Folsom City Council Regular Meeting – October 8, 2024

The Folsom City Council convened a regular meeting on October 8, 2024, at 6:30 PM at City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation, a development report, discussion of a parking ordinance, and approval of consent items. Public comments raised concerns about Measure G and a proposed alley parking ban.

Scheduled Presentations

• Proclamation of National Arts and Humanities Month: Councilmember Rohrbough read a proclamation declaring October 2024 as National Arts and Humanities Month in Folsom. Mindy Andres, from Folsom Cordova Unified School District, spoke about the value of arts education, citing statistics: students involved in arts are four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, three times more likely to be elected to class office, and four times more likely to participate in math and science fairs.
• Folsom Plan Area Semi-Annual Report: Community Development Director Pam Johns and City Engineer Rebecca Neves presented development activity in the Folsom Plan Area. Key statistics: 3,491 homes are now occupied, representing an estimated 9,425 residents (an increase of ~1,200 since May 2024); over 200 building permits were issued since May; the area has approved 4,479 single-family mapped lots (if consent item 8 passes); Fire Station 34 and Alder Creek Elementary have opened; Prospector Park is nearing completion; trail construction expected to start spring 2025. Councilmember Chalamcherla praised the Phase 2 Water Improvements project (Item 6) for coming in $9 million under the $27 million engineer’s estimate.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jackie Saluty opposed Measure G, alleging it was improperly pushed by city staff/attorneys and funded by developers, and questioned the need for a $29 million annual tax increase given a nearly $7 million revenue surplus.
• Ronald Carter argued that Measure G violates the Jarvis Act (Proposition 26/218) and should be removed from the ballot; he stated families are already overtaxed with six additional county tax measures on the ballot.
• Charlene Braun (speaking on Item 5) opposed a blanket ban on alley parking, noting narrow alleys, potholes, and the needs of elderly guests; she suggested parking on trash days only.
• Jackie Soletti opposed a blanket ban, proposing instead no parking on trash collection days; she stated that one alley is only 18 feet wide but the city says 20, and that fire trucks typically access from the front.
• John Morgan pointed out that his alley (Perth Verdean between Coloma and Mill) is 32 feet wide (wider than adjacent Rumsey Way) and questioned a blanket ban.
• Paul Kerfield opposed the ordinance, arguing there is already a parking shortage in the historic district and that ADUs built with no off-street parking would displace vehicles onto narrow streets. He requested enforcement of existing rules instead of a new ban.
• Sue Schaefer suggested looking at other cities’ solutions and starting with trash-day restrictions.
• Leo Grover noted that habitual offenders are known to trash drivers and recommended targeting specific problematic alleyways rather than a district-wide ban.

Consent Calendar

• Items 3 (Minutes of September 10), 4 (Minutes of September 24), 7 (Toll Brothers subdivision agreement), 8 (Side loader equipment agreement), and 9 (Police vehicle purchase) were approved unanimously by a single motion (5-0).
• Item 5 (Parking in alleys ordinance, second reading) was pulled for discussion by Councilmember Aquino.
• Item 6 (Phase 2 Water Improvements contract with Mozingo Construction, Inc.) was pulled by Councilmember Chalamcherla for commendation and then approved unanimously (5-0).

Discussion Items

• Item 5 – Ordinance No. 1348 (Parking in Alleys in the Historic District): Public Works Director Mark Rackovan explained that most historic district alleys are 20 feet wide (right-of-way) and that parked cars impede weekly solid waste collection and emergency vehicle access. 107 ADU permits have been issued in the district; a windshield survey found only five to seven ADUs with no visible off-street parking. 490 letters were mailed on October 1; the city received two emailed responses (both supportive). Council debated: Vice Mayor Aquino proposed a two-phase approach starting with no parking on garbage days; Councilmember Rohrbough moved to adopt the ordinance as-is, arguing it provides a necessary enforcement tool. Councilmember Chalamcherla moved a substitute motion to table the item until October 22, 2024, to allow more public outreach and to gather data on which specific alleys pose problems, prior emergency calls, and alley widths over 20 feet. The substitute motion passed 4-1 (Kozlowski dissenting).

Key Outcomes

• Item 5 tabled to October 22, 2024, for additional public comment, staff data on narrow alleyways, and feedback from the fire department on emergency access incidents in alleys. (Vote: 4-1)
• Consent items 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 approved unanimously (5-0).
• Item 6 (Phase 2 Water Improvements contract) approved unanimously (5-0) after commendation for bringing the project $9 million under estimate.
• No new council requests for future agenda items were made.
• City Manager reports announced upcoming events: Iron Point/Bidwell intersection work (Oct 20-26, 9 PM-5 AM), Fire Station 35 open house (Oct 12, 9-11 AM), Public Safety Trunk-or-Treat (Oct 26, 9 AM), Water Vision Project meeting (Oct 15, 6:30 PM), and waste/recycling route reviews.
• Council comments included updates from Chalamcherla on the Sacramento Cable Commission and from Aquino on a meeting with Alta California Regional Center for developmental disability housing.