Folsom City Council Regular Meeting - September 12, 2023
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Folsom City Council Regular Meeting - September 12, 2023
The Folsom City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, beginning at approximately 6:45 PM (after a special meeting) and adjourning at 8:31 PM. The meeting included proclamations, a public comment on fiscal concerns, a presentation on the 10th Annual Community Service Day, updates on landmark tree designations, approval of a community facilities district amendment, selection of council members for an economic development consultant review committee, and discussion of future agenda items including a potential sales tax measure.
Consent Calendar
- The council approved the consent calendar (items 6 through 10) by a unanimous 5-0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bruce Klein, a 32-year resident and vice president of Friends of Folsom Parkway, spoke during business from the floor. He expressed concern about the city's fiscal situation, noting a projected deficit over the coming years. He urged the council to discuss revenue options, including a possible sales tax measure, and to avoid relying solely on service cuts or economic development. He also commented later on the landmark tree item, supporting the protection of the Oak Parkway Trail corridor.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations: The council adopted three proclamations: (1) September 17–23, 2023 as Constitution Week, presented to a representative of the Daughters of the American Revolution; (2) September 2023 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, presented by Councilmember Richard Montgomery in memory of his father; (3) September 2023 as International Underground Railroad Month, presented to the Harris family and author Don Silva (The Funk Queen).
- Resolution of Commendation: The council honored Snooks Chocolate Factory on its 60th anniversary. The Snook family (four generations) accepted the commendation and shared details of a Friday fundraiser for the Peter Lewis Green Room.
- 10th Annual Folsom Community Service Day: Tom Hellman (Parks and Recreation) and Justin Rethel (steering committee chair) presented the event, scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2023. They reported over 2,000 volunteers signed up (93% of spots filled), 100+ projects, and a goal of 500,000 pounds of food collected. Sponsorships totaled $114,000, the largest ever.
- Landmark Tree Update: Urban Forester Amy Nunez presented two candidates for landmark tree designation:
- Prison Grove (Folsom State Prison): 250 acres of oak woodland (primarily blue oak and interior live oak), meeting criteria for historical value, habitat value, and superior beauty. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) was supportive.
- Oak Parkway Trail Corridor: A 1.5-mile city-owned segment with scattered oaks, including two rare oracle oaks. Staff recommended further analysis due to ongoing interactions with PGE (utility company) for vegetation management. Council discussed protections for trees against PGE's proposed removal of 17 oak trees. After debate, council directed staff to move forward with both sites, including amending the city code to define a "grove" designation so that all trees within a geographic area receive default landmark status until individual evaluations are completed. The matter will return with a proposed code amendment and actions on October 24, 2023.
- Community Facilities District Amendment: Stacy presented Resolution 11102 to amend the rate and method of apportionment for Improvement Area 6 within CFD 23 (Folsom Ranch). The amendment removes the maximum facility special tax for the remaining multifamily medium-density land use, leaving only service special taxes. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Selection of Council Members for Economic Development Consultant Review Committee: Staff requested two council members to serve on the committee evaluating proposals for an economic development consultant (RFP due September 15). The council agreed to have two members and selected Mayor Rodriguez and Councilmember Warbaugh (by consensus).
- Council Requests for Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Kozlowski requested a discussion on a potential sales tax measure (general or special) to address the city's fiscal deficit. Other council members supported a broader discussion of revenue options, procurement, grants, and service cuts. The council agreed to bring back an item on consideration of a sales tax measure, including comparisons to other jurisdictions, community feedback, and next steps. Councilmember Kozlowski also requested a future discussion on the Y property (including public works storage, the superintendent's house, and potential county health services). The city manager will schedule these items.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (5-0).
- Landmark Tree Designations: Council directed staff to initiate the 30-day noticing period for the prison grove and to bring back a code amendment to define "grove" for the Oak Parkway Trail corridor, with actions expected at the October 24, 2023 meeting. Staff will also work with Friends of Folsom Parkway on mapping.
- CFD Amendment: Resolution 11102 approved unanimously (5-0).
- Economic Development Consultant Committee: Mayor Rodriguez and Councilmember Warbaugh selected to serve on the review committee.
- Future Agenda Items: Staff will prepare an item on a potential sales tax measure (discussion of options, data, and next steps) and a separate item on the Y property, to be scheduled in the coming months.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, we will now reconvene the city council uh special meeting. Are there any final actions? Good evening, Madam Mayor. All right, we will now adjourn the city council special meeting and call to order the city council regular meeting for Tuesday, September 12th. Will the clerk please call the roll? Council members Aquino here and Roger here. Let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under a individual with liberty and justice crawl. Are there any agenda updates? Yes, we even have a mayor. I'm not sure my wife is working here. And they are also available on the table in the back. All right, thank you. Will the clerk please call the next item? Next item is business from the floor. All right. Business from the floor is the public's opportunity to address the city council concerning any item within the city council's jurisdiction that is not on the agenda. Please keep in mind that the city council is generally prohibited from discussing or taking action on any items that is not on the agenda. Public comments are limited to no more than three minutes. Are there any council? Are there any public comments? We have one blue speaker card for Bruce Klein. Good evening, Bruce. Good evening, Mayor members of the council and evening city manager. I rise to talk to you tonight about my concern over fiscal problems facing the city. Um a number of us have been speaking to members of the community, and those members are also very concerned. Um we all know based on the mayor's or excuse me, the city manager's budget presentation. It was all approved 5-0 in May, that the city is facing a very concerning fiscal situation over the next coming years. Talk about it in open session and make a call to go somewhere. I know that all of you have different ideas about how to address it from whether it's the reserves to other uh procurement issues, but let's get those out on the table and talk about them and call the question. Uh, when we've met with citizens' groups, we've talked about whether a sales tax measure makes sense, and I think the city council needs to address that at the same time the citizens are for a citizen initiative for a sales tax measure. It's a very heavy lift. 6,500 signatures, probably a quarter million dollars, a lot of work. So the question becomes really, should the citizens be doing that, or should we ask instead the city council just address it head on? We all know we have a fiscal deficit problem looming this year, next year, the following years. I don't believe that you can cut your way out of it. I don't believe you can economically develop your way out of it. And I think at some point you're gonna have to call the question about revenue. And I know it's always hard to have those conversations, but I know all of you very, very well, and I believe that you all can address it in some fashion and decide what the options are. Does the sales tax measure make any sense at all? If so, should it be a general, should it be a special? Is there TOT tax? Can some of those things or some of the ideas that the council have raised? Should you know, could they help in some fashion or another? So all I do is ask that uh you know, for on behalf of many dedicated residents who are really looking at this question hard and deciding whether they want to uh do that heavy lift themselves, or alternatively, should the city council address it head on and let the citizens have an opportunity to make their presentations as to what the council may want to do. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other requests to speak? No other requests for business from the floor. Okay, will the clerk please call the next item?
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