Suisun City Council gives State of the City

The Susiun City Council delivered the annual State of the City Address on Thursday evening at the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center. Local officials discussed the city's recent staff restructuring, the possibility of future expansion, and opportunities to generate revenue through development at the council's accomplishments over the previous year.

Mayor Alma Hernandez opened the address with a recorded message from Councilmember Amit Pal, who did not attend the meeting. Pal thanked the City Manager for incentivizing the economic development of the city's downtown.

Hernandez shouted out Vice Mayor Jenalee Dawson for her work in homeless outreach and leadership of the Point In Time Count. She thanked Pal for facilitating Solano County's first Diwali presentation, Councilmember Shepherd for her E-Bike Policy and Councilmember Washington for her NDA policy and work on Development Agreement Timelines.

City Manager Bret Prebula addressed the city's FY 2025-2026 Mid-Year Budget Review and its draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year. His slide noted revenues missed the amended budget expectations by $3.83 million.

Prebula also touted Measure S, which the city passed in 2024 with 72 percent of the vote. a relatively strong margin for a tax measure. He said the city seeks to pivot Measure S funds away from Police Department and Fire Department uses towards things like road construction, but will not be able to do so over the next two years. He said that, depending on development, some Measure S money may be able to start going toward other issues by 2029.

Prebula said the city remains at about 85 percent staffing compared to similarly sized cities, and said the city's staffing realignment this year has made the organization more responsive, coordinated, and sustainable.

"We are effectively already more efficient," he said.

Prebula revisited his longstanding three-pillar strategy for Suisun's revenue issues, attempting to build long-term financial stability for the city on the backs of Measure S, infill development, and possible expansion.

"There is no way for us to cut ourselves to prosperity," he said.

Prebula said there are 20 properties across the city being processed through the Surplus Land Act to be sold off to developers. He said the city is working full steam ahead on infill development, "but there has to be something else".

"We knew that infill wasn't enough, and I think that's important to understand," he said.

Prebula said the city has been working on two expansion projects outside California Forever, a 60-acre Buzz Oates development, which nearly lost momentum due to the lack of a revenue-sharing agreement with the county. He noted another 200-acre possible development project near Travis Air Force Base, which he said Travis Community Consortium and Travis Air Force Base have been discussing with the property's developer. He also noted efforts by the cities to build a new agreement with the county.

"I think we've got a good framework that benefits both the county and city," he said.

Hernandez asked the community to participate in a feedback process with sticky notes on display boards and walked through a SLOT analysis of the city's position. She said the city's waterfront, transit access, diversity, proximity to the Air Force Base and core Bay Area, and recreational opportunities are assets for the community.

Limitations for Suisun City include the structural deficit, a lack of sales tax-generating businesses, homelessness, vacant buildings, issues with code enforcement and a lack of public engagement and education, Hernandez said. She said homelessness has reduced since she and her fellow councilmembers took office.

Opportunities include downtown revitalization, increased use of the marina, youth sports and enhanced public safety, Hernandez said. Lack of public safety funding, potential increases in homelessness, issues with water quality, staffing retention and population growth outpacing public service capability were listed as threats.

Hernandez touted the city's three autonomous lawnmowers, which are programmed to mow the parks while staff do other tasks. She also thanked the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for a $200,000 grant to the city's fire department and noted the city's Request for Proposals for a new Solid Waste service contract.

"This will affect every single resident," she said of the new waste contract.

Prebula highlighted the city's State of Business Event. Hosted in April of this year, the event aimed to carve a role for the city in larger economic discussions in the region.

"These happen in large cities more frequently, but we felt that we wanted to be a leader," Prebula said.

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