City manager Ash Feeney, April 9, 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council recently approved an employment agreement amendment for City Manager Ashley Feeney, raising his annual salary to $290,000. The request for an employment agreement amendment came following the city manager’s annual performance evaluation, which was held during a closed session in March.
The city manager has received favorable performance evaluations but has not received a merit-based salary or cost-of-living increase, city attorney Ryan Jones said Wednesday, April 9 during the City Council meeting.
The results of a compensation comparison done by city staff showed that Feeney had the lowest salary of other comparable agencies, the city said in a staff report. The performance of Feeney and the compensation at comparable agencies were considered by the City Council in negotiating an amendment to the city manager’s employment agreement.
The City Council also took into consideration that the median annual retirement costs for the other agencies for their top administrators were $37,429, as their members are Classic Public Employee Retirement System members. Feeney is not a “classic” member of the CalPERS system but is a “PEPRA” member, which has a formula that is based on the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013, which significantly altered the way CalPERS retirement benefits are applied. Feeney’s annual retirement costs are $14,638.
Effective upon the City Council’s approval on April 9, Feeney’s new annual salary will be $290,000 with a monthly base salary of $24,167.
A table listed in the city’s staff report shows Feeney’s new monthly base salary will be less than most other neighboring agencies. The city manager will also receive a $500 car allowance per month.
Other terms of the agreement that are being amended include that the term of the at-will employment agreement will be ongoing until either party terminates the agreement. The amended agreement will provide for a 45-day notice period if terminated by the employee, unless the termination is for retirement, then a 90-day notice will be provided.
According to the California State Controller’s Government Compensation in California website, in 2023, Feeney’s total wages were listed as $274,351. In the same year, the total wages for Roseville’s city manager were listed as $344,911, Folsom’s city manager earned $303,000, and Sacramento’s City Manger’s total wages were listed as $593,240. Annual salary information for 2024 has yet to be released.
The entrance to Hall’s Furniture was framed by plywood Thursday after a vehicle crashed through the store’s entrance on Monday. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A vehicle crashed through the entrance of a furniture store on Mariposa Avenue on Monday, according to police.
Citrus Heights Police were called out to Mariposa Avenue near Antelope Road after 1 p.m. on Monday afternoon, April 14, to reports of a single vehicle running into the front entrance of Hall’s Furniture on Mariposa Avenue. Police said Tuesday the vehicle had only one female occupant, and that the building sustained minor damage.
Hall’s Furniture remains open as of Thursday. Plywood has replaced the front windows that were damaged during the incident. Photos shared with The Sentinel by Hall’s Furniture staff show a white SUV crashing all the way through the front entrance and into the store, taking out the doorway and front glass windows. The vehicle also struck multiple pieces of furniture, which Hall’s Furniture employee William Le said will need to be replaced. Ordering new furniture can take three months, Le estimated.
Le also said multiple people were inside the store at the time of the incident, but no injuries were reported by store staff or police officials. Hall’s Furniture did not disclose the cost of replacing furniture or the timeline for repairing the entrance.
The female driver was evaluated at the scene by medical personnel but was not transported to the hospital, according to police. No arrests were made.
The varsity girls softball field at San Juan High School has recently been revamped and renamed Lex VonBergen Field, in honor of the Class of 1974. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– The San Juan High School girls’ softball team now has a newly revamped field to call their own, thanks to the help of the Citrus Heights Rotary Club and graduates from the Class of 1974.
Citrus Heights Rotary Club member Albert Fox said in an interview that the club donated $10,000 to the San Juan Alumni Association, which then used the funding to revitalize an old boys’ baseball diamond at San Juan High School into a functional softball field for the girls’ varsity softball team.
Initially, a request had been submitted to the Rotary Club for a smaller sum to help fund the project, but the club ultimately decided to take on the revitalization of the field as a “legacy project.”
“A legacy project adds sustainable value to the community,” Fox said.
