Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – November 12, 2024
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Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Meeting – November 12, 2024
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors met on November 12, 2024, beginning at approximately 9:00 AM. The meeting included public comments, approval of a consent calendar, multiple presentations of resolutions, and discussion and action on major items including a TIFIA loan, the AB 109 realignment plan update, the Welcome Home quarterly report, and the implementation of Senate Bill 43. The board also adopted the controversial anti-camping ordinance (Item 52) on consent after hearing public testimony.
Consent Calendar
- Items 2-60 (with exceptions) were approved unanimously by roll call vote. The clerk noted several corrections and continuations:
- Item 7: Ordinance regarding fireworks fees – waived full reading, continued to December 3.
- Item 10: Title correction for lease agreements.
- Item 12: Ordinance on management time off – waive reading.
- Item 27: Second extension of urgency fee ordinance for water meters.
- Item 38: Dropped by unanimous vote.
- Item 43: Continued to December 3 (title correction related to revenue agreement).
- Item 52: Adoption of ordinance on unlawful camping (second reading) – approved as part of consent after public comment.
- Supervisors Hume and Cerna made brief remarks on items 26 (Cosumnes watershed project) and 49 (North A Campus and Maythur shelter programs).
- The board also approved a motion to hear a closed session matter regarding appointment to CSAC, reappointing Supervisor Desmond with Supervisor Hume as alternate.
Public Comments & Testimony
Off-Agenda Public Comments (beginning of meeting):
- Debbie Woolley expressed concern that ballot envelopes may reveal voter choices, citing the constitutional right to a secret ballot.
- Ted Sumera (United Public Employees) warned of staffing reductions in the Department of Human Assistance’s General Assistance program, stating that 36 staff would be cut to 4, affecting homeless services. He also criticized management for creating a hostile work environment at the Welcome Homes.
- Jeffrey Tardigan requested better data reporting on homeless encampment sweeps and criticized the anti-camping ordinance.
- Martha Ash and Lisa Kirk questioned the legal status of the Locke Management Association/Corporation, urging transparency and the preservation of public meeting rights.
- Mike Gilbert (CPS social worker) reported three recent staff assaults at Welcome Homes, alleging that children placed there are exposed to drugs, prostitution, and neglect, calling it child endangerment.
- Rashid Sadiq urged the board to ensure local black and brown contractors benefit from the airport construction project, noting a lack of detail on subcontracting opportunities.
- Kian Bliss highlighted a recent court-appointed expert report detailing inadequate mental health care in the county jail, urging immediate action.
- Alfred Melbourne opposed the anti-camping ordinance, calling for services instead of criminalization.
Public Comments on Consent Items:
- Several speakers addressed Item 52 (camping ordinance) during the consent period:
- Sally Day (Sac ACT) expressed fear that the ordinance criminalizes homelessness without shelters in place.
- Crystal Tobias (Sacramento Area Creeks Council) supported the ordinance, citing ecological damage from encampments along waterways.
- Christopher Carvajal (DeCarcerate Sacramento) strongly opposed, arguing it will harm unhoused people and fail to reduce homelessness.
- Other speakers echoed opposition, emphasizing the need for affordable housing and services.
- No public comments were heard on most other consent items.
Discussion Items
Item 65 – TIFIA Loan for Airport Pedestrian Walkway:
- County Debt Officer Colin Bettis and Deputy Director Chris Wimsatt presented a request to authorize a TIFIA loan not to exceed $40 million for a $140 million pedestrian walkway project at Sacramento International Airport – the first airport TIFIA loan in the nation. The loan would have a rural category rate. Approved unanimously.
Item 67 – AB 109 Public Safety Realignment Plan 2024 Update:
- Chief Probation Officer Marlin Arbor presented the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) plan, highlighting goals to reduce jail demand, recidivism, and increase behavioral health connections. He noted that state allocations for 2024 are expected to be flat, with a potential shortfall of $250,000. Public comment from Decarcerate Sacramento urged redirecting funding from law enforcement to community-based services. The board approved the plan unanimously.
Item 68 – Delegation of Authority for Affordable Housing Bonds:
- SHRA staff requested authority to delegate inducement resolution approval to the executive director to expedite bond issuance for affordable housing, and to reduce annual bond administration fees from 12.5 basis points to 5 basis points (minimum $15,000). Approved unanimously.
Item 69 – Transportation Mitigation Fee Program Update:
- Senior Civil Engineer Heather Yee presented the 2024 SCTMFP nexus study and fee rates, approved by the STA in June 2024. The board authorized the director to execute the amended operating protocols and introduced the ordinance for adoption on December 3. Approved unanimously.
