Please reach out if you're interested in joining the MNA's subcommittee on bicycle and pedestrian safety: eepurl.com/dPQ9Iz

Welcome & Introductions

Special Guests: Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Councilmember Steve Hansen, Kriztina Palone, Neighborhood Services Division (NSD)

Participants:

• Alkali Mansion Flat Historic Neighborhood Association, Represented by President,  Sean Wright
• Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA), Represented by Director at Large, Dave Herbert
• Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association (MSNEPNA), Represented by Board Co-Chair, George Raya
• Midtown Neighborhood Association (MNA), Represented by Board Chair, Ange Tillotson
• Newton Booth Neighborhoods Association (NBNA), Represented by Board Communications Officer, Sean Manwaring
• Richmond Grove Neighborhood Association (RGNA), Represented by President, Pamela Rasada
• Southside Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA), Represented by President, Marni Leger and Vice President, Gordon Lane
• Washington Park Neighborhood Improvement Group (WPNIG), Represented by President, Martha Damjanovic

Q&A from Alliance Members to Mayor Steinberg and Councilmember Hansen:

-Moderator: Ange Tillotson, President, Midtown Neighborhood Association
-Notes: Sean Manwaring, Board Officer, Newton Booth Neighborhoods Association
-Time: George Raya, Co-Chair, Marshall School New Era Park Neighborhood Association

1.  We understand the need to add to the housing stocks and central city residents would like to be engaged and informed about the development in the city at its early stages. Please outline your plans to ensure that institutional neighborhood knowledge is not lost as the central city develops. Would you consider a resident task force or more regular meetings like the one this evening to allow for the early dissemination of information? (BPNA)

Mayor Steinberg stated that he would like to continue to develop an open relationship with Central City neighborhoods associations, reminding us that such is why he was in attendance this very evening. He further explained that he hoped to continue the dialogue between neighborhood groups and city leadership to ensure greater collaboration.  Steve Hansen thanked everyone for meeting and looked forward to further addressing neighborhood concerns at greater length in quarterly District 4 leadership meetings. Marni Leger (SPNA) commented on her experience with community activism in North Natomas, citing the importance of regular communication between neighborhood groups and leadership across city government (Council, Parks and Rec, Planning…) to help maintain a clear understanding of expectations and outcomes between all parties involved. Kriztina Palone of NDS announced the development of a new permit tracker portal, which is intended to provide up-to-date information regarding pending permits, applications, and approvals for development throughout the city. This tool is specifically designed to help keep residents informed regarding development proposals, site upgrades, etc. She will email more information on this and other developments to the group in the coming weeks. She further explained that the release of this new resource was just a first step toward improving communication and notification between neighbors, developers, and city planning staff: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Development-Tracker

2. What proactive measures will city government commit itself to in order to deter land speculation concerning historic properties within the central city? i.e., mandatory residential lease agreements/on-site property management, etc. Current examples of the threat of land speculation in the central city include the blighted ½ block of 15th and S Streets, where a speculator allowed the properties to decay and never secured financing to develop the property (or sell entitlements) as he’d originally intended. Now the three historic homes that were located on the site have been compromised beyond salvaging. (NBNA)

Steve Hansen acknowledged the damage that has occurred throughout the central city due to land speculation. He further explained how consensus on how to address absentee speculator ownership of historic lots/buildings varies across city staff, as not everyone wishes to consequate people who misbehave. The Mayor then stated that we are wholly under-resourced when it comes to economic development in this community. He explained that we do not have enough “big picture” economic specialists at the moment to address the more nuanced elements of smart growth and that if  we are going to be hands-on to prevent land speculation, we need an economic development infrastructure to address such issues. The Mayor would like to balance the new economy with preservation efforts and will recommend resources for such measures to be built into the future budget. Steve also asked for more support/follow through from Central City neighbors/residents to help him identify and stay vigilant on specific instances of land speculation. Steve recommends that we take pictures with detailed observations and pass them along to his staff so that he can address these issues more effectively.

