Sacramento Personnel & Public Employees Committee Meeting - June 11, 2024

The Personnel and Public Employees Committee of the Sacramento City Council met on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at 11:01 a.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber. The meeting, chaired by Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, addressed the consent calendar, conducted interviews for two commissions, reviewed code cleanup ordinances, and discussed recommendations from the Measure U Community Advisory Committee. Key actions included appointments to the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission and the Utilities Rate Advisory Commission, forwarding two code cleanup ordinances to the full City Council, and continuing two agenda items for further discussion. The meeting adjourned at 12:14 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approved the meeting minutes of May 14, 2024, unanimously (Motion by Vice Chair Maple, second by Councilmember Valenzuela).

Public Comments & Testimony

• On Item 2 (Disabilities Advisory Commission): Brandy Tuzon Boyd, a commissioner, expressed support for reappointing Sylvia Kramer to ensure continuity on the commission. She noted that newer commissioners were recently approved and that Kramer's reappointment would provide a much-needed voice.
• On Item 6 (Code Cleanup – Various Commissions): Several speakers voiced concerns about proposed changes:
  • Marjorie Dickinson (Chair, Measure U Community Advisory Committee) urged delaying action on quorum provisions until the Measure U presentation and suggested language clarifying that members may continue serving until a successor is appointed unless the appointing authority indicates otherwise.
  • Brandy Tuzon Boyd (Disabilities Advisory Commission) raised concerns about holdover language being at the clerk's discretion, opposed a provision barring reappointment of members removed for attendance, and called for clarification on excused vs. unexcused absences.
  • Keon Bliss (Community Police Review Commission) supported delaying action and echoed concerns about attendance policies, voting requirements (physical presence), and the need for clearer quorum definitions.
  • Victoria Vasquez (Chair, Parks and Community Enrichment Commission) urged waiting for input from other commissions, stressed the importance of dignity for volunteers, and described a culture where commissioners felt pressured to attend sick to avoid removal.
  • Isaac Gonzalez (Vice Chair, Active Transportation Commission) requested clarification on term expiration tied to council members, supported teleconference options for voting, and noted that the quorum definition based on established seats can be problematic with vacancies.
  • Teddy Georgioff (Measure U Committee) opposed giving the city clerk discretion over holdover terms, arguing that members previously approved by the committee should be allowed to continue until a replacement is appointed.
• On Item 7 (Measure U Recommendations – Quorum and Ad Hoc Committees):
  • Keon Bliss expressed full support for restoring ad hoc committees, stating they cost nothing and are essential for detailed policy review. He noted that the Police Review Commission had unanimously supported the recommendations.
  • Brandy Tuzon Boyd supported reinstating ad hocs as a tool for volunteer commissioners to accomplish work efficiently, noting that past ad hocs were transparent and reported back to the full commission.
  • Marbea Sala (Measure U Committee) highlighted that ad hocs allowed development of a marketing plan and the participatory budgeting process, both of which involved full commission discussion and council approval. She argued that without ad hocs, tasks like upcoming focus groups would be impossible due to staff capacity.
• Public Comments – Matters Not on Agenda: Brandy Tuzon Boyd provided an update on ADA drop-off/pickup points at Golden 1 Center, noting two new pilot locations and improvements to Kings' communications. Keon Bliss reiterated the need to inform all commissions about the policy discussions and emphasized the efficiency of ad hoc committees in producing recommendations.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – Review of Applicants for the Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission: The committee interviewed applicants for Seats D and E. Applicants included Dr. Keith Ellis (reapplying, previously served on the commission and also applied for URAC), Olivia Garcia Godos Martinez (student advocate), and others not present. Public comment from Brandy Tuzon Boyd supported Sylvia Kramer's reappointment. Following interviews, Vice Chair Maple moved to appoint Dr. Keith Ellis to Seat D and Sylvia Kramer to Seat E. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
• Item 3 – Review of Applicants for the Utilities Rate Advisory Commission: Applicants for Seats F and G included Tiffany Tran (not present, notified of a conflict), Kyson Huang (not present), and Dr. Keith Ellis (who was just appointed to DAC). Councilmember Valenzuela moved to appoint Tiffany Tran to Seat F and Kyson Huang to Seat G, noting Tran's strong background in water rates and affordability. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
• Item 4 – Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.112 (Ethics Commission): City Clerk Mindy Cuppy presented the cleanup ordinance to resolve conflicts with Chapter 2.40, remove duplications, and make administrative corrections. The committee reviewed and voted to forward the ordinance to the City Council for adoption (Motion by Councilmember Talamantes, second by Councilmember Valenzuela, unanimous).
• Item 5 – Ordinance Amending Chapter 2.126 (Youth Commission): Similar cleanup ordinance presented by the City Clerk. Key change: maintaining two-year terms for youth commissioners, distinct from other four-year terms. The committee voted to forward it to the City Council (Motion by Talamantes, second by Valenzuela, unanimous).
• Item 6 – Ordinance Amending and Deleting Various Chapters in Title 2 (Commissions): The City Clerk outlined proposed changes including defining two-year terms for youth seats on all commissions, clarifying holdover terms, restating quorum definitions, and deleting inactive commission chapters (e.g., Commission on History and Science, Economic Development Commission). After extensive public comment and committee discussion about attendance policies, quorum definitions, voting requirements, and ad hoc committees, Chair Kaplan proposed continuing the item to a future meeting for further discussion. The committee agreed to continue Item 6.
• Item 7 – Consideration of Measure U Community Advisory Committee Recommendations: The item included two recommendations: (a) modify the Measure U Committee’s quorum requirement to be based on seated members rather than established positions, and (b) allow city boards, commissions, and committees to establish ad hoc committees under specified conditions. Marjorie Dickinson and Teddy Georgioff presented the recommendations, emphasizing that ad hocs increase transparency and are cost-free, while subcommittees have proven ineffective. The committee discussed the history of the ad hoc prohibition and its impact. Councilmember Valenzuela expressed support for both recommendations, citing the need to value volunteer commissioners. Chair Kaplan noted that the committee needed more time to gather background and consider legal implications, and moved to continue Item 7 to a future meeting in conjunction with Item 6 for a holistic conversation. The committee concurred.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Appointments:
  • Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission: Dr. Keith Ellis appointed to Seat D; Sylvia Kramer appointed to Seat E (unanimous).
  • Utilities Rate Advisory Commission: Tiffany Tran appointed to Seat F; Kyson Huang appointed to Seat G (unanimous).
• Ordinances Forwarded to City Council:
  • Ordinance amending Chapter 2.112 (Ethics Commission) – forwarded unanimously.
  • Ordinance amending Chapter 2.126 (Youth Commission) – forwarded unanimously.
• Items Continued:
  • Item 6 (Code amendments to various commissions) – continued to a future meeting for further discussion.
  • Item 7 (Measure U recommendations on quorum and ad hoc committees) – continued to a future meeting, to be considered together with Item 6.
• Next Steps: Staff will compile background materials and commission input for continued discussion at a subsequent Personnel and Public Employees Committee meeting.