Folsom City Council Regular and Joint Folsom Ranch Financing Authority Meeting - November 12, 2024
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Folsom City Council Regular and Joint Folsom Ranch Financing Authority Meeting - November 12, 2024
The City Council held a regular meeting and a joint meeting with the Folsom Ranch Financing Authority on November 12, 2024, at 6:30 PM. The council approved the issuance of $13.5 million in special tax bonds for Community Facilities District No. 23, received the annual Folsom Tourism Bureau report, adopted vision plans for the River District and Central Business District, and handled numerous consent calendar items. Public comments highlighted winter shelter operations, Measure G, and innovative funding ideas.
Public Comments & Testimony (Business from the Floor)
- Elizabeth Parks thanked the city for the Veterans Day Parade.
- Beverly Seiss, Director of the Folsom Winter Shelter, reported that 70% of guests worked with nonprofits, and shared success stories of guests achieving sobriety and housing.
- Jessica Lang, a seven-year volunteer, described the shelter's impact on guests and volunteers, advocating for dignity and grace.
- Judy Alexander (Heart of Folsom) noted the shelter's eighth year and its role in fostering hope.
- Julian Serafien and Mia George (Folsom High senior) promoted a benefit concert for Hands for Hope.
- Brett Hofstead suggested four revenue-generating ideas: naming rights, crowdfunding, city equity in startups, and a city-sponsored hackathon.
- Rob Allen asked the council to publicly share their positions on the failed Measure G.
Joint Meeting: Folsom Ranch Financing Authority
- Public Hearing on issuing not-to-exceed $13.5 million in Special Tax Revenue Bonds (Series 2024) for CFD No. 23, Improvement Area No. 4. CFO Stacey Tamani presented; the value-to-lien ratio is 10.5:1 (policy minimum 3:1), and the tax burden is approximately 1.73%–1.77% for developed residential properties. Councilmember Chalamcherla questioned bond administration costs. No public speakers.
- Outcome: The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 11295 and Resolution No. 013 (Folsom Ranch FA) to authorize the bond issuance.
Discussion Items
- Item 7 (Resolution 11280) – Purchase of two Ford vehicles, including one Ford Lightning electric truck ($61,441) for the Water Meters Division. Council debated cost vs. state Advanced Clean Fleets mandate requiring zero-emission vehicle replacement. Councilmembers Rohrbough and Chalamcherla opposed due to higher cost ($30,000 premium over hybrid). The motion passed 3–2 (Rodriguez, Aquino, Kozlowski in favor; Chalamcherla and Rohrbough opposed).
- Item 13 (Resolution 11286) – Acceptance of additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funds for ladder fuel removal. Patty Solsby (resident from Shores subdivision) spoke in support, citing fire dangers along Blue Ravine. The resolution passed unanimously.
- Item 21 (Resolution 11292) – River District Vision Plan. Project manager Robert Goss presented a 184-page plan covering a canal trail and bridge, Rodeo Park enhancements, a river promenade, Traders Lane redevelopment, and corporation yard concepts. The plan is a guide, not a rezone. John Lane (Citizen Advisory Committee chair) urged the council not to let the plan sit on a shelf. The council praised the work and passed the resolution unanimously.
- Item 22 (Resolution 11294) – Central Business District Vision Plan. Project manager Kathy Peace presented a plan focusing on economic development, land use, transportation (roundabouts), placemaking (retro/neon signage), and infrastructure. The plan includes an action implementation tracker. Council discussed opportunities for a property and business improvement district (PBID) and rebranding. The resolution passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- The consent calendar was approved as a block with items 7 and 13 pulled for separate discussion (item 15 was continued). Approved items included meeting minutes, the 5-year strategic plan implementation report, and multiple resolutions for vehicle purchases, contract amendments, FEMA grant acceptance, zoo improvements, staff position changes, HVAC replacements, trail design, sidewalk construction, and groundwater authority JPA amendment (items 3–6, 8–12, 14, 16–20).