With the help of volunteers and funding, the field was reseeded, new benches were added, two storage containers were donated, additional sod was laid in the infield, and bases were installed at the required intervals for softball. San Juan High School Principal David Levis also said the Rotary Club and the Class of ’74 installed a practice pitching run, and the San Juan Unified School District contributed new sprinklers.
“The girls are really taking to it,” Levis said. Girls’ varsity softball head coach Sara Garcia added that the team painted the benches and the backboards bright red.
Last fall, the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the girls’ softball field after 1974 San Juan High School graduate Lex VonBergen. The field now displays her name and photo on a red sign attached to the fence for spectators to see.
The players also have new jerseys with the number 74 printed on the back and “Lex” in place of where last names would typically be.
Currently, the outfield has a temporary fence, but the district has agreed to install permanent fencing as part of the upcoming football stadium revitalization project, Levis confirmed during a visit to the school last week.
“All of the sports are funded through fundraising and ticket sales,” Levis said. The district also provides stipends for coaches and transportation for teams to travel to away games. Garcia noted that the majority of their games are away.
The girls’ varsity softball team has a 16-game season and recently completed two games against Mesa Verde High School. The team has four more games scheduled in April, with the final game of the season set for Thursday, May 1, against Highlands High School.
Several unhoused guests were fed at Foundation Christian Church in Citrus Heights during HART’s annual Winter Sanctuary in January 2025. // Foundation Christian Church
By Sara Beth Williams– Homeless advocates and hundreds of volunteers came together in Citrus Heights and beyond to help serve dozens of unhoused individuals during an annual “winter sanctuary” operated by the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART).
In an annual update for 2025, the nonprofit reported that this year’s rotating winter shelter served a total of 62 unhoused individuals, providing them with a variety of basic needs. Over 600 volunteers from various organizations throughout the city and beyond helped make running the shelter possible, according to the press release from Citrus Heights HART.
Six churches hosted guests for a total of 42 nights from Jan. 12 through Feb. 22. Each church hosted the unhoused for one week, providing overnight stays. Messiah Lutheran Church on Rosswood Drive in Citrus Heights, served as the nightly registration point for participants.
Unsheltered individuals were required to first register each night. Once registered, a bus transported individuals to that night’s host church. Participating churches provided guests with a hot meal, a cot to sleep on, new undergarments, a hot shower, and a to-go bag of food for the next day. Several churches also offered AA and NA meetings.
Citrus Heights HART President Irene Hronicek said Foundation Christian Church had a shower on site, allowing individuals the option to shower every night. Whenever a church did not have on-site shower facilities, a mobile shower unit was brought to each of the location on Mondays and Fridays.
In the update, Citrus Heights HART reported that two unhoused individuals were reunited with family, and two former shelter guests returned this year to volunteer. Zero citations were issued, and zero emergency calls were made requiring police intervention.
During a visit to Foundation Christian Church on Jan. 29, Hronicek said the program had been successful thus far and noted that at least one individual had been able to secure a job due to resources and connections provided during the program.
Though no citations were given out, but two individuals were asked not to return due to violations of program expectations. Hronicek said this occurs each year and that there are 18 different rules that participants must follow. During registration, each individual signs an agreement to abide by these rules in order to participate.
Homeless advocate Alfred Sanchez volunteers each year by providing a cooked meal, along with snack items for guests to take with them in the morning. This year, Sanchez provided a meal to 12 guests at Foundation Christian Church.
In a phone call Thursday, Sanchez said the program went well and is well-organized.
“They’ve been doing it so long, it runs like a well-oiled machine,” Sanchez said, adding that he was sad that it only lasted six weeks.
Six individuals were transported to the emergency room, and two individuals passed away during the six-week shelter period, according to HART’s annual report. When asked about the first death in January, Hronicek said the first individual was very sick, and she was grateful he did not die alone outside in a park. Hronicek did not respond to a request for comment regarding the second death.
Sanchez said death of the unhoused does occur and seems to happen more in the winter because it’s a lot “harsher” during the winter months.
