West Sacramento City Council Meeting - May 1, 2024: I Street Bridge Eminent Domain, Sales Tax Measure, Proclamations
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West Sacramento City Council Meeting - May 1, 2024
The West Sacramento City Council met on May 1, 2024, for a regular meeting that included land acknowledgment, a report on closed session (no reportable action), presentations from the public, proclamations for Bike Month and the Big Day of Giving, public hearings on eminent domain for the I Street Bridge replacement and weed abatement, consideration of hiring a retired employee, a workshop on a proposed 1% transactions and use tax, and council member reports on the Cap to Cap trip and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The meeting adjourned in memory of Delaine Eastin.
Public Comments
- Guy Stevenson raised concerns about bike trail lights near the Capitol Bridge that have not been fixed for eight months, citing a homicide and safety issues. He also urged the city to provide Narcan to staff in high-exposure areas, noting the prevalence of fentanyl mixed with a horse tranquilizer ("gray death").
- Robin Davis (West Sacramento resident, tiny home owner) discussed the recent Supreme Court ruling that impact fees must be proportionate to actual impact. She argued that impact fees should be eliminated for housing projects, called for radical reform in housing policy, and emphasized the need to promote trade careers to maintain infrastructure as experienced workers retire.
Proclamations
- May is Bike Month (May 2024): Presented to Pearson Rohr of Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA). Mr. Rohr highlighted West Sacramento as a premier cycling destination, thanked city staff and partners, and invited the community to the Velorama celebration on May 19. Council members discussed bike access programs, including the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen offering free bikes for youth.
- Big Day of Giving (May 2, 2024): Presented to Jessica Hubbard, Executive Director of the Yolo Community Foundation. She encouraged residents to support local nonprofits and noted over 820 nonprofits participating, 11 in West Sacramento. Council members commended her leadership and the foundation’s impact, including $5 million donated to Yolo County nonprofits.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4–7 were approved unanimously (item 6 was discussed: a remodeling project at the police department, originally built in 1995, to upgrade flooring, cabinetry, and offices). Item 8 was pulled and will be brought back at a later date. The motion passed (5-0).
Public Hearing: I Street Bridge Replacement Project – Resolutions of Necessity (Items 9)
- Staff Presentation: Fred Arnold (Capital Projects & Real Property Asset Manager) and the City Attorney explained that the resolutions are needed to proceed with eminent domain for three parcels on Second Street to complete the I Street Bridge replacement. The project is at an impasse in negotiations. The appraised value is offered as just compensation; property owners can negotiate or go to court.
- Property Owner Testimony: Gail Overhouse (co-owner) described a lack of communication and trust, stating the city took portions of their property for the River Walk in 2021 without compensation, and now seeks more for the bridge. She argued the city’s partial taking leaves unusable remnants and asked the council to reject the resolution and negotiate for the full 4.2 acres. Ron Birch (part owner) stated the city’s offers were inconsistent and that an earlier appraisal used 22 cents per square foot for riverfront property, which he called unreasonable. He noted a prior eminent domain case resulted in a settlement 10 times the city’s initial offer.
- Council Discussion: Council members clarified that no residential properties are affected; the parcels are vacant or used for commercial parking. The City Attorney noted the city will deposit appraised amounts into a trust fund. Council expressed sensitivity to property owners but supported moving forward to keep the bridge project on schedule, with negotiations continuing.
- Outcome: The resolutions were approved unanimously (5-0).
Public Hearing: Weed Abatement (Item 10)
- Fire Marshal Brian Johnson presented the annual program; nearly 1,000 property owner notices were mailed. No public comments were received. The council approved the removal of weeds unanimously (5-0).
Regular Agenda: Hiring a Retired Employee (Item 11)
- Finance staff requested an exception to the 180-day waiting rule to hire a recently retired utility billing employee on a part-time basis, citing critical transitions in billing software and mail providers. The motion passed unanimously (5-0).
Workshop: Proposed Local Transactions and Use Tax (Item 12)
- Presentation: City Manager Aaron Laurel and Government Affairs Manager Doug Dross outlined a proposed 1% (one-cent) general tax measure for the November 5, 2024 ballot, projected to generate $20 million annually. The measure would require a simple majority vote and would be effective until ended by voters. The funds would address gaps in public safety (police patrol, fire engine 45), road maintenance, parks, homelessness, and infrastructure.
