GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 6:00 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 6:02PM.
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 Vice Mayor Hodge, Seconded by Councilmember Branstrom.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Nothing to report.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Military Ambassador Certificate of Recognition for Tia C. Tomescu.
Mayor Arbuckle presented certificate to 1st Lieutenant Tia C. Tomescu.
2. Proclamation for May 2024 as National Cities, Towns and Villages Month.
Mayor Arbuckle presented the proclamation.
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES May 28, 2024
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comments #1-5
Virtual Public Comment: Matthew Coulter
CONSENT ITEMS
Public Comment: Matthew Coulter
Motion made to approve the consent as submitted by Councilmember Branstrom, Seconded by Vice Mayor Hodge.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
3. Approval of the regular City Council Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2024 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
4. Approval of the Special City Council Meeting Minutes of May 14, 2024 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
5. Second Reading of Ordinance 828 amending section 17.38.050(B) and adding Section
17.38.080(N) of Chapter 17.38 and Section 17.100.020(S) of Chapter 17.100, Title 17 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code regarding the regulation of portable signage within the ROW of properties located within the Town Core zoning designation CEQA: Exempt under CEQA Guideline §15301, Categorical Exemption Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) and under CEQA Guideline §15061(b)(3) (General Rule) Recommendation: That Council Find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the attached NOE and hold a second reading, waive full reading, by title only, and adopt Ordinance No. 828 to regulate signage within the ROW of properties in the Town Core Zoning Designation.
6. Magenta Drain Restoration Project – Grant Agreement with South Yuba River Citizens League
CEQA: N/A – Procedural Motion
Recommendation Motion: That Council approve staff to execute an agreement with South Yuba River Citizens League for Planning and Implementation Services regarding Department of Water Resources Funding for Proposition 1 Round 2 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant subject to legal review.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
ADMINISTRATIVE
7. Historical Commission Policy Document
CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That Council review and approve the Historical Commission policy document
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES May 28, 2024
City Planner, Amy Wolfson, gave presentation to Council. Council asked for clarification on bullet point 5.
Motion made approve the Historical Commission policy document as amended by Councilmember Caravelli, Seconded by Councilmember Branstrom.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
8. Measure E Park Funding – Project List and Use Agreement CEQA: Exempt – Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council 1) review a proposed project list for the next fiscal year and provide direction to Staff and 2) dependent on Council’s desired direction, authorize the City Engineer to execute a Joint Use Agreement, subject to legal review, for the City’s use and upgrading of the Sierra College Rotary Fields.
City Engineer, Bjorn Jones, presented to Council.
Council asked for clarification on how this money is to be applied to projects.
Virtual Public Comment: Matthew Coulter, Joyce Hoffman, Larry Hoffman.
Council unanimously directed staff to follow option B.
9. FY 2024-25 Preliminary Budget Overview
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council, by MOTION, 1) approve the FY 2024-25 Preliminary Budget and provide further direction to staff as it relates to the preparation of the FY 2024-25 Final Budget; and 2) Set June 25, 2024, as the date for the public hearing for the FY 2024-25 Final Budget.
Finance Director, Andy Heath, gave presentation to Council.
Council asked about designated reserves, the parking enforcement position, setting money aside for workers compensation,
Public Comment: Shirley Osgood, Matthew Coulter
Motion made to approve the FY 2024-25 Preliminary Budget and provide further direction to staff as it relates to the preparation of the FY 2024-25 Final Budget; and 2) Set June 25, 2024, as the date for the public hearing for the FY 2024-25 Final Budget by Councilmember Ivy, Seconded by Councilmember Caravelli.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Branstrom, Councilmember Caravelli, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Hodge, Mayor Arbuckle
10. Discussion on City Council Compensation in light of Upcoming Elections.
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council considers the information provided and provides direction to staff.
City Manager, Tim Kiser, gave presentation.
Council discussed the upcoming Union Negotiations for staff and the current budget status.
Public Comment: Matthew Coulter
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES May 28, 2024
Council asked staff to prepare options that show numbers for that costs of health care and possible raises in compensation.
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Branstrom attended the LAFCO meeting and visited the City of Shasta Lake for a meeting. Councilmember Ivy attended the Pioneer Energy board meeting and set up a hot water recirculation system in his home. Councilmember Caravelli attended a Center for the Arts meeting. Vice Mayor Hodge spoke about the upcoming Car Show, Thursday Night Market, and is participating in the theater production of RENT. Mayor Arbuckle attended the Sac Valley Division Meeting, spoke about Monday with the Mayor, Armed Forces Day, and the Memorial Day Service.
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 8:55PM.
Adopted on:_______________
_______________________________ ______________________________ Jan Arbuckle, Mayor Taylor Day, City Clerk
Item # 3.
City Council
City of Grass Valley
125 East Main Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
RE: Measure B
Dear Council Members,
May 14, 2024
I have recently corresponded with City staff. One purpose of this letter is to provide a copy of those letters and email. In addition, I am including a summary of my findings and relevant commentary.
First, I would like to thank Mr. Kiser for his speedy response to my most recent request.
The question at hand is did the City's presentation of Measure B, both on the March 5 ballot and as published in the Nevada County Voter Information Guide comply with the California Elections Code, specifically Section 13119?
Section 13119 refers to the "measure" on the ballot. In the case of Measure B, the whole of the measure is Ordinance No. 826.
Referring to subsection (a) the regulation requires the ballot include the question: "Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?", i.e. the BALLOT QUESTION.
Section 13119 provides further instruction for the BALLOT QUESTION in that it" .. . shall be a true and impartial synopsis of the purpose of the proposed Ordinance and shall be in language that is neither argumentative nor likely to create prejudice for or against the measure." (Please refer to my May 14, 2024, letter to Mr. Kiser for further edification of the above paragraphs.)
As you are aware, the BALLOT QUESTION for Measure B contained the following phrase:
" ... reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire and extreme weather by funding additional firefighters, vegetation management, and emergency evacuation planning ... ". This phrase was not contained in the measure (Ordinance No. 826).
Elections Code, Section 13119 requires a description of the nature of the measure, nothing more. It also requires the statement be a true and impartial synopsis of the purpose of the measure. There is no leeway given. It cannot be argued that the offending phrase is part of the nature of the measure, or a true or impartial synopsis of the measure as it cannot be found in the Ordinance. In addition, the obvious . purpose of including the phrase was to create prejudice for the measure.
Item # 3.