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Record of Proceedings

Sacramento Planning & Design Commission Meeting – September 28, 2023: 2024 Work Program & Annual Report Reviewed

Planning & Design Commission — Thursday, September 28, 2023
BodySacramento, California
SessionPlanning & Design Commission
DateThursday, September 28, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

30 seconds has begun Chair staff is ready when you are.

0:30

Thank you, Heather.

0:31

Good evening, everybody.

0:32

We will call this meeting to order.

0:33

We are at the City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission meeting.

0:36

Today is Thursday, September 28th, 2023.

0:39

The time is 5:35 p.m.

0:42

Clerk, will you please call the roll to establish a quorum?

0:48

Thank you, Chair.

0:50

Commissioner Jean?

0:51

Here.

0:52

Commissioner Chase?

0:54

Here.

0:55

Commissioner Lamas?

0:56

Here.

0:57

Commissioner Buckley.

1:00

Absent.

1:01

Commissioner Caden.

1:02

Here.

1:04

Commissioner Macius Reid.

1:07

Absent.

1:08

Commissioner Young.

1:11

Absent.

1:12

Vice Chair Wallace?

1:13

Here.

1:15

Commissioner Boyd.

1:17

Absent.

1:22

Commissioner Andrade.

1:25

Absent.

1:26

Commissioner Thompson.

1:27

Here.

1:29

And Chair Hernandez.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Um thank you, Chair.

1:33

We have quorum.

1:34

Thank you, Heather.

1:34

For members of the public who are tuning in.

1:37

The City of Sacramento has discontinued public participation via Zoom, so we will no longer provide instructions.

1:43

If you would like to comment on any item now and going forward, please use the e-comment feature online.

1:48

You can email staff or commissioners or join us in person at City Hall.

1:55

We will now move on to the land acknowledgement.

1:57

Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands.

2:03

To the Nissan, excuse me.

2:05

To the original people of this land, the Nissanam people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mewk, Pedwind Wind tomb people, and the people of Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

2:16

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 peoples history, contributions, and lives.

2:31

Thank you.

2:31

Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:34

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

2:40

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

2:45

Thank you.

2:45

You may be seated.

2:47

We do not have a director's report today, so we'll move on to the consent calendar.

2:51

This is item number one, approval of the meeting minutes for August 24th and September 14th.

2:56

Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on this item?

3:03

Thank you, Chair.

3:04

I have no speaker slips for this item.

3:07

Thank you very much.

3:08

So uh members, we will need two separate motions for each set of meeting minutes.

3:13

Um I understand there were a few absences, so you can abstain on any particular meeting minutes where you were not able to make it to the meeting.

3:19

So I'm looking for a motion to approve the minutes for August 24th meeting.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Planning██████████████████████████26%
Affordable Housing██████████████████████22%
Procedural███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Cannabis Regulation████████8%
Public Comments██████6%
Homelessness████4%
Public Health███3%
Climate Action██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Planning & Design Commission Meeting – September 28, 2023

The Planning and Design Commission met on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 5:35 p.m. and adjourned at 7:31 p.m. The meeting included a consent calendar (minutes approval failed), discussion of the draft 2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program, and review of the 2023 Commission Annual Report. Commissioners and the public provided extensive comments and suggestions.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1 – Approval of Minutes (August 24 & September 14, 2023): Two separate motions were made. The first motion (August 24) received 6 ayes (Chase, Lamas, Kadin, Wallace, Thompson, Hernandez), 1 abstain (Xiong), and 5 absent (Buckley, Macias Reed, Yeung, Boyd, Andrade). The motion failed because it did not achieve a majority of the full 13-member commission (requires 7 ayes). The second motion (September 14) received 5 ayes (Xiong, Kadin, Wallace, Thompson, Hernandez), 2 abstains (Chase, Lamas), and 6 absent. This motion also failed. Both minute approvals were continued to the next meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On Item 2 (2024 Work Program): Sophia Bell Bagenstoss requested an outdoor public restroom at Bell Coolidge Library Park, noting that unhoused children must rush to use indoor facilities before closing. Ariana, a UC Davis design student, urged faster action on tiny homes for the unhoused and proposed using underutilized parking garage rooftops and parking lots for housing, citing immediate need.
  • On Matters Not on the Agenda: A speaker suggested removing parking meters due to their obsolescence (no one carries quarters) and replacing them with illuminated plaques honoring community members, similar to Nashville’s walk of fame.