3. Richmond Grove has been identified in preliminary surveys done in the 1990’s as a potential historic district. Will the city help to get Richmond Grove, and other potential historic districts in Sacramento (Alhambra Triangle), surveyed before more of our blocks end up like 15th and S? (RGNA)

Steve Hansen responded by stating that the answer to this question is an easy “yes.” The Councilmember assured neighborhood leads that he cares deeply about preservation in the central city. He stated that one of his top priorities is to reexamine and update old historic surveys to make sure that they include ALL potential contributors. Steve also discussed the instance of the rare historic barn on Capitol Avenue and how the rest of Council voted against him on whether or not to allow the owner to demolish it. He further  gave the example of his efforts to move at-risk historic bungalows to city-designated lots for single-family residents but that the process proved very difficult to sell. Councilmember Hansen believes that surveys must communicate the vital historic significance of remaining structures throughout the central city in order to ensure their protection. Mayor Steinberg explained that he would like to place more focus on a “workshop method” to address the importance of historic preservation and to educate other council members, so as to help them to better understand the law and how it applies to these sorts of properties. George Raya shared the importance of actually meeting with developers so that we can speak to one another and be sure that all community stakeholders adequately express priorities and concerns. Steve concluded his thoughts by proposing District-4-facilitated meetings/workshops with infill developers and neighborhood association leads, with the intent to build relationships of trust and reinforce communication and collaboration.

4. Mayor Steinberg, at a meeting with neighborhood leaders earlier this month, you mentioned that you wanted to see the relationships between the developers and the community groups thrive again. What is being done to change the community Group/Developer dynamic and what will you do to ensure our voices are heard when special permits are being considered that veer from the General Plan? Recent city projects have been given the green light in spite of deviations from the city’s General Plan and resident concerns. Will future projects determined to offer “community benefits” receive exemptions from the general plan, and if so, how does the city define a “community benefit”? How much weight will you give to neighborhood input on planning and development issues? (MSNEPNA/RGNA)

The Mayor began his response by stating that he wanted to give a broader perspective to his explanation. He shared that when he sat on the City Council in the ‘90s, they had a structure that was intensely focused on neighborhood services, all working together. At that time, the City employed supervisors who oversaw integration of services, including city planning. Mayor Steinberg emphasized how he would like to see us return to that approach. He would also like to strengthen Neighborhood Services by returning it from a division to a department. He wants to be sure that all sectors of city government are in better contact with neighborhoods. The Mayor also lamented how too much of the responsibility for supporting the neighborhoods has fallen upon the respective city councilmembers. This is yet another reason as to why he would like to see the creation of a Neighborhood Services Division that works more directly with neighbors in collaboration. George Raya discussed the need for a potential reboot of a Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) to ensure that the city communicates regularly and directly to neighborhoods. However, Steve expressed his belief that NAG didn’t meet its objective because people abused the forum with city staff. Mayor Steinberg also expressed that he wants to broaden the neighborhood movement (neighborhood justice, land use, etc) and will be looking into ways to do so over the coming year.  Sean Manwaring (NBNA) redirected both the Councilmember and the Mayor to the specific question of “community benefit” and what the actual definition of such a claim looks like, so that residents have a point of reference when planning variances are granted based on their potential for “community benefit”. Steve responded by saying that the concept of community-benefit was not well defined in the general plan, and that city staff will be revisiting this  presently to articulate what exactly a “community benefit” entails.

5. The city has been very vocal about its desire to add 10,000 housing units to the central city. What benefits would the city receive by relaxing specific zoning laws in the central city and nearby neighborhoods, allowing property owners to be more creative with their space? What additional incentives can we offer for small and medium development in particular?  i.e., simplified permit and building processes made easier/less costly for small to medium developers and individual homeowners.  (MNA/BPNA)

Councilmember Hansen fielded this question, stating that the City has stopped the frivolous destruction of old housing and believes that our newly updated and progressive development code will help to add housing while yet maintaining the current stock. He also cited a new state law, which allows second unit construction to be streamlined to help promote construction and keep up with demand. The new city development code regarding the construction of granny flats or small apartments above garages piggybacks on said streamlining processes at the local level. Steve stated that one big challenge currently facing those looking to develop their properties is the general lack of expertise. Many people don’t have a grasp of all of the intricacies of project planning and often lose a lot of money due to inexperience. He also said that the City can always relax more requirements but we need to remember that price/cost of labor is enormous, and also stifles growth. The Councilmember invited neighborhood leads to share any additional ideas as to how we can further development in the central city. The Mayor stated that the City is adding people to the Community Development Dept. to help meet demand, but that they are still recovering from the consequences of deep cuts that were made to community development during the recession. They also continue to outsource community development tasks but are actively seeking to grow the division. The Mayor also recognized the problem of rising rents. He reminded us that while economic development is good, gentrification is very bad. He would like for the City to improve streamlining and technical assistance to contractors and homeowners who want to build granny flats, etc. Steve clarified the difference between restoration/preservation and gentrification, reminding the group how many people left the Central City behind in the ‘50s and ‘60s, but early preservation pioneers took it on in the ‘80s and ‘90s and brought it back (literally saving, preserving, and maintaining our old neighborhoods). Marni Leger discussed how difficult and expensive it is to work with planning to get the residential review approved for these infill projects. Steve responded by stating that the new accessory dwelling unit policy (passed a few months ago) will waive these fees. Steve also assured neighborhood leads that he will work with us on clarifying and identifying solutions when neighborhood residents wish to develop their properties.

