Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting - May 17, 2021: Revised Budget Recommendations and Participatory Budgeting Update
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Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting - May 17, 2021
The Measure U Community Advisory Committee met on May 17, 2021, at 6:00 PM via teleconference to discuss and finalize revised recommendations for the FY2021/22 Measure U Budget, receive an update on the Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program, review the agenda log and plan for a joint meeting with the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission, and approve previous meeting minutes. The meeting opened with a land acknowledgement and roll call, establishing a quorum.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (Item 5): The committee approved the meeting minutes from April 26, 2021, with a roll call vote. Members Prey, Dickinson, Sala, Tracy Thomas, Devon Thomas, Perez, Odo Kent, Mora, Vice Chair Williams, and Chair Cofer voted aye; Members Kibble and Creswell abstained due to absence.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received on any agenda item or matters not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
Item 1: FY2021/22 Measure U Budget – Revised Recommendations to City Council (Continued)
The committee focused on finalizing a two-page cover letter to accompany its earlier February recommendations, aiming to submit it by noon the following day to influence the city council's budget deliberations.
- Affordable Housing: Member Creswell proposed adding language urging the city to allocate additional Measure U funding for affordable housing beyond the Stockton Boulevard corridor, including permanent supportive housing, rehabilitation of owner/renter-occupied homes, and targeted first-time home buyer assistance to address historic racial inequities. She suggested an additional $20 million. Member Perez expressed caution, noting substantial federal and state funding expected and the need to prioritize economic recovery. Member Lujan questioned the definition of "affordable housing" and its true accessibility for longtime residents. Member Creswell clarified that government-subsidized affordable housing is regulated, income-restricted, and typically kept affordable for at least 55 years. Member Dickinson supported leveraging local dollars to attract other funding. Member Kibble urged coordination with SHRA to develop vacant lots.
- Inclusive Economic Development: Members debated the appropriate amount. Member Lujan recommended at least $10 million, while Member Perez strongly advocated for $50 million from Measure U and other sources, emphasizing support for minority-owned businesses and worker training. The committee ultimately agreed to recommend $50 million in additional funding for inclusive economic development, sourced from Measure U and other funds.
- Universal Basic Income (UBI): Member Kibble suggested including language to explore UBI as a pilot program. Several members, including Dickinson, Odo Kent, and Vice Chair Williams, supported flagging the concept without a specific dollar amount. Member Perez raised concerns about potential impacts on the city budget and workforce incentives. Chair Cofer proposed including a request to explore the feasibility of UBI, which was accepted.
- Preventative Investments in Public Safety: Member Mora advocated for increased funding for youth programs as a preventative measure. The committee added $7 million to the Department of Community Response budget, with explicit language directing funds to community and city programs serving youth under 26.
- General Approach: The committee agreed to note that several recommendations could be funded from sources other than Measure U, including the American Rescue Plan Act (later corrected to $112 million). The letter was finalized with grammatical edits delegated to staff.
Key Outcome: A motion to forward the revised recommendations to the city council was passed unanimously (12 ayes).
Item 2: Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program Development Update
Staff reported that the RFQ for an external facilitator was released on May 4, with questions due May 18 and proposals due May 25. The ad hoc PB committee (currently 4–5 members) will review applications and conduct interviews (tentatively June 4 and week of June 7). Up to seven committee members can serve on the review panel. No additional volunteers stepped forward, but staff agreed to re-circulate the opportunity via email.
Item 3: Agenda Log and July 19 Special Joint Meeting with the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission
The committee began planning the joint meeting, scheduled for July 19. The purpose is to discuss overlapping interests in public safety spending, the Office of Community Response, and potential complementary recommendations. A presentation from the Sacramento Police Department on its budget was proposed, along with committee-developed questions. Member Davon Thomas suggested exploring coordination with the newly formed county police review commission, to be reframed around Measure U implications. The committee deferred final decisions to the June meeting, noting that presentations on economic development and the performance dashboard are not ready.
Ad Hoc Committee Updates
- Civic and Community Engagement Ad Hoc: Reported ideas for a promotional budget ($25,000–$50,000) to increase community awareness of Measure U, enhanced social media presence, and collaboration with the city auditor to improve the annual survey’s reach.
- Participatory Budgeting Ad Hoc: No further updates.
- Annual Report Ad Hoc: Member Cresswell requested materials be re-sent; staff will follow up.
City Manager’s Office Report
Staff noted that attention is on closing out CARES funding and transitioning to American Rescue Plan implementation. A comprehensive update on ARP is expected over the summer.
Committee Member Comments
Chair Cofer announced that she and Vice Chair Williams have scheduled meetings with all nine council members to present the committee’s recommendations. Other members were invited to join as schedules allow. Member Creswell shared that SHRA has opened an application period for rental assistance (over $100 million available) and encouraged members to spread the word.
Key Outcomes
- Budget Letter Approved: The committee voted 12–0 to forward the finalized FY2021/22 Measure U Budget recommendations to the City Council, including calls for additional funding in affordable housing (amount not specified beyond $20 million discussed), inclusive economic development (+$50 million), community response (+$7 million with youth focus), and exploration of universal basic income.
- Participatory Budgeting Next Steps: RFQ deadline May 25; review panel to be finalized; staff to re-offer volunteer opportunity.
- Joint Meeting Planning: Committee will finalize the July 19 agenda with the Police Review Commission at the June meeting.
- **No changes to ad hoc committees.
- **Meeting minutes approved.\n\nThe meeting adjourned at approximately 8:29 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we're ready to begin. Okay. Good evening, everyone. We are ready to begin the meeting of the Measure U Community Advisory Committee. Can we please call the roll? Sure. Good evening. Uh uh, madam chair and members of the committee. Um, member Prey. Member Dickinson. Here. Member Sala. Member Kivill. Here. Member Luhan. Here. Member Tracy Thomas. Member Goris. Member Crestwell. Here. Member Devon Thomas. Present. Member Perez. Present. Member Odo Kent. Present. Member Mora. Present. Vice Chair Williams. Chair. And Chair Kofer. Present. Madam Chair Chair, you have a quorum. You have a quorum. Okay. So in our new agenda structure, we wanted to open up the meeting with a brief land acknowledgement. So I'm going to do that now. The history of the Sacramento area and the people is rich in heritage, culture, and tradition. This area was and still is the tribal land of the Nishanon people. Sacramento was a gathering place of many local tribes who have lived throughout the Central Valley and the foothills for generations and were the original stewards of this land. We'd like to acknowledge the Southern Maidoon people to the north, the Valley and Plains, Miwok peoples to the south of the American River. And we'd also like to honor the Patwin Wyntu peoples to the west of the Sacramento River. We acknowledge that we are standing on the tribal lands of Sacramento's Indigenous people. We're really grateful for all of you to be able to join us today in the meeting. This is the meeting of the Measure U Community Advisory Committee. And by ordinance, the powers and duties of our committee are to provide recommendations through an annual report that'll be available on the city's website and presented to the council to include a review of the transaction and the use tax revenues, recommendations on how to allocate resources, advice to the council on priorities, and a review of performance measures and evaluation of city expenditures. And we're to work with city staff on community engagement and respect with respect to the transaction and use tax. So with that, we will jump right in. We have a new agenda structure for this meeting, uh, thanks to the wonderful members of this uh committee. And so we are going to start with one of our most important duties, uh which is going over the fiscal year 2021-22, measure U budget revised recommendations to city council.
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