Sacramento City Council Regular Meeting - August 18, 2026

The Sacramento City Council met in a joint session with the Sacramento City Financing Authority, Sacramento Housing Authority, Sacramento Public Financing Authority, and Sacramento Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement, pledge of allegiance, and a closed session report (nothing to report). The council unanimously passed the consent calendar (items 1–14) and approved the audit of the Department of Utilities Energy Use: Power Purchase Agreements (item 15). Public comments covered a range of issues including flood infrastructure, traffic safety, enforcement of banned substances, and sanctuary city policy.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–14 were approved by a single motion with no dissenting votes. Councilmember Lisa Kaplan highlighted two items: Item 9 (contract for a prefabricated restroom at Burberry Community Park, $286,904, called “20 years in the making”) and Item 12 (North Natomas Regional Park Phase 7 Great Meadow Project, $746,720, funded by a $500,000 grant from Senate Majority Leader Ashby).

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Consent Calendar:
  • Lambert Davis spoke on items 7 and 8 (City Auditor’s Activity and Whistleblower Reports). He praised the auditor’s work, emphasized funding the whistleblower department, and noted the auditor’s finding that Black employees hold the lowest salary positions in City Hall. He questioned whether nepotism plays a role in higher-level hires.
  • Annabel Gonzalez (small business owner and 12-year North Natomas homeowner) spoke on item 4 (Floodgate Modernization Project). She expressed support for the floodgate investment but raised concerns about a separate project at 3511 Arena Boulevard, where a tiny home community is proposed. Citing 1997 flood records and the city’s own drainage study showing zero safety margin, she argued the site is unsuitable and called for an independent engineering review, release of final stamped plans and elevation certificates, and a proper drainage study. She noted that the Sacramento Homeless Union is challenging the city in court over this location.
• On Matters Not on the Agenda (public comment period):
  • Lambert Davis (again) urged Councilmember Caity Maple to work remotely due to her late-stage pregnancy, referencing a council resolution allowing remote participation.
  • Fernando Burton (midtown resident, 31 years) described 33 collisions at 19th and O Streets, with a July 31 accident shearing off a natural gas meter. He criticized the city’s removal of one parking spot as insufficient and contrasted the lack of action with a four-way stop installed at 22nd and L (only 2 collisions). He requested a stop sign or other traffic control based on engineering judgment.
  • Lisa Sanchez (River City Waterway Alliance) thanked council members and city staff for creek cleanups (Steelhead, Robla, Arcade, Sacramento River) and requested trash booms on Morrison Creek. She expressed support for the proposed DOU rate increases.
  • Josh Masias (Sacramento Immigration Committee) reported canvassing in South Sacramento and learning that ICE presence is causing fear in neighborhoods even without raids. He criticized the lack of “real sanctuary city policy” and noted a petition for sanctuary city gaining 50 signatures per day.
  • Tasha Johnson (new Executive Director of Youth Forward) introduced interns who conducted research on vape shops.
  • Kayla Devotee and Yulin Zoo (Youth Forward interns) presented their summer survey of 16 licensed vape/smoke shops in Sacramento. They found banned products (kratom, nitrous oxide, psilocybin, intoxicating hemp) at 9 stores (56%), all within half a mile of schools; 4 stores were under 600 feet from a school. Compliance with state bans (kratom/7OH) was 69%, far below Governor Newsom’s reported 95% statewide. They urged regular inspections and meaningful penalties for violations.
  • L.R. Roberts reported seeing two trafficked girls (under 16) on Stockton Boulevard, criticized police for not helping, and noted police had said they were not helping ICE but she believes they are.
  • Richard Wake (virtual, District 7) requested updates on South Hill Shopping Center security improvements and a crosswalk study at 35th and Lonsdale, noting lack of communication from Councilmember Jennings’ office.

Discussion Items

• Item 15: Audit of the Department of Utilities Energy Use – Power Purchase Agreements
  • Presentation: Charles Meadows (Performance Audit Manager) presented findings for the on-site solar PPAs at the Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant (EAF) and Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant (SRWTP). Combined net savings over five calendar years totaled $603,000 ($464,400 at EAF, $138,600 at SRWTP). However, PPAs only met 3–10% of each site’s total energy demand. The city also participates in SMUD’s off-site Solar Shares program, which avoided an estimated 32,000 metric tons of CO2 (equivalent to 82 million miles driven) but cost the city $623,000 more than market-rate electricity through December 2025. Audit recommendations included strengthening contract language (maintenance, performance guarantees) and evaluating options (buyout, upgrade to 435W panels, or new panels) as contracts expire in 2032–2033.
  • Councilmember Lisa Kaplan: Emphasized benchmarking against other jurisdictions (e.g., LA DWP, school districts) and noted that current contracts lack maintenance requirements and penalties for downtime. She urged immediate contract improvements, not waiting for renewal.
  • Councilmember Roger Dickinson: Agreed with benchmarking and noted that the Budget and Audit Committee had discussed negotiating contract modifications sooner rather than later. He acknowledged the environmental benefits but wanted better financial terms.
  • Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes (presumed, as transcript misheard “Mayor Putemgata”): Highlighted that the city saved $600,000 in energy costs, demonstrating that fiscal responsibility and climate action can coexist. She supported exploring battery storage and upgrading panels to capture more solar energy, and stressed strong maintenance and operational conditions.
  • Outcome: The audit report was accepted by a unanimous voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (items 1–14).
• Audit Acceptance: Item 15 (Audit of DOU Energy Use: Power Purchase Agreements) accepted unanimously.
• Referrals/Directives: Councilmembers Kaplan and Dickinson directed staff to begin reviewing and renegotiating PPA contract terms (maintenance, performance, buyout options) well before expiration. The city manager’s office noted upcoming public outreach on water rate adjustments and the Missing Middle Housing survey (deadline August 31).