CITY OF JACKSON
City Council Meeting Minutes
March 9, 2026
Mayor and Council Members
Chad Simmons, Mayor
Steve McLean, Vice Mayor
Max Godde, Council Member
Connie Gonsalves, Council Member
Sierra McLean, Council Member
ABSENT: None
John Georgette, City Clerk
Josh Nelson, City Attorney (attended remotely)
Staff Members:
Carl P. Simpson, City Manager
Chris Mynderup, Police Chief
Ryan Pidgeon, Fire Chief
Trevor Hoaas, Assistant PW Superintendent
Dana Knight, Administrative Assistant
Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
1. CERMONIAL.
• Introduction and swearing in of new Firefighter: Joseph Mondani Chief Pidgeon introduced Joseph Mondani as a new probationary firefighter, highlighting his strong academic background, including a 4.0 degree in criminal justice and homeland security, as well as his EMT certification and Firefighter I training. His international experience, community involvement, and commitment to service were emphasized as key strengths he brings to the Jackson Fire Department. Firefighter Mondani was officially sworn in by City Clerk Georgette. • Proclamation - Commemorating March 2026 as American Red Cross Month.
Terry Pendley accepted the proclamation on behalf of the American Red Cross.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA.
Motion to Approve the City Council Agenda dated March 9, 2026, as presented. Moved by Councilmember Gonsalves, seconded by Vice Mayor McLean, and carried by a 5 to O vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Gonsalves, Sierra McLean
None
None
None
3. 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.
David Drummond reported ongoing road deterioration on McGee Street, noting that the pavement in front of their home is crumbling and that they have personally spent about $200 on temporary asphalt patches that only lasted eight to ten months. They described additional issues including a large pothole across the street measuring several inches deep and several feet in size, a sinking of road near their driveway, and multiple smaller potholes at the top of the hill. David stated they have raised these concerns multiple times and are seeking an update on when repairs will be addressed.
March 9. 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
4. 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 February 23, 2026 Meeting Minutes.
b. Approval of Expenditure Report in the amount of $391,246.61 c. Approval of February 2026 Payroll Expenditure Report in the amount of $499,445.28. d. Receive Building Department Monthly Report for February 2026. e. Receive Fire Department Monthly Report for February 2026. f. Receive Police Department Monthly Report for February 2026. g. Approval of recommended range increase and title change for Accounting Manager Position. h. Approval of the 2026 City of Jackson Public Pool Lifeguard Certification/Recertification Program.
i. Resolution No. 2026-06 accepting the City Manager as the authorized signatory on documents and agreements related to a SRF Construction grant for the Martell Reservoir Replacement Project.
Motion to Approve the Consent Calendar dated March 9, 2026 as presented. Moved by Councilmember Godde, seconded by Councilmember McLean, and carried by a 4 to O vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Simmons, Steve McLean, Godde, Sierra McLean
None
Gonsalves
None
5. 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.
Assistant Publi.c Works Superintendent Trevor Hoaas - Reported that a new sewer truck has been purchased, fully equipped, and is performing well in hotspot maintenance and emergency response.
Paving on Buena Vista is set to begin tomorrow and is expected to be completed within one to two days.
The Stark Lane Bridge replacement is scheduled for June and July and will be going out to bid soon, along with new Civic Center AC units and two sewer projects on Bright Avenue and Anita Street, which are also expected to go out to bid shortly. Also shared that new drinking fountains with bottle fill ups for the Civic Center, the corp yard and the fire department have been purchased.
Fire Chief. Ryan Pidgeon -Thanked the Jackson Hook and Ladder Association for the purchase of two new iPads, which will be used for the Tablet Command Program, and said they are now fully implemented with Tablet Command across all apparatuses. Shared the news that one of the injured firefighters will be returning to full duty next week. Chief Pidgeon invited everyone to stop by the fire station for a tri-tip sandwich during Dandelion Days.
Police Chief. Chris Mynderup- No report.
City Attorney. Josh Nelson - No report.
City Manager, Carl P. Simpson - No report.
March 9. 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
6. COUNCIL REPORTS.
This section is to provide Council members an opportunity to present reports on their activities and to request items be placed on future agendas.
Council member Gonsalve -There is a Special Economic Development Committee meeting this Wednesday regarding planning for the first annual July 3rd parade on Main Street in coordination with the Jackson Lions fireworks show. Jackson merchants have shown strong support, with plans for a sidewalk sale following the parade, and restaurants will set up tents to serve food. The city is also working on purchasing portable picnic tables with umbrellas to place along Main Street. Coordination efforts are ongoing, and after discussions with the American Legion it was agreed they will partner with the city to help organize the event.
Councilmember Godde - Attended a homeless task force meeting on the 26th. He volunteered at the Kennedy Mine for Amador Day that they have every year, and said there was a big turnout. And he thanked Public Works, Bree and Trevor and Ben for helping him place four more grave markers for our unknown in the cemetery.
Council.member Sierra McLean - No report.
