GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, August 12, 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
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Hodge led the pledge of allegiance.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Councilmember Jan Arbuckle
Councilmember Joe Bonomolo
Councilmember Tom Ivy
Vice Mayor Haven Caravelli
Mayor Hilary Hodge
AGENDA APPROVAL –
Motion made by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Vice Mayor Caravelli.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
No closed door.
CITY UPDATE
PUBLIC COMMENT -
In public comment: Robin Galvin-Davis
Virtual comments attached.
CONSENT ITEMS -
Mayor Hodge made a motion to remove item #6 (Responses to the Nevada County Grand Jury Report “A Long and Winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County”) for discussion.
Seconded by Councilmember Ivy. Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge Approve Consent with the removal of item #6 (Responses to the Nevada County Grand Jury Report “A Long and Winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County”) by Councilmember
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES August 12, 2025
Ivy, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
1. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 22nd, 2025 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
2. Approval of the Special Meeting Minutes of August 5th, 2025 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
3. Updated Job Description for Fire Engineer and Fire Captain CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council approve the updated job descriptions for Fire Engineer and Fire Captain, subject to legal reveiw.
4. Slate Creek Lift Station Pump Replacement 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.
5. NID/ Grass Valley Water Service Area Boundaries – Execute Agreement Amendment CEQA: N/A – Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council authorize the Mayor to sign the “Second Amendment to the Contract Between Nevada Irrigation District and City of Grass Valley for Water Supply”
6. Updated Appointment of City Councilmembers and Staff to Boards and Commissions CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve Mayor Hodge’s updated recommendation of appointments of Councilmembers and Staff to various Boards and Commissions.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT CALENDAR FOR DISCUSSION OR SEPARATE ACTION AND /
OR ANY ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
7. Responses to the Nevada County Grand Jury Report “A Long and Winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County”
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That Council accept and file responses to the Nevada County Grand Jury “A Long and winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County.
Tim Kiser, City Manager, gave a presentation to the council.
Public Comment: Tom Durcan
Virtual comments attached.
Motion to accept and file responses to the Nevada County Grand Jury “A Long and winding Road for the Homeless of Nevada County made by Vice Mayor Caravelli, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES August 12, 2025
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
REORGANIZATION RELATED ITEMS
PUBLIC HEARING
ADMINISTRATIVE
8. Community Farms Planning for Mautino Park
CEQA: Not a project.
Recommendation: That Council 1) receive and file the Final Community Food Campus report submitted by Interfaith Food Ministry and Sierra Harvest; 2) consider the proposal's findings and recommendations; and 3) provide direction to staff on next steps for the development at Mautino Park.
Sierra Harvest and Interfaith Food Ministry gave a presentation to the council.
Public comment: Bob Branstrom, Denny, unnamed, Jacob McDonald, Sandy Frizzell, Lily Mora, Patty, Tarica Peterson, Jonathan Keen,
Virtual public comments attached.
The Council directed staff to provide a report to the Measure E committee members and seek funding for this project and to continue the conversation and get a closer look at the project and bring it to a 25,000 ft level rather than 180,000 ft level and hold more community meetings.
Break taken at 7:21 pm. Meeting resumed at 7:28n pm.
9. Residential Permit Parking Program Discussion
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: Provide direction to staff on the implementation of a Residential Permit Parking program for implementation of terms via future ordinance/resolution adoption
Councilmember Ivy & Vice Mayor Caravelli recused themselves due to owning property too close to the city parking lot.
Public comment: Michelle, Zara, Amy, Bob Branstrom, Robin Davis, Discussion was had amongst the Council and requested that staff bring back a draft resolution looking at the pricing, and eligibility of the residential parking permits.
10. Identification and Implementation of Supplemental City Goals – FY 2025–2026 CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That the City Council 1) Review the proposed supplemental (nonbudgeted) City Goals for FY 2025–2026; 2) Provide input on additional potential goals for consideration; and 3) Identify and prioritize the top five non-budgeted goals/activities to help guide staff focus and resource allocation during the upcoming fiscal year.
