CITY OF
CITY OF JACKSON
City Council Meeting Minutes
JACKSON May 27, 2025
ALIFORNIA
Mayor and Council Members Josh Nelson, City Attorney
Steve McLean, Mayor
Chad Simmons, Vice Mayor Staff Members:
Max Godde, Council Member Chris Minderon, City Manager
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Sierra McLean, Council Member Bree Wilder, Public Works Superintendent Ryan Pidgeon, Fire Chief
ABSENT: None Carleen Kirkpatrick, Deputy City Clerk
Christine Platt, Homeless Outreach Coordinator
Mayor McLean called the meeting to order at 6:29 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
Mayor McLean led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
Motion to approve the City Council Agenda dated May 27, 2025 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
2. PUBLIC MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
Discussion items only, no action will be taken. Any person may address the Council at this time on any subject within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Please note - there is a three (3) minute limit.
None.
3. CONSENT CALENDAR.
Items listed on the consent calendar are considered routine and may be enacted by one motion. Any item may be removed for discussion at the request of a Council Member. a. Approval of May 12, 2025 meeting minutes.
b. Approval of Expenditure Report in the amount of $974.63 (May 13, 2025), $23,750.00 (May 14, 2025), and $285,873.11 (May 22, 2025).
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
c. Received Homeless Outreach Coordinator monthly report for April 2025. d. Approval of Cemetery Committee's recommendation to reappoint Jim Laughton to the Cemetery Committee for two more years upon his term expiration on 6/30/25.
Approval of Special Events Application for Lion's 3rd of July Fireworks Event.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar dated May 27, 2025 as presented (with listed recusals below under abstain). Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Sierra McLean, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: Simmons (Item 3e), Sierra McLean (Item 3a)
After the vote...
Jim McCarthy - Expressed concern with Mr. Jim Laughton being reappointed to the Cemetery Committee.
Council chose to uphold the approval of the Consent Calendar as decided.
4. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS.
This section is to provide staff an opportunity to present oral status reports on issues. No legal action is expected to be taken by the Council.
Public Works Superintendent, Bree Wilder - New sign is complete at Kennedy Wheels to match City Hall and Busi parking lots. Thursday 5/29 bark is being installed under the play equipment at Detert and Gold Ridge parks. Mattley Hill Slide project going well - holes are all now drilled for the rods, should be starting the grid, and on schedule to be completed by June 6". Councilmember Godde inquired if the rods go in horizontal and Wilder advised they are set at 20 degrees down. Sewer lines were cleared, and they go in 14 feet, approximately 1 - 1.5 inch diameter, all thread, holes get filled with grout to support, then plated and covered with decorative style. As soon as they start the shotcrete process, a panel will be provided of the final product. Council expressed gratitude for this project in process. Dust is minimal. Jackson Pool is up and running with numerous end of year pool parties scheduled over the next couple weeks. Roofing the pool office is on hold with the pool reopening, and the WWTP plant will move forward. The contractor was supposed to begin both project in April, early May, and are basically in breach of contract at this time. Working on getting a new schedule to move forward, and should not need to go back out to bid. The contract needs to be amended, though the contractor has not been quick to respond, and they currently seem to be lacking material to do the work. They invoiced the City for a partial project, but haven't begun so payment is being held for now.
Fire Chief, Ryan Pidgeon - No major emergencies to report. Visited Rollingwood last Saturday and installed 139 smoke detectors in 50 separate residents, which is a new record for a single event in this region. Per Red Cross policies, they were able to install up to 4 per mobile home. Some did not need all four. Grocery Outlet is going to donate a pallet of bottled water to the Fire Department to stay hydrated this summer. Vice Mayor Simmons inquired if they are carbon monoxide as well, and Pidgeon advised they are not. Vice Mayor Simmons requested a thank you letter be sent from the City to the Toma's and Grocery Outlet and City Manager Simpson confirmed.
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Police Chief, Chris Mynderup - Expressed congratulations to Councilmember Sierra McLean on birth of her new baby. Car show went amazing, no law enforcement issues to report.
City Attorney, Josh Nelson - No report.
City Manager, Carl P. Simpson - Expressed thanks for being able to participate in the Car Show and "surprise" judge duty, and to staff involved in its success.
