GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 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
Mayor Jan Arbuckle, Vice Mayor Hilary Hodge, Councilmember Bob Branstrom, Councilmember Haven Caravelli, Councilmember Tom Ivy
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 7:05pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Arbuckle.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Councilmember Bob Branstrom
Councilmember Haven Caravelli
Councilmember Tom Ivy
Vice Mayor Hilary Hodge
Mayor Jan Arbuckle
AGENDA APPROVAL
Motion made to approve the agenda as submitted by Councilmember Branstrom, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
No report. Items 3 and 4 were continued.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. City Events Coordinator will give brief introduction and update on City events.
City Events Coordinator, Rachel Grivas, spoke to the Council about her role and events in the city.
PUBLIC COMMENT
In person: Robin Galvin-Davies, William,
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 12, 2023
Virtual: Matthew Coulter
CONSENT ITEMS
In person public comment: Matthew Coulter
Motion made to approve consent by Councilmember Branstrom, Seconded by Vice Mayor Hodge.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
2. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of August 22, 2023.
Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
3. Public Works purchase of skid-mounted vacuum and valve turner at a Total Cost of $87,075.00
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: Council to authorize the Utilities Director to purchase a WACHS skid-mounted vacuum and valve turning machine from WACHS.
4. Appointment of Councilmember Hodge’s Nominee, Elizabeth Poston, for the Measure E Oversight Committee
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That the City Council appoint Measure E Oversight Committee member Poston to a term ending December 2026.
5. Extension of the agreement for School Resource Officer services between the City of Grass Valley and Nevada Joint Union High School District CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: Approve the extension of the agreement to provide School Resource Officer services for Nevada Joint Union High School District
6. Procurement of a Remote-Control Masticator and Flatbed Trailer, Sole Source Procurement Authorization funded by BSCC Proposition 64 Grant CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council adopt Resolution No 2023-56 declaring sole source procurement of a remote-controlled masticator and flatbed trailer for the preservation of health and property in accordance with municipal code section
3.08.140 Sole Source Procurement (requires 4/5 roll call vote).
7. Procurement of a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado PPV, fully outfitted, Patrol Vehicle (Park Resource Officer Patrol Vehicle) Sole Source Procurement Authorization, and ‘Zero’ Electric Motorcycle for the Parks Resource Officer funded by BSCC Proposition 64 Grant
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council take the following action: 1) adopt Resolution No 2023-58 authorizing the purchase of a fully outfitted Park Resource Officer Patrol Vehicle without a competitive bid process in accordance with the City’s Municipal
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 12, 2023
Code Section 3.08.140 Sole Source Procurement (requires 4/5 roll call vote); and 2) approve the purchase of an Electric Motorcycle in accordance with the City’s Municipal Code Section 3.08.130.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
ADMINISTRATIVE
8. Updating the City’s Code of Conduct and Meeting Agendas to reflect Civility Pledge CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council consider and provide direction to staff on updating the City’s Code of Conduct and meeting agendas to include a Civility Pledge.
City Manager, Tim Kiser, gave brief introduction. Mayor Arbuckle gave background on where this idea came from and how other cities are implementing it.
Councilmembers expressed their support of adding a pledge.
Public comment: Matthew Coulter.
9. Street Rehabilitation Funding and Expenditures – Informational Update CEQA: Exempt – Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council 1) receive an informational update on the sources and amounts of funding available for use on street rehabilitation projects and 2) review an accounting of expenditures on street maintenance projects over the past 20 years and street improvements projects under development.
City Engineer, Bjorn Jones, gave a informational report and presentation to Council.
Council asked about adopting standards for bike lanes, how it is decided which roads will be rehabbed, asked for clarification on sidewalk responsibilities, acknowledged the importance of Measure E funding and asked about any additional funding sources. Council also asked about criteria for which streets get rehabbed.
Public Comment: Matthew Coulter
10. Public meeting to discuss Fire Resiliency and Vegetation Management concerns and consider approving Resolution No. 2023-57 of the City Council of the City of Grass Valley declaring a Fiscal Emergency relating to combating wildfires and extreme weather conditions.
CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council 1) declare a fiscal emergency due to the lack of necessary funding for fire personnel and land management required to combat wildfires and extreme weather conditions as stated in Resolution No. 2023-57; 2) conduct a public meeting to gain additional input from the community on Fire and Vegetation Management and a potential tax; and 3) develop a schedule of next steps with City Council.
City Manager, Tim Kiser, gave introduction to Council.
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 12, 2023
Council asked for clarification on why the City would need to declare a fiscal emergency and what this means for the upcoming elections. Council asked for a strategic plan and more community involvement before moving forward with declaring a fiscal emergency. Councilmember Branstrom asked staff to continue working towards the Nov 1st, deadline to make the March 2024 ballot.
Public Comment: Paula Newman, Bill Robinson, Gary Smith, Nicole Arbough, Robin Galvin-Davies, Buckley Armaker, Tom Last, Greg Bulanti, Matthew Coulter.
Virtual Public Comment: Chris Ring.
Council decided to continue item 1 and asked staff to work towards scheduling more community meetings.
11. Grass Valley Downtown Association Request for 2023 Business Improvement District Allotment
CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council 1) receive a presentation from the Grass Valley Downtown Association (GVDA) request for the distribution of $60,000 of Business Improvement District (BID) Assessment funds; 2) review and approve the proposed distribution of BID Assessment funds; and 3) authorize City to pay the proposed invoice from the GVDA.
Grass Valley Downtown Association members Lillie Robertson, Debbe Blakemore and Robin Galvin-Davies gave presentation to Council.
Council asked about the music on Mill St, asked if vendors were obligated to promote the GVDA to participate in events, and asked about creating Grass Valley postcards.
Council asked GVDA to continue to separate end of year accomplishments and budget meetings.
Public Comment: Tony, Matthew Coulter.
Motion made to authorize the City to pay the proposed invoice from the GVDA by Councilmember Caravelli, Seconded by Vice Mayor Hodge.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
12. Direction to staff to prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a feasibility study and a traffic study to support the drafting of an ordinance to incentivize the conversion of under-utilized upper and basement level spaces to residential use within the Town Core (TC) zoning designation.
CEQA: Not a project under CEQA; If directed to prepare an ordinance, the appropriate CEQA review will be completed at that time
Recommendation: That Council direct staff to prepare an RFP for a feasibility study and traffic study to support the drafting of an ordinance that would incentivize conversion of under-utilized upper and basement level spaces to residential use within the TC zoning designation.
City Planner, Amy Wolfson, gave presentation to staff.
Public Comment: Craig Hamilton, Matthew Coulter
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 12, 2023
Council asked about parking requirements.
Motion made to direct staff to prepare an RFP for a feasibility study and traffic study to support the drafting of an ordinance that would incentivize conversion of underutilized upper and basement level spaces to residential use within the TC zoning designation by Councilmember Ivy, Seconded by Councilmember Branstrom.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Caravelli attended the ERC executive and board meeting, will be attending an AI events, connected with artists at Burning Man. Councilmember Branstrom went to the GVPD Swearing in ceremony, the In Concert Sierra ground breaking, the 9-11 Ceremony on Mill St, and the CalCities meeting. Mayor Arbuckle attended the love walk and the In Concert Sierra ground breaking ceremony, hosted Monday with the Mayor, attended the GVPD awards and the 9-11 memorial.
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 10:06PM.
__________________________ ___________________________
Jan Arbuckle, Mayor Taylor Day, City Clerk
Adopted on: ____________________
Item # 1.