Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "nag"

NAG candidate forum focuses on non-arena issues

2012-04-18T01:09:39Z

With the arena deal off the table, the focus of the most recent District 4 candidate forum shifted to a variety of non-arena issues, including curbing urban sprawl and how to handle homelessness in the central city.

Five of the seven candidates vying for Rob Fong’s District 4 City Council seat met at the Ethel Hart Senior Center in Midtown for Monday’s forum hosted by the Neighborhood Advisory Group.

This was the third opportunity that candidates Phyllis Newton, Steve Hansen, Terry Schanz, Joe Yee and David Turturici have participated in since joining the race for the council seat.

At the previous forums, discussion topics typically centered on the proposed entertainment and sports complex for the downtown railyards.

This time, forum attendees had other financial questions for the candidates – such as what they plan to do with the $50,000 discretionary fund allotted to each council district.

“I would start by getting Southside Pool open for the summer,” Hansen said. “We need to spend that money on critical access to core neighborhood services. Do fountains in the parks work? Is the community center open for community meetings? We need that money to go to things that really matter.”

Questions from some of the more than 70 people in attendance Monday were directed to individual candidates instead of the panel as a whole, and Moderator Dannetta Garcia kept each candidate to a strict one-minute time limit for answers.

One audience member asked Turturici how he would handle the often spirited conflicts between small business owners who depend on a vibrant nightlife and homeowners who expect clean, safe and peaceful neighborhoods.

“I would fall on the side of the homeowners, the many people who have been living here for most of their lives,” Turturici said. “Obviously we need to work together and compromise and mediate disputes as best we can, but putting business right in the middle of residential areas seems secondary.”

Newton told the audience member who asked about the city’s $26 million budget gap that there is no way to “tax our way out of a deficit.”

“We have to grow our way out,” Newton said. “We do that by retaining existing jobs and reaching out to recruit new business to this community.”

“As the general fund grows to pre-recession levels, we can restore the fire departments that are on brownouts, restore our police and restore our park services and so much more,” she added.

The arena did come up in some questions – but audience members seemed more interested in hearing the candidates answer, “what now?” instead of “what happened?”

“The No. 1 priority at the railyards is the intermodal station,” Schanz said. “We need to base a future for ourselves on transit. I’m excited about the infill opportunities at the railyards – it is our greatest shot to use sustainability policies we have created over the past few years and build in a way that shows we can make the most of mixed-use development.”

Jo Ellen Arnold and Carol Greenwood, Boulevard Park residents, said after the forum that this was the first time either had had the opportunity to see the council candidates in person.

For Arnold, the personality and approachability of a candidate is key to the decision she makes at the poll.

“I wanted to come (to the forum) because I get a feeling of the persona of a candidate by seeing them in person,” Arnold said. “I can imagine if they are someone I could approach and talk to if I had a neighborhood issue.”

Greenwood said she felt her questions were answered well by the candidates, and she got a sense for the value each has for the community.

“They were all strong in their enthusiasm for the central city,” Greenwood said. “I liked that. That made me feel really good.”

Neither Arnold nor Greenwood revealed who they would vote for in the upcoming race, but Arnold said the forum helped her narrow down her choice.

Candidate Neil Davidson did not attend the forum due to a family emergency, NAG representatives said Monday.

Candidate Michael Rehm said Tuesday he was not at the forum because he was unaware of the event.

“I didn’t get an invitation – if they sent one, I never saw it,” Rehm said.

Rehm said he is not dropping out of the race for District 4 and is ready to participate in any scheduled debates with other candidates.

All seven candidates are scheduled to appear at a forum hosted by the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, the Midtown Business Association, the Greater Broadway Partnership, and the Old Sacramento Business Association April 30 at The Cosmopolitan Cabaret Theatre, 1000 K St.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Editorial Note: Information was added to this article after it was published about the hosting organizations.

NAG discusses parking and police hotline at March meeting

2012-03-21T04:26:16Z

Midtown residents asked Sacramento city staff for a solution to the lack of parking spaces available to renters and owners at Monday’s Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) meeting. They complained that business patrons are using their residential spaces.

“As someone who lives down here and can’t park, I have concerns about residential parking,” said Karen Jacques, a member of the Midtown neighborhood association. “We’ve got to have some way (the potential solution) really keeps the business customers out of residential parking.”

Greg Sandlund, associate planner for the Community Development Department told NAG members that his department is actively working toward a plan that will balance the needs of residential parking with commercial parking.

According to Sergeant Mark Chapman of the Sacramento Police Department the Safeway on Alhambra and the Safeway on 19th Street seem to be hotspots for criminal activity. Both stores have the highest calls for service in the area, he said.

Sergeant Chapman also said cameras are set up in the parking lots, and the stores are taking a zero-tolerance stance for shoplifters, panhandlers, drunks, and any other criminal activity.

Sergeant Chapman reiterated that if residents witness any crimes or activity they suspect to be dangerous they should report it by calling the police hotline.

“Believe it or not, (people not calling in activity) is very frequent,” Sergeant Chapman said. He commented that the East Sac neighborhood watch group seems very active, but the police are still not receiving calls.

“We need some systematic way to report it,” Jacques said, adding that when she calls she is placed on hold.

“It’s just to have some way to create a record to report it. We just eat it and replace the broken window...” Jacques said, giving an example of her experience.

Sergeant Chapman told the group that there is a special police unit called the Entertainment Team, and that the only thing it does it police bars.

Vincene Jones, Director of the Neighborhood Services Department reinforced Sergeant Chapman’s initial point. “The squeaky wheel always gets it,” Jones said.

Always call and report crimes, said Sergeant Chapman.

There will be a neighborhood watch training meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Police Headquarters at 5770 Freeport Blvd.

Jim Day, security supervisor for SMUD, cautioned NAG members that as the weather warms up, there will be more criminal activity, especially graffiti.

