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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • 2025 Citrus Heights Police Logs Spotlight: June 19-25

    Sentinel Staff report–
    Latest police logs show an increase in vehicle violations and vandalism while showing a drop in code enforcement calls. Below are the total number of incidents reported from June 19-25, along with comparison totals from the prior week:

    • Animal control: 15 (up from 14)
    • 911 hangups: 28 (up from 26)
    • Code enforcement: 26 (down from 44)
    • Traffic accidents: 28 (down from 38)
    • Vehicle violations: 287 (up from 243)
    • Theft: 29 (down from 30)
    • Homeless-related: 17 (down from 25)
    • Vandalism: 11 (up from 6)
    • Violent/threats: 39 (up from 27)
    • Disturbance: 105 (up from 91)
    • Suspicious circumstances: 173 (up from 166)
    • All incidents: 1,235 (up from 1,229)

    Arrest and incident logs can be viewed on the city’s website here.

    06-19-2025 Activity Log | 06-20-2025 Activity Log | 06-21-2025 Activity Log | 06-22-2025 Activity Log | 06-23-2025 Activity Log | 06-24-2025 Activity Log | 6-25-2025 Activity Log

    The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.

    The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”

    The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.

    The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”

    Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.

  • Bay Area mattress store coming to Citrus Heights shopping center

    Bay Area mattress store coming to Citrus Heights shopping center

    A mattress store is planned to fill the space formerly home to Skechers in the Citrus Town Center. // SB Williams
    A mattress store is planned to fill the space formerly home to Skechers in the Citrus Town Center. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A new mattress store will be coming soon to the Citrus Town Center in Citrus Heights, according to management leasing materials.

    Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage Inc. (JLL) property management leasing materials list Mancini’s Sleepworld as “Coming Soon” to 7975-B Greenback Ln. in the building that formerly held Skechers, before the shoe store relocated to the former site of Walgreens across the street.

    The vacant store front which will house Mancini’s Sleepworld is located adjacent to Marshall’s and Half Price Books.

    Skecher’s relocated across the street to the corner of Sunrise and Greenback at the end of 2024. Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter said the store’s lease expired at the end of 2024.

    Walgreens, which stood prominently on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, closed almost a year and a half ago, after announcing in 2023 that it expected to close 150 of its roughly 9,000 stores in the United States by the end of its fiscal year in 2024. A report by CNN cited theft as well as declines in prescription sales as reasons contributing to the closures.

    Related: Vacant Walgreens in Citrus Heights to get new tenant—Citrus Heights Sentinel

    Sacramento Business Journal reported in May that the Bay Area-based mattress company secured leases for four Sacramento area locations, including a location in Roseville, which opened in May, and locations in Citrus Heights, Rocklin, and Folsom.

    The Rocklin store is scheduled to open mid-July in the Rocklin Commons center, followed by the Citrus Town Center location, expected to open one month later, according to the business journal. A confirmed opening date was not immediately available from Sunrise MarketPlace or Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage Inc. by press time.

    Mancini’s Sleepworld was founded in 1969 by Carl and Patsy Mancini, according to the company’s website. The flagship store, still open today, was located in Sunnyvale, California, and was originally a full-line furniture store named Mancini’s Furniture.

    Mancini’s Sleepworld currently operates over 40 locations in California, as indicated in their official store locator, spanning across Northern and Central California, from Livermore and San Jose to Napa and Stockton, with a newer location in Roseville.

  • Citrus Heights Community Marching Band celebrates 20 years at site of future memorial amphitheater

    Citrus Heights Community Marching Band celebrated 20 years with a concert event at the future site of the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater, at Rusch Park, June 25, 2025. // SB Williams
    Citrus Heights Community Marching Band celebrated 20 years with a concert event at the future site of the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater, at Rusch Park, June 25, 2025. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band celebrated its 20th anniversary last Wednesday with a concert at the future site of the Kathy Cook Memorial Amphitheater located at Rusch Park.

    Marching band families and friends joined together to listen to multiple songs from the band as they celebrated both their 20th anniversary and the birthday of their late founder, Kathy Cook, who passed away in 2021.

    Situated inside blue lines that indicated the outline of the future stage, the band played multiple patriotic tunes, a few 70s tunes, compilations from “Star Trek” and “Wicked,” and the theme to the hit Disney show, “Mandalorian.”

    Marching band member Steven Smith, who has been with the band since 2019, said he is “super excited” about the prospect of the memorial amphitheater becoming a reality.

