GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM
Council Chambers, Grass Valley City Hall | 125 East Main Street, Grass Valley, California Telephone: (530) 274-4310 – Fax: (530) 274-4399
E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.cityofgrassvalley.com
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:02 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of allegiance led by Tim Kiser, City Manager.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Council Member Bob Branstrom
Council Member Hilary Hodge
Council Member Tom Ivy
Vice Mayor Jan Arbuckle
Mayor Ben Aguilar
AGENDA APPROVAL -
Item # 10 for Whispering Pines and Inconcert Sierra was moved to Public Hearing, it was originally on administrative but had been noticed as a public hearing.
Motion made to approve the agenda with noted change by Council Member Hodge, Seconded by Council Member Branstrom.
Voting Yea: Council Member Branstrom, Council Member Hodge, Council Member Ivy, Vice Mayor Arbuckle, Mayor Aguilar
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Nothing to report.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Veterans, Military, and their Families Month - November 2022
PUBLIC COMMENT -
Virtual Public comment attached.
In person public comment by: Robin Davis, Gill Matthews, Bjorn Jones,
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 25, 2022
CONSENT ITEMS -
Virtual Public Comment attached.
Motion made to approve consent as submitted by Council Member Branstrom, Seconded by Vice Mayor Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Council Member Branstrom, Council Member Hodge, Council Member Ivy, Vice Mayor Arbuckle, Mayor Aguilar
2. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 11, 2022 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
3. Assembly Bill 361 Resolution
Recommendation: Adopt resolution R2022-79 authorizing remote teleconference meetings of the City Council and other legislative bodies of the City pursuant to government code section 54953(e)
4. Local Emergency Proclamation (COVID-19)
Recommendation: Continuance of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) proclamation declaring a Local State of Emergency
5. Local Emergency Proclamation (Drought Conditions)
Recommendation: Drought Conditions proclamation declaring a Local State of Emergency
6. Second Reading of Ordinance No. 819 Pioneer Community Energy - Community Choice Aggregation Program (CCA) for the City of Grass Valley
Recommendation: That Council 1) adopt Resolution No. 2022-77 again, with Ordinance adoption date, requesting membership in Pioneer Community Energy and Authorizing the Execution of Amendment No. 5 to the Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement; and 2) approve and waive full reading of Ordinance No. 819 Authorizing the Implementation of a Community Choice Aggregation Program in the City of Grass Valley.
7. Council Chambers and Hullender Conference Room Audio, Video and Sound System Broadcast Upgrade.
Recommendation: The Council 1) approves the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Conti, LLC to complete audio, video, and sound system broadcasting upgrades in the Council Chambers and Hullender Conference Room subject to legal review; 2) allow City Manager to approve a 5% contingency; 3) allow Finance Director to make any necessary budget adjustments and transfers.
8. MissionSquare, ICMA 457b Retirement Plan Loan Program Implementation Recommendation: That City Council 1) adopt Resolution 2022-80, Amending the MissionSquare, ICMA 457B Retirement Plan to Permit Loans; and 2) Council approves staff to execute the MissionSquare, ICMA Loan Guidelines Agreement.
9. Purchase of Two 2023 Toyota Tacoma Trucks for Public Works (Wastewater and Engineering Divisions)
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 25, 2022
Recommendation: That Council 1) approve the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Freeway Toyota using the California State Contract to purchase two 2023 Toyota Tacoma Trucks not to exceed $68,000 plus tax and fees, and 2) authorize Administrative Services Director to make any needed budget adjustments and/or budget transfers to complete this procurement.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
10. InConcert Sierra Whispering Pines Specific Plan Amendments, Use and Development Review Permits located at 125 Crown Point Court.
Recommendation: The Planning Commission recommends that the City Council approve the InConcert Sierra Project, as presented, or as modified by the City Council, which includes the following actions: 1) Adoption of Resolution No. R-2022-78 Adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration, prepared for the project, as the appropriate level of environmental review, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines; 2) Adoption of a Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting Plan (MMRP), implementing and monitoring all Mitigation Measures, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines; 3) Hold the first reading of Ordinance No. 820 Amending the Whispering Pines Specific Plan and Rezoning the property to create a new Subarea – SP-1A.1 – Public Assembly Uses as presented; and, 4) Adoption of Findings of Fact and Conditions of Approval for the InConcert Sierra Project, as presented.
