Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – June 12, 2024

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to consider a lengthy agenda including consent calendar approvals, presentations, public hearings, and votes on several items ranging from homeless services and mental health to military equipment use and a school stadium lighting project. The meeting included public comment on a variety of topics and ultimately approved most items with modifications.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2–38 were approved unanimously, with item 34 (extension of ARPA-funded contracts) bifurcated. Supervisor Frost recorded a no vote on attachment 4 (guaranteed income pilot extension) citing constitutional concerns regarding privileges or immunities.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A speaker (Debbie) referenced the California Constitution and a recent Supreme Court ruling to challenge multi-day elections, asserting that elections must occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
• Ronald Owens urged the county to stop administering COVID-19 vaccines, citing a statement by HHS Secretary Becerra that vaccines are killing people of color at higher rates.
• Elvira (translated by Giovanna) described an eviction situation: a widow and her family being evicted from a fourplex in Supervisor Kennedy’s district, alleging harassment and unfair treatment. The speaker asked for assistance and noted the tenant had not received help from existing services.
• During the consent calendar, no public comments were offered.
• On items 41 (homeless services) and 42 (MHSA), public speakers expressed support for behavioral health investment and raised concerns about staff wages and vacancies.
• On the AB 481 military equipment reports (items 43–45), multiple speakers criticized the county’s compliance with state law, lack of meaningful community engagement, and disproportionate impacts on communities of color.
• On item 49 (Jesuit lights), 24 speakers were heard: the majority supported the project, citing health/safety benefits and community spirit; some neighbors expressed concerns about noise, parking, and traffic.

Discussion Items

• Item 39 – Heroic Actions Resolution: Presentation and testimonial from Andrew Varinelli and his wife about how Jen Wilson, Eric Bodas, and Randy Jones saved his life with CPR after a cardiac arrest at a therapeutic recreation softball event. The board honored them with resolutions.
• Item 40 – Family Health and Fitness Day: Liz Bellis presented details of free park entry and activities on June 8, 2024, at multiple county parks.
• Item 41 – Coordinated Access System (CAS) Update: Emily Halkin, Lisa Bates, Peter Bell, and Yana McGee from Sacramento Steps Forward provided data: 37,310 callers to 211 in 2023, median wait time under 5 minutes, 2,000+ households moved into housing, 10-day median shelter wait (for the 34% who got shelter). They discussed community standards for homeless services, including performance monitoring and provider feedback. Supervisor Hume expressed concerns about Housing First policies and prioritizing the hardest cases. Supervisor Desmond suggested adding elected representation to the CoC board.
• Item 42 – Mental Health Services Act Plan: Ryan Quist presented the two-year expenditure plan (FY 24-25 and 25-26). Key stats: 23,600 served through community services, 2,700 through full service partnership, 73,000 through prevention/early intervention. Success stories shared. Plan approved unanimously.
• Item 43 – Regional Parks AB 481 Report: Liz Bellis reported no significant changes in military equipment inventory; 400 additional beanbag rounds received. Drone deployments for flood assessment, arrest assistance, missing person search, and aerial photography. Public comments questioned compliance with community engagement requirements.
• Item 44 – DA’s Office AB 481 Report: Tiffany King reported six less lethal beanbag launchers, no deployments, $20,115 annual cost. No new purchases planned. Public comment questioned necessity.
• Item 45 – Sheriff’s Office AB 481 Report: Captain David Beckwar presented inventory including drones, robots, armored vehicles, LRAD, less-lethal launchers, and new requests (VTOL drones, new launcher platforms). 127 special enforcement deployments in 2023, 543 UAS deployments. Public comments raised concerns about compliance with AB 481, including policy provisions allowing 10% stock replenishment without board approval and disproportionate impact on Black residents. Supervisor Desmond asked staff to review policy compliance. The board approved the authorization for continued use and new acquisitions (unanimous).
• Item 46 – Youth Commission Annual Report: Commissioners presented work on voter pre-registration, health/safety, racial/economic justice, environmental care, and international outreach. They highlighted a youth bill of rights project. Board members praised their efforts.
• Item 47 – Housing & Infill Resolution of Intention: Todd Smith presented a resolution to implement zoning code amendments and incentives following the April 10 workshop. Approved unanimously.
• Item 48 – Rescind Minor Use Permit for Alcohol Sales: Kimber Gutierrez presented the amendment to eliminate the minor use permit requirement for on-sale alcoholic beverages at restaurants (82 permits since 2015, none denied). Approved unanimously.
• Item 49 – Jesuit High School Stadium Lighting Appeal: Kimber Gutierrez presented the project: four light poles (90-100 ft), LED lights, speakers relocated to poles, protocol for night events. The EIR found significant unavoidable impacts for noise and aesthetics. The Planning Commission had approved. Appellants (Barbara DuGale, Elizabeth Hughes) requested additional mitigation: 25-event limit, quarterly meetings, parking enforcement, etc. Applicant (Matt Keisling) proposed 30 events and additional conditions (calendar, stop sign). After debate, the board adopted staff’s four new conditions and a 27-event cap, denying the appeal and approving the project unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved except item 34 (attachment 4) – Supervisor Frost’s no vote recorded.
• Item 41 (Homeless Services): Informational only; no vote needed.
• Item 42 (MHSA Plan): Approved unanimously.
• Items 43, 44, 45 (Military Equipment Reports): Received and filed; item 45 (Sheriff) authorized continued use and purchases with a unanimous vote.
• Item 46 (Youth Commission): Report received and filed.
• Item 47 (Housing Resolution): Approved unanimously.
• Item 48 (Alcohol Permit Rescission): Approved unanimously.
• Item 49 (Jesuit Lights Appeal): Appeal denied; use permit approved with conditions including a 27-event limit on concurrent use of lights and amplified sound, quarterly community meetings, good neighbor program, coordination with Rio Americano, and other mitigation measures. Vote: unanimous.
• Items 50-51: Appointments and nominations approved or continued as noted.

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting date as June 4, 2024, but the instruction required using June 12, 2024. This summary follows the instruction.