OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Historic Joint Meeting of Sacramento County and Cities on Homelessness - October 29, 2025

Boards and Commissions — Wednesday, October 29, 2025
BodySacramento County, California
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateWednesday, October 29, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:48:40
Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Okay, I'd like to call to order this meet this historic meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the Sacramento City Council, and our other city partners in Oak Grove, Folsom, Ranch Cordova, Citrus Heights, and Galt.

0:17

Madam Clerks, will you please call the roll and establish the form?

0:21

Good morning, Supervisors Kennedy.

0:24

Desmond.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Rodriguez.

0:25

Here.

0:26

Hugh?

0:26

Here.

0:27

Cerna.

0:28

Here.

0:30

Good morning.

0:31

From the City of Sacramento.

0:32

Councilmember Kaplan is expected shortly.

0:35

Councilmember Dickinson.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Vice Mayor Talamantes.

0:38

Here.

0:38

Councilmember Pleckybaum.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Councilmember Maple.

0:40

Here.

0:41

Mayor Pro Tem Gatta.

0:42

Council Member Jennings.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Council Member Vang.

0:45

And Mayor McCarty.

0:46

Here.

0:47

And Rancho Cordova Councilmember Bud is expected momentarily.

0:51

Elk Grove Mayor Singh Allen.

0:52

Here.

0:53

Citrus Heights Mayor Karpinski Costa.

0:56

Present.

0:57

Mayor Farmer.

0:58

Here.

0:59

Folsom Mayor Aquino.

1:00

Here.

1:01

Thank you.

1:01

Chairs, you have a quorum.

1:03

Very good.

1:04

Thank you very much.

1:05

Now, if you are able, please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands to the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu Valley, and Plains Muak, Potwin Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federalized, federally recognized tribe.

1:26

Thank you.

1:27

And may we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together an active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation of Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives.

1:45

Thank you.

1:45

Please remain standing and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:58

One nation.gov.

2:30

Today's meeting replays on Friday, October 31st at 6 o'clock PM on Metro Cable Channel 14.

2:36

The recording of this meeting can be viewed on demand at YouTube.com/slash Metro Cable 14.

2:42

The Board of Supervisors and City Council members welcome and encourage public participation, civility, and the use of courteous language.

2:50

The members do not condone the use of profanity, vulgar language, gestures, or other inappropriate behavior, including personal attacks or threats directed towards any meeting participant.

3:00

Public comment will be limited to two minutes per speaker.

3:03

The co-chairs may adjust these times, including the total allocated time for the entire public comment period to ensure the orderly conduct of the meeting and to allow time for all scheduled business.

3:16

So comments made by the public during this meeting may include information that could be inaccurate or misleading, particularly concerning topics related to public health, voter registrations, and elections.

3:49

When the clerk calls your name, please come to the lectern to make your comment.

3:52

If a speaker is unavailable to make 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.

4:02

You may send written comments by email to board clerk at stackcounty.gov.

4:07

Your comment will be filed in the record in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

4:11

If you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please see clerk staff for assistance.

4:16

Thank you in advance for your courtesy and understanding of the Mercedes meeting procedures.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness█████████████████████████████████████████████86%
Affordable Housing████8%
Procedural█2%
Budget and Finance█2%
Community Engagement█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Historic Joint Meeting of Sacramento County and Cities on Homelessness - October 29, 2025

The meeting convened the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the Sacramento City Council, and mayors from Elk Grove, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, and Galt for the first time in history to collaboratively address homelessness. The agenda featured presentations on current progress, behavioral health strategies, funding challenges, and a facilitated visioning session. Key themes included improving coordination, data sharing, prevention, and the need for a more formal governance structure.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Members of the public, including advocates from SAC Act, Community HealthWorks, homeless individuals, and local business owners, expressed mixed views. Some praised the collaborative effort, while others criticized the lack of progress and data transparency. Several speakers urged prioritizing prevention and permanent housing, and warned of looming federal and state funding cuts. A few speakers emphasized the need to involve people with lived experience and to address the root causes of homelessness, such as lack of affordable housing and economic instability.

Discussion Items

  • Opening remarks by Supervisor Cerna and Mayor McCarty emphasized the historic nature of the meeting and the need for continued collaboration.
  • Presentations from county and city staff highlighted progress: over 10,000 shelter/housing options created, 200+ people moved out of unsheltered homelessness via outreach, and $418 million invested regionally in the last fiscal year.
  • Sheriff Cooper reported 20,000 citizen complaints over three years, 4 million pounds of trash removed, and 2,500 arrests, stressing the need for data sharing and public safety.
  • Behavioral Health Director Dr. Quist outlined voluntary and involuntary treatment pathways (AOT, CARE Court, conservatorship), noting that housing is the primary barrier to success.
  • Alex Vysotsky from the National Alliance to End Homelessness presented on federal and state funding threats, including potential cuts to 40% of permanent housing subsidies from the Continuum of Care program.
  • The afternoon visioning session, facilitated by Mosaic Strategies, used surveys and group discussion to gauge elected officials' priorities. Results showed strong desire for more direct elected involvement, better data, and a formal multi-jurisdictional structure. Some suburban mayors expressed willingness to collaborate but noted their smaller homeless populations.
  • County Executive David Villanueva and Deputy County Executive Siobhan Katari committed to providing a report with next steps and data dashboards.

Key Outcomes

  • Elected officials unanimously agreed to continue the collaborative process and committed to exploring a more formal governance structure (e.g., JPA, MOU, or regular coalition meetings).
  • The group directed staff to prepare a report with recommendations based on the day's discussions, surveys, and interviews.
  • No formal votes were taken, but a straw poll using Mentimeter showed overwhelming (approximately 95%) support for continuing the process.
  • Next steps include follow-up emails with data links, continued staff-level coordination, and a potential next meeting to consider specific structural options.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, I'd like to call to order this meet this historic meeting of the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, the Sacramento City Council, and our other city partners in Oak Grove, Folsom, Ranch Cordova, Citrus Heights, and Galt. Madam Clerks, will you please call the roll and establish the form? Good morning, Supervisors Kennedy. Desmond. Here. Rodriguez. Here. Hugh? Here. Cerna. Here. Good morning. From the City of Sacramento. Councilmember Kaplan is expected shortly. Councilmember Dickinson. Here. Vice Mayor Talamantes. Here. Councilmember Pleckybaum. Here. Councilmember Maple. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Gatta. Council Member Jennings. Here. Council Member Vang. And Mayor McCarty. Here. And Rancho Cordova Councilmember Bud is expected momentarily. Elk Grove Mayor Singh Allen. Here. Citrus Heights Mayor Karpinski Costa. Present. Mayor Farmer. Here. Folsom Mayor Aquino. Here. Thank you. Chairs, you have a quorum. Very good. Thank you very much. Now, if you are able, please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands to the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu Valley, and Plains Muak, Potwin Winton peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federalized, federally recognized tribe. Thank you. And may we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together an active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation of Sacramento's indigenous people's history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. Please remain standing and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation.gov. Today's meeting replays on Friday, October 31st at 6 o'clock PM on Metro Cable Channel 14. The recording of this meeting can be viewed on demand at YouTube.com/slash Metro Cable 14. The Board of Supervisors and City Council members welcome and encourage public participation, civility, and the use of courteous language.

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