Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – July 18, 2024
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Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – July 18, 2024
Note on date discrepancy: The meeting transcript states the meeting was convened on July 9, 2024, but the provided meeting date is July 18, 2024. This summary uses the date given in the instructions (July 18, 2024).
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors met on July 18, 2024, to conduct routine business, hear public comments, and consider a number of items including consent calendar approvals, proclamations, public hearings on assessments and district modifications, and annual reports from Property and Business Improvement Districts (PBIDs). The meeting included recognition of History Day winners, Probation Supervision Week, and Parks and Recreation Month.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the consent calendar (items 2–59) with a unanimous vote after brief discussion on item 6 (appointment of Joshua Green as Director of General Services) and item 18 (Lowe Consulting contract for SMF Forward projects). Public comments were heard on item 54 (Slavic American Chamber of Commerce contract for Ukrainian refugee services) and several off-agenda items were also addressed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Off-Agenda Speakers on COVID-19 Vaccine Safety: Ronald Owens Jr., Alex Oliferis, and Michelle Twist expressed strong opposition to COVID-19 vaccines, claiming they cause deaths, injuries, and illness. They urged the board to stop administering vaccines and boosters. Alex Oliferis cited Dr. McCaula and alleged the virus was engineered. Michelle Twist said her brother was hospitalized from the vaccine.
- Youth and Community Program Advocates: Multiple speakers (Marvell Wilson, Yvonne Jacobs, Queen Amina, Chris Lawson, Henry Williams, Crystal Rankins, Dr. Critical Truth Bay, Miko Yor, Charlton Curry) requested that the board allocate 1% of the county budget (approximately $86 million) to positive alternatives for youth and families. They praised ACA 8 and AB 628 (prison diversion measures) and thanked Officer Marlon Yarber. Several noted the lack of African American representation on the board and stressed the need for equitable funding for Black communities. Dr. Truth Bay specifically criticized funding for Ukrainian refugees while Black communities lack similar support. Charlton Curry also urged support for state reparations efforts.
- Consent Calendar Public Comment: Dr. Truth Bay spoke on item 54, contrasting the $300,000 for Ukrainian refugees with the lack of resources for Black descendants of slaves, and requested surplus properties for Black families.
Discussion Items
- Proclamation – Sacramento County History Day 2024: The board presented resolutions to students for winning projects at the county level. Supervisor Kennedy commended Dr. Bob for his leadership in promoting history education. Two students (Sriram Shankara and Micah Wolf) accepted awards.
- Proclamation – Probation Supervision Week (July 21–27, 2024): Supervisors Desmond, Cerna, Hume, and Frost praised probation officers for their critical role in public safety, rehabilitation, and community partnerships. Chief Yarber thanked the board and highlighted the department’s work in connecting clients to services, education, and employment. A group photo was taken.
- Proclamation – Parks and Recreation Month: Liz Bellis, Director of Regional Parks, reported on the county’s 15,000 acres of open space, 85 miles of trails, and partnerships with 22 park entities. Supervisors acknowledged the department’s handling of homeless issues, pandemic challenges, and special events like Aftershock. Supervisor Frost noted collaborative projects in her district.
- Public Hearings (Items 63–68): Several public hearings were held on landscape maintenance and water agency assessments, all with no public testimony. The board unanimously approved: Landscape Maintenance District Zone 4 (Item 63), Watt Avenue PBID modification (Item 64) – note that modification was approved without protest, County Service Area No. 3 (Item 65), Antelope North annexation to LMD Zone 4 (Item 66) – the sole property owner voted in favor, County Service Area No. 1 Zone 1 benefit category change (Item 67), and Sacramento County Water Agency Zone 13 assessments (Item 68).
- PBID Annual Reports (Item 69): Six PBIDs presented annual reports and requested levy of assessments for FY 2024-25. Each district highlighted accomplishments:
- Antelope PBID: Focus on security (78% of budget) and maintenance; successful renewal with 33% assessment increase; new program hiring individuals from homeless to full-time employment.
- Arden Arcade PBID: Collected 25,000 lbs of litter in last six months of 2023; answered about 6,000 security calls; hosting business walks and organized retail theft meetings.
- Carmichael PBID: Nearly 1,700 security calls, 1,000 shopping carts returned; received $20,000 in grants; seeking new executive director.
- Florin Road PBID: Completed $1.2M Caltrans Clean California grant, adding murals, art banners, trash compactors, and artistic chairs; presented a sample chair honoring Harlem Renaissance artists.
