Sacramento City Council

Last updated

Sacramento City Council
Seal of Sacramento, California.png
Type
Type
History
FoundedOctober 13, 1849 (1849-10-13)
New session started
December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15)
Leadership
Vice Mayor
Eric Guerra, Democratic
Mayor Pro Tem
Mai Vang, Democratic
Structure
Seats9 (8 city councilmembers with the mayor presiding with voting rights)
Sacramento City Council as of Apr 28 2021.svg
Political groups
  Democratic (9)
Length of term
4 years
SalaryCouncilmembers: $65,772 (annual) [1]
Mayor: $111,106 (annual) [2]
Meeting place
Sacramento City Hall - panoramio.jpg
Sacramento City Hall
Sacramento, California
Website
Council Website

The Sacramento City Council is the governing body of the city of Sacramento, California. The council holds regular meetings at Sacramento City Hall on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm, with exceptions for holidays and other special cases. [2]

Contents

Sacramento's city council is a nine-member mayor-council system of government. The council is composed of a mayor and eight council members, each of whom is elected to four-year terms from their respective districts. Sacramento's government is a "weak mayor" system in that the council retains executive and legislative authority. The management and operations of city affairs are not under the direct control of the mayor or the council; these matters are delegated to a city manager, who is appointed by Sacramento's Mayor and serves at the pleasure of the council.

History

Previous councils

Sacramento, the oldest incorporated city in the State of California, has been governed by a council since the city's citizens approved a city charter in 1849. This charter, known as the "City Charter of 1850" in reference to the year that the charter was recognized by the California State Legislature, provided for the election of a ten-member "Common Council" made up of a Mayor and nine council members. [3] [4]

In 1858, the governments of Sacramento County and the City of Sacramento merged. As a result, Sacramento was governed by the Sacramento County Board of Directors (a predecessor to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors) for the next five years. [4]

The revised City Charter of 1863 returned to a separate governing body for the City of Sacramento. The charter established a four-member "Board of Trustees" composed of a Mayor and three trustees. Two more trustees were added to the board under the provisions of the City Charter of 1891. Later, in the City Charter of 1912, the five members of the city's governing body were renamed to "City Commissioners". [4]

Revisions made in the City Charter of 1921 established a nine-member governing body, composed of a mayor and eight council members. The charter established the group's current nomenclature, the "City Council". [4] Councilmembers were elected via a preferential voting system, in which all of Sacramento's electorate were allowed to vote for multiple candidates. Once elected, the council selected one of the councilmembers to serve a two-year term as the city's mayor. [5]

Present council format

Since 1971, the city has been divided into eight council districts. [6] Each district's boundaries are created using data from the United States Census so that each district contains a relatively equal number of citizens. Councilmembers, who must be residents of the districts that they are elected to, are selected by the voters of their respective districts for four-year terms. [4] [7] Unlike the previous system, the city's voters elect the city's mayor to a four-year term via a popular vote.

From the time that the district-based city council was established in 1971, the citizens of Sacramento have considered charters that proposed to consolidate the governments of Sacramento County and the City of Sacramento. On both occasions, in 1974 and again in 1990, the ballot measures were rejected by the citizens of both municipalities. [8]

In 1971, all the seats were up for election as the district format was used for the first time. As a result, councilmembers in odd numbered districts were elected to 6-year terms in 1971 that ended in 1977. Councilmembers in even numbered districts who were elected in 1987 and councilmembers in odd numbered districts that were elected in 1989 were elected to 5-year terms that ended in November 1992 and November 1994 as the city switched to even year elections following those elections. [9]

Council Districts

Sacramento's city district boundaries are defined in an effort to distribute the city's population evenly, as required by state and federal law. [10] District boundaries are redrawn based on data from the United States Census. [11] In April 2022, questions were raised when the City Attorney published an opinion stating that the City had incorrectly assigned constituencies in new districts to sitting councilmembers in the period between redistricting and elections, and that sitting councilmembers should instead represent the constituencies that originally elected them. [12]

District 1

District 1 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Manuel Ferrales19711977
John Roberts19771981
David Shore19811989
Heather Fargo [b] 19892000
Ray Tretheway [a] 20012010
Angelique Ashby20102022
Lisa Kaplan2022Present

Sacramento's District 1 is located in the northwestern area of the city. District 1's neighborhoods include:

Councilmember Lisa Kaplan represents District 1.

