Sacramento City Council

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 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm, with exceptions for holidays and other special cases.[1]

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.

Sacramento's councilmembers receive an annual salary of $58,477; the Mayor's salary is $111,106 per year.[1]

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.[2][3]
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.[3]
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".[3]
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".[3] 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.[4]

Present council format

Since 1971, the city has been divided into eight council districts.[5] 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.[3][6] 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.[7]
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 of 1992 and November of 1994 as the city switched to even year elections following those elections.

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.[8] District boundaries are redrawn based on data from the United States Census.[9]

District 1

District 1 Councilmembers
Name Years Served
Angelique Ashby 2010 - present
Ray Tretheway [a] 2001 - 2010
Heather Fargo [b] 1989 - 2000
David Shore 1981 - 1989
John Roberts 1977 - 1981
Manuel Ferrales 1971 - 1977
Sacramento's District 1 is located in the northwestern area of the city. District 1's neighborhoods include:
Councilmember Angelique Ashby represents District 1 of the City of Sacramento. She is a small business owner and a resident of North Natomas. Ashby is an alumnus of University of California, Davis and earned a law degree from McGeorge School of Law.

District 2

District 2 Councilmembers
Name Years Served
Allen Warren 2012 - present
Sandy Sheedy 2000 - 2012
Rob Kerth 1992 - 2000
Lyla Ferris 1987 - 1992
Charles Bradley [c] 1987
Grantland Johnson [b] 1983 - 1986
Blaine Fisher 1975 - 1983
Herman 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:
  • Del Paso Heights
  • Glenwood Meadows
  • Hagginwood
  • Noralto
  • North Sacramento
  • Parker Homes
  • Robla
  • Strawberry Manor
  • Woodlake
  • Youngs Heights
In November 2012, Allen Warren narrowly defeated former Councilmember Rob Kerth to win the council seat.[10] 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.[11]

District 3

District 3 Councilmembers
Name Years Served
Jeff Harris 2014 - present
Steve Cohn 1994 - 2014
Josh Pane 1989 - 1994
Doug Pope 1977 - 1989
R. Burnett Miller 1971 - 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
Name Years Served
Steve Hansen 2012 - present
Robert Fong 2004 - 2012
Jimmy Yee 2000 - 2004
Joseph Yee [c] 2000
Jimmy Yee [b] 1992 - 1999
Tom Chinn 1983 - 1992
Anne Rudin 1971 - 1983
Sacramento's District 4 is located in the western central area of the city. District 4 neighborhoods include:
Councilmember Steve Hansen narrowly defeated Joe Yee in November 2012 to win the District 4 council seat.[10] A manager at a biotech firm, Hansen holds a Bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University and a Jusis Doctorate from McGeorge School of Law.[12]


District 5

District 5 Councilmembers
Name Years Served
Jay Schenirer 2010 - present
Lauren Hammond [a] 1997 - 2010
Deborah Ortiz [a] [b] 1993 - 1996
Joe Serna [b] 1981 - 1992
Daniel Thompson 1977 - 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
Name Years Served
Eric Guerra 2015 - present
Kevin McCarty 2004 - 2014
Dave Jones [a] 1999 - 2004
Darrell Steinberg [b][c] 1992 - 1998
Kim Mueller 1987 - 1992
Bill Smallman 1983 - 1987
Eva Garcia [c] 1982 - 1983
Lloyd Connelly [b] 1975 - 1982
Ritz Nagrow 1971 - 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.[13]
The seat is currently unfilled. A special election will be held on April 7th to fill the seat.
Councilmember 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 Sacramento City Council since 2004 when he was elected to replace Dave Jones who was running for a seat in the California State Assembly. An alumnus of California State University, Long Beach and California State University, Long Beach 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
Name Years Served
Darrell Fong 2010 - present
Robbie Waters 1994 - 2010
Terry Kastanis 1981 - 1994
Thomas Hoeber 1977 - 1981
Michael Sands 1971 - 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
Name Years Served
Bonnie Pannell [a] 1998 - present
Sam Pannell [d] 1992 - 1998
Lynn Robie 1979 - 1992
Patrick Donovan [c] 1979
Bob Matsui [b] 1971 - 1979
District 8 is located in Sacramento's southern area. District 8 neighborhoods include:
Councilmember Larry Carr represents District 8 of the City of Sacramento.
His predecessor is Bonnie Pannell. She replaced her late husband Sam Pannell on the Sacramento City Council in 1998 after his death. She was a community activist in her South Sacramento neighborhood prior to her election to council.

