Measure U Community Advisory Commission Meeting – May 18, 2026

The Measure U Community Advisory Commission held a regular meeting on May 18, 2026, at 5:35 PM in the Sacramento City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, pledge of allegiance, approval of the consent calendar, a detailed overview of the Fiscal Year 2026/27 Measure U Proposed Budget, discussion of the upcoming department presentation schedule, updates from ad hoc committees, and public comments. The meeting adjourned at 7:01 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the Measure U Community Advisory Commission Regular Meeting Minutes of April 20, 2026, and Special Meeting Minutes of April 27, 2026 (File ID: 2026-00099).
• Approved the updated Measure U Community Advisory Commission Agenda Log, noting no items in the log (File ID: 2026-00253).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lambert Davis, a regular commenter, spoke on multiple agenda items and during open public comment. He criticized the budget process, alleging a Brown Act violation at a prior meeting regarding department questioning. He expressed concerns about the proposed reduction of commission meetings to five per year, stating it would hamper transparency and community voice. He also raised issues about the “last hired, first fired” policy, which he claimed disproportionately affects people of color, and called for accountability and criminal charges against some city staff.

Discussion Items

• Overview of Fiscal Year 2026/27 Measure U Proposed Budget (File ID: 2026-00780)

  • Presented by Mirthala Santizo (Budget Manager) and Brian Martin (Principal Budget Analyst). The presentation covered the structural deficit of $66.2 million, the proposed balanced budget of $1.7 billion (all funds), and Measure U-specific changes: revenue increase of $2.3 million, expenditure drop of $16.3 million (from $161 million to $145 million), and a reduction of approximately 100 FTE (to about 700). Key reductions included: $8.9 million from homelessness services (X-Treat Navigation Center due to Caltrans lease expiration, motel voucher program shift to a voucher-based model), $1.4 million one-time reduction to the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force (GPIT), $460,000 from reduced pool operating schedules and aquatic staffing, and $1.2 million from deleting 12 police hiring pipeline positions. Augmentations of ~$800,000 included one-time funding for spay/neuter clinics, a new administrative technician, and a language access coordinator.
  • Commissioners asked about state HAP funding (Director of Finance Peter Coletto noted the Governor’s May revision kept HAP7 at $500 million, not the $1 billion requested), the impact of the proposed cuts on community services, and the long-term fiscal challenges (unfunded pension liability of $1.5 billion, OPEB liability of $200 million, and $2 billion in deferred maintenance).
  • Commissioner Frye‑Lucas reported that the City Council had already moved to restore some cuts (GPIT grants, pool hours, Hart Senior Center staffing, park maintenance workers, youth projects, and YIPSE workforce development positions) totaling about $1.9 million, funded by HAP funding and parking enforcement vacancies. Additional restorations were under discussion for council action the next day.
  • Several commissioners expressed strong opposition to the potential reduction of commission meetings from ten to five per year, arguing it would undermine transparency, community engagement, and the commission’s ability to advise effectively. Commissioner McGee called it “censorship of the community voice.” Commissioner Smith raised concerns about transparency and the risk of “deals being cut” outside public view.

• 2026/27 Measure U Department Presentation Schedule (File ID: 2026-01022)

  • Ash Roughani (Special Projects Manager) proposed a structured schedule for department presentations from June 2026 through May 2027, allocating one hour per department and no more than two per meeting. The schedule would begin with the Library (June/August) and conclude with Youth, Parks, Community Enrichment (YIPSE) and Innovation & Economic Development in March 2027, with no presentations in April to allow budget deliberation.
  • Commissioners provided feedback: move YIPSE earlier (February) to align with budget planning, add the Finance Department more than once, and sync the Innovation & Economic Development presentation with the development of their strategic plan before it goes to City Council.
  • The discussion also touched on the proposed reduction to five commission meetings per year, which several commissioners opposed. However, no formal vote could be taken as it was not agendized; commissioners were encouraged to speak at the City Council meeting the next day.

• Ad Hoc Committee Updates

  • Budget Recommendations Ad Hoc (reported by Commissioner Smith): The committee presented recommendations to the City Council, which were largely accepted except for arts and culture funding, which the council did not support. Commissioner Frye‑Lucas noted the council wanted a report on the outcomes of prior participatory budgeting before funding it again.
  • Community Engagement and Outreach Ad Hoc: Chair Frye‑Lucas indicated the committee had not met but would schedule meetings soon.
  • 2026 Metrics Ad Hoc: No update; the committee has been inactive and is expected to dissolve.

Key Outcomes

• The commission passed a motion to approve the Consent Calendar (9‑0 vote; four members absent).
• The commission received and commented on the FY 2026/27 Measure U Proposed Budget; no formal recommendation was made.
• The commission reviewed the proposed department presentation schedule and provided direction to staff. The schedule will be formalized in the commission’s annual work plan, pending flexibility for adjustments (e.g., moving YIPSE earlier, adding Finance more often).
• No action was taken on the proposed reduction of commission meetings; individual commissioners planned to voice their concerns at the next day’s City Council meeting.
• Ad hoc committees noted their progress and future plans.