand the impact of crime, and recognize the value of second chances and positive life choices.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Mia Maya, then Brylin Island.

Uh I'm Nia Maya.

I go to Natomas High School, and I'm 15 years old.

Before visiting, before visiting for Folsom State Prison.

Prison was just something I heard about because I have a per I have a cousin who is incarcerated.

But walking through those gates in real life changed me.

It opened my eye, it opened my eyes in a way I honestly can't fully explain.

I saw I opened I saw a grown men carrying years of regret, pain, and missed opportunities.

And many of them said they would they wished someone would have reached them when they were my age.

That visit made me think harder about my life, my decisions, the people around me, and the path I want from my life.

It reminded me that one bad choice can change everything.

But it also showed me how powerful guidance, mentorship, and honesty can be.

One of the most powerful parts for me was sitting face to face with my mom during the healing circle and being um able to openly tell her how the experience made me feel in front of room full of people.

At first, it felt uncomfortable being the vulnerable, especially vulnerable, especially in front of strangers.

But uh also felt healing.

Looking at my mom while explaining what I saw, what I felt, and how I deeply how deeply the visit attracted affected me, made everything feel even more real.

I can see the emotions on her face while she listened to me.

And in that moment, I realized how much our choices truly affect affect the people who love us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Bryan, then Edric Brown.

Uh good afternoon, everyone.

My name is Bylan Island.

I'm 17.

I go to center high school.

I was fortunate enough to participate in the Public Bridge prison tour.

After visiting Folsom State Prison, my entire perspective on prison changed.

It was an emotional and eye-opening experience.

The moment I walked through those large metal gates, I could feel the weight of years of sadness, anger, regret, and depression all around me.

It hit me instantly.

No picture, video, or story could truly prepare me for what it felt like to experience it firsthand.

That is why the public bridge provides such a powerful opportunity for youth.

It allows young people to see the reality of incarceration for themselves before making decisions that could change their lives forever.

The experience also opened doors for me personally.

During the tour, I spoke with one of the inmates about my future and my goal of taking my shop putting discus career to the next level.

I shared that.

I shared that I was still undecided about where I wanted to continue my athletic career.

He told me that the track and field coach at American River College is also the athletic director and offered to put in a good word for me.

Because of that conversation, I now plan to throw shop in the discuss at American River College next year.

After the prison tour, the Public Bridge held a healing circle where we were able to process our emotions, share experiences, and connect with one another.

The chaperones and Edric or Uncle E, as I call them, treated us with genuine care and respect throughout their entire experience.

Since the tour, I have tried to share what I learned with my peers so that they can think before they act.

The experience taught me the importance of prevention before incarceration.

The Public Bridge is changing lives and creating opportunities for young people without even having federal funding.

Imagine the impact they could make with additional support and resources.

With that being said, I respectfully request that the city of Sacramento consider the public bridge for inclusion and funding eligibility in 2026-2027 fiscal budget discussions related to the youth violence prevention intervention and community-based partnerships initiative.

Thank you for your time.

I don't know if you overlooked them.

Both names are Anthony, the son and the father.

I put it right behind the screen.

Please bring it.

Everyone personally, really it's been a long day.

We appreciate you.

I'm here today, not only as a member of the Public Bridge, but also as an extremely concerned father of three, not just this one.

The Public Bridge offers support that addresses the concerns that I'm sure I share with most adults in Sacramento today.

The primary concern being violent acts committed by juveniles.

Prevention and intervention in their purest form is where the public bridge serves as a lifeline.

The curriculum created by its founder, Edric Bridge.

Edric Brown is a match with a unique opportunity that allows young adults to tour old Folsom State Prison as a thoughtful deterrent, which you've heard so far here tonight by the youth.

There's also a youth center where the youth are given access to multiple recreational activities in a safe space that is currently in limbo due to the lack of funding.

So as we begin to outs outpace our internal resources, aka personal checking account, saving account, Edric's account.

When it comes to 2026 and 2027 fiscal budget, uh the public bridge has a growing waiting list of families who are eagerly waiting for this opportunity and intervention.

As we all know, the youth is not waiting, and our community shouldn't have to wait either.

Thank you.

Speaker is Edric Brown and Leah Shank.

Edric, then Leah.

Thank you, everyone.

My name's Edric.

Uh, I'm the founder of the Public Break Corporation, a Sacramento nonprofit organization.

Um, personally, um, the year 2003, I made a terrible decision.

I discharged a weapon at a firearm that led to me facing a judge in the Sacramento court system, and he asked his colleagues one question.

