Folsom City Council Regular Meeting – January 23, 2024

The Folsom City Council met on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at 50 Natoma Street. The meeting included presentations on the Holiday Lights contest and tourism quarterly report, public comment on two topics, unanimous approval of the consent calendar, and new business items covering design immunity, landmark tree removal, a bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing, a citizen award program, and a lengthy discussion on the excursion rail license agreement. The council also responded to a Brown Act demand letter and discussed future agenda items.

Scheduled Presentations

• Recognition of 2023 Folsom Holiday Lights Contest Winners – More than 55 entries were received across five categories. The promotion reached over 45,000 views on social media, and the Folsom Times collected over $3,500 in prizes from local businesses. Each category was judged by a council member, and winners were recognized: Ashley and Johnny (530 Flower Drive) – Holly Jolly Resident; Sean de Graff (152 Whitmer) – Hollywood Christmas; Richard and Helen (360 Lidstow Drive) – Clark Griswold; Bayside Church (890 Glenn Drive) – Merry and Bright Business; and the residents of Leggemont Court – Illuminate the Block.

• Folsom Tourism and Economic Development Corporation (TEDCorp) Quarterly Report – President/CEO Joe Galliardi reported on upcoming announcements (new business, property escrow), a robotics company signing a lease, tourism studies (youth/outdoor recreation, entertainment venues, indoor recreation, special events), the chamber’s depot painting and general store opening, Project Momentum at Granite School, and workforce partnerships. He also discussed office market trends, vacancy rates, and the need for a dedicated revenue source (e.g., sales tax) to fund economic development projects like a second parking garage in the historic district.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of January 9, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
• Ordinance No. 1341 – Repealing Chapter 2.42 (Initiative, Referendum, and Recall Petitions) – Second Reading and Adoption
• Resolution No. 11158 – Transfer of Police Special Revenue Trust Funds for Drug Asset Forfeiture to Police Operating Budget and Equipment Purchase

All consent calendar items were approved unanimously by a 5-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Deborah Roberson – As a two-year resident, she expressed shock that no Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade was held in Folsom and requested a resolution for an annual parade and the creation of a Department of Diversity and Inclusion.
• Mike Reynolds – He requested that the HDC recusal criteria be revised, specifically the removal of the 500-foot distance rule, to avoid losing commissioners on key votes. He also asked the city attorney to review income-based conflict definitions.

Discussion Items

• Item 6 – Ordinance No. 1342: Design Immunity – City Attorney Stephen Wong introduced an ordinance to formally document the city’s ability to raise the design immunity defense in lawsuits over dangerous conditions of public property. The ordinance, requested by the city’s risk pool, was approved on first reading unanimously (5-0).

• Item 7 – Resolution No. 11159: Declassify Five Landmark Trees – Urban Forester Amy Nunez presented an application from Sacramento Regional Transit to remove five landmark trees along the JPA corridor to accommodate a second track for the Light Rail Modernization project (reducing headways from 30 to 15 minutes). The trees were designated in 1999. Mitigation will be paid via the in-lieu fee ($250 per inch of trunk diameter). Additional trees may be identified later. The resolution passed 5-0, with Councilmember Kozlowski voting reluctantly.

• Item 8 – Resolution No. 11160: Folsom Boulevard Bicycle and Pedestrian Overcrossing – Senior Trails Planner Brett Bollinger presented the feasibility study recommending the North Alternative Alignment, which connects the Glenn Light Rail Station to State Parks and the Lake Natoma parking lot. The project would cost an estimated $15–20 million for construction (total project $19–28 million). The resolution approving the preferred alignment and authorizing staff to apply for Caltrans Cycle 7 Active Transportation Program grant funding passed 5-0.

• Item 9 – Resolution No. 11161: Citizen Award and Recognition Program – Communications Officer Chris Shepard proposed a quarterly program where each council member nominates one recipient per quarter (20 per year). After discussion, the council agreed to an annual program with 1–2 nominees per council member to maintain the award’s specialness. The resolution was adopted 5-0 with direction to staff to implement an annual, not quarterly, program.

• Item 10 – Update on Placerville Sacramento Valley Railroad (PSVRR) License Agreement – Brett Bollinger (CEO of the Sacramento Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA) and City Staff Mark Rackovan presented options for the excursion rail license, which expired at the end of 2023. PSVRR requested a seven-year (later ten-year) license to operate from Hampton Inn to La Trobe. Three alternatives were outlined: (1) temporary license until Southeast Connector funded, (2) move operations south of White Rock Road, (3) limit operations to the Y property to Blue Ravine. Extensive public comment (over 20 speakers) overwhelmingly supported the railroad, emphasizing its historical value, volunteer efforts, and economic benefits. The council directed staff to negotiate a seven-year license agreement with the JPA, excluding alternative 2 (moving south of White Rock). The motion passed 5-0.

• Item 11 – Consideration of Letter in Response to Brown Act Demand Letter – The council approved a motion authorizing the mayor to send a reply letter to Scott Rafferty reaffirming the city’s commitment to Brown Act compliance. Vote: 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved 5-0.
• Ordinance No. 1342 (Design Immunity) introduced and passed (5-0).
• Resolution No. 11159 (Landmark tree declassification) adopted 5-0.
• Resolution No. 11160 (Bicycle/pedestrian overcrossing preferred alignment) adopted 5-0.
• Resolution No. 11161 (Citizen award program) adopted with amendment to annual frequency (5-0).
• PSVRR License Agreement: Council directed staff to work with the JPA on a seven-year license, excluding alternative 2; motion passed 5-0.
• Brown Act Response Letter: Approved 5-0.
• Future Agenda Items: Councilmember Rohrbough requested updates on the strategic plan action steps and a homeless/crime discussion. Councilmember Chalamcherla requested a discussion on school funding partnerships (subject to city attorney review of Measure W implications).