District 2

District 2 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Shoun Thao5/24–present
"Sean" (Shahriar) Loloee2020–1/24
Allen Warren2012–2020
Sandy Sheedy2000–2012
Rob Kerth1992 - 2000
Lyla Ferris1987 - 1992
Charles Bradley [c] 1987
Grantland Johnson [b] 1983 - 1986
Blaine Fisher1975 - 1983
Herman A. Lawson [c] 1973 - 1975
Rosenwald Robertson [d] 1971 - 1973

District 2 is located in the northeastern area of Sacramento. The district includes the neighborhoods of:

In November 2012, Allen Warren narrowly defeated former Councilmember Rob Kerth to win the council seat. [13] Warren, a former stockbroker and founder of a local real estate development company, holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from California State University, East Bay. [14]

District 3

District 3 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Karina Talamantes2022–present
Jeff Harris2014–2022
Steve Cohn1994 - 2014
Josh Pane1989 - 1994
Doug Pope1977 - 1989
R. Burnett Miller1971 - 1977

District 3 covers the northern central area of Sacramento. Neighborhoods in District 3 include:

Councilman Jeff Harris was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 2014. He has owned Cadence Construction since 1982. He was a city Parks and Recreation Commissioner for 4 years. He is a resident of the River Park neighborhood.

District 4

District 4 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Katie Valenzuela2020–present
Steve Hansen2012 - 2020
Robert Fong 2004 - 2012
Jimmy Yee 2000 - 2004
Joseph Yee [c] 2000
Jimmy Yee [b] 1992 - 1999
Tom Chinn1983 - 1992
Anne Rudin 1971 - 1983

Sacramento's District 4 is located in the western central area of the city. District 4 neighborhoods include:

Councilmember Katie Valenzuela defeated Steve Hansen in the March 2020 Primary. [15] Katie is a small business owner working to support environmental justice groups working on state policy, and received her bachelors and masters degree in Community Development from the University of California at Davis. [16]

District 5

District 5 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Caity Maple2022–present
Jay Schenirer2010–2022
Lauren Hammond [a] 1997 - 2010
Deborah Ortiz [a] [b] 1993 - 1996
Joe Serna [b] 1981 - 1992
Daniel Thompson1977 - 1981
Callie Carney [c] 1975 - 1977
Phillip Isenberg [b] 1971 - 1975

District 5 is located in the southern central area of Sacramento. Neighborhoods in District 5 include

Councilmember Jay Schenirer represents District 5 of the City of Sacramento. He works as an independent consultant and policy advisor on education reform and youth policy and strategies. Schenirer is an alumnus of University of California, San Diego and earned a Masters of Public Affairs at University of Texas at Austin.

District 6

District 6 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Eric Guerra2015–present
Kevin McCarty 2004 - 2014
Dave Jones [a] 1999 - 2004
Darrell Steinberg [b] [c] 1992 - 1998
Kim Mueller 1987 - 1992
Bill Smallman1983 - 1987
Eva Garcia [c] 1982 - 1983
Lloyd Connelly [b] 1975 - 1982
Ritz Nagrow1971 - 1975

District 6 is in Sacramento's southeastern central area. The district includes the neighborhoods of:

The district previously included UC Davis Medical Center, however this area was removed through a mid-decade redistricting. [17]

Eric Guerra represents the district on the City Council. An alumnus of California State University, Sacramento, where he earned a Masters in Public Policy and Administration and Bachelors of Science, and later served as Preside of the Alumni Association, Guerra served as a Chief of Staff in the California State Legislature before being elected to the council.

Kevin McCarty represented District 6 of the City of Sacramento until he was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2014. He had been a member of the City Council since 2004 when he was elected to replace Dave Jones who was running for a seat in the California State Assembly. His is an alumnus of California State University, Long Beach and Cal State Sacramento where he earned a Masters in Public Policy and Administration, McCarty served as policy director to then Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante prior to being elected to the council.

District 7

District 7 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Rick Jennings2015–present
Darrell Fong2010 - 2014
Robbie Waters1994 - 2010
Terry Kastanis1981 - 1994
Thomas Hoeber1977 - 1981
Michael Sands1971 - 1977

Sacramento's District 7 is located in the southwestern area of the city. Its neighborhoods include:

Councilmember Rick Jennings represents District 7 of the City of Sacramento. Councilmember Jennings is an alumnus of the University of Maryland and won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders.

His predecessor is Darrell Fong who stepped down to run for California State Assembly. A retired Sacramento Police Department Captain, Fong is an alumnus of California State University, Sacramento.

District 8

District 8 Councilmembers
NameIn office
Mai Vang2020–present
Larry Carr2014 - 2020
Bonnie Pannell [a] 1998 - 2014
Sam Pannell [d] 1992 - 1998
Lynn Robie1979 - 1992
Patrick Donovan [c] 1979
Bob Matsui [b] 1971 - 1979

District 8 is located in Sacramento's southern area. District 8 neighborhoods include:

Councilmember Mai Vang represents District 8 of the City of Sacramento.

