Note: In the interest of providing voter information and fair election coverage, The Sentinel has given all five Citrus Heights City Council candidates an equal opportunity to submit 100-word written statements on a variety of local issues. Steve Miller’s word-for-word responses can be found below.
Steve Miller, 60, is currently serving a one-year term as the City’s mayor and is running for his fourth term on the City Council, after first being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2005. He has lived in Citrus Heights for 32 years and lists three of his fellow council members among his top endorsements. (Click to read full candidate profile)
One of the City’s three-year strategic planning goals is to enhance and expand public safety. What specifically would you advocate doing to accomplish this goal?
“A strategic task I would recommend at the next strategic planning retreat to enhance public safety would be to step up patrols of all the County parks located in our City by specifically targeting drug and alcohol use. Recently I voted to add security cameras to Rusch Park, which will be monitored by our police department to help prevent these illegal activities.”
Homelessness continues to be ranked among the top issues faced by businesses and residents in Citrus Heights. What additional actions do you believe should be taken to address this, and what role do you see private organizations playing?
“Not a day goes by that I do not receive an email complaint, read a post on social media or personally observe the homeless problem we have in our city. While we have decreased the number of homeless and reduced associated property crimes through the work of our Police Department, our full-time Navigator, grants awarded to a) drug and alcohol treatment, b) housing assistance and c) mental health providers and supporting our volunteers… we still have work to do. We need the County, State and Federal governments to do their part and provide additional mental health and drug treatment services for the homeless.” (Shortened for length beyond 100-word limit)
In August, the City Council voted 4-1 to pursue a $500,000 mandatory inspection program for thousands of rental homes/apartments in Citrus Heights. Do you believe the council made the right decision?
“This proposed rental inspection program is a result of a strategic planning goal to reduce blight in our neighborhoods. I am inclined to support this ordinance because it will raise the property values of the rental units and surrounding homes if implemented properly; however, it is inappropriate to make my final decision until I have read the proposed draft ordinance, staff report and hear stakeholder and public comments.”
In four years, Citrus Heights will finally begin receiving its share of property taxes (estimated over $5 million/yr), due to a 25-year “revenue neutrality” agreement with the county as a condition of incorporation coming to a close. How do you think that money would be best allocated, and why?
“Your City Council has adopted strategic and prudent fiscal policies and I believe when we start receiving our property taxes the best use will be:
a) Rebuild our operating and capital reserves by first setting aside $2-3 million per year.
b) Supplementing the residential road maintenance money with another $1 million per year, in addition to the funds we already receive from Measure A and the gas sales tax. (Shortened for excessive length)
c) Adding $1.5 million in funding for additional police technology and officers.
d) Providing additional funding for community and business priorities while continuing to realistically fund routine operations.”
Proposition 6 seeks to repeal SB 1, which increased gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees to help cover transportation-related projects. How will you vote on Prop 6 and what option(s) for road maintenance in Citrus Heights will you advocate for if SB 1 funding goes away?
“I do not like the tax and how it was enacted by the State. The governor promised us a vote on any new taxes. Well, now we get to vote. The City Council, of which I am a member, has not taken a position on Proposition 6.
“I have noted if the new gas tax (SB-1) is repealed, it will be a loss of approximately $1.4 million per year to the City that could be used for residential road maintenance… If repealed, I will advocate for additional road maintenance funds once we receive our property taxes in 2022.” (Shortened for excessive length)
Proposition 10 seeks to allow local governments to enact rent control on any type of rental housing. If Prop 10 passes, would you be in favor of implementing rent control in Citrus Heights?
“I am not in favor of rent control. Citrus Heights cannot afford to defend enacting a rent control ordinance from legal challenges and lawsuits over such things as actual fair market rental rates. And I believe rent control would discourage any further affordable rental housing and result in lack of upkeep and maintenance to our existing affordable housing stock, creating even more blight in our City.”
Nearby cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Davis have voted to discontinue their redlight camera programs in recent years. If elected to the council, would you vote to renew the City’s contract with Redflex and continue redlight cameras in Citrus Heights?
“As witnessed this last week, we have had another traffic fatality on our roads. We have far too many accidents and deaths caused by speed, reckless driving and failure to stop at red lights. Red light cameras help reduce this risk.
“Many argue we are just lining our treasury with the fines. However, most of the fines imposed by law go to the State and court system. I am inclined to continue this program to protect pedestrians and law-abiding drivers until we see a significant decrease in traffic accidents due to running of red lights.”
Schools in Citrus Heights have long been criticized as under-performing. Although the San Juan Unified School Board is ultimately tasked with governing local schools, what role (if any) do you believe the City Council can play in improving education in Citrus Heights?
“We need to continue the dialog between the City and school district to improve our schools and our student’s test scores to make our schools attractive to families that live in our city or are thinking about moving here. Two ways we can increase enrollment in our schools is by offering occupational training to students who will enter the workforce immediately after graduating and offering to pay two years of tuition at our local junior colleges for any student who completes four years of high school at San Juan or Mesa Verde with a ‘C’ or better GPA.”
“It is extremely important to support business by shopping locally and providing grants for sewer credits, façade improvements, sign improvements, special events, and supporting our Chamber of Commerce and Public Business Investment Districts.
“But being business friendly is more than providing funding for businesses, restaurants and developers; economic development also includes encouraging vibrant arts and entertainment options, quality housing, public safety, great schools, viable transit options, recreation opportunities, eliminating blight, building bicycle and pedestrian trails and completing major street improvements. Such investments will promote a healthy business environment and better quality of life for our residents.”
Want to see where the other four candidates stand on local issues? Click here