Item 70 – Welcome Home Program Quarterly Report (First Quarter FY 2024-25):
- Deputy County Executive Shivon Katari and Director Michelle Callejas provided the first quarterly report for the Welcome Homes, which are short-term placements for foster youth with complex needs. Key data:
- 64 unduplicated youth served; 84% children of color; 22% probation-involved; 63% female.
- 153 incident reports (77 unauthorized absences, 17 law enforcement involvement not related to absences).
- Staff training includes Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI); phase two includes restraint training.
- Operating budget $12.7M annually; goal to reduce to one county-run home as contracted providers expand.
- Relative placement rate improved from 21.7% to 36%.
- Supervisor questions focused on staff safety, gender/racial disparities, and contracted provider oversight. The board approved the report and related documents unanimously.
Item 75 – SB 43 Implementation (Involuntary Holds for Substance Use Disorder):
- Behavioral Health Director Ryan Quist presented the plan to expand grave disability criteria to include severe substance use disorder. Staff recommended July 1, 2025 implementation to align with other initiatives. Public comment: Family advocates urged earlier implementation; hospital council representative Brian Jensen urged delay to allow system integration.
- After debate, the board voted 4-1 (Frost dissenting) on a substitute motion to implement SB 43 effective January 1, 2025, and approved the additional 9 FTE positions (6 mental health workers, 3 medical assistants) for the Mental Health Treatment Center.
Other Items:
- Item 44: Supervisor Kennedy noted ongoing HIV concerns, urging continued vigilance.
- Presentations: Resolution recognizing 25 years of service for Makeba Black; resolution for Clerk of the Board week; resolution for Safetyville USA 40th anniversary; Heroes of Human Services awards to multiple individuals and organizations.
- Nominations to various commissions and boards (Item 76): Many continued to January 7, 2025; some nominations approved immediately.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar adopted with noted exceptions and continuations.
- Item 52 (Camping Ordinance) adopted on consent after public testimony (second reading, perfunctory action).
- Item 65 (TIFIA Loan) approved unanimously.
- Item 67 (AB 109 Plan) approved unanimously.
- Item 68 (Bond Delegation/Fee Reduction) approved unanimously.
- Item 69 (Transportation Fee) approved unanimously.
- Item 70 (Welcome Home Report) approved unanimously.
- Item 75 (SB 43) implemented January 1, 2025 (motion 4-1); FTE positions approved.
- Item 73 & 74 – land use entitlements for Blue Oak Car Wash and Bradshaw Trucking Rezone approved unanimously.
- Meeting adjourned in memory of volunteer firefighter Terry Barnes.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, welcome to the November 5th, 2024 meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. Would the clerk please call the roll? Yes. Good morning, Supervisor Cerna. Here. Desmond, Frost. Hume. Kennedy. Here. And you have a quorum. This meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is live and recorded with closed captioning. It is cable cast on Metro Cable 14, the local government affairs channel on the Comcast and Direct TV Uverse Cable Systems. It is also live streamed at Metro14Live.gov and can be heard on 96.5 FMKUBU Radio. Today's meeting will be repeated Friday, November 8th at 6 p.m. on Channel 14. And 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. Comments made by the public during Board of Supervisors meetings may include information that could be inaccurate or misleading, particularly concerning topics related to public health, voter registrations and elections. The County of Sacramento does not endorse or validate the accuracy of public statements made during these open public forums. The recordings are shared to provide transparency and access to the proceedings of public meetings. 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 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 waives their request to speak and the clerk will file the speaker request form in the record. The clerk will manage the timer and allow each speaker two minutes to make a comment. You may send written comments by 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 916-8745451 or by email at Board Clerk at SACCounty.gov. Thank you in advance for your courtesy and understanding of the meeting procedures. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And that portion of the agenda has never been more poignant than it is today. Our first item are public comments relating to matters not on the posted agenda, and our first speaker is Debbie Woolley. Good morning, board. Happy election day. Forgive me for a minute. Today is November the 5th. And I wanted to let you know that I'm coming to you as one of we the people. As seen in the 50 state constitutions, Republican inform, and I'm just letting you know that it's important that we remember the fundamental principles. I wanted to thank you for your care and concern about the elections being um fair and honest. I just wanted to let you know that on Sunday I went to prepare my ballot, and I was confused and dismayed because when I put it in the ballot envelope. Not yet. And then um I folded the ballot eight different ways. There's eight different ways you can fold it. And the second time I folded it. You could see my ballot marking on the front also. So you can see who I voted for through the holes in the pink envelope. Then I went to my neighbor's house and I said, This doesn't seem right to me.
openpublica.com