6. While supportive of infill, we would also like to understand the overriding plan for infill development in the alleys. We are concerned about the ability of the existing infrastructure to handle the large dwellings that are being proposed.  Existing sewers and water removal devices are aging and were built to manage a smaller population than what is being proposed in some cases. Lot splits can sometimes result in a parcel supporting 3-5 dwellings as opposed to the one dwelling that the systems were built to handle. In addition, we feel that new development should take the character of each neighborhood into account. Please share any information you might have that would help us understand the greater plan. (BPNA)

The Mayor stated that affordable housing or market-rate housing production is faced with a dramatic gap. He suggested that we must be creative regarding infill by taking advantage of the existing lot sizes that will permit for density and growth. He continued by stating that so long as proposals are consistent with neighborhood value and ethic, we should seek to foster as many opportunities as possible to build and get creative with housing.

Steve discussed the importance of appropriateness and context when approaching infill. He stated that what may work on a commercial artery/corridor may not be as appropriate on a residential corridor. He reminded the group that lot splits are often divisive issues because of opposition to density. Steve believes that we need to stick to developing/maximizing available space while establishing better guidelines and cooperation/input with neighborhoods regarding what they will be receptive to in the way of new development.

7. What measures will the city take to ensure that alley development is conducive to resident/pedestrian/motorist safety?  Most of our neighborhoods have infill projects demonstrating garages and front doors facing the alleys, yet little infrastructure has been added/planned to prevent cars from speeding down the alleyways (nearly hitting people as they enter/leave their homes, take out the garbage, or back cars out of their garages). Residents and businesses found within our developed alleyways have proposed installing inward-facing stop signs at either end of inhabited alleys to ensure that motorists drive more calmly and do not hit residents, business patrons, or oncoming bicyclists/pedestrians at alley intersections with the sidewalks. (NBNA)

The Mayor expressed the notion that perhaps we are not ready to develop alleys without first addressing the traffic needs. Councilmember Hansen emphasized what he sees as the importance of educating each other on how to be better aware and not as distracted while driving, so that alleyways will be safer for all people. He also stated that Central City alleys have existed for over a century and horse carriages must have zoomed down them every bit as much cars do today. Today we need to intervene and do something about case-specific issues. Steve indicated that several traffic studies from other places have demonstrated that the very people who tend to speed are usually people from within the neighborhood in which they are speeding (due to their familiarity with the zone, they often become comfortable with speeding through). Sean Manwaring (NBNA) demonstrated an image of Solons Alley at 20th Street, where ½ of the alley has been developed with homes that have front doors and garages that face the alleyway. Residents constantly report nearly getting hit by vehicles that speed down the alley, often hitting garbage cans or nearly colliding with pedestrians who are crossing the intersection with the sidewalks. Sean also reminded Councilmember Hansen, who recommended case specific traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, that speed bumps are prohibited by the Sacramento Fire Department in any alleyway within the Central City. Steve recommended following-up with neighbors impacted by these issues in specific alleyways to address these concerns directly.

8. We would like to express concern regarding a perceived lack of communication between the city and the constituents/neighbourhood activists, and often feel that when there is some communication, it verges toward hostility. What can be done to improve civility/conductual etiquette on the part of elected officials towards public commenters at city meetings? (WPNIG)

The Mayor stated that he has had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the unique dynamics of a mayoral role from that of his former position at the state level. He became mayor to use some of his state experience to help the city but he feels that he needs to be more patient. Martha Damjanovic (WPNIG) clarified that the question was not made in regards to the conduct of the current administration. She explained that people who have been living in the Central City since the 1980s have noticed a big change in how city staff engages with residents. She expressed how many neighbors from across town think that city staff is dismissive, condescending, etc. Martha further explained that many longtime city staffers are retiring, and that their new replacements have brought along a new culture, one that is seemingly lacking in communication and civility. In response to Martha’s explanation, the Mayor asked for clarification between lack of communication and lack of civility. Martha responded by stating that residents have often been told by city officials that it was “the city’s way or the highway.” Martha also indicated that she would address more specific examples with city leadership outside of the meeting. She further expressed that she  feels as though the issue has really spun out of control because residents felt that they were not being heard when approaching city staff to address specific issues.