- Fulton Avenue PBID: Video presentation (without sound) showed overpass improvement project planned with Caltrans ($250,000, completion by 2026).
- Watt Avenue PBID: Executive Director Jason Wint reported security and maintenance statistics; noted increase in shopping carts (132%) but decrease in hazardous items (44%); highlighted community event “Wattoberfest”; discussed upcoming safe state community; video showed challenges of encampments and trash. Each PBID was approved unanimously.
- Appointments and Continuances (Items 70–71): The board appointed Lisa Klotz as alternate to the Area Agency on Aging Governing Board and continued numerous commission appointments to various dates in July and August.
- County Executive Comments: David Villanueva promoted the California Capitol Air Show (July 20-21) featuring U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and drone show, and the California State Fair (July 12-28). Discounted tickets offered to staff.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- Proclamations adopted for History Day, Probation Supervision Week, and Parks and Recreation Month.
- All public hearing items (63-68) approved unanimously with no opposition.
- Annual reports and assessment levies for six PBIDs (Antelope, Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Florin Road, Fulton Avenue, Watt Avenue) approved by separate unanimous votes.
- Appointment of Lisa Klotz confirmed.
- Meeting adjourned to closed session.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, welcome to this July 9th, 2024 meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Would the chair I've been sorry? Would the clerk please call the role? Yes, good morning. Supervisor Cerna Desmond Frost, Hume, Kennedy, and you have a quorum. This meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is Cable Cast Live on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and ATTU verse cable systems. The meeting is closed captioned and live streamed at Metro14Live.gov and can be heard live for free on 96.5 FM KUBU Radio. Today's meeting will be repeated Friday, July 12th at 6 p.m. on Channel 14. This meeting can also be viewed at YouTube.com forward slash Metro Cable 14. The Board of Supervisors fosters public engagement during the meeting and encourages public participation, civility, and use of courteous language. The board does not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Each speaker will be given two minutes to make a public comment and are limited to making one comment per agenda or off agenda item. Please be mindful of the public comment procedures to avoid being interrupted while making your comment. To make a comment in person, please fill out a speaker request form and hand it to clerk staff. The chairperson will open public comments for each agenda or off agenda item and direct the clerk to call the name of each speaker. When the clerk calls your name, please come forward to the podium and make your comment. If a speaker is unavailable to make a comment prior to the closing of public comments, the speaker waves their request to speak, and the clerk will file the speaker request form in the record. The clerk will also manage the timer and allow each speaker two minutes to make a comment. To make a comment in written format, please send an email to board clerk at SACCounty.gov and your comment will be routed to the board and filed in the record. If you need an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act or for medical or other reasons, please see clerk staff or assistance or contact the clerk's office at 916 874 5451 or by email at Boardclerk at SACCounty.gov. Thank you in advance for your courtesy and understanding of the meeting procedures. Thank you very much. Will you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for our all. Okay, so your first item uh are the public comments relating to matters not on the post of the agenda. Our first um public speaker is Ronald Owens Jr. You could please come to the podium on April 14th, 2022, Federal Health Secretary Javier Biseris said COVID-19 vaccines are killing people of color, black, Latino, indigenous people at about two times the rate of white Americans. California Department of Public Health, my former employer, told me Sarah misspoke. Sacramento County Public Health staff indicated last month. It is evident Bessera misspoke. If he misspoke, why did Pissera not correct the record? If he misspoke, why is that video still on the White House's official YouTube channel? I just checked a couple of minutes ago. If he misspoke, why are people dying suddenly like a 17-year-old Chinese badminton player? And why are millions injured? If he misspoke, why was AstraZeneca pulled off the market globally after it faced court pressure about blood clots? If he misspoke, why increase mortality after third Myrna COVID-19 vaccine dose in Japan? That medical study, published in Curious, has been retracted. If he misspoke, why are 73% of deaths related to COVID-19 vaccinations according to a Lancet study analyzing 325 autopsies? That study was also pulled. Notice a censorship pattern. If he misspoke, why are Arkansas and Texas suing Pfizer for knowing and concealing that COVID 19 vaccine causes myocarditis, pericarditis, failed pregnancies, and deaths. California law states the Board of Civil Advisors of each county should take measures as may be necessary to preserve and protect the public health. This board should direct Sacramento County Health Officer to start promoting, administering, and distributing COVID-19 vaccine to preserve and protect the public health. Thank you. Thank you. Next is Alex. Thank you.
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