Her predecessor is Larry Carr.

Past Councils & Councilmembers

Past City Councils (1971 election - present)

YearMayorCity Councilmember
District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8
1972Richard H. MarriottManuel FerralesRosenwald Robertson [d] R. Burnett Miller Anne Rudin Phillip Isenberg [b] Ritz NagrowMichael Sands Robert Matsui
1973
1974Herman Lawson [c]
1975
1976 Phillip Isenberg Blaine Fisher Anne Rudin Callie Carney [c] Lloyd Connelly Robert Matsui [b]
1977
1978John RobertsDoug PopeDaniel ThompsonThomas Hoeber
1979Patrick Donovan [c]
1980 Phillip Isenberg [b] Blaine Fisher Anne Rudin Lloyd Connelly [b] Lynn Robie
1981
1982David ShoreDoug Pope Joe Serna Terry Kastanis
1983 R. Burnett Miller [c] Eva Garcia [c]
1984 Anne Rudin Grantland Johnson [b] Tom ChinnWilliam SmallmanLynn Robie
1985
1986David ShoreDoug Pope Joe Serna Terry Kastanis
1987Charles Bradley [c]
1988 Anne Rudin Lyla FerrisTom Chinn Kim Mueller Lynn Robie
1989
1990 Heather Fargo Josh Pane Joe Serna [b] Terry Kastanis
1991
1992 [9]
1993 Joe Serna Rob Kerth Jimmie Yee Deborah Ortiz [a] Darrell Steinberg [c] Sam Pannell
1994
1995 Heather Fargo Steve Cohn Deborah Ortiz [b] Robbie Waters
1996
1997 Joe Serna [d] Rob Kerth Jimmie Yee [b] Lauren Hammond [a] Darrell Steinberg [b] Sam Pannell [d]
1998
1999 Heather Fargo [b] Steve CohnLauren Hammond Dave Jones [a] Robbie WatersBonnie Pannell [a]
2000 Jimmie Yee [c] Joseph Yee [c]
2001 Heather Fargo Ray Tretheway [a] Sandy Sheedy Jimmie Yee Dave Jones Bonnie Pannell
2002
2003Ray TrethewaySteve CohnLauren HammondRobbie Waters
2004
2005 Heather Fargo Sandy SheedyRob Fong Kevin McCarty Bonnie Pannell
2006
2007Ray TrethewaySteve CohnLauren HammondRobbie Waters
2008
2009 Kevin Johnson Sandy SheedyRob Fong Kevin McCarty Bonnie Pannell
2010
2011 Angelique Ashby Steve CohnJay SchenirerDarrell Fong
2012
2013 Kevin Johnson Allen WarrenSteve Hansen Kevin McCarty [b] Bonnie Pannell
2014
2015 Angelique Ashby Jeff HarrisJay SchenirerEric Guerra [a] Rick JenningsLarry Carr [a]
2016
2017 Darrell Steinberg Allen WarrenSteve HansenEric GuerraLarry Carr
2018
2019
2020Shahriar "Sean" LoloeeKatie ValenzuelaMai Vang
2021
2022Lisa KaplanKarina TalamantesCaity Maple

Notable Councilmembers

Past Sacramento City Councilmembers with notable achievements include:

See also

Notes

a Elected via a special election to complete the remainder of the previous council member's term.
b Resigned prior to the end of their council term after being elected to another office (e.g. Mayor, State Assembly, County Board of Supervisors, etc.).
c Appointed to complete the remainder of the previous council member's term.
d Died in office.
e Retired.

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References

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  6. Heilig, Peggy; Mundt, Robert J. (1984). "Efforts to Adopt Districts". Your Voice at City Hall: The Politics, Procedures and Policies of District Representation. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. pp.  48–50. ISBN   0-87395-821-7.
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  8. Sparrow, Glen W. (2004). "Consolidation, West-Coast Style: Sacramento County, California". In Leland, Suzanne M.; Thurmaier, Kurt (eds.). Case Studies in City-County Consolidation: Reshaping the Local Government Landscape. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. pp. 79–102. ISBN   0-7656-0943-6.
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  10. "City of Sacramento Charter: Article III, Section 23". Sacramento City Code. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
  11. "City of Sacramento Charter: Article III, Section 24". Sacramento City Code. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
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  13. "Warren, Hansen declared winners in Sacramento council races". Sacramento Bee. The McClatchy Company. November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  14. "Meet the President". New Faze Development. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
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