Folsom City Council Meeting
Additional Information
Transmittal
Instructions to staff: Deliver original and 30 stapled/double-sided copies to the City Clerk’s Department; City Clerk’s Department will distribute via email and hardcopy to City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk.
Updated: Jan 2025
MEETING DATE:
1/14/2025
AGENDA SECTION:
New Business
STAFF REPORT TITLE 16. Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff
17. Appointment of City Council Representatives to
Regional Boards/Commissions
FROM: City Clerk's Department
Staff is providing the attached comments for the above-referenced agenda items.
From: LJ Laurent
To: Anna Rohrbough; Mike Kozlowski; Sarah Aquino; Justin Raithel; Barbara Leary Cc: Christa Freemantle; Rick Hillman; Ken Cusano; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Mark Rackovan
Subject: city council Agenda TRAVEL $$ ITEM 16 council travel Date: Friday, January 10, 2025 10:37:45 AM
Attachments: Res for TRAVEL Paymts to council.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
To: city council
From: Laurette Laurent
cc: city employees, media Update
January 10, 2025
Re: PUBLIC COMMENT for Council Meeting discussion of NEW BUSINESS.
Context: statement in agenda:
Assignments to these regional bodies have been proposed based on areas of interest and/or expertise of individual Councilmembers, enabling them to bring their perspectives and particular insights to their respective roles.
Additionally, the distribution of assignments seeks to equitably allocate responsibilities, including those assignments that include stipend pay, to ensure fairness and balance among Councilmembers.
This approach not only promotes effective representation but also leverages the strengths of each Councilmember, further enhancing Folsom's voice in regional matters and reinforcing its commitment to equitable and impactful governance.
PUBLIC INQUIRY: 1. what is the name and position of person or persons who wrote this proposal and composed those above remarks?
2. Remember the California dissolution of so-called "redevelopment agencies"? When is diverting even a penny of scarce Folsom money justifiable?
3. The stipends for travel are NOT necessary when it is an Elected Official who "wants to be heard."
4. Clean up in-city before adding any new BUDGET items.
5. That money would be better spent on absolute necessities, not travelling elected officials.
6. Cost of attending any extra education is never so great that an elected official cannot obtain it.
7. League of Cities has lots of education opportunities which DO NOT require any out of town travel.
8. Why suggest such a new "benefit" at a time when the new City Manager has not even had a chance to evaluate the city's TRUE NEEDS for these thousands of dollar?
9. If Folsom has that "discretionary" spending-money --- put it into Capitol Improvements for the dangerous RED LINE Folsom Sanitary Sewer System conveyance pipes.
10. In that vein, in past times, local businesses such as Intel, had employees elected to city council --- having the Right Person in elected position can mean a lot ---- especially if they have a License to protect.
11. Summary, it is NOT impressive that with two brand new members of council on-board, such ARBITRARY SPENDING ideas float to the top of "Spending suggestions." Welcome to Mr. Raithel and Ms. Leary. Both of you will likely gain tremendous public support when you attempt to put "Folsom Way" to bed.
With respect to a Research Report on the horrific Death Count on city property, and the many major issues with respect to Railroad operations where they have no Right to be, and which impede our entire Folsom Emergency Operations Plan,
and [worst of all] have the potential for killing innocent people by at-will BLOCKING the 8 way intersection,
[and which are, apparently,] sometimes on private land parcel[s], and on ACTUAL Folsom "city Street Rights of Way"
there are enough Glaring Issues right here within city limits.
BRING in the Expertise, don't "buy into" there being a reward of money for getting out of dodge.
We'd like to know further information and who decided --- by name and Position -- that this is a valid interpretation of California Government Code which governs municipalities.
Put that money into the Enlargement and final building of Adequate Sanitary Sewer System Conveyance Pipes and Facilities. Look into the fact that ALL south of Hwy 50 RAW SEWAGE is being conveyed into the North of 50 SSS pipes right at/alongside the American River itself, and federal land.
Why does one get the impression that however travel expenses came to this First meeting of new electees -- it is a ridiculous idea to prioritize "travel" over actual REMEDIES for Folsom "structural deficits."
Who among council is responsible and cause "staff further request" "guidance on proposed modifications"?
That is a formal Public Record Act Request:
How and by whom, did this become a city council issue? Exact quote is:
MEETING DATE: Ut412025 AGENDA SECTION: New Business
SUBJECT Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff FROM: City Clerk's Department
Ut412025 AGENDA SECTION: New Business
SUBJECT Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff ------ -Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff 01-14-2025 Staff Report- Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff.pdf (0.29 MB)
see below quotes.
Should the City Council have an interest in adopting a policy, staff further requests that the Council provide feedback and guidance on any proposed modifications. This input will allow staff to make any necessary adjustments and present the revised policy for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting.
BACKGROUND / ISSUE Each year, the City Council approves an annual budget. During the FY 24125 budget discussions, the City Council approved an allocation of $6,600 for each Councilmembers' travel purposes for the fiscal year.
Currently, the City Council does not have a policy governing travel undertaken by Councilmembers on official City business. Thus, travel and related expenditures are evaluated on a case-by-case basis without established guidelines that would otherwise ensure uniformity.