In its annual update, Citrus Heights HART thanked local volunteers and partner organizations for helping the program run smoothly. Contributors included Sunrise Christian Food Ministry, who provided foodstuffs used for to-go breakfasts given to guests, Laundry Love who provided laundry services, Dignity Health representatives who provided health checkups and medical care, and the homeless navigators from Community Health Works who helped connect individuals with important resources in the county.
The Winter Sanctuary program is an annual volunteer-run effort that provides shelter for those who are unsheltered during several weeks at the beginning of each year. In previous years, the shelter has operated for longer duration and more churches were able to participate. In 2023, the program ran from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25.
Submitted by Ashley Amaro– Peter Brown, 74, passed away on April 4, 2025, in Citrus Heights, California. Born on July 11, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, Peter lived a life marked by service, loyalty, and a deep appreciation for history.
In 1969, at the age of 19, Peter answered the call to serve his country and joined the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He served honorably until 1971 and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat—a testament to his bravery and sacrifice. His time in Vietnam remained a significant chapter in his life; he often reflected on those years with a sense of pride and solemn remembrance.
Peter had a lifelong passion for history. He found joy in reading historical accounts and watching films that brought the past to life. This love of history extended into his personal interests as well—he was an avid gun collector who appreciated both the craftsmanship and historical significance of his collection.
Peter was a talented chef and enjoyed cooking Italian dishes for his family. He had fond memories of growing up in Brooklyn and sharing meals with his cousins and extended family.
Those who knew Peter remember him as a trusted and dependable friend—someone who could be counted on through thick and thin. His quiet strength and unwavering loyalty left a lasting impression on all who crossed his path.
Peter leaves behind his beloved wife, Ann Brown; four daughters: Meghan Brown of San Francisco, Ashley Amaro of Brentwood, Kelsey Reardon of Clayton, and Heather Ahmadzai of Brentwood; as well as six grandchildren who brought him great joy.
May Peter’s memory bring comfort to those who knew him and serve as a reminder of a life lived with courage and integrity.
*Publisher’s Note: As a free service to family members who have lost a loved one, The Sentinel publishes online obituaries of Citrus Heights residents or former residents at no cost. To submit an obituary, click here.
Once a bustling retail hub, Sunrise Mall now sits nearly vacant, with roughly a fifth of its tenant capacity filled. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– More than 20 stores remain open inside Sunrise Mall, although the once-bustling retail hub is now operating at only fraction of its full capacity.
Local reports from 2022 indicated more than 40 businesses were operating at the time, but ongoing closures have left large sections of the mall vacant, highlighting the continued decline of the decades-old shopping center.
On several recent visits to Sunrise Mall, Sentinel staff found just over 20 stores still remaining inside Sunrise Mall. Several national chain tenants are still operating, including anchor store JCPenney, along with Hallmark, Famous Footwear, Shoe Palace, T-Mobile, Torrid, Claire’s, and Lids. National retailer Spencer’s is still open but recently announced plans to close its Sunrise Mall location in mid-April.
Independently owned Royal Stage theater is also still operating, with a full slate of shows planned throughout April and May. Other independently owned stores still open include California Basics, Breakout, M&M Couture, a formalwear shop, Image, a retailer offering clothing and gifts, Perfumes Luxe, which offers men’s and women’s perfume and cologne, T & Z Toys, Aria Furniture, and Top’s Men’s Fashion.
La Estetica Hair Salon, which opened in 2021 along with hair salons inside JCPenney, still remains operational, along with four jewelry stores, including Kay Jewelers, Sam’s Jewelers, Infinity Jewelers, and Ron’s Jewelers.
The Underground Clothing store is still a tenant inside the mall; however, the shop serves unhoused families within the San Juan Unified School District who need clothing. Donations are accepted on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and eligible shoppers are referred to the store by appointment only.
