OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

West Sacramento City Council Meeting - April 10, 2024

City CouncilWednesday, April 10, 2024
BodyWest Sacramento, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 10, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
1:28

Right.

1:28

Now that all the council members are present, I call to order the April 10th meeting of the City of West Sacramento City Council and the West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency and Finance Authority.

1:37

We will begin with the land acknowledgement.

1:39

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we live, work, learn, and commune is the original homelands of the indigenous people of West Sacramento, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

1:48

We acknowledge and we thank the original inhabitants who have occupied, maintained, and secured this place, and who still exist on this land.

1:55

We respect and celebrate the many diverse indigenous people still connected to this land on which we gather.

2:01

And the council met in closed session this evening.

2:03

Mr.

2:03

City Attorney, would you please provide a report?

2:07

Yes, ma'am, Council met in closed session for the items listed on the agenda.

2:10

No reportable action was taken.

2:12

All right, thank you.

2:13

And we would like to invite our guests to join council and staff in the pledge, which will be led by Janelle Derrick.

2:20

Please come up to the podium and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:40

Thank you.

2:46

Councilmember Orozco and uh for Councilmember Orozco for your presentation.

2:50

We have Mr.

2:51

Aaron Jones.

2:52

Please come up and provide the presentation.

3:03

Thank you for Congresswoman asks wishes.

3:40

Perfect.

3:41

All right.

3:46

I know I do not have the voice and candor of Congresswoman Doris Matsui, but please bear with me as I read the following congressional record statement.

3:54

Mr.

3:55

Speaker, I rise today to join the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the 2023 Al Geiger Memorial Award honoree.

4:04

West Sacramento City Councilmember Karina Orozco for her ongoing exemplary public service to the Sacramento region.

4:11

Councilmember Orozco is an excellent leader in our community who demonstrates that the Sacramento region's approach to everything.

4:26

Councilmember Orozco's commitment to public service illustrates the very reason why I love my congressional district.

4:46

Serving in the White House while crafting federal education policy, and later as an advisor to then Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante on tribal community and veteran issues.

5:00

To this day, Councilmember Orozco continues her public service as a prosecutor for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office with a focus on sexual assault and child abuse cases.

5:06

Councilmember Orozco's commitment to our community has been an ongoing facet of her life.

5:12

A commitment that the West Sacramento community is both grateful for and council.

5:17

As a member of the West Sacramento City Council, Councilmember Orozco has continued to champion the West Sacramento chapter of the downtown streets team to create opportunities for unhoused individuals who are seeking to break out of the cycle of reoccurring systemic trauma and incarceration.

5:33

Councilmember Orozco's support was critical for the West Sacramento Home Leon Home Run program, which provides community members with access to high quality early learning for young children, college savings accounts, and internships.

5:46

Councilmember Orozco's service continues to demonstrate how diligent and focused advocacy can create real change in our communities.

5:54

Mr.

5:54

Speaker, today we honor West Sacramento City Councilmember Karina Orozco for extraordinary service to the city of West Sacramento to the greater Sacramento region, and we hope that service continues for many, many more years to come.

6:07

And so I would ask if um would please the mayor and please the staff if uh I could either approach Councilmember Orozco or Councilmember Oswick to come down here for a quick photo.

6:17

Of course.

6:21

Okay.

6:21

All right.

7:07

How are you more?

7:55

Congratulations, Councilmember Orozco.

7:59

Right, next um next is noted on our agenda.

8:04

City Council is prohibited by state law from discussing or taking any action on items that are brought up under item one for public comment.

8:11

But it provides an important opportunity for a public forum.

8:14

The public is given an opportunity at this time to address city council and issues not listed on the agenda.

8:18

We do ask that anyone wishing to address the council on this or any other item this evening to please fill out a request to speak card and return it to the clerk.

8:27

We accept the request to speak cards up to the conclusion of the reading of the staff report or on any other on any particular agenda item.

8:35

Although this time we don't have a regular or public hearing, so if you have a request to speak, um, especially for the consent, I highly recommend you bring it um to our clerk now.

8:44

Once the staff report has been read and we open up the item for public comment, the clerk will announce your name for you to walk to the podium to speak.

8:52

Now, in front of the clerk, there is a timer to ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard.

8:55

We ask that all the comments be limited to the specified number of minutes.