9. Sutter’s Landing Regional Park is near and dear to our neighborhood residents, and more and more visitors from across the city are enjoying the park and the river access. We understand that because Sutter’s Landing was a former landfill, construction in much of the park will have to wait a number of years while the land settles. However, many projects can and should be done now, and long-term planning for the park needs to be revisited. What is the timeline for improvements to Sutter’s Landing, both short-term and long-term? How will the funds raised from McKinley Village be used? (MSNEPNA)

Steve responded by stating that (technically speaking) Sutter’s Landing is located within the 3rd District’s boundaries, which is Councilmember Jeff Harris’ district. There are many parcels that are still owned by other parties, but the state has a moratorium on building over the next 30-years as the land settles. They are currently planning bathrooms for a specific segment of the park. They are also targeting funds (from billboards) to preserve revenues to reinvest in the park. Being a landfill inhibits our ability to do a lot of improvements in the interim. However, when McKinley Village was first pitched, Steve was able to secure financing with the developer for sidewalks leading up to the park, etc., and said sidewalks will be installed in the near future.  

10. How will the city address the negative impacts on residents and businesses of Southside Park due to frequent use of Southside Park for Special Events attracting thousands to this community park designed to serve residents within a 3-mile radius? Is there a reason why a proportionate number of special events cannot be directed to larger parks with amphitheaters such as William Land Park and McClatchy Park, so that the negative impacts of large events are spread more equitably? (SPNA)

Councilmember Hansen responded to this question by saying that his staff is currently in the process of working on some improvements for Southside Park (SSP). Steve also indicated that he would like to take a closer look at permitting for SSP, suggesting that the city should have a program, which adds additional fees for large events (they did this for Cesar Chavez Park and William Land Park) so that they would actually be able to recoup some of the costs from damage/use to the park during big turnouts. He is also working on a plan to move more of these festivals to the Capitol Mall by improving infrastructure so that it becomes a more feasible location for large events. Steve further stated that securing the funds to improve the parks has been a tremendous challenge (especially because there hasn't been a lot of large developments in the area to help fund these programs). Marni Leger (SPNA) read the amount of fees raised from permits for SSP relative to William Land, citing that Southside Park raises significantly more money in event fees but sees less of an actual return investment from the City than William Land Park. She further explained that 24 cars were spotted  in the park driving on the lawn at a recent event and that the abuse to the park is substantial. Steve responded by explaining that the City only has half of the rangers that they need to properly maintain/manage the parks, but they are working to rehire enough rangers to bring it back to the proper level. They have less staff now than they did in 1980 for 50% more park space at current. Steve said that if they get a lot of complaints, they are feasibly able to deny a permit for the same event in future years, so Southside Parkers should be sure to report any issues related to a specific event.

11. In light of Neighborhood Services’ mission, as articulated online to - “promote and maintain healthy diverse neighborhoods”, do you support providing resources to the community by opening the Southside Park Clubhouse/Community Center and discontinuing future leasing of the center to non-profits? (SPNA)

Steve responded saying that during the recession (before his election) community centers were leased out in lieu of major spending cuts citywide. He reported that the city recently sent a letter stating that they are ending the lease of the SSP Clubhouse with Target Excellence. Councilmember Hansen is working to get the Clubhouse staffed a couple of times a week. He also thinks that we should find other ways to raise the capital to provide budgeting for the clubhouses. The Mayor responded by saying that after coming into office, he was surprised by just how many community centers were contracting-out their space and equally shocked by how much nonprofits have had to step in to compensate for the lack of programming and park services made available by the City. He discussed how the parks system used to be (when he served as a councilmember) and how he believes that he was elected-in part-to get the funding back into neighborhood services and the community/park and recreation system, etc.

12. In a 2016 ruling by the Third District Court of Appeals, the Court found that “McKinley Village would cause traffic impacts more severe than what the EIR described” and that those impacts would occur at 28th, 29th and 30th Streets.  In light of this ruling, what additional traffic mitigation will be undertaken in conjunction with McKinley Village construction?  Also, what steps will the city take in the future to mitigate traffic impacts for projects that impact other parts of the central city?  (MSNEPNA)

The Mayor responded stating that City Council debated this very issue the previous evening as the question came back before them. He explained that by state standards, increased traffic congestion may be acceptable if it results in people spending less time in their cars. On a state level, California is looking for housing projects/developments that result in less-miles traveled. Councilmember Hansen added that in the referenced ruling, the court found that the City didn’t provide enough evidence to show that traffic impacts would be sufficient to justify further mitigations. However, Steve believes that there are more ways by which the city can try to reduce traffic congestion. He looks forward to discussing such strategies further with interested neighborhood groups.

