City Council (Closed Session) 2/21/2023

The City of Sacramento City Council meeting on February 21, 2023, included approval of the consent calendar, which covered the Northgate Boulevard transportation plan and the Freeport Boulevard plan. Public commenters supported Northgate’s safety and mobility improvements and described an estimated $70 million need for implementation, noting that future funding would be required; concerns were also raised about the Freeport plan’s treatment of traffic lanes and trees. No construction contract, bid award, or vendor selection was identified. The council also approved an increase to North Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan fees for the 2023 construction season: from $43,968 to $45,565 per gross acre without land dedication, and from $27,718 to $29,815 with land dedication, to reflect implementation costs and support habitat protection. The fee increase passed unanimously.

The council denied a third-party appeal and approved a conditional use permit for a cannabis dispensary at 7909 Bruceville Road, with a one-year report-back requested after operations begin. Discussion addressed potential effects on a nearby substance-use treatment center, the applicant’s CORE social-equity status, and gaps in city notification and land-use processes; council members called for further review of the CORE program and rules affecting sensitive uses. The council also approved the historic designation of the Sacramento Zoo entrance structures. No procurement awards or contracts were made.