Past Councils & Councilmembers

Past City Councils (1971 election - present)

Year Mayor City Councilmember
District 1District 2District 3District 4District 5District 6District 7District 8
1972 Richard H. Marriott Manuel Ferrales Rosenwald Robertson [d] R. Burnett Miller Anne Rudin Phillip Isenberg Ritz Nagrow Michael Sands Robert Matsui
1973
1974 Manuel Ferrales Herman Lawson [c] R. Burnett Miller Phillip Isenberg [b] Michael Sands
1975
1976 Phillip Isenberg Blaine Fisher Anne Rudin Callie Carney [c] Lloyd Connelly Robert Matsui [b]
1977
1978 John Roberts Doug Pope Daniel Thompson Thomas Hoeber
1979 Patrick Donovan [c]
1980 Phillip Isenberg [b] Blaine Fisher Anne Rudin Lloyd Connelly [b] Lynn Robie
1981
1982 David Shore Doug Pope Joe Serna Terry Kastanis
1983 R. Burnett Miller [c] Eva Garcia [c]
1984 Anne Rudin Grantland Johnson [b] Tom Chinn William Smallman Lynn Robie
1985
1986 David Shore Doug Pope Joe Serna Terry Kastanis
1987 Charles Bradley [c]
1988 Anne Rudin Lyla Ferris Tom Chinn Kim Mueller Lynn Robie
1989
1990 Heather Fargo Josh Pane Joe Serna [b] Terry Kastanis
1991
1992
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 Cohn Lauren Hammond Dave Jones [a] Robbie Waters Bonnie Pannell [a]
2000 Jimmie Yee [c] Joseph Yee [c]
2001 Heather Fargo Ray Tretheway [a] Sandy Sheedy Jimmie Yee Dave Jones Bonnie Pannell
2002
2003 Ray Tretheway Steve Cohn Lauren Hammond Robbie Waters
2004
2005 Heather Fargo Sandy Sheedy Rob Fong Kevin McCarty Bonnie Pannell
2006
2007 Ray Tretheway Steve Cohn Lauren Hammond Robbie Waters
2008
2009 Kevin Johnson Sandy Sheedy Rob Fong Kevin McCarty Bonnie Pannell
2010
2011 Angelique Ashby Steve Cohn Jay Schenirer Darrell Fong
2012
2013 Kevin Johnson Allen Warren Steve Hansen Kevin McCarty [b] Bonnie Pannell [e]
2014
2015 Jeff Harris Jay Schenirer Eric Guerra [a] Rick Jennings Larry Carr

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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Being a Member of the City Council". City of Sacramento. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  2. ↑ "City of Sacramento 150th Anniversary: Historical Dates and Facts". City of Sacramento. 1999. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "For the record : catalog of the public records, City of Sacramento 1849-1982, Sacramento County, 1848-1982". Online Archive of California. The Regents of the University of California. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  4. ↑ "The Sacramento Bee: 150 Years -- In history's spotlight: Richard Marriott" (fee required). Sacramento Bee (The McClatchy Company). August 26, 2007. p. B2. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "City of Sacramento Charter: Article III, Section 21". Sacramento City Code. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  7. ↑ Sparrow, Glen W. (2004). "Consolidation, West-Coast Style: Sacramento County, California". In Leland, Suzanne M. and Thurmaier, Kurt. 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.
  8. ↑ "City of Sacramento Charter: Article III, Section 23". Sacramento City Code. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  9. ↑ "City of Sacramento Charter: Article III, Section 24". Sacramento City Code. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Warren, Hansen declared winners in Sacramento council races". Sacramento Bee (The McClatchy Company). November 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  11. ↑ "Meet the President". New Faze Development. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  12. ↑ "Biological Form: Steve Hansen". City of Sacramento. 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-27.
  13. ↑ http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/team-kj-wants-do-overs/content?oid=15530292

External links