13. With the recent passing of the state transportation funding bill, will the city allocate funds towards increased safety/visibility for cyclists by painting bike lanes on every street in the central city? (MNA)

The Mayor answered the question by stating that making our city more bikeable is still a major priority. However, Sacramento still hasn’t come forward with a major plan for addressing these sets of issues. Steve added that Grid 3.0 is the plan that was most recently adopted by City Council and he is going to try to get enough money from that package to improve bike lanes/lighting/etc. wherever possible. The Mayor proceeded to pay Steve a compliment, assuring neighborhood leads that Steve is on top of his duties and doing a fine job researching alternative modes of transportation and securing funding for improvements throughout the Central City.

*A WPNIG member also made a recommendation that color temperature LEDs be used in historic districts as opposed to the colder LEDs that are being installed of late around the Central City. He encouraged Councilmember Hansen to work with neighborhood leaders to address this issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Steve assured WPNIG leadership that he intended to follow-up on this particular issue. Public WPNIG stated that Public Works employees are engineers and they don’t necessarily consider these issues in the same manner as people living within historic districts.

Meeting Adjourned

​

Here are the updates our government and community partners presented at our January 11, 2017, board of director's monthly meeting:

Sacramento Police Department
Lt. Adam Green provided the following updates:

• Thanked MNA for the sweet treats delivered to the station on Christmas Eve by Angela, Bill and Betsy.
• Shared that Sgt. Neil Cybulski will replace Sgt.Corey Faria as our Midtown officer.
• Stated that Sac PD no longer practices Problem Oriented Policing (POP) but is using Community Crime Beat policing instead.
• Informed MNA the bike officers are targeting areas heavily impacted by auto burglaries and have reported a slight dip in activities.
• Reported the department has made 3 arrests using bait packages in cars.

 
Sacramento Fire Department
Captain Chris Swarbrick from Station 2 shared highlights of 2016 that included:

• The department’s proactive approach to notifying the homeless camps along the American River Parkway about the potential flooding danger.
• Fire department colleague Chris Harvey, a Midtown resident in charge of pulse-point, is often dispatched to sites before others due to his proximity to the community.
• During 2016, the department:

• hired 75 fire officers.
• purchased 4 engines, 4 trucks, and 2 ambulances.
• responded to 88,622 calls.
• attended 700 structure fires.
• received an ISO rating of 2 (water coverage response time).

 
The 2017 budget provides for rebuilds of station #14 on North B St. and station #15 on Truxel Road in Natomas. A new station is proposed to be built in the Railyards and Delta Shores and Station #9 is scheduled to reopen after a toxic cleanup project.
 
Captain Swarbrick invited Midtown residents to schedule a tour, a ride along or stop by the station, children are welcome.
 
Councilmember Steve Hansen’s Office (District 4)
Peter Fenolio, briefed the group on 2017 Priorities and Agenda:

• The Street Car project continues and will be discussed at the Jan. 24 council meeting.
• The city will begin holding community meetings to gather input on the Capitol Mall project (3rd St. to the state Capitol). Any suggestions for pedestrian friendly designs are welcome.

• There has been a moratorium placed on lot splits for large lots that contribute to a historic lot/district, such as 2110 U Street. It is suspected that there are only a handful of these in the Central City.
• The city is working on putting together a Code Amendments Package for a more consistent way to deal with new developments.

 
Senator Richard Pan’s Office: ABSENT

Assembly Member McCarty’s Office
Lianne Remen shared that Assembly Member McCarty introduced AB 11, which will create a child care early intervention partnership to help California infants and young children suffering from trauma and toxic stress. This bill seeks to provide critical support for early intervention services such as early learning and home visitations along with health and mental health.
 
Town hall meetings will be scheduled and residents are invited to come and participate, MNA will be notified once the schedule has been set.
 
Sen. Toni Atkins’ Office: Senate Bill 2 attachment 9: ABSENT
 
Cap City Freeway Corridor Project: (Larry Brohman)
Larry Brohman and Clark Peri from Caltrans presented details on the new Cap City Corridor Project. For specific details on the development check the MNA website. Mr. Brohman may also be contacted at larry.brohman@dot.ca.gov or by phone at 916-274-0627. Clark Peri is available by calling 916-825-8168 or at clark.peri@dot.ca.gov

Midtown Association: Expansion and Updates
Jameson shared that the Midtown Association will hopefully be moving into its new headquarters at 1401 21st Street by March. The MA now constitutes a 92 block district that will include the Alhambra Corridor district.
 