Do I gotta give this 18-year-old youth a life sentence in California State Prison?

I discharged a weapon at a vehicle, no one was injured.

However, I received life in prison.

I did 23 years in prison.

I paroled from folks from state prison where I came out here with the agenda to look at everybody that was my age when I committed that crime and all the poison that I poured into Sacramento.

I'm now replenishing with positivity.

I want to congratulate all y'all for using your voices.

These kids, I'm gonna pick these kids up from school.

I went pick these kids up from school, they haven't had nothing to eat.

I had a whole speech, I'm not saying nothing.

I'm gonna I'm gonna make it about y'all.

Every last one of y'all went in prison.

Like I said that day, I'm gonna say it now.

Take it to the streets, tell everybody.

We're unfunded.

Nobody funds this.

This funds come from the trust account that my family built up for me while I was incarcerated.

I get criticized every day.

Edric, you got no 401k plan, you got none of that.

None of that matters because I'm the one in this position to enable all this to happen.

The more dollars I put in my pocket to try to present have for me, the more I take away from them the opportunity for them to see the realities of what happens behind prison.

So every kid that you see right here, I don't talked to their parents.

I'd have set on their couches, and some of their parents is right here, and they have demonstrated they can tell you about the demonstration of the growth.

So, my request here is to ask you so I'll gave you guys all briefs.

Um, once again, we're not funded.

We're asking that you guys consider including us in this budget so that I can therefore reach um more.

Because in every district that I see right here, I have kids in every district that's waiting to go through this program.

65 families as we speak, 33 volunteers in the Sacramento.

After we're done with Folsom State Prison, we're taking the Sack State, then we're taking the Sacramento Library.

Sacramento, we need your help.

Our next speaker is Leah Shank, then Don Wilson.

Then Zariah Marshall.

All right, Leia Shank with impact.

Hello, hello, hello.

Um, I am I just want to bring a little bit of light, because I know a lot of the conversation was around um funding and budget tonight, and um specifically with OVP GPIT, and then it was an extra allotment too for kind of other, right?

So I just want to bring awareness to um what happens when prevention is not working, okay?

What happened when we're beyond prevention, you know.

Then what?

Because that's not a line item on here ever.

But it's it's appropriate because we we were just here, like my said, we were just here a year ago talking about public safety and talking about what we need to do to keep our community safe.

We never ever get to the root.

Prevention is obviously not working because what are we seeing in our community?

We're seeing kids dying, and we're seeing the perpetrators be children.

Okay, so as we talked about, we have a family here who was gunned down in front of their home on March 25th, okay, broad daylight while all the neighbors were out, four people in the family shot, okay.

Um, the shooters, two of the shooters are teens, okay.

And and two of those shooters, the one of the teens, excuse me, um, who shot the family on March 25th, then participated in another shooting in April, shooting and a robbery, and then just May 7th, so just a week ago, they shot two people, one of them died.

These are 17 year old children that obviously are not miss or are missing or not in the conversation of prevention.

We're beyond prevention with them.

They are full-blown committing crimes over and over and it's not stopping.

And who are the victims?

Well, one is a four-year-old child here that was shot in front of his home while he was on his porch.

Okay, none of that should ever happen.

So then when these things happen, and you can't call OVP because they're prevention, right?

So their job stops when something happens.

You can't call law enforcement because their job is not to prevent anyway.

They come to criminalize, so you can't call them.

So who do they call?

They call victims advocates.

They call me, okay.

But I don't have the resources because again, I'm not a line item up here.

So, what does the family do when they don't have those services?

Next speaker is Don Wilson, then Zariah Marshall.

Thank you.

That was a great intro because that was going to be my next question.

What do families do?

I had um, I had a speech written, and a speech isn't what we need here.

We need to put faces to the numbers you guys have been talking about.

My face, my four-year-old son's face, who I had to bribe with YouTube to be able to sit through here because it is clear to me that you guys aren't seeing us as the need.

We don't need resources that are income-based because I don't qualify for that.

There's no resources available for me.

SHRA, a wait list, even if I did qualify, there's a wait list.

There's nothing emergent to help me, a working mother who is now not working, because I have to take care of my son who is in a wheelchair, and I can't even go to the bathroom by myself.

There's nothing.

And when I say I don't have anywhere to go, I I don't know.

Do you guys want me to live in a car?

Oh hell, well, my car got shot up too.

So I am here and I'm using the resources that I have to just get us through our daily bid.

And the resource we did get, well, they'll take us from a park, sure.

And put us right in the middle of another area where there's plenty of gun violence and everything else, someplace that is not suitable for him or I to be there.

