The Civic Leadership Award for Prosperity award went to Franquette for showing that West Sacramento is the perfect place to launch and grow a thriving business. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – West Sacramento might be a young city but it’s also a growing city daring to not only dream big but take steps to make those dreams come true.

That was the theme of West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero’s State of the City address on June 5 at the City Hall Galleria before a packed house of business leaders, elected officials and community members at the event co-produced by the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce.

“The city has the mettle and the capacity to dream big and that’s what we’re going to do,” Guerrero said, adding later that “We’re setting the standard for what a small but mighty city can do.”

Re-elected to a second term in November, Guerrero called out a long list of accomplishments for the city as well as initiatives being pursued for the future benefit of residents. Those ranged from infrastructure projects, public safety, economic development and baseball, with the latter as a collaboration between the city and the staff of the Triple A Sacramento River Cats to host the Major League Baseball club, the Athletics.

West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero touts the city’s accomplishments over the past year and its measures looking toward the future at the annual State of the City address on June 5. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

The A’s are moving to Las Vegas and will call 14,000-plus seat Sutter Health Park home for the next three years until its new ballpark is ready, tentatively on Opening Day 2028. The move from the Bay Area to Sacramento involved everything from upgrades to Sutter Health and traffic plans to accommodate the influx of game-day visitors.

Both Guerrero and River Cats Chief Operating Officer Chip Maxson said that the city is already seeing the economic benefits through more foot traffic in the Bridge District, more visitors to the city and stronger economic numbers through new jobs brough by the arrangement.

“Lean into the opportunity we have,” Maxon said to the audience. “Lean in; the ripple effects are real.”

Guerrero touted a number of steps taken to improve city infrastructure and public safety needs. Voters authorized a 1 cent sales tax increase through the passage of Measure O in November 2024, and the City Council adopted a spending plan dedicating more than $22 million of that revenue over the next two fiscal years to “critical infrastructure and quality of life projects.”

The Civic Leadership Award for Pride was given to He-Brews Café & Tea Company for creating a welcoming space that makes community members proud to call West Sacramento home. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

Guerrero said that $12.8 million for roads and major investments in pavement preservation and reconstruction was included. The funding helped hire 10 new public works employees dedicated to roads, as well as provided $11 million for parks and trails improvements, new vehicles and 10 new hires at the Parks and Recreation Department.

The plan also uses $5.25 million for improvements to West Sacramento fire stations and police department headquarters and $3.1 million for 11 new positions and fire department vehicles and equipment. The latter was augmented by the West Sacramento Firefighters Association’s securing of a $5.25-million federal staffing for an Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant last September that helped fund buying two fire engines, one of which enabled the return of Engine 45 to service.

Guerrero also said the Measure O funding, along with the police department assigning a sergeant to the full-time job of maintaining recruiting efforts, are reasons for the department’s ability to increase the size of its force by 17 full-time and 11 part-time officers, providing stronger compensation packages. The department has instituted a new data-transparency program, a digital forensics program, that purchased 16 new license plate readers and upgraded its camera system throughout the city.

The Civic Leadership Award for Community was given to Mark and Mieko Mendenhall for strengthening neighborhoods and bringing people together through years of dedicated service. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

In the past year, the city has completed 35 capital construction projects ranging from Phase 2 of the Sycamore Trail system to upgrading 30 high-risk intersections for better pedestrian safety through the Highway Safety Improvement Project. The I Street Bridge Replacement Project is in final design while several area park projects are either beginning construction or scheduled for work this summer.

Guerrero said that commercial projects such as the Southport Logistics Center are providing new industrial space and announced that the California American Water Company will begin construction of a new headquarters in West Sacramento. She also said Comcast plans to roll out its new high-speed internet program in the city later this year.

The city has approved plans for several new housing developments such as the Yarborough project, the Liberty project and tiny homes on wheels for residential usage. It is investing in emergency housing measures that include purchasing three former motels that will serve over 100 individuals daily.

“West Sacramento is no longer just a place on the other side of the river,” Guerrero said. “We are a destination in our own right and nationally recognized for innovation, sustainability and community-driven growth.”

As an example of innovation, Guerrero said the recent council-adopted Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD) funding measure will allow the issuance of more than $80 million in construction bonds financed through a portion of tax increment revenues paid to the city by commercial property owners in two infrastructure financing districts, a first-of-its-kind arrangement in California that relieves the city of bond obligations.

Guerrero also pointed to the recently adopted Climate Action Plan, youth climate grant program, business accelerator program and initiatives focused on helping economically challenged portions of the city, areas where the city and council remain forward thinking.

Guerrero pledged to continue efforts to gather citizen input through town halls and other outreach efforts because “viability comes from more than dreams and plans.”

“It comes from the heart and the courage of our people who invest in the health and prosperity of our community,” Guerrero said.

The Civic Leadership Award for Service was given to District Council 16 Apprentices for generously giving their time and talents to support public projects and uplift others. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

Community leaders were also recognized during the State of the City Address, for their contributions to the West Sacramento community.

The Civic Leadership Award for Pride was given to He-Brews Café & Tea Company for creating a welcoming space that makes community members proud to call West Sacramento home.

The Civic Leadership Award for Community was given to Mark and Mieko Mendenhall for strengthening neighborhoods and bringing people together through years of dedicated service.

The Civic Leadership Award for Service was given to District Council 16 Apprentices for generously giving their time and talents to support public projects and uplift others.

The Civic Leadership Award for Prosperity award went to Franquette for showing that West Sacramento is the perfect place to launch and grow a thriving business.

The Civic Leadership Award for Progress award went to Sierra Northern Railway for continued investment in making West Sacramento a great place to live, work and play.