West Sacramento City Council Meeting - September 17, 2025: Proclamations, Homeless Services Transition, Vision Zero Action Plan Adoption
West Sacramento City Council Meeting - September 17, 2025
The meeting began with a land acknowledgement, closed session report (no action), and the Pledge of Allegiance led by retired Colonel Chad Caldwell. Due to a large number of public comment cards (59), the council reduced public comment time from three to two minutes. The council honored two proclamations, heard extensive public testimony regarding urban farming and a long-term lease for Three Sisters Gardens, discussed the transition of homeless case management services in-house, and adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan.
Proclamations
- Retired Colonel Chad Caldwell: Recognized for his leadership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including securing $1.1 billion in funding for the West Sacramento flood protection project and completing key levy segments. Council members and Caldwell's family were thanked. Caldwell spoke about the collaborative team effort and his upcoming retirement.
- Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – Oct 15, 2025): Honored Oscar Garcia (California Hispanic Chamber) and Kathy Rodriguez (Sacramento Hispanic Chamber). Council members and speakers emphasized the contributions of the Hispanic/Latino community and the importance of business advocacy and policy support.
Public Comments & Testimony
- The overwhelming majority of speakers (approximately 30 individuals) advocated for a long-term lease for Three Sisters Gardens, an urban farm at 5th and C Streets. Speakers included volunteers, youth, farm staff, community partners, and academic affiliates. They highlighted the garden's provision of fresh produce (over 30,000 pounds donated in the past year), youth mentorship, environmental education, and community-building. Many noted the current month-to-month lease creates instability for crucial programming. Several speakers also proposed a vacant property tax to activate unused lots for similar projects.
- One speaker (Pearson Roy) raised concerns about planned removal of cyclist access to the Davis Causeway bike trail during PG&E construction, urging the city to protect active transportation routes.
- Jennifer Clemens thanked the council for reaffirming Resolution 17-29 (non-cooperation with ICE).
- Veronica Vallejos Dodd spoke under Item 12 (Vision Zero), advocating for immediate safety improvements on Jefferson Boulevard after two teenagers were killed in a hit-and-run crash on August 2, 2025.
Discussion Items
- Consent Agenda (Items 4-11): Mayor Guerrero pulled Items 6, 7, 8, and 11 for separate discussion.
- Item 6: Resolution 25-92 authorizing an SB1 grant for a West Sacramento transit priority plan. Councilmember Orozco asked about consultant procurement; staff confirmed a consultant team would be needed. Passed.
- Item 7: Updates to authorized positions for FY 25-26 (Resolution 25-97) related to the homeless emergency housing program. Staff explained that Downtown Streets Team (DST) is dissolving, and the city is bringing seven case management positions in-house to serve approximately 90 clients at Roadway Inn and Flamingo. The cost is about $900,000 (slightly higher than the $850,000 DST contract). Mayor Guerrero proposed an amendment to keep a $307,000 placeholder from Measure E funds for unanticipated transition expenses, rather than returning the funds to Measure E. Councilmembers discussed retention of DST's community-building culture, training, and the need for permanent housing solutions. The amendment was accepted.
- Item 8: Parkside at Sycamore Affordable Housing Project subordination agreement. Councilmember Orozco asked about risks and tenant application process. Staff confirmed typical risks and waiting lists. Passed.
- Item 11: Letter responding to the grand jury report on homelessness. Mayor Guerrero added remarks on prevention efforts and the need for holistic solutions. Passed.
- Item 12 (Public Hearing): Adoption of the West Sacramento Vision Zero Action Plan (Resolution 25-96). Presenters Stephanie Chan and Tracy McMillan outlined the plan's goals: 50% reduction in fatal/serious injury crashes by 2035, aspirational zero by 2050. The plan is based on a Safe Systems approach, analysis of 2017-2023 crash data (29 fatalities, 117 serious injuries), and extensive community engagement. Six priority projects were highlighted, including safety improvements on Southport Parkway, quick-build intersection upgrades, a protected intersection at Jefferson Boulevard and Linden Road, reinstating a neighborhood traffic calming program (starting with Marshall Road), daylighting, and no-right-turn-on-red guidance. Councilmembers discussed the need for education, asphalt art initiatives, and speed cameras (red-light vs. speed). Public testimony included urgent calls to improve Jefferson Boulevard south of Gregory, where two teens were killed. The plan was adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (Items 4-11): Approved with amendment on Item 7 (Measure E placeholder retained for transition expenses). Mayor Guerrero, Councilmember Orozco, Councilmember Early, Councilmember Roscoe, and Mayor Pro Tem Sulpizio voted aye. Councilmember Early seconded.
- Vision Zero Action Plan (Item 12): Resolution 25-96 adopted unanimously. Councilmember Orozco moved, Councilmember Early seconded; all ayes. The plan commits to a 50% reduction in fatal/serious injury crashes per 100,000 residents by 2035, with an aspirational goal of zero by 2050.
- Council Reports: Councilmember Orozco reported on the Sacramento Area Sewer District board meeting regarding a $600 million expenditure for biosolids processing at the EchoWater facility. Councilmember Early reported on the September 4 Executive Commission to Address Homelessness meeting, focusing on federal funding protections.
- City Manager Report: Acknowledged the staff team that developed the Vision Zero Action Plan and reported the first cohort of the leadership academy (29 participants) graduating this Friday.
No further agenda items. The meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Getting the words we know what we want. I was there. Gloria Gloria. Don't do it. Oh yeah. Gloria. We said Oh, great. Norma. If you have your car. Now call it calling the meeting to order. Can you hear me out there? Everybody can hear me okay? Okay, great. Thank you. So now that all the council members are present, I call to order the September 15-17th meeting of the city of West Sacramento City Council, 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. The council met in closed session this evening. Mr. City Attorney, do we have any items to report? There is no action to report. All right. The count uh we would like to invite our guests to join the council and staff in the pledge, which will be um we would have the honor of having um retired Colonel Chad Caldwell to come to the podium and lead us in the pledge to this this evening. Thank you. Please stand, place your hand over your heart. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. 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 public comment, but we are going to switch around public comment to after the presentations. Um I do want to add that anyone who is wishing to address counsel on this or any other item this evening to please fill out a request to speak card and return it to the clerk. And we accept the request to speak cards 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, the clerk will announce your name for you to walk to the podium. So please uh listen to your name and uh then um we will have a in in front of the clerk, there'll be a timer for public comment today. We have quite a few, so in order for us to be able to have everybody have an equal chance to be heard, we will allow for um Madame Clerk, we will narrow it down to two minutes instead of three. So if you can um adjust your clock. And uh we ask that all comments be limited to that amount under public comment only. So also as we move forward along in the agenda, we have an analog flip chart, which indicates which agenda item the council is currently considering or discussing. And 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 on the wall. Um, but it does say that we should not speak in loud, threatening, offensive, abusive, or other disrespectful language that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. So, Madame Clerk, we're going to um pass on the item one since we have quite a few um request to speak cards. I think we have over 50 at this time. 59. We will begin with the proclamation of the city council of the city of West Sacramento honoring retired Colonel Chad W. Caldwell, who just came up on his service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in his retirement. If you can please come on up to the podium. And do you have your family members with you? Is that please have them all come on up?
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