GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 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
CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 6:03 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of allegiance led by Mayor Hodge.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Councilmember Jan Arbuckle
Councilmember Joe Bonomolo
Councilmember Tom Ivy
Mayor Hilary Hodge
ABSENT
Vice Mayor Haven Caravelli
AGENDA APPROVAL -
Motion to approve agenda as submitted by Councilmember Ivy, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
No closed session
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
PUBLIC COMMENT –
Virtual public comment cards are attached.
In-person public comment: Speakers 1 to 6 (changes to speakers #7, 9, 10 were comments on the agenda).
CONSENT ITEMS –
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES February 25, 2025
Public comment: Ralph Silberstein, Don Raviens, Jonathan Keen, Barbra Raviens, Matthew Coulter
Motion to approve consent as submitted by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
1. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2025 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
2. Downtown Street Rehabilitation Project – Authorization to Bid CEQA: Categorically Exempt – Section 15301 “Existing Facilities” Recommendation: That Council 1) approve the findings that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and 2) authorize the advertisement for bids.
3. Magenta Drain Restoration Project – Professional Services Agreement CEQA: Exempt – Not a Project
Recommendation Motion: That Council 1) authorize the City Engineer to execute a contract with Dudek, pending legal review, for design and environmental support services, in an amount not to exceed $119, 708.30, for the Memorial Park Magenta Drain Restoration Project.
4. Loma Rica Open Space Fuels Reduction Project
CEQA: Exempt under CEQA Guideline §15304, Categorical Exemption Class 4 (“Minor Alterations to Land”)
Recommendation: That Council 1) find that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and 2) authorize the advertisement for bids for the fuel treatment prescription for the Loma Rica Open Space parcels acquired by the City of Grass Valley and other City owned properties adjacent to the Loma Rica Open Space Parcels.
5. Tablet Command Mobile Incident Command and Response Solution Purchase CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That the Council 1) Approve the Fire Chief to enter into an agreement, subject to legal review, for purchase and integration of Tablet Command for the Fire Services in Nevada County; and 2) authorize the Fire Chief to enter into agreement, subject to legal review, with Peraton for integration into Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) and 3) Authorize the Finance Director to execute any necessary budget adjustments or fund transfers to facilitate this process.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES February 25, 2025
6. Second reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 5.56 of Title 5 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code regulating Tobacco Retailers and adoption of a resolution to set fees related to tobacco retailers.
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That the Council: 1) Hold a second reading by Title Only and adopt Ordinance #833; and, 2) approve Resolution #2025-04 setting fees related to Tobacco Retailers.
Alex Gammelgard, Police Chief, gave the overview presentation to the council.
Public Comment: Matthew Coulter
Motion made to 1) Hold a second reading by Title Only and adopt Ordinance #833; and, 2) approve Resolution #2025-04 setting fees related to Tobacco Retailers by Councilmember Bonomolo, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
7. Introduction of an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Grass Valley amending subsection (C) and adding subsection (D)(7) to Section 17.44.140 of Chapter 17.44 of Title 17 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code to allow eligible mixed-use projects to include up to 10 dwelling units in the Town Core zone pursuant to Government Code Section 65913.5
CEQA: Not a project pursuant to Government Code section 65913.5(a)(3) Recommendation: That City Council find the Ordinance is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Government Code section 65913.5(a)(3), and introduce the attached Ordinance No. 834, waive full reading, and read by Title Only, to amend subsection (c) and add subsection (d)(7) to section 17.44.140 of chapter 17.44 of title 17 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code to allow eligible mixed-use projects to include up to 10 dwelling units in the Town Core zone pursuant to Government Code Section 65913.5 Amy Wolfson, City Planner, gave the overview presentation of this ordinance to the City Council.