He also drew attention to the ongoing issue with thieves stealing copper from SMUD receptacles and power boxes. Not only is this costing the city thousands of dollars in repairs, but it could also cause power outages, and it is extremely dangerous to deal with.

“People have been hurt, (and) people have been killed,” Day said.

There is a 24-hour SMUD security dispatch team that you can reach by calling 732-5900.

Day said not to confront criminals for safety reasons and to call the police or call SMUD. He said citizens can also feel free to approach SMUD officials if seen out.

NAG meeting tackles big issues

2012-01-24T21:44:11Z

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group members cautiously welcomed the new leader of the Midtown Business Association Monday evening at their monthly meeting and took the opportunity to express their frustrations with the organization.

About 40 residents, business leaders and presenters attended the meeting – a high turnout, according to Bill Burgua, attendee.

Elizabeth Studebaker, the new executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said her first focus is on trash removal, and that aggressive changes will be made. She also addressed concerns about the growing number of bars and restaurants in Midtown.

“There’s a very strong perception that the neighborhood has been taken over by the hospitality industry,” said Burgua. “You are up against a really dim view from the people in the neighborhood.”

Studebaker said she’ll work hard to repair the relationship between residents and the MBA, but she asked for time and assistance from the community.

She also announced the search for a maintenance manager to oversee the removal of trash, graffiti and the overall appearance of the business district.

In regard to the proliferation of liquor providers in the area, Studebaker said she’s in search of a healthy balance of businesses, with a focus on small businesses.

“MBA can’t decide who opens a business here, but we can be a communication tool,” Studebaker said.

David Brent, interim director of the city’s Department of Utilities, presented proposed increases to water and waste water rates. The increases would fund a program to replace or rehabilitate the aging infrastructure.

The water treatment plant on the Sacramento river is operating with the original pumps from 1920. Many miles of pipeline are more than 100 years old and are in danger of failure, Brent said. He added that it’s a necessary investment to avoid the risk of flooded houses, closed businesses and sewage backups.

“All our lives, we’ve turned on the water or flushed the toilet without any thought as to how it gets there or where it goes,” Brent said.

The proposal included a 10 percent increase for each of the next three years to unmetered water rates, and an average 15 percent increase to waste water rates. The total increase would add approximately $20 to the average customer’s bill each month by the final increase in 2014, according to Brent’s proposal.

The proposal goes to the City Council on Feb. 21.

Sacramento Police Department Lt. Bill Champion and Norm Colby with the Department of Transportation addressed the growing incidences of copper theft around Sacramento. Some of the hardest-hit targets have been street lights, traffic signals and parks.

“For every foot we put in, they pull out three,” Colby said.

Champion and Colby asked residents to be vigilant and to contact police if people are seen in electrical boxes that don’t seem like they belong. Also, the public should note any missing access covers, as they likely indicate a theft has occurred.

Colby said he’s working to replace the current electrical access covers with locking lids. So far, 400-500 have been purchased, but with 80,000 lids in Sacramento, it is a long, expensive project.

The cost to replace the missing copper is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Champion said cameras have been set up to catch thieves, but a better way to tackle the problem is with recyclers and scrap metal dealers.

“If they have nowhere to take it to sell, it becomes worthless,” Champion said, adding that dealers should be required to check identifications and take thumbprints from sellers.

Central city parking was addressed by Greg Sandlund, associate planner with the city of Sacramento. Sandlund said efforts are being made to modernize parking requirements for new businesses and housing developments. He said his office is looking to provide alternative, smarter ways to provide more parking in the neighborhood, such as scooter or bike parking.

Residents voiced frustrations about the current parking situation and said the city needs to incentivize business owners to share private parking, particularly at night when many lots sit empty.

“Old neighborhoods are dense, and this creates an issue where residents at night can’t get anywhere near our houses,” said Karen Jacques, member of NAG. “It’s a convenience issue and a safety issue.”

Teresa Jackson, with the Department of Parks and Recreation, presented proposed changes to the ordinances that govern special events. Jackson said current codes haven’t been updated since 1995, and the Special Event Ordinance Committee was formed to streamline the process.

The committee is a collection of business owners, event planners and neighborhood representatives.

The proposed updates will make it easier for event planners to understand the “do’s and don’ts” in Sacramento.

Among the changes is a proposal to increase the time needed to file an application from 20 days before the event to 60 days, a process that will allow for better community notification, Jackson said.

The decibel level of special events was also addressed. The acceptable levels would be increased, but the Special Event Ordinance Committee wants to require event planners to pay for an event attendant to monitor sound, Jackson said. She added that police officers now carry decibel meters, and planners will be fined if city resources are used to close down an event.

The next agenda committee meeting will take place on Feb. 6, and the next general NAG meeting will be Feb. 21. Meetings are usually held at the Hart Senior Center, located at 915 27th St.

Residents worry about local developments at September NAG meeting

2011-09-21T01:10:20Z

Neighborhood Advisory Group members expressed concern about the growing number of social services centers – and the type of people they attract – within the Alkali Flat, Mansion Flats and Boulevard Park neighborhoods at the NAG meeting Monday night.

A new Goodwill drop center is planned for the corner of 16th and G streets and none of the speakers at the meeting were in favor of the new development. Members said that these drop centers are often neglected and become a hub for vagrants.

Martha Domjanovic, a Midtown resident and representative for the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, shared her concerns at the meeting with the lack of knowledge she had of the proposed Goodwill drop center. She said it wasn’t until after the plans were finalized that the Neighborhood Advisory Group was notified of the development.

Domjanovic said she helped form a monitor group that will ensure the neighborhood isn’t negatively affected. The details of how this group will monitor the new drop center are still being determined.

“Our goal is to have a more hands-on approach to 16th Street and make sure the new drop center doesn’t become a garbage heap like many of the others that are around town,” Domjanovic said. “We just can’t tolerate something like that in these neighborhoods.”

