Folsom City Council Selects New Mayor and Vice Mayor

The Folsom City Council selected Rosario Rodriguez as mayor and YK Chalamcherla as vice mayor at the December 12 Special 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.

Rodriguez was elected to the Folsom City Council in 2020 and served as vice mayor in 2021. She served on the Historic District Commission for three years and is a board trustee for the Folsom Rotary Foundation. She previously served as a board member for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce, the Twin Lakes Food Bank, and the Folsom Economic Development Corporation.

Rodriguez moved to Folsom in 2008. She was drawn to the unique qualities that make Folsom a great place to live and raise a family. She is a guardian to her grandson Antonio, who is a proud Folsom High School Bulldog. She has been a member of Faith Baptist Church of Folsom since before making Folsom her home. 

Chalamcherla was elected to the City Council in 2020 after serving as a City of Folsom Parks & Recreation commissioner, an Arts and Culture commissioner, a county-level board member for the American River Parkway Advisory Committee, and as a Folsom Community Service Day steering committee member. He has more than 25 years of public sector administration leadership experience. 

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

Councilmembers Sworn In

Folsom City Councilmembers Sarah Aquino (District 3), Mike Kozlowski (District 1), and Anna Rohrbough (District 5) took the oath of office at a special Folsom City Council meeting December 12.

Folsom voters elected the three City Councilmembers in the city’s first by-district election. Members of the City Council from Council Districts 2 and 4 will be elected on a by-district basis beginning with the General Municipal Election in November 2024.

Folsom City Council, pictured left to right: Councilmember Sarah Aquino, Councilmember Mike Kozlowski, Councilmember Anna Rohrbough, Vice Mayor YK Chalamcherla, and Mayor Rosario Rodriguez.

Tour Folsom's Merriest and Brightest Holiday Lights

Folsom held its second 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.

Shop and Dine Local This Holiday Season

Shopping and dining locally supports the local economy, promotes a thriving community, and contributes to a high quality of life in Folsom. Dollars you spend in Folsom help fund vital public services, such as police, fire, schools, trash collection, recycling, and road maintenance—plus amenities such as parks, the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, and the Folsom Public Library. When you shop online, a smaller percentage of the sales tax is invested locally. Make sales tax dollars work for you and your community this holiday season!

Holiday Lights at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary

This annual family event returns for the 12th year with its popular seasonal cheer! Thousands of bright and colorful lights, sparkling ornaments and trees, lighted animal figures, and displays transform 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 16-22 (weather permitting; heavy rains will cancel). All proceeds from the event benefit the zoo sanctuary animals.

New this year: event and train tickets are only available online; no tickets will be sold at the gate. To provide an enhanced experience for guests, admission and train rides are limited each night of the event and tickets for both are date-specific. Event admission is $10/person and train tickets are $5/person; admission and train rides are free for ages under 2 years. Event dates will sell out—early ticket purchase is strongly encouraged.

Follow Facebook.com/FolsomParksandRec for daily event updates, ticket availability, and potential weather-related schedule changes. Call 916-461-6601 with questions.

Folsom Ice Rink is Open for the Winter Season

Ice skating in Historic Folsom is a cherished winter tradition. The Folsom Ice Rink is open through January 16. This year’s rink is located at 825 Leidesdorff Street, adjacent to the Historic District Plaza. Features include special events, firepits, special lighting, and a party zone. Learn more at folsomicerink.com.

'Tis the Season to Go Green

Americans throw away an extra 25 million tons of garbage between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day—25% more waste than any other time of year. This year, use your green bin to keep organic waste in its place—and out of the landfill.

Place these holiday items in your green bin:

• All food scraps, including meat, bones, eggs, bread, baked goods, cheese, and vegetable trimmings.
• Toothpicks, cocktail napkins, and paper towels.
• Christmas trees cut down into 2-foot-long sections.
• Pumpkins, squash, and gourds.
• Wreaths, boughs, and other evergreen decorations. Be sure to remove wires, ribbons, lights, and other artificial elements before tossing décor into the green bin.