Vice Mayor McLean -Have been busy going to the state capital to work on an assembly bill for the Native Sons. He attended a ribbon cutting at Laughton's Deli the other day, and a fun Historic Jackson Business Association mixer. Will be on a fun vacation in the Gulf of America until the end of the month.
Mayor Simmons -Reported attending several community events, including a ribbon cutting at C&C Ranch for the Mudlow Land Trust's new school farm project, which will support local school food services. He also attended an Economic Development Committee meeting, the Blue and Gold Boy Scouts dinner, and an HJBA meeting at Saloon 1848. Said the new speakeasy-style space is expected to open soon.
Additionally, Mayor Simmons commented that there was strong community engagement at a Chamber of Commerce event, and the Jackson Lions crab feed. Reminded everyone of an upcoming Mixer on Main event scheduled for Wednesday at Lucas downtown in partnership with Jackson Realty.
7. DISCUSSION CALENDAR.
a. Presentation from the Environmental Protection Agency on the Argonaut Mine Superfund Site removal of residential contaminated soil plan for 2026. [Sania Kamran, Remedial Project Manager]
The EPA provided an overview of the Argonaut Mine Superfund site and its upcoming cleanup efforts.
The historic gold mine contaminated soil around Jackson with arsenic, lead, and mercury, and the site has been part of the Superfund program since 2015. Past cleanup actions removed soil from heavily contaminated areas, and the agency is now focusing on residential yards identified through 2024 sampling. Access agreements have been obtained, and contractors will survey properties, develop cleanup plans with homeowner approval, and restore each property, with work expected to take about two weeks per yard. Cleanup is planned for summer and fall 2026, with any remaining properties addressed in 2027, targeting neighborhoods including Westview Drive, Argonaut Lane, Buena Vista Drive, Spun Road, Stark Lane, and portions of Argonaut High School. EPA also addressed health and safety concerns, emphasizing dust control, air quality monitoring, property restoration, coordination with residents, and safe management of traffic and property access. Homeowners will incur no cost, and all utilities or damaged property will be restored by contractors.
March 9. 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
Michael Montoya with SKEO Solutions, and a federal contractor with EPA, facilitated questions from the public for the EPA to answer.
Melissa Martin representing Jackson Apartments asked if they will be notifying our residents or will she need to notify the residents of the cleanup?
Sonia asked Melissa to provide contact information to her, so she could notify the residents.
Lisa Lucke asked whether property restoration begins individually after each house is cleaned or waits until all houses in the neighborhood are completed and sought clarification on what restoration entails.
EPA response: The planning phase with contractors is still ongoing and no definitive answer is available yet. It will like!y be proceeding on a property-by-property basis.
Resident question about how soon the contractors be in touch with the residences? EPA response: Site surveys and property assessments, including photos and planning for restoration, are expected to begin within the, next month once planning documents are finalized.
Tom Consolo raised concerns about traffic impacts from the cleanup near Argonaut High School, noting limited access routes and potential congestion on Hoffman and Argonaut Lane, especially during school pickup and drop-off. He asked whether the Amador County School District has been advised on coordinating traffic management to mitigate disruptions for students, parents, and local residents.
EPA response: The traffic control plan is still being developed, and it will be sent to Bree Wilder, the Director of Public Works, for his review. If he has any concerns about that, we are willing to speak with folks from the school district about traffic issues or any anticipated challenges.
Vice Mayor McLean noted that his house is adjacent to the construction area and observed that dump trucks varied their exit routes, using multiple nearby roads rather than a single path.
EPA response: The current project will involve significantly less movement than the previous tailings removal, likely resulting in reduced truck traffic on the roads.
Marilyn Lewis provided a historical overview of the property, noting that in the 1980s a company had removed and paid for the topsoil, and that EPA had returned later, though little contamination remained.
She questioned why EPA was conducting cleanup again, expressing concern over repeated interventions and associated costs.
EPA response: The site is designated as highly contaminated, and current assessments focus on residential areas and schools. New sampling has identified areas with elevated lead, mercury, or arsenic, requiring targeted cleanup. , Past excavations may not have fully surveyed affected areas, and residual dust and runoff from rainfall can spread contaminants to neighboring properties, even after topsoil removal. Records from previous cleanups are publicly available for review. It was emphasized that EPA's priority is protecting human health and the environment, and that the federal government, not the city, funds the cleanup since the mine is inactive and there is no responsible party.
Marilyn remained concerned about ongoing disruption and questioned when the cleanup would ever conclude. EPA response: The investigation is ongoing and may take several years to fully assess all impacted areas.
A resident requested clarification on the site-specific cleanup goals for the current project, specifically asking which homes would be cleaned up and which would not.
EPA response: The initial sampling conducted between 2022 and 2024 prioritized homes with arsenic levels above 100 milligrams per kilogram, which was the previous cleanup threshold.
Based on new scientific research, the EPA has updated the residential cleanup goal to 5.5 milligrams per kilogram to better protect human health.
