OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

West Sacramento City Council Meeting - July 17, 2024

City CouncilWednesday, July 17, 2024
BodyWest Sacramento, California
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 17, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
1:08

Oh yes, yes, thank you.

1:16

Right.

1:17

Now that all the council members are present, I will call to order the July 17th meeting of the city of West Sacramento City Council, West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency and Finance Authority.

1:25

We will begin with the land acknowledgement.

1:28

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.

1:36

We have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

1:39

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

1:47

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

1:55

The council did not meet in close session tonight, and now we would like to invite our guests to join the council and staff in the pledge, which will be led by our fire marshal Brian Johnson.

2:25

Thank you, Mr.

2:26

Johnson.

2:27

As is noted in 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.

2:37

The public is given an opportunity at this time to address City Council.

2:41

Um City Council's issues not listed on the agenda.

2:56

And uh 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 right here to speak.

3:07

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

3:13

So we ask that all comments be limited to three minutes.

3:17

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

3:24

So we have I do see a few new faces.

3:26

If you'd like to speak tonight, if you could please get a request to speak card and um write the number on which agenda item you'd like to speak on and make sure you submit that to the clerk.

3:35

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

3:48

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

4:03

So this brings us to item one presentations by the public on matters not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the council, and each person has three minutes uh to speak.

4:12

Madam Clerk, are there any requests to speak?

4:14

Alexander Hampton, good evening.

4:32

Council.

4:33

My name is Alexander Hampton.

4:35

I am a field representative for Sacramento.

4:43

And um first I would like to address some of the worries about the hard working men and women who are going to be able to produce in West Sacramento.

4:57

31% of workers lack health insurance.

5:01

That's nearly three times the rate of all workers.

5:04

We have seen the devastation from COVID-19 past calls and seen how important health care is for everyone.

5:12

These workers should not be excluded for that from that.

5:16

To help eliminate these problems, we need to make sure that prevailing wage health care apprenticeship, local hire, compliance is required on housing projects built in West Sacramento.

5:29

As leaders of the community, what are you going to do to work towards this goal to make sure that doesn't happen to the workers anymore?

5:36

They deserve better.

5:37

And one of the reasons why I, you know, make this speech is because I go to job sites West Sacramento, Sacramento Davis, and as a carpenter, you know, one of the big things that you have on your side when you're working is the health care, the decent wage.

6:00

And one of these, and a lot of these workers that I speak to don't have that.

6:04

They don't have the health care.

6:06

They don't have a decent wage.

6:08

They're getting peace work on the same work that I'm doing.

6:10

I don't think that's fair.

6:12

So I think that we need to really think about the workers when I see contractors come in here, developers come in here, you know, to the city.

6:23

We need to think about the workers that are working hard because they can't even afford the place that they're building, you know.

6:30

So uh think of that.

6:32

That is my speech here today, and I thank you very much for allowing me to speak.

6:37

Thank you so much, Mr.

6:38

Hamilton.

6:40

Guy Stevenson.

6:45

I know that oh Madam Mayor, Madam, all you ladies, sorry, I'm just nervous and tired also.

6:57

Um I have an issue with your turnkey program.

7:03

Not that the program is not designed to help people, it's the people that run it.

7:11

Because there is a lot of prostitution drugs going in on these different programs.

7:18

And I know that you contract for people to oversee, but I see when I drive down here, people setting out front, smoking, dealing drugs, men Rob Strange just had this conversation.

7:34

Those programs are designed to help people get well and move on.

7:44

Not to be a flop house for prop prostitution and drugs.

7:51

And I have many, many hours of footage of this going on, and I'm gonna upload it at some point because I think it needs to be addressed.

8:01

And I know that Aaron is trying to save the city money by contracting these agencies, but if they're not doing what they're supposed to do, because in Sacramento County, you get busted for drugs, alcohol, you know, beat cases, which is prostitution.

8:20

You're getting kicked out.

8:23

And you're that's it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████19%
Public Safety███████████████15%
Public Transportation███████████11%
Economic Development█████████9%
Affordable Housing████████8%
Water And Sewer Rates██████6%
Public Engagement██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

West Sacramento City Council Meeting - July 17, 2024

The West Sacramento City Council, Redevelopment Agency, and Finance Authority met on July 17, 2024, at 7:01 PM. The meeting began with a land acknowledgement, pledge of allegiance, and public comment rules. The council considered consent items, public hearings, a midterm budget workshop, and appointments. Key decisions included approving a market-rate apartment project, confirming delinquent charges and liens, renaming a street to TEBT, and advancing a first reading of council compensation adjustments.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 4 (pulled for discussion): Evergreen Apartments project – 38 market-rate units (studio to 2-bedroom, 438–755 sq ft) with rents ranging from $1,100–$1,200 for studios to $2,000+ for two-bedroom units. The developer, K. Hovnanian, anticipates construction starting January/February 2025 with a 12-month timeline. The project will pay in-lieu fees to support affordable housing at the Grand Gateway Master Plan (approx. 117 units). The council approved the consent agenda (including items 2–6) unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Alexander Hampton (field representative for Sacramento carpenters) expressed full support for requiring prevailing wage, health care, apprenticeship, and local hire on housing projects, noting that 31% of workers lack health insurance.
  • Guy Stevenson expressed opposition to the current turnkey program contractor, alleging prostitution and drug activity at program sites, and urged the council to reconsider the contract.
  • Robin Davis advocated for freedom of choice in energy (allowing off-grid options and switching from PG&E) and expressed support for tiny homes on wheels, noting the average tiny home uses 3,000 kWh/year vs. 10,000 kWh for an average American home. She requested approval of the upcoming tiny home ordinance.

