West Sacramento City Council Special Meeting and Swearing-In Ceremony - December 4, 2023
West Sacramento City Council Special Meeting and Swearing-In Ceremony
The West Sacramento City Council held a special meeting and swearing-in ceremony on December 4, 2023, marking the establishment of the city's second all-woman-led council. The meeting included ceremonial proceedings, discussion of critical city initiatives, and updates on public safety measures.
Opening and Swearing-In Ceremony
- Mayor Martha Guerrero was sworn in for West Sacramento's first four-year mayoral term
- Council Members Norma Alcala and Corina O'Reilly were sworn in for new terms
- Ceremony included a land acknowledgment recognizing indigenous peoples
Key Council Discussions
- Comprehensive Safety Action Plan presentation highlighting traffic safety concerns and fatalities
- Tourism Improvement District feasibility study discussion for six major hotels
- Vision Zero initiative targeting reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries
- Measure O implementation updates and fire service restoration
Public Safety Initiatives
- Restoration of Engine 45 service announced for December 5th
- Analysis of 101 fatal and severe injury crashes from 2017-2023
- Discussion of traffic safety improvements, particularly around schools and high-injury locations
- Measure O funding allocated for road repairs and public safety resources
Economic Development
- Proposed Tourism Improvement District (TID) with potential $370,000 annual revenue
- Implementation timeline set for January-June 2025
- Discussion of partnership opportunities with local hotels and businesses
Administrative Updates
- Announcement of Deputy City Manager John Robinson's retirement after 26.5 years of service
- City Hall holiday closure scheduled for December 25th through January 1st
- Tree lighting ceremony announced for upcoming Friday
The meeting concluded with recognition of former City Manager Joe Gaiden's passing on November 13th and adjournment in his memory.
Meeting Transcript
you Thank you. you Now that all the council members are present I call to order the December 4th special meeting of the City Council of 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. We will now begin with the swearing end ceremony. Madame clerk, can you please begin the process? Yes, Madam Mayor, we'd like to welcome our newly elected or newly reelected Mayor Martha Guerrero who will be sworn in by her daughter Elaine Sanchez. the United States and the Constitution of the State of California that I will take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well Next, we'll be swearing in our reelected Council Member Norma Alcala. Council Member Alcala will be sworn in by her daughter-in-law, Arlette Kieros Gutierrez Alcala. and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California that I will take this obligation freely without any mental reservation I, Corina O'Rosco, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I will about to enter. Thank you. I would like to allow my fellow Council Members that were newly elected to have a few words. Council Member O'Rosco. All right. Well, back in 2016, the very first time I sat on this dice, I remember being so shell-shocked by the experience of being up here that I didn't really say much. I just wanted to end the moment and make sure everybody got home and one piece and carry on with an eye. In 2020, we were going through a pandemic and we were on Zoom and I did the same thing where I just surrendered the opportunity to give remarks out of respect for the moment and all the work that we had to do in front of us. Tonight, I want to take a moment of your time because this is a really momentous occasion and tonight I'm seeing so many beautiful faces in the house tonight and I just want to say a few things to you. You know, in 2016, we had a very different Council at the time. It was Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, now State Senator. Council Members Mark Johanneson, Crystal Desma and Bab Sandin. And as a freshman Councilwoman, I was eager to serve and give back to this beautiful community that was helping my husband Jose and I raise our four beautiful children. Back then, we as a Council were only envisioning these wild ideas, things that seemed incomprehensible at the time. We were talking about the West Sacoma Run via a demand ride share which seemed completely
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