    “We’ve been really working diligently with the community to try and boost our presence in the community and get lots of donors to help us make this dream come to fruition,” Smith said, adding that he’s on the band’s fundraising committee.

    Progress on bringing the memorial amphitheater to the park was first pitched to Sunrise Recreation and Park District in 2022 and has been slow going, according to several band leaders and Citrus Heights City Council members, but the band celebrated a win Wednesday night, announcing that a bid for construction has been released.

    Citrus Heights Marching Band Executive Director Bill Cook, who has been working with the park district extensively, is hopeful that the project will break ground sometime this summer.

    Following the band’s finale “fight song,” the band invited attendees to enjoy complimentary hot dogs, soda, and chips in honor of the organization’s birthday.

    Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa, along with Cook, recounted the first year the community band marched together down Sunrise Boulevard during one of the city’s annual parades. Cook said the marching band began with only 13 members. The band has grown significantly in the last two decades, with a nine-year-old as its youngest member and a 96-year-old as its oldest member, according to Smith.

    Karpinski-Costa said she had been serving as a city council member then and added she was “so proud” of what Kathy Cook had accomplished in founding the community marching band.

    The band is continuing to raise money in order to fund the construction of the new musical venue. Residents can help fund the project by purchasing commemorative bricks, according to a flyer handed out by the band on Wednesday night. Tiers of donations include $100, $225, and $500. For more information or inquiries on how to donate, visit the community band’s website.

  • Auburn Blvd. construction project in Citrus Heights nearing halfway point

    Temporary Bright orange sign that reads "Business Open. Driveway Here."
    Bright orange temporary signs have been placed along the construction zones on Auburn Blvd. // SB Williams.

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Phase 2 of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project is nearing its projected halfway point, and progress is continuing on schedule, according to the city.

    Citrus Heights General Services Director Regina Cave reported at the end of May that all of the joint trenching is done, and utility companies are currently dropping lines into the ground. Simultaneously, contractors are working on the west side of the boulevard, working on civil improvements like sidewalk construction. Once utility companies complete undergrounding utility lines, construction will move to the east side.

    Project costs are expected to remain at approximately $35 million, the city reported in its Five-Year Capital Improvement Program report, with $14 million of that cost being spent this year and another $4 million in the following year. The major capital works project is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026.

    History of the project

    Since construction began at the end of July in 2024, at least one lane has remained closed—even outside construction hours. While the city has noted on social media posts that businesses along Auburn Boulevard are still open, many residents have expressed frustration, calling traffic “a nightmare” and describing lane closures as “inconvenient.”

    In comments on social media, some drivers have said they were purposely avoiding the area until the work is complete, due to traffic backups.

    Businesses have consistently complained about the construction, telling The Sentinel the constant construction along points of entry creates confusion for customers, and at least one business has said customers frequently call asking if their store is still open.

    To address questions and concerns, the city said it is holding weekly drop-in office hours at Rusch Community Park’s Community Center from 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Thursday during the construction project, where construction management team members will be on hand.

    Residents can also contact the city’s General Services Department at (916) 727-4770 or email ABC2@citrusheights.net to schedule a meeting.

    Detour signs have also been placed along neighborhood streets near Auburn Boulevard to help drivers circumvent problematic areas, and the vehicle gate leading from the neighborhood into and out of Rusch Park has also remained open.

    As well, bright orange signs with directional arrows indicating that businesses are open have been placed at entrance driveways.

    Business owners also complained of impacts to their establishments during construction on the first phase of improvements on Auburn Boulevard over ten years ago but celebrated the completion of the project in 2014.

    Planned improvements in the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Street project include undergrounding of overhead utilities, installation of bicycle lanes and wide sidewalks, upgrading traffic signals to meet current standards, increasing safety and visibility through decorative street lighting, beautifying the corridor with new landscaping and trees, replacing old storm drain infrastructure, and enhancing transit stops for ADA compliance.

    The city also plans to construct a “Welcome to Citrus Heights” gateway structure at the northern city limits and complete a full roadway overlay and new striping.

    More information about the Auburn Boulevard Complete Street Project Phase 2 can be found on the city’s website.

  • Citrus Heights Police to add code enforcement, animal control, drones, to combat illegal fireworks

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    With Independence Day just around the corner, the Citrus Heights Police Department plans to ramp up its efforts to ensure a safer holiday for all residents.

    Citrus Heights Police Commander Michael Wells recently presented the department’s comprehensive fireworks enforcement strategy for 2025 to the Citrus Heights City Council Wednesday night, highlighting both its educational outreach and aggressive enforcement plans aimed at curbing the use of illegal fireworks.

