Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting - March 20, 2023
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Measure U Community Advisory Committee Meeting – March 20, 2023
The Measure U Community Advisory Committee met on Monday, March 20, 2023, from 6:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at City Hall, 915 I Street, Sacramento. The meeting was called to order by Jacob Bredberg of the Office of the City Clerk. Twelve members were present; one member (Sharon Wright) was absent. The agenda included selection of officers for 2023, a review of council rules, confirmation of subcommittee requests, discussion of the Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program Evaluation Report, and a proposal for focus groups.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes (File ID: 2022-02116): Approved the minutes from the November 21, 2022, meeting. Vote: 10 yes (Byrd, Cooney, Diaz, Dickinson, Macias, Nahhas, Oto-Kent, Riviera, Sala, Wolf), 2 abstain (Goris, Paschal), 1 absent (Wright).
- Approval of 2023 Agenda Log (File ID: 2022-02461): Approved the committee’s initial 2023 agenda log. Vote: Same as above.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Flo Jean Cofer (former chair) – Congratulated new members and offered to share lessons learned from the committee’s first four years.
- Lambert Davis – Criticized the Participatory Budgeting pilot for losing his four delegate applications, alleged intentional exclusion of Black and Latino communities, and called for an audit of consultant spending. He also spoke during public comment on matters not on the agenda, accusing the city of systemic racist practices.
- Barry Boyd (South area proposal delegate) – Expressed frustration with the PB pilot’s confusion and lack of clarity, advocated for community-led steering committees rather than city control.
- Kim Williams (former vice chair) – Supported continuation of PB, emphasized the pilot’s value in reaching underserved communities despite challenges.
- Keon Bliss – Urged continuation of PB with more robust city staff involvement and dedicated funding.
Discussion Items
- Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2023 (Item 3): After debate about whether to delay for new members, Marjorie Dickinson was elected Chair (10 yes, 2 abstain). Duke Cooney was elected Vice Chair (11 yes, 1 abstain). Both terms effective immediately.
- Council Rules of Procedure Review (Item 4): City Clerk Mindy Cuppy presented updates to the rules, including virtual meeting access, agenda order, and reporting procedures. The committee received and filed the report.
- Confirmation of Subcommittee Requests (Item 5): The committee forwarded a request to establish three subcommittees (community outreach, budget, and policy) to the Personnel and Public Employees Committee (PNPE), with the amendment to strike the proposed meeting schedule. Vote: 12 yes, 1 absent.
- Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program Evaluation Report (Item 6): Third Plateau (Ellen Kimball, Ari Eisenstadt) presented findings: the pilot engaged ~1,000 people, collected 500+ ideas, and allocated $1 million. Key challenges included role confusion, unclear facilitation, and unrealistic timelines. Recommendations included institutionalizing the process, creating clearer rules, and scaffolding participation. The committee accepted the report, authorized Member Debra Oto-Kent to draft a cover letter, and forwarded the report to City Council. Vote: 12 yes, 1 absent.
- Focus Groups Implementation Proposal (Item 7): Marbella Sala presented a proposal to conduct two focus groups (12 participants each) and a virtual town hall, budgeted at $7,800, to gather community input on Measure U priorities. After discussion, the committee voted to delay the item pending the outcome of the PNPE vote on subcommittees. Vote: 12 yes, 1 absent.
Key Outcomes
- Chair and Vice Chair Elected: Marjorie Dickinson (Chair) and Duke Cooney (Vice Chair) for calendar year 2023.
- Subcommittee Request Forwarded: The committee’s request to establish three subcommittees was sent to the PNPE committee, with meeting schedule removed.
- Participatory Budgeting Report Accepted: The evaluation report will be forwarded to City Council with a cover letter drafted by Member Oto-Kent, reflecting the committee’s discussion about the need for continued funding and a final evaluation of project implementation.
- Focus Groups Delayed: The proposal will be revisited after the PNPE decides on subcommittee formation.
- Future Actions: Chair Dickinson will work with staff to set the next agenda and meet with members individually. Vice Chair Cooney will share a Google Drive of historical materials. The committee will also consider additional subcommittee requests as needed.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Welcome to the Monday, March 20th, 2023, 6 p.m. Measure U Community Advisory Committee meeting. Meeting is now called to order. My name is Jacob Redberg. I'm the clerk. I'll now call the roll to establish a quorum. Member Byrd. Here. Member Cooney? Here. Member Diaz? Here. Member Dickinson? Member Goris? Here. Member Macius? Here. Member Nahas? Here. Member Odo Kent. Member Pasall. Here. Member Riviera? Here. Member Sala? Here. Member Wolf? Here. And Member Wright. Is absent. Thank you. We have quorum. I'd like to remember remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. For members of the public who wish to join virtually, please refer to the agenda for the Zoom link. Once you have joined the meeting and wish and wish to speak, use the raise your hand option to provide public comment when the chair confirms the public comment speaking period of your desired item. If you are online, please click on raise hand on the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. If you are calling in via telephone, to raise your hand, dial star nine, then unmute or mute, then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You'll have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the spurt after the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips and the raise your hand feature in Zoom will be disabled. First, we'll do the land acknowledgement. Please rise for opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous people and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu Valley, and Plains Miwok, Patwin Winton 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 today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. We'll now move to the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
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