Sentinel staff report–
Latest local news briefs include school closures on Friday due to smoke-filled skies, a 6-1 vote from the Planning Commission regarding a shopping center subdivision, and latest vote totals released by elections officials in the race for Citrus Heights City Council.
Planning Commission votes 6-1 for subdivision at Birdcage shopping center
Citrus Heights Planning Commissioners on Wednesday night voted 6-1 in favor of a request to subdivide the Best Buy building from the rest of the 30-acre Marketplace at Birdcage shopping center. The request was made by Baker Williams Engineering who sought “to allow separate ownership of the existing Best Buy building for tax and leasing purposes,” according to a Planning Division staff report.
Commissioner Tim Schaefer was the only one to vote against the proposal, telling The Sentinel he thought the action was contrary to a General Plan amendment the commission approved three months ago that sought to “discourage the creation of any new parcels within existing commercial centers.” The report said the site is fully developed and no associated improvements or developments are proposed for the location. (See full agenda packet)
Schools close in Citrus Heights due to smoke
Schools in Citrus Heights operated by the San Juan Unified School District were closed on Friday due to concerns about air quality. “After careful consideration and monitoring the air quality, we feel that it is in the best interest of all those involved to close our schools and offices tomorrow (Nov. 16),” the District said in a message posted on its website. Students will also not return to school next week, due to Thanksgiving break, from Nov. 19-23.
The District said it will be requesting a waiver from the state in order to still receive Average Daily Attendance funding for the missed day of school. Officials said if a waiver is not granted, the District “will be required to make up this missed school day at some point this school year.” (See District website)
Latest vote totals released by elections officials
Sacramento County elections officials continue releasing additional vote counts each Tuesday and Thursday, with about 100,000 ballots countywide remaining to be counted. In the race for Citrus Heights City Council, a total of 44,788 votes have now been counted, with the three winners all maintaining their lead with each new batch of votes. Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins has held her lead at 27% with 12,107 votes, followed by Mayor Steve Miller at 21% with 9,652 votes. Porsche Middleton has kept her place in third at 20% with 9,284 votes. Fox, at 18%, is now 1,200 votes behind Middleton. Treston Shull has maintained his position in last place at 12% with 5,677 votes.
The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee had endorsed all three incumbents for City Council, two of whom won their election. The Chamber also endorsed Zima Creason and Myel Jenkins for San Juan Unified school board, of which Creason was elected along with incumbent Michael McKibben. (See full results)
