Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – August 29, 2024

Note on date discrepancy: The meeting transcript references Tuesday, August 20, 2024, but the provided metadata indicates the meeting occurred on August 29, 2024. The summary below follows the metadata date unless otherwise noted.

This meeting covered a wide range of items, including public comments on non-agenda topics, consent calendar approvals, a resolution honoring a retiring CEO, responses to a grand jury report, tax equity hearings, and several land-use and housing policy items. The board also addressed a development agreement amendment, approved bond financing for affordable housing, and made appointments to various commissions.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2 through 32 were approved as a block, with the following exceptions:
  • Item 5 (Massage therapist fee ordinance): Supervisors Frost and Hume voted no, and the item was continued to September 10, 2024 after public testimony opposing the fee increases. The board directed staff to explore a mechanism for reducing fees for legitimate businesses with clean inspection records.
  • Item 8 (Portable restroom contract): Approved despite Supervisor Hume’s observation that the per-unit cost ($4,800/year per unit) is higher than the cost of plumbed bathrooms used in Safe Stay sites.
  • Item 14 (RT ride-free student pass program): Approved. Supervisor Hume noted that Sacramento County is now the largest single contributor ($350,000) compared to the City of Sacramento ($250,000).
  • Item 16 (Harvest Water pavement restoration contract): Approved; the board acknowledged the disruption caused by the project and the benefit of road repaving.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Non-agenda public comments (14 speakers):

  • Perry Ferrucci and others read two proposed ordinances (24-02 and 24-03) regarding the reorganization of the State of California, alleging secession from the U.S. and human trafficking violations. They argued the state has failed to maintain a republican form of government and protect against invasion and domestic violence.
  • Sandy (no last name given) warned against voting for Jessica Morse, a congressional candidate, claiming stolen valor regarding military service.
  • Pete Spaulding criticized the Army Corps of Engineers’ bank protection project (3B area), arguing that removing vegetation will increase erosion rather than control it. He said maps show no meaningful reduction in tree removal despite public comments.
  • Several employees of the Sacramento Welcome Homes (foster youth shelters) described unsafe conditions: rampant drug use, prostitution, violent fights, lack of security, and inability to search youth. They highlighted pay disparities (staff at YDF earn $25,000-40,000 more for similar work) and demanded recognition and better pay. Tesra Sledge (UPE business agent) detailed a recent melee and a man leaving the girls’ home after spending the night. Supervisor Desmond and Chair Kennedy acknowledged the difficulties and expressed support for staff.

• Item 5 public comments:

  • BJ Pitts (CAMTC massage therapist) opposed the fee increase, stating legitimate therapists are being punished for the actions of illicit businesses. She requested the item be pulled for stakeholder input, which the board granted.
  • Tony Siacotos argued that higher fees unfairly target legitimate massage businesses and that the county should use professional therapists’ knowledge to craft better regulations.

• Item 14 public comment: Sandy thanked the board for the RT program and questioned why the county pays more than the city.

Discussion Items

• Item 33 (Resolution honoring Faith Whitmore, CEO of Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center): Supervisors praised her decades of service to victims of violence. Whitmore thanked the board and introduced her successor, Kristen Fiorelli.

• Item 34 (Response to Grand Jury report on board pay raise): Staff presented the formal response acknowledging procedural errors; the county is implementing new compliance processes. Supervisor Hume noted that some grand jury findings were correct and that board members are repaying portions of the increase. The response was adopted unanimously.

• Item 35 (TEFRA hearing for Escaton properties, up to $65 million in tax-exempt bonds): The hearing was a federal requirement. No public comment. The board approved the bond issuance to refinance existing debt for assisted living facilities.

• Item 36 (Infill Program Update adoption): Staff presented a 13-action implementation plan to remove barriers to infill development, developed through stakeholder outreach since 2021. The program includes a new infill coordinator, fee reduction studies, zoning code updates, and objective design standards. Supervisor Kennedy and Hume supported the plan, with Hume cautioning that design standards should not become a burden. The update was adopted unanimously.

• Item 37 (RHNA Rezone Project – 79 candidate sites): Staff explained that the rezone is required to meet the state’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for lower-income housing. The project addresses a shortfall of 2,884 lower-income units by upzoning 64 sites to RD-30/40 and 15 sites to lower densities. The environmentally superior alternative (without Site 8 in the water district) was recommended. Chair Kennedy criticized the state mandate as a “ridiculous game” that does not guarantee housing production but acknowledged the legal necessity. The project was approved unanimously.

• Item 38 (Winding Ranch project – development and PCN for alcohol license): The project includes a 79-unit subdivision, commercial space, and a Circle K with a Type 21 alcohol license. Staff presented a mitigated negative declaration. Public comment opposed the PCN due to overconcentration and proximity to schools/churches. The board approved the staff recommendation, including the special development permit with the applicant’s requested setbacks (overriding the planning commission’s recommendation for reduced setbacks on only 50% of lots). The PCN was granted with sheriff’s conditions attached.

• Item 39 (Sierra Gateway Development Agreement amendment): The board approved a payment plan for $320,000 past-due fees and reduced the annual fee from the original amount to $50,000 (mirroring what the applicant collects from Outfront Media). Staff noted this results in a loss of about $1 million in unrealized revenue but followed board direction.

• Item 40 (Housing Authority – bonds for Shiloh Arms Apartments): Approved up to $35 million in tax-exempt bonds for rehabilitation of a 106-unit affordable housing project (30-60% AMI). Unanimous.

• Item 41 (Nominations and appointments): Several vacancies were continued to future dates. The board made the following appointments:

  • Children’s Coalition: Joy T. Choy
  • Fair Oaks Cemetery District: Pete Schroeder (reappointment)
  • Sacramento County Behavioral Health Youth Advisory Board: continued to October 8
  • Sacramento County Youth Commission: Kushi Shukla (District 1)
  • Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission: Chris Jansen

• Item 42 (County Executive Comments and Memorial):

  • County Executive Villanueva announced that the WIC program received a 2024 breastfeeding award of excellence from the USDA.
  • He also highlighted the therapeutic recreation services performance of “Fractured Fairy Tales.”
  • Chair Kennedy delivered a memorial for former Supervisor Isla Collin (served 1978-2006), highlighting her work on light rail, the American River Parkway, the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and Mather Wetlands Preserve. She passed away August 8, 2024 at age 92.

Key Outcomes

• Item 5 continued to September 10, 2024, with direction to staff to develop a reduced fee structure for legitimate massage businesses.
• Consent calendar (items 2-32) approved with no votes on item 5 from Frost and Hume, and noted concerns on items 8, 14, 16.
• Item 34 (Grand jury response) adopted unanimously.
• Item 35 (Escaton bonds) approved unanimously.
• Item 36 (Infill program) adopted unanimously.
• Item 37 (RHNA rezone) approved unanimously, with the environmentally superior alternative excluding Site 8.
• Item 38 (Winding Ranch) approved unanimously, including the PCN for Circle K with sheriff’s conditions.
• Item 39 (Sierra Gateway amendment) approved unanimously; payment plan set.
• Item 40 (Shiloh Arms bonds) approved unanimously.
• Appointments made as noted above.
• Memorial adopted for Isla Collin.