GRASS VALLEY
City Council Regular Meeting, Capital Improvements Authority and Redevelopment "Successor Agency"
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 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
Vice Mayor Haven Caravelli
Mayor Hilary Hodge
AGENDA APPROVAL -
Resolution numbers corrected and addition of Resolution to item #5.
Motion to approve as submitted with noted changes made by Vice Mayor Caravelli, Seconded by Councilmember Arbuckle.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
1. Country Gala Presentation
CITY UPDATE
PUBLIC COMMENT -
In person public comment: Speakers 1 thru 5 (noted changes no speaker #2) Virtual comments attached.
CONSENT ITEMS -
Item # 6.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES March 24, 2026
Public comment: Anonymous
Motion to approve consent as submitted by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Ivy.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
2. Approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 10, 2026 Recommendation: Council approve minutes as submitted.
3. Appointment of City Councilmembers and Staff to Boards and Commission CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Approve Mayor Hodge’s recommended appointments of Councilmembers and Staff to various Boards and Commissions.
4. 4th of July Fireworks Show (Approval of Pyro Spectaculars North Agreement) CEQA: Not a project.
Recommendation: The Council 1) approve the 2026 4th of July Fireworks Show; 2) approve the City Manager to execute an Agreement with Pyro Spectaculars North, Inc. for the amount of $25,500 for the 4th of July Fireworks Show subject to legal review; and 3) approve the Finance Director to make any necessary budget adjustments and transfers.
5. Grass Valley Management & Supervisory Professional & Confidential Employees – Unit 1 – Memorandum of Understanding for January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2026-06 approving the Labor Memorandum of Understanding for an twelve (12) month period beginning January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, between the City of Grass Valley and the Grass Valley Management / Supervisory Professional & Confidential Employees Group (Unit 1).
6. Temby St Water Line Replacement Project – Authorization to Award Contract CEQA: 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), 2) authorize the City Engineer to award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder up to $125,000, 3) authorize the Mayor to execute the construction contract, subject to legal review and, 4) authorize the City Engineer to approve construction change orders for up to 10% of the contract amount.
7. Wolf Creek Community and Connectivity Project – 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 the amount of $2,088,126.60 for the Wolf Creek Community and Connectivity Project
8. Memorandum of Agreement with UCLA-OpalAi Wildfire Modeling Software
Item # 6.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES March 24, 2026
CEQA: Not a project
Recommendation: That the City Council Authorize the Interim City Manager to sign/execute the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with UCLA Opal AI Wildfire Modeling Software, 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
9. Title: Conduit Financing for the Spring Hill Gardens Apartments Project CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: That the council 1) Conduct the public hearing under the requirements of TEFRA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) & 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-07 approving the issuance of the Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) for the benefit of Springhill Gardens Associates, L.P., a California limited partnership (the “Borrower”), to provide for the financing of the Project, such adoption is solely for the purposes of satisfying the requirements of TEFRA, the Code and the California Government Code Section 6500 (and following).
Jennifer Styczynski, Finance Director, gave overview of the item to the Council.
No public comment.
Motion to 1) Conduct the public hearing under the requirements of TEFRA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) & 2) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-07 approving the issuance of the Bonds by the California Municipal Finance Authority (CMFA) for the benefit of Springhill Gardens Associates, L.P., a California limited partnership (the “Borrower”), to provide for the financing of the Project, such adoption is solely for the purposes of satisfying the requirements of TEFRA, the Code and the California Government Code Section 6500 (and following) made by Councilmember Arbuckle, Seconded by Councilmember Bonomolo.
Voting Yea: Councilmember Arbuckle, Councilmember Bonomolo, Councilmember Ivy, Vice Mayor Caravelli, Mayor Hodge
ADMINISTRATIVE
BRIEF REPORTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilmember Bonomolo visited the new skatepark, look at NID to take over the infrastructure from PGE, and report that Andy from Goodtimes thanked the City for the skatepark. Councilmember Ivy met with individuals and staff in regards to the roundabout, Community foundation has been working with an after disaster plan, NCTC meeting, and Pioneer Community Energy meeting. Councilmember Arbuckle thanked Councilmember Ivy for participating in Pioneer Energy, Nevada County Law and Fire council meeting, attended an on the town, had a conversation with Congressman Kiley, Public Safety Committee in DC, NLC Board meeting, and leaves for California League of City Public Safety meeting. Vice Mayor Caravelli attended ERC Executive Meeting, Summit is 10/29, KNCO, presenter for Day for Women Mayor Hodge attended the Nevada County Arts Committee meet up, peter and the wolf by InConcert Sierra, power of the purse, attended a Day for Women.
Item # 6.
City of Grass Valley, CA MINUTES March 24, 2026
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT
ADJOURN
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.
_______________________ __________________________
Hilary Hodge, Mayor Taylor Whittingslow, City Clerk
Adopted on: _________
Item # 6.