OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - April 30, 2024

Personnel and Public Employees Committee — Tuesday, April 30, 2024
BodySacramento, California
SessionPersonnel and Public Employees Committee
DateTuesday, April 30, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:20

Well, good morning, everyone.

0:22

Welcome to the personnel and public employee committee meeting.

0:26

The meeting is now called to order at 1116.

0:30

Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum?

0:34

Thank you, Chair.

0:36

Member Telemontes.

0:37

Member of Valenzuela?

0:38

Here.

0:39

Vice Chair Maple.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Chair Kaplan.

0:41

Here we have a quorum.

0:44

If anybody is in the audience and so wishes to speak on an item not on the agenda, don't forget to turn in a request a public comment card.

0:55

I would now like to turn over to Mayor Pro Tem Talamantes for our land acknowledgement and pledge.

1:26

By choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and life.

1:36

Salute.

1:37

Pledge.

1:37

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:42

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and Libra with liberty and justice for all.

1:53

And before we get to consent, just quick housekeeping.

2:01

The chairs a little little behind on getting our item four and five for the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission.

2:10

We'll take four or we'll take five first to give them a little extra time if that is okay.

2:18

And if there's no objections, moving on to consent calendar.

2:22

Anybody have any comments?

2:24

Any public comments, Jacob?

2:26

No, Chair.

2:27

All right.

2:28

Do I have a motion?

2:29

Move by Valenzuela.

2:31

Second by Talamantes.

2:33

All in favor, aye.

2:34

Aye.

2:35

Aye.

2:36

Passes four zero.

2:37

Now we're moving on to item two, which is review of the applicants for the Animal Care Services Citizen Advisory Clerk.

2:47

Thank you, Chair.

2:49

Seats needing recommendation today for the Animal Care Services Citizens Advisory Committee is seat B.

2:56

The requirements for seat B are as follows.

2:59

A member who is a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, or a person actively involved in the operation of an animal control or humane society agency.

3:16

Paul Hefner.

3:18

Come on up, Paul.

3:21

You are known by several of us here, so welcome to this committee.

3:25

I got two minutes.

3:27

Thank you.

3:27

Good morning.

3:29

Councilmember Kaplan and members of the committee.

3:32

Thank you so very much for the opportunity to come before you and talk about my application to join the Animal Care Services Citizen Advisory Committee.

3:46

Actively involved in the operation of Front Street Animal Shelter.

3:54

I've uh handled dogs of every size, shape, and disposition.

4:04

Learn some of the skills that I've acquired over the years.

4:07

And as a dog adoption counselor, I get the honor of helping animals find a permanent home.

4:14

Like shelters across the country, uh, the principal issue facing Front Street, it seems to me, is really one of numbers.

4:22

Too many lost and abandoned animals, and too few people coming through our doors to rescue them.

4:31

And unfortunately, the problems that arise outside the shelter can't always be solved entirely inside its walls.

4:38

I spent my career, my professional career as a communications professional, and I worked helping to motivate people to uh support causes that expanded opportunity and improved the quality of life in communities, uh things like affordable housing and education and health care.

5:00

Um now in retirement, um, having devoted more than a thousand hours at Front Street and this is true, literally crossed the country to work with some of the best animal trainers in the world.

5:08

Um, I really can't think of a better cause than the uh advocating for the amazing staff at Front Street and the animals in their care.

5:16

So I see this committee as an opportunity to assist all of you, the city's leaders in engaging this community about the challenges that we face, as well as the joys and the obligations that come with responsible pet ownership.

5:31

Thank you.

5:32

Thank you so much for coming before us.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Community Engagement█████████████████████21%
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Disability Access████████8%
Animal Services███████7%
Military Equipment Use███████7%
Public Works█████5%
Homelessness███3%
Personnel Matters██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - April 30, 2024

The Personnel and Public Employees Committee (P&PE) met on April 30, 2024, from 11:16 a.m. to 12:51 p.m. at Sacramento City Hall. The committee addressed four discussion items, including applicant interviews for two advisory bodies, a review of the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission's 2023 Annual Report, and a status update on city boards and commissions. All votes were unanimous (4-0).