“Goodwill is only interested in themselves,” said Midtown resident Robert Winger.

He added that he thought this development would be the last thing these neighborhoods need because of the types of people they attract and the mess that he believed they added to a space.

The Neighborhood Advisory Group went on to discuss that social services buildings like the Salvation Army, Loaves and Fishes, and the Boys and Girls Club have been overloaded in these neighborhoods. Goodwill is exempt from being considered an additional social service because they are categorized as retail.

The Neighborhood Advisory Group also discussed the growing number of marijuana dispensaries in the Midtown area.

Neighborhood Services Manager Derrick Lim, said, “A lot of applications for dispensaries are being submitted online. We need to pay attention to who the operators are and if it’s a good fit for that neighborhood.”

~~He explained that it is a highly competitive market and that the city has set a limit of 12 dispensaries that can be located in Sacramento~~ .

Members also voiced their growing concern for the number of media sources advertising and covering dispensaries and how this will increase dispensaries’ influence and voice in the neighborhoods they are located in.

“Media is growing in their coverage of dispensaries around Sacramento. First, the Sacramento News & Review, and now the Sacramento Bee. Even the Sacramento Press covered different dispensaries in the area,” said Don Knutson of Southside Park.

Some said that they don’t mind the dispensaries as long as they remain considerate and do not disturb the integrity of the neighborhood they are located in.

The next Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group agenda meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Oct. 5 at the City Hall located at 915 I Street, room 1104. The general meeting will be held 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Hart Senior Center, 915 27th St.

Editorial Note: Corrections have been made to this story after it was published. The incorrect information has been struck out and the correct information has been added.

NAG continues

2011-07-20T05:27:33Z

Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) isn’t going anywhere, just moving to a new location.

The Hart Senior Center, where NAG has been meeting regularly, began charging an hourly fee of $50 to rent rooms after 5 p.m. which caused some NAG members to wonder if this would be their last meeting altogether.

“NAG is not a city group, they enjoy their independence. They do, however, like the city to work with them,” said Derrick Lim, manager of the city’s Neighborhood Services Department and special events. “The items and agenda is all decided by NAG, they take their own positions.”

Monday’s meeting was held at the Hart Senior Center, 915 27th St., and the Aug. 15 meeting will be held there, too, but after August the meeting will be moved elsewhere.

About 40 people from the community attended the meeting, including three City Council members and Sacramento Interim City Manager Bill Edgar.

“NAG is too important for anything to be ending anytime soon,” said Gerald Celestine, meeting facilitator.

Edgar outlined the city’s grave budget situation in light of the economy’s negative effect on the jobs in the area. NAG members invite him to attend meetings regularly.

“We've gone through some very difficult budget hearings in the last several months,” Edgar said. “When you are on a budget of this size, there are simply things that just cannot be done.”

Edgar spoke about the 141 people that had to leave city service, 92 of them from the police force.

“We don't like laying off anybody,” said Edgar. “These are tough decisions and areas, and that's where we are at for the next five years.”

“The economy has hit Sacramento harder than it has hit other cities,” said City Councilman Steve Cohn. “Unemployment in Sacramento is among the highest in the nation.”

According to the Employment Development Department (EDD), as of April the unemployment rate had finally decreased down to 12 percent in California.

“Hopefully we can call on volunteers again to keep things running,” said Dale Kooyman, a longtime neighborhood activist.

“You can just see the difference,” said Susan Bush, a board member of the Southside Park Neighborhood Association. “The last time I was here was probably six months ago, and there used to be much more chairs lined up.”

“The city used to provide us with pizza and soft drinks, but with the way things are now they don't do that anymore,” Bush said.

Police Captain Dana Matthes gave the local Police Department activity report.

“Our crime numbers were looking good until about two weeks ago,” Matthes said. There was a recent increase in robberies around the light rail and bars and some auto burglaries. Matthes reminded everyone to lock their car doors and to not keep their valuables in their cars.

“We are working hard to make sure number one, that we are staffed enough to answer the phones immediately when people call in for an emergency and number two, that we have a fast response time,” Matthes said.

Matthes talked about how they are also putting “hot spot policing” into practice, which is where an officer will stay stationed at a particular place for approximately 10 to 15 minutes up to five times a day in order to keep an eye on the area. The department will fall back on their usual problem-oriented policing if that does not work, she said.

The hope is that volunteer police will keep up their good work on things like Second Saturday Art Walks, directing traffic, clerical work and other duties with all the recent cuts, she added.

Matthes reported that in the most recent DUI checkpoint there were six or seven arrests for DUIs and that there were also 19 DUI arrests in the last four weeks.

“This is a high number for our area,” Matthes said.

“I was only drunk probably two times in my whole life,” Celestine said. “I don't get it. People walk around totally sloshed and just continue to drink. We need the rules to be enforced.”

After announcements from the community members they gave updates on things happening around the area such as stopping some big trees from being removed on the sidewalk on 920 K St.

“Bill Edgar being here was a big deal because he took time out of his day to be here, along with the other City Council (members),” said Bill Burgua, agenda committee member. “NAG is still in good shape, all our seats are still full.”

The next NAG meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 and at the Hart Senior Center.

Will Monday's Neighborhood Advisory Group Meeting Be Its' Last?

2011-07-14T23:03:12Z

After operating for nearly two decades, what may be the last meeting of the Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) will take place this Monday.

NAG started out as a meeting of concerned central city residents meeting in private homes. Eventually a partnership with the city was formed through Neighborhood Services/Code Enforcement under Max Fernandes. Neighborhood Services has continued to work with NAG publishing and distributing the NAG agenda that was created each month by the independent and volunteer NAG agenda committee. Neighborhood Services also serves as a conduit between the agenda committed for city entities that wanted to present at NAG and city endities that the agenda committe requested presentations from.