8:59

And if you are going to be speaking on a consent agenda item, you have three minutes for each of the agenda items.

9:05

Also in front of the clerk is an analog flip chart, which indicates which agenda item the council is currently considering.

9:11

We also recognize that for some speaking in public can cause anxiety, so we request that there be no applause or booze, cat calls, or other demonstrations.

9:18

Furthermore, so that we may maintain a civil discourse here in the chambers.

9:21

We ask that those in attendance and those who address the city council abide by the code of conduct posted and not speak in loud-threatening, offensive, abusive, or other disrespectful language that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of this meeting.

9:34

Now this brings us to item one presentations by the public on matters not in the agenda within the jurisdiction of the council.

9:40

And each person has three minutes to speak.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Health██████████████████████████████████34%
Public Engagement████████████████16%
Procedural█████████████13%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Public Safety██████6%
Vector Control████4%
Environmental Impact Review████4%
Water And Sewer Rates███3%
Summary of Proceedings

West Sacramento City Council Meeting - April 10, 2024

The meeting began with a land acknowledgement, closed session report, and Pledge of Allegiance. It featured presentations of awards, proclamations, a mosquito control briefing, public comments, and approval of a consent agenda including fire station upgrades and a resolution supporting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Presentations & Proclamations

  • Councilmember Karina Orozco received the Al Geiger Memorial Award from the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, read into the Congressional Record, for her exemplary public service.
  • National Library Week (April 7–13, 2024): Councilmember Sulpizio Holst presented the proclamation. Alex Hirsch (President, West Sacramento Friends of the Library) and Shu Chien Jiao (Yolo County Library Regional Supervisor) highlighted library programs including bilingual story times, yoga, book clubs, and free meeting spaces. Councilmembers shared personal stories about the library's impact on literacy and community.
  • Child Abuse Prevention Month (April 2024): Councilmember Orozco, a prosecutor specializing in child abuse cases, presented the proclamation. Genova Lahaye (Yolo County Children's Alliance) and Tony Kildare (Yolo County Health and Human Services Director) discussed the "Be the One" campaign and prevention efforts. In 2023, 281 children in Yolo County were found to be victims of abuse. Councilmembers emphasized community responsibility and programs like Welcome Baby.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Stephanie Stevens (California Park and Recreation Society): Presented the 2023 Marketing and Communications Award of Excellence to the West Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department for the "Parks Make Life Better Month" social media campaign.
  • Guy Stevenson: Criticized city employees for lack of accountability and transparency, stating he uses body cameras to document interactions.
  • Robin Davis: Advocated for affordable housing, reporting from California YIMBY Lobby Day that 38% of district 3 renters are rent-burdened (paying >30% of income on rent) and median rent is $2,566. Also highlighted the Community Academy, noting police received 11,000 calls in 2023, 50% of fires are cooking-related, and 68% of the general fund goes to public safety.
  • Tim Campbell: Shared a personal house fire experience and expressed support for firefighters' equitable pay.
  • Jennifer Fenton (Breathe California) and Deb Banks (Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates): Announced the Breathe Bike Festival on April 28, 2024, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Mill and Riverfront Streets, and promoted May is Bike Month.
  • Robin Davis (on consent item 15): Supported expanding the impact fee reduction pilot program and requested fee deferments for small homes.
  • Aaron Saberri (Sacramento County Commission for Women): Expressed strong support for the CEDAW resolution (item 18) and offered assistance with implementation.

