Folsom City Council Meeting – March 10, 2026: Budget, Park Naming, and Water Forum
Folsom City Council Regular Meeting – March 10, 2026
The Folsom City Council held its regular meeting on March 10, 2026, beginning at approximately 6:45 PM and adjourning at 7:44 PM. The council approved consent calendar items, continued a public hearing, acted on landscape maintenance contracts, appointed two members to the Citizens Advisory Committee for Folsom Prison, approved the 2050 Water Forum Agreement, transferred $718,000 in reserves, named a new park Jackrabbit Hill Park, and adopted the fiscal year 25-26 mid-year budget. No public comments were received.
Consent Calendar
- Approved consent calendar items unanimously (5–0).
- A public hearing for Ordinance 1361 was continued to March 24, 2026 (unanimous).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No requests to speak were submitted for any agenda item.
Discussion Items
Old Business
- Brightview Landscape Services Amendment (Item 9): Presented by Derek Prez, Municipal Landscape Services Manager. The council approved Resolution 11559 authorizing amendment two to the agreement with Brightview Landscape Services for landscape maintenance in landscaping/lighting districts and community facilities districts. The amendment extends the agreement for two years with a 3% escalator on the monthly base cost, adding over 15 acres of streetscape and six miles of bike trail. Staff noted this would be the last extension before an RFP in winter 2027. Approved unanimously (5–0).
New Business
- Citizens Advisory Committee for Folsom Prison (Item 10): The council received 23 applications for two seats. After two rounds of voting, Jim Silva (reappointed) and Sarah Barr were selected as the council’s nominees. Appointments are subject to final approval by the prison warden.
- 2050 Water Forum Agreement (Item 11): Marcus Yasuaki, Utilities Director, presented the resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement and the city manager to execute the interagency agreement. The updated agreement expands on the original 2000 Water Forum, adding program areas such as flows and operations, corridor health, science monitoring, and the American River Climate Adaptation Program (RCAP). Councilmember Leary, who served on the forum, spoke in support. Approved unanimously (5–0).
- Transfer of General Fund Reserves (Item 12): Stacey Tamani, CFO, presented Resolution 11567 to transfer $718,000 in available reserves (above the 20% policy threshold) to: $50,000 for IT equipment, $334,000 for facility rehabilitation, and $334,000 for park and trail maintenance. Approved unanimously (5–0).
- Naming Neighborhood Park One (Item 13): Kate Canonowyn, Park Planner, presented the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation to name the park Jackrabbit Hill Park after receiving 131 community suggestions. Councilmember Aquino proposed a public vote on the top four names, but other members favored adhering to the existing process to avoid additional staff time. The council voted unanimously (5–0) to approve Resolution 11570 adopting the name Jackrabbit Hill Park.
- Mid-Year Budget Update (Item 14): Stacey Tamani presented Resolution 11574 adopting the fiscal year 25-26 mid-year budget. The update reflects encumbrance carry-forwards, cost-saving measures (Phase 1 and Phase 2), and approved MOUs. The general fund unassigned balance is now projected at $25.6 million, an increase of $282,000 from the audited year-end balance, reversing an earlier projected $3 million deficit. Approved unanimously (5–0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved.
- Public Hearing Continued: Ordinance 1361 continued to March 24, 2026.
- Brightview Agreement: Amendment two approved for two-year extension.
- Prison Committee Appointments: Jim Silva and Sarah Barr nominated.
- Water Forum Agreement: Mayor authorized to sign; interagency agreement approved.
- Reserve Transfer: $718,000 allocated to IT, facility, and park funds.
- Park Naming: Neighborhood Park One officially named Jackrabbit Hill Park.
- Mid-Year Budget: Adopted; general fund reserve projected to increase.
Council Reports and Announcements
- The city manager reported disappointment that the proposed ice hockey rink (Metal Shop) chose Citrus Heights, but wished the project well.
- A community survey for Benevento Family Park is open through March 11.
- Library events: Chicken care presentation (March 28) and Friends of the Library book sale (March 13–15).
- Councilmember Kozlowski noted upcoming SACOG discussions on the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) due September 15.
- Councilmember Aquino thanked participants in the Railroad History Week event and reported the start of the Charter Review Commission (meetings March 19 and April 1).
- Councilmember Leary attended a League of California Cities conference on a homeless tiny-home shelter in Chico and thanked Officer Senna for addressing public safety at Sheldon Park.
- Vice Mayor Rohrbaugh discussed a meeting with SAC RT on school bus route cuts affecting 190 students in South Folsom, directing community concern to the Folsom Cordova School Board.
Meeting Transcript
And we will call to order the regular meeting for March 10th, 2026. Will you please call the rule? Yeah, Councilmember Zakino. Kozlowski. Here. Leary. Here, Rorbach, Kerr, and Rathel. Here. And if you all please stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. Any agenda updates this evening? No updates, thank you. And now's the time where we have business from the floor. This is the time where uh residents or anyone really can address the city council uh on items that are not on the agenda this evening. So if you have any of those, grab your blue card and get it filled out and head on down this way. Any cards turn in this evening? You have no request to speak this evening. All right, we have no business from the floor, and we will move on to schedule presentations. If you'll please call item number one. Okay, item number one is a resolution of commendation honoring the Folsom Telegraph on the occasion of its 170th anniversary and its distinction as Folsom's oldest business. And I'll invite the uh telegraph to come on up and join us. All right, and I'll read out your uh read out your resolution. Oh, is this on? Just the at the top, hit the little. All right, tonight we have a City of Folsom resolution of commendation honoring the Folsom Telegraph on the occasion of its 170th anniversary and distinction as Folsom's oldest business. So, whereas the Folsom Telegraph stands as a pillar of local journalism, holding the prestigious distinction of being the oldest newspaper in Sacramento County and the fourth oldest weekly publication in the state of California. And whereas for 170 years, the Folsom Telegraph has served as the steadfast chronicler of our community's story, evolving alongside the city it calls home. And whereas the publication traces its storied roots back to March 1856, when it was founded as the granite journal by surgeon Dr. L. Bradley, beginning a legacy of service that has spanned nearly two centuries. And whereas the Folsom Telegraph has shown remarkable resilience through the decades, transitioning from a handset operation in a basement at Sutter and Wall Streets to a modern multimedia organization. And whereas, having once been known as the Wandering Press, due to its many early locations and name changes, including the Folsom dispatch, Mooney's Folsom, and the Folsom Semi-Weekly Telegraph, it ultimately found its permanent identity as the definitive voice of Folsom. And whereas the Folsom Telegraph has masterfully navigated the roles of the rides of technological change, moving from manual typesetting and the Goss Urbanite Offset Press to the digital frontier of the 1990s and the robust online presence it maintains today. And whereas the Folsom Telegraph continues to uphold the highest standards of community journalism, providing residents with accurate news, features, and insights that bind our city together. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Justin Raithel, mayor of the City of Folsom, on behalf of the Folsom City Council and our residents, do hereby commend and congratulate the Folsom Telegraph for its 170 years of dedicated service and its enduring legacy as the oldest business in Folsom. We thank the staff, past and present, for their commitment to telling Folsom story. Congratulations. And we hope to you know be here for another 170 years. So thank you for the uh uh invitation and and for the uh commendation. Thank you. Thank you. That should take us to our consent calendar. Look into my colleagues. Any items to pull this evening. All right. Any public comment on any of the consent calendar? All right.
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