Measure U Commission Regular Meeting - April 20, 2026
Measure U Community Advisory Commission Regular Meeting - April 20, 2026
The regular meeting of the Measure U Community Advisory Commission was called to order at 5:35 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chamber. Vice Chair Natalie McGee presided in the absence of Chair Richard "Teddy" Georgeoff. Eleven commissioners were present, with Commissioners Rosa and Georgeoff absent. The meeting opened with a land acknowledgement led by Commissioner Smith and the Pledge of Allegiance. New Commissioner Jose Bernardo Ruiz-Benites was welcomed.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the March 16, 2026, meeting minutes (File ID 2026-00098).
- Approved the updated Measure U Agenda Log (File ID 2026-00252). Both items were passed by a single motion (Commissioner Sala / Commissioner Novello; all ayes; Commissioner Miller absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Department of Community Response (Item 3): Lambert Davis expressed concerns about auditing and the alignment of Measure U expenditures with the original intent for underserved communities. He raised questions about opiate funding and HHAP, suggesting it creates a disincentive to end homelessness.
- Police Department (Item 4): Sixteen public speakers testified, mostly from community-based organizations and youth. Speakers included Crystal Gonzalez (SAC Youth Center), Prentice Wilson (Academics for Athletes), Ebony Hall (mother testifying to life-changing impact of Brother to Brother), Michelle Gladney (Glow Girls), Mervyn Brookins (Brother to Brother), Edric Brown (The Public Bridge), Talia Caravaleo (Victory Outreach), Zariah Marshall and several youth from Impact SAC, and others. All expressed strong support for continued Measure U funding for GPIT, DRIP, and youth violence prevention programs, emphasizing that cuts would cost lives and undo progress. Youth speakers shared personal stories of improved mental health, belonging, and positive choices due to these programs.
- Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (Item 5): Lambert Davis praised Director Jackie Beecham for her accessibility and leadership on reopening the Grant Pool, but criticized deferred maintenance spending on Wood Lake Park. Mark Jacobs (Youth Explosion) thanked the department for the fee waiver program that enabled his organization to serve over two million people.
Discussion Items
- Department of Community Response (DCR): Director Brian Pedro presented the department's mission, structure, and $54.1 million total budget. Key statistics for calendar year 2025: 1,614 shelter beds served (4,457 people total), 825 exits to permanent housing (41% improved exits), 37,000 homeless-related 311 calls closed, 6 million pounds of garbage removed, and 9,459 compliances. New initiatives include safe camping (100 tents in River District, opening May), microcommunities (40 homes each, 120 sq ft), a safe parking site, and expansion of the Roseville Road campus to 170 tiny homes. DCR saved $8.8 million through contract negotiations, reinvesting $6 million in new programs and reducing future need by $2.8 million. Commissioners asked about shelter capacity relative to need, best use of funds (director emphasized services and behavioral health), impact of potential budget cuts (e.g., city motel program restructured), prevention strategies, and county partnership for behavioral health. Commissioner Pascal shared a positive ride-along experience. Commissioner Miller pressed on the department's position regarding individuals who decline shelter; Director Pedro explained legal limitations and the ongoing triage approach.
- Police Department: Chief Kathy Lester, joined by Dr. Nicole Clavo and other staff, presented the department's Measure U-funded programs: hiring pipeline (student trainees, CSO2/3, Office of Violence Prevention) totaling $9.1 million and 61.5 FTE. Highlights: 48 pipeline candidates transitioned to sworn positions since 2019, 6,000 GPIT participants (76% Black or Hispanic), 150,000 program service hours, 91% of participants report making better choices. The DRIP program provided 33 critical incident responses and 80 referrals. Chief Lester noted the department proposed a 15% reduction, which would eliminate 40 sworn positions and additional CSO vacancies. Commissioners questioned diversity in recruitment, the efficiency of the hiring pipeline ($4.9 million for 8 new sworn hires was clarified as supporting all pipeline salaries, not just those 8), and the police role in homelessness and quality-of-life crimes. Chief Lester explained staffing constraints and that the department prioritizes calls based on threat, but enforcement is possible under current law post-Grants Pass. Commissioner Frye-Lucas asked about senior program accessibility and park restroom accommodations.
- Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE): Director Jackie Beecham presented the department's $65.9 million total operating budget ($42.2 million Measure U), covering 243 parks, 678 FTE, and programs across community centers, aquatics, senior services, youth workforce development, and camp Sacramento. Statistics: 15 park rangers responded to over 9,000 calls; 41,000 volunteer hours (25% increase); 100,000 community center visits; 2,000 youth in summer camp; 35,000 senior visits; 100,000+ aquatic scholarships; 2,400 campers at Camp Sacramento; 1,500 youth in co-ed sports; 1,000 youth in workforce programs; 65 CBOs funded. Deferred maintenance projects included $3.5 million in sidewalk repairs. Commissioners asked about senior program distribution (North/South Sacramento), park restroom availability, and the fee waiver program.
- Office of Innovation and Economic Development (OIED): Deputy Director Denise Malvetti gave a truncated presentation due to time constraints. The office has a $5.7 million Measure U budget supporting 30 FTE, with programs in small business support (Business Solutions Center, SHOP 916), workforce development (Thousand Strong - 81 youth in 2025, down from 264), housing, and community engagement. In 2025, the office secured $9 million in grants and distributed $5.2 million. Commissioner questions were limited due to time.
- Item 7 (FY2026/27 Measure U Budget Recommendations): Not heard due to lack of time. Ad hoc committee updates were also postponed.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved on a single motion (10-0, Miller absent).
- Items 3, 4, and 5 (DCR, Police, YPCE) were received, commented upon, and direction provided.
- Item 6 (OIED) was received and filed.
- Meeting extension: A motion to extend the meeting past 2 hours passed unanimously (10-0, Rosa and Georgeoff absent), but the meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM (the 3-hour limit).
- Items 7 and ad hoc committee updates were not heard and will be carried to a future meeting. The commission noted the urgency of forwarding budget recommendations to the City Council's Budget and Audit Committee before May.
- Commissioners and Vice Chair McGee encouraged youth and community members to continue attending meetings and engaging early in the budget process.
- Commissioner Sala expressed a desire to maintain current funding levels for OVP programs for another three years.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good evening, everyone. We have a full, full um chamber this evening. Like to call you and welcome you this evening to the a Monday, April 20th, 2026 meeting of the Measure U Community Advisory Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will you please, Clerk, establish quorum for this meeting? Thank you, Chair. Members, please unmute your microphones. Member Smith? Here. Member Salah. Here. Member Cook. Here. Member Miller is absent. Member Johnston? Here. Member Ruiz Benitez. Member Noveo. Here. Member Jurofsky? Here. Member Pascal? Here. Member Fry Lucas. Member Rosa is absent. Chair Georgioff is absent. And Vice Chair McGee. Present. Thank you. We have Quorum. Thank you. All right. Like to remind everyone, members of the public in chambers this evening with us that if you'd like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in your speaker slip before the item begins. Once the item is called, we'll no longer be accepting speaker slips. You have two minutes to speak once you are called in. We'll now proceed with today's agenda. I'd like to ask if Commissioner Smith would lead us with the Pledge of Allegiance and land acknowledgement. Oh, excuse me. Pardon me. Please rise to the opening of land acknowledgements. The original people of this land, the Nissanun people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains, Miwok, Patwin peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rangeria, 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 peoples, history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Thank you so much, Commissioner Smith. We have a great occasion this evening. We are welcoming a new commissioner. So we are going to give the commissioner a warm welcome and a few moments to share anything. So we're welcoming to MeasureU, Commission Jose Bernardo, Ruyez Benitez. And so take a moment to um introduce yourself. Happy to uh thank you everyone and also thank you for the warm welcome as soon as I got in and got a little late.
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