Effective January 1, 2017, the Midtown Property Business Improvement District (PBID) provides three primary services to commercial entities including:
 
1. Streetscape - Increasing safety, decreasing homelessness and building pride.
 
2. Maintenance - Removing graffiti, human waste, stickers, biohazards and litter, pressure washing sidewalks, cleaning gutters/storm drains and collecting debris.
 
3. Safety - Improving daytime and nighttime safety by reducing homelessness and crime in Midtown through outreach, security and partnership with the Police Department.
 
Congresswoman Matsui’s Office: Absent

2017 Calendar:
January 2nd Personal & Home Security (Chinese interpreter) 11am – 1pm
January 4th Reporting: Code Enforcement and Crime with Carl Simpson
January 11th Neighborhood Emergency Training (NET)
January 16th Neighborhood Development at Transitions, 3647 40th Street
January 18th  Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
January 25th Experts Speak (Topic to be announced)
 
February 1st  Neighborhood Watch 101
February 8th Scams and Schemes
February 20th Neighborhood Development at Transitions, 3647 40th Street
February 22nd Reporting: Code Enforcement and Crime
 
March 1st Experts Speak (Topic to be announced)
March 8th  Business Watch
March 15th Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
March 20th Neighborhood Development at Transitions, 3647 40th Street
March 22nd Neighborhood Emergency Training (NET)
March 29th Neighborhood Watch 101
 
April 5th Neighborhood Emergency Training (NET)
April 12th Scams and Schemes
April 13th Neighborhood Emergency Training, Asian Community Center, 7334 Park City Drive @ 10:30am RSVP required
April 17th Neighborhood Development at Transitions, 3647 40th Street
April 26th Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
 
 
Contact:
Mary Barbara Falcon
Reserve Community Service Officer
Sacramento Police Department 
Neighborhood Watch Coordinator
Office of the Chief
5770 Freeport Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95822  
916-808-0813
neighborhoodwatch@pd.cityofsacramento.org

Here are the updates our government and community partners presented at our December 14,, 2016, board of director's monthly meeting:

Sacramento Police Department
Lt. Adam Green reported on the retirement of Police Chief Sam Somers. The department has begun a search for his replacement. The process will take approximately 4-6 months, and Brian Louie will serve as interim chief until a permanent leader is on board. He then informed members that New Years’ Eve activities this year will include only one fireworks show to be held in Old Sac, at 9 pm, and to expect the same street closures as in the past.
 
He indicated that since the election there has been an increase in various protests around the Capitol, however they have been peaceful, safe and presented no problems. SacPD is expecting an increase in protests closer to the inauguration.
 
Lt. Green invited residents to attend the Police Academy Graduation, to be held at the Memorial Auditorium on December 15, at 6:00 p.m. Twenty-four new officers  completed the academy training and will be sworn in. The ceremony is quite impressive and if you have not attended one please feel free to bring family and friends.
 
Sac PD and the City Attorney’s office have joined forces to help address local homeless issues by using the City Alcohol Related Treatment (CART) program. Cart focuses on misdemeanor crimes involving intoxication. After receiving six violations, the individual is deferred to a mandated 30-day detox program. Once the first round of treatment is completed, it is easier for authorities to automatically place them back into the program for subsequent violations.   
 
Although the stats for theft are down Lt. Green continues to recommend everyone to take all your belongings out of your car, lock it and use a club to secure the vehicle. Free clubs are available to any MNA member at the monthly meetings or at the Sac PD. 
 
Councilmember Steve Hansen’s Office
Matt Read briefed the group on the latest news from District 4:

• City Council is recessed until January 3, 2017
• City transportation department is working on developing impact fees
• City Hall busy transitioning and reorganizing with new Mayor

 
Downtown Specific Plan/Long-range planning
Greg Sandlund, Senior Planner, City of Sacramento, gave a presentation that outlined the key points of their outreach efforts for the Downtown Specific Plan and included a color-coded map and the project's objectives and key tasks. For further information on his presentation go to:
 

• gsandlund@cityofsacramento.org
• Website: www.downtownspecificplan.com
• Handout from MNA mtg. 12/14/16

 
Community Land Trusts/Neighborhood Coalition
Katie Valenzuela, from the Sacramento Neighborhood Coalition (SNC), gave a brief overview of the goals of the coalition regarding using vacant city lots and properties for land trusts. SNC meets on the 4th Friday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Colonial Heights Library if anyone is interested in attending. Darrell Steinberg has tentatively agreed to speak at the Coalition's next meeting on January 27, 2017.
 
