OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – February 24, 2026: Appointments and Annual Reports Reviewed

Personnel and Public Employees Committee — Tuesday, February 24, 2026
BodySacramento, California
SessionPersonnel and Public Employees Committee
DateTuesday, February 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:09:44
Transcript — Verbatim
0:30

All of you in our audience.

0:32

Welcome to the City of Sacramento personnel and public employees committee meeting.

0:38

This meeting will start right now after we start the process of our roll call, our land acknowledgement, and pledge of allegiance.

0:46

Clerk, would you please do a roll call vote?

0:49

Thank you, Chair.

0:51

Vice Chair Kaplan.

0:52

Here.

0:53

Member Talamantes.

0:55

Member Vang.

0:56

Present.

0:57

And Chair Jennings.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Thank you.

0:59

We have quorum.

1:00

Okay.

1:00

If you're able, please stand in honor of the land acknowledgement.

1:08

In honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands to the original people of this land, the Nision people, Sozamaidu, Plains, Valley and Plains, Miwok, and the Patton Woodman peoples and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized trial.

1:27

We may we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, their contribution, and their lives.

1:47

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:50

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it spans one nation under guard, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:09

All right, we will now move to our discussion calendar.

2:14

Will the clerk please call the item number one?

2:19

Thank you, Chair.

2:20

Uh, we do have a consent calendar on this agenda.

2:23

Uh, did we want to tackle that first?

2:25

Yes, let's take care of that first.

2:28

Um, I was ready to move to action, but let's get to action of the consent calendar first.

2:35

Okay.

2:39

I will move, I will move consent.

2:41

Is there a second on consent?

2:45

It has been moved and seconded.

2:46

Is there any further discussion?

2:48

Do we have anyone from the audience that wishes to speak on the consent calendar?

2:52

Thank you, Chair.

2:53

I have no speaker slips for the consent calendar.

2:55

Okay, we will then move to the vote.

2:57

All in favor of the consent calendar going forward.

2:59

Please say aye.

3:00

Aye.

3:01

Opposed?

3:03

Abstain.

3:05

All right.

3:05

We are 100% for the consent calendar.

3:09

Now we will move to our discussion item.

3:18

Thank you, Chair.

3:20

Item number two is the review of applicants for the animal well-being commission.

3:24

The seat meeting recommendation today is C L.

3:27

Requirements for this seat are as follows.

3:29

A member who must have an expressed interest or demonstrated history of community involvement in animal welfare, operation of an animal welfare center, or animal rescue.

3:39

This member must also be currently serving in a volunteer role at an animal shelter or humane society.

3:47

So in your staff report, there are six applicants for review.

3:52

However, late uh late yesterday, we did receive an email from applicant Laura Gale Warren notifying us that they wish to withdraw their application from consideration.

4:02

Um so I'll now continue with our applicants.

4:05

Our first is Jane Anise.

4:13

And uh each applicant will have two minutes to respond to the questions that will be brought up on the screen shortly and that were provided via uh email uh previously.

4:22

Am I to stand here?

4:24

Okay, you may begin.

4:30

Okay, so the first question: why am I interested in serving on the board?

4:34

Um I've been a lifelong animal advocate.

4:37

Um, I believe that there is a huge problem nationwide with pet overpopulation.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Services██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Community Engagement████████████████████████████28%
Land Use Planning███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Code Enforcement████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Budget and Finance████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Procedural██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting – February 24, 2026

The Personnel and Public Employees Committee of the City of Sacramento met on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the City Hall Council Chamber. Chair Rick Jennings presided, with members Lisa Kaplan, Karina Talamantes, and Mai Vang present. The meeting, which adjourned at 12:10 PM, focused on reviewing applicants for several city boards and commissions and considering annual reports and workplans from four commissions.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the meeting minutes from January 27, 2026 (File ID 2026-00533) by a unanimous vote (4-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Animal Wellbeing Commission Seat L: Leia Morris, speaking as a member of the public, expressed support for applicant Shannon Asquith, citing her extensive volunteer work, including spay/neuter events that served about 200 animals per event, and her potential to collaborate with other shelters.

