Title
Citywide Resolution Addressing City Efforts Related to Reparations
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FileID
File ID: 2024-02007
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution directing the City Manager to continue the work of the Mayoral Reparations Initiative.
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Contact
Contact: Robert B. Bell, Equity Analyst, (916) 808-7184, rbell@cityofsacramento.org; Aimée Zenzele Barnes, Diversity and Equity Manager, 916-808-1174, abarnes@cityofsacramento.org; Office of Diversity & Equity, Department of Human Resources; Lynette Hall, Community Engagement Manager, (916) 808-1955, lhall@cityofsacramento.org, City Manager’s Office - Community Engagement
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Presenter
Presenter: Robert B. Bell, Equity Analyst, (916) 808-7184, rbell@cityofsacramento.org; Aimée Zenzele Barnes, Diversity and Equity Manager, (916) 808-1174, abarnes@cityofsacramento.org; Office of Diversity & Equity, Department of Human Resources; Ari Green, Community Engagement Analyst, agreen1@cityofsacramento.org, (916) 808-5097, City Manager’s Office - Community Engagement
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Proposed Reparations Resolution
3-Mayoral Reparations Initiative 2024 Progress Report
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: In June 2021, Mayor Steinberg publicly committed to pursuing city-level reparations through a Mayoral initiative. At the June 15, 2021, City Council meeting, the Council unanimously adopted a ceremonial resolution recognizing the historic passage of California AB 3121, which established a task force to develop reparation proposals for African American descendants of U.S. slavery. The sentiments expressed by Councilmembers highlighted a strong commitment to the city’s broader racial equity efforts and a desire to transform statements of support into actionable measures to address historical harm. The resolution emphasized that “the City of Sacramento recognizes the important passage of this significant legislation to study the adverse impacts of slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, black codes, mass incarceration, and subsequent systematic racist policies.” It asserted the necessity of the AB 3121 study in creating a federal reparations blueprint and affirmed the City's role in California’s restorative history.
Since then, the Mayoral Reparations Initiative has collaborated with local jurisdictions and reparations-focused organizations nationwide, secured grant funding for research into city archives, attended and presented at multiple reparations convenings, and testified to the AB 3121 Task Force. Additionally, Council included $200,000 from the City’s budget to explore reparations, including a City Level Reparations Community Engagement (CLRCE) grant to five community-based organizations for education, outreach, and survey work. This included developing a toolkit for grantees, conducting monthly meetings, and providing technical assistance.
These collaborative efforts with community culminated in the Mayoral Reparations Initiative 2024 Progress Report, presented to the Racial Equity Committee (Committee) on September 10, 2024. The Committee directed staff to bring a resolution to the full Council to transition the work of the Mayoral Reparations Initiative to a City initiative including continued work the Greater Sacramento Urban League to continue ongoing community engagement, research, and landscape analysis around reparations for the Reparations Engagement Plan for Action, Investment, and Redress (REPAIR) Initiative.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The proposed action is consistent with Committee direction.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: This action does not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: Not applicable.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: The proposed action is consistent with Committee direction.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The proposed resolution affirms the Council’s support for the work outlined in the Mayoral Reparations Initiative 2024 Progress Report included as an attachment to the proposed resolution.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: The costs associated with the development and implementation of a new citywide initiative cannot be estimated. Given that the City is currently facing a $77 million deficit in the coming fiscal year the addition of new costs should only be considered within the context of the development of the budget as this will further challenge the Council’s requirement to adopt a balanced budget.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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