Pony Express Marathon
Robert Daly from the Rotary Club and Rebecca Gordon Director, of Volunteers of America shared the following information:

• Marathon scheduled for April 30, 2017, starting at 6 a.m.
• Time limit: six hours
• All roads open after six hours
• Signage posted 24 hrs. in advance
• Profits benefit two community groups: 1) Boys/Girls Club and 2) Volunteers of America

​Central City Neighborhood Council Meeting
Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, 6 p.m. at City Hall
Hosted by Councilmember Steve Hansen
 
In attendance: Councilmember Hansen; Consuelo Hernandez; Pete Fenolio; Sac PD Captain Justin Eklund; City of Sacramento Parking Manager Matt Eierman; City of Sacramento General Operations Supervisor Matt Winkler; City of Sacramento Homeless Services Coordinator Emily Halcon; Sean Wright (Alkali And Mansion Flats Historic Neighborhood Association); Elaine Hebert (Southside Park Neighborhood Association); George Raya (Marshall School/New Era Park Neighborhood Association); Pamela Rasada (Richmond Grove Neighborhood Association); Angela Tillotson (Midtown Neighborhood Association).
 
Absent: Newton Booth Neighborhoods Association; Washington Park Improvement Group; Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association
 
Good News Updates from Steve
City received $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant for streetlights between 16th and 21st streets and F and I streets. City is also working to systematically get more streetlights installed.
 
The City is working on residual items from McKinley Village, such as the Alhambra Tunnel—money will only be spent on bike and ped facilities (about $700,000).
 
Grid 3.0 was approved by City Council. Voters did not approve Measure B, so projects will take longer to be built.
 
Regional bike sharing is moving forward, and Steve hopes it will be up and running by May is Bike Month. The two major communities of West Sacramento and Davis will be included.
 
The City received Cap and Trade money needed for the Downtown street car. Now the city needs to enter into an agreement with the federal government. Part of the funding will come from taxes, but that will only apply to commercial properties.
 
Jose DeGregorio was commissioned to do an art piece at Washington Elementary, and the work is in progress.
 
Sacramento Police Department
Cpt. Justin Eklund asked that we help spread the word about vehicle thefts and burglaries. Surprisingly, many people will start their cars in the morning to warm up, and then run back into the house. This should never be done and it creates an opportunity for thieves to easily steal your car. Also remember to lock, take, hide. Lock your car. Take your personal belongings and valuables or hide them. Also do not put them in your trunk when you arrive at your destination. People may see you do that. If you are going to put them in your trunk, do so before you arrive at your destination.
 
He also asked that we help people understand that if it takes officers longer to respond to calls, it is not because they are working at the Arena. Officers are paid through the City’s General Fund and cannot be taken from their beat work to work Arena events. When it takes officers longer to respond, it is because they are on other calls. The officers at Arena events are off duty and paid by the Kings.
 
Officers are focusing on safety at Marshall, Grant, Winn and Neely Johnson parks. These parks have had an increase in late hour loitering and safety concerns.
 
Sac PD will have shift changes in early 2017, so you may see a lot of new faces.
 
Porch thefts will likely increase with holiday shopping. This is especially inviting to thieves in the Central City where many porches and doors are close to the sidewalks. If you are expecting valuables, have them delivered somewhere else, if you can. Amazon also has lockers at the Safeway at 19th and S streets and at the Safeway on Alhambra.
 
If you have photos or videos of package thefts, file a police report and send the pictures or video to Sac PD. You can file reports on line and contact Sac PD nonemergency (916) 264-5471 and let them know that you have pictures or videos. They will make arrangements to get the images from you. Sometimes officers can identify a thief from a picture. Sometimes the pictures are shared with the media. Porch theft is something that resonates with everyone, and the media often shares it.
 
If you are buying from Craigslist, make the exchange at a police or fire station to be safe.
 
Planning and Development Updates
Steve said that as far as he knows, the Pappas (the developer for 201th and L) still plans to move forward with the project. They are still looking for another anchor tenant since Whole Foods backed out.
 
19J was approved by the planning commission and if no appeals are filed against it, it will move forward.
 
Vacant historic schools Jefferson (16th and N and Old Marshall 28th and G): the school district is working on a property swap with a team that has a property on which the district is interested building a new central kitchen. If it goes through, the development team wants to build housing on the sides of the historic Jefferson building and rehab the historic building. It would be a mixed-use site.
 
A committee that included neighborhood residents reviewed proposals for the Old Marshall School site. A senior housing project by Bardis homes and Mogavero architect was selected.
 
CADA is in the process of getting a development at the corner of 14th and N. At this time, there is a surface lot.
 
The Kings made the highest offer at the 8th Street property. They’ve talked about preserving the Bellvue apartments and rehabbing them for workforce housing.
 
