Folsom City Council Special and Regular Meeting - July 13, 2021

The Folsom City Council convened a special meeting at 5:00 PM and a regular meeting at 6:30 PM on July 13, 2021, in the City Council Chambers. The special meeting adjourned to closed session with no final action reported. The regular meeting included consent calendar approvals, a public hearing, and three new business items addressing cross-connection control, homelessness funding, and solid waste rate studies. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 (meeting minutes), 2 (Badger Meter agreement correction), 6 (Agromin organic waste diversion), and 7 (Regional Early Action Planning Grant) were approved unanimously on a single motion (5-0).
• Items 3 (HydroScience Engineers design services), 4 (Calpo, Hom and Dong Architects for Fire Station 34), and 5 (FDC Consultants for Fire Station 34 construction management) were pulled by Councilmember Howell for questions. After discussion clarifying the coal tar lining issue in a water pipe (Item 3) and the rationale for not bidding professional services (Items 4 and 5), all three items were approved unanimously (5-0 each).

Public Hearing

• Item 8: Landscaping and Lighting District Assessments – Resolution 10666 approving the final engineer’s report and continued levying of assessments for 29 districts. No public comment. The resolution was adopted unanimously (5-0).

New Business Item 9: Water System Cross-Connection Control Ordinance

• Introduction and first reading of Ordinance 1315, repealing and re-enacting Chapter 13.22 of the Folsom Municipal Code. Staff presented updates to comply with state law, including new requirements for single-family residential backflow devices and an online test result portal. The council voted unanimously (5-0) to introduce the ordinance.

New Business Item 10: Homelessness Funding Allocation

• City Manager Elaine Andersen proposed a $25,000 budget line item for homelessness support, suggesting possible uses: $5,000 for police/city manager discretionary emergency funds, $5,000 for an encampment cleanup incentive program, and $1,500 for cooling center operations.
• Public Comments:
  • Jean Schumann (Folsom Alliance for the Unhoused) presented a proposal for $5,000 toward a mobile day center, $5,000 for emergency funds, and $15,000 for transitional housing through Heart of Folsom, emphasizing the need for wraparound services and case coordination.
  • Jan Ingraham (Powerhouse Ministries) requested the full $25,000 for a part-time case manager, citing their 91% success rate and 29 years of service.
  • Ed Kelly (Heart of Folsom) proposed $5,000 for navigator support, $20,000 for transitional housing, and $5,000 for winter shelter expenses.
• Council Discussion: Councilmembers expressed support for the Folsom Alliance proposal, with Councilmember Howell noting disappointment that individual organizations broke from the alliance’s unified recommendation. Councilmember Aquino favored focusing on Heart of Folsom as the city’s established partner.
• Motion and Vote: Councilmember Rodriguez moved to adopt the Folsom Alliance proposal: $5,000 for mobile day center, $5,000 for emergency funds (police and navigator), and $15,000 for transitional housing (Heart of Folsom). The motion passed unanimously (5-0).

New Business Item 11: Solid Waste Rate Study

• Marie McKeith (General Services Manager) presented the results of a rate study driven by SB 1383 (organic waste diversion) compliance. Key points:
  • Without SB 1383, no rate increase would be needed; the law adds $2.3 million in startup costs and $1.4 million annually.
  • Proposed mitigation: a 5% mid-year increase, a temporary $10 monthly SB 1383 surcharge, a $5 million internal loan, and new fees for bulky waste ($25) and household hazardous waste ($15).
  • The utility commission supported all measures and recommended a separate surcharge line item.
• Council Direction: Council generally supported the proposed structure. Councilmember Chalamcherla favored keeping the surcharge visible throughout the rate period. Councilmember Howell favored charging for all bulky waste pickups rather than offering the first one free. Councilmember Aquino preferred one free pickup per year. The consensus was to proceed with the proposal as presented, with the understanding that the surcharge would be used to offset startup costs and that the comparison chart would be revised to separate cities already implementing food waste programs.
• Staff was directed to prepare a resolution approving a Proposition 218 notice for the next meeting (July 27), with a 45-day comment period and a target public hearing in December 2021.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar items 1, 2, 6, and 7 approved; items 3, 4, 5 approved after discussion.
• Resolution 10666 (landscaping assessments) adopted unanimously.
• Ordinance 1315 (cross-connection control) introduced and passed first reading.
• Homelessness funding: $25,000 allocated per Folsom Alliance proposal (5-0).
• Solid waste rate study: staff to return with Prop 218 notice reflecting council’s direction, including a $10 SB 1383 surcharge, fees for bulky waste and HHW, and a 5% mid-year increase.
• Councilmember Howell voiced concerns about illegal fireworks and urged future bans. Councilmember Rosario reported on a historic district parking solution work group. Councilmember Kozlowski noted Folsom’s 126-year anniversary of the first long-distance transmission of three-phase 60 Hz power.