GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, July 22, 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 6:02 pm.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Hodge led the Pledge of Allegiance.
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 the agenda as submitted by Councilmember Bonomolo, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
Nothing to report out of the special closed door meeting of July 14, 2025 at 3:30 pm.
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Report from staff on a booth at the County Fair.
2. Update from staff on the cleanup event that occurred on July 16 at the site of the future Dorsey Marketplace.
PUBLIC COMMENT –
In person public comment: Speakers 1 thru 4 (noted changes: no speaker #2 & Speaker #3 wanted to speak on a later item)
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES July 22, 2025
Virtual attached. Attached
CONSENT ITEMS –
Virtual public comment attached.
Motion made to approve consent as submitted by Councilmember Arbuckle, seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
Council took a break at 6:30 pm, and the meeting resumed at 6:32 pm.
3. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2025.
Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
4. Approving the Application for California Forest Improvement Program and Designating an authorized Representative
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That the City Council authorize staff to apply for funding through the California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) to support forest health improvements on City-owned properties of 20 acres or more. Additionally, designate the City Manager as the authorized agent to conduct all necessary negotiations and to execute and submit all required documents—including, but not limited to, applications, contracts, amendments, payment requests, and compliance certifications with all applicable state and federal laws—for the successful completion of the CFIP project.
5. Annual Approval of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) Adjustment to the Special Emergency Medical and Fire Response Tax.
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council 1) Approve a rate increase to the Special Emergency Medical and Fire Response Tax of 2.9% based on the December 2024 CPI. 2) Adopt Resolution 2025-40 requesting that the Nevada County Auditor place the adjusted Measure A special tax for 2025/2026 on the tax rolls.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
6. Collection of Delinquent Sewer and/or Water Accounts on the Nevada County Tax Roll CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: After holding a public hearing, adopt Resolution 2025-39 requesting that the County of Nevada levy and collect delinquent sewer and water charges on the property tax roll.
Jennifer Styczynski, Deputy Finance Director, gave the overview to the council.
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES July 22, 2025
No public comments.
A discussion was held amongst the Council.
Motion made to continue the item to a special meeting where all 5 members can attend by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge Voting Nay: Councilmember Bonomolo
ADMINISTRATIVE
7. Local Buyback and Compost Facility Feasibility Study – R3 Proposal CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That the City Council 1) Review the proposal for a joint feasibility study with the City of Nevada City to evaluate the development of a shared facility for CRV (California Redemption Value) local buyback, clear plastic recycling, and composting; 2) Provide direction to staff regarding the City's participation in the proposed project; and 3) Authorize the City Manager to enter into any necessary agreements, subject to legal review, and approve the use of General Fund contingencies and Measure B funds to cover the City’s share of the feasibility study cost in coordination with Nevada City.
Tim Kiser, City Manager, gave an overview of the item to the Council.
Public Comment: Debbie Gibbs, Christine Newsom, Sherley Freriks, Bob Branstrom Motion to 1) Review the proposal for a joint feasibility study with the City of Nevada City to evaluate the development of a shared facility for CRV (California Redemption Value) local buyback, clear plastic recycling, and composting; 2) Provide direction to staff regarding the City's participation in the proposed project; and 3) Authorize the City Manager to enter into any necessary agreements, subject to legal review, and approve the use of General Fund contingencies cover the City’s share of the feasibility study cost in coordination with Nevada City by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
8. Historical Commission Quarterly Update
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That Council receives quarterly update from Historical Commission.
Terry McAteer, Historical Commission Chair, gave an update to the council.
Public comment: Robin Davis, Bob Branstrom
Informational item only.
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Bonomolo attended an Ad Hoc Skateboard meeting. Councilmember Arbuckle attended a League of Cal Cities Sacramento Division meeting, a Nevada County Law and Fire meeting, on the town with Mike Stewart, was elected as the Honorary Commander, Conference for the National League of Cities, Starry Nights, and Howard Stars
Item # 1.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES July 22, 2025
ceremony. Councilmember Ivy attended a Nevada County Transportation Commission meeting, a Pioneer Energy Meeting, and an Ad Hoc skateboard meeting. Mayor Hodge will have her Wednesday with the Mayor, and attended a GVDA Merchant meeting, a Nevada County Creatives meeting, a laughter performance, and the Howard Levine Star Ceremony.
She urges everyone to look at the Library and any of its events. She attended Starry Nights, and the city's National Night Out will be on August 5th at Memorial Park
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm.
______________________________ ______________________________ Hilary Hodge, Mayor Tayor Whittingslow, City Clerk
Adopted on: _________
Item # 1.
1 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 6:03 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voicemail from ( on Jul 22 2025 5:59 PM
Attachments: 1753232347-000014bf.mp3
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New voicemail message
Time: Tuesday, July 22 2025 5:59 PM
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Transcript:
Hi, this is Matthew Coulter making public comment for the agenda items on the City Council agenda on the 22nd of July. Number two, I think that might be just a report, but if there is public comment, my public comment on that is the mud runoff that will take place and the mine dust that is blowing off that property of the Dorsey cleanup project that you guys just overkill all the way to the dirt. Unfortunate, I understand, and it's unfortunate that it was allowed to fester to 30 people living up there and the fires and such. Number four, the overkill of the nesting habitat with your masticating.
All you're doing is opening up the raw soil for invasive species to grow and it will have to be masticated every year for blackberries and scotch broom because that is what now you are growing by the bushel. Uh, number five, the tax increase. Uh, that's pretty sad that a 2.9% tax increase is going to hit the people at this time, along with the
Item # 1.