5. COUNCIL REPORTS.
This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present reports on their activities and to request item be placed on future agendas.
Councilmember Gonsalves - Car Show was a great weekend with pertect weather, 192 registrations and 167 cars on the street. The Chamber of Commerce and the committee will be having a debrief meeting next week, and invited Fire, PD and Public Works to attend with any feedback to improve next year.
She expressed gratitude to all involved.
Councilmember Godde - Volunteered some time at the Car Show. Attended the emergency preparedness meeting at Rollingwood with Fire Chief Pidgeon. Volunteered a couple times at the Kennedy Mine and parked cars for the "House Rockers" band that played last weekend. He was able to help cut some logs for Wheel # 1, which was neat.
Councilmember McLean - Been spending time with her newborn daughter and becoming a mom.
Vice Mayor Simmons - Attended the ACRA meeting when General Manager Michael Rock resigned, and there will be a three-way leadership role moving forward.
Mayor McLean - Out of town last week. Spoke on KVGC radio recently with Tonya about the Dinner on Main fundraiser event upcoming on June 21" to support building an archway in Jackson.
6. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
For the record: Action minutes provide the necessary documentation of City Council actions and audio recordings are retained for those desiring more detail on particular agenda item discussions. These audio recordings provide an accurate and comprehensive backup of City Council deliberations and citizen discussion.
a. Receive, discuss and provide direction regarding (verbal) report from Homeless Outreach Coordinator regarding the City's response to homeless issues. [Christine Platt] Homeless Outreach Coordinator Christine Platt advised in April, they provided 95 individual showers to those in need. One notable success story involved a collaboration with In-Site Housing, through which they were able to place an individual into permanent housing after they qualified for a HUD VASH voucher—a significant step toward long-term housing stability. Additionally, they worked with Mastercare to assist an 83-year-old senior who had been living on the streets. They May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
were able to secure a spot for them at Jackson Gardens Assisted Living, ensuring they now have a safe and supportive living environment.
The Homeless Task Force currently has a subcommittee working on a plan for a sanctioned camping project. This initiative aims to establish a secure and safe location for overnight camping and parking. She anticipates the proposal will be presented to the city council soon, which would be a positive step forward in addressing local housing instability. Platt also introduced Kristen Balcom, the new Assistant Outreach Coordinator. Though young, she brings meaningful lived experience to the team—an important asset in our outreach efforts. Early engagement shows she is already connecting well with the community. On a personal note, she recently returned from vacation in Maui, where she had the incredible experience of seeing sea turtles. b. Public Hearing: Second reading and possible adoption of Ordinance No. 733 Adding Chapter 8.36 to Title 8 of the Jackson Municipal Code Relating to Portable Storage Containers.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion and received none. Mayor McLean expressed an interest in the container on Hwy 88 being enforced as larger than 16 feet in the vacant parcel. Staff can follow up 30 days after adoption, once codified.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments and received none.
Mayor requests a motion.
Motion to waive second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 733 Adding Chapter 8.36 to Title 8 of the Jackson Municipal Code Relating to Portable Storage Containers dated May 27, 2025 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Godde, seconded by Councilmember Sierra McLean, and carried by a 5 to O vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
c. Public Hearing: Second reading and possible adoption of Ordinance No. 735 Amending Section
17.30.100 of Title 17 of the Jackson Municipal Code Relating to Property Maintenance.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion and received none.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments and received none.
Mayor requests a motion.
Motion to waive second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 733 Adding Chapter 8.36 to Title 8 of the Jackson Municipal Code Relating to Portable Storage Containers dated May 27, 2025 as presented. Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
d. Introduction of new Graffiti Abatement Program [Carleen Kirkpatrick, Deputy City Clerk].
