Folsom · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Folsom public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
FY 2026-27 City Budget and Long-Term Liabilities
Folsom dug out of a $3.49 million projected deficit through cuts and fee hikes, ending FY 2025-26 with a surplus — but the city manager warned aging pools, parks, and pipes still need hundreds of millions in investment.
E-Bike Safety and Regulatory Enforcement
Teens on fast e-bikes have been harassing park users, tearing up fields, and causing injuries, prompting a new ordinance with steeper fines, speed limits, and park bans starting at Prospector and Economy parks. A second reading and further debate on which parks to ban are still ahead.
Streamlined building permits and fee reduction
Simple permits like water heaters and EV chargers can soon be approved in hours through an automated system, and cost about $20 less. One resident flagged ADA/Section 508 accessibility compliance concerns.
First quarterly capital projects report
A new quarterly snapshot of 50+ projects — the Highway 50 trail undercrossing, Riley Street sidewalks, a new Folsom Plan community park, sewer and water upgrades — showing departments coordinating to avoid tearing up streets twice.
Police Leadership
Folsom has a brand new top cop in town! Matt Davis is stepping up to lead the police department after the old chief packed up for Placer County.
Landscaping and Lighting District Deficits and Prop 218 Proceedings
The neighborhood's landscape and lighting district is $276,000 underwater and needs a new Prop 218 vote, likely meaning higher assessments. Residents formed a group to push for guardrails and a say in the engineer's report.
Historic Folsom Station and Granite House Parking & Development
The city updated its agreement with developers to replace ground-floor parking with retail and restaurant spaces at the Historic Folsom Station, activating the public plaza while extending performance timelines.
Parkway Neighborhood Crack Seal Project
The council approved a nearly $2.86 million contract to resurface residential streets in Willow Creek and Empire Ranch, adding high-visibility school crosswalks and buffered bike lanes.
White Rock Road Emergency Culvert Replacement
Severe pavement settlement prompted an emergency repair project on White Rock Road to replace failing 50-year-old corrugated metal culverts and address groundwater issues.
Zoning Code Update and State Housing Laws
The city is updating its ADU ordinance to comply with state law while modifying design standards, such as staircase screening, to address neighborhood privacy concerns without violating objective standard mandates.
Prairie City Road Construction and Traffic Impacts
Folsom partnered with Sacramento County through an MOU and boundary realignments to coordinate future design, construction, and maintenance of Prairie City Road.
Micro-Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MICO) Opt-Out Recommendation
The council debated whether to support county authorization of home-based restaurants under AB 626, weighing entrepreneurship opportunities against potential neighborhood nuisance and zoning conflicts.
Tower Tank Rehabilitation and Water Infrastructure Maintenance
The city finalized a 16-month water vision study highlighting vulnerabilities like a single raw water pipeline from Folsom Dam. Officials discussed future priorities, including pipeline redundancy, water treatment plant upgrades, and regional partnerships.
Automated License Plate Readers (Flock Safety Cameras) Privacy Concerns
A resident raised privacy and accuracy concerns regarding the city's use of Flock Safety automated license plate reading cameras, urging a pause and review of the program.
Benevento Family Park Master Development Plan
The council debated and approved the master plan for Benevento Family Park, balancing neighborhood requests for active amenities like sports courts with site grading realities and budget constraints.
Fire Department Single-Role Ambulance Transport System & Engine 39 Restoration
Fire Chief Jason Solak updated the council on planned deployment model adjustments, data compliance standards, and the need to restore browned-out fire engines as funding allows.
City Attorney Appointment
Folsom officially has a new permanent city attorney! The city council voted to give Sari Dierking the top legal job.
November 2026 Ballot Measures and Charter Amendments
The city council advanced three measures for the November ballot addressing city attorney oversight, board and commission authority, and campaign contribution limits.
Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Support and Operations
Numerous volunteers and docents spoke passionately about the value of the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, urging ongoing budget support and highlighting community engagement.
E-Bike Safety and Public Enforcement
Residents raised significant concerns regarding reckless e-bike behavior and vandalism, prompting updates on police enforcement and community safety efforts.
Historic District Municipal Code and CEQA Re-adoption
The council reviewed and re-adopted historic district regulations to streamline staff approvals while addressing community concerns regarding environmental review.
Municipal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project
The city is partnering with Schneider Electric to audit and modernize public facilities for long-term energy savings and reduced operating costs.
Community Facilities District No. 24 (Alder Creek West) Formation
The city initiated the formation of a new community facilities district to fund backbone infrastructure and ongoing public safety and maintenance services for new development.
Ambulance Cost Recovery Program Fee Adjustment
The council approved increasing ambulance transport fees to bridge a funding gap and match regional averages, raising the base rate to $3,071.
