OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Folsom City Council Meeting Summary: December 8, 2020

City Council — Tuesday, December 8, 2020
BodyFolsom, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 8, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Okay, we'll call the roll as council members Aquino.

0:12

Here.

0:12

Chalam Chairla.

0:13

Here.

0:14

Kozlowski.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Howell?

0:16

Here.

0:16

And Rodriguez.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Okay.

0:18

Our first item is business from the floor.

0:22

There's nobody in the chamber currently, but we do have callers who would like to speak.

0:26

This is an opportunity to talk on topics that are not on our agenda.

0:30

And the council cannot uh deliberate on these items at this time since they are not agendized.

0:37

Okay, we'll be calling orders of speakers in order.

0:41

I'll let you know who's speaking next and who's coming afterwards.

0:44

And as a reminder, each speaker is given three minutes, and we'll let you know when you hit your three minute limit.

0:50

Our first speaker will be Vijay Jana Logata, who will be followed by Scott Rafferty.

0:56

Vijay, are you with us?

1:02

Yes, I'm here.

1:03

Uh Krista, thank you.

1:05

Um okay, I wanted to talk about the by-districting.

1:08

Can you guys hear me, right?

1:10

Yes, we can hear you very well.

1:11

Thank you.

1:12

Okay, okay.

1:12

Sorry.

1:13

All right.

1:14

Um okay, so um I I wanted to talk about the by-districting uh system.

1:18

Uh so the current et large system has his its issues, and uh I would like to propose the uh city to go by district system, um because I have like a three reasons mainly that it is a natural progression for any big city.

1:34

Falsum is coming out to be a big city.

1:37

Um it is uh uh as the South of Folsom development is also complete, we will be hitting 100,000 uh population limit and everything.

1:47

So uh that's um one of the main points I wanted to make.

1:51

Uh that way it's like a better um representation for the people.

1:56

Uh and the second point I want to make was that um it is um it uh it allows a grassroots democracy so that each resident in the city will feel that hey their voice is being heard and uh that uh you know they have a a kind of a contact person to hear their grievances or to go to go person uh they're being their council member.

2:26

Uh right now we have at large system, you know, it is too hard for uh all the five.

2:31

I mean, if there is a specific issue, who is going to contact?

2:34

Like, you know, if I had to go to one council member, then that person may or may not um do it, and then other uh had to approach other council member of one council member doesn't know if they the uh resident is approaching other council members also.

2:49

All of that is really not a good system.

2:53

Um and finally um it's a uh uh the argument that you know if we have a separate district members, the council member for each district, then each council member will be focusing on their district and the overall city business that the issues concerning the whole city as a whole will take a back seat.

3:18

I don't think that's uh I don't buy that argument because I I trust my council members and they're smart enough to know what is uh what should take the priority and what is in the context of what is the mainly for the big big city issue.

3:35

I mean city issue for the city as a whole and the city issue for the for their own district.

3:41

So um so anyway, I I really support the biodictor system and I would I uh seriously ask council members to do that.

3:49

Thank you.

3:52

Thank you.

3:53

Okay, our next speaker will be Scott Rafferty, and Scott will be followed by Cheryl Davis.

4:00

Scott, go ahead.

4:02

Hi, well, as you know, I am the attorney that was approached this spring uh by uh this remarkable group of uh of your constituents who are uh some of the most uh committed and uh well-informed and and passionate advocates I've seen.

4:20

The most remarkable thing about Folsom uh is uh and it shocked me when I when we created that map of where all these uh signatures were coming from.

4:30

And it literally is every corner of your city.

4:36

Uh that is is quite unusual.

4:39

And even though their petition had a big Democratic Party logo on the top of it, uh it was also startling to find that only about 60 percent of the signatures were registered democrats.

4:52

Uh and so it has very broad base support, and I think that's the reason we should do this.

5:00

And also the reason it has broad based support.

5:03

It doesn't have to be about race so much.

5:06

As, you know, this is the uh local government was invented in the United States or in the colonies, and the idea of having your own council person for your neighborhood uh was the American way for uh three centuries, and it it led to uh good negotiators, representative government, it was the model for Congress.

5:27

Uh so uh these are all the positive reasons to do this.

5:31

I was also startled that uh last uh in the last election, we finally ran the numbers.

5:38

That's a highly polarized election.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Redistricting█████████████████████21%
Transportation Safety███████████11%
Affordable Housing██████████10%
Public Works███████7%
Transportation and Traffic██████6%
Election Sequencing█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Budget and Finance████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Folsom City Council Meeting Summary

On December 8, 2020, the Folsom City Council held a special meeting at 5:00 PM (closed session) followed by a regular meeting at 6:30 PM. The regular meeting included public comments, consent calendar approvals, a public hearing on speed limits, and approval of a $4 million Homekey grant for affordable housing. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 16 of 18 consent items (items 1–11, 13, 15, 17–18) with one amended item (Resolution No. 10563 as amended).
  • Items 12, 14, and 16 were pulled for separate discussion and later approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • By-district elections (business from the floor): Multiple residents spoke in favor of transitioning from at-large to district-based city council elections, citing better representation, compliance with the California Voting Rights Act, and avoiding costly litigation.
    • Vijay Jana Logata argued that district elections are a natural progression for a growing city and would allow grassroots democracy.
    • Scott Rafferty, attorney for a resident group, noted over 300 petition signatures from all parts of Folsom, only 60% of which were from registered Democrats. He urged the council to act after the census.
    • Muriel Brownstein stated the group collected over 300 signatures and warned that no California city has won a lawsuit over district elections, referencing Palmdale’s $4.6 million legal battle.
    • Hari Shetty cited lower campaign costs, better representation, and increased resident participation.
    • Bob Dresser highlighted differing neighborhood needs and lower campaign costs for districts.
    • Tony Oliver stressed that Folsom’s growth warrants government alignment, and the Voting Rights Act makes adopting districts the right thing.
    • Bernie Dooley and Dolly Sood expressed support.
    • Jennifer Lane, a two-time council candidate from Old Town, said she would have been elected under district elections.
    • Robert Holderness, former councilmember and lifelong Democrat, opposed, arguing the current system gives every voter a chance to vote on all seats and that recent elections of minority candidates show districts are unnecessary. He claimed districts would disenfranchise 80% of voters.
  • No public comments were made on agenda items other than business from the floor.