Discussion Items

  • Mosquito and Vector Control Presentation: Gary Goodman (District Manager, Sacramento Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District) reported an anticipated intense mosquito season due to heavy rain and increased rice acreage (45,000 acres in 2023, up from 18,000 in 2022). In 2023, Yolo County had nearly 40 human West Nile virus cases – about 10 times the three-year average. Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been detected in West Sacramento. He urged residents to eliminate standing water, use repellent, and call the district for free services (1-800-429-1022).
  • Consent Agenda Items (5–18): Items 6, 10, and 11 (multiple fire station upgrades) were pulled for comment; Councilmember Sulpizio Holst expressed full support, having visited the stations. Item 18 (CEDAW resolution) was also pulled; Councilmember Orozco spoke in favor, citing benefits for gender pay equity, hiring practices, and the significance of West Sacramento having an all-female council. Councilmember Alcala supported it.
  • Council Reports:
    • Councilmember Alcala: Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District board voted to compete for a $104 million EPA Clean Ports grant for zero-emission technology at the Port of West Sacramento.
    • Councilmember Sulpizio Holst: Noted the Yolo County climate action plan lacks adequate West Sacramento engagement; requested more outreach before the June deadline.
    • Councilmember Orozco: Sacramento Area Sewer District proposed a three-year rate increase; highlighted the sewer lifeline assistance program for low-income residents.
    • Mayor Guerrero: Announced the $50,000 Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund microgrant program (led by Breathe California) for youth-led climate projects, with potential for an additional $100,000. Encouraged youth involvement in updating the city's climate action plan.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda (items 5–18) approved unanimously (5-0) on a motion by Councilmember Sulpizio Holst, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Early. Items pulled for comment (6,10,11,18) were included in the approval.
  • Council direction to coordinate additional climate action plan outreach in West Sacramento.
  • Adjournment in memory of Connie Sue Jones (community volunteer) moved by Councilmember Orozco, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Early, approved 5-0.

Meeting Transcript

Right. Now that all the council members are present, I call to order the April 10th meeting of the City of West Sacramento City Council and the West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency and Finance Authority. We will begin with the land acknowledgement. We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we live, work, learn, and commune is the original homelands of the indigenous people of West Sacramento, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations. We acknowledge and we thank the original inhabitants who have occupied, maintained, and secured this place, and who still exist on this land. We respect and celebrate the many diverse indigenous people still connected to this land on which we gather. And the council met in closed session this evening. Mr. City Attorney, would you please provide a report? Yes, ma'am, Council met in closed session for the items listed on the agenda. No reportable action was taken. All right, thank you. And we would like to invite our guests to join council and staff in the pledge, which will be led by Janelle Derrick. Please come up to the podium and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Councilmember Orozco and uh for Councilmember Orozco for your presentation. We have Mr. Aaron Jones. Please come up and provide the presentation. Thank you for Congresswoman asks wishes. Perfect. All right. I know I do not have the voice and candor of Congresswoman Doris Matsui, but please bear with me as I read the following congressional record statement. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the 2023 Al Geiger Memorial Award honoree. West Sacramento City Councilmember Karina Orozco for her ongoing exemplary public service to the Sacramento region. Councilmember Orozco is an excellent leader in our community who demonstrates that the Sacramento region's approach to everything. Councilmember Orozco's commitment to public service illustrates the very reason why I love my congressional district. Serving in the White House while crafting federal education policy, and later as an advisor to then Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante on tribal community and veteran issues. To this day, Councilmember Orozco continues her public service as a prosecutor for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office with a focus on sexual assault and child abuse cases. Councilmember Orozco's commitment to our community has been an ongoing facet of her life. A commitment that the West Sacramento community is both grateful for and council. As a member of the West Sacramento City Council, Councilmember Orozco has continued to champion the West Sacramento chapter of the downtown streets team to create opportunities for unhoused individuals who are seeking to break out of the cycle of reoccurring systemic trauma and incarceration. Councilmember Orozco's support was critical for the West Sacramento Home Leon Home Run program, which provides community members with access to high quality early learning for young children, college savings accounts, and internships. Councilmember Orozco's service continues to demonstrate how diligent and focused advocacy can create real change in our communities. Mr. Speaker, today we honor West Sacramento City Councilmember Karina Orozco for extraordinary service to the city of West Sacramento to the greater Sacramento region, and we hope that service continues for many, many more years to come. And so I would ask if um would please the mayor and please the staff if uh I could either approach Councilmember Orozco or Councilmember Oswick to come down here for a quick photo. Of course. Okay. All right. How are you more? Congratulations, Councilmember Orozco. Right, next um next is noted on our agenda. City Council is prohibited by state law from discussing or taking any action on items that are brought up under item one for public comment. But it provides an important opportunity for a public forum. The public is given an opportunity at this time to address city council and issues not listed on the agenda. We do ask that anyone wishing to address the council on this or any other item this evening to please fill out a request to speak card and return it to the clerk. We accept the request to speak cards up to the conclusion of the reading of the staff report or on any other on any particular agenda item. Although this time we don't have a regular or public hearing, so if you have a request to speak, um, especially for the consent, I highly recommend you bring it um to our clerk now.

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