Deputy City Clerk Carleen Kirkpatrick advised that during an inspection for reported junk and rubbish, she observed a walkway behind the Chevron off Highway 88 with significant graffiti on both walls. (Photos were provided in the Council packet and displayed on screen during the meeting.) Following the visit, she consulted with City Manager Carl Simpson about coordinating a new volunteer and donation-based graffiti abatement program, which is not expected to require any City funding. She plans to conduct the first event utilizing Keep Jackson Beautiful volunteers, and has already prepared graffiti waivers for both property owners and volunteers which were approved for us by our insurance (included in the packet tonight for review). Carleen reached out to Argonaut High School about involving students to help them earn community service hours while contributing to ongoing beautification efforts in the City. With the end of the school year upon us, discussions on this will resume once school is back in session. She expressed thanks to Steve Oneto of Mr. Clean Binz who has also volunteered to assist with pressure washing at no cost prior to planned graffiti abatements. Paint donations are now being sought, and coordination with Police, Fire, and Public Works is planned to help report observed addresses with graffiti for Carleen to follow up and maintain a list for abatement. Additionally, Permit Technician BJ Wallace previously suggested painting murals in the parking lot below City Hall to brighten it up. Although not yet formally discussed with City Manager Carl Simpson, Carleen plans to engage the art department at Argonaut High School during conversations about student participation in graffiti-related community service, with the goal of gauging interest in creating murals—ideally resulting in beautiful artwork for the city's parking garage.
Councilmember Gonsalves inquired if any property owners have indicated they would assist with purchasing the paint to clean their properties. Kirkpatrick advised she has only reached out to one property owner so far to have them sign a waiver, giving us permission to cover the graffiti anytime we see it, not guaranteeing a paint color match. She did not ask them about buying any paint, as she plans to seek donations from Ace Hardware, Lowes, and/or anywhere else that might be willing to support this program. Gonsalves suggested reaching out to local paint contractors as well, which Carleen agreed.
Vice Mayor Simmons inquired if the observed graffiti is new. Kirkpatrick advised the one at Chevron appears to have been that way for a long time, though maybe she can connect with Police Chief Mynderup to "track down the culprits". There's no way to really know how long it has beer there though. Council thanked Carleen for her efforts on putting this program together Discussion and possible approval of Resolution No. 2025-11 Awarding the Construction Contract for the Jackson Police Department HVAC System Improvement Project to Sub Zero HVAC Services.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion and expressed support for taking the lower bid.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments and received none.
Mayor requests a motion.
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve Resolution No. 2025-11 Awarding the Construction Contract for the Jackson Police Department HVAC System Improvement Project to Sub Zero HVAC Services, dated May 27, 2025 as presented. Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Godde, and carried by a 5 to 0 vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
f. Amador County Recreation Agency (ACRA) presentation on offered local programming.
Margaret Friedman, Director of Administration for ACRA, presented ACRA programs made available in our area. As Vice Mayor Simmons mentioned, ACRA has recently undergone a leadership transition, with three full-time staff now in place: the Director of Recreation, the Director of Park Management, and herself, replacing the General Manager. She attended the meeting as both a representative of ACRA and a resident of the City of Jackson, aiming to provide background on the organization and request continued support during this period of change. ACRA, established 20 years ago, is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA)-a unique structure in California comprising member cities including Amador City, Jackson, Plymouth, Sutter Creek, and the unincorporated areas of the county. These members pay annual fees that fund ACRA's operations and staff, and each is represented on ACRA's Board of Directors, with the county holding two seats. ACRA is responsible for maintaining parks, building trails, managing the Sutter Creek Pool, and organizing a wide range of recreational activities and community events for Amador County residents. Programs include the 49er Fun Run, summer camps such as the upcoming Summer Fun Days, swim lessons, and classes in pickleball, line dancing, yoga, and sign language. Specifically for Jackson, ACRA recently offered a youth basketball league, a kids' ceramics class at the Jackson Scout Hut, and continues to host open pickleball games every Sunday at Argonaut High School, drawing 20 to 30 participants weekly. In addition, ACRA holds a well-attended monthly bingo event at the Senior Center.
Mayor McLean shared a personal story on making pudding in high school that was a disaster.
Councilmember Gonsalves mentioned the Oro de Amador (ODA) property regional park project, and inquired if any discussions for the planned development of that area have been discussed with working with them on the ODA project.
g. Receive, review and possibly approve the memorandum of understanding and accompanying resolution with Victory Village, Inc., Resolution No. 2025-12 Authorizing a Joint Application to and Participation in the Homekey+ Program for the Permanent Supportive Housing Project at 185 Placer Drive, Jackson, California.
Nichole Mulford of Victory Village asked if Council had any questions.
Mayor McLean opened the item for council discussion.
