Author: Sara Beth Williams

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a service agreement for the development of preliminary infrastructure phasing work for the Sunrise Tomorrow project.

The service agreement was approved 3 to 0 and was part of the consent calendar. Consent calendar items are a block of items voted on as one, unless an item is pulled for discussion or separate action by a council member. Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa and councilmember Kelsey Nelson were absent from the Oct. 22 council meeting.

The service agreement with Cunningham Engineering to carry out preliminary engineering and infrastructure planning is not to exceed $178,000 according to the city. The work will be fully funded by a Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Green Means Go Planning Grant awarded to the city in 2024.

The Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, approved in November 2021, lays out a long-term vision for transforming the 100-acre Sunrise Mall site into a mixed-use community that includes housing, retail, entertainment, and open space. As the plan has the potential to result in significant increases in the density and diversity of uses on the site, detailed infrastructure planning has become a “critical next step” in unlocking the property’s development potential, the city said.

While major utilities such as water, sewer, and power are already available along Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, the site still requires project-specific infrastructure, including internal utility networks and stormwater systems, to enable full redevelopment.

In December 2022, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a previous service agreement with Cunningham Engineering for infrastructure capacity analysis and financing strategy development funded through SACOG’s Green Means Go Early Activation Grant. That work produced a draft roadmap identifying potential financing opportunities and helped the city evaluate infrastructure capacity for key development sites within the Sunrise Tomorrow area, the city said in its staff report.

The newly awarded $178,000 planning grant will fund preliminary engineering for underground infrastructure, including capacity analysis, phasing, and other technical studies. Grant funds must be completely utilized by June 30, 2026.

The proposed scope of work includes an assessment of on-site trunkline infrastructure needs, capacity, and phasing required to support full buildout of the Specific Plan.

According to staff, advancing this level of infrastructure planning now allows the city to respond to developer inquiries more precisely, identify potential constraints early, and solidify its understanding of future infrastructure demands.

No new environmental review is required. The work is consistent with the Sunrise Tomorrow Environmental Impact Report adopted with the Specific Plan in 2021.

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday approved an agreement with Dokken Engineering for professional services related to the design and development of an Arcade Cripple Creek Trail Extension Project, marking another step forward in the city’s efforts to expand its existing trail system.

The project, funded through a $1,189,000 Regional Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) grant awarded by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) in 2024, will advance through the final design phase and lay the groundwork for future construction once additional funding becomes available.

The Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail extension will add a half-mile segment to the city’s growing network of multi-use trails, connecting the existing trail within the Stock Ranch Nature Preserve to Sylvan Road via an existing easement at the Huntington Square Apartments.

Designed to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists, the project will provide safer and more direct access to local neighborhoods, shopping centers, schools, and more, the city said.

In addition to a paved, multi-use path, the project’s design includes several infrastructure improvements, including a stop light and pedestrian crossing at Sylvan Road, pathway lighting to improve safety during evening hours, and a new bridge crossing Arcade Creek.

On April 24, the city issued a Request for Proposals seeking qualified firms to provide engineering, environmental documentation, right-of-way, and public outreach services. After receiving one proposal, city staff determined that Dokken Engineering was the most qualified firm to deliver the project.

Following a detailed review of project scope and costs, the city finalized an agreement with Dokken Engineering for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,175,752. The CRP grant includes a minimum 11.5 percent local match requirement, which will be met through a combination of staff time and Measure A Traffic Safety Funds.

City staff emphasized that the project aligns with the city’s Creek Corridor Trail Project Feasibility Report, which envisions a connected trail system linking neighborhoods, parks, and commercial areas throughout Citrus Heights.

Once the design phase is complete, the city will pursue additional grants to fund construction and potentially extend Dokken Engineering’s contract for bidding and construction support services.

By Sara Beth Williams–CDBG funds are federal funds from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. There is no anticipated impact on the city’s General Fund. While the exact grant amount will not be confirmed until mid-2026, staff estimates the city will receive $600,000 in block grant entitlement funds for the 2026 program year.

Fifteen percent, or $90,000, of the $600,000 is available for public services; 20 percent, or $120,000, is available for administration; and $390,000 is available for capital and housing activities.

Over $110,000 in funding was requested from four nonprofit organizations, but the city is only allowed to allocate up to $90,000 for public services.

The Quality of Life committee, which reviews submitted grant requests, recommended Meals on Wheels and Community Link Capital Region and Project Sentinel, receive the full amounts requested. Meals on Wheels requested $16,000, and Project Sentinel requested $24,444. In contrast, the city recommended a $20,000 allocation to Campus Life Connection, which requested $28,000, and a $29,556 allocation to Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, which requested $42,840.

