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Author: Sara Beth Williams

  • New art program aims to transform Citrus Heights traffic signal cabinets

    New art program aims to transform Citrus Heights traffic signal cabinets

    A pair of SMUD utility boxes wrapped in art in front of JCPenney.
    A pair of SMUD utility boxes wrapped in art in front of JCPenney. File photo // Mike Hazlip

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The City Council on Wednesday gave the green light on a new traffic signal control cabinet art program. The program, similar to SMUD’s transformer box wrap program, will allow for the potential to wrap over 60 traffic signal control cabinets in custom artwork. Printed on vinyl wraps, the public artwork would both beautify the city and deter graffiti, the city said.

    City Council members supported the initiative and encouraged coordinating with school art teachers and other arts organizations, but raised concerns about Artificial Intelligence-generated art submissions. Councilmember Kelsey Nelson said she would support accepting AI-generated artwork, but Councilmember Porsche Middleton cautioned against allowing it and suggested limiting the amount of AI-generated art accepted.

    The city plans to offer schools, businesses, and developers the opportunity to sponsor cabinets within their districts, which would require private investment. The city also hopes to sponsor its own cabinets throughout Citrus Heights and said capital project funds could be utilized since wrapping cabinets in vinyl art will protect the cabinets from graffiti and reduce maintenance needs over the life of the artwork. Vinyl wrapping lasts between five and seven years and would include a protective UV overlaminate, the city said.

    Wrapping a cabinet in art ranges from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on the cabinet size.

    The city listed several limitations for submitted artwork. Unlike artwork on SMUD transformer boxes which are based on famous pieces of art, for the traffic control signal box program, designs must be original and cannot incorporate numbers or letters, except for approved company logos or sponsorship acknowledgments. Artwork should not be distracting, offensive, copyrighted, or advertising in nature.

    By the end of Phase 2 of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets Project, the city’s inventory will include 63 signal controller cabinets, 60 signal service enclosure cabinets, and two signal communication cabinets , all of which will be available for artwork wrapping.

    Councilmember Tim Schaefer suggested planning for any associated costs resulting from vehicle accidents that might damage an art-wrapped signal cabinet. Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff suggested issuing a call for sponsors in limited phases, due to the large inventory of cabinets. Nelson also suggested, once the program is underway, that the city create profiles for each artist and their featured artwork.

    Next steps for the city include creating a traffic signal control cabinet inventory map for public use, launching a city webpage dedicated to the new arts program, issuing a call for sponsors to reserve a cabinet, and issuing a call to artists interested in submitting artwork for the program. Sponsors may also submit their own artwork.

    The city also referenced several previous art projects created throughout Citrus Heights over the last 25 years but noted those efforts were often “lengthy and costly.” The city has provided grants to community organizations for murals, including two grants totaling $25,000 for murals in the Sunrise MarketPlace and a $3,000 grant to local artist Amie Nowell for a wall mural at Oak Avenue and Wachtel Way.

    In addition to the new traffic signal control cabinet program, the City Council has also approved the launch of new Arts and Culture page for Citrus Heights. The city plans to create a webpage dedicated to arts and culture in the near future.

  • A look at Citrus Heights’ new plan for business retention, expansion efforts

    BearPaw recently expanded in 2024, opening an outlet store.
    Bearpaw expanded in 2024 opening an Outlet store at Sylvan Corners. // CH Sentinel

    By William Anderson–
    As part of a new five-point Economic Development Work Plan designed to revitalize the local economy, Citrus Heights has outlined several steps toward achieving stronger business retention and expansion.

    The business retention and expansion plan’s key focus includes growing and strengthening relationships with existing businesses, enhancing public safety for businesses, supporting workforce development, improving regulatory efficiency, and increasing business visibility through marketing strategies.

    Meghan Huber, Citrus Heights’ economic development and community engagement director, describes the program as “extremely important to create relationships between a jurisdiction and its businesses.”

    What’s planned?
    In an effort to “keep and grow” key businesses, the city plans to reintroduce welcome kits for new businesses, create an outreach program to existing businesses, and develop an online database that will include surveys and support requests.

