City News: Your Weekly Update
October 8, 2020
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Ken Cusano Named Folsom Fire Chief |
Folsom City Manager Elaine Andersen announced today that Folsom Fire Department Division Chief Ken Cusano will be the next Folsom Fire Chief, effective October 31, 2020.
“With more than 20 years serving the Folsom community, Chief Cusano is uniquely and highly qualified to lead the Folsom Fire Department,” said City Manager Elaine Andersen. “His exceptional leadership, deep community roots, technical expertise, and institutional knowledge will serve the department and our city extremely well.”
Chief Cusano will oversee the Folsom Fire Department of 77 personnel, five stations, and an operating budget of $20.3 million. Operations include fire suppression, rescue, prevention, public education, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical services to the community.
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Folsom Fire Chief Accepts Position with Cosumnes Fire Department |
Folsom Fire Chief Felipe Rodriguez announced he has accepted the position of fire chief with the Cosumnes Fire Department, effective October 31, 2020.
Chief Rodriguez has served as Folsom’s fire chief since June 2017. During his tenure, he has led the Folsom Fire Department of 77 personnel, 5 stations, and an operating budget of $20.3 million. Operations include fire suppression, rescue, prevention, public education, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical services to the community.
Under Chief Rodriguez’s leadership, the Folsom Fire Department has expanded service delivery and improved response times. During his tenure, the City of Folsom opened new Fire Station 39 in the Empire Ranch area; added new equipment, vehicles, and an ambulance; and updated or remodeled all fire stations. The Fire Department recently completed a five-year strategic plan and updated the Folsom emergency operations plan.
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How to Vote in the 2020 Election |
Make your voice heard this election and vote! In addition to the presidential election, Folsom voters will elect two City Councilmembers to seats currently held by Councilmember Ernie Sheldon and Appointed City Councilmember Andy Morin (the three remaining seats held by Sarah Aquino, Kerri Howell, and Mike Kozlowski will be up for election in November 2022).
Choose how, when, and where you want to vote:
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By Mail: During the first week of October, all registered voters will receive their official ballot in the mail. If you do not receive your ballot or if you need a replacement ballot, call Sacramento Voter Registrations at 916-875-6155 or email vbm@saccounty.net
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Ballot Drop Box: Voted ballots may also be placed in any of the 58 secured Ballot Drop Box locations throughout Sacramento County. There is a Ballot Drop Box inside Folsom City Hall, 50 Natoma Street, available to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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Vote Center: All Vote Centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. four days prior to and including Election Day, and some of the Vote Centers will be open up to 11 days prior to and including Election Day. There is even weekend voting starting October 24. Voters can visit any Vote Center in the county to drop off completed ballots or they can vote in person.
For additional information about the November 2020 General Election, voter registration, and a full listing of Ballot Drop Boxes and Vote Centers, call 1-800-762-8019 or visit elections.saccounty.net. Visit the City of Folsom website for information about the Folsom election and a listing of Folsom Vote Centers.
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Want to Track Your Ballot? |
Sacramento County voters can now track the location of their ballot through the California Secretary of State's new Where's My Ballot? tracking system. Interested voters may sign up for tracking services at california.ballottrax.net/voter/ to receive automatic email, text, or voice call notifications about when their ballot is mailed, received, and counted.
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City Adding Orthophosphate Into its Water Treatment Process |
The City of Folsom began adding orthophosphate into its water treatment process starting today. Orthophosphate is a food-grade additive used as a corrosion inhibitor by forming a coating in copper pipes. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Food and Drug Administration have approved the use of orthophosphate in public drinking water systems.
Adding orthophosphate was a recommendation by Black and Veatch and Virginia Tech University, consultants hired by the City to conduct detailed water quality and pipe forensics analysis. The consultants are in the process of finalizing their report. The report will include a comparison of the City’s treated water to State and Federal drinking water standards, an evaluation of historical water quality results going back more than 10 years, and findings from the pipe forensics analysis. The City will share the report as soon as it becomes available. Another water quality and corrosion consultant, engineering firm HDR, is also conducting an independent water quality evaluation and forensics analysis. HDR is expected to finalize their report at the end of October.
Residents can expect to receive an informational mailer and customer survey regarding copper pipe pinhole leaks next week. The mailer will provide customers with an opportunity to submit information to the City if they have experienced a pinhole leak.
