By Mike Hazlip—
Twenty-five years after becoming a city, the City of Citrus Heights is again looking into expanding the borders of the city to include one or more areas of unincorporated Sacramento County that were left out of the city limits in the incorporation effort of the late 1990s.
On Thursday, the Citrus Heights City Council is set to hear a staff report focusing on the feasibility of annexing two areas just outside the western and northwestern city limits, known as Roseville Pointe and Greenback Gateway.
The staff report, included in the council’s Sept. 22 agenda packet, details the potential financial costs and benefits of annexing the two areas. Annexation has been considered in the past, and the city’s General Plan has listed a goal to pursue possible annexation near Interstate 80 as a way to “gain better control of routes into the city and to establish a distinctive city presence along Interstate 80.”
Annexing Greenback Gateway, located between Auburn Boulevard and Interstate 80, would mean extending the city limit west to the freeway. Annexing the area would mean Century Theaters, East Lawn Cemetery, Verner Oaks Apartments, Country Squire Estates Mobile Home Park, and a Public Storage facility would become part of Citrus Heights.
Roseville Pointe, also known as Northwest Reserve, is a largely residential area along Roseville Road just north of Antelope Road. The area includes 289 single-family residential units, along with 6.8 acres of vacant land zoned commercial, a 1.1-acre parcel with a water tank, and a 1.8-acre park, according to the report.
The cost of expanding the city’s borders varies, according to a statement by the Sacramento County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) contained in the report. LAFCo anticipates costs to be between $100,000 and $150,000
The staff report also draws from earlier studies that were conducted in 2006, when the city previously considered annexing the two areas. Those studies show an annual general fund deficit of $45,000 to $134,000 with annexing Greenback Gateway. Roseville Pointe would result in a $100,000 annual deficit if the three commercial parcels are left undeveloped, but a potential $40,000 surplus if the parcels are developed.
Those 2006 figures are likely to change if a new annexation effort was undertaken, the report says.
The staff report is in response to a request by the majority of council members during a May 10, 2022 Strategic Planning meeting. Councilman Bret Daniels also previously proposed during a council meeting to revisit what he called an “oversight” in leaving Roseville Pointe out of city limits.
The staff report also says the council suggested evaluating the annexation of an area near Celtic Cross Church along Dewey Drive and the northwest corner of Fair Oaks Boulevard and Madison Ave. The report did not include a financial analysis of those areas.
Expanding the city’s borders is not a simple task. The original incorporation effort of the late 1990s was met with opposition from Sacramento County as well as some residents and property owners.
“The process of annexation is a lengthy and complex process,” the report says. “The process involves many stakeholders including the City, Sacramento County, LAFCo, and property owners/residents of any area considered for annexation. The process may be accomplished by petition of registered voters or land owners or by resolution of the City Council.”
See full agenda packet: click here
According to an annexation process flowchart included in Thursday’s agenda packet, annexation would require at least three public hearings, and approval from affected property owners. During a protest hearing, if less than 25% protest the annexation, the process can move to completion without a vote. But if a majority protest, the proceedings would be terminated without a vote.
However, if between 25-50% protest, the annexation proposal would go to voters in the annexation area and require a majority approval.
The council will take up discussion of whether to pursue annexation options during their Sept. 22 council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Anyone interested in commenting on the matter can speak during the council meeting, or send an email to citycouncil@citrusheights.net.