    “Protecting our community and providing a safe environment is always our number one goal,” said Wells, emphasizing that July 3 and 4 are historically the most demanding days for the city’s dispatch call center.

    In 2023, fireworks-related calls made up 44 percent of all calls on July 4, amounting to 175 calls. In 2024, the number slightly increased to 178 calls, accounting for 48 percent of the day’s total call volume.

    To address the ongoing concern, the City Council previously approved amendments that strengthened the city’s illegal fireworks ordinance, raising the fine for a first violation from $750 to $1,000 and the fine for a second violation from $1,000 to $2,500. The ordinance now also allows citations to be issued per individual illegal device. In tandem, the city’s social host ordinance was updated to include properties under a host’s “apparent control,” expanding the scope of accountability and tightening enforcement capabilities.

    A key component of this year’s illegal fireworks enforcement plan is proactive community outreach, Wells said. Approximately 100 warning letters were mailed out to residents with a history of discharging illegal fireworks. Additionally, the police department rolled out a “Keep it Safe, Keep it Legal” campaign across social media platforms to educate the public on the dangers and penalties associated with illegal fireworks.

    For those witnessing violations, the police department is encouraging residents to use the “SeeClickFix” app, which allows anonymous reporting or the option to submit a witness attestation to violations, allowing the police department to then issue citations.

    In an effort to free up emergency lines and enhance follow-up efforts, Wells said the department plans to have code enforcement officers work alongside dispatchers. This allows dispatch to prioritize emergency calls while enabling code enforcement staff to return calls and gather critical details from fireworks complaints in order to provide real-time information to officers in the field.

    The department also plans to increase its physical presence throughout neighborhoods on July 3 and 4. Additionally, unmanned aerial drones will also be deployed to proactively identify the source of illegal fireworks.

    “The drones should be able to pinpoint the location responsible for the illegal fireworks, and that residence will receive a social host ordinance citation,” Wells said.

    Animal control officers will also be on duty to respond to any increase in animal distress calls that often occur as a result of illegal fireworks.

    Instead of using illegal fireworks, the police department is encouraging residents to attend public, professionally run fireworks shows, which are “safer, legal, and designed with the community in mind,” said Wells.

    Residents are invited to enjoy the city’s upcoming Stars and Stripes celebration event on Saturday, June 28, which will feature a professional fireworks display and family-friendly activities, the department said.

    “Celebrations should bring people together—not end in tragedy,” Wells added. “If you see something dangerous, please say something.”

  • Sunrise Mall majority owner reportedly looking to exit

    Sunrise Mall
    Sunrise Mall, Citrus Heights. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    One Sunrise Mall property owner is actively pursuing an off-market sale.

    Majority owner Namdar Realty Group is actively seeking brokers to help facilitate an off-market sale of the 50 acres they own, according to Sacramento Business Journal.

    Up until April, Ethan Conrad Properties had been in escrow to purchase 50 acres of Sunrise Mall’s property pending a decision by the Citrus Heights City Council on an informal amendment request to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.

    Ethan Conrad, CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties, previously stated to The Sentinel, multiple neighborhood area groups, and the City Council that he would not continue with purchasing the mall if his informal plans were rejected.

    At an April 23 City Council meeting, the City Council denied the informal request and site plans submitted by Ethan Conrad Properties. A majority of city council members encouraged Conrad to continue pursuing the purchase of the remaining acres of the mall, and to return to the council with plans that better aligned with the city’s future vision for the large property. Conrad ultimately chose to forgo completing the purchase.

    Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney reaffirmed the city’s stance on continuing to pursue the Sunrise Tomorrow plan in an email message to the community on Monday, saying, “The City Council heard the community voice a desire to continue to strive for a more aspirational vision that current and future residents would be proud of.”

    According to emails obtained by the Sacramento Business Journal, Namdar Realty is attempting to facilitate an off-sale deal with the help of commercial real estate brokers. There is no price tag included in the email, according to the journal.

    “We’re not looking to mass-market the property or hire anyone exclusively, but we will pay a market fee to any broker who brings us a buyer,” Namdar Realty wrote in at least one email.

    Namdar Realty has not responded to multiple requests for comment from The Sentinel regarding Conrad’s decision to forgo purchasing the remaining acreage, or regarding the more than $300,000 in code enforcement fines levied against the realty group for continued neglect of the property, but Namdar Realty leadership has traveled to Citrus Heights recently and met with city officials, according to Feeney.

