Folsom City Council Regular Meeting - February 13, 2024

The Folsom City Council met on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 6:30 PM in City Hall. The meeting included commendations for youth athletes and community leaders, public comments on various topics, discussion on the future of the steam train at Lions Park, and a preliminary budget workshop highlighting a projected structural deficit of $4.6 million by FY 2029. The council provided direction to maintain a similar general fund allocation (51% public safety) and indicated willingness to explore using reserve funds for one-time capital needs.

Scheduled Presentations

• Folsom Jr. Bulldogs Commendation: The council honored the youth football and cheer organization for earning the 2023 Excellence in Academics and Athletics Award. Student athletes introduced themselves, and the mayor thanked them for representing Folsom.
• Leadership Folsom Class Commendation: The council recognized the Leadership Folsom Class of 2022-2023 for receiving the 2023 Folsom Arts Achievement Award for the "Heartbeat of Folsom" project, which raised $20,000 for Folsom Powerhouse Ministries.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Business from the Floor:
  • Sandy M, Debbie Woolley, and Dave C (representing "We the People") presented a national lockdown notice, expressing concerns about potential future health emergency orders and constitutional rights.
  • Ron Fister and Stacy Sheets (residents near Vista del Lago High School) reported issues with student parking, speeding, trash, and a propped-open emergency gate. Vice Mayor Aquino promised to follow up with the school district.
  • Folsom Pickleball Club (Ford Gallinato, Tracy Lind) thanked the city for partnership in renovating pickleball courts at Lembi Park. They noted 752 members, 12 permanent courts, and a $31,000 renovation funded by the club.
• Item 13 (Steam Train):
  • Catherine Prudholm, James Prudholm, and Caden Prudholm expressed their family's desire to purchase and operate the Folsom Valley Railway, citing their railroad experience and commitment to continuing the tradition.
  • Kyle Winberg, a former Disney train operator, provided background on the train's condition and recommended a diesel locomotive if the city operates it. He noted the steam engine is expensive and requires specialized skills.
  • James Harville supported the Prudholm family and advised the city not to own the train.
• Item 14 (Budget Workshop):
  • Justin Rethel advocated for more open data, multi-year planning, and honest presentation of cuts needed to balance the budget.
  • Bruce Klein (co-chair of Folsom Takes Action) emphasized the need for a revenue measure, noting that basic service needs cannot be met through cuts and that a sales tax measure could fund immediate needs.

Discussion Items

• Consent Calendar (Items 3-12): Items 3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12 were approved as a block. Item 5 (credit card acceptance) and item 11 (appointment to L&L District) were pulled for separate votes. Both passed unanimously after brief discussion. For item 11, Deborah Grassell spoke in support of Mary Johnson's appointment.

• Item 13 – Future Steam Train Operations: Staff presented four options: (1) city purchase and operation, (2) city purchase with RFP for operator, (3) decline purchase and solicit new concessionaire, (4) decline and convert to other use. The current concessionaire, Terry Gold, offered to sell the railway to the city for $375,000 with a payment plan. An RMI evaluation noted safety concerns with the steam engine. Council consensus was to let the private market determine the sale, with the city continuing a land lease to a new operator. No formal vote was taken; direction was given to staff.

• Item 14 – FY 2024-25 Preliminary Budget Workshop: Department heads presented requests totaling millions in new spending. Key requests included:

  • Police: 7 officers, 2 corporals, 1 sergeant (including homeless outreach team), 2 dispatchers, a dispatch supervisor, inventory clerk, new vehicles, and building purchase/renovation.
  • Fire: Training division chief, 9 firefighters for Engine 35, 6 firefighters for Medic 34, battalion chief, two engines, fire prevention officer, cardiac monitors, and design for Fire Station 33.
  • Community Development: Arborist, records clerk, software upgrades (Bluebeam, cloud-based permitting), and counter software.
  • Parks and Recreation: $450k for Kids Play Park, $880k for park renovations, $2.5M for trail repairs, $853k for landscape maintenance, $160k for hazard tree mitigation, $564k for staffing, $1.5M for community center HVAC, $500k for facility repairs, $2.6M for synthetic turf fields.
  • Public Works: Stormwater fee study, corporation yard planning, fleet electrification compliance (new staff, software, $11M charging stations), fleet shop repairs, street maintenance staffing, vehicle replacements, traffic supervisor.
  • Other departments: City Attorney (third attorney), City Clerk (software, staff, election funding), HR (technician), Library (lighting/HVAC, six-day service, upgrades), OMB (IS technician, storage, Microsoft license), Environmental Resources (water treatment plant generator, meter replacements, conservation compliance).

  City Manager Elaine Anderson presented the fiscal outlook: sales tax growth down to 2.3%, property tax growth at 7%, structural deficit of $4.6M by FY 2029, reserves at 21.4% (unassigned). She asked council for direction on the general fund allocation pie (currently 51% public safety). Council discussed: Councilmember Rohrbough wanted more time to review audit numbers and consider using excess reserves for one-time capital needs. Councilmember Aquino, Chalamcherla, and Kozlowski favored maintaining the current pie allocation. The consensus was to keep a similar distribution (51% public safety) and to further discuss using reserves for capital projects. No formal motion was made; direction was given to staff to proceed with that framework.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved items 3,4,6,7,8,9,10,12 (unanimous). Item 5 (credit card fee) and item 11 (L&L District appointment) approved separately (unanimous).
• Steam Train: Council directed staff to let private parties negotiate purchase of the railway, with the city prepared to enter into a new concession agreement with the buyer. The current lease will continue.
• Budget Direction: Council directed the city manager to prepare the preliminary FY 2024-25 budget with a general fund allocation similar to the current year (51% public safety, 25% police, 26% fire, etc.). Further discussion on using unassigned fund balance for one-time capital needs will occur.
• Future Agenda Item: Councilmember Chalamcherla requested a workshop on options for the city to support school construction south of 50, possibly involving the school district.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:28 PM.