A pair of public hearings will be held at the Feb. 8 Citrus Heights City Council meeting related to a $4.9 million proposed storm drainage plan and controversy over privacy gates proposed at a 46-home subdivision on Mariposa Avenue. Other items on the agenda include consideration of a $200,000 consulting agreement and an annual financial report and audit.
Here’s a brief summary of what’s listed in the nearly 1,000-page agenda packet, followed by a wrap-up of the council’s Jan. 25 meeting.
SPECIAL MEETING (6 p.m.):
- Study session. City staff will seek direction from the council on implementing a Citrus Heights awareness and promotion campaign. Development of the campaign has been in the works for several years and the effort seeks to brand and market the city as part of a strategy for economic development.
REGULAR MEETING (7 p.m.):
- Quarterly Treasurer’s Report. The council will be asked to formally receive and file the city’s fourth quarter treasurer’s report. The report shows, among other figures, the market value of the city’s cash and investments at $8.6 million, as of Dec. 31, 2017.
- Annual Financial Report & Audit. The council will be asked to formally accept and file a 145-page comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. The report is accompanied by a letter stating the city’s financial statements were audited by Richardson & Company, LLP, a certified public accounting firm based in Sacramento. Among other items in the report, the city shows total revenues of $47.8 million during the past fiscal year, with roughly one-third of the revenue coming from sales tax.
- $200k Consulting. The council will consider approving the authorization of up to $200,000 for hiring a pair of consultants with Municipal Resource Group, LLC, based in Danville. The pair would bill the city for mileage and $135- $165 per hour in exchange for providing high level assessment and technical and management support for the city’s human resource, finance, and public works departments.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
- $4.9M drainage plan. A public hearing will be held prior to the council’s consideration of adopting an environmental declaration and storm drainage master plan study related to a proposed $4,945,000 project that would seek to reduce or eliminate flooding and drainage problems in neighborhood areas 8, 9 and 10. Over 500 pages of documents related to the plan and environmental review are included in the city council’s agenda packet.
- Privacy Gate Controversy. The city council will hear an appeal filed by William Van Duker that seeks to overturn a 4-3 decision by the planning commission to allow privacy gates on a 46-home development under construction at 5555 Mariposa Ave. Van Duker, who was involved in the city’s incorporation efforts in the 1980’s and 90’s, argues that the general plan “discourages features in residential development that tend to isolate residents from the sense of an integrated community, such as walls and gated single family neighborhoods.” His written appeal expresses concern that the decision, if upheld, would set a precedent for more gated communities. A city staff report recommends rejecting Van Duker’s appeal, noting that gates are discouraged in the general plan, but not banned. The area’s neighborhood association supports the gates being installed as proposed.
DEPARTMENT REPORT: An update will be presented to the council regarding changes to the 916 area code.
The city council will meet on Feb. 8 at 6360 Fountain Square Dr., beginning with a special meeting at 6 p.m. The full agenda packet can be viewed by clicking here.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM JAN. 25th COUNCIL MEETING:
Present: Mayor Steve Miller, Jeff Slowey, Jeannie Bruins, Bret Daniels, Albert Fox
Meeting length: 1 hr. 7 min.
Quotable: “Is William Shirley here? Well, part of it’s showing up — but, we do have the opening.” — Mayor Steve Miller, commenting after learning that the only resident to apply for an open seat on the city’s Construction Board of Appeals did not show up to the council meeting where his appointment was being considered. The board rarely meets and typically has several vacant seats.
- $190,000 Caltrans Grant (Consent, 5-0). The council accepted a $190,000 grant from Caltrans to develop a Complete Streets Plan for improving the section of Old Auburn Road located between Sylvan Road and Fair Oaks Blvd. Widening the road has been among potential improvements discussed.
- Auburn Boulevard Signs (5-0, regular). The council voted to approve a planning commission recommendation to increase the size of commercial signs allowed on Auburn Boulevard, from Sylvan Corners to the Roseville Border. The change allows two square feet of signage per linear foot of primary building frontage, which is the current standard for other commercial areas in the city.
- Board Appointment (5-0, regular). The council appointed resident William Shirley to fill an open seat on the city’s Construction Board of Appeals.
- Property Acquisition (5-0, regular). The city council unanimously approved a resolution objecting to the sale of two tax-defaulted properties in the city that were scheduled for auction by Sacramento County, located at 8244 Auburn Blvd. and 7716 Old Auburn Rd. The resolution also authorized the city manager to negotiate the purchase of the properties, for the minimum auction price. (See full story: Citrus Heights council votes to keep option open to buy blighted home)
- Department Report: The police department and homeless navigator reported that the city-funded navigator program was successful in connecting homeless with resources during the final quarter of 2017. Sergeant Chad Morris also stated that the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team’s winter shelter program reached its maximum capacity of 20 guests in recent weeks.
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