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Record of Proceedings

Folsom City Council Regular Meeting - January 11, 2022: Appeals, Districts, and Subdivision Approvals

City Council — Tuesday, January 11, 2022
BodyFolsom, California
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 11, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:01

Okay, we will call to order the regular meeting of the Folsom City Council for Tuesday, January 11th, 2022.

0:09

The clerk would call the roll, please.

0:11

Council Member Zakino here.

0:13

Chalem Cherla.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Kazowski.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Rodriguez.

0:20

Here.

0:20

And how?

0:22

Here.

0:23

And if you guys will all join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:34

And to the public for which it's standing.

0:52

Okay, Krista, do we have any special announcements that we have to make relative to this meeting?

0:57

You have three agenda updates this evening, Madam Mayor.

1:00

Item eight has been revised, and items 14 and 15 both have additional information.

1:07

This information has been provided to the council.

1:09

It's also available on the web page in the same location where the public can access agenda packets.

1:16

Okay.

1:18

Do we have any requests to speak from business from the floor?

1:23

So business from the floor.

1:24

If we have any attendees who would like to speak on an item that is not on the agenda, please raise your hand.

1:30

I am seeing two.

1:33

So we will start with Adina Blair.

1:35

Adina, you will have three minutes and there's a timer on the top bar that you can watch to keep your time.

1:42

So you can ask, you can speak now.

1:45

You may need to unmute your computer.

1:48

Thank you.

1:49

I see that now.

1:50

The reason that I am speaking today is because I understand that there's an appeal on the um approval of the barley barn um.

2:03

And I'm really against the project.

2:07

I don't think that we need more alcohol and micro licenses on Center Street right now.

2:14

Um Gina, I'm sorry to interrupt, but that isn't actually an agenda item.

2:19

So if you have comments on that project, we'd like for you to um save them from when that we get to that item.

2:25

And that is item number um 15 on the agenda, madam mayor.

2:30

Yes.

2:31

Okay, I'll wait for the the actual item then.

2:33

I'm sorry I missed it.

2:35

Okay, thank you.

2:38

Do we have anybody else?

2:39

Our next speaker matters not on the agenda.

2:42

Yeah, our next person with a raised hand uh to speak on this uh business from the floor is Jim Harville.

2:48

Jim, you may talk.

2:50

You may need to unmute yourself.

2:53

The button, it didn't pop up until you said that.

2:55

Okay.

2:56

Well, good evening.

2:57

Um thank you and happy new year, everyone.

3:02

Uh I just wanted to pop in for just a couple of brief comments.

3:06

Uh, first of all, like to thank uh each and every one of you uh for uh meeting with me earlier in the fall.

3:12

Uh it uh uh I'm very grateful that you were each able to uh meet with me individually and uh get your own perspective on our program.

3:21

So I think that was very important.

3:23

Um much has happened over the last uh three months, uh, most of it good.

3:27

Uh and uh so I'd like to uh first report that uh even though uh the issues south of 50 did keep us from rolling out our Dickens Christmas train, which had been uh so successful years ago when we piloted that.

3:40

Uh we were able to fall back on our motor car operations in the grotto below uh Mercy Hospital.

3:46

And uh due to uh an increase in ticket uh uh prices uh as well as uh just solid, solid response uh from the community.

3:56

Uh we were able to generate nearly $18,000 in uh uh December alone, uh, which uh helped us keep our nose above water as we navigate to uh again these issues south highway 50 and and the the various uh things that are keeping us from rolling out the full-size train.

4:15

Um we have been in communication with staff and uh uh uh are working through those issues.

4:22

Uh anybody that's driven by uh down Placidal Road uh along the tracks has uh probably seen uh uh several and not just several, there's 20 some odd uh piles of uh reclaimed ballast uh right on the rails.

