FOLSOM CITY COUNCIL SELECTS NEW MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR

The Folsom City Council selected Mike Kozlowski as mayor and Sarah Aquino as vice mayor at the December 12 City Council meeting. The City Council chooses one of its members to preside as mayor and vice mayor annually. The one-year terms are effective immediately.

Kozlowski was elected to the Folsom City Council in 2018 and served as mayor in 2021. He is active in several statewide local government and energy conservation groups, coaches track and field for Vista del Lago High School, and is a certified youth coach with USA Track & Field. Mike is a passionate architect and designer and a pragmatic project manager. He has designed projects for small business owners, national retailers, cities, counties, school districts, and individual homeowners. Mike is an executive for Johnson Controls, a company that provides technology, planning, design, and project management services for energy conservation projects.

Sarah Aquino was first elected to the city council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. She served as vice mayor in 2019, Mayor in 2020, and vice mayor in 2021. Before her election to the council, Sarah served four years as a member of the Board of Education for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.

For more information about the Folsom City Council, visit www.folsom.ca.us/citycouncil.

The City of Folsom is developing a Central Business District Master Plan and is seeking the community's input. The Central Business District is an important retail and commercial corridor located on East Bidwell Street and Riley Street, between Sutter Middle School and Blue Ravine Road. It includes the aquatic center and Lembi Park. 

The plan will help guide future development and infrastructure improvements, which may include:

• Mixed-use residential development
• Economic development
• Commercial corridor revitalization
• Placemaking and design, lighting, and landscaping
• Traffic calming
• Pedestrian and bicycle improvements
• Traffic and pedestrian safety
• Parking strategies
• Outreach strategies

As part of this current phase, the city seeks the community's input on the efforts the project should prioritize. Community members are encouraged to take an online survey and share input. 

Stay informed about the project at www.folsom.ca.us/CentralBusinessDistrict. For more information, contact City of Folsom planning consultant Kathy Pease at 916-812-0749 or kpease@masfirm.com.

This annual family event returns for the 13th year with thousands of bright lights, sparkling ornaments and trees, lighted animal figures, and displays transforming the zoo sanctuary with holiday spirit. Local caroling groups and musicians provide the merry sounds of the season, and the Folsom Valley Railway miniature train provides special nighttime rides.

Wild Nights and Holiday Lights is open from 5 to 8:30 p.m. December 15-22 (weather permitting; heavy rains will cancel). This event is the zoo sanctuary’s largest annual fundraiser, and all proceeds benefit the zoo sanctuary animals.

Event details:

• Tickets are available at www.folsom.ca.us/HolidayLightsTickets
• Admission and train tickets are only available online; no onsite ticket sales
• Event admission is $10/person and train tickets are $5/person; free for ages under 2 years
• Special treats and beverages are available for purchase from Fisher’s Beastro and from visiting food trucks

Early ticket purchase is encouraged since many nights of the event sell out quickly. Follow Facebook.com/FolsomParksandRec for event updates; call 916-461-6601 with questions.

TOUR FOLSOM'S MERRIEST AND BRIGHTEST HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Folsom held its third annual holiday lights contest, and dozens of Folsom households and businesses entered to win. You can check out the bright and festive displays on our holiday light tour map at www.folsom.ca.us/holidaylightscontest.

LADDER FUEL REMOVAL PROJECT

Fire safety is a top priority for the City of Folsom. Crews contracted by the city have begun work to remove ladder fuel in open space areas, parks, and Landscaping and Lighting (L&L) Districts. Ladder fuel consists of living or dead vegetation, including lower branches on large trees, small trees, and shrubs that grow under the canopy of the larger trees. This vegetation is easily ignitable under the right conditions, allowing a low burning fire to vertically climb up from the ground and into the tree canopy. Canopy fires involve additional fuel which can rapidly spread and are much more difficult for fire crews to contain. To remove ladder fuel, tree limbs are typically pruned to a height of 8 to 10 feet above the ground.

This grant-funded project will continue in phased stages over the course of three years. The Folsom Fire Department has identified the areas needing ladder fuel work based on criteria that include the type of vegetation, proximity to structures, and recent fire history. City staff from the fire department, the city arborist, park maintenance, and L&L divisions will monitor the work to ensure that the pruning maintains the health of the trees and the intended safety outcome. Work in open space areas that provide habitat for native species will be scheduled so as not to interfere with breeding or nesting seasons.

Effective management of ladder fuel helps preserve and protect Folsom’s neighborhoods, parks, and open space areas, maintains the habitat of native plants and animals, and provides fire crews with greater access in the event of a fire. Learn more about the city’s ladder fuel plan and the weed abatement and defensible space requirements for residents on the City of Folsom Fire Department webpage.

JOIN THE WINTER READING CHALLENGE 

Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book. Join the Folsom Public Library Winter Reading Challenge and sign up to read or listen to five books in December and January. Kids, teens, and adults completing the Challenge win a Winter Reading Challenge sticker and entry into a drawing for a $50 gift card. Prizes will be awarded in each age group. Track your reading using the Library’s Beanstack Tracker app. The one-of-a-kind app lets everyone track the amount they read by scanning ISBNs, timing reading sessions, or keeping records of current and past books completed. Sign up today at folsom.beanstack.org. Learn more about Folsom Public Library programs, services, and events at www.folsom.ca.us/library.

CONSTRUCTION FOR FOLSOM 15-MINUTE LIGHT RAIL SERVICE BEGINS IN JANUARY

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) announces the start of construction for the Folsom 15-Minute Light Rail Service Project. Beginning Tuesday, January 2, SacRT will begin construction to add a passing track at the Glenn/Robert G. Holderness Station. Upon the successful completion of the project in summer 2024, SacRT will introduce 15-minute service at all Folsom area stations, utilizing new state-of-the-art low-floor light rail trains.

During the construction period, which is anticipated to conclude in summer 2024, there will be temporary suspension of light rail service between Iron Point and Historic Folsom stations. SacRT will provide supplemental shuttle bus services for affected customers. Alternatively, customers may utilize SacRT's free park-and-ride lots at Iron Point, Hazel, and Sunrise stations.

In conjunction with the construction activities, road closures will be implemented starting Tuesday, January 2. The northbound stretch of Folsom Boulevard, between Bidwell Street and Parkshore Drive, will experience lane closures. Glenn Drive will also be closed between Folsom Boulevard and Coolridge Drive. During this period, the two northbound lanes closest to the train tracks will be closed to vehicular traffic. To ensure safety, redirected traffic will utilize the adjacent southbound lanes for both directions of travel. Folsom Boulevard will be reduced to one lane in both directions, with a speed limit of 35 mph.

For more detailed information about the project and shuttle bus information, visit sacrt.com/Folsom15.

City of Folsom Communications Director

Christine Brainerd | cbrainerd@folsom.ca.us | 916-461-6013 (office)

Get connected. Stay informed.

City of Folsom | 50 Natoma Street | www.folsom.ca.us