Highlights of this NAG agenda include a presentation by interim city manager Bill Edgar. Edgar will speak about the impact of the city budget cuts. It is sugnificant that Mr. Edgar will be presenting at this NAG. He had a major influence on forming the partnership between the NAG and the city when he was city manager, including the creation of Neighborhood Services.

The agenda committee also asked the police to speak during the police activity report about the increasing sales of alcohol in Area 1 in cojunction with reductions in police resources and how Area 1 residents will keep abrest of police issues if NAG ceases to exist.

Finally attendies will discuss the future of NAG after hearing what support Neighborhood Services can continue to provide.

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) July 2011 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, July 18, 2011
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s Facilitator: Gerald Celestine, Capitol Area R Street Association (caRsa) and Friends of Fremont Park

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 City Budget Impacts
Bill Edgar, Interim City Manager

7:00 Area 1 Police Department Activity Report
· Increased alcohol sales and impact on Police
· How will residents keep up with Police issues if there is no Neighborhood
Advisory Group?
Sacramento Police Department

7:15 Announcements

7:20 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute; R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; Special Events; NAG Action Request Form

7:30 Neighborhood Services / Parks and Recreation Updates
· Support of NAG
· Cost /Availability of Hart Senior Center

7:50 Future of NAG

Adjourn

*Next Meeting: To Be Determined*

Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. (If NAG continues)

See City Council agendas and reports here.

Disclosure: Bill Burgua often attends the Neighbohood Advisory Group agenda committee meetings and often facilitates the NAG meetings.

Monday's NAG to Take Another Look at Second Saturday and NIghtlife Issues

2011-03-19T22:18:15Z

The Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) will meet this Monday 3/21/2011. This month's meeting will focus on Second Saturday and Midtown Nightlife issues. There are changes being made to Second Saturday as was reported by Suzanne Hurt on SacPress. This is partially in response to the shooting death and injuries that occurred in the early morning hours of September 12, 2011.

This presentation is a followup to a meeting on September 25,2010

Second Saturday and Midtown Nightlife issue meetings tend to have a very high turnout. If you want to sit up close, come early.

The Agenda

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG)
March 2011 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, March 21, 2011
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s Facilitator: Gerald Celestine, caRsa and Friends of Fremont Park

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 Announcements

6:40 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute; R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; Special Events; NAG Action Request Form

6:45 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: SECOND SATURDAY and MIDTOWN NIGHTLIFE ISSUES UPDATE
MIDTOWN NIGHTLIFE ISSUES
A. Public Safety
1. Youth & Gang Workshops
2. Neighborhood Watch
3. CERT
4. Lavender Angels
B. Parking
C. Entertainment Permits
D. Communication
E. Next Steps/Follow Up

The City of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Services Division, Police Department, Parking Division, Code Enforcement Division and the Midtown Business Association
SECOND SATURDAY
A. Time Change
B. Permit Requirements
1. Vendor Permits
2. Amplified Sound
3. Permitting on City and Private Property
C. Parking
1. Residential Parking/Enforcement
2. Parking on the Grid
D. Public Safety
1. Street Closures
2. Security Measures
E. Notification

Adjourn

*Next Meeting: Monday, April 18, 2011, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street*

For more information, contact Janine Martindale at (916) 808-8193 or at jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. See City Council agendas and reports at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/

Last Neighbohood Advisory Group Meeting of 2010

2010-11-15T21:23:01Z

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG)
November 2010 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, November 15, 2010, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s facilitator: Gerald Celestine, Capitol Area R Street Association (caRsa) and Friends of Fremont Park

6:15 Complimentary pizza and soft drinks courtesy of Sacramento Deal Ticket

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 Area 1 Police Department Activity Report
Lt. Mike Bray, Police Department

6:45 East End Gateway Site 4

Tom Kigar, Development Director, Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA)
Learn about the three development proposals for the site at the south east corner of 16th and P Streets and have your questions answered.

   Provide CADA with your input regarding what you would like to see developed on the site and which proposal you prefer.

7:15 Announcements

7:25 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute; R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; NAG Action Request Form

7:35 Area 1 Updates
   Neighborhood Services Division, Department of Parks and Recreation
   *NOTICE: Please participate in our “Share the Warmth” drive!

7:40 City of Sacramento Organization
   Group Discussion
   Learn the latest information regarding how the City of Sacramento is organized, including which supervisor/manager is responsible for providing what services. Follow along with the organization chart that you will be provided with.
   Have your questions answered by City staff.

Adjourn

**Next Meeting: Monday, January 24, 2011, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street**

For more information, contact Janine Martindale at (916) 808-8193
Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. See City Council agendas and reports.

PLEASE NOTE: The Neighborhood Services Division is sponsoring a clothing drive for children in need. Bring NEW beanies, scarves and mittens to the NAG meeting and Neighborhood Services will distribute them to the following locations: Sacramento Children’s Home, Mustard Seed School and St. John’s Shelter.

September Neighbohood Advisory Group Agenda...Timely Issues as Usual

2010-09-15T23:56:07Z

The agenda for September's meeting of the Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) follows.

Lt. Mike Bray hopes to have some updates from the police department on the Second Saturday shootings.

Food banks have become a survival resource in todays economic climate.

Many city park swiming pools have closed or are slated for closing. Some Area 1 neighborhoods have managed to keep their pools open. We will hear what their stragities were to achieve this.

Measure B is a controversial ballot measure that could have longterm consequences on how the city utilities department operates and the delivery of services to city residents.

Each month's NAG agenda is put together by residents of the City of Sacramento Area1. If you wish to contribute to this process see the information at the bottom of the agenda announcement.

