Updated Nov. 21, 10:12 p.m.–
Citrus Heights had a fairly full schedule over the past week, including a high-speed chase, public hearings, a 14% water rate increase, and arrival of the City’s 30-foot Christmas tree. Here’s a look at what happened:
High-speed chase through Citrus Heights ends in arrest
A vehicle being pursued by Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputies Tuesday night blew through several red lights in Citrus Heights and exceeded speeds of 80 miles per hour, according to a Citrus Heights police lieutenant. The chase began outside city limits and the Citrus Heights Police Department became briefly involved after the pursuit entered their jurisdiction. The vehicle traveled along Antelope Road, ran through a red light at Auburn Boulevard, made a right turn on Old Auburn Road and continued onto Auburn Boulevard until being stopped near Fulton Avenue outside the city, with at least one person arrested. Several phone calls to the Sheriff’s Department media division for additional details were not returned by Friday afternoon.
Citrus Heights Christmas tree arrives for tree lighting ceremony
A 30-foot tall, 400-pound Christmas tree arrived by trailer at the Citrus Heights Community Center Tuesday afternoon, in advance of the City’s 19th annual tree lighting ceremony and festivities on Dec. 3 this year. Although the ceremony was previously held at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive, the relocation of city hall and the new medical office building project underway at the corner necessitated a change in location this year. (Read more)
City leaders set 6-month goals for Citrus Heights at Strategic Planning meeting
All five council members, various City staff, and the police chief gathered for a brainstorming session in a small room at the Community Center on Tuesday — emerging five hours later with consensus on a list of objectives to accomplish by May of next year. Assessing past strengths and weaknesses, as well as future opportunities and threats, the team identified a total of 67 accomplishments over the past six months and noted a belief that a list of weaknesses was getting smaller. Objectives identified include plans to complete an online building permit application process, reduce holiday season crime in comparison to 2014, and meet with Sunrise Mall’s new owners and other key businesses. (Additional coverage coming next week)
[Documents: See full list of six-month objectives and past accomplishments]
Citrus Heights Water District board approves 14% rate increase
At a near-empty public hearing in the Rusch Park Community Center Tuesday night, water district board members voted 3-0 to approve water rate and service charge increases after hearing from three members of the public who spoke out against the proposal. CHWD’s Assistant General Manager Hilary Straus credited the District’s public outreach efforts as a factor in the low amount of opposition at the hearing. In a District-wide mailer and presentations at various neighborhood associations, CHWD officials said the increase was primarily needed to cover upcoming replacement of about three-quarters of the District’s aging infrastructure, which was largely installed between 1960 and 1980. Board members also approved a $10.9 million 2016 operating budget and dropped temporary water shortage rates that had gone into effect on July 15. (See agenda packet)
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Planning Commission approves new Verizon tower, Bikeway plan & Auburn Blvd report
At a Wednesday night public hearing, planning commissioners approved a “Mitigated Negative Declaration” environmental report for Phase II of the City’s Auburn Boulevard revitalization project, which stretches from Grand Oaks Avenue to the Roseville border. Commissioners also approved a proposed Verizon cell tower at the Chuck E. Cheese’s shopping area, and an item related to the City’s updated Bikeway Master Plan, according to the City’s Associate Planner Nick Lagura (See agenda packet for more)