Upon reflection, staff believes that a structured policy guiding the use of travel funds could be beneficial in creating consistent standards. Implementing such a policy would provide clarity, promote the responsible use of taxpayer funds, and ensure that travel activities support the best interests of the City of Folsom and its residents. 1 MEETING DATE: Ut412025 AGENDA SECTION: New Business SUBJECT Consideration of Draft City Council Travel Policy and Direction to Staff FROM: City Clerk's Department Travel undertaken by Councilmembers serves several important pu{poses, including education, staying informed about current trends, and fostering collaboration. Participation in conferences, workshops, and meetings with other public agencies provides learning opportunities that are essential for effective governance. Such travel can lead to the introduction ofnew ideas, best practices, and innovative solutions gleaned from the shared experiences of other elected officials. These experiences can result in benefits for the City of Folsom by helping to identify opportunities for cost savings, improved service delivery, and strategic growth. POLICY / RULE Folsom Municipal Code section2.06.070(C) provides that the
City Council may adopt rules
governing its meetings, proceedings, and business.
DIRECT QUOTE FROM FMC ONLINE AT THIS MOMENT:
2.06.070 Meeting rules of order.
A. Agenda.
1. Councilmembers, department heads, and other city staff should submit agenda items by the deadline announced in the tentative agenda. The city manager may remove or reschedule an item submitted by staff. It is the responsibility of the mayor and the city manager to develop the agenda for council meeting.
2. Folsom residents, property owners, or others may propose an item for the agenda by contacting a member of the city council. Each agenda published will include an announcement to the public on the procedures for placing an item on the agenda.
B. Motions Out of Order. The mayor may at any time, by majority consent of the members, permit a member to introduce an ordinance, resolution or motion out of the regular agenda order.
C. Rules of Order. In all matters not otherwise provided for, the procedures of each city council meeting shall be governed under the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. The city council may adopt rules by resolution for the conduct of its meetings, proceedings and business. (Ord. 730 § 1 (part), 1992:
Ord. 687 § 1 (part), 1990)
Please explain how Roberts Rules of Order came to be a "rational" for mo' money for travel expenses?
Consult CA Government Code and Case experiences prior to quoting FMC 2.06.070 C please! How, and according to what NAMED city employee, is this an appropriate claim? Is this from city legal employees?
ITEM: In other issues:
Suggest J. Raithel be Primary for STA, Sac Transp. Authority why are some "primary" noted in Blue, while others are not? same question for Green.
Consider having this BUDGET ITEM and Stipend-allotted document, vetted more thoroughly.
Specify WHO exactly decides when & for what benefit under law they are paid; When Stipends are justified by nature of travel, location, and MEETING purposes specified; also when/how stipends should be paid, for what they pay, and the SPECIFIC benefits.
Suggest in some cases it is a Licensed Person on staff or hired, who should attend any "meetings" which involve a "travel stipend" or other reimbursement.
Establish Hard Guidelines for city councilpersons travel -- to learn whether money is better spent on a Licensed city engineer, or Accedited professional is sent at city expense.
Suggest TEDCORP reps need to have VAST experience with how FEDCORP and now TEDCORP work or worked. In past experience both have been formed for Benefit of business interests RATHER THAN the Entire city's Residents and outside persons who conduct businesses within city limits.
This Travel payment proposal needs to go to the BOTTOM of the pile due to fiscal 'structural crossroads.' Without full trust of city, this is a bad idea to originate now.
Spending money on Outside EXPERTISE coming to education BOTH citycouncil and city residents & businesses --- is far more equitable for a municipality in "Fiscal Crossroads." In other words, REREAD Folsom newletter July-August 2024 front page.
HOW is it important to send non-professionals, potentially non-experienced laypeople to any outside sessions, conferences, conventions, etc. which does not yield a direct benefit to city ---- and which might better be attended by a licensed city staffer instead? How does 'Folsom Way' change if our Licensed city engineers are not given this type of support, instead of elected officials who lack their expertise and License? What exactly, in legal terms, is the reason TEDCORP [or any new FEDCORP type formation] would benefit from having a citycouncilperson as a member as an "elected official?" After all, remember that in this state "redevelopment agencies" were dissolved due to obvious issues and lack of specific Criteria for rating the Benefits, actual decision-making impartiality, and such NOT-defined- Purpose & Benefit
spending was impossible to regulate and keep 100% above-board. "Background. As part of the 2011 Budget Act, and
in order to protect funding for core public services at the local level, the Legislature approved the dissolution of the state's 400 plus RDAs." Abuse finally brought down this vehicle to skirt constitutional limits and fiscal responsibility.
California shut down its 400-plus local redevelopment agencies (RDAs) in 2012, following years of local governments using the entities to skirt constitutional requirements and fiscal responsibility.
IF and WHEN there is a proven Set of Guidelines for proving a citycouncilperson can/will Benefit more from travel for any purposes --- than a Licensed city employee such as a Civil Engineer --- how is setting up a
brand new Travel payment a good idea during time city is facing a "fiscal crossroads"?
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