Discussion Items

  • Review of Applicants for Animal Wellbeing Commission (Seat L): Three applicants were interviewed in person (Jane Anise, Shannon Asquith, Morgan Lescotti); one withdrew and one was absent. Councilmember Vang asked all three about measures of success in animal welfare and conflict resolution. The committee recommended Shannon Asquith for appointment to the Mayor and Council (motion by Talamantes, second by Kaplan; unanimous). Chair Jennings noted that those not selected could still pursue appointment through other district vacancies.
  • Review of Applicants for Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board (Seat D): Only applicant Barry Boyd (incumbent) was absent due to illness. The committee recommended his reappointment unanimously.
  • Review of Applicants for Civil Service Board (Seat C): Only applicant Elena Monique Gonzalez-Soto was not present. The committee recommended her appointment unanimously. Member Talamantes noted that District 2 is historically underrepresented on boards.
  • Review of Applicants for Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission (Seats A and C): Five applicants were considered; Preston Chi Wong appeared in person. The committee recommended Daniyal Hassan for Seat A and Preston Chi Wong for Seat C (motion by Kaplan, second by Vang; unanimous). A brief clarification confirmed that Wong resides within city limits despite an Elk Grove address.
  • Preservation Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan: Sean de Courcy presented the report, highlighting over a dozen local landmark reviews and ongoing projects (e.g., Hackett House, LGBTQ+ historic context). The committee voted 3-0 (Member Talamantes absent) to forward the report to City Council without changes.
  • Disabilities Advisory Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan: Vice Chair Keith Ellis emphasized the need to go beyond ADA minimums, citing examples like door buttons in the council chamber. He renewed the call for a citywide ADA coordinator. Vice Chair Kaplan moved to forward the report to Council and also to send the commission's budget requests (including the ADA coordinator position) to the Budget and Audit Committee. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Animal Wellbeing Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan: Aliyah Morris, former vice chair, presented. Key 2025 accomplishments included new wayfinding at Front Street Shelter, spay/neuter events (about 200 animals in two days), translation of brochures into five languages, and interim shelter safety improvements. The 2026 workplan is pending due to 40% new membership. The committee unanimously forwarded the report to City Council.
  • Youth Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan: Staff presented on behalf of the Commission, noting that 2025 saw the highest seated youth count since codification (19 seats). Focus areas were Aggie Square, youth mental health, and youth voice. The committee unanimously forwarded the report to City Council.
  • Status Report of Youth Serving on City Boards and Commissions: City Clerk Mindy Cuppy reported that seven commissions besides the Youth Commission have designated youth seats. Most other commission seats have no age minimum, so councilmembers can appoint youth to any recommendation seat. Some charter-established commissions would require voter approval to add youth seats. Councilmember Vang inquired about onboarding support for youth commissioners; staff described orientation and mentorship practices. The report was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • Appointments recommended to Mayor and Council:
    • Shannon Asquith – Animal Wellbeing Commission (Seat L) – unanimous
    • Barry Boyd – Housing Code Advisory and Appeals Board (Seat D) – unanimous
    • Elena Monique Gonzalez-Soto – Civil Service Board (Seat C) – unanimous
    • Daniyal Hassan – Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission (Seat A) – unanimous
    • Preston Chi Wong – Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission (Seat C) – unanimous
  • Annual reports forwarded to City Council:
    • Preservation Commission (vote 3-0; Talamantes absent)
    • Disabilities Advisory Commission (unanimous; additionally forwarded budget recommendations to Budget and Audit)
    • Animal Wellbeing Commission (unanimous)
    • Youth Commission (unanimous)
  • Status report on youth serving on boards: Received and filed; direction noted to continue supporting youth onboarding.
  • Committee comments: Vice Mayor Talamantes proposed developing a formal process to incorporate commission fiscal recommendations into the budget cycle, with follow-up discussion planned.

Meeting Transcript

All of you in our audience. Welcome to the City of Sacramento personnel and public employees committee meeting. This meeting will start right now after we start the process of our roll call, our land acknowledgement, and pledge of allegiance. Clerk, would you please do a roll call vote? Thank you, Chair. Vice Chair Kaplan. Here. Member Talamantes. Member Vang. Present. And Chair Jennings. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Okay. If you're able, please stand in honor of the land acknowledgement. In honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands to the original people of this land, the Nision people, Sozamaidu, Plains, Valley and Plains, Miwok, and the Patton Woodman peoples and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized trial. We may we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, their contribution, and their lives. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it spans one nation under guard, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, we will now move to our discussion calendar. Will the clerk please call the item number one? Thank you, Chair. Uh, we do have a consent calendar on this agenda. Uh, did we want to tackle that first? Yes, let's take care of that first. Um, I was ready to move to action, but let's get to action of the consent calendar first. Okay. I will move, I will move consent. Is there a second on consent? It has been moved and seconded. Is there any further discussion? Do we have anyone from the audience that wishes to speak on the consent calendar? Thank you, Chair. I have no speaker slips for the consent calendar. Okay, we will then move to the vote. All in favor of the consent calendar going forward. Please say aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstain. All right. We are 100% for the consent calendar. Now we will move to our discussion item. Thank you, Chair. Item number two is the review of applicants for the animal well-being commission. The seat meeting recommendation today is C L. Requirements for this seat are as follows. A member who must have an expressed interest or demonstrated history of community involvement in animal welfare, operation of an animal welfare center, or animal rescue. This member must also be currently serving in a volunteer role at an animal shelter or humane society.

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