Good discussion. However, I think it is a bit misguided to suggest that anyone who isn't angry isn't paying attention in Folsom. I get that there are a lot of complaints. There always is and there always will be. Any system will have friction.
I think most people see a lot of good results - the parks, the services and the planning are all above average or better. What local community is doing a BETTER OVERALL job than Folsom at meeting citizen expectations?
We love Folsom and can't point to a better place to live in the region.
Really?
Lets score the results of planning together. Feel free to give your own grade.
#1. Only city in NORCAL to be sued by Legal Services and loose twice over their failure to follow the laws on Affordable Housing.
My grade on this one is an F.
#2. Failed to have adequate Capacity for sewer systems resulting in us dumping 700,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Natoma in the late 90's resulting in the largest fine ever levied in the region.
I'll have to give us an F on this one as well.
#3. Approved adding over 10,000 new homes that will receive their water from projected water savings, when the City is in the process of restricting water use so existing resident will have enough water.
This has got to be the worst idea ever so Im giving it an F-.
#4. Used existing surplus to expedite planning for south of 50 during recession. This resulted in the City's inability to construct the much needed Fire station in empire ranch, resulting in increased response times for public safety personnel.
I'll have to give this one an F as well.
#5. Is contributing the lowest amount into CalPers for any city in the region, leaving us the largest unfunded growing obligation of any city in the region.
Grade for this F
#6. Has the lowest Park Impact fee of any city in region. So how did we get all these parks built without an adequate funding source for the parks master plan? Neighborhoods& Youth sports groups had to go out and raise their own funds to build what the impact fees should have built. Also, State recreation bonds contributed and some federal grants. ( Its highly unlikely these monies will be available in the future). Lastly, some park sites were deemed surplus and sold off to pay for constructing the parks we see now. We should have more parks than what we have, according to our master plan. With simple better planning we could have had so much more!
I'll give this a C-
#7.I heard there is a study being released that ranks Folsom as one of the most dangerous Citys to drive in in CA. This is due to the miles of, curvy high speed arterials without barriers and our record setting number of increased fatal accidents. It shouldn't be any surprise to anyone that the number of fatal accidents involving impaired drivers has increased to record numbers given the increasing number of people going to Bars in Folsom.
I'll give this one an F as well
#8. Traffic flows around many sections of the community are well below what was projected amount and standards outlined prior to development approval. The areas around Blue Ravine/East Bidwell/ Montrose and Riley & Glenn are well below unacceptable. Traffic will only get worse.
I don't like traffic so I'll give this a D for a grade.
#9. The Crime rate is ever increasing. The Citys answer to this is to reclassify how crime is reported thereby lowering what's reported despite more crimes being committed. The Citys struggling financial situation limits the amount of PO on duty at night and on some weekday nights if there is an issue on Sutter Street, there isn't any officer available anywhere else in the City, leaving the entire city uncovered.
I'm going to give this an F.
#10. 20 years ago the City had one water supply and today we still have one. If there is a natural disaster or failure, we wont have any water. This should have been addressed years ago. I was told we are the only City in the Region to only have one water supply.
I'll grade this derelict..
#11. The City of Folsom doesn't have depreciation Funds to replace existing Facilities parks and capital equipment. Other Citys in the region have these. These parks that you drive around and think are so nice are going to not look the same in 10 years.
F
Lets summarize, the city of Folsom has been sued more times over Affordable housing and lost than any other City in region for its lack of planning, We've been fined more than any other City in the region for our lack of sewer capacity, We have the lowest park impact fees of any city in the region, our unfunded pension liabilities are growing faster than any other city in the region, our traffic is worsening and more dangerous, our Public safety response times are increasing, our crime rate was increasing faster than others Citys in the region, our Budget Surplus was spent on planning for unneeded annexation that only benefits the landowners, We are the only city in the region with one water supply and we dont have a depreciation fund to replace existing capital improvements.
Where is it we are doing so much better in planning than the other Citys in the region? Candidly were not and that's what has many citizens upset over the decline over our quality of life.
-Roger