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG)
September 2010 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, September 20, 2010, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s facilitator: Gerald Celestine, Capitol Area R Street Association (caRsa) and Friends of Fremont Park

6:15 Complimentary pizza and soft drinks courtesy of Sacramento Deal Ticket

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 Area 1 Police Department Activity Report
Lt. Mike Bray, Police Department

6:45 Announcements

6:55 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute;
R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; NAG Action Request Form

7:05 Area 1 Updates
Neighborhood Services Department

7:20 River City Food Bank
Eileen Thomas, Executive Director, River City Food Bank
River City Food Bank (RCFB) is a Sacramento-area food bank open every weekday to anyone experiencing hunger from anywhere in Sacramento County is located right here in Midtown.
Learn how RCFB is helping the Sacramento community and have your questions answered.

7:25 City Pool Discussion
City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department; Friends of Bertha Henschel Park; Friends of Glenn Hall Park
Due to budget cuts within the City of Sacramento, many pools have closed for the summer of 2010 and many more, including the pool at Southside Park, are scheduled to close in 2011.
Learn how neighbors have raised private funds to keep neighborhood pools open.

7:55 Measure B
Patti Bisharat, Interim Assistant City Manager
Measure B is a proposal that has been placed on the November 2010 ballot regarding amending the Sacramento City Code to repeal rate increases and roll back rates levels for water, sewer, and garbage collection services.
Learn the impacts of Measure B.

Adjourn

***Next Meeting: Monday, October 18, 2010, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street***

For more information, contact Janine Martindale at (916) 808-8193 or at jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. See City Council agendas and reports at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/

Residents fear trees will be neglected

2010-07-23T08:05:44Z

Some Midtown residents are concerned that Sacramento’s urban forest will get the ax from budget cuts.

Midtown resident Karen Jacques raised the issue at Monday night’s Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting by filing a request for a response from the city of Sacramento on the possible laying off of Sacramento’s experienced tree maintenance staff.

Jacques said she has heard that maintenance staff is at risk of being laid off, and she said she fears the loss that will represent to the upkeep of the numerous trees in the city.

“This issue is at least grid-wide, and it may be Central City-wide,” Jacques said. “What I’m asking of urban forest staff is that they look at their budget priorities.”

“We have to take a look at all of our services to close the budget gap,” said Linda Tucker, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Department of Transportation. “One of the areas...is going to be Urban Forestry.”

Tucker said she could not go into specific positions facing cuts, but said there will still be people with arborist-level experience on staff.

Layoff notices were mailed Wednesday, and they are scheduled to take effect Aug. 6. Tucker could not elaborate on which positions would be cut.

The level of service, she added, will decline.

“What people will lose will be the ability for the city to...plant new trees other than the ones we replace,” Tucker said.

The cuts will also lead to long-term maintenance costs as some trees might not be properly watered, damaging them in the long run, Tucker added.

She added that positive measures have been taken, including pruning entire blocks at a time instead of responding to calls for single trees needing pruning.

Resident George Raya added to Jacques’ request Monday night, asking for a review of the books for the landscape and lighting funds.

“I’d like to find out how much of our tax is actually going to tree services,” Raya said. “We taxed ourselves specifically for this reason.”

Jacques said she is concerned that without the more experienced staff on-hand, newly planted trees will die and old ones will not get the attention they need.

“In some areas, it isn’t going to be pretty, but these are some tough times,” Tucker said.

Vina: Development department employees to be re-trained

2010-05-18T06:10:09Z

The city’s development department will face a culture change, according to Sacramento Interim City Manager Gus Vina.

Employees at the Community Development Department will go through a re-training process, Vina told residents Monday at a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting in Midtown.

The development department has been immersed in controversies in recent months. Employees will be informed about the results of a third-party audit when it is complete, Vina said.

An outside firm is examining claims that the department let developers sidestep fee payments to the city.

“All the employees need to be very aware of the audit findings” and the culture for the department that the city wants, Vina said.

The city’s slogan, “Get the Customer to Success,” was “somewhat misunderstood” by the development department, Vina told neighborhood activists.

That slogan was promoted by former City Manager Ray Kerridge, who is transitioning to a new job as Roseville’s new city manager.

Outside the meeting, Vina added: "Customer service needs to be consistent with good policy."

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Should neighborhood group ditch the acronym "NAG"?

2010-05-18T05:57:09Z

Should the Neighborhood Advisory Group change its name to avoid the acronym “NAG”?

That’s one of the questions neighborhood activists raised at Monday’s NAG meeting. Sacramento neighborhood leaders are mulling possible changes to the functions of their community group, as well as engaging in a more light-hearted discussion of their name.

But it’s not like the neighbors didn’t realize the humor in the acronym.

Margaret Buss of the Boulevard Park Neighborhood Association explained the name to other neighborhood leaders at the NAG meeting, which was held at the Hart Senior Center in Midtown.

The group’s acronym was “definitely tongue-in-cheek,” she said, while its full name was formal.

“I have a fondness for the acronym for that reason,” Buss said.

In addition to thinking about a possible name change for the group, the neighborhood activists are evaluating some of their processes. A handful of neighbors who participate in NAG meetings is recommending that the larger group pursue efforts such as encouraging the city government to make its budget decisions and financial concerns accessible to the public.

Another idea on the table is for some of the neighbors to form a transportation and traffic planning workgroup “to discuss traffic impacts and transportation planning on current and future development projects,” according to a NAG handout distributed by Sacramento resident Dale Kooyman.

Neighbors involved with NAG are expected to discuss the new ideas at their June meeting. The city's Neighborhood Services Department works with NAG.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Downtown loses its senior center

2010-03-19T02:02:46Z

Sacramento seniors facing economic hardship will have one less place to relax and meet friends.

Catholic Charities of Sacramento, Inc., has closed down its Cathedral Neighborhood Senior Center downtown because of a funding shortage, said Beth White, associate director of the nonprofit organization.

The center, which is located at 711 J St., had provided a social atmosphere for seniors since 1975, according to White. It shut down March 1.

Elderly residents of single-resident-occupancy motels as well as homeless seniors would gather at the center, White said. They would watch television or enjoy a coffee, she said.

For example, a group of seniors would come to the center in the morning because “that’s where they got their morning coffee,” White noted.

