A sign on the window of GameStop in Citrus Heights indicated the store was closed due to a massive leak following recent storms last week // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams–
A retailer in Citrus Town Center is back open again after having to temporarily close last week following heavy rains in the region.
A sign posted on the window of GameStop on Greenback Lane on Saturday, Feb. 15, stated that the store was closed until further notice due to a “massive leak,” which was caused by the storm. The notice was signed “Management.” On the day of the closure, employees were observed to be inside the store.
On Monday, the store was back open again, but employees over the phone declined to comment, saying they were “not authorized to discuss personal information” with The Sentinel. The employee added that hours of operation are always available on their Google store listing.
Two representatives with the Sunrise MarketPlace business improvement district said via email they were unaware that GameStop had closed last week. Sunrise Marketplace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter said the property manager was out of the country.
On Thursday, Feb. 13, heavy rains fell across the region, according to local news reports.
Hours of operation listed on the game shop’s website say the store is open Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
GameStop is located at 7945 Greenback Ln. in the Citrus Town Center, between Wingstop and Round Table Pizza. The Citrus Town Center, located on the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane, is anchored by Sprouts, BevMo, Five Below, and Marshall’s and includes several restaurants and other retailers.
Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff during the Citrus Heights City Council meeting, Feb. 12, 2025. // SB Wiliams
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights City Council last week directed city staff to pursue implementing a hybrid approach of utilizing both Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) officers along with a third-party mediation program in order to offer residents mediation services within the next year.
The City Council heard presentations on Feb. 12 regarding two different options regarding potential mediation services for neighbor-to-neighbor disputes throughout the community.
The first option included enrolling two POP officers in enhanced mediation training programs, with an estimated budget of up to $1,450. POP Officers already play a “vital role” in resolving conflicts within the community by applying problem-solving strategies to “address underlying issues and promote cohesion,” Kris Frey, Special Services Division Commander with the Citrus Heights Police, said during the Feb. 12 City Council meeting.
In mediating, POP officers would assist in coming to mutually agreeable resolution between both parties with the goal of reaching a written agreement, signed by the parties and filed for reference.
“By attending mediation training, they would only enhance their effectiveness and provide additional tools for POP officers to mediate conflicts,” Citrus Heights Housing and Human Services Coordinator Nicole Piva said.
The second recommendation by the city was a partnership with Sacramento Mediation Center, a nonprofit according to Piva, whose representatives would act as an impartial third-party mediator in situations where POP officers were unable to fully resolve conflicts between neighbors.
The estimated cost is $12,000 for a one-year pilot program, which would serve an estimated 10 households, covering an initial $25 for opening a mediation case and fees for up to two mediation sessions, which is estimated to cost $1,000 per mediation case, Piva said.
A funding source has not yet been determined, Piva said, but a request can be submitted to have the program included in the mid-year budget.
“We think that implementing a mediation program would be a very valuable resource and an added tool for city staff, especially those that regularly work with neighbors to resolve conflict,” Piva said.
Vice Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff called both options “well-thought out” and said the city offering free mediation services would prevent residents from having to pay attorney fees and other fines. Lopez-Taff also said she would like to see two POP officers trained instead of one and was concerned regarding the limited number of POP officers who would be available “in the moment of need.”
Councilmember Tim Schaefer said there are people with “really serious mental health challenges” and worried some residents won’t want to participate. Schaefer agreed with Lopez-Taff regarding POP officers’ limited availability but also acknowledged the value of offering more enhanced mediation training to officers.
Councilmember Porsche Middleton suggested limiting mediation services to one per calendar year per resident, instead of allowing residents to potentially “abuse” the mediation services repeatedly.
City Councilmember Kelsey Nelson questioned whether residents who initially sign a resolution agreement but then renege on the agreement would be forced to pay back the city for covering mediation services. Lopez-Taff agreed and recommended that residents pay up front based on their income level as dictated by the Sacramento Mediation Center, and then the city could reimburse neighbors following a successfully reached resolution.
Piva said she would work with the city attorney to draft an agreement for residents to sign prior to engaging in city-covered mediation services. City staff plan to refine the model for mediation services and bring it back to the council for a formal vote for implementation, but a date for the topic has yet to be determined.
The Sacramento Mediation Center (SMC) has been a program provided under the California Lawyers for the Arts since 2008 and provides “confidential and neutral conflict resolution services” to residents, businesses, and various other organizations of Sacramento County to address conflict, according to city staff.
The cost of mediation services dictated by Sacramento Mediation Center is based on income. Costs begin at $25 for those making 0 to $25,000 annually, $50 for those making $25,001 to $50,000, $75 for those making $50,001 to $75,000, $100 for those making $75,001 to $100,000, $250 for those making $100,001 to $200,000, $500 for those making $200,001 to $500,000, and $1,000 for those making more than $500,000.
The topic of mediation services was brought to the City Council in response to a 2024 strategic planning meeting objective to develop mediation services options for the community at large so as to reduce undue strain on city staff. According to the staff report, neighbor-to-neighbor or resident-to-resident disputes can often involve nearly every city department and drain resources.