Public Comment: Sean Johnson, Unknown, Bob Branstrom, Robin Galvin-Davis, Sarah Meadows, Sherri Speights, Laura McClary, Craig Hamilton, Patrick Johnson, Matthew Coulter
Motion to find the Ordinance is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Government Code section 65913.5(a)(3), and introduce the attached Ordinance No. 834, waive full reading, and read by Title Only, to amend subsection (c) and add subsection (d)(7) to section
17.44.140 of chapter 17.44 of title 17 of the Grass Valley Municipal Code to allow eligible mixed-use projects to include up to 10 dwelling units in the Town Core zone pursuant to Government Code Section 65913.5 by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge Voting Nay: Councilmember Bonomolo
ADMINISTRATIVE
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES February 25, 2025
8. A Resolution of the City Council Calling for a Ceasefire and an End to Violence Between Palestine and Israel
CEQA: Not a project as defined by the Public Resources Code section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
Recommendation: That Council discuss and consider the adoption of Resolution 2025-03 Council calling for a ceasefire and an end to violence between Palestine and Israel.
Council discussed questions from each other amongst themselves of the resolution.
Public Comment: There were 35 in-person speakers (the sign-in sheet, which is attached, has 27 names ; there are 8 unnamed speakers). Virtual Public comments are attached.
Council discussed item.
Council member Arbuckle made a motion not to pass the resolution. This motion was not seconded.
Council continued discussion and requested that on the eighth whereas that "including our Arab, Jewish, and Muslim residents" be struck out.
Motion to adoption of Resolution 2025-03 Council calling for a ceasefire and an end to violence between Palestine and Israel, with the redline change to the 8th wherease by Councilmember Ivy, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge Voting Nay: Councilmember Arbuckle
9. Engineering Services – Authorization to Award Contract CEQA: N/A – Consultant selection is a procedural action. CEQA review will be completed as part of the project work
Recommendation: That Council 1) authorize the City Engineer to execute a contract with GHD pending legal review, for Civil Engineering Design, Project Management and Environmental Services, in an amount not to exceed $1,449,871.25 for the Downtown Grass Valley Roundabout Project
Bjorn Jones, City Engineer, gave the council an overview presentation of the item.
Public Comment: Sean Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Eden, Salem, Robin Galvin-Davis, Sarah & Virtual public Comments are attached.
Motion made to 1) authorize the City Engineer to execute a contract with GHD pending legal review, for Civil Engineering Design, Project Management and Environmental Services, in an amount not to exceed $1,449,871.25 for the Downtown Grass Valley Roundabout Project by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
10. Potential Hazard Trees adjacent to Police Department and City Hall Parking Lot CEQA: Not a Project
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES February 25, 2025
Recommendation: That the City Council approve the removal of three redwood trees near the Police Department and three deciduous trees adjacent to City Hall and the City Hall parking lot to mitigate structural and safety risks, ensure compliance with the City’s vegetation ordinance, and support best fire safety practices.
Tim Kiser, City Manager, gave the council an overview of the item.
Public Comment: Sean Johnson, Sherly, Patrick Johnson, Sarah, Robin Galvin-Davis, & Virtual Public comment attached.
Motion to approve the removal of three redwood trees near the Police Department and three deciduous trees adjacent to City Hall and the City Hall parking lot to mitigate structural and safety risks, ensure compliance with the City’s vegetation ordinance, and support best fire safety practices by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Bonomolo was sick. Councilmember Ivy had nothing to report.
Councilmember Arbuckle attended a Fire wise and Fire Agency Meeting, YMCA youth in government meeting, League of California Cities Board meeting, a Wild Fire response League Committee meeting, WIMG meeting, and received a letter of support from Congressman Kiley for the BRIC Grant the City is applying for. Mayor Hodge attended the LAFCo meeting, a mixer at the Holbrook, and is now hosting Wednesdays with the Mayor from 9 to 11.
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 11:04 PM
______________________________ ______________________________ Hilary Hodge, Mayor Taylor Whittingslow, City Clerk
Adopted on: ______________
Item # 2.