Terry noted that funding documents reference a 100 milligram per kilogram cleanup level, with March 9, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
roughly 40 homes slated for cleanup, and questioned the public record for verification of the new
5.5 level. The EPA clarified that while earlier documentation cited 100, a recent amendment signed by the division director now establishes 5.5 milligrams per kilogram as the cleanup goal for residential properties. Terry observed that none of the tested homes currently meet the 5.5 level and asked about the feasibility of achieving this goal across the site. The EPA responded that the team is still prioritizing homes above 100 milligrams per kilogram and will assess the full data to determine the extent of cleanup needed, noting that notifications to residents regarding the 5.5 threshold will occur once this evaluation is complete.
Terry Penley, a resident of Jackson and owner of a home on Mariposa, noted that her property, where her daughter also lives and operates a daycare, had never been tested until the most recent EPA cleanup round. Located near the mine and adjacent to the firehouse, Penley expressed support for EPA testing at her property. She stated that higher levels of lead were detected in her daughter's yard, which is now scheduled for soil removal, and confirmed that she is comfortable with the planned cleanup.
Councilmember Sierra McLean, who lives in the Westview subdivision, asked about soil testing for the untested areas of the neighborhood, including Arroyo and Hillside, noting that only the front half of Westview had been tested and that their own property had not been evaluated.
EPA response: The investigation is ongoing and that additional testing will be conducted as required, indicating that it is likely those untested parcels, including the resident's home, will be assessed in the future.
Councilmember Gonsalves raised concerns regarding a commercial-zoned parcel previously tested and signed off by the EPA, noting that the property had been listed for sale but that subsequent changes to EPA standards prompted retesting.
EPA response: The change in standards applies to residential use and that the property in question had not been tested in its entirety initially. The EPA clarified the difference between removal actions, which address urgent risks, and the ongoing Superfund remedial process, noting that completion of one step does not signify the end of the site cleanup. Then further explained that step-out sampling was initially used to test hotspots, but a comprehensive evaluation of the parcel was completed in December, and meetings with the property owner are planned to discuss next steps.
Councilmember Gonsalves expressed concern that changing standards after signing off on a property could create hardship and a perceived double standard. The EPA responded that the , approach aims to protect current and future owners from Superfund liability and ensure safe redevelopment. The discussion also touched on capping requirements, maintenance to prevent exposure, and the long, ongoing nature of the Superfund process. The EPA acknowledged the frustration over changing standards and the duration of the process, noting that standard adjustments come from EPA headquarters and that the agency is committed to thorough evaluation and public safety.
A resident inquired about whether local contractors or workforce would be utilized for the cleanup project and if there would be local job opportunities.
EPA response: While a prime contracting firm oversees the project, the selection of subcontractors is at their discretion, though they typically prefer to hire locally.
The resident also asked about whether arsenic measurements included speciation. The EPA confirmed that a bioavailability study had been conducted, indicating that arsenic in the soil is approximately 20% bioavailable, and that this factor was incorporated into the project's risk calculations.
March 9. 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
The EPA will be having an open house in the Civic Center at 10:00 am tomorrow. They invited anyone who would like to come and have a more one-on-one conversation, and said everyone is welcome.
Discussion item only, no action taken.
b. Presentation from Hildebrand Consulting regarding the 2026 Preliminary Water Rate Study. [Mark Hildebrandj
Mark Hildebrand of Hildebrand Consulting presented preliminary findings of the City of Jackson's water rate study, outlining Proposition 218 requirements, rate-setting methodology, and a 10-year financial plan. He proposed rate increases of approximately 9% annually for four years and 6% in the fifth year to address rising costs and fund capital projects, including a planned $8 million reservoir.
He emphasized maintaining reserves, noted a temporary drawdown with recovery, and discussed shifting slightly toward higher fixed charges for financial stability. He also introduced a drought surcharge policy for temporary rate adjustments and outlined new AB 2257 procedures for ratepayer objections.
Council members asked clarifying questions regarding project costs, debt assumptions, and rate structure.
Tom Consolo expressed concerns about the selection of comparison cities in the rate survey, the financial impact of proposed increases, and the need for a clear sunset provision for any drought surcharge to ensure it is lifted when conditions improve.
Marilyn Lewis provided historical context regarding the City of Jackson's water service area, referencing legal victories in 1992 that established the city's service boundaries. She noted that past bond measures, funded by local residents, were intended to be repaid through revenues generated within that service area. Lewis expressed concern that the water agency is currently benefiting from that revenue despite prior agreements, and suggested the city retains legal standing to revisit the issue and potentially recover funds.
Mark stated that the first stakeholder workshop will be held on March 24th. It is an opportunity to talk to the community to address any concerns and explain the thinking behind the financial plan and the numbers to be as transparent as possible.
Discussion item only, no action taken.
8. REGULAR MEETING ADJOURNMENT.
Mayor Simmons adjourned the regular meeting at 8:08 p.m.
ATTEST:
• I
Date Approved