SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Sacramento County District 5 Supervisor Patrick Hume delivered his State of the County address July 18, updating local leaders and community partners on infrastructure, public safety and regional development.

The event, held at the Elk Grove Pavilion on Elk Grove Florin Road, was sponsored by Hume and supported by the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce. Chamber chairwoman Amy Labowitch introduced Hume and highlighted his long-standing commitment to public service.

Labowitch noted that Hume grew up in Elk Grove, having completed middle and high school locally before earning a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University and a master’s in ethical leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Hume returned to Elk Grove to serve on the city’s Planning Commission following its incorporation in 2000 and later spent 16 years on its City Council.

Elected in 2022 to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Hume now represents Elk Grove, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and southern rural communities in the county and Delta region. Labowitch also mentioned his continued community involvement, including volunteering as an auctioneer for local nonprofits.

In his address, Hume began by discussing the county’s efforts on a multi-benefit project along the Cosumnes River focused on flood control and habitat restoration.

He referenced the damage and loss of life during the severe storms of winter 2022-23 and thanked U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui and Ami Bera for their support in pushing the project forward.

“It will allow some of that water to get back down into the ground, so we have it here for future use,” Hume said. “And then hopefully a little bit of that for a habitat opportunity for salmon to migrate up the Cosumnes."

He also announced that the district received $650,000 for the Wilton Area Roadway Resiliency Project, which will strengthen evacuation routes in flood-prone areas.

“My goal is a PIG, which is a project in the ground,” Hume said. “We’re trying to get something out that actually changes the landscape, that improves the situation.”

Hume then addressed ambulance patient offload time (APOT); an issue he said he hadn’t fully realized the scope of until taking office.

Ambulance patient offload time refers to how long it takes after an ambulance arrives at a hospital for a patient to be admitted. The county once ranked among the worst in the state, with average delays exceeding 70 minutes, according to Hume.

“That’s over an hour somebody is laying in a gurney in a hallway,” said Hume.

Funding was allocated during his first budget cycle to reduce that time. Since then, working with hospitals, first responders and county services, the county has cut the average ambulance patient offload time to 30 minutes.

 

Attendees were provided with a lunch at the State of the County address July 18. Many attendees are local leaders and community partners. Photo by Idaly Valencia

Hume credited the improvement with helping leaders such as county Medical Director Dr. Gregory Kann and former EMS Administrator Davis Magnino to earn statewide recognition.

“That’s one of those rare opportunities where you can see the difference being made,” Hume said.

Another key issue, Hume said, is the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, known as the Delta tunnel, which would divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California. He warned of the environmental and economic impact on the region.

“It affects the livelihood of individuals who live here: the environment, flyways, fisheries and farmers,” Hume said.

As chair of the Delta Counties Coalition, Hume said that the group is shifting the conversation from opposition to collaboration.

“I’m not here to fight,” he said. “Just respect what we have.”

Hume criticized the tunnel’s estimated $20-billion cost and pointed to water loss through evaporation, arguing that funds would be better spent upgrading existing infrastructure such as levees.

Moving onto transportation, Hume highlighted improvements happening at the Sacramento Metropolitan Airport.

“We’re doing about $1.3-million worth of upgrades, the first of which is set to open this year, and that is a pedestrian walkway,” Hume said.

This walkway will replace the tram that is used to transport passengers between terminals that has been costing the county millions of dollars a year to maintain.

In addition to terminal expansions and new flight destinations, including nonstop routes to Mexico, Alaska and soon, Germany, airport upgrades will include a new parking structure near Terminal B and a relocated rental car pickup area to improve accessibility for arriving passengers. Dining options across the airport are also being updated, with new restaurants, bars and cafes planned.

He acknowledged Sacramento Regional Transit General Manager Henry Li, who was in attendance, and their joint work on a systemwide operational analysis. Long-term plans include a transit connection, either via light rail or bus transit, from downtown Sacramento and to the airport.

Hume also cited traffic safety efforts, including 933 complaint investigations and 36 new speed bumps on 17 residential streets. Road and bridge work is underway throughout the district, including projects on Grand Island, Grant Line, River, Bradshaw, Isleton and Twin Cities roads, as well as Franklin Boulevard and Clay Station Road.

He addressed unique rural concerns, including animal-related complaints ranging from noisy fish farms to an influx of roosters on residential properties. In response, Hume said that the county has worked with agricultural businesses to address noise levels and updated zoning codes to strengthen enforcement.

On public safety, Hume credited Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, with helping hold offenders accountable and enhance community safety. He also noted intensified efforts to address the fentanyl crisis.

Turning to the county jail, Hume called the situation a “big hurdle,” with the increasing numbers of inmates experiencing illness.

 

Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Hume spoke about improvements at Sacramento International Airport, including a new pedestrian walkway and expanded terminal services, on July 18. Photo by Idaly Valencia

Hume said the facility failed to meet Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards due to overcrowding and insufficient medical care, resulting in a lawsuit loss. He said the county must either build a new facility or invest in preventive services.

“I don’t think that’s right,” he said of the current approach. “There’s a better way to do it.”

On homelessness, Hume reported that the county currently funds more than 1,200 beds, with another 370 under construction. Safe Stay communities have opened in Florin and East Parkway on Stockton Boulevard, and a major new facility in the works is set to become Northern California’s largest shelter with a safe parking site and space for treatment and classes.

Hume also discussed state Sen. Angelique Ashby’s proposed legislation that would create a joint powers authority among all county cities and restructure the Sacramento Area Housing and Homelessness Agency into a regional oversight entity.

He expressed concern that the proposal could complicate efforts and spoke with Ashby with a colleague. Hume described having a “heated exchange” at times, yet he praised the respectful dialogue that followed, saying Ashby agreed to allow more time to work toward shared solutions.

Before concluding, Hume introduced and thanked his chief of staff, Stephanie Kauss, for her continued support. He then shared reflections from a recent trip to Machu Picchu with his wife, Lisa, to end his address on an optimistic note.

Standing at the ancient site, Hume said, he was reminded of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of purpose.

“All the battles we wage, all the wars, all the conquests and things we face every day amount to variable when you look at things in that amount of timeline,” he said. “So if I can just say one thing to you, it’s this: Do that thing that scares you. Take that risk that offers great reward … and if you fail, learn from it, get up, dust off and keep going, because we’re here for just a flash of light. Let’s do it right.”