Folsom City Council Special and Regular Meeting – January 12, 2021

The Folsom City Council met on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, convening at 6:15 PM for a special meeting called to adjourn to closed session, followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at 50 Natoma Street. All five council members were present: Mayor Mike Kozlowski, Vice Mayor Sarah Aquino, and Councilmembers YK Chalamcherla, Kerri Howell, and Rosario Rodriguez.

Special Meeting / Closed Session

• The special meeting at 6:15 PM was immediately adjourned to closed session under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1) to discuss existing litigation: Scott Vestal v. City of Folsom, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board Case Nos. ADJ8794702 and ADJ12519053. No public report of final action was made during the open session covered by the transcript.

Scheduled Presentation – Folsom Mask Makers

• Mayor Kozlowski read a Resolution of Commendation honoring Folsom Mask Makers (FMM) for their COVID-19 PPE work. Volunteers Carla Burgess and Karen Hamer accepted by phone. The resolution states FMM has produced over 65,000 masks, 3,415 scrub caps, 1,535 visual masks, hundreds of 3D-printed face shields, and 5,000 earsavers; donations have gone to more than 375 hospitals, care homes, schools, nonprofits, and agencies. Carla Burgess thanked volunteers and partner nonprofits.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved six consent items (items 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9) after pulling items 4 and 6 for discussion.
• Ordinance No. 1310 (Item 4) – Adopting prima facie speed limits on 11 roadways. Councilmember Chalamcherla expressed concerns about raising speeds, especially on Mangini Parkway near an elementary school, and said human behavior and psychology should be considered. Staff explained the 85th percentile traffic-engineering standard and that arbitrary reductions would make speed limits unenforceable. The ordinance was approved 4-1, with Councilmember Chalamcherla voting no.
• Rockcress Subdivision (Item 6) – Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a subdivision improvement agreement and approve the final map. It was pulled after a resident emailed concerns that the final map was unsigned. Staff clarified that signatures are applied only after council approval to protect the process. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Business from the Floor: Mike Renkowitz, speaking on behalf of the Historic Folsom Residents and Associates (HeFRA) and residents, welcomed new council members and urged action on the historic district’s parking deficit. He cited a May 2020 ad hoc parking study showing a projected shortage of 522 parking spaces at buildout and requested regular group meetings.
• Public comment on district elections (Item 10) – Five in-person public comments, two additional oral comments, and about 30 emails were read into the record.
  • Bruce Klein opposed the rushed timeline, said the public had not been properly informed, and asked the council to continue the item.
  • Kevin Doell argued the city should not act before the California Supreme Court rules in the Santa Monica case and said Folsom’s demographics might make district elections counterproductive.
  • Robert Holderness urged the council to continue the item off calendar and await census data, the governor’s executive order, and a standstill agreement.
  • Aaron Silva said districts would reduce each resident’s representation from five council members to one and that the rules of the CVRA are unknown until Santa Monica is decided.
  • Marco Malikatin argued district elections would strengthen grassroots democracy and reduce the influence of special interests.
  • Vijay John Alagata said he had collected about 350 signatures in support of district elections.
  • Emails: A large number of largely identical form emails (from residents of Broadstone, Prairie Oaks, Willow Creek, Empire Ranch, Parkway, etc.) expressed support for district elections, citing grassroots candidates and lower election costs. Several individuals wrote in opposition, including Justin Raithel and Ian Cornell, who called the CVRA a “cottage industry” and argued Folsom does not have geographically concentrated minority populations. A letter from attorney Scott Rafferty (for CVRA plaintiffs) asserted the city was “in court now” and criticized the resolution as untimely. Carlos Alcala, Chair of the Chicano/Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party, also criticized the city attorney’s handling of the matter.

Discussion Items

• Resolution No. 10575 – District-Based Elections: City Attorney Stephen Wong presented the proposal to transition from at-large to district-based elections under California Elections Code §10010 and the CVRA. He explained that no city has successfully defended against a CVRA lawsuit, that over 126 cities have switched, and that the process requires five public hearings after census data becomes available. Councilmembers asked about the Santa Monica litigation, the feasibility of delaying, and the effect on representation. Public comment was followed by council discussion. Vice Mayor Aquino said she preferred continuing the item to allow public education and to wait for 2020 census data. Mayor Kozlowski and other councilmembers noted that the city “has been living in fear” of a demand letter and that residents currently have five representatives. Councilmember Chalamcherla suggested continuing the item to get more public input. The council voted 5-0 to continue the item off calendar and direct staff to begin public outreach and education on the CVRA.
• At-Large Commission Appointments (Item 11): The council made appointments in an open ballot process. Results:
  • Arts and Cultural Commission: Mark Alleman and Lucinda Winward
  • Historic District Commission: Mickey Ann Kelly (architect/landscape seat) appointed; two business owner seats remained vacant and will be re-advertised
  • Landscaping and Lighting District Advisory Committee: all applicants with no competition were appointed; vacancies remain to be filled
  • Library Commission: Ann Marie Hutto and June Zang
  • Parks and Recreation Commission: Dave Nasworth and Brian Wallace
  • Planning Commission: Kevin Doell and Barbara Leary
  • Traffic Safety Committee: Scott Bailey (citizen rep), Bob Delp (bike/pedestrian), and David Solsby (second citizen rep after a revote)
  • Utility Commission: Daniel Groat and Robert Hess

City Manager Reports & Council Comments

• City Manager Elaine Anderson announced free hand sanitizer drive-thru events for businesses (Jan. 19) and residents (Jan. 22), the draft Housing Element update open for public comment until Feb. 9, and the virtual State of the City address on Jan. 28.
• Councilmembers congratulated appointees, reminded the public to wear masks, and requested that a governance handbook be placed on a future agenda. The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM in memory of Folsom residents Ronald Pugh and Dave West.

Key Outcomes

• Consent items 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 approved unanimously.
• Ordinance No. 1310 adopted 4-1 (Chalamcherla dissenting).
• Rockcress Subdivision map/agreement approved unanimously.
• Resolution 10575 was not adopted; council unanimously continued the item off calendar to a future meeting, with staff directed to begin public education about the CVRA.
• Commission appointments were made as listed above; HDC business owner seats deferred to a later meeting.