Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting - March 21, 2022

The Measure U Community Advisory Committee met via teleconference on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 6:05 p.m. The meeting included introductions of a new member, updates on the participatory budgeting pilot, development of FY2022/23 budget priorities, and approval of ad hoc committee procedures. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of January 31, 2022 Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously (10-0).
• Overview of FY2021/22 Measure U Midyear Adjustments – Received and filed. The city reported $15.5 million in revenue above adopted budget, with allocations including $3 million released from the Housing Trust Fund, $12 million in year-end resources, and adjustments for community investments, inclusive economic development, and climate action.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Barry Boyd (public comment) – Asked whether Measure U funds could support a federal-level air monitor for community-based organizations. Staff noted no current funding for that purpose but said the request could be considered during future budget discussions.

Discussion Items

1. Introduction of Newly Appointed Committee Member – Teresa Riviera (Council District 8) was introduced and welcomed by the committee. She shared her background as a retired community activist.

2. Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program Implementation Update – The ad hoc committee reported finalizing the playbook and timeline:

   • Outreach/education through March 31, 2022
   • Idea collection: April 4 – May 15
   • Proposal development: May 23 – July 24
   • Community vote: August 1–31
   • Project implementation: beginning September 2022
   • 22 mini-grant applications were received; 6 were recommended for funding (2 citywide, 2 North, 2 South). Evaluation metrics from Third Plateau focus on resident engagement, equity, and prior civic participation. Discussion included challenges with digital divide, language access (Spanish translation materials prepared), and ensuring representative vs. newly engaged participants. The committee requested training/talking points for members to assist outreach, but the city attorney warned against joint decision-making outside meetings.

3. FY2022/23 Measure U Budget Priorities – Chair Cofer presented draft recommendations from the ad hoc committee, including:

   • Inclusive economic development: support for high-wage jobs, expansion of programs like "Thousand Strong"
   • Arts and creative edge: focus on youth and underserved communities
   • Libraries: expanded operating hours (8 hours/day, 6 days/week)
   • Affordable housing: $2 million added to Housing Trust for mortgage/rental assistance, gap funding
   • Homelessness: expand services beyond women/children
   • Participatory budgeting: $2.5 million additional ($0.5M for consultants/outreach, $2M for community projects)
   • Senior services: expand service hours and language access
   • Youth: sustainable funding, culturally valid services for Native and Hmong youth, and inclusion of refugee families
   • Additional proposals: $5 million for neighborhood stabilization (home repair, first-time homebuyers, homelessness prevention) targeting multiple neighborhoods; senior home repair assistance; small business support; and removal of barriers for code-violation remediation.
   • The committee noted overdue data from the Department of Community Response (911 call data requested November 2021, now 120+ days overdue). Staff explained records are under individual review by police.
   • Decision: The committee voted (10-0) to split recommendations into two documents—priorities (to be approved April 18) and specific dollar amounts (to be approved May 16 after the proposed city budget is released on May 2). The priorities letter will be forwarded to the Budget and Audit Committee on May 3.

4. Ad Hoc Committees Membership Roster and Procedures – Chair Cofer presented draft procedures to clarify ad hoc roles and operations. Approved actions (10-0):

   • Established the Spending Oversight and Budget Development Ad Hoc for FY2022/23 (members: Cofer, Dickinson, Pray, Sala, Thomas, Riviera, Perez)
   • Dissolved the FY2022/23 Budget Ad Hoc and the Universal Basic Income Ad Hoc
   • Added Teresa Riviera to the Community Communications Ad Hoc
   • Approved the overall ad hoc committee procedures.

Ad Hoc Committee Updates

• Community Communications Ad Hoc – Reported ongoing work on a Measure U logo and a citywide communications plan for departments to standardize outreach materials. The committee recommended including the logo requirement in budget recommendations.
• Participatory Budgeting Implementation Ad Hoc – No oral update (covered in Item 2).
• FY2022/23 Budget Ad Hoc – No additional update (covered in Item 3).
• Research on Universal Basic Income Ad Hoc – Dissolved.

Investment Committee Report

• Member Pray reported on the Neighborhood Development Action Team (NDAT) presentation at the Investment Committee, focusing on strategic planning for five corridors: Stockton Boulevard, Marysville/Del Paso, West Broadway, and Northgate. Efforts include small business grants and capacity building.

City Manager’s Office Report

• Denise Malvetti announced that $2.8 million of a $3.5 million ARPA grant for the Sacramento Inclusive Economic Development Collaborative (SAC IEDC) will go before City Council on March 22. The funds will support "business community liaisons" in PBID areas and commercial corridors to connect small businesses with technical assistance and training.

Key Outcomes

• FY2022/23 Budget Priorities: Motion passed (10-0) to split recommendations into a priorities letter (due April 18) and a detailed spending proposal (due May 16). The priorities will be forwarded to the Budget and Audit Committee.
• Ad Hoc Procedures: Approved (10-0) with restructuring of committees.
• Participatory Budgeting: Implementation timeline confirmed; mini-grants awarded; evaluation metrics from Third Plateau under development.
• Data Request: City staff to follow up on overdue Department of Community Response 911 data and report back with an estimated timeline.
• Community Survey: The 2022 City of Sacramento community survey will go live March 25 and close April 8. Members were asked to help publicize.