Folsom City Council Special and Regular Meeting - August 22, 2023

The Folsom City Council convened a special meeting at 5:45 PM for closed session (existing litigation and real property negotiation) and reconvened the regular meeting at 6:30 PM. The regular meeting ran until approximately 8:00 PM and included presentations, a consent calendar, public hearings, old and new business, and council requests for future agenda items. Key decisions included approval of a 10% salary increase for the city manager (3-2 vote), adoption of updated ambulance and infrastructure fees, formation of a citizens advisory committee for the Central Business District Master Plan, and authorization of a water vision consulting agreement.

Consent Calendar

• Items 4 through 13 were approved unanimously except Item 12 (Traders Lane Parking Lot Improvement Project), which was pulled for discussion. Items included: approval of July 25, 2023 minutes; purchase of two Tesla police vehicles (Resolution 11084); purchase of three police vehicles from Folsom Lake Ford (11085); change order for Folsom Lake Crossing/East Natoma friction enhancement (11086); purchase of six solid waste collection vehicles (11087); change order for Folsom Boulevard 27-inch trunk sewer project (11088); agreement with Jacobs Engineering for Central Business District Master Plan (11091); first amendment to Acquisition & Shortfall Agreement for CFD No. 20 (Russell Ranch) (11092); construction agreement for Traders Lane Parking Lot Improvement (11095); and MOU with Folsom Police Management Association (11097).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Janet Plank (resident near rodeo grounds) asked about the city's process to remove homeless individuals in high fire hazard zones. The mayor directed her to speak with Fire Chief Cassano after the meeting.
• Michael Harris (longtime resident) spoke about the history of the Sacramento Valley Railroad and the need for a roof on the train display, and expressed support for the Johnny Cash Trail art project.
• Bob Holderness (Folsom resident) congratulated the council on hiring a consultant for the Central Business District Master Plan and endorsed adding Dan Dreer to the advisory committee. He also suggested Monica Woodre might be easier to work with.
• Carly Kuhn (District 2 resident) spoke on Item 16 (after its adoption) to express concern about deteriorating conditions at Lembi Park, including encampments and paraphernalia, and urged that the public be better informed about the park's inclusion in the master plan.

Discussion Items

Adopt a Trail Program (Presentation)

• Chris O'Keefe (Parks and Recreation) presented the revived program (originally started in 2018, suspended in 2019). The program asks for a one-year commitment of about one mile of trail per group, with one day per month of work. Sponsorships of $1,000 per section or $4,000 for five years are requested. Two groups have already expressed interest. Councilmembers discussed making the program less bureaucratic to encourage participation; staff noted the handbook had already been simplified.

Johnny Cash Trail Art Project Grant (Presentation)

• Assemblyman Josh Hoover presented a $425,000 state grant check for the Johnny Cash Trail art experience (specifically for "Cash Pick #2"). The grant was approved by the state and will fund public art along the trail.

Red Shoe Crawl Fundraiser (Presentation)

• Stacy Hodge (Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern California) described the event on September 9, 2023, on Sutter Street in Historic Folsom. Tickets are $65, expected attendance of 500 people, proceeds support temporary housing for families of children receiving critical medical care.

Traders Lane Parking Lot Improvement Project (Item 12, pulled from consent)

• Urban Forester Amy Nunez explained that 12 fruitless mulberry trees (planted in the 1970s, average life expectancy 25 years) will be removed due to structural defects and decay. The project will install irrigation and replace with more trees (climate-appropriate, fall color). Councilmember Rohrbough expressed concern about tree removal but accepted the explanation. The project was approved unanimously.

Ambulance Cost Recovery Program Fee Update (Public Hearing, Item 14)

• Fire Chief Ken Cassano presented the updated fee schedule (last updated June 2019 for most items, April 2020 for first responder fee). In FY 2022-23, 6,428 invoices were processed. Folsom has one of the highest recovery rates in the region. Fees are below regional averages. The update will take effect October 2, 2023. No public comments. Unanimously approved.

Folsom Plan Area Specific Plan Infrastructure Fees (SPIF) Adjustment (Public Hearing, Item 15)

• CFO Stacy Tamani presented the August 2023 adjustment based on updated construction costs and remaining development. Increase for residential units: $1,800 to $4,400 per unit; non-residential: $1.44 to $1.98 per square foot. Effective October 23, 2023. No public comments. Unanimously approved.

Central Business District Master Plan Citizens Advisory Committee (Item 16)

• Project consultant Kathy Peace presented the proposed committee membership (landowners, businesses, residents, transportation, arts, education, etc.). Councilmember Aquino added Dan Dreer (Folsom Lake Bowl) as a member and his brother Jeremy as alternate. One public comment (Bob Holderness) supported the committee. Unanimously approved with the addition.

City of Folsom Water Vision Agreement (Item 17)

• Marcus Yasutake (Environmental Water Resources Director) presented the resolution authorizing an agreement with Water Systems Consulting, Inc. (WSC) for the water vision study. The more expensive option was selected as a better investment. One public speaker (Carly Kuhn) spoke on the previous item instead. Unanimously approved.

City Manager Employment Agreement Amendment (Item 18)

• City Attorney Stephen Wong explained that the council evaluates the city manager annually. The proposed amendment included a 10% salary increase. Councilmember Rohrbough moved to substitute a 3% COLA increase, citing fiscal responsibility and alignment with other employee raises. The motion failed on a 3-2 vote (Rohrbough, Chalamcherla, Kozlowski voting yes; Aquino, Rodriguez voting no). Councilmember Aquino then moved to adopt the original 10% increase, which passed 3-2 (Aquino, Kozlowski, Rodriguez in favor; Rohrbough, Chalamcherla against). City Manager Elaine Andersen noted she had declined raises in 2020 and 2022 without expectation of future compensation, and that the 10% differential between her salary and the highest-paid executive would narrow after department head evaluations. The 10% increase was approved.

Key Outcomes

• Ambulance fee schedule updated effective October 2, 2023 (Resolution 11094).
• SPIF fees adjusted effective October 23, 2023 (Resolution 11096).
• Central Business District Master Plan Citizens Advisory Committee formed with added member Dan Dreer (Resolution 11090).
• Water Vision consulting agreement with WSC approved (Resolution 11089).
• City Manager employment agreement amended with 10% salary increase (Resolution 11093) – passed 3-2.
• Traders Lane Parking Lot Improvement Project approved (Resolution 11095) – unanimous.
• Council requests for future agenda items:
  • Councilmember Kozlowski requested a budget discussion (study sessions in fall 2023) to address projected structural deficit.
  • Councilmember Aquino requested a homeless discussion with data, police report, and input from county HART program and local nonprofits.
  • Councilmember Kozlowski requested an art contest for garbage truck wraps (to be referred to Arts and Culture Commission).
• City Manager reports: Community Service Day (September 16) needs over 1,000 volunteers; traffic safety improvements on Folsom Lake Crossing/East Natoma nearly complete; pavement rehab on Blue Ravine Road underway; pipeline construction on Folsom Boulevard phase 2 underway; free online tutoring (Help Now) available at library; preschool openings for three-year-olds; senior executive management development program rotated to Christine Brainerd.
• Councilmember comments: Councilmember Aquino and Vice Mayor Chalamcherla conducted a late-night ride-along to inspect reported hotspots and found the city clean; Councilmember Aquino praised PGE communication improvements; Vice Mayor thanked police and fire for National Night Out and noted Eagle Scout ceremony.