Since the beginning of 2025, multiple stores have shuttered within the mall in quick succession, including both Macy’s Men’s and Women’s, which were closed along with over 60 other underperforming locations, nine from California alone. Hot Topic also closed its Sunrise Mall location in March, while Masterboy Streetstyle relocated to Folsom Premium Outlets, according to two handwritten signs posted on the storefront.
All eateries have also vacated the mall just within the last three years, with several closing in early 2024 and the last eatery closing unexpectedly in November 2024.
During an annual strategic planning retreat held March 26, Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber said the Economic Development team has been in contact with the property owner of the parcels, and “deal-making conversations” are being had regarding a possible hotel.
In November 2024, Ethan Conrad with Ethan Conrad Properties submitted an amendment to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, which requests multiple amendments that would allow for “logical use” of the property, including allowing for light industrial uses. The proposal from Conrad includes the possibility of constructing Home Depot, In-N-Out, and multiple quick-service restaurants with drive-thru access along Sunrise Boulevard.
The city announced in early April that the City Council will hear and discuss the proposal from Ethan Conrad Properties on April 23. Plans for discussion of the proposal in front of City Council were initially planned but postponed twice, once in November 2024 and once in January 2025.
The Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2021, was developed at a cost of over $1 million to the city, including an extensive Environmental Impact Report in an effort to make the property “shovel ready” and as attractive as possible to developers.
The plan envisions creating a walkable “21st Century Main Street,” with five key ideas guiding the plan: creating an economic engine, livable neighborhoods, streets for people, connected green spaces, and making the site a “community and regional destination.”
The four-phase plan is projected to take 20 years to be fully completed, with the first phase likely being to develop unused parking areas. However, the city does not own the property, so the plan requires the involvement of private developers to become a reality.
The city says the second phase is expected to incorporate office space, retail, dining, and an extended-stay hotel. The third and fourth phases include redeveloping the existing mall into a “21st Century Main Street.”
Sentinel staff report– A fourth lawsuit has been filed against real estate investor Ethan Conrad, CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties, marking the latest in a series of legal complaints over the past six months in which multiple women have alleged sexual assault.
According to court documents obtained by The Sentinel, dated Nov. 20, 2024, one plaintiff, identified as Jane Roe, alleges that after several months of an online relationship, Conrad invited her to his home for what she understood to be a romantic evening. The complaint states that he drugged one of her tequila shots and sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious. The documents include screenshots of text messages between Roe and Conrad, in which he allegedly threatened legal action if she did not cease what he described as blackmail.
Additional lawsuits were also filed in December, January, and April.
According to local news reports, the December lawsuit alleges that Conrad “physically attacked” another woman, referred to as Jane Roe #2, after she confronted him regarding the previous allegations made by Jane Roe #1.
The January lawsuit alleges that Conrad solicited a woman for sex “in exchange for prospective employment.” The plaintiff states that after initially declining, the woman alleges Conrad “got her drunk,” and later sexually assaulted.
In the most recent lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, the plaintiff said she went to dinner with Conrad in 2011 and alleges that Conrad drugged her champagne, transported her to his home, and raped her.
Conrad and his attorneys have denied all allegations in multiple public statements to news organizations and maintain that the claims are false. Two cross-complaints have been filed by his attorneys, asserting that the plaintiffs are seeking financial gain through false accusations against him.
In the first cross-complaint, filed in response to the November case, Conrad states that the encounter was consensual and alleges the plaintiff later misrepresented the situation in an attempt to get money from him.
According to the Sacramento Business Journal, allegations raised in the November lawsuit were investigated by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and “cleared Conrad of criminal wrongdoing.” The Journal also said allegations in the December and April cases were not reported to law enforcement, but that the Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating allegations relating to the January complaint.
He is also involved in redevelopment efforts at Sunrise Mall in Citrus Heights and has purchased a portion of the mall property. In November, Conrad submitted a proposal requesting amendments to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
Conrad has stated during several Neighborhood Area meetings that he is currently in escrow with the mall’s majority owner and intends to complete the purchase if the City Council approves proposed amendments to the Sunrise Tomorrow redevelopment plan.