Discussion Items

  • Item 12 – Speed Limits (Resolution No. 10566): Councilmember Chalamcherla raised concerns about 85th percentile speeds exceeding posted limits (e.g., 37 mph in a 25 mph zone). Staff explained ongoing safety studies, grant applications, and traffic management efforts. The item was approved without change.
  • Item 14 – Oak Avenue Pump Station Construction (Resolution No. 10568): Councilmember Chalamcherla questioned the need for separate construction and inspection contracts. Staff clarified that two different firms are hired: one for construction (Soracco, Inc.) and another for construction management (ICM Group, Inc.). The project includes night work and bypass pumping. Approved.
  • Item 16 – SACOG Grant Applications (Resolution No. 10571): Engineering Manager Mark Rackovan presented a list of 12 prioritized projects totaling ~$50 million in grant requests. Staff noted SACOG’s new prioritization process and that typically only 20% of requests are funded. Approved prioritization.
  • Public Hearing Item 19 – Speed Limits Ordinance (Ordinance No. 1310): Staff presented the methodology for setting prima facie speed limits based on engineering and traffic surveys (85th percentile speeds). The ordinance covers 11 streets. Council approved introduction and first reading.
  • New Business Item 20 – Homekey Grant (Resolution No. 10573): Staff reported a conditional approval of up to $4 million from the state to convert the Folsom Lodge Motel into 31 studio apartments (Bidwell Street Studios) for homeless or at-risk individuals. The grant requires funds to be spent by December 30, 2020. Developer Doug Scalise and Hope Cooperative CEO Aaron Johansson spoke. Council expressed strong support, with Vice Mayor Aquino emphasizing the need for clean and well-managed operations. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar voted unanimously (with noted pulls).
  • Item 12 (speed limits), Item 14 (pump station), and Item 16 (SACOG grants) each approved separately with unanimous votes.
  • Ordinance No. 1310 (speed limits) approved for first reading (5-0).
  • Resolution No. 10573 (Homekey grant) approved (5-0). Staff directed to execute grant agreement and appropriate funds.
  • Joint meeting consent calendar approved.
  • City Manager reported on pinhole leak investigation results posted online; permit fee waiver for repairs; Santa visits; and local shopping promotions.
  • Council comments included updates on LAFCO representation, a request for future discussion of Hinkle Creek issues, and traffic safety reminders.
  • No formal action taken on public requests for district elections; item not on agenda.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we'll call the roll as council members Aquino. Here. Chalam Chairla. Here. Kozlowski. Here. Howell? Here. And Rodriguez. Here. Okay. Our first item is business from the floor. There's nobody in the chamber currently, but we do have callers who would like to speak. This is an opportunity to talk on topics that are not on our agenda. And the council cannot uh deliberate on these items at this time since they are not agendized. Okay, we'll be calling orders of speakers in order. I'll let you know who's speaking next and who's coming afterwards. And as a reminder, each speaker is given three minutes, and we'll let you know when you hit your three minute limit. Our first speaker will be Vijay Jana Logata, who will be followed by Scott Rafferty. Vijay, are you with us? Yes, I'm here. Uh Krista, thank you. Um okay, I wanted to talk about the by-districting. Can you guys hear me, right? Yes, we can hear you very well. Thank you. Okay, okay. Sorry. All right. Um okay, so um I I wanted to talk about the by-districting uh system. Uh so the current et large system has his its issues, and uh I would like to propose the uh city to go by district system, um because I have like a three reasons mainly that it is a natural progression for any big city. Falsum is coming out to be a big city. Um it is uh uh as the South of Folsom development is also complete, we will be hitting 100,000 uh population limit and everything. So uh that's um one of the main points I wanted to make. Uh that way it's like a better um representation for the people. Uh and the second point I want to make was that um it is um it uh it allows a grassroots democracy so that each resident in the city will feel that hey their voice is being heard and uh that uh you know they have a a kind of a contact person to hear their grievances or to go to go person uh they're being their council member. Uh right now we have at large system, you know, it is too hard for uh all the five. I mean, if there is a specific issue, who is going to contact? Like, you know, if I had to go to one council member, then that person may or may not um do it, and then other uh had to approach other council member of one council member doesn't know if they the uh resident is approaching other council members also. All of that is really not a good system. Um and finally um it's a uh uh the argument that you know if we have a separate district members, the council member for each district, then each council member will be focusing on their district and the overall city business that the issues concerning the whole city as a whole will take a back seat. I don't think that's uh I don't buy that argument because I I trust my council members and they're smart enough to know what is uh what should take the priority and what is in the context of what is the mainly for the big big city issue. I mean city issue for the city as a whole and the city issue for the for their own district. So um so anyway, I I really support the biodictor system and I would I uh seriously ask council members to do that. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, our next speaker will be Scott Rafferty, and Scott will be followed by Cheryl Davis. Scott, go ahead. Hi, well, as you know, I am the attorney that was approached this spring uh by uh this remarkable group of uh of your constituents who are uh some of the most uh committed and uh well-informed and and passionate advocates I've seen. The most remarkable thing about Folsom uh is uh and it shocked me when I when we created that map of where all these uh signatures were coming from.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com