Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – August 15, 2023
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Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – August 15, 2023
The Personnel and Public Employees Committee (PMPE) convened on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at 3:44 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, chaired by Councilmember Lisa Kaplan. The committee conducted interviews for four board/commission vacancies, reviewed the Sacramento Youth Commission’s 2023 annual report, and discussed the creation of a Youth Advisory Liaison to City Council. The meeting adjourned at 4:43 p.m.
Consent Calendar
- The committee unanimously approved the meeting minutes from June 20, 2023. No public comments were received on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 6 – Youth Commission Annual Report: Lambert Davis (online) praised the report, noting the focus on Del Paso Heights and commenting on staff salaries for agenda preparation, stating that staff are paid $45–$216 per hour.
- Item 7 – Youth Advisory Liaison: Lambert Davis (online) did not speak on this item but later gave off-agenda comments. Mike Snell (online) supported creating opportunities for youth civic engagement, expressing that the city should not limit youth potential based on perceived limits, and also asked regarding a dispensary storefront’s hours of operation.
- Public Comments – Matters Not on the Agenda: Lambert Davis spoke about a youth-led viral video for his business. Mike Snell asked for guidance on adjusting storefront hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., directed to the city manager or planning department.
Discussion Items
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Review of Applicants for the Civil Service Board (Seat E): Four applicants were interviewed: Madison Hinojosa, Brittany Moore, Julie (Jules) Stein, and Nicholas Zachary Walden (not present). The committee heard their qualifications. Councilmember Valenzuela noted the importance of Skelly officer experience and moved to appoint Julie Stein. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
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Review of Applicants for the Natomas Basin Conservancy Board of Directors (Seats A and D): Five applicants were considered: Melinda Dorin Bradbury (not present), former Mayor Heather Fargo, Stephen Thomas Johns, Jack Richards (not present), and Raymond Trethaway. The committee discussed institutional knowledge and conflict of interest concerns regarding Mayor Fargo due to her advocacy against development potentially conflicting with board duties. Councilmember Kaplan moved to reappoint Melinda Dorin Bradbury to Seat D and continue Seat A until the City Attorney could review Mayor Fargo’s qualifications. The motion was seconded and passed. The City Attorney was asked to review candidate eligibility; Seat A discussion was continued to a subsequent meeting.
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Review of Applicants for the Retirement Hearing Commission (Seat C): Only one applicant, Barry F. Boyd, was up for reappointment. Councilmember Valenzuela moved to reappoint Barry Boyd; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously without interviews.
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Review of Applicants for the Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board (Seat B): Three applicants were interviewed: Tammy Derby O’Brien, Guy Garcia, and Madison Hinojosa. Councilmember Valenzuela nominated Tammy Derby O’Brien, citing her extensive enforcement and administrative experience. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Councilmember Maple encouraged other applicants to stay involved.
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Sacramento Youth Commission’s Annual Report for 2023: Sarah Musser, Recreation General Supervisor, presented the report. Highlights included the commission’s history, 2022 activities (including mental health event, Aggie Square presentation, Earth Day cleanup, and a Facebook Live mental health podcast), 2023 priorities focusing on youth mental health and expanding youth leadership, and the commission’s official role as the youth voice. Councilmember Kaplan moved to forward the report to the City Council for approval; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously after public comment.
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Discussion Regarding Creation of Youth Advisory Liaison to City Council (Continued): Chair Kaplan presented an alternative proposal co-authored by Councilmember Talamantes to replace the single youth liaison with youth positions on multiple boards/commissions, making the Sacramento Youth Commission the official youth voice. Councilmember Valenzuela expressed disagreement, arguing the agenda was for implementation of the previously approved resolution, and that the youth commission supported the liaison position. Vice Chair Maple voiced concerns about the emotional burden on a single youth and suggested pausing implementation until the alternative was considered. Chair Kaplan moved to pause implementation of the liaison position until full council can review the alternative proposal. The motion was seconded and passed on a voice vote. No further action was taken; staff was directed not to proceed with implementation at this time.
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Sacramento Ethics Commission 2022 Annual Report and Recommendations: This item was continued to a future meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Civil Service Board Seat E: Recommended appointment of Julie (Jules) Stein to Mayor and Council. (Motion passed unanimously)
- Natomas Basin Conservancy Board Seat D: Recommended reappointment of Melinda Dorin Bradbury. Seat A left open, pending City Attorney review of Heather Fargo’s eligibility. (Motion passed unanimously)
- Retirement Hearing Commission Seat C: Recommended reappointment of Barry F. Boyd. (Motion passed unanimously)
- Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board Seat B: Recommended appointment of Tammy Derby O’Brien. (Motion passed unanimously)
- Youth Commission Annual Report: Directed staff to forward the report to City Council for approval. (Motion passed unanimously)
- Youth Advisory Liaison: The committee voted to pause implementation of the single liaison position and direct the alternative proposal to the full council for consideration. No immediate implementation steps were taken. (Motion passed on voice vote)
- Ethics Commission Report: Continued to a future meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you, Jacob staff. Welcome everyone to the PMPE meeting. Sorry, we're starting a little late. We got a lot on our agenda. But I'd like to call this meeting to order at 34. Um, can you please establish a quorum? Sure. Councilmember Valenzuela. Here. I'm Councilmember Maple. Here. Councilmember Lillowy absent today. And Chair Kaplan. Okay. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have a quorum. Can I have Vice Chair Maple read the land acknowledgement and do our pledge, please? My pleasure. Please stand if you are able. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. The original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valiant Plains Miwok, Petwin 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 today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And now uh pledge salute. I pledge allegiance to the fan 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. Thank you again, everyone who is here for the personnel and public employee committee. Again, I want to profusely apologize. Um, as uh my fellow committee member for uh chair of Law and Ledge, uh Katie Valenzuela knows we're rolling from one subcommittee uh to the next. So I do apologize because I know how important it is to respect people's time. Uh so thank you for being here. For members who are in the chambers, if you wish to speak on an agenda item and you're not an applicant, don't worry about it for your applicant, you're fine. Uh fit, please fill out a speaker slip that can be found at the back of the room. For those who are online and want to speak, please use the raise your hand to provide public comment when the chair confirms that it is time to speak on the item. If you're online, you can click on the raise hand. If you're on the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand. And if you are on telephone, you can do it via telephone to raise your hand. Dial star nine, and then to mute unmute is star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. So we will now move forward uh with today's agenda. But our first order of business is the consent calendar. Are there any questions, comments? I move consent. Move by Vice Chair Maple, second by uh Councilmember Valenzuela. Uh all in favor, aye. Aye. All right. Thank you so much.
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