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (File ID: 2024-00314): Passed a motion approving the draft minutes from February 13, 2024, March 12, 2024, and March 14, 2024 (Special Meeting).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On Item 5 (Status Update on Boards, Commissions, and Committees): Alyssa Lee (District 4) expressed support for consistency and transparency efforts but noted that commissioners were not informed about changes such as the removal of the Zoom option. She urged better consultation with commission members and suggested increased outreach.
  • On Item 4 (Police Review Commission Annual Report): Alyssa Lee supported forwarding the report to the full City Council and highlighted the report's value in understanding police spending. Ali Dore Westbrook (District 4) supported the report and the 2024 work plan, emphasizing the importance of bringing the report before the full council.
  • On Matters Not on the Agenda: Mr. Mackworthy raised concerns about security at City Hall, criticized civilian oversight of police, and urged the city to coordinate with the county on homelessness.

Discussion Items

  • Item 2: Review of Applicants for the Animal Care Services Citizens Advisory Committee (Seat B)
    • Paul Hefner, a volunteer with over 1,000 hours at Front Street Animal Shelter, was interviewed. Councilmember Valenzuela expressed concern that the seat is typically for a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician, but after hearing that the city's animal services manager endorsed Hefner, the committee unanimously recommended his appointment to the Mayor and Council.
  • Item 3: Review of Applicants for the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission (Seats G and H)
    • Alexa Greenbaum, a lawyer with personal disability experience and co-founder of the Disability Inclusivity Bar Association, was recommended for Seat G. Satveer Kaur, a parent of a child with disabilities and volunteer in special education programs, was recommended for Seat H. Both were unanimously recommended.
  • Item 5: Status Update on City of Sacramento Boards, Commissions, and Committees (Oral Report)
    • City Clerk Mindy Cuppy presented an update on a consistency project to standardize commission codes, add youth seats, rename all bodies as commissions, and clean up inactive commissions. Committee members discussed ad hoc committee rules, outreach, and scheduling. The report was received and filed.
  • Item 4: Sacramento Community Police Review Commission 2023 Annual Report
    • Chair Kim Bliss and Vice Chair Manuel Benavides presented the commission's 2023 accomplishments, including 171 recommendations to date, community forums on military equipment use (MEU), evaluation of PD responses to 2018/2019 recommendations, and 16 recommendations on search and seizure policies. The committee discussed the recommendation process, backlog, and the 2024 work plan. Councilmember Valenzuela cautioned against a homelessness workshop for the police commission, suggesting it was outside scope. The committee voted to forward the report to the City Council with direction for staff to provide feedback on recommendations and coordinate with OPSA.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (4-0).
  • Animal Care Services Citizens Advisory Committee: Recommended Paul Hefner for Seat B (4-0).
  • Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission: Recommended Alexa Greenbaum for Seat G and Satveer Kaur for Seat H (4-0).
  • Police Review Commission Annual Report: Passed a motion (4-0) to update the report with P&PE changes and forward to the City Council for review and action. Staff were directed to provide feedback on recommendations and synchronize with OPSA.
  • Boards, Commissions, and Committees Update: Received and filed; staff will continue code cleanup with monthly presentations to P&PE.

Meeting Transcript

Well, good morning, everyone. Welcome to the personnel and public employee committee meeting. The meeting is now called to order at 1116. Will the clerk please call the role to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Member Telemontes. Member of Valenzuela? Here. Vice Chair Maple. Here. Chair Kaplan. Here we have a quorum. If anybody is in the audience and so wishes to speak on an item not on the agenda, don't forget to turn in a request a public comment card. I would now like to turn over to Mayor Pro Tem Talamantes for our land acknowledgement and pledge. By choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and life. Salute. Pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and Libra with liberty and justice for all. And before we get to consent, just quick housekeeping. The chairs a little little behind on getting our item four and five for the Sacramento Community Police Review Commission. We'll take four or we'll take five first to give them a little extra time if that is okay. And if there's no objections, moving on to consent calendar. Anybody have any comments? Any public comments, Jacob? No, Chair. All right. Do I have a motion? Move by Valenzuela. Second by Talamantes. All in favor, aye. Aye. Aye. Passes four zero. Now we're moving on to item two, which is review of the applicants for the Animal Care Services Citizen Advisory Clerk. Thank you, Chair. Seats needing recommendation today for the Animal Care Services Citizens Advisory Committee is seat B. The requirements for seat B are as follows. A member who is a licensed veterinarian, veterinary technician, or a person actively involved in the operation of an animal control or humane society agency. Paul Hefner. Come on up, Paul. You are known by several of us here, so welcome to this committee. I got two minutes. Thank you. Good morning. Councilmember Kaplan and members of the committee. Thank you so very much for the opportunity to come before you and talk about my application to join the Animal Care Services Citizen Advisory Committee. Actively involved in the operation of Front Street Animal Shelter. I've uh handled dogs of every size, shape, and disposition. Learn some of the skills that I've acquired over the years.

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