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearings (Items 7–11):
    • Item 7: Resolution 24-78 – Certification of past due code enforcement charges and liens. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 8: Storm drain maintenance district – No increase; routine confirmation. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 9: Landscaping and lighting district – No increase; routine. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 10: Delinquent water/sewer/refuse charges – Total delinquent amount reduced to $483,522 due to $1.1 million in state arrearage funds. Online bill pay expected in fall 2024. Approved unanimously.
    • Item 11: Weed abatement charges – 20 properties out of ~1,000 notices resulted in liens. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 12: Renaming SQ Road and SQ Court – Staff recommended the name TEBT (meaning “streams flow together” in Yosidehi Winton language). After a workshop on June 26, a resident meeting with 2 attendees, and tribal consultation (only Yosidehi Winton Nation responded), the council approved the resolution unanimously. Council members emphasized the name as a blessing and an opportunity to honor indigenous heritage.
  • Item 13: Midterm Budget Workshop & First Reading of Ordinance 24-10 (Council Compensation) – Finance Director Roberta presented a $27.7 million in proposed adjustments across all funds, including $22.1 million in city-funded capital requests. The general fund is projected to have a $1.6 million surplus after appropriations, with $7.3 million in one-time fund balance, of which $7 million is proposed for use. The council compensation ordinance proposes increasing monthly pay to $1,600 (from the 1987 level) effective after the December election. The council discussed the need for a full budget book, delayed requests (totaling $4.8 million), and the importance of reserves. The first reading was approved unanimously.
  • Item 14: Reappointments to EIFD Public Financing Authority – Two public members (Mr. Hirsch and Mr. Perez) were reappointed unanimously. The first PFA meeting is scheduled for August 21, 2024.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved consent agenda (items 2–6) including the Evergreen Apartments affordable housing agreement.
  • Approved resolutions 24-78, 24-73, 24-72, 24-80, and 24-24 for code enforcement liens, storm drain maintenance, landscaping district, delinquent utility charges, and weed abatement liens.
  • Approved Resolution 24-75 to recommend the name TEBT for SQ Road and SQ Court, to be submitted to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names.
  • Approved first reading of Ordinance 24-10 (council compensation increase to $1,600/month) and concluded the midterm budget workshop; both will return for second reading and adoption on August 7, 2024.
  • Reappointed two public members to the Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District Public Financing Authority.
  • Approved a future agenda item request to bring back a topic (unspecified) for later discussion.

Meeting Transcript

Oh yes, yes, thank you. Right. Now that all the council members are present, I will call to order the July 17th 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. We 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 peoples still connected to this land on which we gather. The council did not meet in close session tonight, and now we would like to invite our guests to join the council and staff in the pledge, which will be led by our fire marshal Brian Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. As is noted in 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. The public is given an opportunity at this time to address City Council. Um City Council's issues not listed on the agenda. And uh 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 right here to speak. Now in front of the clerk, there is a timer to ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard. So we ask that all comments be limited to 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 have I do see a few new faces. If you'd like to speak tonight, if you could please get a request to speak card and um write the number on which agenda item you'd like to speak on and make sure you submit that to the clerk. 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, and 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, which is posted, not speaking loud, threatening, offensive, abusive, or other disrespectful language that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. So this brings us to item one presentations by the public on matters not on the agenda within the jurisdiction of the council, and each person has three minutes uh to speak. Madam Clerk, are there any requests to speak? Alexander Hampton, good evening. Council. My name is Alexander Hampton. I am a field representative for Sacramento. And um first I would like to address some of the worries about the hard working men and women who are going to be able to produce in West Sacramento. 31% of workers lack health insurance. That's nearly three times the rate of all workers. We have seen the devastation from COVID-19 past calls and seen how important health care is for everyone. These workers should not be excluded for that from that. To help eliminate these problems, we need to make sure that prevailing wage health care apprenticeship, local hire, compliance is required on housing projects built in West Sacramento. As leaders of the community, what are you going to do to work towards this goal to make sure that doesn't happen to the workers anymore? They deserve better. And one of the reasons why I, you know, make this speech is because I go to job sites West Sacramento, Sacramento Davis, and as a carpenter, you know, one of the big things that you have on your side when you're working is the health care, the decent wage. And one of these, and a lot of these workers that I speak to don't have that. They don't have the health care. They don't have a decent wage. They're getting peace work on the same work that I'm doing. I don't think that's fair. So I think that we need to really think about the workers when I see contractors come in here, developers come in here, you know, to the city. We need to think about the workers that are working hard because they can't even afford the place that they're building, you know. So uh think of that. That is my speech here today, and I thank you very much for allowing me to speak. Thank you so much, Mr. Hamilton. Guy Stevenson. I know that oh Madam Mayor, Madam, all you ladies, sorry, I'm just nervous and tired also.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com