West Sacramento · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in West Sacramento public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Economic development
Rice tonnage through the port jumped 52% this year under a new US-Japan trade agreement, with 80-90% of Sacramento Valley rice now moving through West Sacramento. The agreement has no end date and could support up to 550,000 tons annually.
Future of the Fifth & C urban farm and Three Sisters Gardens lease
The city must decide whether to give Three Sisters Gardens a 10-year free lease to build permanent farm facilities, lease at market rate (~$2,000/month), or keep the month-to-month status quo. The half-acre lot is zoned for mixed-use housing and sits on a prominent corner near the new I Street Bridge, making it a potential infill housing site.
Yolo Active Transportation Corridors Plan
The city is updating its bike/ped/trail master plan and building a scoring system to rank future projects. Phase 2 outreach this spring will ask residents to allocate a hypothetical budget across project categories. Decisions here shape which sidewalks, crossings and trails get built first.
Sutter Health Park operations and attendance
The River Cats report big attendance growth with the A's in town, facility upgrades that meet MLB standards, and more non-baseball events coming. Local businesses are eager for the pregame and event traffic that could follow.
Tiny Homes on Wheels Impact Fee Reduction
Tiny homes on wheels were being charged fees as if they were full-size houses. The new interim program cuts most fees proportionally and adds a payment plan, making the city's cheapest housing option more accessible — though water connection fees stayed full price, frustrating advocates.
Aging caregivers of people with developmental disabilities
About 88% of people with developmental disabilities live with aging caregivers. A county ad hoc committee formed in 2022 has produced housing, including a new 37-unit West Sacramento project with 18 units for regional center clients.
Flood insurance discounts preserved through FEMA program
The city needs to update its floodplain ordinance to keep its FEMA Class 8 rating, which gives residents up to 10% off flood insurance. Second city council reading is April 15, effective May 15 if adopted.
Final phase of The Rivers subdivision — 59 new homes
The last undeveloped parcel in The Rivers will become 59 single-family homes, priced in the mid-to-high $500,000s — a lower price point than much of the master-planned area. The existing detention basin will be enlarged, and frontage improvements complete The Rivers' landscaping.
Affordable housing funding in Southport
The city is chipping in to help a 152-unit affordable housing project finally get financed after failed tax credit applications. It would be the first affordable housing built in Southport since the early 2000s.
Homeless Housing
West Sacramento is taking a big step to help its homeless population by converting three motels into much-needed housing. This move aims to provide stable shelter and support for those struggling to find a place to live.