GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, October 28, 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 made by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Sister City Bodmin Exchange Update
CITY UPDATES
2. Burn Bot Demo
PUBLIC COMMENT –
Virtual Public comments attached.
In-person speakers: 1 through 3
CONSENT ITEMS –
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 28, 2025
Virtual Public Comment attached.
The City attorney gave an oral summary regarding item #6.
Motion made to approve the consent by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
3. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 14th, 2025 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
4. Landscaping and Lighting District Maintenance – Authorization to Award Contract CEQA: Categorically Exempt – Section 15301 “Existing Facilities” Recommendation: That Council 1) authorize the City Engineer to execute a contract with Weiss Landscaping Inc., pending legal review, for landscaping maintenance services for an initial annual amount of $127,320.00, subject to legal review, and 2) authorize the City Engineer to approve contract change orders of 10% of the contract amount.
5. Slate Creek Lift Station Pump Replacement Project – Authorization to Award Contract CEQA: Categorically Exempt – Section 15301 “Existing Facilities” Recommendation: That Council 1) award a contract for the Slate Creek Lift Station Pump Replacement Project to LaFleur Engineering, Inc., 2) authorize the Mayor to execute the construction contract, subject to legal review and, 3) authorize the City Engineer to approve construction change orders for up to 10% of the contract amount.
6. Approval of modification of Deputy Police Chief Appendix A Item E. language.
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That Council 1) approve change to Appendix A, Item E. of the Deputy Police Chief contract as the Fourth Amended Employment Agreement (“Agreement”); 2) authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement subject to legal review; 3) approve the limited duration/limited assignment position in the budget for Deputy Police Chief; and 4) authorize the Finance Director to make any necessary budget adjustments and/or amendments to complete this action.
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 Quarterly Update
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That Council receives quarterly update from Historical Commission.
Dyane Albrecht, Vice Chair of the Historical Commission gave quarterly update to the Council.
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 28, 2025
8. Appeal of Sign Exception Application 25PLN-0031 at 2001 Nevada City Highway.
CEQA: Exempt under CEQA Guideline §15301, Categorical Exemption Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”)
Recommendation: Find the project Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15301, Class 1, of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Guidelines, as detailed in the staff report; Review appeal made by the applicant and determine whether to overturn or uphold the planning commission’s decision to deny the internal illumination of the “Shell” symbol on the two canopies at three locations and on the monument price sign at 2001 Nevada City Highway.
City Planner Amy Wilson summarized the continued appeal for SEI Fuel Services’ Shell Station sign exception. The applicant sought approval for internally illuminated Shell symbols on the canopy and monument sign after the Planning Commission denied them, though the illuminated price sign had been approved. Light bars around the canopies were no longer requested.
The applicant cited nearby illuminated businesses as precedent.
Public comment attached.
Council discussed consistency, visibility, and adherence to the lighting code. The City Attorney clarified that prior illuminated signs do not establish precedent.
Council agreed illumination was reasonable for safety and wayfinding and voted unanimously to grant the appeal, allowing illuminated Shell logos and price signs.
Motion made to overturn or uphold the planning commission’s decision to deny the internal illumination of the “Shell” symbol on the two canopies at three locations and on the monument price sign at 2001 Nevada City Highway by Councilmember Arbuckle. Seconded by Councilmember Ivy
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Mayor Hodge
9. Quarterly Financial Report – First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025–26 CEQA: Not a Project.
Recommendation: That the City Council receive and file the Fiscal Year 2025–26 First Quarter Financial Report for the City’s major operating funds.
Finance Director Jennifer Sachinsky presented first-quarter results, noting revenues appear low and expenses high due to timing. Sales and property taxes are received later in the year. Business licenses and franchise fees post in later quarters.
Insurance and CalPERS liabilities are prepaid, inflating early expenses. Water and sewer billings are on a two-month cycle. Overall, revenues and expenditures are on track, with no major concerns. Differences are expected to balance out as the year progresses.
Public comment: Bob Branstrom
No action taken.
Item # 3.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES October 28, 2025
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Council Member Ivy attended the Resilience Meeting and the Mayors and Managers Meeting. Council Member Bonomolo attended the Ad Hoc Skateboard Committee Meeting and the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Meeting. Council Member Arbuckle attended the Nevada County Media Halloween Event, the GVDA Board Meeting, a performance of Dracula, and participated in the National League of Cities Conference. Mayor Hodge attended the Economic Summit and will have her Wednesdays with the Mayor tomorrow.
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 pm.
_________________________________ ______________________________ Hilary Hodge, Mayor Taylor Whittingslow, City Clerk
Adopted on: ____________
Item # 3.
CITY OF GRASS VALLEY CITY 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 pubtic 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 individual can have up to 3 minutes of pubtic comment. At the beginning of the meeting, there wi[[ be an altotted 30 minutes of generat pubtic comments and the remainder of comments witt be heard at the end of the agenda.
Speakers witt be catted in order of the numbers given.
When you are recognized by the mayor:
1. Ptease stand before the podium and give your name and address. (optionat)
2. Please limit your comments to three minutes per speaker.
3. lf previous speakers have made the same point, you may simply indicate your support or disagreement, unless you have new information.
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Item # 3.