So when we are asking for resources, we are asking for resources that will actually help.

We are asking for something that can be done, not prevention who didn't help, not the other resources, the urban league, the whatever.

No one was able to help.

They said, call these numbers.

And when I said, Well, I'm overwhelmed, and I did call them, and there's wait lists and I make too much money.

They said, Well, do you want us to follow back up with you in a month?

Well, what is that going to do?

We need help.

Next speaker is Zariah Marshall, then Paris Die, then Milo Mobbington.

Zaria.

Good evening.

Hi, City Council.

I was my name is Ariya Marshall, by the way, violence prevention manager here at Impact SAC.

I was prepared to come up here with the whole testimony, trying to compel you guys to keep funding prevention efforts and G Pitt.

It looks like I don't have to do that.

So I want to say thank you for you guys' continuing that funding because it is so important.

And I want to use this opportunity to advocate for other CBOs like Impact with Leia, which is not Impact SAC, by the way, two different things.

But I want to advocate for intervention efforts like that as well because we do work hand in hand, and those do deserve to be funded just as much as prevention.

But I do want to use this opportunity as well to invite you all to our nonviolence rally in June on June 27th.

It's going to be from 10 30 to 1 30, and it's going to be a restoration event where we come together as a community and offer resources, food, activities, and celebrate all of the work that all of these CBOs and government officials have done to prevent violence.

So again, thank you.

Invest in our youth.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Paris, then Milo.

Paris.

Hi, I'm Paris Diam, executive director for Impact SAC.

I want to say, you know, thank you so much.

This was a um this opportunity was challenging, it brought in concerns, but most importantly, it showed our young people, you know, that their voices matter and that they that they're heard, and now they're looking forward to coming.

The program ended where they were getting paid to show up, and they're still showing up.

So when people tell you don't pay teens to show up, they show up anyway.

But Impact Stack, our mission is to connect people to power, and specifically our mission is to connect young people to the power of their voice so that they can become the best advocates for themselves and for their peers and their community.

Tonight was just another example for them to show that to you.

So make sure you get our newsletter and we'll see you.

But thank you again.

And I encourage you to find ways to continue funding because prevention is the highest form of public safety.

If it's put in everywhere, it works.

But sometimes when you have to beg or not, you know, if there's limited resources, it can't work.

But when it's fully invested in, it's the highest form.

They even do it for breast cancer.

Prevention is the highest form of public safety.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Milo, then Kaylee Bullard, then Ariana Seychelle.

Milo.

Hello.

Hello.

I'm Milo.

I'm a mentor at MPASAC.

And I would like to say I hope we keep our funding going because we are bringing the youth and showing them how to use their voice, showing them how to stay out the system, the violence, and showing them the right way to use their voice and be a part of a community.

We're also, we're also building a family.

We're also we are trying to keep our future intact.

We are trying to keep the the children are the children are the future.

This is our vision, and we should keep fighting for our future so it blossoms and it doesn't end up in the dirt.

And so I hope you guys help us.

Blossom the future.

Thank you.

Speakers, Kaylee.

Yes.

Good evening.

My name is Kayleigh Bullard.

I'm 17 and I go to Sacramento Total High School.

I want to thank you for allowing us to continue having safe spaces where we feel heard, supported, and respected.

It means so much to know that we have a place where we can be ourselves and share openly.

And I ask that you keep funding youth programs.

Your support helps us grow, connect, and feel valued.

We truly appreciate you for protecting something that is important to us.

Sincerely, Kayleigh Bullard.

Speaker is Ariana, calling Ariana is Sid Jai, and then Willie.

Good evening.

My name is Ariana.

I'm a youth advocate from Impact Sack.

I was honestly, I was gonna go on with this, but I'm not going to.

I was introduced to Impact Sack through my probation.

Um if I didn't have Impact Sack, I would probably be in jail.

And there was a lot of people there that had amazing hospitality and they honestly did care about us and they still do.

I was there to continue my community service, but I ended up going a little bit more after my community service.

I still go, and I'm a worship leader at the Liberty Towers Church.

And not having these programs honestly, I feel like would take away from the next kid that was just like me that just needed help because there's a lot of hurt kids out there that do things because they don't have a way to express themselves in a way that they need to.

So they end up fighting or doing drugs or things like that.

And honestly, I think that funding these programs is an amazing way to keep this generation from deteriorating slowly.

Um, so I just want to say thank you for funding these programs because if without these programs, I wouldn't be in the spot that I am now and being the person I am today.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Sid Jai, and then Willie.

