GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, September 26, 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 7:04PM.
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 Caravelli.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
No reportable action.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT
Robin Galvin-Davies, Gill Matthew, Brenda English, Matthew Coulter.
CONSENT ITEMS
Motion to approve consent items as submitted made by Councilmember Branstrom, Seconded by Vice Mayor Hodge.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 26, 2023
Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
1. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of September 12, 2023.
Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
2. Amendment to Agreement for Legal Services – Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council adopt Resolution No. 2023-59 approving the Amendment to Legal Services between the City of Grass Valley and Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC effective October 1, 2023.
3. Chemical Bid – Award Contracts
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That Council: 1) award a contract to Univar USA, Inc for caustic soda 30% and for sodium hydroxide; 2) award a contract to Chemtrade for liquid alum; and 3) award a contract to Northstar for calcium nitrate and for cationic emulsion polymer.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
ADMINISTRATIVE
4. Public meeting to continue the discussion of Fire Resiliency and Vegetation Management and an acceptable level of risk relating to wildfires and extreme weather conditions.
CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council 1) receive additional information from staff relating to Fire Resiliency and Vegetation Management including responses to some of the questions raised to date; 2) present and receive input on some very conceptual expenditure plans for a potential sale tax; 3) gain additional input from the community on Fire and Vegetation Management and a potential tax; and 4) review a schedule of next steps with City Council.
Fire Chief, Mark Buttron, Battalion Chief, Chris Armstrong, and City Manager, Tim Kiser, gave presentation to Council.
Council asked for hard copies of the presentation.
Public Comment: Brenda English, Mark Hermes, Robin Galvin-Davies, Matthew Coulter.
Council explained the purpose of the Measure E oversight committee, asked about the possibility of keeping the sales tax under 9%, explained the difference in votes needed for general and special taxes, asked about the Community Wildfire Protection Plan process and panel, suggested focusing on fire prevention, encouraged more public engagement and participation at public meetings, thanked
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES September 26, 2023
staff for their presentation, requested staff invite the Measure E Committee to the Town Hall meeting on October 3rd, and requested staff expedite the Measure E page on the City website.
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Caravelli attended the League of California Cities Conference, spoke with the Mayor of Nevada City, and attended the Draft Horse Classic, the Downtown Sidewalk Sale and the El Barrio celebration. Councilmember Branstrom announced that his Measure E oversight committee appointee is leaving the committee and he will be looking for a new appointee, attended a show at In Concert Sierra, Nancy Weber passed away, commented on the progress on Mill St Plaza, and attended the 40th anniversary party for the Master Gardeners. Councilmember Ivy attended NCTC meeting and stated that southbound highway 49 from McKnight to La Barr Meadows will be widened, Nevada County has a couple electric busses in their fleet, and attended a meeting with Waste Management. Vice Mayor Hodge thanked the South Yuba River Citizens League for organizing a river clean up event, mentioned events and art on Mill St Plaza, attended the League of Cities Conference, and is excited for the Howl-O-Ween dog parade. Mayor Arbuckle attended Lou Conter's 102nd birthday procession, met with residents of the Olympia Glade Mobile Home Park, met with many agencies to discuss speeding issues on Hwy 174 coming into Grass Valley city limits, attended the League of California Cities Conference and the Master Gardeners anniversary celebration.
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 8:49PM.
__________________________ ___________________________
Jan Arbuckle, Mayor Taylor Day, City Clerk
Adopted on: ____________________
Item # 2.
1 Miranda Bacon
From: BEHLMER TOM <
Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2023 1:30 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voice Mail (23 seconds)
Attachments: audio.mp3
Hello, my name is Tom Bellmer. I live at 12448 Old Mine Rd. in Grass Valley. I support the tax to increase Fire Protection services. I think it's penny wise and pound foolish not to have it if that if we are indeed a deficient in Fire Protection. Thank you.
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Item # 2.