West Sacramento City Council Meeting: Appeals, Fees, & Proclamations - October 1, 2025
West Sacramento City Council Meeting: Appeals, Fees, & Proclamations - October 1, 2025
The West Sacramento City Council met on October 1, 2025, to address a public hearing on a variance appeal, adopt a parks and recreation fee policy, and recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The meeting included public comments, staff presentations, and council deliberations.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items 3 through 8 unanimously without discussion or public comment.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Guy Stevenson criticized the VIA transit service, citing poor management and unresponsive staff.
- Maria Grihalda expressed concerns about the code of conduct for public comment, arguing it restricts emotional expression and free speech. She also made statements about the city attorney.
- Matt Weaver advocated for small businesses, criticizing city processes and permitting as unfriendly to local entrepreneurs.
Proclamation: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Thriving Pink
- Council recognized October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a proclamation honoring Thriving Pink, a local nonprofit providing free support to breast cancer survivors.
- Speakers: Gina Bravo (hospital president and thriver), Katie Minke (board member), Eleanor Sanchez (survivor sharing personal story), and Leslie Hunter (executive director). They highlighted programs including peer mentoring, financial grants, and comfort bags.
- Council members expressed support and emphasized the importance of screening, noting that two council members have personal experience with breast cancer.
Discussion Items
Appeal of Variance Denial for RV Cover at 1512 Michigan Boulevard
- Staff Report: Planning Manager Tristan Osborne presented that Mr. Reyes requested a variance to reduce setbacks (front from 15 to 0 ft, side from 5 to 0 ft) and increase height (12 to 15 ft) for an unpermitted 47x15 ft RV cover. The Planning Commission denied the variance unanimously on August 21, 2025, citing failure to meet four required findings under state law (Gov. Code § 65906). Staff recommended upholding the denial.
- Appellant (Mr. Reyes): Argued that enforcement is arbitrary because similar carports exist throughout the city without action. He submitted photos and addresses of 24 other properties. He stated he was told by Councilmember Alcala to "go ahead and build" the carport, which he interpreted as permission.
- Councilmember Conflict: Hearing Officer Raftery raised a potential conflict due to Councilmember Alcala having ex parte communications and being cited as a witness. Alcala stated she did not direct him to build but said he could proceed at his own risk. She decided not to recuse herself.
- Public Testimony:
- Maria Garhalva called the staff report "hogwash" and argued unfair enforcement.
- Gloria Reyes (wife) stated the structure does not obstruct views and that neighbors are using the complaint as harassment.
- Linda Palman complained about harassment and also raised concerns about oak trees on Bright Avenue.
- Hanalora Kusch (neighbor) said the motorhome itself creates a danger at the intersection, not the structure.
- Matt Weaver supported the appellant, criticizing the city's bureaucracy and saying he had no choice but to build.
- Council Deliberation:
- Councilmember Alcala argued the enforcement is arbitrary and inequitable, noting the city has not acted on other similar structures.
- Councilmember Roscoe emphasized the need to follow state law and the four variance findings. He noted the structure was built despite staff warnings.
- Councilmember Early asked about the process for filing complaints and whether other non-conforming structures are being addressed. Code Enforcement Manager Josh Early confirmed that the newly submitted addresses would be investigated as complaints.
- Councilmember Sulpizio-Hall stated that granting the variance would be arbitrary and undermine the zoning code.
- Mayor Guerrero noted the distinction between state law and local discretion, and expressed concern about liability if the variance were granted.
Parks & Recreation Fee Resolution 25-99 and Cost Recovery Policy
- Staff Report: Director Kate Smith presented the annual update to the Parks and Recreation Book of Fees, the first comprehensive update in over 10 years. The proposed policy uses a cost recovery framework that includes direct and indirect costs, with categories from 0% (open access parks) to 100% (sales and rentals). Fee adjustments include resident/non-resident pricing, multi-sibling discounts, and needs-based assistance. Key proposed fee: senior annual membership from $5 to $20 (though market rate would have been $70).
- Public Comment: Eddie Worders expressed concern over the 400% increase for seniors and suggested incremental increases. He noted lack of communication.
- Council Discussion: Councilmember Alcala inquired about financial assistance; Smith said 50% subsidy for those on government assistance (e.g., PG&E CARES) is being considered, and a formal assistance program will be finalized by December with a budget request. Council supported the incremental approach and directed staff to ensure clear communication with seniors.
Key Outcomes
- Appeal Decision: The council voted 4-1 to deny the appeal, upholding the Planning Commission's denial of the variance. Councilmember Alcala voted no. (Motion: Mayor Pro Tem Sulpizio-Hall; Second: Councilmember Roscoe).
- Parks Fee Resolution: The council unanimously adopted Resolution 25-99, approving the Book of Fees and Cost Recovery Policy, with direction to staff to finalize the financial assistance program and implement fees in January 2026. (Motion: Councilmember Early; Second: Councilmember Alcala).
- Future Action: Staff will investigate the 24 addresses submitted as potential code enforcement complaints.
Meeting Transcript
Present, I call to order the October first 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. We accept the request to speak cards up to the conclusion of the reading of the staff report on any particular agenda item. And you will also be given specific instructions on the appeal today. Now, in front of the clerk, there is a timer to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard. So we request that there be no applause or booze, cut 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 the meeting. Now this brings us to item one. Presentations by the public on matters not in the agenda within the jurisdiction of the council, and each person has three minutes to speak. Madam Clerk, are there any of your customers speak? Yes, ma'am. Guy Stevenson. Ladies, Mayor, how are you doing? I have a question. But this issue with VIA. You guys think it's such a spectacular service. Not so much. You've had three managers with that company. Now they got a lady named Lisa. She came from a booze distribution company. And she doesn't know anything about that service. It's terrible. It may save the city money and the city the city may dump money into it, and that's fine because it's your it's your city, you can do what you want. Just personal observation. As you know, I wear a body cam, probably 80% of the time when I deal with people and I talk to people. I'm not saying Dante that you're not doing a good job, you're doing a wonderful job. But because you oversee, now we've had an issue. I told you that I don't agree with the way uh via runs. They're a poor service. They're in it, it starts with management. I've checked other cities where a via is and they run smoothly, but if you don't have the right people running it, the management, it it doesn't it doesn't function right. A lot of drivers say that they send emails, passengers see emails to Lisa, that she never gets back. This is the third one they've had in a year. So what does that tell you? That tells you that the people either don't like what they're doing or they don't know what they're doing. So if you had a meeting with them or you had somebody to do accountability checks on this company, maybe you'd find out what's really going on with them. I'm not trying to be a jerk towards any of you about VI. I'm just bringing it to your attention. It's just observation, it's who I people that I talk to. And they said, Oh, yeah, I've been waiting an hour and a half for a ride. You shouldn't have to. This city isn't like the Bay Area. It's not like Sacramento. And then I thought it was funny when Stephanie Chan said, Well, we need to raise the rates on the past, like Pale Alto. Do you know how much it costs to live in Palaeto? About 300 and something thousand dollars a year.
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