2 other retail sales tax increase for the same issue. We were fire, uh, the number six, the sewer and water on the tax roll. Uh, the County just went ahead and did that today, Nevada city too. I'm sure you're aware of, and this is just a way to get property from old $100 then you guys are on them and there is no scale to say okay that's not enough to take your property and so they're on the chopping block and they're on that list to lose their property over a very small amount of money owed per sewer or water or some other mandatory things that they are having to have in city of Grass Valley. There should be a cap amount listed in the agenda so we know is it $500, is it $100, you know when are you going to take grandma's house. That would be really nice to know. And number eight, the historical update. I'd like the historical commission to all go visit the train station and look at the graffiti and look at the Sarah Kidder monument with the dead trees that have been dead now for several years. And it's a sad representation of Grass Valley honors its history. Thank you very much.
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Item # 1.
3 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 6:00 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voicemail from on Jul 22 2025 5:55 PM
Attachments: 1753232131-000014bb.mp3
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New voicemail message
Time: Tuesday, July 22 2025 5:55 PM
From:
Duration: 2 minutes 48 seconds
Voicemail box: 8880
Transcript:
Hi, this is Matthew Coulter, leading public comment for the July 22nd City Council meeting for Grass Valley, California. And I'd like to first mention about the meetings and the fact that the Zoom has been working for quite a long time. When I was able to get it, I had to watch on Zoom and listen on YouTube because the sound was so bad, and there's been approximately $100 ,000 put into the audio and the availability to produce these meetings to the general public as required under the Brown Act and the city has not kept up their end of the bargain whatsoever. That's very sad. Dorsey marketplace that definitely needs some waddles put up because as soon as it rains all that mine moon dust that you guys made is just going to wash right down the hill into Wolf Creek. We know that we have the problems with mud run off here and all of the projects in the city shouldn't be the leader of the environmental destruction that's
Item # 1.
4 happening. Leave that to the developers that you're helping. Uh, the people that were moved off Dorsey marketplace are now living over on Idaho, Maryland and Bennett street camps. The majority of them, um, continue the environmental destruction. Um, I'm hoping the closed session can be talked about. I, you guys didn't come out and report what happened in closed session last Monday at three 30 at that special meeting. And for my final part of my comment, I'd like to mention that the mayor, Hillary is making false police reports again, just like she has done repeatedly, including with her DUIs, this is troubling that she's able to lie to the police, um, either to protect herself from something or to punish other people she believes need to be punished. In this case, it was me. she called the police on me saying she saw me walking on the street. Therefore that triggered her into the point of conniption. And as I had to train her years ago, and I'm sure you guys are all aware of also that public photography is not illegal. I take a lot of pictures in town every single day. Uh, many people are in the pictures that aren't intended to be in the pictures. Most of them are scenic pictures and I don't even want the people in the So, Hillary, I didn't see you today. I was walking up the street through that very narrow passageway that you approved in front of the freaking Serenos that is so dangerous for pedestrians. Just trying to negotiate the streets. You don't have time to look at people. You got to watch what's on the ground around here. It's a ******* nightmare. So stop calling the cops on people and stop drinking. Thank you.
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Item # 1.
5 Taylor Whittingslow
From: GALLE,JOHN - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 5:45 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from ( on Jul 22 2025 5:42 PM
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Yes, this is Patty Galley. I never worked so hard, cared so much, or failed so badly when it came to getting justice for Matthew Coulter when justice was most deserved. And I'll die in **** before I give up exposing what gross and deliberate monsters you are to harass someone with false claims and try to put him in jail or have his restraining order extended. Hillary, you are a disgrace to your office and to the citizens. Today you made up **** that was not true and did so with the intent to harass a citizen. What an outstanding mayor you are. You and the rest of the city that supports this are despicable and the police are running the charge by filing such a false and deplorable case to the DA. And don't give me this **** the DA decides. No, the police can decide and they should have seen this for what it was and went about real crime. But when it comes to Matthew, it's never true. I have so many examples
Item # 1.
6 of how you have harassed him and falsely accused him. Using measuring tape to try to justify he took a ******* picture of a mattress is an insane example. Maybe you are all laughing and having a champagne party that you got him reported to the DA today. You are worse than a pack of dogs on a wild killing spree. I might die in **** but you'll all be there for your disgusting way of life and how you treat others.
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Item # 1.
7 Taylor Whittingslow
From: Susan Rogers
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2025 9:17 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Public Comment on Item 7 of July 22 City Council Agenda [You don't oŌen get email from Learn why this is important at hƩps://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdenƟficaƟon ]
Hello Council Members,
My comment is regarding Item 7 on your agenda, "Local Buyback and Compost Facility Feasibility Study - R3 Proposal." As much as I would love to have access to a CRV-buyback facility that's much closer than the McCourtney Road transfer staƟon, I am not clear on how it is jusƟfiable to use Measure B funds to help cover the City's share of the feasibility study cost.
My understanding is that Measure B funds are for wildfire resilience, including funding more personnel for our fire engines, hiring staff (e.g. Duane Strawser) for educaƟng and enforcing City vegetaƟon management codes, and similar expenses.
I fail to understand how a feasibility study for a Buyback and Compost Facility meets the criteria that I and a few thousand other Measure B voters were promised regarding how Measure B revenue would be spent.
Did the Measure B Oversight CommiƩee submit this expenditure as part of their budget for Coucil's approval? If so, I missed that and have to wonder why they would have wanted the sales tax revenue spent in this way since that CommiƩee's charter is to ensure it is spent as described in the elecƟon's voter pamphlet.
Please keep your promise to City residents to spend Measure B revenues on wildfire prevenƟon and resilience. I would rather drive to the transfer staƟon (or give my buyback money to Waste Management as I'm already doing), than have funding taken away from the acƟviƟes we were told Measure B would cover.
Thank you,
Susan Rogers
640 Charlene Lane
Grass Valley, CA 95945
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Item # 1.