    A second focus area aims at improving efficiency, strengthening partnerships, and resource sharing. Strengthening city-to-business relations creates more jobs than recruiting new businesses, according to Huber, with about 80 percent of job creation and investment in a community coming from existing businesses rather than new business attraction.

    To this end, the city plans to conduct regular business outreach programs to help maintain a “real-time understanding” of the challenges faced by businesses so the city can “efficiently produce solutions.” This will be done by creating a resource hub, which will centralize business data and funding opportunities.

    The third action item planned is the creation of a Business Safety Hub. In partnership with the Citrus Heights Police Department, the hub will be an online resource that streamlines business-related safety concerns. The hub will include business emergency contact information and allow police to more easily take reports, with police also designating a business safety liaison.

    Additionally, in hopes of driving more foot traffic to local companies, the city wants to promote local business visibility through increased marketing by launching a quarterly business recognition program, sharing success stories, and organizing shop local campaigns.

    The city also aims to support workforce development by bolstering workforce retention through collaborating with educational institutions to offer training in target industry clusters, promoting available skills-based programs to the community, and enhancing career pathway and apprenticeship opportunities in growing fields.

    Timeline
    Business Retention and Expansion program implementation will take place in three stages over the next few years, according to the work plan. This year, the city intends to implement foundational programs, begin streamlining government processes, and develop clear communication with businesses.

    In 2026, the program will scale up, using the previous year’s data to refine policies and initiatives. In 2027, the program will “re-gear” in order to sustain success. Ideally, with improved retention, development, and recruitment, the program will only need to “maintain the new status quo,” Huber said.

    The Economic Development Work Plan also lists goals and metrics to measure the success of the three-year plan. Goals listed in relation to business retention and expansion include:

    • Maintaining a strong local business base and achieving a 95 percent retention rate for the top 50 employers.
    • Measuring, benchmarking, and increasing business satisfaction, targeting a 4.5 out of 5 rating in annual surveys.
    • Conducting proactive outreach, including 50 business retention visits annually, to identify growth opportunities and challenges.
    • Enhancing business safety and engagement by launching the Business Safety Hub.

    The full Economic Development Plan can be viewed in the City Council’s Feb. 12 meeting agenda packet here.

    This is part of a series of articles on the city’s Economic Development Work Plan. Subscribe to The Sentinel to stay up-to-date on stories like this and other local news.

  • Citrus Heights horse vaulting coach released following arrest

    A horse vaulting club has operated this property on Cook Avenue, where a coach was arrested last week. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of a local horse vaulting coach, and the business he coached for.

    Cruz Solorzano, a coach with Nu Balance Vaulting Academy in Citrus Heights, was released Tuesday according to jail records, following his arrest on felony charges over the weekend.

    According to a press release from the Citrus Heights Police Department, detectives served a search warrant at a residence on Cook Avenue on Thursday, March 6, in relation to an allegation of a sexual assault incident involving an underage victim.

    The alleged incident occurred while the victim was attending and temporarily residing at the Nu Balance Vaulting Academy, which was operating out of the residence in Citrus Heights. During the investigation, 23-year-old Solorzano was identified as the suspect and subsequently arrested by police on March 7.

    According to the release, detectives collected evidence and interviewed witnesses on scene once the search warrant was served. After determining the residence was operating a business without a business license, Code Enforcement Officers responded to the location and subsequently shut the academy down

    The Citrus Heights Community Development Department and Code Enforcement confirmed Thursday via email that the horse vaulting academy did not have a prior business license and has also not held a business license under other names used in the past, including C R Circle Ranch or Nu Balance Vaulting Club. Both have Facebook pages, but neither Facebook page lists any business contact information.

    The business was shut down on March 6 without any prior warnings.

    All businesses must renew licenses yearly, and if found to be out of compliance, the city said businesses are “not always” warned before being shut down by officials.