The closure means that seniors downtown no longer have a meeting place, White said. “We were the last downtown provider.”

For years, the center’s operations were paid for by Sacramento’s county government, the city of Sacramento and Catholic Charities, according to White.

Then, in 2004, the county halted its share of the funding for the center, White said, adding that the center is no longer receiving funding from the city government either.

Without the help from the city and county, Catholic Charities could not pay for the rent on the building, personnel or operational costs, White noted.

“If you live in a SRO, it really is your meet-and-greet place and your social place,” Sacramento City Councilman Ray Tretheway told residents at a Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting Monday in Midtown. “It just breaks my heart to see that go under.”

While the center has closed its doors, Catholic Charities continues to run an outreach program to help downtown seniors gain access to medical, dental and mental health services, among other services, White said. The outreach program is covered by federal funds, monies from foundations and private donations, she said. Catholic Charities operates the outreach program together with the Transitional Living and Community Support organization.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

NAG agrees to pay rental fee

2009-08-19T22:59:25Z

On Monday night, the city’s budget crisis came close to altering the date and location of the monthly meeting of the Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG).

The NAG meets in the evening, 6:15 – 8:30 p.m., on the third Monday of each month at the Ethel MacLeod Hart Center, a community center administered by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

The attendees are representatives from neighborhood associations, businesses, and citizen-activists. They all assemble in the Center’s Redwood Room to hear city officials speak on issues relating to city policies and services, developers present building plans, and other issues of interest.

Due to the city's budget crisis, the Neighborhood Services Department alerted the NAG that the Hart Center would no longer be available as a location for meetings. The city could not afford to keep the Center open after 5:00 p.m., unless there is a paid reservation for the meeting room.

The Neighborhood Services Department had been hosting the meetings. If the NAG wanted to continue to meet at its usual date and time, the NAG would have to pay for a rental fee for use of the meeting room, at a charge of $35 - $75 per hour.

When the issue came up on the agenda there was general discussion as to why the NAG met on Mondays, to allow interested parties to attend the Tuesday night City Council meetings, and/or Commission meetings held on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The NAG has been meeting at the same location and date for 15 years, therefore there was no support for moving the location, or changing the date of the meetings.

When Director of Neighborhood Services, Vincene Jones, asked for suggestions for a solution, offers came from around the room from neighborhood associations, businesses and City Councilmember Steve Cohn to cover the rental fee for a monthly meeting. Enough pledges were received to cover six months of rental fees. Sacramento Press offered to cover six months of rental fees.

This may be repeated in the future, citizens stepping forward to cover costs that were once paid by the city.

Homelessness: The public can help create new program

2009-04-20T01:24:41Z

Gerald Celestine knows Sacramento residents have a stake in how the city and county will spend federal stimulus dollars that are intended to counter homelessness.

Celestine, an active member of Sacramento’s Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG), planned a discussion for the April 20 NAG meeting so residents can brainstorm how they want their local governments to use about $4.8 million in federal monies for homelessness.

The pot of money will be distributed almost evenly between the county and city: The city is expected to receive $2.375 million, and the county expects $2.397 million.

Sacramento neighbors would like to express “some of our hopes and desires for this money,” Celestine said.

Residents can present their views on specific ways the money should be spent in two separate meetings on April 20.

Sacramento residents will discuss federal monies coming to the city and county at the Neighborhood Advisory Group (Area 1) meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Hart Senior Center, which is located at 915 27th Street.

Shamus Roller, executive director of the Sacramento Housing Alliance, will explain to residents how the city and county are expected to receive the funds for homelessness through a new federal program.

The new federal effort, known as the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), is part of the national stimulus package.

Roller points out, however, that the federal funds for this program are not going to solve the big financial problems for social and health services in the county and city. “The stimulus money is not a panacea,” he says, and “it’s not going to fix everything.”

A separate public meeting on the federal funding will be held earlier on Monday. The public is asked to weigh in on how the city and county should create its application for the federal monies to address homelessness at the local level. The public meeting will be held Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. at 2700 Fulton Avenue.

The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, county Department of Human Assistance and the Interagency Council on Homelessness are hosting the forum.

Cindy Cavanaugh, an assistant director for policy at the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA), explains that SHRA will apply to the federal government for the funds.

The federal dollars will be used for homeless people to rent housing and for prevention of homelessness. Cavanaugh explains that in the “rapid-rehousing” model, homeless people are encouraged to find housing rather than live in shelters. Under this program, a homeless person could receive up to 18 months worth of funds to help cover the cost of rent, she said.

Roller said there is flexibility in the program. The HPRP monies can be used in various ways, including for utility bill costs, Roller said.

SHRA and the county’s Department of Human Assistance are planning the application for funds.

The city and county are almost guaranteed to receive the federal funds as long as they complete the application process, Cavanaugh said. Assuming the application for funding is accepted by HUD, the city and county can access the funding October 1.

The city and county’s application for the federal funds will be addressed in public hearings at both the City Council and the Sacramento Board of Supervisors.

Sacramento’s City Council will discuss the application at its May 12 meeting. The Board of Supervisors will address the issue at its May 13 meeting.

The deadline to send the application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is May 18.

After May 18, the application will be completed but the program will continue, Cavanaugh said. SHRA will hold stakeholder meetings and form the details of the funding program with the help of the Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Nag, nag, nag

2009-03-17T06:26:33Z

Monday evening, a group of business owners, politicians and concerned citizens gathered at the Hart Senior Center for the March meeting of the Sacramento Neighborhood Advisory Group.

The Neighborhood Advisory Group is a monthly meeting for residents of Sacramento's Area 1 to discuss issues pertinent to residents and business owners in the area. It is a partnership between neighborhood leaders and the city's Neighborhood Services Department.