The city is also recommending an estimated $390,000 to fund block grant-eligible capital improvements associated with the city’s Pavement Resurfacing Project. In partnership with the General Service Department, the project will consist of accessibility improvements to sidewalks, such as installing ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, installing missing or repairing damaged sidewalks, and relocating drainage inlets as necessary at various locations yet to be determined.

The city also anticipates receiving $50,000 in program income funds from loan repayments next year. If the draft action plan is approved, 80 percent of program income generated from loan income repayments would be allocated to the city’s Revolving Loan Fund, which supports the housing repair program for low- and moderate-income households, and 20 percent would be allocated to general planning and administrative activities to support the effective management of the CDBG program.

Representatives from all four nonprofits spoke Wednesday night, expressing their gratitude to the city and council for the planned allocation of funds.

If the city receives a higher dollar amount than estimated, funds will be distributed equally between several nonprofits already receiving funding, the city said Wednesday.

“These activities are designed to address local community needs and include a range of eligible uses such as public service programs that support low- and moderate-income residents, public infrastructure improvements to enhance accessibility, and planning and administrative efforts necessary to ensure effective management and compliance with federal requirements,” the city said in its staff report.

A second public hearing will be held on Nov. 12 during the city’s next regular City Council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall, in which the 2026 draft action plan will be reviewed for a final time and officially submitted to the City Council or approval.

Once the plan is adopted, the action plan will be submitted to HUD for review and final approval.

All comments submitted during the public comment period will be reviewed and incorporated into the Citizen Participation section of the final plan, as required by HUD guidelines, the city said.

By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council is expected on Wednesday to issue several proclamations, hear Community Development Block Grant funding allocation recommendations, and consider approving preliminary infrastructure planning funds for the Sunrise Tomorrow plan. The City Council will meet Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall.

Proclamations: The Citrus Heights City Council plans to issue several proclamations recognizing community causes and professional contributions at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. These include the Proclamation of October 19–25, 2025, as “United Against Hate Week”; October 2025 as “National Manufacturing Month”; October 2025 as “National Community Planning Month”; and the second week of October as “Code Enforcement Officer Appreciation Week.”

Consent Calendar: As part of the consent calendar, the City Council is slated to consider the approval of several key items aimed at improving public safety, infrastructure, and long-term community development. These include accepting project funding through the California Office of Traffic Safety DUI/STEP Grant, approving an amendment to the professional services agreement for a Creek Erosion and Bridge Scour Protection Project, and awarding an on-call professional services agreement to Pavement Aces for the city’s Pavement Preservation Program. The Council will also review a proposed professional services agreement with Dokken Engineering for the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail extension project between Sylvan and Stock Ranch, consider final acceptance of the Police Department Emergency Communications Center Remodel Project, and evaluate a service agreement not to exceed $178,000 for the development of preliminary infrastructure phasing work for the Sunrise Tomorrow Project.

Items in the consent calendar are voted on as a block unless a councilmember pulls a specific item to vote on separately.

Public Hearing: The City Council is expected to hear and consider approval of recommended Community Development Block Grant funding allocations to four different nonprofit organizations totaling $90,000, including Campus Life Connection, Meals on Wheels, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, and Community Link Capital Region and Project Sentinel. The city is also recommending $390,000, to fund block grant-eligible capital improvements associated with the city’s Pavement Resurfacing Project

The agenda item is listed as a public hearing.

Citrus Heights Arts District: The City Council is slated to hear and consider approving the formation of an official Citrus Heights Arts District. The proposed location of the new Arts District would include the area along Auburn Boulevard from the Sylvan Community Center located on Community Drive, to the northern city limits.

There is no fiscal impact, the city said, but there may be opportunities to utilize various city grant funding programs to support local arts and culture and art in public spaces. Any additional funding needs for implementation, events, or signage will be presented to the City Council for consideration during the annual budget process or as funding opportunities arise.

Municipal Code amendments: The City Council is expected to receive recommended ordinance amendments, including updates related to building, safety, and fire regulation.

The proposed ordinance incorporates the California Code of regulations into the city’s Municipal Code. The ordinance includes minor local amendments related to permit expiration and increased safety standards related to pool design requirements. These building regulations if approved, will take effect 180 days after publication, or Jan. 1, 2026.

Also included for consideration is the ratification of the ordinance for Chapter 38, Fire Prevention and Protection, which was prepared by the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, to incorporate amendments to the California Fire Code. If approved, these ordinance amendments will have the same effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Code Enforcement report: The City Council is scheduled to hear a report from the Citrus Heights Police Department regarding efforts made by the department’s code enforcement teams within the city’s commercial corridors.

See the full agenda packet here.

Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at City Hall, at 6 p.m., or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting. City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.