Racial Equity Committee Meeting Summary – July 26, 2022
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Racial Equity Committee Meeting – July 26, 2022
The Sacramento City Council's Racial Equity Committee met on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, from 10:03 a.m. to 11:46 a.m. via teleconference. The meeting included a consent calendar, an oral report on the Sacramento Fire Department's Diversity, Outreach & Recruitment (DOR) efforts, and an update on the Race Forward and Racial Equity Council as part of the SCORE initiative. Committee members present: Mayor Darrell Steinberg (Chair), Councilmember Mai Vang (Co-Chair), Councilmember Jay Schenirer, and Councilmember Rick Jennings II.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Meeting Minutes (April 26, 2022) – Approved unanimously (4-0) on a motion by Councilmember Vang, seconded by Councilmember Jennings. One public comment (Mr. Davis) noted the difficulty of reviewing minutes without visual access, but the motion passed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. Davis (on Item 2): Commented on the fire department’s diversity work, urging that participants be “enlightened on what the odds and what they’re up against” and that most racial equity problems have been in the city manager’s office. He acknowledged the mayor and council for their presence and later referenced concerns about funding oversight.
- Mr. Davis (on Item 3): Raised concern that only 22 of over 100 applicants for the Racial Equity Council were interviewed, likening the 22% selection rate to a failing grade (“an F”) and suggesting that bias may have affected the process.
Discussion Items
Item 2: Sacramento Fire Department Diversity, Outreach & Recruitment (DOR) Brief – Prescribed by Aimée Barnes (Diversity & Equity Manager), Assistant Chief Kim Iannucci, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jennifer Needler. They presented the DOR division’s mission, programs, and alignment with the Race and Gender Equity Action Plan. Highlights:
- The DOR division was established with Measure U funding; it includes a pipeline program (reserves, youth academy, EMS trainee program), youth outreach, and community partnerships.
- Barriers identified: family pressure on participants to seek immediate employment instead of pursuing a longer career path; need for early engagement (middle/high school).
- Statistics: 20 active reserves, a new cohort of 25; women reserves increased from 19% to 22% (SFD has 4% women). Youth Academy graduated 25 cadets; new cohort of 32 (15 female, 17 male; 28 identify as persons of color). 47% of current reserves are aged 18–24.
- A new “public safety train trailer” (ADA-compliant) will be used for youth fire safety education.
- Committee members (Schenirer, Jennings, Vang, Steinberg) discussed partnerships with schools, the youth ballot initiative, and the need for a holistic approach. Councilmember Schenirer asked about barriers and school district cooperation. Mayor Steinberg emphasized early career inspiration (linked learning). Councilmember Jennings requested data on reaching youth.
Item 3: Race Forward and Racial Equity Council Update – Presented by Kelly F. Rivas (Chief of Staff), D’Angelo Mack (Public Health Advocates), Lee Lowe (Asian American Liberation Network), and Kelly Coleman (Race Forward consultant). They reported on the application and selection process for the Racial Equity Council:
- Over 100 applications received; the Racial Equity Network reviewed all and conducted 25 interviews (June 7–14). Eighteen council members were selected (not yet publicly named due to pending acceptance). Alternates will also be designated.
- Selection criteria: lived experience in Sacramento, connections to communities of color, understanding of local government, critical thinking, and commitment to racial equity. The network emphasized a bottom-up process where the council serves the network’s vision.
- Next steps: Orientation/retreat in August; first formal meeting expected by October 2022; work with the city to begin in November.
- Committee discussion: Councilmember Schenirer asked about diversity of council members (including white allies). Councilmember Vang asked about engaging unsuccessful applicants and timelines. Mayor Steinberg noted the healthy tension between process-focused community leadership and the elected body’s need for tangible outcomes. The presenters confirmed that unsuccessful applicants will be invited into the network.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved unanimously.
- Item 2 (Fire Department DOR): Committee reviewed and provided comment. No formal vote taken. The department will continue its programs and report back with a year-end report in early August.
- Item 3 (Race Forward/Equity Council): Committee received the update. The Racial Equity Council selection is finalized but names not yet released; orientation planned for August; first projects expected in November 2022. The committee will consider how to interact with the council in future meetings, respecting Brown Act constraints.
- No further committee or staff reports were made. Meeting adjourned at 11:46 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Mayor Staff is ready when you are thank you. Good morning, everyone. The meeting of the Sacramento City Council's Racial Equity Committee will please come to order. Would the clerk call the role, please to establish a quorum? Thank you. Councilmember Jennings. Here. Councilmember Shaneer. Here. Councilmember Vang. Here. And Mayor Steinberg. I am here. Good morning, everyone. Councilmember Vang, would you lead us in the land acknowledgement? And I'm happy to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Absolutely. Please rise for the open acknowledgement in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous Peoples and Tribal Lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu, Valley and Peng Niwak, and Pat Pat Wyn Wintu peoples and the people of Walton 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 together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's indigenous peoples' history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. 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. Again, welcome uh to the members, uh, the city staff and uh most importantly the members of our community. Uh we have a consent calendar, which is uh the minutes from the last meeting. Is there a motion on the consent calendar, please? So moved. Second. Moved and seconded. Let's call the role, please. Thank you, Mayor. I do have one hand raised to make public comment on this item. On the minutes, I do, Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis, what do you think of the minutes? Well, I'd like to, because we can't see it on TV, I can't because I'm on phone. I would just like to see the exact report so I can look it and study what it is. But I am impressed that you're there at 10 o'clock, Mayor. That's impressive. And the rest of the city council. That's very impressive. I didn't even know about it. Because my family made me aware of it. I'm in the middle of making cheesecake. So very impressive, and I look forward to listening to this meeting. You'd be surprised we start much earlier than 10 o'clock for uh most of our work and most of our days, but thank you, and thank you for calling in. Let's call the roll. Thank you, Mayor.
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