Conrad told The Sentinel in January he does not plan to move forward with the remainder of the mall purchase if the proposal is not approved. A presentation of the proposal is scheduled to take place at City Hall on April 23.
Sentinel Staff Report– Latest police logs show an increase in vehicle violations and theft, and a decrease in disturbances. A summary of police incident logs from April 3-9, 2025, are listed below:
Animal control: 7 (same as prior week)
911 hangups: 32 (down from 33)
Code enforcement: 31 (down from 35)
Traffic accidents: 35 (down from 38)
Vehicle violations: 353 (up from 334)
Theft: 43 (up from 29)
Homeless-related: 22 (up from 19)
Vandalism: 11 (up from 4)
Violent/threats: 29 (down from 36)
Disturbance: 88 (down from 94)
Suspicious circumstances: 177 (up from 162)
All incidents: 1,344 (up from 1,288)
Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date below:
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.
Citrus Heights City Council and city staff visited Belmar Mall in Lakewood, CO over April 3-5, 2025. // Courtesy of City of Citrus Heights
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council, along with city staff, returned last week from a three-day visit to several suburbs of Denver, Colorado, where they studied various development projects in order to gain inspiration for the Sunrise Tomorrow plan.
In a presentation on Wednesday, council members and staff discussed what they learned from the different locations they visited, including Belmar Mall, Downtown Westminster, Edgewater Public Market, and the 40 West Arts District. The purpose of the visit was to study successful firsthand redevelopment projects that displayed mall repurposing, creative vacancy reuse, and arts as a catalyst for economic development.
During the April 9 City Council meeting, Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa said the trip was “not a vacation.”
“We didn’t have time to even shop,” Karpinski-Costa said, responding to a recent Letter to the Editor published in The Sentinel.
Other council members echoed Karpinski-Costa’s statements, emphasizing that in-person visits allowed them to observe in person things like parking availability, level of activity, atmosphere, and more.
The council members, along with Community Development Director Casey Kempenaar, said that despite cold weather, Belmar was bustling with people shopping and dining.
Kempenaar, along with Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber, outlined the timelines and progression of both Belmar Mall and Downtown Westminster, offering a compare-and-contrast overview of the two developments.
Council members described Belmar Mall as feeling “warm and friendly” during their visit, noting it resembled a small village, with shopping options from major retailers like Target, alongside smaller retail businesses, walk-up eateries, and sit-down restaurants.
There were no fast-food restaurants within the district, aside from a Chick-fil-A located just outside its boundaries, according to the council.
“That’s truly what we’re looking to build here: people coming from other parts of the region can enjoy our restaurants, and we can enjoy their revenue,” Schaefer said, referring to the future redevelopment of the Sunrise Mall property.
Vice Mayor Marijane Lopez-Taff said after reading the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan cover-to-cover, she wondered what it might look like in real life.
“When I went to Belmar, I felt like I could place those pieces as we walked around the community,” Lopez-Taff said.
Belmar Mall was once a standard shopping mall called Villa Italia Mall, and it shares several features with Sunrise Mall. After being purchased by a new developer in 1999, the Villa Italia Mall closed in 2001. Redevelopment has been ongoing for over 20 years, occurring in various phases, the city said.
The new property, sometimes referred to as downtown Lakewood, now consists of 22 blocks of mixed-use development, offering a mix of housing, office space, retail with residential and office options above, an outdoor ice rink that becomes a roller rink in summer, outdoor gathering spaces and more.
Like Citrus Heights, Lakewood is a suburb of a capital region. However, Lakewood is larger in both population and land area, with 156,000 residents compared to about 88,000 in Citrus Heights, according to the 2020 Census.