4:38

Uh we were able to get a donation of uh basically free rock, uh the ballast that goes and holds the railroad tracks in place.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Redistricting██████████████████████████26%
Parking Management██████████████████████████26%
Procedural██████████10%
Community Engagement██████████10%
Historic Preservation████████8%
Public Engagement██████6%
Affordable Housing████4%
Environmental Sustainability███3%
Public Transportation██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Folsom City Council Regular Meeting - January 11, 2022

The Folsom City Council met virtually on January 11, 2022 at 6:30 PM to consider a consent calendar, a public hearing on a subdivision project, a public hearing on voting districts, and an appeal of a conditional use permit for a tap house. Notable actions included approval of the Toll Brothers at Folsom Ranch Phase 2 subdivision, continuation of the districting process, and denial of the Barley Barn Tap House appeals with a modified condition on hours.

Consent Calendar

  • The council unanimously approved Items 1 through 12 on the consent calendar, including resolutions for teleconferencing under AB 361, acceptance of a $149,820 homeland security grant, naming of Prospector Park, appointment to the Northern California Cities Self-Insurance Fund board, agreements for engineering services and construction projects, the annual inflationary adjustment for the Housing Trust Fund fee, opposition to SB 262 (Bail), and ordinances levying special taxes for Community Facilities District No. 23.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Business from the Floor: Two speakers addressed non-agenda items: Jim Harville reported on the Folsom Railroad operations, ticket revenue of nearly $18,000 in December, and progress on track repairs and grade crossing protection. Mike Reynolds discussed the selection of Historic District commissioners, emphasizing diversity of thought and concerns about recusal rules for commissioners within 500 feet of projects.
  • Toll Brothers Subdivision: Cheryl Davis, a 12-year resident, expressed concern that only 5 of 27 oak trees (less than 20%) would be saved and questioned the use of turf in front yards during drought conditions.
  • Voting Districts: Multiple speakers presented or discussed maps. Barbara Leary emphasized keeping cohesive neighborhoods together. Bruce Klein argued against combining Briggs Ranch with north of the river and opposed maps drawn solely to separate incumbents. Muriel Brownstein Dooley supported the Dooley map for fairness. Scott Rafferty cautioned against concentrating high Asian population in one district and criticized maps that separate Councilmember Chalamcherla from Asian voters. Dolly Seood supported the Dooley map for respecting neighborhoods. Robert Campbell asked if south of 50 data was based on current or future population. Robert Goss and Nick Ferrari's maps were also referenced.
  • Barley Barn Tap House Appeal: Public testimony was divided. Supporters, including Joe Gelliardi from the Folsom Economic Development Corporation, cited economic benefits ($10,000 annual sales tax, doubled property value, $1 million construction). Opponents, including steakhouse owner Rich Veal, John Lane, and several residents, argued parking studies show near-capacity at peak times, safety concerns from cut-through traffic, and the need for a project-specific parking study. The Historic Preservation League raised design concerns about glass doors and sign. Former Mayor Glen Fate supported the project but urged the city to plan a new parking garage.