Tim Kiser, City Manager, gave an overview to the council.
Virtual public comments attached.
Item # 2.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES August 12, 2025
Public comments: Eliza Tudor, Jonna Onex, unnamed, Rick Panos, Lisa Swarthout, Bob Branstrom, Robin Davis,
Motion made to 1) Review the proposed supplemental (non-budgeted) City Goals for FY 2025–2026; 2) Provide input on additional potential goals for consideration; and 3) Identify and prioritize the top five non-budgeted goals/activities to help guide staff focus and resource allocation during the upcoming fiscal year. by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Vice Mayor Caravelli.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Ivy attended a County Climate meeting and went to San Luis Obispo.
Councilmember Bonomolo went to the fair and participated in the City Booth on Friday at the fair. Councilmember Arbuckle attended a GVDA Chamber joint meeting, chamber mixer at RV park, On the Town, opening ceremonies for the fair, National Night Out, Kiwanis backpack giveaway, National League of Cities webinars, and a meeting with the City of Auburn regarding Cannabis. Vice Mayor Caravelli attended the Habitat Humanity Donor dinner, the opening ceremonies at the fair, the ag auction, and an ERC board meeting.
Mayor Hodge attended a Lion King Jr. performance and the Project Hope distribution drive.
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 pm.
______________________________ ______________________________ Hilary Hodge, Mayor Taylor Whittingslow, City Clerk
Adopted on: ___________
Item # 2.
1 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:23 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voicemail from ( on Aug 12 2025 8:20 PM
Attachments: 1755055230-00001244.mp3
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Hello, this is Matthew Coulter commenting on number 10, city goals, public communication and engagement. Does that mean more lawsuits against the citizens of Grass Valley? Because that is obviously how you like to communicate with me. And the joint animal shelter that definitely is way overdue, our animal shelter in Grass Valley slash Nevada City has to smell the sewage treatment plant as well as listen to the gunfire at the police range. The development code update, that's good, because the code really isn't followed in so many ways. So it'd be nice just to have like first signage, for example, to have people follow that code. That would be fantastic. The city dispatch, that would be a nightmare. Yeah. We all know why. Fire services feature planning. Please stop decimating our environment with your masticator. It's probably broken because I see things that you've run over that were
Item # 2.
2 not meant to be run over, metal and asphalt and concrete and things of that nature.
Rebar and annexation strategy I wish we could take care of what we have before we start adding more to it. Thank you. Have a good night.
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Item # 2.
3 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 7:38 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from on Aug 12 2025 7:35 PM
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This is Matthew Colter. You know, I come to a lot of meetings or watch a lot of meetings from afar and Every two weeks is the tax increase on the people of Grass Valley One way or another you call it one thing or another but it's a tax increase and it's every two weeks Every two weeks I say it's got to stop but every two weeks.
There's another tax increase $20 a month no big deal Joe but you know I don't have it you have it if you do give it to me because I don't have it and a lot of other people don't have it either so it's ridiculous to think that you can just keep taxing people and expect anyone to be able to afford to live here except for your rich tourists that come in and Airbnb and you to your drinking festivals. Thanks a lot, but parking is an issue in Grass Valley and the people that businesses shouldn't park in front of them, like the Chamber of Commerce, all those folks park in front. I could go on and on with the
Item # 2.
4 people that park in front or as close as they can possibly be, including walking fire lanes and public walking access, just so they can park close to their business. Thank you.
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Item # 2.
5 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:35 PM
To: Public Comments
Subject: Voicemail from ( on Aug 12 2025 6:34 PM
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I think that they're amazing. Hi, Matthew culture. I wanted to ask about water usage. I didn't hear water being brought up at all and being that the city water plant is there in that same facility. I'm wondering about how much water it's going to take to operate the garden once it's established. Thank you.
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Item # 2.
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Item # 2.