Discussion Items

  • Item 2 – 2024 Planning and Zoning Work Program (File ID 2023-01147): Planning Director Greg Sandlund presented the draft program, which organizes initiatives by topic (citywide policies, housing, neighborhood planning, climate). Key highlights from 2023: completion of the 2040 General Plan public review draft, receipt of $13 million from SACOG’s Green Means Go program for infill infrastructure, a $2.5 million pro-housing grant, and launch of ADU permit-ready plans with 224 building permits issued in 2022. Commissioners discussed:
    • ADU activity (367 planning applications in 2022; 54,000 postcards mailed about permit-ready plans).
    • The need for an educational campaign on affordable housing and infill benefits, following public concerns about crime and property values.
    • Timing of the zoning code update (potentially slipping into 2025 due to election year turnover) and the priority of implementing the general plan.
    • Concerns about upzoning for low-income housing without guarantees that affordable units will be built (Commissioner Boyd); city attorney noted state law requires tracking capacity, not mandating affordability.
    • Support for movable tiny homes as ADUs, with staff researching ordinances.
    • The missing middle housing study (scheduled for October 12) and its potential to adopt form-based approaches.
  • Item 3 – 2023 Planning and Design Commission Annual Report (M23-006): Principal Planner Stacia Cosgrove presented the draft report, which follows a new citywide template. In 2023, the commission held 20 meetings (including a special session) and completed over 50 agenda items, split nearly 50-50 between private development projects and policy items. Commissioners suggested including performance measures (e.g., follow-up on approved projects) and data on staff time. The report will return on November 9 for final recommendation, then go to PMPE committee and council.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Both motions to approve minutes failed; items continued.
  • Item 2 – Work Program: Reviewed and commented on; no vote taken. Staff will incorporate feedback and return in November with responses, then forward to Law and Legislation Committee and City Council for adoption in January 2024.
  • Item 3 – Annual Report: Reviewed and commented on; no vote. Final draft to be presented on November 9, 2023, for formal recommendation. The adopted work program will be attached to the report before forwarding to PMPE and Council.
  • Commissioner Comments: Commissioner Boyd clarified state population growth projections (0.27% average, peaking at 40.2 million in 2044) and suggested returning to pre-pandemic dais seating for health/safety. Commissioner Lamas promoted a community event on September 30 in South Natomas.

Meeting Transcript

30 seconds has begun Chair staff is ready when you are. Thank you, Heather. Good evening, everybody. We will call this meeting to order. We are at the City of Sacramento Planning and Design Commission meeting. Today is Thursday, September 28th, 2023. The time is 5:35 p.m. Clerk, will you please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Jean? Here. Commissioner Chase? Here. Commissioner Lamas? Here. Commissioner Buckley. Absent. Commissioner Caden. Here. Commissioner Macius Reid. Absent. Commissioner Young. Absent. Vice Chair Wallace? Here. Commissioner Boyd. Absent. Commissioner Andrade. Absent. Commissioner Thompson. Here. And Chair Hernandez. Here. Um thank you, Chair. We have quorum. Thank you, Heather. For members of the public who are tuning in. The City of Sacramento has discontinued public participation via Zoom, so we will no longer provide instructions. If you would like to comment on any item now and going forward, please use the e-comment feature online. You can email staff or commissioners or join us in person at City Hall. We will now move on to the land acknowledgement. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the Nissan, excuse me. To the original people of this land, the Nissanam people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Plains Mewk, Pedwind Wind tomb people, and the people of 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 peoples history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. 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.

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