Councilmember Hodge recused herself due to the partnership between InConcert Sierra and her employer Music in the Mountains.
Lance Lowe, Principle Planner, gave presentation to the council. The applicant from InConcert Sierra, also gave a presentation to the council.
In person public comment: Paul Jewel, Amy Rutzler, Robin Davies, Ralph Silberstine, Barbara Raviens, Gill Mathew, Bill Jewel, Jon Katis, Ken Harten, Hindy Gringburn, Steve Mendoza
Bob Branstrom wanted clarification on the request to change the mitigations wording for parking and for assembly use hours. Council discussed how it would benefit the community, And the need to the need to update the specific plan.
Motion made to approve the InConcert Sierra Project, as presented with the change of adding the work operation to condition #A2, which includes the following actions:
1) Adoption of Resolution No. R-2022-78 Adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration, prepared for the project, as the appropriate level of environmental review, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines; 2) Adoption of a Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting Plan (MMRP), implementing and monitoring all Mitigation Measures, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines; 3) Hold the first reading of Ordinance No. 820 Amending the Whispering Pines Specific Plan and Rezoning the property to create a new Subarea – SP-1A.1 – Public Assembly Uses as presented; and, 4) Adoption of Findings of Fact and Conditions of Approval for the InConcert Sierra Project, as
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 25, 2022
presented by Vice Mayor Arbuckle, Seconded by Council Member Branstrom.
Voting Yea: Council Member Branstrom, Council Member Ivy, Vice Mayor Arbuckle, Mayor Aguilar
Voting Abstaining: Council Member Hodge
The Council took a break at 8:30 pm. Meeting resumed at 8:36 pm.
ADMINISTRATIVE
11. CDBG Memorial Park Facilities Improvement Project – Grand Opening Recommendation: That Council select a date and time for a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony.
Bjorn Jones, City Engineer, had the discussion with the council.
Council decided on Nov 7th, 2022 at 1 pm would be the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for Memorial Park.
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Branstrom attended the Past Chiefs Dinner, the Historical Society Meeting, and his mom turned 100 years old. Councilmember Ivy attended the Solid and Hazardous Waste Commission and played on the new turf softball field at Memorial Park. Councilmember Hodge wanted to thank Public Works for the Halloween decorations downtown and to thank everyone for attending the Gala's happening through various organizations. She also wanted to remind everyone that on November 5th the Volunteer Fair is happening at the Nevada County Fair Grounds. Vice Mayor Arbuckle attended the Music in the Mountain Gala, Nevada County Law and Fire Council meeting, GVDA meeting and the GVDA & Chamber Retreat. Mayor Aguilar attended the Hospice of the Foothills Gala, the Past Chiefs Dinner, Mayor Managers Meeting, and a LAFCO Meeting.
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 8:52 pm.
________________________________ ______________________________ Ben Aguilar, Mayor Taylor Day, Deputy City Clerk
Adopted on:____________
Item # 3.
1 Taylor Day
From: Diana Cushway
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 3:18 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: InConcert Sierra
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Hello,
We would like to voice our support for InConcert Sierra’s proposal for the building on Crowne Pointe. This would be a concert venue unlike any other in Nevada County and a great addition for the vibrant arts community here. There will also be space for expanding educational outreach to the entire community to broaden the base of the next generation of musicians and performers.
Regards,
Diana Cushway & Bill Evans
Sent from my iPhone
Item # 3.
