$1.7 million contract. Replacement affordable housing on Sayonara Drive. Potential endorsement of a criminal justice reform initiative. CalPERS update. Those are some topics on the agenda for the Feb. 22 Citrus Heights City Council meeting. Here’s a brief summary of what’s on schedule, followed by vote highlights from the most recent council meeting:
SPECIAL MEETING (6 p.m.):
- Study Session. California Public Employees’ Retirement System Update
REGULAR MEETING (7 p.m.):
Funding Presentations. The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce and the Antelope Crossing Business Association will each give a presentation to the council on their use of Economic Development Support Funds.
- $1.7M roadway contract. City staff recommend the council award a $1.76 million contract to All American Construction, Inc., the lowest bidder, for continuing the Sunrise Boulevard Complete Streets Improvement Project by adding a continuous sidewalk, bike lane and street lighting along the west side of Sunrise Boulevard between Locher and Sayonara drives. Of seven bids received, the highest bid was over $2.5 million.
- $340k drainage contract. City staff recommend the council award a $340,600 contract to Caggiano General Engineering for a drainage project intended to “eliminate localized flooding and drainage problems for residences along Baird Way between Mariposa Avenue and Holly Drive.” The project will replace an existing storm drain on Baird Way with a larger pipe and also construct a new swale. Of 10 bids received, the highest bid was $590,000.
- Public hearings. None scheduled.
- Affordable Housing. The council will decide whether to approve a city staff recommendation to extend the deadline to replace previously demolished units on Sayonara Drive for another five years. Following the demolition of 15 multi-family structures on Sayonara Drive, in 2010 in an effort to clean up the problem street, the city had a statutory requirement to replace 35 affordable housing units, or 70 bedrooms, on the street. Staff state that “significant challenges such as a lack of available funding” contributed to the reason the units have not been replaced and cite a state law allowing for the council to extend the replacement deadline to Sept. 5, 2022.
- Criminal justice reform initiative. Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence requests that the city council officially go on record supporting the “Reducing Crime and Keeping California Safe Act of 2018,” a ballot initiative that seeks to address aspects of AB 109 and Propositions 47 and 57 that have been criticized by law enforcement for contributing to an increase in crime.
Department Report: The administrative services department will present a midyear budget review of the current fiscal year, which concludes June 30, 2018.
The city council will meet on Feb. 22, 2018, 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 FEB 8th COUNCIL MEETING:
Present: Mayor Steve Miller, Jeff Slowey, Jeannie Bruins, Bret Daniels, Albert Fox
Meeting length: 1 hr. 35 min.
Quotable: “The wall on Antelope Road and that development near the freeway I think looks horrible… I think the walls might have been an issue, but I don’t think the gates are an issue in regards to [aesthetics].” – Councilman Bret Daniels, voicing support for a proposed privacy gate on a 46-home subdivision on Mariposa Avenue, but also criticizing walled communities. The Mariposa subdivision is walled on all four sides.
- $200k Consulting. (Approved, 5-0) Councilmembers approved authorization of up to $200,000 to hire a pair of consultants with Municipal Resource Group, LLC.
- $4.9M drainage plan study (Approved, 3-0-2). The council approved the adoption of an environmental declaration and storm drainage master plan study related to a proposed $4,945,000 project that seeks to reduce or eliminate flooding and drainage problems in neighborhood areas 8, 9 and 10. Mayor Steve Miller and Councilman Bret Daniels both recused themselves from the vote, citing conflict of interest, due to their homes being located near portions of the proposed project.
- Privacy Gate Appeal (Rejected, 5-0) The city council unanimously rejected an appeal filed by William Van Duker that sought to overturn a 4-3 decision by the planning commission that allowed for privacy gates on a 46-home development under construction at 5555 Mariposa Ave. Seven people spoke in favor of the gates, while Van Duker was the only resident to speak in opposition. Councilmembers found that the city’s general plan discourages gated communities, but does not ban them. The council also voted to refund the $250 that Van Duker paid to file the appeal.
