Sacramento City Council Meeting - August 18, 2026

On August 18, 2026, the Sacramento City Council held a regular meeting beginning at 5:00 PM. The agenda included special presentations recognizing local achievements, and a lengthy discussion on the city's violence prevention and intervention programs, featuring presentations from the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) and the Youth Development Administration (YDA). The meeting drew significant public comment, including calls for greater transparency and an independent audit of OVP after recent Sacramento Bee reporting on alleged mismanagement.

Special Presentations

• Recognition of North Natomas 11U All-Star Softball Team: Councilmember Kaplan presented a commendation to the team for winning the Northern California Little League State Championship—the first state title for a softball team from North Natomas. Coach Sergio Martinez thanked the council and highlighted recent park upgrades including lights and a dedicated softball bullpen.
• Honoring Musician Clemón Charles: Councilmembers Pluckebaum, Maple, and Mayor Pro Tem Guerra presented a resolution naming Charles's song "Delta Breeze" as Sacramento's unofficial song. The resolution recognized Charles's decades of community service, including fundraising for mental health. His daughter Dominique and friends spoke on his behalf. A short clip of the song was played.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gun Violence Prevention Advocates (Corey Jackson, Shelley Hudson, Cheryl Davis, Catherine O'Morda, Amy Sarafan, Tammy Shaw, Mary DuPla, Anita Rosal, Cynthia Shallett, Brian Powers, Deborah Grimes): Multiple speakers urged the council to conduct an independent audit of OVP grants and contracts, citing recent Sacramento Bee reports of improper financial practices. Some advocated moving OVP out of the police department to rebuild community trust. Several survivors of gun violence shared personal stories.
• Impact SAC Supporters (Paris Dye, Milo M., Matthew Forrest, Dennis Nixon, Aki Ramirez, James Deans): These speakers defended Impact SAC's work, describing how the program provides youth with positive opportunities, mentorship, and a safe space. They argued that recent media coverage was misleading and emphasized the program's positive outcomes.
• Other Speakers: Zion Taddis questioned the distribution of funds, stating that only a small percentage reaches the most underserved communities. Julius Thibodeau argued for including "broken men" (formerly incarcerated individuals) in prevention efforts. Liana and Kevin Boltz criticized the council's handling of public comment and city collaboration with ICE.

Discussion Items

Violence Prevention and Intervention Strategies (File ID: 2026-01541)

Presentations:

• Dr. Nicole Plavo (OVP) described OVP's role, funding sources (annual Measure U: $2.175 million, plus state CalVIP grants), and monitoring processes. OVP funds community-based organizations (CBOs) for prevention (GPIT) and intervention (VIDS). Six-month data (Oct 2025–Mar 2026): GPIT served 1,478 youth directly; VIDS responded to 14 critical incidents and 100 drip activation requests. Dr. Plavo emphasized OVP's accountability measures, including biweekly office hours and receipt-level fiscal review.
• Julie Guerin (YDA) presented YDA's grant portfolio (over $30 million), focusing on two violence prevention programs: Sacramento Children's Fund (SCF) and SAC Town Youth Nights (STYN). SCF awarded $881,326 to three CBOs for violence prevention; STYN provided $1.3 million to 24 CBOs for weekend pop-up events, reaching over 8,000 youth. YDA highlighted its multi-step award process, risk assessments, and independent evaluation planned.

Council Questions and Comments:

• Vice Mayor Talamantes asked about inter-departmental coordination and requested demographic reporting similar to YDA's. Dr. Plavo confirmed OVP collects such data.
• Councilmember Vang raised concerns about siloed efforts, noting the lack of a coordinated violence reduction ecosystem. She asked OVP how often it meets with non-funded CBOs—Dr. Plavo replied only quarterly with funded groups. Councilmember Vang recommended that the city manager reassess OVP's placement under the police department and consider moving it under YDA or the city manager.
• Councilmember Dickinson asked about coordination with outside agencies (probation, schools). Dr. Plavo described ongoing partnerships. He pressed for outcome measurement beyond contacts; Dr. Plavo cited success stories and pre/post surveys. Ms. Guerin noted that STYN measures success by keeping youth occupied on weekend nights but cannot prove direct causal impact. Councilmember Dickinson supported moving OVP out of the police department to build comprehensive collaboration.
• Councilmember Kaplan inquired about grantee selection processes. Both Dr. Plavo and Ms. Guerin explained the citywide grant management system, eligibility checks, merit review panels, and final award decisions. Dr. Plavo argued against lowering eligibility standards. Councilmember Kaplan also stressed the need for partnering with all four school districts within city boundaries.
• Councilmember Maple (via written comments) expressed support for staff and youth programs.
• Councilmember Guerra highlighted the importance of continued focus and praised the community's dedication.
• Mayor McCarty stated that Sacramento leads in per-capita spending on violence prevention but acknowledged the need to improve oversight and maximize resources. He noted that the meeting was intentionally scheduled as a sole topic for in-depth discussion.

Key Outcomes

• No formal vote was taken; the item was for review and comment only.
• Council members gave direction to the city manager to:
  • Evaluate the structure of OVP, specifically whether it should remain under the police department or be moved (multiple members expressed support for moving it).
  • Conduct a thorough review of recent allegations of financial mismanagement; some members called for an independent audit.
  • Ensure the forthcoming community violence reduction plan (being developed with a consultant) includes robust community stakeholder input.
  • Improve coordination between OVP, YDA, school districts, and other agencies to create a unified strategy.
• The council acknowledged the need for greater transparency and public reporting of program outcomes.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned after public comments on non-agenda items, with no further business.