7 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:15 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from on Aug 12 2025 6:12 PM
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limits camping on private property and regulate yes my public comment on the number six on the homelessness and the grand jury response would be to fire tim kaiser he has no idea what's going on with the homeless population in his own city he has no idea what's going on with the homeless population in the county he has no compassion for such folks nor does he have any interest because they don't pay TOT tax and they aren't the type of people that he deems to be part of the community so it's very sad that he himself has put the city in a position of having so many homeless people on the streets with absolutely no place to go being moved doorway to doorway punish different businesses depending on which one they land in and happen to vomit in or go bathroom in. It's ongoing in the Brunswick Basin. We keep losing businesses one after another and it it's got to stop. So the fact that just
Item # 2.
8 ignoring the homeless is not going to make them go away. A lot of people are here from other places and they're not going back. They're here to stay. Thanks a lot, Matthew Coulter.
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Item # 2.
9 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:12 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from ( on Aug 12 2025 6:08 PM
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Hi, this is Matthew Colter commenting on number five, six, and seven on the agenda at the city council on the 12th of August five and ID in the GV city water. There was a person found face down deceased in the canal that feeds grass valleys water. And my question is, is the automated system adjust for things that fall into the water supply before it reaches the plant? homeless and stuff because there's a lot of stuff going on upstream and number six the homeless check by the grand jury shall we say a little bit misplaced but the folks from Dorsey Marketplace basically moved across the street in Idaho Maryland in the Bennett Street camp and I wish you guys would take care of that there's been fires there's been all kinds of things going on over there Number seven, the mayor's appointments, there's a lot of unfilled things going on in the city, which graphic police oversight. The housing committee is not
Item # 2.
10 active. The sidewalk committee that used to be active is no longer and it would be great to bring these things back, especially dealing with the traffic and the police.
That would help the community a lot to know that there was some oversight in some way. Thank you. And I tried to do public comment, but it was too short to get it in there.
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Item # 2.
11 Taylor Whittingslow
From: KRAFT KIANA - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:35 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from on Aug 12 2025 5:33 PM
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Hello, Grass Valley City Council. My name is Kiana Kraft. I'm a resident of Grass Valley and I'm calling in regards to agenda item number nine regarding the residential permit program. I live on Mill Street and I do not have any parking at my residence and there's very little street parking available on top of that. This makes it really challenging to park anywhere near my residence and really inaccessible for my older family members as they cannot walk as far as I can. It would be very helpful to have a residential parking permit for the public lot on Mill Street. That would open up more parking for people like me who live downtown and don't have a designated
Item # 2.
12 parking space. Please vote in favor of this program. Thank you very much. Thanks for watching!
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Item # 2.
13 Taylor Whittingslow
From: WIRELESS CALLER - Voicemail box 8880 <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 5:28 PM
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Subject: Voicemail from on Aug 12 2025 5:24 PM
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Hello, this is Jed Adia from 322 Mill Street and I'm calling about the residential parking permit program. I just want to say good evening council members. I would like to, first of all, thank Police Chief Gamelgaard for taking the topic of residential parking and working with us and moving it forward. I also think Mayor Hodge and Councilmember Arbuckle are probably thankful to you as well, as they are probably glad to stop having meetings with me and the neighbors about the parking. But in all seriousness, thank you Mayor Hodge and Council Member Arbuckle for meeting with me and the other residents over the years on this topic. Secondly, I just want to give a little bit of a history on the conversations as it goes back to February 13, 2018 when
Item # 2.
14 the property at 309 Mill Street was brought forward to be purchased for a parking lot.
In the discussions, it was requested to include a residential parking, as many of the residents on Mill Street used the empty lot for parking. Vice Mayor Lisa Schwartzow at the time even stated, I really like that this property has a dual purpose and it will serve the residential neighborhood and the downtown businesses. Then during our Planning Commission meeting about the parking lot, residential parking was also brought up. And one of the approval conditions by the Planning Commission was that it include a overnight parking. Then at each of the city council meetings since then whenever parking was brought up to the council members we have been there to remind the council of the previous discussions and each time the councils have agreed to include a residential overnight parking at 309 Mill Street. So I am glad to see this has finally come before the council and I ask that you agree to move forward with this item and take the next steps of it becoming a reality for the residents to park there. Thank you. Have a wonderful evening.
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Item # 2.