CITY OF GRASS VALLEY C]TY COUNCIL MEETING
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SIGN IN SHEET
WELCOME to the City of Grass Vattey City Council meeting! Pubtic Comments provide an opportunity for the public to address the City CounciI on any subject which is not on the agenda but in the jurisdiction of the councit. lf you wish to speak, please indicate in the appropriate box when you sign in and take the number corresponding to your name. Each individua[ can have up to 3 minutes of pubtic comment. At the beginning of the meeting, there wit[ be an allotted 30 minutes of generat pubtic comments and the remainder of comments witl be heard at the end of the agenda. ffi:[:::'::?:.ff:":;T:T:[numbers
given
7t ?5] z5
1. Please stand before the podium and give your name and address. (optionat)
2. Ptease [imit your comments to three minutes per speaker.
3. lf previous speakers have made the same point, you may simply indicate your support or disagreement, untess you have new information.
Thank you for your participation.
a
I
o
a
a
,
\
#'s Print Name
Or N/A
Address
(optional)
Self/Business
(optional)
1 -R."",V Dovres 6rDoZ*or.=,o,
2 5Qa A J 6hnorn
3 P/.ittuao\r.co\
4 Pow( <&btOo<
5 Sluvhn
6 F.rP
t
7 I aa,ra- ltl'( /t*^
8 til.*{&, )
9 fur, r (,tLu.P;/ cuj{ f-"Jat;"
10 )ha.^ V,n thF 315 lo
11 ?
0(
12 13
14 Page 11
Item # 2.
FOUNDATION
Community
E nvironmental
Advocates
PO Sox 972, Ced.r Ridge, C495924-09t2
www...a-nc.ors / e6ail: i.IoOcea-nc or9
Comments to Grass Valley City Council
Feb 25, 2025
Re: Item 4, Loma Rica Open Space Fuels Reduction Project CEA Foundation applauds the City in its efforts to reduce fire hazards by addressing the heavy fuel loads that surround our area. We are also very pleased that the City has acquired the approximately 200 acres of Loma Rica land to be held as open space. And fuel load reduction in that area is needed.
However, we are concerned about four things, 1) the methods used for fuel reduction, 2) the possible use of air-curtain burners, 3) issues such as air quality, and 4) long term forest health. We recognize that this is a complex subject. Take, for instance, bio-char.
What exactly is bio-char? Generally it is a form of carbon that benefits soil health and is stable for long periods of time. But bio-char comes in many forms and there are many other uses such as sequestering carbon to mitigate climate change.
Bio-char is produced by pyrolysis, or heating without oxygen, rather than regular combustion in air This limits the carbon loss via carbon-dioxide emissions.
The sweet spot for bio-char production is between 850 and 1000 degrees Fahrenheit (450- 550C) where surface area and ion exchange capacity greatly increase, and on up to 1300 degrees (700C). This allows recovery of up to 65% of the carbon in the form of stable bio.char, which lasts for centuries and benefits soil health.
However, if the temperature is too hot, more ash and less bio-char are produced. And if the temperature is too low, the bio-char can have low persistence and cause undesirable reactions, such as tying up soil nitrogen and not necessarily benefiting the soil.
When it comes to dealing with large amounts of bio-mass, burning can be an effective tool, but regular burning in air releases most of the carbon. Air curtain burners, such as the one below town, are slightly better than open burning in reducing emissions, but they create only about 6-10% bio-char. And it is of unknown quality.
For that reason, when considering forest fuels reduction projects, I would ask that people within the community have an opportunity to provide some input into the standards for the proposed work. There are many factors which may be worth considering in order for the City to accomplish the goals of fire hazard reduction, while hopefully minimizing recurring costs, protecting good forest habitat, and maybe even realizing added benefits from bio-char production such as carbon sequestration.
Thank vou.
rr.& /&rlll
Item # 2.
CITY OF GRASS VALLEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
GENERAL PUBLIC COM/V\ENT SIGN IN SHEET
Action ltem # 8
A Resotution of the City CounciI Cattine for a Ceasefire and an End to Viotence Between Palestine and lsrael
When you are recognized by the mayor:
1. Ptease stand before the podium and give your name and address. (optionat)
2. Ptease limit your comments to three minutes per speaker.
3. lf previous speakers have made the same point, you may simpty indicate your support or disagreement, unless you have new information.