City Manager Reports
- City Manager Elaine reported on the successful Veterans Day Parade, upcoming events: Games Day (Nov 16), Wild Nights and Holiday Lights (Dec 6–22), Holiday Lights Contest, and the Historic Folsom Ice Rink (through Jan 20).
Council Comments
- Councilmember Rodriguez thanked staff and reflected on her term. Councilmember Rohrbaugh acknowledged Measure G disappointment but highlighted Folsom's strengths and encouraged positivity. Councilmember Chalamcherla noted school district innovation and partnership with Heart of Folsom. Mayor Kozlowski reported on the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor JPA (new 7-year contract for excursion train and adding Rancho Cordova as member) and adjourned the meeting in memory of Supervisor John Heidel.
Key Outcomes
- Bond Issuance: Approved issuance of $13.5 million in CFD No. 23 Improvement Area No. 4 special tax bonds (unanimous).
- Vehicle Purchase: Approved purchase of two Ford vehicles (including one electric), 3–2 vote.
- FEMA Grant: Accepted additional hazard mitigation grant funds (unanimous).
- River District Vision Plan: Approved (unanimous).
- Central Business District Vision Plan: Approved (unanimous).
- Consent Calendar: Approved as amended (items 3–20, minus 7, 13, 15).
- City Manager Search: Mayor reported 50 applicants whittled to 6 for interviews.
Meeting Transcript
All right, and I am going to call to order the regular meeting of the Folsom City Council for Tuesday, November 12th, 2024. Madam Clerk, will you please call the role? Yeah, Councilmembers Chalam Chairla. Here. Rodriguez here, Roarbaugh. Here, Aquino and Kozlowski. Also here. Everybody will please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Okay. We are going to start with business from the floor this evening, which is the opportunity for members of the public to speak on topics that are not already on the agenda. Please call our first speaker. Yeah, you have seven requests to speak this evening under business from the floor. I'll call the first first speaker and I'll let you know who the next speaker is. So if that's you, you can be ready to go. So our first speaker will be Elizabeth Parks, who will be followed by Beverly Sice. So Elizabeth, come on down, and once you start, I'll start your three minute timer. Good evening, Miss Parks. Good evening. Is this in the right spot? Yes, it is. You're right. I just wanted to say thank you for the Veterans Day Parade. It was lovely. And so I'm from a family of veterans since World War II. And also our family has been involved in scouting, and it was lovely to see the Cubscals, the 4-H. There were so many people. Outstanding. Thank you. Okay, our next speaker will be Beverly Seiss, who will be followed by Jessica Lang. Good evening, City Council, City staff, and Folsom residents. I have been the director of the Folsom Winter Shelter for a few years now, and I'm incredibly grateful for everyone in Folsom who works with Heart to provide overnight shelter to unhoused adults during the winter months. Some of you have served at the shelter and for the shelter. Thank you, Councilmember Chalam Churla, Councilmember Aquino, and Councilmember Rodriguez. It's a citywide effort and its benefits are felt citywide. Along with a good meal, shower, and safe and warm place to sleep, all guests have the opportunity to connect regularly with three of the nonprofits in Folsom that work and provide services for them. Heart of Folsom, Powerhouse Ministries, and Jake's Journey Home. Each of the nonprofits provides a unique service, but that we all offer a kind hand up to folks who are suffering. A lot of good change happens via all three of us, especially when we work together. By the end of the season in 2024, this last season, 70% of our guests who came even one night, were working with one or more of the nonprofits. The longer we have folks in the shelter in the winter, the better prepared they can be to move into housing programs. We're very excited for each person who's able to make changes. Some changes are smaller, some changes are bigger. And changes often come slowly, so it's important that the processes that can help change happen continue. I want to share a bit about a woman who was at the shelter the entire season in 2024. She had some health issues, so being sheltered at night and cared for was really life-saving to her. After the season ended, she and I continued to um talk, and she entered a four-month residential treatment program and is currently in a transitional housing program, having succeeded at the first one. She struggled most of her adult life with addiction and is now maintaining her sobriety and in her words, getting her life back on track. We also had a gentleman at the shelter for the season who is similarly working hard and maintaining sobriety in an intensive outpatient program.
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