FY 25-26 Pavement Resurfacing Project
The council approved a nearly $2.86 million contract to resurface residential streets in Willow Creek and Empire Ranch, adding high-visibility school crosswalks and buffered bike lanes.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan Adoption
The council adopted the updated water management and shortage contingency plans, confirming reliable water supplies through 2050.
Jackrabbit Hill Park Master Development Plan
The city approved the master plan for Jackrabbit Hill Park, an 11-acre neighborhood park in the Folsom Plan Area featuring sports courts, play areas, and gathering spaces.
New Corporation Yard Site Planning & Environmental Assessment
The city is moving forward with planning and environmental review for a new 36-acre corporation yard south of White Rock Road to replace the outdated 1960s facility.
City Council Compensation and Automatic Increases
Residents expressed strong opposition to a proposed pay raise for city council members, citing poor timing, budget challenges, and optics during service reductions. Despite pushback, the council voted 4-2 to approve the salary increase.
Campaign Contribution Limits
The committee discussed raising individual campaign contribution limits from $150 to $750 to counter the influence of outside PAC money. The council agreed to separate this issue from the charter review for further discussion.
Natoma Station Maintenance Assessment District Reassessment
Folsom is working with Natoma Station residents to update their landscaping and lighting assessment district to address budget deficits and fund aging infrastructure replacements.
Folsom Boulevard Pedestrian Overcrossing Grant Applications
The city is applying for state and federal grants to fund design and environmental work for a pedestrian overcrossing connecting the trail system to light rail and business districts along Folsom Boulevard.
City Impact and Connection Fee Updates
The city council updated development impact fees across various categories including police, fire, parks, and transportation to reflect current infrastructure costs.
Riley Street Safety Improvement Project
The council approved a contract amendment to advance full environmental clearance and final design for sidewalks and utility upgrades along Riley Street.
2050 Water Forum Agreement Participation
Folsom is joining regional partners to sign the 2050 Water Forum Agreement, ensuring long-term water reliability while protecting the lower American River habitat.
Water and Sewer Rate Adjustments
The city is reviewing a comprehensive rate study for water and sewer utilities to cover rising operating costs and fund essential infrastructure capital improvement projects over the next five years.
Folsom Tourism Business Improvement District Assessment Rate
The council reviewed a proposal to increase the Folsom Tourism Business Improvement District assessment from 4% to 8%, generating funds to invest in sports tourism infrastructure and physical capital improvements.
Countywide Homelessness Shared Governance
Local leaders are discussing how cities and Sacramento County can better collaborate to address homelessness, including proposals to reorganize the Continuum of Care board to include elected officials.
Opposition to State Senate Bill 802
The city council strongly opposed Senate Bill 802, which would force local agencies into a state-mandated joint powers authority and take away local control over housing funds and decisions.
State of the City address
Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel gave the annual State of the City address, recapping what the city accomplished and previewing priorities for 2026. It’s a quick way to see what City Hall is focused on next.
East Bidwell Pedestrian Overcrossing and Operational Improvements
The city is advancing two major infrastructure projects on East Bidwell Street—a pedestrian overcrossing and major traffic operational improvements—funded largely by developer obligations from the Broadstone Crossing project.
Folsom Bike Park Rebuild
The city is partnering with FATRAC to rebuild the long-closed Folsom Bike Park at Cummings Family Park. The project features modern progressive jump lines and pump tracks, slated to open in April.
Castle Park Play Structure Replacement Project
Community build dates were announced for April 7-12, backed by enthusiastic volunteer sign-ups. The council approved key construction contracts and Measure A funding to handle site grading, utility prep, and concrete work.
Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fee Updates
The city updated its inclusionary housing fees based on an economic study, exempting smaller homes under 1,500 square feet to encourage developers to build affordable starter homes and missing-middle housing.
Economic Development
Even though Intel is laying people off, Folsom's mayor is doubling down on growing and diversifying the local economy. The city is aggressively working to bring in new industries so the job market stays stable.
City Manager Retirement
Folsom’s city manager is retiring, which means a new person will soon run day-to-day City Hall operations. That leadership swap can shift priorities, budgets, and how quickly projects and services move forward—so it’s worth watching who gets picked next.
Subdivision Approval
Folsom just greenlit Aerojet's 'Area 40' housing project, paving the way for brand new residential developments in the city. If you've been watching the local real estate market, this is a major step toward bringing more homes to the area.
Code Enforcement Dispute
A Folsom homeowner followed all the local rules to build a backyard treehouse, but the city is still forcing him to tear it down. It's a frustrating example of red tape crushing a totally harmless home project.