Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting - December 9, 2020

The Measure U Community Advisory Committee met via teleconference on December 9, 2020, starting at 6:17 p.m. due to initial technical difficulties with the public comment phone system. The meeting focused on approving the 2021 meeting schedule, discussing the participatory budgeting pilot, and beginning to develop FY2021/22 budget priorities and recommendations to the City Council. The committee also adopted its agenda log and received updates from ad hoc committees and the Investment Committee. No public comments were received during the meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval (File ID 2020-01484): The committee approved the minutes of the November 16, 2020 meeting, with a correction to Item 5: the action involved Chair Cofer and Members Dickinson and Perez, not Members Pray and Perez. Vote: 7 in favor (9 present after further members joined later).
• First Quarter Financial Report FY2020/21 (File ID 2020-01463): The committee received and filed the report. Member Pray noted that the city had received over $48 million in Measure U sales tax receipts in the first five months, well ahead of the budgeted $81 million for FY2020/21.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received. The phone system for public comment was initially unavailable but restored later in the meeting; however, no callers were on the line for any agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Item 3: Approval of the 2021 Meeting Schedule: Staff presented a draft schedule continuing the same pattern as 2020, with no meetings in February and December due to capacity and pandemic limitations. The April 19 meeting date conflicted with the budget timeline (the proposed budget would not be ready), so the committee moved to approve the schedule with the April date to be determined. A special meeting in February was suggested to allow more time for budget recommendations. Vote: 10 in favor.
• Item 4: Update on Proposed Participatory Budgeting Pilot Project (File ID 2020-01465): Staff reported on a December 1 presentation to the Budget and Audit Committee, which recommended a full council workshop in January 2021. The Civic and Community Engagement Ad Hoc Committee also explored adding polling questions (via the city auditor’s survey) about resident familiarity with Measure U, support for various programs, interest in participatory budgeting, and perceptions of equitable resource allocation. This item was received and filed.
• Item 5: FY2021/22 Measure U Budget Priorities and Recommendations to City Council (File ID 2020-01466): The committee engaged in a detailed workshop to identify priorities for the upcoming budget letter. Key themes included: focusing on COVID-19 recovery, workforce development, small business support (especially for industries like hospitality and retail), broadband access, equity and data-driven targeting, and prevention programs (mental health, alternatives to incarceration). Members volunteered to draft specific sections by January 15, 2021, with a motion to continue workshopping at the January 25 meeting. Vote: 11 in favor.
• Item 6: Measure U Community Advisory Committee Agenda Log (File ID 2020-01486): The committee updated the agenda log to include a presentation from the People’s Budget Sacramento (survey of over 4,000 residents on budget priorities) and a future presentation from the city library system. The next meeting (January 25) will also feature the city auditor’s report on Measure U findings. The schedule was approved. Vote: 11 in favor.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar Approved: Minutes (with correction) and first quarter financial report approved.
• 2021 Meeting Schedule Adopted: Regular meetings set except April date TBD; special meeting in February to be explored.
• Budget Priorities Drafting: Committee members assigned to draft sections of the recommendations letter by January 15; final recommendations to be forwarded to City Council after further discussion.
• Agenda Log Approved: Added People’s Budget Sacramento and library presentations.
• Ad Hoc Committee Updates: Process and Efficiency committee had no updates; Budget Oversight and Transparency committee had not met; Civic and Community Engagement committee presented draft polling questions, with a deadline of December 18 to submit to the city auditor for inclusion in the spring survey.
• Investment Committee Report: Member Perez summarized a presentation by Valley Vision and Burning Glass on job displacement, adjacent occupations, and skills training.
• City Manager’s Office Report: Staff noted CARES funding deadlines (Dec 31) and potential extensions; the Sacramento COVID Relief website will remain active.
• Chair’s Update on Council Rules: Chair Cofer reported that the chairs and vice chairs group had submitted recommendations to the City Council regarding committee correspondence, agenda items, and support (e.g., email addresses for PRA requests).
• Adjourned at approximately 8:17 p.m. (estimated).

Committee Member Comments - Ideas and Questions

• No additional comments were raised beyond the budget workshop and agenda log discussions.