    Prior Sentinel reports note that the owner of C R Circle Ranch, Michelle Solorzano, said multiple students have trained in aerial feats, horse vaulting, and trick riding at the ranch for over 15 years.

    According to the California State Fair website, the Nu Balance Vaulting team, along with several other teams of trick riders and aerialists associated with the ranch including the Olympius Dream Team, Turn N Burn Trick Riders, and Capital City Equestrian Aerialists, performed at the California State Fair’s Cavalcade of Horses in 2024.

    In a previous interview Solorzano said the various trick riding teams have different acts but are made up of many of the same team members. Solorzano announced on her Facebook page in early February that she would “run the Horse Entertainment for 2025” for the California State Fair. A 2025 schedule for the Cavalcade of Horses is not yet available.

    A representative from the California State Fair media relations was not able to be reached for comment by press time. Solorzano also did not respond to requests for comment regarding the arrest and future of the horse vaulting business.

    Cruz Solorzano was booked into the Sacramento County Jail March 7 on charges of oral copulation with a minor, sexual digital penetration with a minor, and contacting a minor with intent to have sex. According to jail records, Solorzano’s bail was set at $100,000. A court date was scheduled for Monday, March 10. Records show Solorzano was released on March 11.

    At this time, police do not believe there were additional victims of sexual assault. However, detectives are asking anyone with additional information to contact the Citrus Heights Police Department’s tip line at (916) 727-5524.

  • 2025 Citrus Heights Police Logs Spotlight: March 6-12

    Sentinel Staff Report–
    Latest police log incidents show an increase in vehicle violations, while showing a drop in traffic accidents. Below is a summary of police log incidents from March 6 through March 12 2025,

    • Animal control: 7 (down from 8)
    • 911 hangups: 46 (up from 18)
    • Code enforcement: 27 (down from 36)
    • Traffic accidents: 33 (down from 50)
    • Vehicle violations: 318 (up from 173)
    • Theft: 34 (down from 36)
    • Homeless-related: 11 (down from 19)
    • Vandalism: 7 (up from 4)
    • Violent/threats: 35 (up from 25)
    • Disturbance: 88 (down from 100)
    • Suspicious circumstances: 176 (down from 206)
    • All incidents: 1,277 (up from 1,208)

    Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date below:

    03-06-2025 Activity Log | 03-07-2025 Activity Log | 03-08-2025 Activity Log |03-09-2025 Activity Log | 03-10-2025 Activity Log | 03-11-2025 Activity Log | 03-12-2025 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.”

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

  • Early morning Citrus Heights house fire displaces six

    The kitchen interior of a home destroyed by fire.
    The interior of a home destroyed by fire early Saturday morning. // Sac Metro Fire District

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    Fire crews responded to a residential fire early Saturday morning on Twin Oaks Avenue in Citrus Heights. The fire was contained, and no injuries were reported, according to Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District officials.

    The house fire occurred before 3 a.m. and displaced three adults and three children. Red Cross will be assisting the family, Sac Metro officials said.

    The home is located near the Citrus Heights and Roseville border.

    Photos shared from Sac Metro Fire show the interior of the home gutted from the flames and cordoned off with caution tape. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

  • Citrus Heights Police seek identify of fraud suspect

    unidentified fraud suspected
    Anyone who recognizes this suspect, or has any other information can stay 100% anonymous. Call Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers. // Courtesy Citrus Heights Police Dept.

    by Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights Police released a photo on social media Thursday of an unidentified suspect in a case of fraud and are asking the public to help identify the man and provide more information.

    According to police, on July 18, 2024, the unidentified male suspect walked into two Patelco Credit Union branches, one in Citrus Heights and another in Sacramento, and was able to withdraw tens of thousands of dollars from an account that was later determined to be another person’s account. The victim lives in Napa, police said, and was unaware of the theft.

    The suspect is described as a white male of average build, 5 feet and 9 inches tall, in his late 50’s or early 60’s.

    A cash reward of up to $1,000 is being offered. Anyone with information can report tips anonymously and still be eligible for a reward, police said.

    Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has any other information is encouraged to contact Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers: (916) 443-HELP (4357). Residents can also submit tips online by using the “P3 TIPS” app or submit online at www.sacvalleycrimestoppers.com.

  • Large Citrus Heights landscaping supply shop shuts down

    Large Citrus Heights landscaping supply shop shuts down

    SiteOne Stone Center on Walnut Drive has shut down
    SiteOne Stone Center, once known as A&A Stepping Stone was located on Walnut Drive. // Luke Otterstad

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    A landscaping supply shop specializing in hardscapes across from Aquarium and Reptile Depot has closed.

    SiteOne Stone Center, located at 7517 Walnut Drive in Citrus Heights, appeared dark and empty during a visit by Sentinel staff last week, with the front gate locked.

    The company has a second location in Citrus Heights on Auburn Boulevard. An employee at SiteOne, located at 6325 Auburn Blvd., said the Walnut Drive location closed at the beginning of the year but confirmed the Auburn Boulevard site remains open and able to serve customers’ needs.

    A nearby business also confirmed the Walnut Drive location had closed several months ago.

    Questions about why the Walnut Drive location closed were referred to corporate. SiteOne corporate representatives were not able to be reached for comment.

    Google images from December 2024 show the Walnut Drive property, normally filled with stacks of landscaping material, vacant and empty. A visit to the property on Monday found the SiteOne Stone Center banner removed from the top of the building.

    The former hardscape materials delivery center is situated between Walnut Drive and Oak Grove Avenue and consists of two parcels totaling nearly one acre of land, or 37,100 square feet, according to the Sacramento County Assessor’s Office. The portion of the property facing Oak Grove Avenue appeared to have been primarily used for material storage, according to aerial images.

    SiteOne Stone Center, part of SiteOne Landscape Supply, was previously known as A&A Stepping Stone. SiteOne acquired A&A Stepping Stone in 2022.

    SiteOne Landscape Supply describes itself as the largest and only national wholesale distributor of landscape supplies in the United States and says it has a growing presence in Canada, according to the company’s website.

  • Citrus Heights council approves $7K grant for Backyard Bash event at Sunrise Mall

    Brews in the Burbs 2024
    Brews in the Burbs, May 18, 2024. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The City Council approved a $7,000 grant to the Sunrise MarketPlace on Wednesday, which will go toward sponsoring a new Backyard Bash event set to take place at the Sunrise Mall later this spring.

    The Backyard Bash will replace the annual Brews in the Burbs event, Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter confirmed.

    According to Carpenter, the event will be very similar to past Brews in the Burbs events but with a greater focus on live music performances and more backyard games rather than brew tasting.

    The four-hour event is scheduled for Saturday, May 31, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and is open to those 21 and older. The event will feature a beer and wine garden, along with two live bands: Aeromyth, an Aerosmith tribute band, and Apple Z. Planned games and activities include cornhole, various other lawn games, giant Battleship, an 8-hole mini golf course, inflatable axe throwing, and an escape room according to the business district’s website. Food trucks will also be on-site for the event.

    As for the shift away from breweries and tastings, Carpenter said that when the event began in 2019, breweries were able to donate their products. However, following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Carpenter said the event “lost momentum,” and breweries were no longer able to provide alcohol donations. This required the Sunrise MarketPlace to purchase alcohol in advance.

    Despite this effort, Sunrise MarketPlace Marketing and Special Projects Manager Lisa Cordell said staffing challenges persisted. Cordell also noted that many attendees had voiced concerns about the high ticket prices at past Brews in the Burbs events.

    The new Backyard Bash will offer a “more affordable” option for those looking to enjoy the atmosphere without drinking, Cordell said.

    “Tickets will be roughly half the cost of Brews tickets, allowing us to welcome many more attendees,” Cordell said, adding that the beer and wine garden will still feature a variety of premium options.

    For those seeking a VIP experience similar to what Brews in the Burbs offered, the Backyard Bash event will include a VIP space with a catered meal, premium beverages, and upgraded restroom facilities, Cordell said.