Monday’s meeting began with a brief speech from Mayor Kevin Johnson, followed by a question-and-answer period. Light on specifics, Johnson's speech focused on the idea of Sacramento as a city of neighborhoods, Johnson's commitment to making Sacramento a "world-class destination city," and his assertion that his administration would be responsive, transparent and accessible to citizens. Johnson committed himself to maintaining each neighborhood's distinct and unique character, saying that Sacramento's diversity was "a strength."

In the Q&A session following his speech, Johnson was asked about the centralization of homeless services in the Alkalai Flats neighborhoods, and the problems that it causes. He admitted that "there's a general consensus that there is an overconcentration of our homeless population in one area," and called for a regional approach to tackle the problem. Johnson also discussed the need to develop Sacramento's riverfront areas, mentioning the Railyards and Cal Expo as well, calling them "two of the biggest in-fill projects that could be developed anywhere in the country," and a tremendous opportunity for sustainable growth. He concluded the Q&A by calling for increased volunteerism among Sacramento citizens, encouraging them to use handsonsacto.org to coordinate their work.

Following Mayor Johnson, Lt. Mike Bray of the Sacramento Police Department presented the Area 1 Police Department activity report. He reported that the incidence of robberies had fallen by 10%. Bray announced "some great arrests" of several minors who had stolen cell phones, backpacks and laptops in the Downtown area, as well as the identification of a suspect in five burglaries also in the Downtown area. Bray urged residents to lock their doors and windows to "harden the target" against potential criminality.

After the police report, the meeting was opened to announcements from attendees. Residents were urged to attend a City Council meeting on the subject of a proposed streetcar system to connect West Sacramento and Downtown taking place next week. City Councilman Steve Cohn weighed in on the subject, saying the current plans would serve West Sacramento far more than Sacramento, and that they should be changed to be more useful for residents of the Midtown and Downtown neighborhoods.

The staff of the Finance Department spent much of the meeting presenting an update of the budget. They projected a 50 million dollar deficit, but Councilman Cohn said that half of the deficit could be managed by obtaining labor concessions, citing the decision by the Police Officer's Association to defer a five percent raise, which Cohn said allowed the Police Department to abstain from firing any officers. He went on to say that similar measures should be applied to other departments.

Director of Finance Leyne Milstein stated that "we are in the middle of a multi-year economic downturn," and that the city's capacity to generate revenue was limited by circumstances, with sales and property taxes both in decline. She proposed a "reduction-only budget," saying that Sacramento needed to "plan for the worst," hoping for concessions from unions to alleviate budget problems. She did note that city management was taking a one-day-a-month furlough.

Concerns were raised over the city's lack of adequate reserve funds to cope with crises, to which Milstein replied, "hindsight is 20/20," and "two years ago, no one saw [the housing crisis] coming." Sacramento had set up a reserve fund of 50 million, of which 10.5 million remains. Councilman Cohn commented that Sacramento was "prepared for a stormy day, even for a stormy year... but what we were not prepared for was a stormy decade." Despite the comments of Director Milstein and Councilman Cohn, one woman present said that "we were like a bunch of drunken sailors, spending every dime we had, and we overspent."

One suggestion Cohn had to ease budget troubles was the institution of a tax on parking in garages and pay-to park lots to generate revenue from visitors to the city, including those who work downtown but live elsewhere. Councilman Cohn said a tax of 10 percent would generate 15 to 20 million dollars, and suggested that it be presented to voters as a way to offset other taxes on city residents. Response to this suggestion was generally positive from those in attendance.

The March Neighborhood Advisory Group adjourned following the suggestion of the parking tax. Meetings are held on the third Monday of every month, with the next taking place on April 20 from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. Meetings take place at the Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street.

Feburary 09 NAG

2009-02-24T15:27:13Z

Last Night's NAG proves to be informative and contentious.

Last night's Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) meeting started off with a low key police report and not much news on issue updates. The general plan goes to City Council for review on March 3rd. There will be a session of the Preservation Roundtable on March 14th,

The primary announcement was the merger of Marshall School Neighborhood Association and the adjoining New Era Park Neighborhood Association.

A presentation by Doug Huston a Program Analyst with the Solid Waste Division on E-Waste removal was the first agenda item. The city has programs to collect batteries, cfls and other florescent lights that can not go into land fills by law. They and other E-Waste material (computers and accessories and TVs etc.) Can be recycled with the neighborhood clean-up program, at the City of Sacramento Household Hazardous Waste Facility and at E-Waste drop off events. Contact 311 for more information. E-Waste along with appliances can also be recycled at commercial businesses including Appliance Distribution (916-497-0274) and Advanced Computer Recycling Inc. (916-387-9988) where free pick-up appointments can be made.

Next was three presentations by developers vying to be selected by CADA for a project at 16th an N Streets. A presentation was made to the NAG August 07 meeting on this mixed use development. The project was shelved due to the bad economy. It has been restarted. There were complaints about the bulk of the building. The developers stated that this was due to the parameters set out by CADA. For information on public comment contact CADA.

What was probably the most contentious item was a presentation by Bill Thomas, Director of Development, on the merger of the Planning Commission and the Design Review Commission. Mr. Thomas stated that this is being done as a cost saving measure. He also took the position that this was going to happen and then there would be public comment on any other changes. To view Mr. Thomas's presentation material contact Vjones@cityofsacramento.org if you are not on the NAG mailing list. Several attendees loudly if not angrily voiced their concern not only with the commission merger but with the whole process. It was described as un-democratic by several persons. The creation of three commissions, Design Review, Planning and Preservation Review was done only two years ago after more than two years of public participation. There was a compromise that created a balance between citizen, city staff and developer input. Many voiced the concern that this merger changes the balance much more in favor of developers at the expense of the citizens. Expect a strong turnout when this reaches City Council. See City Council agendas and reports at http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/.

