West Sacramento City Council Meeting – September 9, 2026
West Sacramento City Council Meeting – September 9, 2026
The West Sacramento City Council met on September 9, 2026, to consider a variety of items including proclamations, an amendment to the River Park Development Agreement, and the selection of a new solid waste collection provider. After extensive public comment and deliberation, the council approved a 10-year contract with Green Waste Recovery LLC and adopted a modified extension for the River Park Development Agreement.
Consent Calendar
- Items 5–14 were approved unanimously after Item 8 was pulled for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General public comment (Item 1): Rhonda Pope Flores expressed frustration that District One had been bypassed in Mayor Pro Tem votes and presented a change.org petition with 41 signatures. She cited California Government Code sections on open meetings and equal treatment.
- Solid waste contract (Item 15): Over a dozen residents and representatives spoke, mostly opposing the recommended award to Green Waste. Key speakers included:
- Kathy Bailey: Asked council to vote no, citing lack of public trust and the Environment & Utilities Commission’s unanimous opposition.
- John Woodall (WM employee): Argued for a two-year extension to allow proper community input and noted WM’s superior benefits for drivers.
- Grant Scruggs (Atlas Disposal): Requested that council negotiate with all three proposers before final award.
- Suzanne Johnson: Urged council to place resident needs first and reject the proposal.
- Dan Rodriguez (WM employee): Stressed the long-term cost impact on low-income residents.
- Mark Wolford: Asked council to vote no or let the contract expire for better public input.
- Matt Weaver: Criticized the process as performative and said rates would more than double over 10 years.
- Danny Langford: Raised concerns about rural property yard waste costs and insufficient outreach.
- Eric Lynch (WM): Clarified that WM would agree to a short-term extension at any term the council desires.
- Terrence McNamara (Atlas): Requested negotiation with all three bidders, citing successful transition in Rancho Cordova.
- Cleet Elms (Green Waste CEO): Expressed commitment to service and trust, noting 40+ years of experience.
- Jeremy Steinman (Operating Engineers Local 3): Asked council to choose a provider that offers good union jobs.
- Kevin DeVincenzo (Green Waste COO): Promised continuity of collective bargaining and seniority for existing workers.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations:
- Girls Softball (Item 2): Councilmember Orozco presented a proclamation recognizing the 2026 West Sacramento Girls Softball Select Program (10U, 12U, 14U). Multiple council members spoke about the sports-to-leadership pipeline, noting that 94% of women in C-suite positions were former athletes.
- City of Peace (Item 3): Susan Ripel accepted a proclamation designating West Sacramento a City of Peace, with a peace pole planted in Southport on June 6 and a planned dedication at City Hall on September 21, 2026. Councilmembers reflected on the importance of peace as an active practice.
- Hispanic Heritage Month (Item 4): Dr. Maite Frias and Caroline Sabias presented the Avanza Rising Scholars Conference at UC Davis, which served about 1,000 students in May 2026, focusing on college access for low-income and Latinx students. The proclamation recognized September 15 – October 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Item 8 – River Park Development Agreement Amendment: Council considered a second reading of Ordinance 26-5 to extend the agreement. Mayor Guerrero proposed replacing the two-year extension with a one-year extension from the second reading date (October 2026), contingent on three milestones: release of the draft EIR, completion of the fiscal impact analysis, and developer’s master plan update. If those milestones are met, the agreement would automatically extend through December 31, 2027. Staff and the developer agreed. The council approved the amendment as a first reading, with a second reading scheduled for October.
- Item 15 – Solid Waste Collection Contract: Staff recommended a 10-year contract with Green Waste Recovery LLC, citing highest scores in service quality, sustainability, and customer service. Three rate phase-in options were presented for the 64-gallon bundle (the most common): Option 1 (three-year, starting $30.50), Option 2 (three-year, starting $32.38, but lower over life), and Option 3 (five-year, starting $29.48). Green Waste also offered a 20% low-income and senior discount, no charge for on-premises service for seniors 65+, and additional bulky waste pickup. After debate, the council selected Option 3. The Proposition 218 process was discussed; the protest hearing was moved to February 17, 2027 to avoid the holiday period. The contract includes protections for existing workers’ seniority and union representation.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved (Items 5–14) unanimously.
