West Sacramento City Council / RDA / Finance Authority Meeting (Nov. 19, 2025)

The City of West Sacramento convened a joint meeting of the City Council, West Sacramento Redevelopment Agency, and Finance Authority on November 19, 2025 (evening session). Councilmember Karina Orozco was absent. The meeting included public comments on code enforcement and street vending compliance, multiple proclamations recognizing community service and Native American Heritage Month, approval of several consent items (including major steps toward Bright Park acquisition and renovation), and a public hearing authorizing eminent domain proceedings to clear title issues for the I Street Bridge replacement project.

Closed Session

• City Attorney reported closed session discussion of three real estate items listed on the agenda with no reportable action.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Juan Gutierrez (resident): Stated he received a code enforcement notice that his front-yard carport was not permitted under city code; urged the Council to amend Title 17 (citing Section 17.51.020) by adding language so that “a carport shall not be considered a structure,” which he said would allow carports.
• Mark Campbell (Rivers community resident; HOA board member, speaking on behalf of the HOA): Asked whether the City could accept transfer of private streets (Watercolor and Watercourse) to the City, and what would be required for a proposal for the HOA/community to vote on. He cited potential benefits including acquisition of real property, potential transfer of some reserve funds, and reducing annual fees for affected homes (53 homes, currently over $700/year), and said it could address what he described as structural inequity within the HOA.
• Guy Stevenson (resident): Expressed concern about food vendors “popping up everywhere,” emphasizing compliance (licenses and health department oversight) and food safety (temperature control). He stated he did not want vendors fined and said his concern was not race-related; he urged accountability among agencies and cited concerns about food poisoning.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• 2025 YOLO Philanthropy Awards (YOLO Community Foundation)

  • Honorees recognized: West Sac Kids Give Back and Patrice Griffith (recognized by the YOLO Food Bank for service and contributions to food security, including organizing the student farmers market at River City High School).
  • Speakers/remarks:
    • Carolina Valverde (YOLO Community Foundation) thanked the City and highlighted West Sacramento’s civic engagement.
    • Patrice Griffith thanked the City and described her focus on food insecurity; she stated that West Sacramento had the highest rate of food insecurity in the state of California when she began her effort several years prior.
    • Victoria Cruz (West Sac Kids Give Back) thanked the City; noted the nonprofit has operated about 10 years and said they are taking a break this year but plan to return.
    • Councilmembers expressed appreciation and discussed pressures on food banks and safety-net programs.

• 75th Anniversary of Yolo County Housing

  • Ian Evans (Executive Director, Yolo County Housing; President/CEO, New Hope Community Development Corporation) presented statistics and recent/ongoing projects:
    • 620 vouchers leased in West Sacramento; average per-unit cost stated as $1,100/month, equating to about $680,000 monthly supporting local landlords/economy.
    • 139 public housing units in West Sacramento (River Bend and Las Casitas).
    • Additional 102 units owned/operated/managed/supported in West Sacramento; stated total housing provided for more than 860 households in West Sacramento.
    • Recent projects included an outdoor gathering space at River Bend Manor and a $1.5 million roof/HVAC replacement.
    • Noted development activity: over the past five years, more than 100 new project-based voucher units via 1801 West Capitol and the Huddle.
    • Announced planned groundbreaking next year on 641 5th Street: 36 new affordable multi-family units, all with project-based vouchers.
    • Program outcomes mentioned: one voucher participant purchased a home in West Sacramento via a homeownership program; one Family Self-Sufficiency graduate received over $12,000 from an escrow account.
    • EV charging plan: six EV charging stations at River Bend and Las Casitas, targeted later in 2025 or early 2026.
    • Staff recognition: 14 staff members honored with a combined 287 years of experience.

• Native American Heritage Month (recognized as November 2025)

  • Council read proclamation (representatives from Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation were expected but could not attend).
  • Rhonda Pope Flores (community member) thanked the City for the recognition and spoke about:
    • Tribal connections in the region and the role of the river in connecting communities.
    • Missing and murdered Indigenous people (asked for prayers).
    • Voting rights history (stated Native people were not granted the right to vote until 1924).
    • Impacts of tribal termination policies and land loss.
  • Councilmembers thanked speakers and referenced prior collaboration on renaming streets to remove an offensive term, and noted planned educational/historical elements (including Heritage Oak Park).

Consent Calendar

• Council pulled and discussed items 8, 9, and 10 before voting.

