Sacramento council proclaims autism acceptance month, honors Transgender Day of Visibility and recognizes retiring planning director Tom Pace

The Sacramento City Council opened its meeting with ceremonial recognitions for autism acceptance and Transgender Day of Visibility, followed by a retirement acknowledgment for Tom Pace, the city's director of Community Development.

Council member Maybank presented a resolution recognizing April as autism acceptance month and invited representatives from Artism, Impact and the UC Davis MIND Institute to speak. An Artism representative emphasized the need to move beyond awareness toward acceptance and culturally responsive services; the UC Davis MIND Institute speaker said the proclamation "affirms that inclusion is not just a right, it's a responsibility for our city."

Council member Kaplan and others then presented a Transgender Day of Visibility recognition, citing Sacramento's role as a sanctuary for LGBTQI residents and thanking the Gender Health Center and other local groups for services and outreach. Doctor Malachi Kote of the Gender Health Center addressed the council, speaking about visibility, community care and ongoing programs such as trans family night and free clinics.

The council also recognized Tom Pace on the occasion of his retirement for more than two decades of service. Mayor Pro Tem Guerra and multiple council members praised Pace's leadership on housing policy, permitting streamlining and long‑term planning. Pace said he would continue to engage in planning work after retirement and thanked staff and elected leaders for their partnership.

These items were ceremonial; the council took photos with award recipients and transitioned to the evening's zoning workshop and public‑comment items.