Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – May 14, 2024
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Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – May 14, 2024
The Personnel and Public Employees Committee met on May 14, 2024, at 9:00 AM in the City Hall Council Chamber. The committee heard five agenda items: approval of minutes, review of applicants for the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, review of the Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission 2023 Annual Report, an ordinance amending the Active Transportation Commission code, and consideration of 2018 Ethics Commission recommendations. Public testimony was received on items 2 and 5. All votes were unanimous (3‑0) with Councilmember Talamantes absent. The meeting adjourned at 11:53 AM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the April 30, 2024 meeting minutes (Motion by Vice Chair Maple, second by Councilmember Valenzuela, vote 3‑0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2 – Parks and Community Enrichment Commission appointment: Joe Flores, a Parks Commissioner for District 7, spoke in support of applicant Nicole Kengis, citing her volunteer contributions and partnership-building.
- Item 5 – Ethics Commission recommendations: Alan LaFaso, Vice Chair of the Ethics Commission, requested that if the committee does not adopt the recommendations, it should send them back to the commission for refreshment. Linda Ing, Chair of the Ethics Commission, urged adoption, noting the recommendations have been pending since 2018.
Discussion Items
- Item 2 – Review of Applicants for the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission (Seat J): Three applicants were interviewed: Elizabeth Delgado, Nicole Kengis, and Ian Wynnbrock. Vice Chair Maple noted a lack of applicants from District 5 and praised the candidates. Councilmember Valenzuela questioned Kengis about her past attendance absences. Kengis explained missed meetings due to illness and confusion over the attendance policy. The committee directed the Clerk’s office to clarify the absence policy for all commissions. A motion to reappoint Nicole Kengis (Motion by Vice Chair Maple, second by Councilmember Valenzuela) passed 3‑0.
- Item 3 – Sacramento Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission 2023 Annual Report: Jason Jong, Cultural and Creative Economy Manager, presented the report. Chair Kaplan requested that future annual reports include estimated budgets for 2024 priorities. Councilmember Valenzuela commended the inclusion of staff-hour estimates and the review of the Creative Edge Plan. The committee voted 3‑0 to forward the report to the City Council with direction to add cost estimates.
- Item 4 – Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.100 (Active Transportation Commission): City Clerk Mindy Cuppy presented amendments to resolve conflicts with Chapter 2.40, remove duplications, and add a youth seat and rolling language. A sunset clause (Section 2.100.060) was proposed to trigger a review. Councilmember Valenzuela and Vice Chair Maple expressed concern about automatic repeal for an active commission. Vice Chair Maple moved to forward the ordinance without the sunset clause; Councilmember Valenzuela seconded. The motion passed 3‑0.
- Item 5 – Consider Adoption of 2018 Sacramento Ethics Commission Recommendations: Clerk Cuppy summarized the six‑year‑old recommendations and provided policy and financial implications. Chair Kaplan and Councilmember Valenzuela supported exploring limited subpoena power, hearing officer authority, and enhanced training, but noted budget constraints. Vice Chair Maple agreed, stressing the need for independent accountability. The committee directed the City Clerk and City Attorney to work with the Ethics Commission to develop options for limited subpoena power, hearing officer use, and training/education requirements, and to bring recommendations back to the Personnel and Public Employees Committee. The motion (by Councilmember Valenzuela, seconded by Chair Kaplan) passed 3‑0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 2: Nicole Kengis reappointed to the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission (Seat J). Clerk’s office directed to improve communication of attendance policies.
- Item 3: Annual report forwarded to City Council with direction to add cost estimates for 2024 priorities.
- Item 4: Ordinance forwarded to City Council without the sunset clause (Section 2.100.060 removed).
- Item 5: Staff directed to work with the Ethics Commission and return to the committee with policy options on limited subpoena power, hearing officer use, and training requirements.
- All votes were 3‑0.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the personnel and public employees committee meeting. The meeting is now called to order. Will the court please call the role to establish quorum? Thank you, Chair. Councilmember Talamantes is currently absent. Councilmember Valenzuela. Here. Vice Chair Maple. Here. And Chair Kaplan. Here. We have a quorum. And Vice Mayor Talamantes is on her honeymoon, so she is not intentionally missing. She is doing something for herself and her new husband as she should. So Vice Chair Maple. As you were preparing, would you please have a feeling? All right, please stand if you are able. Okay, please rise for the opening acknowledgements in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands to the original people of this land, the Nissanam people, the Southern Maidu, the Balian Plains Miwok, Putwin 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 People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Now remain standing. Salute and 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, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. All right. Our first business today is consent calendar. Do we have any public comments on consent? Thank you, Chair. I have none. All right. Any questions, comments? I'll move consent. All right. Move by Vice Chair Maple, second by Valenzuela. All in favor, aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passes three zero. We're now moving on to item two, which review of the applicants for parks and community enrichment. And Jacob, before you read, I just want to um you do not have to call Natalie McGee from District One because I'm actually appointing her to my Measure U committee. Excellent. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate that. The seat meeting recommendation today for the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission is seat J. The requirements for seat J are that the member is a member of the uh public at large. Uh, no other additional requirements for this seat. Um, we have three applicants for review today. Our first applicant is Elizabeth Delgado.
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