During the April 9 presentation, Huber said the Belmar shopping district includes over 100 businesses, and 375,000 square feet of office space, plus 1,200 residential units. This combination allows for the potential of “24/7” sales activity. Without occupied office space, Huber noted, retailers typically lack daytime foot traffic. Current data for 2025 indicates the property has experienced a 435 percent increase in assessed value, and adjacent corridors have experienced a 46 percent increase in assessed value.
The council and staff also visited Edgewater Public Market in the small city of Edgewater, a once-vacant 50,000-square-foot retail space-turned-public market offering multiple shopping and dining options. They also toured the 40 West Arts District, a once-vacant shopping center revitalized by the Lakewood West Colfax Business Improvement District. The arts district is located on U.S. Route 40 (Lincoln Highway)—an international highway that passes through Citrus Heights with a western terminus in San Francisco, California.
As with Belmar, council members and staff said both the public market and arts district were bustling with activity on Friday night, despite cold and snowy weather.
The visit to Belmar and surrounding developments was prompted by Schaefer’s initial visit to Lakewood in June 2024 with the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). That trip focused on various urban planning topics, including light rail, toll lanes, income-qualified below-market-rate housing, and government housing, according to Schaefer.
In August, Schaefer returned to the City Council and presented his findings, using Belmar as a comparison model for what Sunrise Mall could become. He encouraged other council members to experience it firsthand.
What’s next:
On April 23, a presentation by Ethan Conrad Properties is scheduled to take place at City Hall, during which the City Council will discuss and provide direction on the developer’s proposed amendments to the Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan.
The city announced a public hearing will be held and has encouraged residents to participate and provide feedback during the process.
Ethan Conrad, CEO of Ethan Conrad Properties, spent January and February presenting to multiple Neighborhood Area groups in Citrus Heights in an effort to gather community input and support for his proposed changes.
Home for sale located at 7537 Wachtel Way in Citrus Heights. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A sprawling, custom-built home in Citrus Heights has been listed for sale for nearly $1.5 million, almost three times the price of local average home sale value.
The five-bedroom home, located on Wachtel Way on the border of Citrus Heights and Orangevale, was listed for sale at the end of March for $1,475,000. If sold at that price, the sale would break the previous record by $225,000.
According to a property description posted on real estate site Zillow, the home sits on over one acre of land.
The Citrus Heights border with Orangevale runs in a zig-zag line from Greenback Lane and Fair Oaks Boulevard in the south to Wachtel Way and Old Auburn Road in the north, with Wachtel Way serving as the line between the two jurisdictions. The home at 7537 Wachtel Way happens to sit right across the street from Orangevale and is one among a string of upscale, two-story houses along the street.
According to residential appraiser and housing analyst Ryan Lundquist, the median home sales price in Citrus Heights for March 2025 was $509,500, and the median home sales price in Orangevale was $620,000. The average sales price in Orangevale was $725,958 in March 2025, and the average for Citrus Heights was $528,487.
“One thing to keep in mind is homes in Orangevale last month were just over 400 square feet larger on average, so size makes a difference here,” Lundquist said.
The 2,900-square foot, two-story home boasts a master suite with a full bathroom, along with two more full bathrooms, four more bedrooms, and a spacious, open floor plan.
The backyard features a pool with an attached spa, and an outdoor barbeque and kitchen setup, according to photos on Zillow. The home’s description also indicates that the backyard includes a horseshoe pit, a chicken coop, and horse pasture.
“It is a beautiful, beautiful, property,” said Toni Williams with Morris Williams Realty.
Property sales history indicates that the property was sold in March 2008 for $350,000 and then sold again in July 2008 for $439,000. According to Google Street View, the house was once a single-story home with a grassy front yard and picket fence in the front of the property. In stark contrast, passersby now see a wide cemented driveway with multiple garages.
Multiple homes have been listed at or above the one million mark in Citrus Heights in recent years but have struggled to sell, resulting in significant price drops. The highest residential sale ever recorded in Citrus Heights was a property located at 8047 Holly Drive listed for $1.25 million in August 2022, Lundquist said.