- Discussion: Council members expressed strong support for placing the measure on the ballot, emphasizing the need for additional revenue to keep pace with growth and elevated service standards. Key points:
- Police response times and staffing are strained; the city has the same number of officers as in 2003 despite significant population growth.
- Fire call volume has increased 45% since 2012, and structure fires have risen 150%; Engine 45 (taken offline during the recession) needs to be restored.
- Road maintenance backlogs require $60 million+; parks have added 53 acres since 2008 with minimal staffing increases.
- A significant portion of sales tax revenue comes from non-residents and business-to-business transactions, lessening the burden on local residents.
- Ballot Language: Staff proposed 73-word ballot language (under the 75-word limit) that includes phrases like "subject to audits and public spending disclosures." Council members debated adding "independent" before audits to strengthen transparency. After discussion, consensus was reached to amend the language to include "subject to independent audits." The amendment was accepted, and council directed staff to return on May 15 for the second reading and adoption of the resolution placing the measure on the ballot.
- First Reading of Ordinance 24-7: The council approved the first reading unanimously (5-0), allowing the ordinance to be sent to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) for review.
Council Reports and Adjournment
- Council members reported on the Cap to Cap trip to Washington, D.C., including meetings with members of Congress and advocacy for the I Street Bridge, flood protection, homelessness, and economic development.
- Mayor Guerrero reported on the U.S. Conference of Mayors homelessness task force meeting with White House officials and the Small Business Administrator.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified] in memory of former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, with a unanimous vote.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar (items 4-7): Approved unanimously.
- Resolutions of necessity for I Street Bridge eminent domain: Approved unanimously (5-0).
- Weed abatement: Approved unanimously.
- Hiring retired employee: Approved unanimously.
- First reading of ordinance 24-7 (transactions and use tax): Approved unanimously; ballot language amended to include "independent audits." Final adoption scheduled for May 15, 2024.
- Adjournment in memory of Delaine Eastin: Approved unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Now that all the council members are present, apologize for being late. We had a very long closed session. I will call to order the May 1st meeting of the City of West Sacramento City Council, 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 learning 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 habit 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. Council met in close session this evening. Mr. City Attorney, would you please provide us um with the report? The council met in close session with its real property negotiators on the two items or three items on the agenda. No reportable action was taken. Council also met with its labor negotiator for bargaining with the two units uh identified on the agenda, no reportable action was taken. Um we would like our to invite our guests and um uh council and staff in the pledge, which will be led by Mr. Michael Sanchez. Please come up with the podium and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and thank you for your service, sir. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. Thank you so much, Mr. Sanchez, for leading us in the pledge tonight. As 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 opportunity for a public forum from the public to share their concerns on items not listed on the agenda before City Council. And we do ask that anyone wishing to address the council on this or any other item this evening to fill, please fill out a request to speak card and return it to the clerk. And we accept the request to speak cards upon uh conclusion of the reading of the staff up to the conclusion of the reading of the staff report on any particular agenda item. Once the staff report has been read and we open the item up for public comment, at that point, the clerk will announce your name for you to walk up to the podium to speak. Now in front of the clerk, there is a timer to ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard. And usually it's three minutes for each person, and we ask that all comments be limited to the specified number of minutes, which is three minutes. Also in front of the clerk is an analog flip chart, which indicates which agenda item the council is currently considering. So we thank the clerk for all our hard work for helping us keep track today. 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. Furthermore, so that we may maintain a civil discourse here in the chambers. 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. Now this brings us to item one presentations by the public on matters not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the council. And we ask each person three minutes to speak. Madam Clerk, are there any requests to speak under public comment? Guy Stevenson. Welcome. I'm here to just address this because I think it needs to be addressed. These lights that are on the bike trails are not fixed. And I ask Jason. Eight months ago to fix them. They're like a disco when it rains, they go on and off. You have a lot of politicians that go from Davis to Sacramento, Sacramento to Davis. There's been a big problem with these lights. And now there was a homicide right down over here at Capitol Bridge. Those lights need to be fixed for the safety of people in West Sacramento. I've been calling, and it ain't a public works problem, but they like to uh do this thing with well, it's not public works. Well, it's parks. And they need just need to get it fixed. And I know you guys have a contractor, it's called Beard or whoever they are. They need to fix them because this is nonsense.
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