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Mayor McLean referenced page 3, where it refers to acceptance of applicants regardless of their sobriety, any past or current use of substances, and asked how they are going to manage that? Nichole advised that is a requirement of the grant, so they have to include it in the language of the application. She advised they have 14 years of experience with this and manage it pretty well.
Through harm reduction, you get clients to focus on housing and other things to make it a safe place for everyone, including themselves, to get them to move forward into housing and away from substance abuse.
Mayor McLean referenced page 5, where it states Victory Village will be responsible for items 1-19, and wanted to know how they plan to coordinate with Jackson's Homeless Outreach Coordinator, Christine Platt. Nichole advised they usually work together through the CES system and veterans name list, since this is a veteran project. She stated Victory Village's outreach specialist is also usually at the shower program at least once a week, as available. Mayor McLean encouraged continued partnership.
Councilmember Gonsalves reminded Mrs. Mulford that she had inquired at the last meeting if the position would be a 24/7 position and Nichole confirmed there will be a split of the position, one at night and one in the day to meet that requirement.
Councilmember Sierra McLean advised she watched the Board of Supervisor meeting this morning, which she felt was out of order since Jackson has not approved the MOU yet. She expressed understanding for trying to meet the deadline, but does not believe they should have sought County support before the okay from Jackson since it is within our city limits. Nichole Mulford advised Melissa with Amador County put them on their agenda knowing the deadline was coming up, and they did not request it. Sierra McLean stated that Supervisor Oneto, during that meeting, asked about fair housing and that we cannot limit admission to Amador County residents only. Sierra advised she is very familiar with fair housing, and would like clarification on the protected class that would prevent us from make it open only to Amador County residents. Nichole advised they cannot discriminate against anyone based upon where they currently reside. Sierra advised that is not a protected classification under fair housing and inquired which law applies? Nichole stated they would have to look into that. Sierra expressed understanding that it could be considered a calculated risk in doing it, but it is not a protected classification under fair housing. She stated she didn't know if this was a business decision, but she would feel comfortable if they could limit it to Amador County residents in need of homeless services to receive housing. Nichole stated she isn't sure if they could be funded with such a limitation. Nichole stated over the past three years running this project, approximately 98% of them are from Amador County. Councilmember Sierra McLean inquired about the original MOU requiring the City to run the grant administration, compliance, etc., and this is no longer included in the new MOU. She observed the benefits include more units available for housing and inquired about additional benefits. Nichole stated this will benefit homeless outreach as it will take more homeless people off the street, especially veterans.
Councilmember Sierra McLean stated her concerns come from looking out for risks to the City. She drew attention to the indemnification provision which would place Victory Village responsible if there are problems running the program or grant administration. City of Jackson applies for the grant based off of a complete application by Victory Village and if approved, she asked if all funding would go directly to Victory Village. Nichole confirmed and the City of Jackson will be reimbursed for any services we conduct, such as legal review. City Attorney Josh Nelson clarified that in addition, the MOU refers to the definitive agreement, which in the event of a grant would be more May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
refined and robust with additional necessary provisions. The provisions removed from this current MOU as they will fit more appropriately in the definitive agreement in the event of grant award.
Sierra McLean requested clarification on whether Victory Village's insurance will sufficiently indemnify the City of Jackson in the event that they are sued. Nichole confirmed. Sierra McLean inquired if there has been past litigation against Victory Village, and Nichole stated there has not.
Sierra McLean inquired of City Attorney Josh Nelson if something were to happen, such as Victory Village not complying with audit requirements for example, would the City of Jackson's response be to file suit? Nelson confirmed and added that if it was an insurance related claim, Jackson is an additional insured so the City would have a claim directly against their insurer. In the example, it would be a breach of contract claim against Victory Village. Sierra McLean requested City Attorney Nelson to share any additional concerns the City might need to be aware of at this point. Nelson advised that to the extent possible, the risks have been shifted to Victory Village, consistent with the agreements, but there is no situation where there is zero risk. There is always liability to the City when we accept a grant for a project. Our team has done their best to mitigate and reduce risk, and the MOU can be considered a living document open to amendments if the Council wishes to move forward tonight.