- River Park Development Agreement (Item 8): Approved a modified extension of one year from October 2026 with three milestones and an automatic three-month extension to December 31, 2027 if milestones are met. Second reading set for October 2026.
- Solid waste contract (Item 15): Approved a 10-year exclusive franchise agreement with Green Waste Recovery LLC (with city option for two additional 5-year terms). Selected five-year rate phase-in (Option 3). Directed staff to proceed with Proposition 218 process with a protest hearing on February 17, 2027. Vote: 4-1 (Councilmember Alcala dissented).
- Councilmember Alcala’s motion to renegotiate with all three proposers failed for lack of a second.
- Council reports:
- Councilmember Orozco reported on the Sacramento Area Sewer District merger, making West Sacramento a full partner.
- Councilmember Early reported on SACOG’s consideration of a housing credit bank for affordable housing.
- Mayor Pro Tem Sul Pizzi Hall updated on the Yolo County homelessness plan and noted a gap in behavioral case managers at 1801.
- Councilmember Alcala reported on the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District budget and upcoming air purifier distribution.
- Mayor Guerrero highlighted progress on MLB expansion efforts.
- Adjourned at approximately [time not specified].
Meeting Transcript
Are we live streaming at this point, Madame Clerk? Yeah? We can start. All right. Now that the council members are present, a culture order, the September ninth 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 respect and celebrate the many diverse indigenous people still connected to this land on which we gather. The council did not meet in closed session tonight. And I would like our um our uh girls, please stand. Um, and I would like for you to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance tonight. Everybody please stand. All right. One, two, three. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, ladies. 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 important opportunity for a public forum. The public is given an opportunity at this time to address city council on issues not listed on the agenda. And we do ask that anyone wishing to address the council on this or any other item this evening. Please fill out a request to speak card, which is there at the corner, and uh turn it in to the clerk. Um, right, notate what agenda item you're wishing to speak on so that the clerk can call you up during that point. And on the Zoom, um, for those that are on Zoom, please raise your hands when called upon to raise your hands. 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 up to the podium, and uh you will see um where the time is. The clerk will um put the time down. You have three minutes to be heard, and we ask that all comments be limited to three minutes. Also in front of the clerk indicates the agenda item, and the clerk will also announce the um will also reference the agenda item or you can hear it online. And uh, we also recognize that for some speaking in public can cause anxiety. So we request that there be no applause or boos, 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 and not speak in loud, threatening, or offensive or abusive or other disrespectful language that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. Now, this brings us to item one. Um, Madame Clerk, is there anything I miss under our um you know uh live stream comments and uh public comment. We'll begin the in-person public comment portion following the in-person public comment portion. We will no longer take comments in person, and we will proceed with the virtual public comment portion. We have one public comment in person, Brhonda Pope Flores. Can I have everybody's time? Since I'm the only one. Well, I'm back again, and I said I would be back again. My name is Rhonda Pope Flores, and I speak for the neighborhood that I grew up in. Roderick. I speak for Bright, because that's where my other generations come from. And I speak on behalf of my indigenous side, which I grew up here, and I played along that river, and I am one of those people that you acknowledge, and I do exist today. So, with that. District one has been bypassed every single time. You know, it's so telling when people look down and don't look at you when you're speaking. But that's okay as long as you can hear me. On at least three separate occasions, I'm probably mistaken, it's probably more. Council members early, Orozco, and so Pio Hall have voted against District One for Mayor Pro Tem over and over. And quite honestly, I'm just gonna add my little sideline there. It's disgusting. It is we need more people in love with the people and not the power. And from where I'm standing, it looks like there's more people in love with the power, which is why now I had to resort to going to change.org, which some of you may say, that's not gonna do nothing, but I'm not gonna go anywhere.
openpublica.com