ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - City council addressed a range of issues during its March 11 meeting, including proclamations recognizing community health and youth literacy, public safety concerns tied to potential federal immigration enforcement activity and updates on economic and infrastructure development.

The meeting opened with proclamations recognizing March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Young Storytellers Month. The colorectal cancer awareness proclamation held personal significance for Vice Mayor Darren Suen, who shared that his friend and fellow community member A.J. Rollins died from the disease. Rollins’ wife and two sons attended and spoke about the importance of regular screenings for early detection.

During public comment, several residents raised concerns about potential federal immigration enforcement activity in the city. Much of the discussion centered on a meeting held the day prior, where about 45 residents met with city officials to discuss the possibility of federal immigration authorities operating in the area and how the city plans to address related public safety concerns.

 

Resident Kathy Lee addresses the council, raising concerns about potential federal immigration operations and calling for additional meetings to help residents navigate such situations. 

Some residents said the meeting lacked sufficient public notice. Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen clarified it first stemmed from a previous council meeting, when Assistant City Manager Jaqui Guzman privately invited a community member who raised the issue during public comment to meet with staff.

The informal meeting was facilitated by Guzman and attended by Councilmember Sergio Robles and Police Chief Bobby Davis. Guzman said it was intended to be a smaller discussion for residents seeking more information, but details were later shared more broadly, resulting in a larger turnout than expected.

A key concern raised by attendees involved comments from Davis that local police cannot interfere with federal immigration investigations or arrests. Guzman said that under the California Values Act (SB54), the Elk Grove Police Department cannot assist with or impede federal investigations. Under SB54, local law enforcement is also prohibited from using its resources for immigration enforcement.

“We’re not going to have our police department break the law,” Guzman said, adding that Davis told community members during the meeting that if the department receives a call involving a potential violation of state law or a public safety issue, officers will respond and investigate.

She also addressed concerns about license plate readers and drones, noting that state law prohibits sharing that data with the federal government for immigration enforcement. Guzman said the city has posted information online, including frequently asked questions and details outlining city and police protocols, and plans to host additional public meetings with the Sacramento Fuel Network to help residents understand how to respond.

Robles thanked residents for their input and emphasized the need for clear procedures.

“I understand that frustration; I understand that anger,” Robles said. “This is something that we need to engage in; we need to have the procedures ready to go.”

 

Assistant City Manager Jaqui Guzman addressed concerns during public comment at the March 11 city council meeting about a meeting held the day before with residents on potential federal immigration operations.

Another issue raised during public comment involved the renewal of the police department’s military equipment, an item listed on the consent calendar. Three speakers urged the council to hold a separate community meeting, with one citing an American Civil Liberties Union memo stating a town hall meeting does not allow enough time for a full discussion on the matter. 

The city attorney informed council that a separate meeting is not required, and that community engagement can occur alongside a council meeting.

Davis then presented on the item, noting the equipment includes five drones and one armored vehicle to replace a 10-year-old vehicle. Singh-Allen said the renewal involves standard equipment already in use and noted there have been no complaints over the past year.

“I really empathize with the comments and concerns from the residents that brought this up,” Suen said. “But I would say that this police department and this city has demonstrated restraint, has demonstrated responsible use of their equipment…”

Suen added that in cases involving reported abuse by federal authorities, tools such as drones could be used to assess situations, which Davis confirmed.

“Elk Grove is one of the safest cities in the United States and I am really proud of the work that you’re doing; it doesn’t happen by accident,” Singh-Allen said. “The equipment, the resources, the tools have been outlined very thoughtfully.”

The council approved the item in a 5-0 vote.

The council also received an economic update from Economic Development Director Darrel Doan, who outlined progress on long-term goals and upcoming projects tied to infrastructure, business development and arts and culture.

Doan said priority efforts include Project Elevate, Grant Line Business Park and the city’s Arts, Culture and Creative Economy strategy, expected to take about a year to complete in partnership with The Cultural Planning Group. He also highlighted ongoing development, including The Village retail center and a Sutter Health primary care clinic and pediatric urgent care facility.

Several Measure E-funded programs are supporting business growth, including the Brewery, Restaurant and Winery Incentive Program (BReW), which has provided startup grants to restaurants such as Interlude Kitchen and Skyport. Additional incentives, including the Permit Assistance Smart Start (PASS) program, has helped to offset upfront costs for new businesses.

Doan said the city’s visitor economy, driven largely by hotels, continues to expand. Projects in the pipeline include a 300-room hotel at Sky River, 100-room Home2 Suites and Staybridge Suites developments and a future hotel planned as part of Project Elevate.

The city is also continuing to invest in its auto mall by re-envisioning the area to drive sales tax growth. Other efforts include the Paint the Grove mural festival in June and the Made in Elk Grove marketing partnership to promote local makers.

Looking ahead, Doan said the city’s job pipeline includes up to 1.4 million square feet of employment space supporting about 13,500 jobs. New business openings over the past year have brought a $50.2 million investment and added roughly 775 jobs.

Lastly, council members received a presentation on a reintroduced priority project aimed at improving connectivity across the city through a proposed Whitelock Parkway and State Route 99 interchange. The project is intended to relieve congestion on Elk Grove Boulevard and East Stockton Boulevard while supporting growth in the southwest area of town.

Plans include a bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing connecting to Elk Grove Park and auxiliary lanes along the highway. The interchange would link Whitelock Parkway to southbound State Route 99 between the Elk Grove Boulevard and Grant Line Road interchanges, with additional improvements to local roadways including Poppy Ridge Road and construction of Lotz Parkway and Promenade Parkway.

WMH Corporation is leading the design, with an estimated cost of $152 million and construction expected to begin in 2030. The council took no action on the project.