• Item 8 – Bright Park purchase and Priority Use Agreement

  • Kate Smith (Parks & Recreation Director) reported the City received a $15 million Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program grant enabling purchase of Bright Park land from Washington Unified School District (WUSD).
  • Council discussed timelines and next steps:
    • Construction management services planned to go out to bid Nov. 20 (the next day).
    • Target dates stated: CM contract to Council Feb. 26; contractor/builder contract to Council Mar. 26; hoped-for “shovel in the ground” May 26.
    • Project previously presented as approximately $62 million (including land acquisition), with a planned iBank loan application to cover needs and provide “wiggle room” for bid variance.
    • Park access: goal to keep Bright Park available for spring sports (girls softball and boys Little League), but once fencing goes up around May 26 the park would be offline; staff working on relocation field space with partners including WUSD and Holy Cross.
    • Priority use terms: WUSD priority use aligned with school schedule, stated as 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on regular school days; no summer priority use.
  • Public testimony:
    • Lori Gutierrez expressed frustration that the City did not emphasize that the City did not yet own the land when plans were presented at Riverbank Elementary; asked whether WUSD is fully on board and sought certainty on dates.
    • Rhonda Pope Flores urged the City to avoid “broken promises,” stressed urgency of investment in an “uninvested community,” and linked lack of investment to community frustration and broader social impacts.
  • Council/staff response:
    • Councilmembers stated WUSD has been an active partner (including through City–School District “two-by-two” meetings), and expressed confidence the transaction would proceed.
    • Staff clarified that November 2025 was the acquisition target discussed previously and that the grant includes land acquisition plus construction funding, enabling building the project “all at once” rather than phasing.

• Item 9 – Utility rate “exhaustion procedures” ordinance (state requirement)

  • Rebecca Scott (staff) explained the item implements a new state-mandated process for new or increased water/sewer fees distinct from Prop 218 protest procedures.
  • Purpose described: provide a formal period for ratepayers to submit written objections and receive written responses; objections must be raised during this process to preserve the ability to sue later.
  • State law cited: AB 2257 (2024), effective in 2025 (as stated during the meeting).
  • Timeline discussed: Council to consider proposed utility rates Dec. 3; a Prop 218 process would follow with at least 45 days for objections; rates could be reconsidered at a later public hearing (staff referenced mid-March timing as part of the Prop 218 process).

• Item 10 – City website redesign

  • Staff discussed upgrading the City website (provider: Granicus) and exploring options such as an AI tool that answers resident questions using site content.
  • Clarified this was an appropriation and amendment within an existing agreement (site not upgraded since 2017; current agreement runs until about 2027, per discussion).

• Consent Calendar vote:

  • Council approved the consent items 4–0 (Orozco absent).

Public Hearing

• Item 12 – I Street Bridge Replacement (CIP 10033): eminent domain authorization
  • Council held a public hearing and adopted Resolution 25-116 declaring public interest and necessity to commence condemnation proceedings for parcels identified as 010-372-007, 010-371-008, and 010-101-012.
  • Brett (staff presenter; Capital Projects) stated the action was pursued due to unclear title (“cloud on title”) and not due to an impasse on compensation; said eminent domain would be faster than a quiet title action (which he said can take 2–3 years).
  • No public comments were received.
  • Vote: approved 4–0 (Orozco absent).

Discussion Items / Council Reports

• Council report highlights:
  • Yolobus/Yolo Transportation District: Councilmember reported review of the short-range transit plan; raised concerns that upcoming transit operator contract rebid could increase costs beyond the “cost-neutral” plan and requested scenarios for potential service reductions.
  • Capital Area Regional Tolling Authority (CARTA): update on executive director hiring; received Caltrans presentation on managed lanes/tolling timeline, including the Yolo segment affecting Davis-to-West Sacramento travel on the causeway.
  • Announcements: City Hall closure Nov. 27–28 for Thanksgiving; Winter Wonderland tree lighting Dec. 5 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Mayor reported attending climate-related convenings connected to C40/Bloomberg efforts and referenced the City’s Youth Climate Action Fund participation (figures stated as $150,000 received; allocations discussed as approximately $130,000 with uncertainty expressed about the exact amount).

Key Outcomes

• Approved (4–0, Orozco absent): Consent Calendar items including Bright Park purchase-and-sale/priority use agreement steps, adoption of the utility-rate “exhaustion procedures” process required by state law, and appropriation to begin the City website redesign/upgrade.
• Approved (4–0, Orozco absent): Resolution 25-116 authorizing eminent domain proceedings for the I Street Bridge replacement project to address title issues.
• Next steps and notable timelines:
  • Bright Park: CM services bid process described as starting Nov. 20; target Council dates Feb. 26 and Mar. 26; construction start goal May 26; WUSD board approval still required for land transaction.
  • Utility rates: Council to consider proposed rate adjustments on Dec. 3; Prop 218 and objection processes to run with required notice/comment periods (including at least 45 days for objections).

Adjournment

• Council adjourned in memory of Rick Holland (described by the Mayor as a well-known community member). The adjournment motion carried 4–0 (Orozco absent).