Sentinel staff report–
The city council’s agenda packet for Thursday night is a whopping 2,606 pages long, almost entirely devoted to an extensive environmental impact report for the proposed 260-home Mitchell Farms housing development. Other items include a $755,000 drainage and sidewalk contract, another $195,000 contract related to a plan for improving Old Auburn Road, and several recommendations from city staff to reject bids for two projects.
Here’s a brief summary of what’s included in the council’s agenda packet, followed by vote highlights from the most recent council meeting:
Agenda Items of Note:
- Proclamation. The city will issue an official proclamation declaring the month of September as “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.”
- 46-home subdivision. The city council will consider approval of a final subdivision map for Northridge Grove, a long-delayed 46-home development underway at 5555 Mariposa Ave. The move comes more than a decade after the planning commission authorized a tentative subdivision map in 2007, which was subject to certain conditions of approval that have now been met.
- $755k contract. Council members will consider awarding a $755,607 contract to Central Valley Engineering & Asphalt, Inc., for the city’s 2018 Accessibility and Drainage Improvement Project. According to a staff report, the project seeks to “remove barriers to accessibility, repair failed curb, gutter and sidewalk and correct a number of minor drainage deficiencies at twenty-one separate locations on residential streets in the city.” CVE’s bid came in at less than half the highest bid, which was over $1.5 million. Funding comes through Community Development Block Grand funds and the Storm Water Utility Fund.
- Contract rejections. City staff recommend the council reject a bid from Central Valley Engineering for another project known as the Highland – Rinconada Drainage Improvements Project. CVE was the only contractor to submit a bid, which totaled $1.49 million and exceeded the city engineer’s estimate by 40%. Citing the high bid and “current construction climate,” staff recommend the bid be rejected and re-advertised with minor adjustments in the fall when construction typically slows down. Staff also recommend the same be done for all three bids submitted for the Mariposa Avenue Safe Routes To School Phase 3 Project, as the bids all exceeded the engineer’s estimate by more than 40%.
- $195k contract. City staff recommend the council award a $195,850 contract to Fehr & Peers for professional services regarding the development of an “Old Auburn Road Complete Streets Plan.” According to a staff report, the plan “will address the challenging transportation conditions on Old Auburn Road,” between Sylvan Road and Fair Oaks Boulevard, and will include “a robust community engagement process, evaluation of existing conditions and deficiencies to define community based solutions, address concerns, increase safety and transform Old Auburn Road into a Complete Street.”
- Public Hearing. The city council will hold a public hearing on the proposed 260-home, 56-acre Mitchell Farms housing development off Arcadia Drive. Council members will then vote on whether to certify the project’s environmental impact report and adopt a related General Plan amendment, as well as approve a tentative map and several associated permits for the project. The council will also introduce for a first reading an ordinance re-zoning the property to become the “Mitchell Farms Special Planning Area. See full story: Citrus Heights council to hold final vote on 260-unit housing proposal
As requested by one or more council members, direction will also be given on proposed resolutions to be presented at the 2018 League Of California Cities Annual Conference & Expo, which will be held on Sept. 12-14 in Long Beach.
The city council’s upcoming meeting will convene at 7 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2018, at 6360 Fountain Square Drive. The full agenda packet can be viewed by clicking here.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AUG. 9th COUNCIL MEETING:
Present: Mayor Steve Miller, Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins, Bret Daniels, Albert Fox, Jeff Slowey
Meeting length: 1 hr. 39 min.
QUOTABLE: “What I don’t see is any evidence, for me, that indicates there’s a problem on any scale where the government needs to be showing up, knocking on your door and saying, we’re going to come in and inspect your living quarters, your home.” – Councilman Bret Daniels, commenting on the city’s proposed rental inspection program.
- Mariposa Safe Routes To School, phase 4 (approved, 5-0). The city council approved a $416,462 contract with Bennett Engineering to provide pre-construction services and public outreach for the final phase of a major infrastructure project, known as the Mariposa Avenue Safe Routes to School project.
- Block Grant Increase (approved, 5-0). The council approved allocation of additional funding from a federal grant in the revised amount of $696,000 instead of the anticipated $589,000. The additional $107,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding was directed towards administrative costs and citywide accessibility projects.
- $500k Rental Housing Inspection Unit (approved, 4-1). The council approved a recommendation from the city’s police chief to authorize the drafting of a new ordinance and fee structure for a “Rental Housing Inspection Unit.” Once drafted, the ordinance will return for a final vote from the city council, expected by the end of the year. Read more: Citrus Heights council votes 4-1 to move forward with mandatory rental inspections
