During the Citrus Heights City Council’s July 12 meeting, city leaders will hear an update on the police department’s efforts surrounding the Fourth of July, as well as consider approving a $250,000 request by the police chief for purchasing new police vehicles. Among other items, the council is also slated to vote on accepting a pair of transportation-related grants amounting to $376,000.
Here’s a brief summary of what’s included in the 90-page agenda packet, followed by vote highlights from the most recent council meeting:
Agenda Items of Note:
- $196k grant. The council will vote on formally accepting a $196,000 Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to cover about 90% of the cost to prepare a “Safe Schools Corridor Plan” around three schools located on Carriage Drive and Lauppe Lane. A city staff report says the schools have experienced a 25% increase in enrollment over the past three years, which has “contributed to already high peak vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle and parking demands, increased vehicular speeds, midblock and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings, and school ingress and egress concerns.”
- $180k grant. The council will also vote to formally accept a $180,000 Caltrans grant awarded to cover about 90% of the cost to develop a “Multi-Modal Transportation Safety Program.” A staff report says the program will “develop guidelines and procedures to initiate and evaluate requests” received from the community for new signs, striping, crosswalks, speed bumps, and other traffic calming and enforcement requests. The program will also help identify collision trends and “hot spots,” as well as help develop a prioritization methodology.
- $250k police vehicles purchase. Council members will consider approving a recommendation from the police chief to purchase and retrofit five new vehicles for a total of approximately $250,000. According to a staff report, the purchase would replace existing vehicles that are all at least five years old and are near, or will exceed, 100,000 miles in the current fiscal year. The vehicles to be purchased are four police SUV’s and one Ford Transit. Last July, the council approved the replacement purchase of three SUV’s and one Ford F-250 truck for $150,000.
- Energy partnership. As followup to a request from the city for up to a $3 million low-interest (1%) loan from the California Energy Commission to help convert existing street lighting in Citrus Heights to LED, the council will consider giving the go-ahead for city staff to further apply for up to $20,000 in “no cost technical assistance to conduct energy audits and evaluate energy efficiency opportunities at existing facilities.”
- Investment policy. The council will consider approving a revised 20-page investment policy for 2018-19 and also delegate authority to the finance director to invest funds in accordance with the policy. The finance director is also required to submit an investment report on a quarterly basis to the city council, which includes interest earnings.
Public Hearing: A routine public hearing will be held regarding a proposal to record delinquent solid waste disposal charges on the county tax rolls to enable the city to receive payment from owners who have not paid their bi-monthly bill.
Department Report: Fireworks. The police department will give an update on 2018 Independence Day Responses.
A second-reading of the city’s amendments related to storm water regulations is also on the agenda.
The city council meeting will convene at 7 p.m. on July 12, 2018, at 6360 Fountain Square Drive. The full agenda packet can be viewed by clicking here.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE JUNE 28th COUNCIL MEETING:
Present: Mayor Steve Miller, Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins, Bret Daniels, Albert Fox, Jeff Slowey
Regular meeting length: 62 minutes.
QUOTABLE: “I know that God intended me to be here for him that day,” – resident Roy McAlister, speaking to the city council about his experience providing CPR to a man who likely would have died after suffering a major heart attack at the Citrus Heights Veteran’s Community Center. See full story: “Citrus Heights man recognized for saving life of veteran who suffered heart attack”
- $470k contract. (Approved, 5-0) The council approved a staff recommendation to award a $470,076 contract to Omni-Means, for professional services on the recently approved “Electric Greenway” project, a $7 million multi-use trail project that will extend from Wachtel Way to Sunrise Boulevard. The majority of the project will be funded by an “ATP Senate Bill 1 Augmentation” grant, a state grant fund which currently receives $100 million annually from the 2017 “gas tax,” known as SB 1.
- Intersection improvements. (Approved, 5-0) The council approved an amended contract with TJKM Transportation Consultants, which is providing design and public outreach services for a half-million dollar project to upgrade signage and pedestrian count-down indicators at various intersections in the city, including the installation of a pedestrian barrier fence at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard. The amendment increased the consultant’s “not-to-exceed” fee by about 20% more than the original contract, bringing the total up to $67,879. The majority of the project is funded by a $486,000 federal grant.
- Committee re-appointments. (Approved, 4-0) Council members voted on Thursday to remove Councilman Bret Daniels from two regional committees he formerly held positions on, following a vote to censure him last month. The council voted to appoint Councilman Al Fox to replace Daniels on the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District board of directors, and also appointed Councilman Jeff Slowey to replace Daniels as an alternate member of the Sacramento Transit Authority. The motions passed 4-0, with Daniels abstaining on the votes. (See full committee appointment list)
