City Council - 2/15/2022

At its February 15, 2022 meeting, the Sacramento City Council considered several development, regulatory, and budget matters. The council approved the Innovation Park plan for the former Sleep Train/Arco Arena site, including zoning and design review for the first phase of a California North State University teaching hospital and central utility plant. The broader 183-acre proposal includes housing, commercial uses, parks, and transportation connections; presenters cited more than 8,000 projected jobs, 10% affordable housing, and a project labor agreement. No public financing was approved at this meeting: potential infrastructure financing, including an EIFD, remains subject to further analysis and a future council decision. The council also approved a rezoning for a 24-unit senior apartment project and removed a planning condition requiring a second accessible parking space. Cannabis-code amendments aligning local requirements with state rules passed 9–0; the appeal fee for illegal residential cultivation was set to increase from $250 to $500, with a review of the fee requested in six months.

The council reviewed the FY 2021–22 midyear budget, including a projected $26.2 million revenue increase and an estimated $49.861 million year-end surplus, while the city manager recommended retaining $27 million in reserve. The mayor proposed $27 million in one-time community investments, including housing and homelessness services, youth programs, and workforce development; members also discussed an additional $1 million for women’s and children’s homelessness services and using $450,000 in remaining ARPA council-priority funds for that purpose. A motion to adopt the Budget and Audit Committee recommendations with amendments was made, but the transcript does not include the final vote. Separately, staff reported $558,918.79 in unpaid code-compliance fees and penalties across 262 properties for collection by assessment or personal obligation. No specific vendor contract award or purchase was identified.