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Let’s Turn Orange Before Halloween! |
Last week, Sacramento County officially moved into the less restrictive Red Tier 2 in the California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The tiered system is a blueprint for reducing COVID-19 in the state with criteria for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities.
Let's keep the momentum going and move into the Orange Tier 3 by Halloween. The Orange Tier 3 will support the widespread opening of most business sectors and slow the spread of COVID-19. This means working together to lower our positivity rate and the number of daily cases so that we can move into a less restrictive tier of the State’s re-opening blueprint. You can help us get there by:
- Wearing your face covering
- Maintaining social distance
- Avoiding indoor gatherings
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Visit the Folsom Glass Pumpkin Patch Saturday and Sunday |
The second annual Glass Pumpkin Patch takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 10 and 11 on the grounds of the Folsom Art Center, 48 Natoma Street. Spectacular outdoor displays will showcase more than 2,000 hand-blown glass pumpkins of every color, shape, and size. The glass pumpkins are available in a variety of price points, providing a rare opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind festive glass art created by brothers Aaron and Tate Bezdek, and Ash Koss – the owners of 2BGlass – and seven other talented local glass artists. Proceeds from this event benefit Folsom Parks & Recreation’s community arts education programs at the Folsom Art Center. This Folsom Parks & Recreation event is made possible by the generous support of our partners 2BGlass and The Folsom Telegraph. See how these unique glass art pieces are created in this short time-lapse video.
This is an outdoor event and will be held rain or shine. Admission to the Glass Pumpkin Patch is free, and ample space will be provided for all shoppers to maintain safe social distancing. Face masks are strongly encouraged and are mandatory when you cannot maintain 6-foot distancing. The City of Folsom is following public health guidelines provided by county, state, and federal officials. As these guidelines evolve, event details may change as well. For more information, call 916-461-6601.
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New Extended Weekend Hours at Folsom Skate and Bike Parks |
Come and enjoy the parks until 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday! The parks are open daily -- from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free and both facilities are located at Cummings Family Park, 1775 Creekside Drive. Monitors are on-site when the parks are open to remind users to maintain social distancing, whether on bike, skateboard, scooter, skates, or on foot. Elbow pads, knee pads, and a helmet are required at all times to utilize the skate park. The bike park requires all users to wear a helmet, and pads are strongly recommended. The City of Folsom is following public health guidelines provided by local, state, and federal officials. As these guidelines evolve, the hours of operation at the skate and bike parks may change. Call 916-817-2767 for recorded information about daily operating conditions and hours. |
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Gallery at 48 Natoma Reopens to the Public: Advance Reservation Required |
The gallery features the new exhibit, “Sublime Succulents,” with paintings by Sue Torngren and botanical glass sculptures by Nicholson van Altena Glass. Artworks created by special needs students in the Capernaum Creates program is on display in the adjacent Community Exhibition Gallery. The exhibits continue through November 5; both galleries are located in the Folsom Art Center, 48 Natoma Street.
Free, self-guided tours are available for individuals or groups (maximum 10 people/group) with an advance reservation only. Reservations are available for a variety of days and times; call 916-461-6611 or email cabraham@folsom.ca.us to learn more and make reservations. Get a glimpse behind the scenes and learn more about the artists in this short video.
The gallery will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the weekend of October 10 and 11 during the Glass Pumpkin Patch event. Admission to the gallery will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and monitors will limit attendance in the gallery to a maximum of 10 people at a time.
The Gallery at 48 Natoma is following current public health guidelines; all visitors and staff are required to wear a face covering while inside the building and maintain social distancing at all times.
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Back to School Reading Challenge Winners |
The Folsom Public Library’s Back to School Reading Challenge was a success! During the month of September, 133 participants recorded 35,177 minutes of reading – a total of 586 hours! The top three readers were selected based on the number of minutes they recorded. The winners are Benjamin Dale, age 6; Sabina Budwal, age 11; and Gideon Linn, age 9. Winners won a prize pack of 10 books selected for their age and reading interests. Keep an eye out for the Winter Reading Challenge this December and January! Stay informed at www.folsom.ca.us/library.
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City Council Meeting
October 13, 6:30 p.m.
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City Council Office Hours |
Mayor's Office Hours
Thursdays from 2 - 5 p.m.
Second Floor, City Hall
No Appointment Necessary
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Contact the City of Folsom's Communications Director
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Get Connected, Stay Informed |
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