BUTTERFIELD-RIVIERA EAST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
DATE: February 24, 2026
PLACE: Rancho Cordova Library
9845 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA
MEETING TYPE: BRECA Steering Committee Meeting
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
James Adams
Paul Bowers
Lori Christensen
Gay Jones
Jim Morgan
Andrea White
STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER ABSENT
Rene Hamlin
NUMBER OF GUESTS/MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: 8
1. Welcome by Chair Gay Jones and Introductions
2. Items from the public, not on the agenda
None.
3. Minutes from January 27, 2026
Jim Morgan noted an amendment to the draft minutes of January 27, 2026. Andrea White made a motion to adopt the amended draft minutes. James Adams seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
4. Reports
a. Treasurer
Andrea White distributed a proposed budget for the coming year. She noted that there was an expense for the Web Site which was paid but not reimbursed last year. This needs to be clarified later. Paul Bowers made a motion to adopt the proposed budget. James Adams seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
b. Membership
Jim Morgan reported that BRECA has 82 memberships.
c. CORPAC
Gay Jones reported that the CORPAC (Cordova Community Planning and Advisory Council) meeting was cancelled.
d. Floor
Rebecca Sloan, with Supervisor Hume’s office, reported that there had been concern about removal of restrooms and trash cans from the Gristmill area. She stated that the trash cans will be back. The restrooms cost about $3,800 per year per restroom. They will find the money to get the Gristmill restrooms back.
Gay Jones noted that Parks is not staffing kiosks. Ms. Sloan remarked that some places have been locked open, but not Gristmill. James Adams noted that Gristmill had the trash cans back.
Gay Jones stated that the Metro Fire Citizens Oversight Committee for a capital improvements bond measure has an opening. If anyone is interested see the Metro Fire web site.
5. Old Business
a. SB 79
Jim Morgan reviewed Senate Bill (SB) 79, which has been signed into law. It would compel cities and counties to revise zoning around passenger rail stations, such as the Butterfield Light Rail Station, to very tall and high densities, i.e. 8 stories if within 200 feet of the Station and 6 stories within 1/4 mile. In the BRECA area this would be right up against one and two stories houses and apartments.
Jim stated that BRECA had sent an email to Supervisor Hume’s office stating our concerns and asking three things: When would SB 79 be implemented in unincorporated Sacramento County, to be connected to the relevant planning body when plans for implementation are to be developed, and to meet with Supervisor Hume about implementation. We received an email response from Rebecca Sloan, with Supervisor Hume’s office, stating that implementation in the unincorporated County would be with the next Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), which is scheduled for May 15, 2029. She also stated that the responsible agency would be the Department of Planning and Environmental Review, and that our concerns had been shared with that department. They will be sure to update BRECA when any new information becomes available.
Jim stated that there is some consideration of legislative changes to SB 79, due to the fact that many planning departments complained about ambiguities in the bill. So, the author of SB 79, State Senator Weiner, has introduced another bill, SB 908. At this point, it is a placeholder bill, which only states the intent to make technical and clarifying changes to SB 79. Possibly it would be a benefit to BRECA to contact State Senator Ashby and the relevant committee it is to be heard in with some of BRECA’s concerns. He asked if people thought this would be worth the effort?
Ms. Sloan stated that the RHNA cycle is every 8 years. The County has to zone land for housing. If a developer wants to do less dense than the zoning, then the County has to find a place for more. The law requires the County to zone for housing, but not build it.
Paul Bowers made a motion to send a letter to Senator Ashby and the relevant committee. It should be similar to our previous letters, and ask what is going on. Gay Jones added and keep us informed.
Gay enquired whether there is much dialogue between Senator Ashby and the Supervisors? Ms. Sloan responded that there is a lot of discussion going on about another bill, SB 802, which would change how local governments deal with homelessness. This bill would compel formation of a City and County Joint Powers Authority to distribute Federal funds. This is a long-standing and complicated conversation. She commented that the County wants neighborhood sensitive development. Gay commented that she would like more information on this issue.
Gay also commented that she was okay with sending letters to Senator Ashby and the Rules Committee, expressing our concerns. We should be one of the stakeholder groups contacted as things develop. Also send copy to Maggie Krell. It was agreed that Jim Morgan will draft a letter and send it around.
b. American River Parkway Status Report
See discussion under item 4d above.
c. Elections
Jim Morgan stated that requests for nominations for the Steering Committee will go out shortly after this meeting. [Secretary’s note: this was not accurate, nomination requests will go out after the March meeting.]
d. From the Floor
None.
6. New Business
a. Off Pavement Cycling Proposals for American River Parkway
Jim Morgan noted that he had received and sent around an email from Tom Biglioni, who is associated with Friends of the River and the Save the American River Association, that stated that there has been a committee formed to discuss off-pavement cycling proposals for the American River Parkway. Gay Jones commented that she would talk to Tom and also Liz Bellas with County Parks to find out what is going on.
A member of the audience commented that they are concerned about e-bikes, which can go very fast. Another member of the audience had ridden on the dirt trails on the Parkway before, and that some sections are wide enough, but narrow trails were not wide enough. James Adams commented that wider trails or away from the river was okay. Gay commented that after Parks opened up the area near Cal Expo to bikes other parts of the Parkway started to see more bicycling on narrow trails. A member of the audience commented that Parks should leave it like it is, and enforce the rules.
b. Audit Report
Paul Bowers reported that Melissa Schuler and Troy Lessard looked through the books for 2023, 2024, and 2025. They had some comments, which were forwarded to Andrea White. Andrea will respond to the comments. Andrea commented that there are a couple of receipts that are missing, and she will look for them.
Paul noted that there had not been an audit since 2015, and wondered what to do about that situation. He did not want to put too much work on the Treasurer. A member of the audience commented that standard practice is that if the recent audits are okay, then they would assume that prior years were also.
c. Floor
Rebecca Sloan with Supervisor Hume’s office commented on the proposed Psynergy expansion. Psynergy wanted a letter of support from Supervisor Hume’s office, but they declined. They felt that Psynergy had not engaged the community enough. They had a meeting with Psynergy which was with a consultant, not the local people. There is another site, called Spyglass, near the Executive Airport that is being considered.
Paul Bowers noted that the Psynergy proposal that has been made to BRECA is for three new buildings east of the Library. A grant is to pay approximately 80% of the cost, and requires them maintain their program for approximately 25 years.
Ms. Sloan commented that the Spyglass site may be a better fit, and is okay with the community there. Psynergy maybe does not have a quality space for their clients near here, as one sees the clients walking back and forth on Folsom Blvd. east of the BRECA area.
Gay Jones read a phone message from Lynda Kaufmann with Psynergy, about perhaps having a peer leader come to the BRECA meeting. Ms. Sloan commented that a peer leader could be a patient or staff with lived experience.
7. Adjourned until next meeting
The next meeting will be a Steering Committee Meeting to be held at the Rancho Cordova Library on March 24, 2026.