Councilmember Godde asked City Attorney Josh Nelson if there is any way to further reduce risks to the City. Nelson advised there are always ways to increase insurance amounts and other things to reduce risk, but at some point those risk reduction measures can make a project non-economic or unable to move forward. At this point, all of the obvious boxes have been checked, though that doesn't mean we can't reduce risks further down the line. Godde confirmed any costs to the City would be reimbursed, such as Attorney fees. Nelson advised those costs will only be reimbursed if the grant is awarded and accepted. Any costs currently are at the City's risk until awarded.
Mayor McLean asked for public comments.
Homeless Outreach Coordinator Christine Platt agreed this is a great project, but stated she has concerns that there are still many people in the City of Jackson that are displaced and being cited because there is nowhere for them to go. She expressed concerns that if all our energy goes into this project, this may prevent or limit us from taking on another project that would be more beneficial to the unhoused. At the last meeting, Victory Village stated they are already at capacity and not looking to grow but rather maintain, and she inquired how this is going to help additional unhoused if that is the case. Christine stated that under the NOFA, if you have a unit available that was vacated by a veteran they must advertise it for 60 days for another veteran before it can be made available to others. This is a lot of money to apply for and be responsible for, and if it fails the City could be responsible, such as is happening in Tuolumne County right now. Current unhoused individuals come to see her daily with nowhere to go, and diverting funds to a project like this could take away from more effective programs that will be presented to Council soon, offering a secure, safe, legal, sanctioned encampment to serve a greater number of unhoused people. The Encampment Resolution Fund has been talked about before and it was passed over the County for consideration instead as it was stated the City could not handle this type of responsibility. Nichole Mulford advised their project will be adding five additional units, so there will be 20 units total in their project. In addition, they own another property on South Avenue they plan to develop to be considered in additional rounds with Homekey in the future as they continue to expand. Christine advised she speaks with unhoused individuals on a daily basis that there are no options to assist or support, giving them the impression that they don't matter. Nichole advised a positive of this grant is that it frees up HAPP funds for the City of Jackson as well, since Victory Village won't need as May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
much from that to cover their costs. Christine advised that Victory Village is already approved for funding the HAPP round 6, and Street Outreach is a non-housing component that she is not involved in. Nichole offered to work together with Christine on this, and Christine advised there is another sub-committee already working on it and she would need to find out who is on it.
Mayor McLean requested to move forward with approval and amend the agreement as needed moving forward.
Councilmember Sierra McLean stated if the MOU is approved tonight, it may be a lot harder than making simple amendments because there will be more pressure on reaching an agreement.
Agreeing to this MOU is, in essence, agreeing to a definitive agreement. While this is a non- committal MOU, there will be more pressure.
Vice Mayor Simmons encouraged moving forward and make amendments as needed, as suggested by Mayor McLean.
Councilmember Gonsalves inquired if the development of the property on South Avenue is part of this grant, and Nichole advised it would be separate and plan to be addressed in a different round in the future.
Councilmember Godde inquired if the South Avenue building will address issues for the existing homeless individuals in our community. Nichole Mulford stated she does and it has already for the last three years.
Jackson Accounting Manager Angie Ervin asked for clarification on the following specific items:
• *Resolution- page 10: 55-year affordability period- what does this entail and mean for the City?
Jason Mulford advised the 55-year covenant is currently in place on the title of the Victory Village property. This covenant strictly limits the use of the property to the specified project for its full duration. For the first 15 years, rent increases are restricted to current Fair Market Rent (FMR) levels. Following this initial period, rent may only increase by up to 5%and only with the explicit approval of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for the subsequent 30 years. Victory Village is held in a charitable trust and is dedicated to providing housing for people experiencing homelessness in the community for the full 55-year term, significantly contributing to local housing efforts.
• Who holds the title to the property? And is that who is responsible for the 55-year covenant? Jason Mulford responded that Victory Village will hold the title to the property. Currently, site control is secured through an executed long-term triple net lease and a sales agreement. To date, $900,000 in cash has been invested in the project, which has enabled housing for 39 individuals experiencing homelessness. This transaction will permanently secure the property and ensure long- term financial stability, eliminating the need for additional external funding. • How long is the actual grant, for production?
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Jason Mulford advised the initial 15 months of the project will be dedicated to the construction and rehabilitation phase. Following this, the project transitions to the operating subsidy phase, with funds required to be fully expended within a 10-year period. At the end of the 10 years, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) releases all oversight responsibilities.
