Council member Donald Terry received a proclamation from his fellow councilmembers at the City Council meeting. From left, Micah Runner, Donald Terry, Siri Pulipati, Garett Gatewood, Linda Budge and David Kwong. Photo courtesy of City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova City Council held its regular meeting on Nov. 18, where members bid farewell to one of their long-standing members, Councilmember Donald Terry, and made important appointments to the Measure R and Measure H Citizen Oversight Board.

The meeting began with a heartfelt recognition of Councilmember Donald Terry, who is retiring after 12 years of service. Terry, first elected in 2012, holds the distinction of being the youngest person elected to the City Council.

“As vice-mayor, I have the pleasure to give the proclamation to Councilmember Donald Terry. He has championed many causes in the city, including the Rancho Cordova Promise Program, championed the City Community Engagement Program and played a key role in the passage of Measure H,” said Vice-Mayor Siri Pulipati.

Terry’s contributions to the city were further praised by City Manager Micah Runner.

“I really appreciate all you have given to this city and personally all the things you did for me. Your commitment to the city and the community has been remarkable,” Runner said.

Councilmember Garrett Gatewood also reflected on Terry’s impact.

“He helped me understand what it meant to be a good council member. He is probably the best politician I have ever seen in my life,” Gatewood said.

Diann Rogers, president and CEO of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, also expressed appreciation for Terry’s support of the local business community.

“Your transparency and advice, both professionally and politically, have been invaluable,” Rogers said.

In his farewell remarks, Terry expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the city.

“It’s been the honor of my life to serve this community. I will miss the people and the work but I’m excited for the trajectory of this city,” Terry said, thanking his family and colleagues.

Councilmember Donald Terry stands alongside his wife, Angela Terry, and their two sons. Photo courtesy of City of Rancho Cordova

The council also discussed Item 16.7, which authorized the city manager to procure Microsoft 365 G5 licenses utilizing a contract with the County of Riverside. The decision was pulled for further discussion after concerns were raised by the public.

Resident James Garcia voiced opposition to relying on Riverside County’s enterprise agreement instead of having the city manage its own agreement.

“We would have more direct control over the process rather than relying on a third party like Riverside County for tech support,” Garcia said.

Resident Helen Beshaw echoed Garcia’s concerns, suggesting that using Riverside’s agreement made the city appear inexperienced.

Rita Gass, the city’s Chief Technology and Innovation officer, explained that the Riverside County contract is a standard agreement used by special districts, including the city.

“We cannot purchase Microsoft government cloud licenses on our own. We must go through a third-party vendor, and Riverside is the best option available,” Gass said. She emphasized that the city would not interact with Riverside County directly, only using the contract for pricing.

The council ultimately approved the item unanimously after clarification, with Councilmember Gatewood noting, “This contract does allow us to go directly to Microsoft without needing to go through a third party for access.”

The council also appointed new members to the Measure R and Measure H Community Enhancement & Investment Fund Citizen Oversight Board, which ensures transparency in how funds from these voter-approved measures are spent.

Six applicants were confirmed as eligible for the board, with Jason Williams, a Rancho Cordova resident and business owner, expressing his desire to contribute to the community.

The council selected Williams, along with Huoa Vang, for the two-year term citizen appointments.

“Huoa Vang has lived here for 11 years and it seemed to me that having someone with a bit more familiarity with the community enhancement fund might be beneficial,” Councilmember Linda Budge said.

The appointments were approved by a majority vote, with Councilmember Gatewood adding, “It’s all about showing up in this community and you have certainly shown up,” in reference to Williams.

The council also appointed two student representatives to the board. Isabela Tang, a sophomore at Pleasant Grove High School, and Vraj Thakkar, a student at Folsom Lake College, were selected for the one-year term student positions.