CITY OF RANCHO CORDOVA
R A C A L I F O R N I A
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
5:30 PM - Special Meeting
David 8. Roberts Council Chambers
City Hall
2729 Prospect Park Drive, Rancho Cordova
MINUTES
1. 4:00 PM SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Vice Mayor Gatewood called the Special meeting to order in the David B. Roberts Council Chambers at 4:12 p.m.
Council Members Present: Linda Budge, Joe Little, David Sander, and Vice Mayor Garrett Gatewood
Council Members Absent: Siri Pulipati
Staff Members Present: Stacy Leitner, Adam Lindgren, Persephonie Riley, and Micah Runner
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice Mayor Gatewood opened the public comment period. Seeing no speakers, Vice Mayor Gatewood closed the public comment period.
3. ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
Vice Mayor Gatewood adjourned the meeting to closed session at 4:14 p.m.
4. CLOSED SESSION - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Vice Mayor Gatewood called closed session to order at 4:14 p.m.
Council Members Present: Linda Budge, Joe Little, David Sander, and Vice Mayor Garrett Gatewood
Council Members Absent: Siri Pulipati
Rancho Cordova City Council - MINUTES
Meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Staff Members Present: Adam Lindgren and Micah Runner
5. CLOSED SESSION
Council met in closed session to discuss the following item:
5.1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8: Property: 2875 Kilgore Road, Rancho Cordova APN: 072-0490- 024-0000. City Negotiators: Micah Runner, City Manager, and Adam U. Lindgren, City Attorney. Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment.
6. OPEN SESSION - REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Adam Lindgren reported that staff was given direction and no reportable action was taken in closed session.
7. ADJOURN TO SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor Pulipati adjourned closed session to the special meeting reconvening at 5:30 p.m. at 5:34 p.m.
8. SPECIAL MEETING - CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Mayor Pulipati called the Special meeting back to order in the David B. Roberts Council Chambers at 5:34 p.m.
Council Members Present: Linda Budge, Garrett Gatewood, Joe Little, David Sander, and Mayor Siri Pulipati
Council Members Absent: None
Staff Members Present: Stacy Leitner, Adam Lindgren, Persephonie Riley, and Micah Runner
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Pulipati stated that public comment would be taken once Council has heard from staff regarding the items on the agenda.
10. 5:30 PM OR SOON THEREAFTER - SPECIAL MEETING ITEM
10.1. Subject: Al & Robotics Ecosystem Authorization to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Human Machine Collaboration Institute (HMCI), Budget Appropriation of $5 Million, and Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with NVIDIA and HMCI.
Recommendation: Adopt the Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute a Professional Services Agreement with HMCI, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney, including final scope of work as deemed consistent with the Resolution by the Advisory Group, timelines, governance, and payment schedule, and compliant with all applicable provisions of state and local law; and approve budget appropriation for an amount not to exceed $5,000,000 to fund activities in support of the Al & Robotics Ecosystem; and authorize the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NVIDIA Corporation and HMCI to operationalize NVIDIA's platforms, curriculum, and certification pathways at the regional level.
Mayor Pulipati opened the public comment period. The following individuals addressed the Council or submitted public comment via email:
1. Erik Swanson
2. Diann Rogers
Rancho Cordova City Council - MINUTES
Meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025
3. Tiffani Alvidrez
4. Adonai Mack
5. Daniel Francisco
6. James Garcia
7. Hem ant Bhargava
8. Josh Hoover
9. Jonmichael Hands
10. Dr. Art Pimentel
11. Adonai Mack
12. Donald Childs
Mayor Pulipati closed the public comment period.
ACTION:
AYES:
NOES:
Motion to approve item 10.1. by Gatewood second by Budge; Motion passed with a 4:1 vote.
Budge, Gatewood, Sander, and Pulipati
Little
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
BREAK 6:23 PM - 6:31 PM
11. 6:30 PM OR SOON THEREAFTER - SPECIAL MEETING ITEM
11.1. Subject: Economic Development and Participation Agreement: 2875 Kilgore Road and Parcels: 072-0490-024-0000, 072-0223-004-0000, 072-0223-001-0000, 072-0223-003- 0000, 072-0223-002-0000, 058-0530-001-0000, 058-0530-002-0000, and 072-0490- 004-0000, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Exemptions.
Recommendation: Review, discuss and adopt the Resolution approving the Economic Development and Participation Agreement (EDPA) and approve the CEQA exemptions.
The EDPA is exempted from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15004 (b)(4) as the EDPA is for financing only. The EDPA is also consistent with the provisions of CEQA Guidelines section 15183.
Mayor Pulipati opened the public comment period. The following individuals addressed the Council or submitted public comment via email:
1. Dan Branton
2. Allyn Green
3. Diann Rogers
4. Sara Malone
5. James Garcia
6. Helen Whelan-Bashaw
7. Jaime Torres
8. Keith Tozer
9. Jenny Hooker
10. Dr. Parnell Lovelace
11. Mitchell Bechtel
12. Noah Painter
13. Corey Brandt
14. Caleb Kwong
15. DeJohn Jones
16. Valerie Knippschild
Rancho Cordova City Council - MINUTES
Meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025
17. Lupe Hernandez
18. Leoni Fabiani
19. Marilyn Metzger
20. Jonathan Armstrong
21. Brandon Collins
22. Ron Trengove
23. Krystallynn Ortega
24. Sara Malone, Marilyn Metzger, and Ane Deister
25. Josh Hoover
26. Robert Butler
27. Kat Natsuko
28. Eva Yoon
29. Jordan Strutsman
30. Sandeep Pannu
31. Donald Childs
32. Warren Smith
Mayor Pulipati closed the public comment period.
ACTION: Motion to approve item 11.1. by Budge second by Sander; Motion passed with a 5:0 vote.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pulipati adjourned the meeting at 8:06 p.m.