Discussion Items

  • Toll Brothers at Folsom Ranch Phase 2 (Resolution 10780): The council heard a staff presentation on a 329-unit age-restricted (55+) subdivision on 64 acres. Key points: single-story homes, private streets, two gated access points, preservation of five oak trees (with mitigation for removal of others), and transfer of 92 dwelling units to other parcels. The Planning Commission recommended approval 6-1 due to a commissioner's concern about turf in front yards. Councilmembers asked about grading near a preserved oak tree (answered by applicant: zero grading within drip line, 18-inch to 2-foot retaining wall). Councilmember Rodriguez noted the tree removal mitigation includes a combination of fees and planting. The public hearing was closed, and the resolution was unanimously approved.
  • Voting Districts Public Hearing No. 3 (Item 14): City Attorney Stephen Wong and consultant Doug Yokan presented maps submitted by the public and staff. Yokan reviewed eight public maps (including the Dooley map with 10 identical submissions) and three draft maps from NDC. Discussion focused on keeping communities of interest together, population deviation (target near 10% to accommodate growth south of Highway 50), and splitting the historic district or south of 50 areas. Councilmember Aquino proposed guiding principles: keep historic district and north of river together, keep Natoma Station and Prairie Oaks together, push population variance near 10%, and make the district(s) containing south of 50 the least populous. The council agreed to these principles and directed staff to bring forward a focus map for the next hearing on February 8, 2022.
  • Barley Barn Tap House Appeal (Item 15): Three appeals challenged the Historic District Commission's approval of a conditional use permit and design review for a craft beer tap house at 608 ½ Sutter Street. The project proposed a 2,400-square-foot building with a small patio, off-site parking agreement with the Eagles Lodge (15 spaces), and operation until 12:30 AM on weekends. Staff presented parking data showing 60% weekday and 59% weekend occupancy district-wide, with 72 public parking spaces nearby and 101 spaces on Leidesdorff LID. The council heard from appellants Bob Delp (citing insufficient CEQA analysis and parking assessment), Craig Sandberg (representing Folsom Railroad Block Developer, arguing the project would exacerbate parking saturation and impact future development), and Mike Reynolds (on behalf of Historic Folsom Residents Association, urging a comprehensive parking plan). Applicant Murray Weaver and his team defended the project, noting it is family-friendly, beer-only with no liquor, and proposed a shuttle service. After extensive testimony, Councilmember Aquino moved to deny the appeals but modify the hours condition: closing at 10 PM on Thursdays (instead of 12:30 AM) and closing the patio by 10 PM on Friday and Saturday while the interior stays open until 12:30 AM. The motion passed 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Toll Brothers Phase 2 (Resolution 10780): Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Voting Districts: Continued to February 8, 2022 public hearing; council adopted guiding principles for map development.
  • Barley Barn Tap House Appeals: Denied (5-0). A friendly amendment modified Condition of Approval #23 to require the establishment to close at 10 PM on Thursdays and to close the patio at 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, with interior operations allowed until 12:30 AM on those nights.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, we will call to order the regular meeting of the Folsom City Council for Tuesday, January 11th, 2022. The clerk would call the roll, please. Council Member Zakino here. Chalem Cherla. Here. Kazowski. Here. Rodriguez. Here. And how? Here. And if you guys will all join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the public for which it's standing. Okay, Krista, do we have any special announcements that we have to make relative to this meeting? You have three agenda updates this evening, Madam Mayor. Item eight has been revised, and items 14 and 15 both have additional information. This information has been provided to the council. It's also available on the web page in the same location where the public can access agenda packets. Okay. Do we have any requests to speak from business from the floor? So business from the floor. If we have any attendees who would like to speak on an item that is not on the agenda, please raise your hand. I am seeing two. So we will start with Adina Blair. Adina, you will have three minutes and there's a timer on the top bar that you can watch to keep your time. So you can ask, you can speak now. You may need to unmute your computer. Thank you. I see that now. The reason that I am speaking today is because I understand that there's an appeal on the um approval of the barley barn um. And I'm really against the project. I don't think that we need more alcohol and micro licenses on Center Street right now. Um Gina, I'm sorry to interrupt, but that isn't actually an agenda item. So if you have comments on that project, we'd like for you to um save them from when that we get to that item. And that is item number um 15 on the agenda, madam mayor. Yes. Okay, I'll wait for the the actual item then. I'm sorry I missed it. Okay, thank you. Do we have anybody else? Our next speaker matters not on the agenda. Yeah, our next person with a raised hand uh to speak on this uh business from the floor is Jim Harville. Jim, you may talk. You may need to unmute yourself. The button, it didn't pop up until you said that. Okay. Well, good evening. Um thank you and happy new year, everyone. Uh I just wanted to pop in for just a couple of brief comments. Uh, first of all, like to thank uh each and every one of you uh for uh meeting with me earlier in the fall.

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