Community One-Pager

Citizen Briefing One-Pager Measure O to Arena & El Centro

Transparency, Process, and Lawful Decisions

A plain-language summary connecting Measure O, Ordinance 2023-00995, and the proposed Arena Blvd and El Centro Rd Micro-Community. This is about clarity, accountability, and getting to a lawful yes.

Measure O → Ordinance 2023-00995 → Arena and El Centro

1) Why this matters

Sacramento voters supported Measure O to address homelessness with urgency and accountability. Since then, the City adopted Ordinance 2023-00995 granting the City Manager authority to implement a Temporary Shelter Program. A 40-unit micro-community for seniors (55+) is now proposed at Arena Blvd and El Centro Road.

The central question:

Is this truly temporary emergency shelter, or a permanent land use decision being implemented without full public process?

2) What Ordinance 2023-00995 authorized

Ordinance 2023-00995 authorizes implementation of a Temporary Shelter Program and enables administrative actions intended to speed deployment. The authority is framed around temporary shelter.

  • Temporary shelter implementation Authority is tied to a Temporary Shelter Program framework.
  • Administrative execution Delegated actions intended to accelerate delivery under the program.
  • Key concern Temporary authority should not quietly convert into permanent land use policy.

3) What is proposed at Arena and El Centro

The proposal includes 40 prefabricated sleeping units, bathroom units, laundry units, and security units, with associated site improvements. The geotechnical report describes constructed-site features such as pavements, screw anchor foundations, and underground utilities.

  • 40 units and support facilities Sleeping units, bathrooms, laundry, and security.
  • Built infrastructure elements Screw anchor foundations embedded in pavement plus utilities and flatwork.
  • Structured program rules Age threshold, referral intake, and fee structure after an initial period.

4) Why residents are concerned

Residents are not asking to block solutions. They are asking the City to follow lawful process and be transparent about what is being approved, under what authority, and with what environmental and zoning review.

Key questions residents are asking:

What is the legal basis for this scope? What CEQA path is being used? What zoning determination applies? If permanent, where is the full public hearing?

5) This is not about saying no

Compassion matters. Seniors deserve dignity. Solutions are necessary. But lawful process matters too. The public has a right to clarity before a project becomes irreversible.

6) What residents are asking for

  • Written legal interpretation How the ordinance is being applied to this specific project scope.
  • CEQA transparency What review is complete, what remains, and what determinations were made.
  • Zoning clarity Which zoning rules apply and what approvals are required.
  • Full public process if permanent A Council-level hearing with open record and public deliberation.
  • Open community dialogue Consistent updates, timelines, and commitments in writing.
Sources referenced in this one-pager
Ordinance 2023-00995 Ordinance authorizing Temporary Shelter Program implementation.
Community Meeting deck Program description and site framing details.
Geotechnical report Site description, units, foundations, and infrastructure elements.
Title preliminary report Ownership and APN confirmation.
Plain-language note: This page is informational and intended to support civic understanding and public participation. For legal advice, consult qualified counsel.