Many groundbreakings have happened or will happen soon:

• Truitt dog park at 19th and Q (ground breaking Nov. 30)
• 19th and Q apartments
• 17th and Q apartments (same developer as the Creamery project) should be breaking ground soon.
• 20th Street townhomes
• Mansion Flat Modern (16th and D)
• Lavender Courtyard (16th and F)

 
The Clarion is up for sale again. It was previously slated to be and artists colony, but now that it’s for sale again, that may change.
 
The blighted block of S Street (between 15th and 16th) had been approved for a project that did not move forward. It has continued to fall into decay, and a few months ago, squatters started a fire. Steve brought out several high-level City staff for a sight visit. This included the Police Chief, City Manager, City Attorney, Fire Chief, and Code Enforcement. They are working to make the property owners more accountable and if needed, they will pursue a Justice for Neighbors case. If you know of concerns with these properties, send your concerns to Steve Hansen at SHansen@cityofsacramento.org. To reduce or eliminate future cases like this, the city is beginning to require that all development financing and building permits are in place before de-tenanting or demolishing a building.
 
Steve has asked the City Manager to ask planning staff to place a moratorium on lot splits for lots that are larger than usual and have contributing or historic components, such as the berm and wall at the corner of 21st and U Street.
 
Homelessness Update
Nov. 21 was the first night of Winter Sanctuary, which has a capacity of about 100 people per night, depending on the location. The primary pick-up location is Loaves and Fishes, and folks need to be there by 3 p.m. The City hopes to have funding to continue Winter Sanctuary through March. This program is a collaboration between Sacramento Steps Forward, various faith-based organizations, and the City of Sacramento.
 
Sacramento County held two workshops in October. The County has shown interest in a triage center like San Francisco’s Navigation Center. The County holds all contracts for family shelters and the City funds all single shelters. The Proposition 163, “No Place Like Home,” funding will come through the county. Mayor-Elect Steinberg has pushed for more collaboration between the city and county. The City just adopted their 2017 meeting calendar, and it includes three joint meetings with the County Board of Supervisors. The first meeting is scheduled for January 31, 2017. You can report homelessness through 3-1-1. The City is trying to get SHRA to reprioritize their housing voucher system (formerly known as Section 8), which gives current recipients priority for the vouchers, the City is trying to get SHRA to make unhoused people/homeless people a priority.
 
Federal law requires regular (every two years?) “point-in-time” counts of the homeless. The City will conduct their point-in-time count in late January and will be looking for volunteers. They anticipate a larger count than previous counts. With county rangers increasing enforcement along the Sacramento River, many people have been pushed to more visible places. This could help get a more accurate count and can help with federal funding. You can learn more and sign up for the city’s homeless newsletter at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/homeless.
 
Parking
Matt Eierman and Matt Winkler noted that parking with the new Arena is going more smoothly than they could have imagined. The Arena manager said that the Golden 1 Arena opening was smoother than any he’s ever seen. All the work that went into the planning stage has moved to use stage. They’ve upgraded technologies with Smart Meters and Pay-by-Phone, allowing people to more easily enter parking structures and to make parking reservations. They’ve had about 115,000 transactions, and about 30,000 cars are being directed to parking. More people are using parking garages for events, leaving street spaces open for businesses. They are seeing cars parking in a wider-spread area, which is leaving capacity for other things.
 
They are going to change the parking website and have a better app that is more user friendly. This will really dial into street parking, and they now have sensors that will detect when a space becomes open and direct people to open spaces. They are turning on the feature that can identify license plates Thanksgiving week. Steve wants to do a follow-up parking survey in the spring to see how to make the system and parking program better.
 
Residents can get up to 10 24-hour guest passes per month. Passes can be printed, but the City has also created a system that allows you to enter your guests’ license plate numbers electronically. You need to enter them at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that they are entered into the system. Once the plate number is entered in the system, parking enforcement will be able to pull up the plate and your visitor will not be cited. If it is less than 24 hours, it’s better to print the pass.
 
Events
Dec. 10, from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. will be Steve’s swearing-in ceremony for his second term. The event will be at the Verge Center for the Arts at 625 S Street. The event is free and open to the public.
 
Dec. 13, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. will be Mayor-elect Steinberg’s swearing-in party at the California Railroad Museum. You can RSPV at: http://allaboutsac.com/swearingin.php.
 
Parks
Measure U will be an item on the Council agenda in December. Steve requested more money for deferred maintenance for parks, including many improvements, including removing the bathrooms at Fremont Park and building a tot lot fence at Marshall Park. They are also looking at reuses for the old emergency communications building at Winn Park.
 
End of meeting