Um, some give us respect as a mind.

Um, I would like to say thank you for bringing back you funding.

Um I don't really have much to say up here, but we're in this together.

Uh next speaker is Willie.

Then Soach Joel Blackburn.

Um, and um basically I was like to say uh thank you for uh continuing these programs.

Yeah, we're in this together.

Um good evening.

My name is Sochi Blackburn.

I'm with Impact Sac.

One thing I've learned is that we are we are all depending on the youth to help create a stronger foundation for our future generations.

Impact SAC has helped me realize that our differences don't divide us and they make us stronger.

It's a place where we build real connections and learn how to uplift each other, and that's something a lot of young people need.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be heard.

Your willingness to listen shows um that youth voices truly matter.

Moments like this remind us that we have power to speak up, share our ideas, and be a part of real change.

The program gives us resources, knowledge, and opportunities that will last way longer than money.

It builds our confidence and prepares us for the future at the same time.

Um doesn't help, does help and show that our time and effort are valued.

That is why programs like this are important to keep.

Thank you for listening to us, and this is what matters most to us.

Thank you.

I have five more speakers.

Akira Curtis, Jaden Talbot, Kcel Wilson.

Good evening, my name's Akira Curtis.

I just want to take time to thank you for the moment for taking.

Wait, thank you for taking time to listen to us.

It really means a lot to know that youth voices are being heard.

Programs like Impact Sack give us a space space where we feel supported, where we can be ourselves, or where we can belong.

Without them, a lot of young people wouldn't have a sense of connection or stability.

These programs are really important to our mental health.

They give us a place to go where we're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or just need someone to talk to.

Not every teen has that support in their everyday life.

So having a space like this makes it real different.

It helps us feel heard, understood, and less alone.

They also play a big role in violence prevention.

When young people have something positive to do or people to be with who care about them, it just keeps us out of trouble or focused on better choices.

We're surrounded by support, guidance, and opportunities instead of negative influence.

For impacts, for me, Impact Tech has been more than just a program, it has been a second home where I've been able to build strong friendships, bonds, and where I feel like I'm a part of a family.

And where I know I can go when people, when people, whatever, I can go to people wherever I need help or advice.

So when I found my voice, I also gave wait, it's also where I found my voice and gained confidence in who I am.

Because of all this, I just want to say thank you again for listening and supporting programs like Inc.

They truly make a difference in life's like young people like me.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Jaden, then Cassell.

First time I came up here, I was an observer.

Second time I came up here, I was a speaker.

And today I came as both.

I want you to understand what is happening up here today.

Do you see the people that are behind me, the students, the young leaders, the young mentors that chose to take their time to come up here and speak to you guys because they know that what we're talking about today matters not just to them but to everybody in their community, right?

Because of the programs that they've been in, because of the programs that exist today, they chose to stand up here and advocate not for themselves, but for the rest of the youth that don't get a chance to be up here.

So when you look in every single one of these student spaces, every one of these young leaders' faces, I want you to look to yourself and say, Am I gonna take away their foundation?

Am I gonna watch them fall and look the other direction?

Because what I see behind me, I see our future.

I see people that were built up because of these programs and because intervention and prevention exist.

So when you choose to delete that, you're saying that essentially we don't care about what happens in our future.

We don't care about our friends' kids or your kids' future.

But I also want to say thank you to you guys for taking your time out to listen to us because some of the kids, some of the students appear, that's all we want to, that's all we want, right?

We just want to feel like you guys are listening.

We want to feel like we're heard.

So you guys taking out the time and effort to listen to us and respect us, means so much.

And with the last few seconds up here that I have, I want to say I will be in one of those seats.

Casella's our next speaker, then Julius.

Casell, then Julius.

Sorry.

Um, good evening.

Um hard act to follow right there, that's great.

Um, I'm back again.

I am one of the surviving victims of the Oak Park shooting that happened on March 25th.

Um, although I'm grateful and thankful for everything that's um happening right now when I sit in this meeting and I hear about the budget and the gang prevention and what's being allocated here and there, I'm wondering how this like where did the programs fail because at some point in time something failed.

There was something that was broke, there was something that was missed, there was something that fell through the cracks because at the end of it, you have individuals who were doing what we all do in this great city that we know and love so much, right?

Relaxing, enjoying the weather, catching a bit of TV, enjoying their family, and then we have the other individuals.

Um decided that it was up to them to do whatever was going through their mind because at this point we really don't even know what that was.

So it's like for me, although I would love to feel like the budget is reflective of what's actually going on in the streets.