Thank you for your participation.
Self/Business
(optional)
#'s Print Name
Or N/A
Address
(optional)
1 a,-{Lr K.',. ^ \-
ll0 Frse q<an b n C
2 %rL 6ion4r-li '
6ntr /d./&, qrlYl €4
3 {he" ket'ttanrQ
4 aifi\ \\rntn{ 16
b e fil lA/ I i? ( 5 e
6 .ADn {'r 5e /€
7 t4 tcQ e44
ZnJZ,ro , 6 u-r'svd &4//Ydr' 9*F
9 ^
10 n ,' 6 t\.1.*^
^?+ Nt,,u,, ,,L l.,l^r^.U^Wl&
\
NevnJ ^ "L:1 1
J 12 5r re ) U!l,,4 e
13 Ar.\*' Culr/'^,*l 0ro+q V</t-1
14 l^\o.y tnrr J., Grqas Vortteq 5e-\$
15 L finn Vnllp.n au16 ff.., Gdl.s*n till"C/"r 7a,i'[Vciu kt*"<- 17 ,1hi,f;i ,rllayrrJ ilLnn t/,1{ .lq Srk
8 11
t4+
Item # 2.
Address (optional) Self/Business
(optional)
#'s Print Name or N/A
18 (,[a,\U C)"^/ klanQtrl^1,
19 ) L,bbt- ".-) N , no/, o'r4
20 Jilil:.\n 'r^J^h,^ An*, V^Vri
21 .J
5f rr"/ C;[^
22 fi,n) ,-. fi/ )
G,or- /^l)ny
Gr^,4c^l^ u- Gr^r, il^(.u
24 5X wirr-- A*r, v^ltt-,
25 -r
r' I
lobirz.f @,9_ Ne*)*Cfth
26 l*t I o ,L'^,.r"'['^ U*-,1.,^
u Ueud<-c^rj V bl\,"l'ts o'ru'r-'r e'-
1 D<-lauoh-o-,.-
27 J
btt t- ,,1,r ur-/f L ed t,
28 29
31 32
33 34
35 36
37 38
39 40
41 42
43 44
45 23
30
Item # 2.
Comments GV Ceasefire Resolution (Mikos Fabersunne)
I recognize the effort that Council members have put into dralting this resolution and appreciate the Council placing it before the eyes ofthe public.
Because the preamble section (the Whereas clauses) provides the reasoning behind the actions to be taken by the Council, I am commenting primarily on what I see are the weaknesses of the preamble in hopes that the Council will not adopt this resolution as presently worded, and instead make the document more reflective of the actual political context of the conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis and a more accurate portrayal of the state ofseige.
The United Nations has developed numerous resolutions pertaining to PalestineIsrael, including UNGA Resolution 194, adopted in 1948, that was to guarantee the Palestinians dispossessed and evicted from their lands in 1947-49 with the right to return to those lands and receive reparations. Resolution 194 has been ignored by Israel and by Israel's principal benefactor,, the United States, ever since.
Another important resolution was UNGA Res. 3379, adopted in November 1975 which concluded, "The General Assembly determines that Zionism is aform of racism and racial discrimination." Resolution 3379 remained in force for l6 years Yet, in spite of the findings by the UN General Assembly and the recent decisions by the ICJ regarding the illegality ofthe occupation and the plausibility of genocide,, Zionism persists unabated in the United States in support of the occupation of Palestine that continues today.
Contrary to popular opinion, the cause of the October 7 attacks by Palestinians in Gaza wasn't a hatred of Jews as a people but the hatred of the belligerent miiitary occupation by the Israelis since 1967, with roots extending back to the late l9th century formation of the Zionist movement. This Occupation, which has only expanded, has been deemed "illegal" by the Intemational Court of Justice. And the preliminary efforts behind it have been opposed by the Palestinians, using both armed and unarmed methods, since the 1930s. Note that the right to armed opposition of military occupations is recognized under international law as legitimate.
Item # 2.