    Feeney also said, in response to multiple complaints about the property, the city obtained an inspection warrant, conducted a comprehensive assessment, and “identified numerous health and safety violations.” A formal Notice to Abate has been issued and remains in effect, Feeney added.

    The Sunrise Mall property spans nearly 100 acres and is currently divided into seven separate parcels owned by five different entities, including Ethan Conrad Properties, JCPenney, Antioch Street LP, Red Robin, and Namdar Realty Group. JCPenney currently owns 18 acres, while Antioch Street LP and Red Robin own smaller parcels in the northeast and northwest corners of the property.

    On commercial real estate website LoopNet, Ethan Conrad Properties has a listing for the former Sears, at 5900 Sunrise Blvd., for $11.1 million, which is down from the original $16 million price tag, according to prior reports.

    The 50 acres of property owned by Namdar Realty include 580,000 square feet of buildings with a current occupancy of 35 percent, according to the real estate group.

    Namdar paid $25.6 million for the majority of the mall in 2018 and another $3.5 million for one of the former Macy’s stores and its adjacent parking lot in 2020.

  • Citrus Heights council appoints another Planning Commissioner

    Scott Kaufman, new planning commisoner
    Scott Kaufman was appointed as a new Planning Commissioner, replacing Oleg Shishko who resigned. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A new planning commissioner appointment was recently ratified by the Citrus Heights City Council, the second appointment to be made within the last several months.

    The appointment of Scott Kaufman was unanimously approved by the City Council on June 11. Kaufman’s appointment comes following Planning Commissioner Oleg Shishko’s resignation, submitted on May 20, according to a city staff report. Shishko was originally appointed by Councilmember Tim Schaefer. Kaufman’s term on the Planning Commission extends to December 31, 2028.

    Kaufman has resided in Citrus Heights for three years and currently works as a legislative director with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association according to the staff report. Kaufman is also president of his homeowner’s association, vice president of the Sacramento Taxpayers Association, and serves as a taxpayer representative on the San Juan Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee.

    In March, Alan Utzig was chosen by Citrus Heights Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa to replace former Chair Natalee Price, who notified the city on Jan. 28 that she would be resigning from the Planning Commission, effective March 1. Price was originally appointed to the Planning Commission by Karpinski-Costa. Utzig’s term will last until Dec. 31, 2026.

  • How much of the city budget goes to Citrus Heights Police?

    How much of the city budget goes to Citrus Heights Police?

    A summary of Citrus Heights General Fund revenues and expenditures for the city’s 2025-26 budget, taken from the June 11, City Council agenda packet.

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Police Department continues to represent the largest share of the city’s General Fund expenditures, according to a report from the city on June 11.

    In a breakdown of funding allocated to the Police Department shared to the Citrus Heights City Council on June 11, the city said the Police Department will receive about $28 million for the next fiscal year and several hundred thousand dollars more the following year.

    Funding for police comes from both the General Fund and special funds, with Police Department funding totaling about 57 percent of the city’s $46 million in revenue, or $26.2 million. Special funds are specific and restricted in use, bringing the Police Department’s funding total just over $28 million for fiscal year 2025-26.

    The funding covers operations, including patrol and communications, and special services, which include IMPACT and Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) detectives, traffic, code enforcement, and animal services.

    The IMPACT and POP teams focus on addressing chronic crime and community concerns, with proactive efforts such as drug enforcement, homelessness response, and neighborhood safety.

    A line-by-line chart reveals that for this year, over $2 million in funds is allocated to the Office of the Chief of Police, $13 million toward patrol operations, and $2.7 million toward communications and dispatch operations.

    For special services, the department plans to use $2.7 million for general and IMPACT investigations, $3.3 million for POP and traffic operations, just over $1 million for code enforcement operations, and $1 million will go toward animal services.

    The biennial budget report shows the city also requested additional positions to be funded, including a POP sergeant. The request won’t require a new hire, as a police officer is being reclassifed to POP sergeant. However, the position does require an anticipated $37,000 in additional funding.

    Citrus Heights Administrative Services Director Susan Talwar emphasized that the upcoming mid-year review, typically presented in January, will provide the public with updated figures on how money is being spent within the Police Department. Fiscal years end on June 30 each year, and the city conducts both mid-year and annual reviews of the budget.

    A pie chart shared with the City Council shows 23 percent of the remaining general funds are being allocated toward administrative services, eight percent to general services, three percent to the city manager’s office, and the rest of the funds will go toward economic development and community engagement, community development, and transfers to non-general fund reserves.