Sustainable holiday season tips:

• Before food shopping, take inventory of items you have at home, and make a plan for storing and using leftovers.
• Set up a kitchen pail to collect food scraps after serving snacks and meals.
• Get creative with your gift-giving and consider shopping at local businesses.
• Reach for reusable gift bags or upcycle paper bags into wrapping paper.
• Switch to e-cards instead of printed holiday cards. If you choose traditional cards, look for those printed on recycled paper. Avoid glossy or foil-coated paper because these are not recyclable.
• Switch to energy-efficient LED holiday lights when it’s time to replace your lighting.

Holiday Waste Collection Schedule and Christmas Tree Recycling 

There is no change to waste collection services on holidays. Please place your cans curbside according to your usual collection schedule. The Christmas Tree Recycling event takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. January 7, 2023 at Rodeo park at the end of Stafford Street.

Stop the Clog This Holiday Season

The City of Folsom Environmental and Water Resources Department encourages residents to properly dispose of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) this holiday season and all year long. Properly dispose of FOG to help prevent drain and sewer backups:

• Can It – Transfer solidified fats and grease into a clear plastic or compostable bag, tie it shut, and place it in your Green Bin.
• Scrape It – Before washing, scrape fats, oils, and grease from pots and pans into the clear plastic or compostable bag you use to collect food scraps. When it is full, tie the bag shut and place it in your Green Bin.
• Compost It – Put fatty and greasy food scraps in the clear plastic or compostable bag you use to collect other food scraps. When it is full, tie the bag shut and place it in your Green Bin.
• Recycle It – Place cooled cooking oil back into the original container and make an appointment to have it picked up through the City of Folsom Door 2 Door Residential Household Hazardous Waste program.

Call 916-461-6177 or visit www.folsom.ca.us/FOG for more information. 

Holiday Fire Safety 

Help keep your home safe over the holidays—and every day—by following these tips:

• Stay in the kitchen while cooking, and never leave the stove or oven unattended.
• Make sure all the electrical cords to your cooking appliances are in good condition.
• Keep children away from hot surfaces, hot liquids, and sharp knives.
• Have working smoke alarms in your home and test them monthly.

Learn more at www.folsom.ca.us/fire.

Winter/Spring Rec Guide Now Available Online

The winter/spring 2023 edition of the Folsom Parks & Recreation Rec Guide is now available online. This season, we’re offering an exciting mix of family-friendly special events, recreational classes, and enrichment programs for youth, teens, adults, and seniors. Take a look through the interactive Rec Guide and learn more. A printed version of the winter/spring Rec Guide will be mailed to Folsom residents later this month.

New 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, Text, or Chat

There is hope. People experiencing mental health crises need to remember just three numbers to dial for help: 988. The 988 Lifeline provides free, confidential support to people experiencing suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Lifeline is available 24/7 and helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day.

The new federal number, which is available throughout California and eventually throughout the country—is billed as an alternative to 911 for people experiencing mental health emergencies. The new number makes it simpler for people in crisis to tap into the state’s network of 13 Lifeline call centers.

People can call, text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. The 988 Lifeline serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

The City of Folsom Holiday Closures

City administrative offices will be closed from Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26; and from Friday, December 30 through Monday, January 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. For urgent city issues, call 916-461-6400. Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.



• Garbage service will be provided as usual; please place your cans curbside by 6 a.m. on your regular day of service.
• Transit services will be available through the Folsom Stage Line operated by SacRT.
• The Folsom Public Library will be closed December 24 and 31.
• The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary has special holiday hours.
• The Andy Morin Sports Complex has special holiday hours.
• The Steve Miklos Aquatic Center is closed December 24 through January 2.
• The FIDO Field Dog Park will be open from 7 a.m. to one hour after sunset.
• The Folsom Skate and Bike Parks have special holiday hours.
• The Folsom Senior Center, Folsom Art Center, and Gallery at 48 Natoma are closed from December 23 through January 2.
• Fun Factory, Kindergarten Readiness, and the after-school CAVE programs are closed.