Sacramento Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - June 23, 2026
Sacramento Personnel and Public Employees Committee Meeting - June 23, 2026
The Personnel and Public Employees Committee (PPE) met on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Sacramento City Hall Council Chamber. The committee, chaired by Rick Jennings (District 7) with members Lisa Kaplan (Vice Chair, District 1), Karina Talamantes (District 3), and Mai Vang (District 8), considered six agenda items including appointments to three boards/commissions, the Ethics Commission annual report, and a proposed Final Plea Pilot Program for animals at risk of euthanasia. The meeting was called to order at 11:03 AM and adjourned at 12:47 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Approved the May 19, 2026 meeting minutes unanimously (Motion by Vang/Kaplan).
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Item 2 (Animal Wellbeing Commission): Jared (volunteer) recommended that the committee consider applicants who have volunteered directly at the shelter to understand its unique challenges.
- On Item 6 (Final Plea Pilot Program): Eight speakers provided comments. Supporters (Susan Fallon, Kelly Benedict) argued the program provides transparency and life-saving urgency, citing examples of animals adopted via similar programs. Opponents (Jared Thaller, Leah Morris, Paul Hefner, Dea Good, Julie Verga, Hilary Bagley) raised concerns about lack of written euthanasia policies, potential to overwhelm shelter operations, and the need to first hire a permanent shelter director. Several noted the program had already started without council input and urged a pause.
Discussion Items
Item 2: Review of Applicants for the Animal Wellbeing Commission (Seat M) Four applicants applied; two appeared. The seat requires a member aged 16-22 with demonstrated interest in animal welfare. The committee interviewed Itzel Martinez (present) and noted Vivian Lee (absent due to prior commitment) had extensive experience. Councilmember Kaplan argued for appointing the more qualified Vivian Lee, while Vice Mayor Talamantes and Councilmember Vang supported Itzel Martinez for her lived experience and presence. The motion by Talamantes/Vang to appoint Itzel Martinez passed 3-1 (Kaplan dissenting).
Item 3: Review of Applicants for the Capitol Area Development Authority Governing Board (Seat A) One applicant, Fedolia Harris, interviewed. The committee unanimously recommended appointment.
Item 4: Review of Applicants for the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission (Seat J) Thirteen applicants; several interviewed. After discussion, the committee unanimously recommended Dr. Kelsey Brewer, citing his experience with urban green spaces, community farming, and volunteer work with the city's parks department.
Item 5: City of Sacramento Ethics Commission 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Workplan Presented by former Chair Linda Ng and current Chair Alan LaFaso. The report noted 15 complaints received in 2025 (6 dismissed, 9 investigated with no cause found), outreach to 9 community organizations, and expenditures under $50,000. Committee members Kaplan and Talamantes asked the commission to work with the city clerk to refine complaint validation processes to reduce costs from frivolous filings. The committee unanimously voted to forward the report to the City Council.
Item 6: Initiate a Final Plea Pilot Program to Promote Adoption or Rescue of Senior Animals and Animals at Risk of Euthanasia Interim Animal Care Services Manager Ryan Hinderman presented a 7-month pilot program started in June 2026. The shelter has a 90% live release rate for dogs and 75% for cats. Public comments highlighted both successes (e.g., Rupert the cat adopted) and negative impacts (e.g., one dog's viral plea overwhelmed adoptions). Committee members Kaplan and Talamantes expressed concerns about implementing the program without a permanent shelter director and with unresolved operational issues. After discussion, the committee passed a motion (Kaplan/Talamantes) to: (1) pause the pilot (as a strong suggestion to the city manager, noting the council cannot direct day-to-day operations), (2) wait for the new permanent shelter director to be hired, (3) have staff survey volunteers, (4) have the new director fully bake a policy and take it to the Animal Wellbeing Commission, and (5) bring the final policy directly to the City Council (not back to this committee). The motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments Recommended to Mayor and Council:
- Itzel Martinez (Animal Wellbeing Commission, Seat M) – vote 3-1.
- Fedolia Harris (Capitol Area Development Authority Governing Board, Seat A) – unanimous.
- Dr. Kelsey Brewer (Parks and Community Enrichment Commission, Seat J) – unanimous.
- Ethics Commission Report: Forwarded to City Council with direction to work on complaint validation.
- Final Plea Pilot Program: Tabled; committee directed staff to develop a more complete policy after hiring a permanent shelter director, with further review by the Animal Wellbeing Commission before going to City Council.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming to our personnel and public employees committee meeting. We will get started right now, and uh we will start with a roll call. Members, please unite your microphone. Vice Mayor Talamantes. Vice Chair Kaplan here. Councilmember Vang here. And Chair Jennings. I am here. Yeah, a quorum. Thank you so much. Leading us in our land acknowledgement and our pledge of allegiance. If you'll stand with us as we lead, Councilmember Telemantes will lead us. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands to the original people of this land, the Nissan people, Cedar and Maidu, Valley and Plains Meanwhile, Patwin Wintoon people, 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 together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Salute, Pledge, I think. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation undergoing individual within the world. Liberty and Justice Rolls. Thank you, Councilmember. All right. We have uh the clerk who will call out our items, starting with item number one. Thank you, Chair. Um, the first order business is the consent calendar, which uh consists of item number one approval of personnel and public employees committee meeting minutes. I'll move the item on consent. I'll second. Okay, it has been moved and second. Any questions, comments, or thoughts? Do we have any public comment? We do not. Thank you, Chair. We have none. Okay. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, abstain. Let the record show we are unanimous on item number one. Next item. Thank you, Chair. Our next item is the review of applicants for the City of Sacramento Animal Well-being commission. Uh the seat meeting recommendation today is seat M. The requirements for seat M are as follows. A member must have an expressed interest or demonstrated history of community involvement and animal welfare, operation of an animal welfare center, or animal rescue, and must be at least 16 years old and not older than 22 years old at the time of appointment. We have four applicants for review today. Our first applicant is Rania Ahmed Amin. You did not appear to be in the audience. So not in the audience, Vivian Lee. They're not in the audience. They notified our office beforehand that they would not be able to attend due to uh response prior responsibilities and Itzel Martinez.
openpublica.com