Folsom City Council Regular Meeting and Joint Meetings - December 12, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Folsom City Council Regular Meeting and Joint Meetings - December 12, 2023
On December 12, 2023, the Folsom City Council held a regular meeting alongside joint meetings of the Folsom Redevelopment Successor Agency, Folsom Public Financing Authority, Folsom Ranch Financing Authority, and South of 50 Parking Authority. The meeting included consent calendar approvals, public hearings, presentations, business from the floor, a discussion on the general fund reserve policy, and the selection of the 2024 mayor and vice mayor.
Consent Calendar
- The joint meeting consent calendar (monthly investment report for September 2023) was approved unanimously.
- The regular meeting consent calendar was approved with items 9 and 12 pulled for discussion. Items 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 15 passed unanimously. Item 9 (Resolution 11136, accepting the AB1600 development fees annual report) and item 12 (Resolution 11143, rejecting all bids for park maintenance) were discussed and later approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Declaration on Inclusive Environment: Multiple speakers expressed appreciation for the council's declaration condemning violence in Israel and Palestine and reaffirming commitment to an inclusive, safe environment. Speakers like Rahan Alvi, Ashraf Abdalwa, and Riyaz Mohammed urged continued support for Palestinian civilians, citing casualty figures. Others expressed gratitude for the council's responsiveness to the Muslim community.
- Business from the Floor:
- Scott Rafferty criticized the city's resistance to district elections, arguing it violates the California Voting Rights Act and urged compliance.
- Dan Carson, Carrie Lane, and others from "Folsom Residents Supporting Public Safety and Quality of Life" announced a citizen-led initiative for a one-cent sales tax to fund public safety, parks, and roads. They reported polling shows strong resident support and invited community to a kickoff event on December 20.
- Hari, Ramana Penumarti, Dr. Paul Manikan, and Satish Chalinghi reported multiple vandalism and arson incidents in the Lakeview Oaks/Amber Ranch neighborhood on Diwali (November 12), including racial slurs and threats. They requested police action and updates. Councilmember Aquino noted a neighborhood meeting is scheduled and that the police department is investigating.
Discussion Items
- Joint Meeting Public Hearing (Item 2): CFO Stacey Tamani presented the issuance of up to $12.5 million in Special Tax Revenue Bonds for Community Facilities District No. 23, Improvement Area No. 2 (Folsom Ranch). The bonds will fund infrastructure improvements. The council unanimously adopted Resolution 11147 and Resolution 011 (Folsom Ranch Financing Authority).
- Consent Calendar Item 9 – AB1600 Development Fees Report: Councilmember Rohrbough questioned the limited use of development impact fees for police and fire services, noting the available fund balances ($1.3M for police capital, $1.7M for general capital) and urged creative funding for police resources. City staff clarified fees are restricted to infrastructure. Police Chief Hillman confirmed three officer positions assigned to South of 50 are currently vacant, with coverage relying on overtime.
- Consent Calendar Item 12 – Park Maintenance Bid Rejection: Parks Director Kelly Gonzalez reported that the only three bids received for landscape services were significantly over budget ($1.5M vs. $900K annual budget). Staff will rebid with reduced service levels. Council discussed inflation, contractor availability, and potential to divide the contract into smaller parcels. Resolution to reject all bids passed unanimously.
- New Business (Item 17) – General Fund Reserve Policy: CFO Tamani presented options to change the current 15% minimum reserve to a range of 17–20% or 17–25%, based on GFOA best practices. Council debated and voted unanimously to adopt a range of 17–20% of annual operating expenditures. Staff will bring back a separate item to discuss uses for any excess above the ceiling, potentially creating additional reserve funds.
Key Outcomes
- Bond Approval: Unanimous approval of up to $12.5 million in special tax bonds for CFD No. 23 Improvement Area No. 2.
- Reserve Policy Change: The council voted 5–0 to amend the general fund reserve policy from a 15% minimum to a range of 17–20% of annual operating expenditures. Staff will return with options for allocating funds above the ceiling.
- Park Maintenance Bids Rejected: Unanimous vote to reject all bids; staff to rebid with reduced scope.
- Selection of Mayor and Vice Mayor for 2024: Mike Kozlowski was elected mayor (3 votes to 2 over YK Chalamcherla). Sarah Aquino was elected vice mayor (3 votes to 2 over Chalamcherla).
- Item Continuation: Public hearing item 16 (specific plan amendment for an electronic readerboard sign) was continued to January 9, 2024, on a 4–1 vote (Rohrbough opposed).
- Council Requests: Councilmember Rohrbough requested recognition for long-serving community members (Carrie Howell, Joe Gagliardi, Will Kempton) at the January meeting. Vice Mayor Chalamcherla requested updates on East Bidwell Street restriping and safety improvements on Folsom Auburn Road.
City Manager Reports & Council Comments
- City Manager reported on UC Davis Health’s topping-out ceremony for a new medical office building, Santa visits, and the Folsom Bulldogs’ state football championship.
- Councilmember Aquino shared her experience at COP28 in Dubai, highlighting green technology and workforce development.
- Outgoing Mayor Rodriguez thanked staff and reflected on her term. Councilmembers expressed gratitude and holiday wishes.
Meeting Transcript
We will now reconvene the city council special meeting. Are there any final actions? All right. We will now adjourn the city council special meeting and call to order the city council regular meeting and joint city council, Folsom Redevelopment Successor Agency, the Folsom Public Financing Authority, the Folsom Ranch Financing Authority, and the South of 50 Parking Authority meeting uh for Tuesday, December 12th. Will the clerk please call the roll? Council members Chalam Chairla? Here. Kozlowski? Here. Rorba. Here. Aquino? Here. And Rodriguez. Here. Let us stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Indivisible with literacy and justice. Are there any agenda updates? No updates tonight. All right. We will now convene the joint meeting. And uh will the clerk please call the next item. Yeah, your first item under your joint meeting is your consent calendar, and you have one item on the consent calendar. I'll move approval of the consent calendar. I'll second. All right, will the clerk please call the roll? Council members Chalam Chairla? Yes. Koslowski? Yes. Rorba. Yes. Aquino? Yes. And Rodriguez. Yes. We will now adjourn the joint meeting. And we convene the regular city council meeting. Will the clerk please call the next item? Well, you one more on your joint meeting. You have your joint meeting public hearing item number two. Oh that will be. That's okay. Folsom Ranch Financing Authority. This will be the City of Folsom CFD number 23, known as Folsom Ranch, Improvement Area Number Two, Special Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2024. You have two sub-items underneath this. Resolution number 11147, which I won't read the whole title, and resolution number 011, Folsom Ranch Financing Authority. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council Members, Stacey Tamani, CFO. Tonight I'm presenting the community facilities district number 23, improvement area two, special tax revenue bonds, series 2024. And before we get started, I have to state that there's been an update to the not to exceed amount.
openpublica.com