    Sunrise MarketPlace initially requested $25,000 in grant funding, but the city chose to award $7,000. The city has in the past also sponsored Brews in the Burbs at a cost of $4,900, according to the staff report.

    All ticket purchases will support the Citrus Heights Rotary and the Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART). For ticket information, visit the Backyard Bash event page on the Sunrise MarketPlace website.

  • New Citrus Heights Planning Commissioner appointed to fill vacancy

    Alan Utzig
    Alan Utzig was appointed to the Planning Commission to fill a vacancy. March 12, 2025. // SB Williams

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights City Council unanimously approved the appointment of a new Planning Commissioner Wednesday, who will be filling a vacancy left by former Chair Natalee Price.

    Utzig was chosen by Citrus Heights Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa to replace 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.

    “I’m looking forward to the challenge of the Planning Commission, and I hope I can make you all proud of me,” Utzig said during Wednesday’s City Council meeting prior to the council’s vote to approve his placement on the Planning Commission.

    Utzig currently serves on the Customer Advisory Committee for the Citrus Heights Water District, according to his application. Utzig has also been a docent for the California State Railroad Museum for 34 years with 12000 hours of service, volunteered with the Citrus Heights Fire Department, Sunrise Little League, Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad, and on the PTA for two different schools. Utzig is a retired bus driver for the San Juan Unified School District.

    Utzig has also submitted letters to The Sentinel, one discussing proposed sales tax increases and one discussing gas taxes and roads.

    This item was a consent calendar item. Consent calendar items aren’t discussed unless a council member pulls the item for individual consideration.

    *This article has been updated to reflect that Utzig is a retired bus driver, not a current bus driver for SJUSD.

  • Civic Minute: What’s going on at Citrus Heights City Hall? (March 12)

    By Sara Beth Williams–
    The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday will hear presentations on several arts programs, a mid-year budget forecast and budget amendments, vote on approving a block grant report, and hear an update on organized retail theft grant implementation.

    The City Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at Citrus Heights City Hall.

    Consent Calendar: The City Council will be asked Wednesday to ratify Alan Utzig as an appointee to the Planning Commission to fill a vacancy left by Commissioner Natalee Price, who notified the city on Jan. 28 that she would resign from the Planning Commission, effective March 1.

    The Council will also consider approving a grant request from REACH for Andrew Grant, Vice President of Neighborhood Area 4 (Arcade Creek), to attend the 2025 Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference as a representative of Citrus Heights. Additionally, the City Council will consider approving a Community Development Block Grant report and an Economic Development Support Fund grant request by Sunrise Marketplace to sponsor an upcoming Backyard Bash event at the Sunrise Mall.

    Items on the consent calendar are voted on together as a block and will not include a staff presentation, unless individual items are pulled by council members prior to the vote.

    Arts programs: The City Council will hear a presentation on implementing a traffic signal control cabinet art program, an objective identified at a March 2024 strategic planning meeting. This item was brought back after being postponed during the prior City Council meeting.

    Also on Wednesday, the city is expected to propose several steps to support arts and culture in Citrus Heights, including:

    • Developing an Arts & Culture Interest Group
    • Establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or informal partnership agreement with Citrus Heights Arts or other interested arts organizations
    • Incorporating public art into city projects
    • Creating an Arts and Culture Resource Hub

    There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the arts and culture program. However, there may be opportunities to use Community Projects Grant, History and Arts Grant, or Neighborhood Improvement Partnership Grant funding to support local arts, culture, and public art initiatives, according to the city.

    Mid-year financial forecast: City Council members are scheduled to receive a report and consider approval of amendments to General Fund revenues and expenditures for the first seven months of Fiscal Year 2024-25, along with an updated Ten-Year Financial Forecast.

    Organized retail theft grant: The Citrus Heights Police Department is set to provide an update on the implementation progress of organized retail theft operations, funded through a $2.7 million grant awarded to the police department from the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) under the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) Grant Program.

    Read 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, March 12, at 6 p.m. at City Hall or by submitting a written comment beforehand via 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.