I'm here as standing proof that it's not.

I've never been gang affiliated.

I've never been in a gang.

I know nothing about gangs, but I've learned a lot over these last this last month and a half.

This is not how I envisioned my life at 42 researching and learning about gangs because of a random act of violence and it seems to me like the city has a huge problem I started out in district five I'm in district one Lisa I got one of your things on my doorstep the other day and what was interesting to me is then what was that yesterday I hear Northgate had a problem thank you for your comments your time is complete our next speaker is Julius then Sylvan so yes uh I want to commend everybody here especially the youth uh my brother Edric here uh coincidence I served 23 years in prison myself uh yes and uh and my team the team that I put together covers all of your districts uh and and Jennings you know that my you know that I want to talk about intervention so when you have a situation if Oak Park is into it with with with Metaview you need somebody from MetaView who can talk to the children the youth from Meta view but also somebody from Oak Park that's communicating and collaborating and has a strategic plan on how to de-escalate the situation.

To my knowledge movement for life is the only team like that in Sacramento that has individuals from every other team from every every neighborhood and we've been doing and we have the relationships over what eight years now I want to say this too would love to collaborate with this brother I think it's great that you actually take young people to see what they're facing because they have no idea because they see what's on social media and it's Zuzos and wham whams and family visits and they they don't see the ugly part of it.

So I want to close by saying this I think that when you look at prevention and you look at what intervention and prevention can do together with law enforcement doing their job and understanding their roles I think in a nutshell those who don't understand CVI work community violence intervention and prevention they think that public safety is crime uh court arrest warehouse prison and that's it so that's why the solution is more police more police but you just saw what happened at Natalas High.

There's nothing that the police can do there's there's thank you for your comments your time is complete and our final speaker is Salvin Griggs.

Good evening I'm Savon Griggs uh I'm from the South area the Medavie community I've been home four years after doing 32 years in prison for being a liability to myself my family my neighborhood the city I've gotten home specifically to come be an asset and repair my neighborhood the best I can and I work with movement for life that's my boss he made sure when I got home I end up having this job to do this work I'm passionate about um it's like I was my first mentor and I mentor these young men that's at the center of gun violence because I could me coming from prison I have relationships with a lot of the young men at the center of gun violence they'll listen to our advice they'll at least they might not just take it but they're gonna listen and they know I come and bring sincere uh uh guidance I don't speak from books I speak from my own scores my own pain and I know movement for life we've been doing a lot of work oak park the north the south and we definitely need funding but we deal with a different population more specifically we do we do prevention but we do intervention and like I got young youth, they've had their houses shot up.

And I keep them from retaliating.

Because at least they'll listen.

Sometimes I gotta get them in the car and drive them about the city.

Just so they can listen to don't make don't let that situation make you throw away your life.

I did that.

I was a crash out, didn't realize it back then.

And so I try to get them to understand, quit trying to protect this image while destroying your future without even realizing it, because at one time that was me.

So I speak from experience.

I speak from lived experience and I really connect with my community and my community know me from being born and raised there.

So I really deal with it, interact with it, and with all these other communities.

And we do it together trying to heal Medicine.

Heal Oakport.

Thank you for your comments, but your time is complete.

Councilmember Dickinson.

Thanks.

I just wanted to get within uh the same uh zip code as uh microphone.

Uh I just wanted to mention we've we've got a great community festival going on this Saturday at Mama Mark's Park from 11 to 3, sponsored by the Del Paso Heights uh Community Association and others.

Uh the splash pad is going to be in full operation.

So uh come cool off and chill out and uh have a have a great time.

Food, entertainment, everything you could want.

11 to 3 this uh this Saturday at Mama Mark's Park.

Thanks.

Okay.

Uh Mayor Pro Tem Gera.

Yeah, hi.

Uh, you know, this is for uh the city manager, and I'd like to work with Council Member Plucky Baum.

Um I received some concerns from constituents about the recent parking restrictions in McKinley Park, and want to make sure that we have enough uh outreach and education on what those are.

I think uh a lot of folks were caught off guard and uh had some confusion about that and received tickets this evening after their uh their uh you know uh regular uh tennis match.

So if we can at least get that information out, greatly appreciate it, and uh glad to follow up with our constituent team with uh the city manager.

Thanks.

And then for me, uh Cafecito Concarinas this Thursday.

I do open office hours from nine to ten every single month, um, at Donuts and Coffee.

So if you're interested in stopping by, uh everyone's welcome.

Okay, seeing no other council members punched up to speak, this meeting is adjourned at 9.02.