Folsom City Council Special and Regular Meeting – June 27, 2023
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Folsom City Council Special and Regular Meeting – June 27, 2023
This meeting consisted of a special closed session at 3:30 PM (with no final actions reported) followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 PM. The regular meeting included presentations on homeless services and tourism, routine consent calendar approvals, and a discussion on hiring an economic development consultant.
Consent Calendar
- Approved 5-0: Items 4-12 (Resolution Nos. 11054, 11055, 11057, 11058, 11059, 11060, 11061, 11063; minutes; annual report on police military equipment use). Councilmember Kozlowski pulled Item 8 (Resolution 11058 – shaded fuel break creation) for discussion. After staff explanation, the item was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the Business from the Floor portion.
Discussion Items
- Presentation from Hope Cooperative (Homeless Services): CEO Aaron Johansson and Director Alex Swapp reported on the operations of Bidwell Studios, a 25-unit permanent supportive housing project that opened in 2021. They noted 12 of the original 20 residents remain after nearly two years, with 20 residents currently housed. The program uses a Housing First model, with voluntary services and no sobriety requirements. Staffing has been increased to 60 hours per week onsite. Council members discussed challenges, success rates, and the process for filling vacancies. A success story of a young man formerly homeless and now stabilized was shared.
- Folsom Tourism and Economic Development Corporation (TEDCorp) Quarterly Report: Sally Buchanan reported on tourism data, including a sold-out Pro Rodeo (over 40% of attendees from more than 40 miles away), new visitor kiosk, and destination asset study results. Laura Fickle reported on economic development activities: 112 events, 1,500 business connections, 15 ribbon cuttings, and six pitch night companies. She highlighted a forthcoming globally recognized technology company announcement and ongoing efforts to cultivate innovation.
- Consideration of Economic Development Consultant (Item 13): City Manager Elaine Andersen presented a menu of potential tasks for a $100,000 consultant contract, including a three-year economic development plan, regional fee comparison, void analysis, and concierge services. Councilmembers offered feedback: exclude the e-gift card program (handled by Choose Folsom), focus on economic zones, emphasize collaboration with Choose Folsom, and include a directive to identify funding for the Johnny Cash Art Trail and potential for South of 50 development. Council consensus was to allocate the full $100,000 toward a single contract that includes a comprehensive plan, with the city manager to return with an RFP for council approval.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved (5-0) with Item 8 discussed and then approved.
- Direction to staff: Economic development consultant contract to be developed with tasks including a three-year plan, regional comparison, void analysis, and support for identified priorities. Contract will be over the city manager’s signing authority and will require council approval. Council requested inclusion of two council members on the selection panel.
- City Manager Reports: Announced upcoming groundbreakings for Prospector Park and Fire Station 34 (June 29), emergency road closure on Greenback Lane, National Night Out (August 1), traffic safety project at Folsom Lake Crossing, and CERT Basic Academy starting in late August.
- Council Comments: Adjourned in memory of former councilmember Lindsay Goodell. Various members shared updates on community events, trail planning, and personal observations.
Meeting Transcript
You're good to go. We will now reconvene the city council special meeting. Are there any final actions? Nothing to report out, Madam Mayor. Okay, we will now adjourn the city council special meeting and call to order the city council regular meeting for Tuesday, June 27th. Will the clerk please call the roll? Council Member Zakino. Here Shalem Chairla. Here Koslowski. Here. Roarba and Rodriguez. Here. Let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Agence of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation on the indivisible with liberty and justice role. Are there any agenda updates? You have no agenda updates this evening. Okay, will the clerk please call the next item? The next item is business from the floor. Okay. Okay. But you have no request to speak under business from the floor tonight. Okay. Okay. All right. Will the clerk please call the next item? Okay, that takes you to scheduled presentations. And your first scheduled presentation this evening is item number one, proclamation of the mayor of the city of Folsom proclaiming July as Parks Make Life Better Month. With Councilmember Aquino presenting. Come on up, guys. Parks life's better. Okay, now is it on? Okay. Let's see who we have here. We have Hannah Holock. Hannah, are you here? Hannah's a recreation specialist with the city. Robert Pareda, is he here? No. And then we have the whole schoonmaker family. Connor, Avery, and Lexi, who are all lifeguards, and their mom Kathy, who is a swim coach at Vista del Lago, and you some cooks of tiger sharks when my daughter swam. So proclamation of the mayor of the city of Folsom proclaiming July 2023 as Parks Make Life Better Month. Whereas parks and recreation are vitally important in providing physical and mental health and wellness through organized and self-directed activities, play and fitness. And whereas Parks and Recreation encourages physical activities by providing space for sports, walking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designed to promote active lifestyles. And whereas parks and recreation increases the community's economic prosperity through increased property values, expansion of the local tax space, increased tourism in the attraction and retention of businesses. And whereas parks and recreation fosters social cohesiveness in communities by providing spaces for individuals to come together peacefully and ensuring all have access to park and recreational benefits. And whereas parks and recreation supports human development and endless learning opportunities that foster social, intellectual, physical, and emotional growth in people of all ages and abilities. And whereas parks and recreation sustains and preserves our natural resources by protecting habitats and open space, connecting people to nature, and promoting ecological awareness. Now, therefore, be it resolved that on behalf of Mayor Rosario Rodriguez. Um we hereby do proclaim July 2023 as Parks Make Life Better Month in the City of Folsom. Proclaim this 27th day of June 2023.
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