Members of the West Sacramento Police Department pose with Mayor Martha Guerrero and Athletics mascot Stomper. Photo by Abbey Wicks

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – Members of the West Sacramento community filed into a bustling City Hall on Thursday, May 21 as Athletics mascot Stomper paraded around the room, stopping to take photos with law enforcement and city officials.

The State of the City address, held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., filled 25 tables with energy and enthusiasm as Mayor Martha Guerrero addressed the city’s recent accomplishments, growth and vision.

The address was held to “dream, plan and celebrate all things West Sacramento,” Mayor Guerrero said in her opening remarks.

Guerrero’s one hour talk covered the state of the riverfront city in the areas of housing, parks, climate action, economic development, law enforcement and more. The city’s Civic Leadership awards were also presented to five recipients during the ceremony.

According to Guerrero, the recent release of the 2026 Point-In-Time (PIT) count for West Sacramento reported 358 unhoused individuals in the region, a slight increase from the 289 individuals reported in the 2024 count.

However, as the number of unhoused individuals continues to increase, housing opportunities in the region also continue to rise, Guerrero said. This year, the city secured a $43 million grant through California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (ASHC) program and will help fund the Grand Gateway Project, which is expected to offer more than 100 affordable housing units.

The city council also made recent policy changes concerning Tiny Homes on Wheels, setting up a “proportional impact fee reduction program” for those units used as a primary dwelling.

“With the recent policy changes, the city of West Sacramento now recognizes Tiny Homes on Wheels as dwellings creating a pathway for owners to begin the process of establishing, as a permanent home, ability to connect to water, sewer and electricity,” Guerrero said.

On the topic of homelessness, Guerrero addressed the work of Mosaic West Sac, a restorative community centered around nourishment, connection and trauma recovery. The organization’s Recovery Café specifically supports individuals who have suffered trauma, homelessness, addiction and other mental-health challenges. 

“It turns out that people impacted by homelessness and substance abuse, they don’t just need housing and therapy and services,” said Don Bosley, executive director. “They need community. They need a community that’s supportive, they need a community that’s there, they need a community that’s available.”

Recovery Café was the recipient of this year’s Civic Leadership Award for Service.

The City of West Sacramento has implemented a tourism marketing district as the city continues to see growth and an increase in visitors to the city.  

“The draw of the riverfront, a sports venue and the warmth of a big city with a small-town focus is the roots which has made West Sacramento an increasingly attractive regional destination,” Guerrero said. “The creation of the West Sacramento tourism marketing district is a significant step forward in positioning the city as a premier destination for leisure travel.”

The draw to the city is largely in part to the Athletics, who received the Civic Leadership Award for Progress.

“The Athletics have helped generate momentum, not only for sports and entertainment, but also for tourism, small businesses, hospitality and economic work through our city,” Guerrero said. “Beyond baseball, the Athletics have become a valued community partner by helping elevate West Sacramento’s profile nationally and showcasing the spirit and hospitality of our residents.”

The Athletics are scheduled to permanently relocate to Las Vegas for the 2028 MLB season following the completion of a $2 billion stadium, according to the MLB.

West Sacramento is in dialogue to consider becoming a host to a major league baseball expansion team, according to Guerrero. “West Sacramento has proven to be a success at hosting major league baseball crowds and the buzz around Sutter Health Park shows that the region is ready. Having MLB teams play in West Sacramento elevates our visibility and our viability.”

The city has also made progress in climate action and sustainability, according to the mayor. The city’s climate action and sustainability division has increased the number of Level 2 EV charging stations in the Bridge and Washington Districts.

For the 19th consecutive year, West Sacramento has been recognized as a Tree City USA. According to Guerrero, 250 trees were added to the city’s urban forest this year. A partnership between the city and Waste Management has resulted in a neighbor’s task force, bringing together representatives from across the city, including Waste Management, to find solutions.

Waste Management has partnered with Repair Café, a monthly gathering where volunteers fix broken household items at no cost. A $5,000 grant from Waste Management will help the group stabilize operations and support future plans to expand the Repair Café.

PG&E recently held a listening event for customers to attend and ask questions regarding their energy bills. Approximately 100 residents had questions addressed. PG&E has announced plans to host future events. According to Guerrero, the company is working to add more electrical capacity in the city as warm weather approaches. By the end of the year, new circuits are expected to be added to the Southport area, followed by the area near IKEA and finally the Bridge District in 2027.

The State Streets Pavement Rehabilitation Project, completed this year, delivered roadway improvements, upgrades and utility investments. The League of Cities awarded the 2026 Local Streets and Roads Project Award to the HSIP Traffic Safety & Signal Improvement Project.

“I would like to thank our transportation team for your effort on achieving that big goal,” Guerrero said. The project focused on reducing collisions and improving safety for motorists and pedestrians.

According to Guerrero, the project was a risky undertaking due to the age of the city. Safety improvements were made to 20 high risk locations citywide including West Capitol, Jefferson, Harbor and Sacramento Avenues. According to the mayor, a number of complaints were received throughout the projects, however “those minor changes do bring safety.”

Guerrero said hirings are on the rise in the city’s public works department, including a 10-person dedicated roads crew.

Along with traffic safety improvements, a new GPS-based emergency vehicle preemption system has been implemented. The West Sacramento Vision Zero Action Plan has also been adapted with the goal of “dramatically reducing serious traffic injuries and fatalities, while creating safer streets for everyone who walks, bikes or drives in the community.” The city is also working to expand its Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Master Plan.

Five parks are currently under construction in West Sacramento with Washington Park expected to open in June. The park is the first in the Washington District neighborhood. Parks and public spaces are essential to community health, neighborhood vitality and climate resiliency, the mayor said.

Also honored during the awards ceremony were Stacy Grow & Parents/Stonegate Community Garden who received the Civic Leadership Award for Pride; Akasha Yoga who received the Civic Leadership Award for Community; and Bike Dog Brewing for the Civic Leadership Award for Prosperity.