1 Taylor Day
From: WIRELESS CALLER
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:11 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voice Mail (2 minutes and 44 seconds)
Attachments: audio.mp3
Hi. This is Matthew Coulter speaking. On the agenda items on #6, the Pioneer Community energy you kept in the meetings leading up to this meeting tonight. You talked about education to the people, letting them know what's going on. And I'm curious how that's going to be done that they'll know that they have a new power company on #9, the tacomas that is going to be for the wastewater treatment plant? That's a minimal amount of driving, hopefully. Maybe they could use some older vehicles and the public works could use these smaller, more efficient vehicles instead of F2 fifties to run back and forth between the parks because they never have anything in the beds, they're always empty, so it doesn't seem like they need to have that much of a payload to just move a short distance. And especially on Mill Street, you have the oldest truck emptying the trash cans and doing things there, and it leaks oil, so that would be probably an improvement. #10 on the non Sequoia for the in concert Sierra situation. No parking and pushed up against a residential area and basically not anything to do with that. Whole area was designed for they. You guys tried putting a brewery up there and that got squashed and for good reason. It was a complete scam that I caught you guys in. So and the Planning Commission, Daniel Swartzendruber. So please consider a different location for this that could be more walkable bicycle ball and being able to get there versus putting it up on top of the hill where in this day and age the giant F-350 dually is that the soccer moms are driving You have to have a lot of parking for those type of vehicles. #11 the ribbon cutting for Memorial Park I hope that some things can be done before the ribbon cutting that will deter skateboard damage from happening to the clock tower. Now the concretes poured right up to it and as well as other areas in the park because they're the edges will be waxed and ground on immediately by the skaters already using it actually. So those are things to be considered before you cut a ribbon and say good job done, as well as all the trash that's shoved in the corner over on Memorial Lane and a lot of pockets of stuff that have been completely neglected along the Creek also. Thank you.
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Item # 3.
2 Taylor Day
From: WIRELESS CALLER <
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:06 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voice Mail (45 seconds)
Attachments: audio.mp3
Matthew Coulter as I listened to Ben speak on the 1st agenda about military appreciation. I'm baffled how you talk the talk but don't walk the walk with what's going on over here at Memorial Park and the trees have been dead for multiple years still in the same holes when you cut out the 100 year old trees and the picnic tables have never been put back. They even took the last picnic table out of the veterans area just last week. It was up this week. They moved fast. That public works don't they? So please consider some revamping of the veterans area also that was promised with the destruction of the trees. Thank you.
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Item # 3.
3 Taylor Day
From: WIRELESS CALLER
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:04 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voice Mail (1 minute and 30 seconds)
Attachments: audio.mp3
This is Matthew Coulter calling in with public comment for the Grass Valley City Council meeting. And this time of year is very dangerous for pedestrians as the darkness falls earlier in the morning, earlier in the evening, Halloween kids running around. We lost a 15 year old last year. I hope that we don't lose any kids this year due to the fact that the sidewalks and the streets and the lighting and the whole thing is still 1950s basically. And the city has not stepped up to do what it's supposed to do for health and safety on these regards. Also, I'd like to point out that the article in the Union a couple days ago that Hillary had a lot to say in there, which was pretty interesting. I'm worried about her health. She seems to be delusional. And then we have Haven on the historical Commission who seems to have a lot of violent people working for her that are willing to chase people down the street and threaten to come to their house and kill them. So I'm really worried about the consistency of the City Council, of the elected officials, of the hired people that Grass Valley is placating and using, as I'll say it again, club members, to have a very small group of people running the show without public input. Causing Mill Street is a perfect example of that. Thank you.
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Item # 3.
4 Taylor Day
From: Katherine Greenwood
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2022 6:22 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: InConcert Sierra proposal
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I am writing in support of InConcert Sierra’s proposal to remodel the existing site on Whispering Pines to provide a concert hall, and a meeting space as well as small meeting rooms and office space. This community needs a concert hall with great acoustics ‐ preferably in a location with parking. Our community is bursting with art and music groups without adequate performance venues. This new project would be utilitized by the larger community, not just by InConcert Sierra, and produce income by locals and outsiders coming to the area to enjoy performances and spend tourist money on lodging and meals. I look forward to some good times for those of us who enjoy music and drama.
Sincerely,
Katherine Greenwood
Nevada City
Item # 3.