The last item dealt with another issue that has raised a great deal of concern with affected neighborhoods. McKinley Village: Neighborhood Views was presented by the East Sacramento Preservation Task Force & McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association. A presentation was made to NAG in 08 by the developer. That presentation did not address key concerns such as traffic impact to the surrounding neighborhoods, flood control and sewage removal problems. It became a heated exchange between attendees and the presenters at times. Last night's presentation covered much the same concerns. Requested mitigations included more access including a second tunnel at Alhambra Street, flood control gates, creation of a transportation district and an independent review of sewage distribution problems. Interested parties can attend another presentation of this information tonight, Tuesday February 24th at Theodore Judah Elementary School, 7:00pm.

A reminder that persons interested in having items on the NAG agenda can contact Janine Martindale, 916-808-8193 or jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Anyone can also attend the NAG Agenda Committee which meets the first Wednesday of the month, 12 noon at the Clunie Community Center, East Sacramento Room.

Waste-to-energy: Too good to be true?

2008-11-20T00:07:19Z

Each night, two dozen diesel trucks are loaded up with Sacramento's trash and sent on a journey to the Lockwood Landfill located in the Nevada desert. The trek is a whopping 282 miles round-trip, which is a huge expense for vehicles that only get five to seven miles per gallon.

Wondering if there will ever be an alternative to dumping endless piles of waste in landfills? Recently, Sacramento has been debating whether to jump on the bandwagon.

In August 2007, the idea was proposed to create a "waste-to-energy" facility. This got the gears moving, and in February 2008, Sacramento granted exclusive negotiation rights to U.S. Science and Technology.

The technology is called Plasma Gasification. Using temperatures almost as high as those on the sun's surface, gas is heated and vaporizes trash. This creates a type of synthetic fuel which can then be used as a source of power.

This process is supposedly an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional methods of waste disposal.

An environmentally responsible way of turning trash into power: Is it too good to be true? An article published earlier this week in the Sacramento Bee, called "Sacramento Trash-to-Energy Plan Raises Red Flags" seems to think so.

Critics also point out that although this is touted as being environmentally friendly, this is up for debate. For one, the process uses a lot of energy. There are also concerns about toxic fumes that may be released into the air during the process.

This project was attempted in two other locations, and the results have not been promising.

In St. Lucie County, Fla, the developer—GeoPlasma—has had to scale back the project by about 80 percent, because it just wasn't working. GeoPlasma also proposed the idea to Los Angeles County, and it was refused immediately.

A Plasma Gasification plant for the Sacramento area is currently under discussion. How do you feel about this? If this technology works as well as its proponents claim, why are other cities not taking advantage of this opportunity? Do you feel that this is an appropriate solution? What do you feel are the major problems with this idea?

*Photo courtesy of this Web site
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.

November NAG meeting

2008-11-18T04:43:12Z

NAG stands for Neighborhood Advisory Group and is a group of concerned citizens who meets to talk about their concerns with Neighborhood Services Area 1 of the City of Sacramento.

Each night starts out with a police update. This week's update was presented by Lt. Mike Bray of the Sacramento Police Department. The top three issues brought up were:

Several instances of cat burgluary in the downtown region
Graffiti, "KKK" spray painted on several buildings downtown
Copper theft

Charles Ortner then presented about police coverage of several entertainment venues in Midtown. The police coverage is being paid for by the businesses themselves at $68/hr per officer. The presence of these off duty officers is often enough to deter many would be law breakers.

After a few quick presentations, the floor opens for any announcements and usually several are made. From announcing the opinions about the McKinley Village Project to talking about Christmas decorations.

Then the meeting proceeds on to issue updates, where on going issues are talked about, from Mercy Hospital to the B Street Theater.

Lastly are the presentations. These presentations range from new housing developments to announcing and explaining things like The Sacramento Press. Each presenter gets a varying amount of time, but this week, each presenter had approximately 30 minutes to get their point across and answer questions from citizenry.

Emily Halcon with the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, made the first presentation about inclusionary housing.

Next up, Tom Zeidnor spoke about a new waste-to-energy facility for the Sacramento area.

Lastly, Ben Ilfeld of The Sacramento Press, presented our newspaper to NAG, which is where I posted this story.

Housing for Everyone: Can it Be a Reality?

2008-11-18T01:26:14Z

If you haven't thought about the rising cost of housing, take a look at the foreclosure signs that are most likely scattered around your neighborhood. Especially for low-income families, housing is becoming a frustrating situation. What can be done?

If you've never heard the term "Inclusionary Housing Ordinance," here is what you need to know.

Governments are responding to the issue of rising housing costs by allocating a certain percentage of development for mixed-income neighborhoods. The idea is to create communities consisting of diverse incomes and backgrounds. These housing programs were first developed in the 1970's, and the hope is that they will make housing affordable to a greater number of people. This also ensures that zoning laws don't exclude low-income families.

Unfortunately, it can be hard to gain support for these programs, as what is basically happening is property is transferred from the hands of developers to low-income households. These programs are frequently challenged in court, in fact. Luckily, for the most part, the court rules in favor of the programs.

A Sacramento Bee editorial published June 17, 2008, entitled "Affordable Housing: Yes" discusses the need for more mixed-income housing in the Sacramento area. According to the article, fewer and fewer people here in Sacramento are able to afford homes. In 1997, 65 percent could afford a median-priced home; just ten years later, the percentage dropped to only 15 percent.

In the year 2000, the City Council approved the Mixed Income Housing Ordinance, required that developments in certain areas—the downtown and Curtis Park railyards, North Natomas, Delta Shores and North Laguna Creek—make at least 15 percent of new units affordable to low-income and very low-income households. But, this means that some neighborhoods will have affordable housing while others will not, which is why the current item on the agenda is whether to expand the boundaries of this ordinance.

This issue will be discussed tonight at the Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group, or NAG meeting, from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hart Senior Center, 915 27th street.

What are your thoughts on these type of housing developments? Do you think this is an important issue for the city to discuss? Can you think of any other ways we could help make housing affordable to all?