    The Citrus Heights City Council unanimously passed the biennial budget on Wednesday, June 11. The full budget can be viewed in the agenda packet.

    The Sentinel welcomes letters about local issues. To submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here.

  • Veteran, historian from Citrus Heights honored at Aerospace Museum memorial

    Attendees gathered on June 13 at a memorial held at the Aerospace Museum of California to remember Raymond S. Oliver. // M. Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip–
    Friends of Raymond S. Oliver gathered at the Aerospace Museum of California last Friday to remember the Citrus Heights man known as an historian, journalist, and curmudgeon.

    The celebration, titled “Everybody Loves Raymond,” was held at the museum that is now part of McClellan Park. Friends and family highlighted Oliver’s contributions to the Citrus Heights community and as a founding member of the Aerospace Museum.

    Oliver’s niece, Kat Griffith, said she remembers her uncle as a kind and generous person despite what Griffith called a grumpy persona.

    “Oh, he was a grouch,” Griffith said of Oliver. “He was a wonderful, funny, knowledgeable, interesting, sarcastic, grouch, which sums him up beautifully I think.”

    Oliver was instrumental in creating what was originally named the Air Force Logistics Museum of the West at McClellan Air Force Base, according to Griffith. Articles retrieved from the Sacramento Bee show Oliver worked to acquire some of the organization’s first aircraft, an F-86, F-101, and an EC-121.

    Oliver was also involved in renaming the organization to the McClellan Aviation Museum, according to the Bee. That name would continue until 2005 when the organization took on the current title, Aerospace Museum of California.

    Larry Fritz of the Citrus Heights Historical Society said that Oliver also worked as the historian for McClellan Air Force Base, writing for a newsletter that was distributed throughout the base. Fritz credited Oliver with being the founder and first curator of the museum.

    “At some point, it became a big thing,” Fritz said of the museum. “They turned it into what we now know today as the Aerospace Museum of California. Much bigger than it was when Ray started it. But he was the founder and the one who got this whole thing going.”

    After initially facing opposition for the museum, Fritz said Oliver eventually found support after a change in command.

    Oliver became involved in the Citrus Heights Historical Society after moving to the city from North Highlands in 2016, Fritz said.

    “He had such a love for history and a love of sharing history with people that he fit right in with our group,” Fritz said.

    Fritz described Oliver as fun to be with, despite his reputation as a curmudgeon.

    Oliver met Helen in a widowed persons group after his first wife, Olga, passed away. The two grew close during the last seven years of Oliver’s life, Helen said.

    “Everybody loves Raymond,” Helen said. “He’s just a totally lovable guy. He had his opinions but he was never outspoken, never condemning anything. He was such a wonderful guy.”

    Oliver was born in 1935 and passed away Thursday, April 10, 2025.

  • 2025 Citrus Heights Police Logs Spotlight: June 12-18

    Sentinel Staff report–
    Latest police logs show an increase in homeless-related calls and a drop in vehicle violations and vandalism. Below are the total number of incidents reported from June 12-18, along with comparison totals from the prior week:

    • Animal control: 14 (up from 9)
    • 911 hangups: 26 (down from 32)
    • Code enforcement: 44 (up from 43)
    • Traffic accidents: 38 (up from 34)
    • Vehicle violations: 243 (down from 252)
    • Theft: 30 (up from 29)
    • Homeless-related: 25 (up from 16)
    • Vandalism: 6 (down from 8)
    • Violent/threats: 27 (down from 40)
    • Disturbance: 91 (down from 119)
    • Suspicious circumstances: 166 (down from 183)
    • All incidents: 1,229 (down from 1,284)

    Arrest and incident logs can be viewed on the city’s website here.

    06-12-2025 Activity Log | 06-14-2025 Activity Log | 06-15-2025 Activity Log | 06-16-2025 Activity Log | 06-17-2025 Activity Log | 06-18-2025 Activity Log

    The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.

    The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”

    The Citrus Heights Police Department notes that its logs “are not intended as a full and complete list of all police activity,” with some information not displayed for legal reasons, such as arrests of minors. As such, police advise that summary totals based on public logs may differ from weekly incident and arrest totals posted by police on social media.

    The department notes on its website that: “All arrested suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty. Additionally, the original crimes, nature of offenses, and charges may be amended or dismissed as further information is made available.”

    Editor’s Note: police log summaries are published with assistance from AI, but edited by humans. Please contact us if you spot an error.