From that point forward, only compliance with the 55-year covenant remains in effect. • When will the City of Jackson actually get to see the application before it is submitted? It should contain a lot of information that is pertinent to inform the City how the grant is overseen.
Jason Mulford stated it is 100% complete right now, consisting of 1,000 pages, and can be sent to the City to review in the morning as it needs submitted by 5/30/25. The grant application process includes structured templates, prompts, and narratives, similar to an academic paper. Responses are provided following each prompt, with the full submission totaling approximately 300 pages. The environmental review comprises an additional 600 pages, and the project appraisal is 97 pages. All materials have been compiled, organized, and formatted accordingly. This is the first time HCD has accepted a fully digital submission format. In the past, submissions required extensive physical formatting, including printed, indexed, and bound documents. Now, the full application is being uploaded electronically. A condensed PDF version has been prepared, and once all required documents are signed, the final submission will be completed. The application deadline is the 30th, and the team anticipates submitting the full package that morning.
Councilmember Sierra McLean inquired whether the City has seen the application yet, in its entirety.
Jason Mulford advised the City has seen the portions they've requested to see, including the relocation plan, narratives, environmental report, etc. They have not seen the application it its entirely, though City Manager Simpson's email has been flooded with emails about this project.
This is the reason behind the revisions to the MOU and relocation plan were made to ensure there is no displacement of current residents. The original plan has been completely redesigned to eliminate the need for relocation. LGM has taken a thoughtful approach to construction, with no new institutional barriers introduced. Measures include maintaining uninterrupted residency, rerouting extermal access, and adjusting construction methods to avoid disturbing individuals living in singlc- room occupancies. All construction will take place around residents, not through their living spaces.
The existing commercial kitchen will be converted into a community kitchen during the interim.
Residents will continue to have access to functional facilities until their private kitchens are completed. Concerns raised in earlier drafts, particularly regarding relocation, were addressed in collaboration with the design team—including a PhD-level engineer-resulting in a well-developed solution with zero disruption to residents.
Councilmember Sierra McLean asked for clarification that the City has not been able to see the entire application yet, even though we are the main applicant? Jason Mulford advised he has been working on the grant as a volunteer and while all components of the application have been reviewed individually, they have not yet been viewed collectively in a single, scrollable document.
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Gonsalves asked City Attorney Josh Nelson if he is comfortable with the application being approved tonight.
Nelson stated from a legal standpoint, legal is comfortable moving forward based on the recent edits made to the agreement. He noted that due to the specialized nature of this matter, primary legal review has been conducted by his colleague with expertise in housing law, particularly affordable housing. While further work is anticipated on the definitive agreement, the current MOU effectively outlines the key issues and provides a sound basis for continued progress. Nelson deferred to Council on policy and business considerations beyond the legal scope.
Councilmember Sierra McLean asked City Manager Simpson for his input.
Simpson expressed appreciation for the significant work completed to date, stating Jason has been responsive and timely in addressing requests from both Council and the City Attorney. Initial concerns related to statting and potential costs to the City now appear to be resolved. It was noted that, as previously mentioned by City Attorney Nelson, there will be an opportunity for further review and potential adjustments after the grant is submitted and, if approved, before final implementation. At this stage, he is comfortable with the progress and will await the next phase for further evaluation.
Mayor McLean requested a motion.
Motion to approve the memorandum of understanding and accompanying resolution with Victory Village, Inc., Resolution No. 2025-12 Authorizing a Joint Application to and Participation in the Homekey+ Program for the Permanent Supportive Housing Project at 185 Placer Drive, Jackson, California, dated May 27, 2025 as presented. Moved by Vice Mayor Simmons, seconded by Councilmember Gonsalves, and carried by a 4 to 1 vote:
AYES: Steve McLean, Simmons, Godde, Gonsalves
NOES: Sierra McLean
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
7. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
8. CLOSED SESSION.
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.5(/)) Agency designated representatives: Carl Simpson, Josh Nelson Employee organizations (under discussion): JPFA, JPOA, SEIU
9. CLOSED SESSION ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor McLean adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m.
May 27, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes
ATTEST:
1/9/25
Carleen Kirkpatrick, Deputy City Clerk Date Approved