File photo, illegal dumping near former Firestone building. // M. Hazlip
By Sara Beth Williams– New FlashVote survey results released last week show Citrus Heights residents want stronger code enforcement in commercial areas and neighborhoods.
The city’s recent FlashVote survey asked residents how they viewed code enforcement of local commercial areas and neighborhoods in Citrus Heights. Forty-one percent of the 368 respondents said commercial areas and neighborhoods need “a little more” code enforcement and 24 percent said commercial areas and neighborhoods needs “a lot more” code enforcement.
Sixty percent of those surveyed said they wanted to see more code enforcement in visibly abandoned and rundown commercial buildings or lots. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they felt high visibility, high traffic corridors, residential neighborhood streets, and commercial areas all needed to receive equal treatment when it came to improving appearance.
Only three percent of those surveyed said there needed to be less code enforcement, and about one-quarter of respondents thought that the current level of code enforcement was enough. Eight percent said they were unsure.
Dozens of participants commented on the survey, indicating many areas of concern, such as the poor condition of roads, weeds on sidewalks, overgrown trees and bushes blocking driver visibility on sidewalks and corners, homeless encampments, panhandling, and unkempt yards with inoperable vehicles. Other commenters mentioned the Sunrise Mall needing more attention from code enforcement, as well as and the poor conditions of various mobile home parks.
Some who commented thanked the city’s code enforcement team. One said thank you for all the work being done to beautify the city, another said the city is doing a “much better job” than in the past, and a handful of residents said, “keep up the good work.”
“I believe that code is doing the best that they can with the limited personnel that they have,” one commenter said, while another thanked the city for thinning trees and vegetation in and across the greenbelt and creek areas behind the Sylvan Oaks library. The resident suggested continuing to thin vegetation in order to “discourage” homeless encampments and prevent potential fires from occurring.
Several commenters suggested that the city should take a more proactive approach to code enforcement instead of relying solely on reports from neighbors and the See Click Fix app. Others warned that code enforcement should not be “nitpicky” but “do common sense things.”
The Code Enforcement team is part of the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit and also works closely with the Planning Division, Building and Safety Division, and General Services Department, “to keep the city beautiful and safe,” according to the city’s website.
Individuals who receive a code violation are given the opportunity to voluntarily correct the situation and comply with current codes without any penalty. If a correction is not made, then the individual may be subject to fines and other penalties, the city states.
To report a code enforcement concern, residents can visit the city’s website here.
FlashVote surveys cover a variety of topics that impact local residents and are emailed directly to Citrus Heights residents. Surveys are only open for 48 hours.
To participate in future FlashVote surveys issued by the city, residents can sign up here. To view full survey results, click here.
By Supervisor Rosario Rodriguez– The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors recently took a big step forward—we unanimously passed new regulations for sidewalk vendors. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was an important one. These rules are all about finding that sweet spot: supporting the hardworking folks who run these small businesses while making sure our neighborhoods stay safe, clean, and fair for everyone.
This is an issue that hits me close to home. As the owner of a taqueria in Folsom, I’ve seen both sides of the coin. I know what it’s like to pour your heart into a small business, trying to make ends meet. And I also know how tough it can be for brick-and-mortar shops when the rules aren’t applied evenly. That’s why I’ve worked so hard to make sure this ordinance works for everyone.
So, what’s changing? Starting soon, sidewalk vendors will need to get a county permit, follow health and safety rules, and stick to guidelines about where and when they can operate. If someone breaks the rules, we’re starting with warnings—because everyone deserves a chance to fix a mistake. But if it keeps happening, there will be consequences. It’s all about creating a system that’s fair and works for everyone.
Some may question the need for this ordinance. The truth is, unregulated vending has caused some real headaches—blocked sidewalks, trash piling up, and even safety concerns in crowded areas. This ordinance tackles those problems while making sure vendors can still thrive. We’ve also made sure the permitting process is straightforward and affordable. No one should be shut out because of red tape or high fees.
Throughout this process, we received valuable feedback from community members. While some worried the regulations might not go far enough, others expressed concerns about unintended impacts on small businesses. By approving this ordinance, we found a balance that maintains public safety while fostering opportunity for local entrepreneurs.
Sacramento Supervisor District 4, Rosario Rodriguez
I want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts, because your input made a difference. If you have more questions or ideas, I’m always here to listen. You can reach me at 916-874-5491 or email supervisorrodriguez@saccounty.gov. Let’s keep working together to make Sacramento County safe, fair, and full of opportunity for everyone.
Rosario Rodriguez represents Sacramento County Supervisorial District 4, which includes the cities of Citrus Heights and Folsom, and the unincorporated communities of Orangevale, Antelope, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Elverta, and Rancho Murieta.
Economic Development and Community Engagement Director Meghan Huber unveiled an Economic Development Work Plan for the city on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A new Economic Development Work Plan for Citrus Heights was unveiled and adopted Wednesday night, outlining key initiatives aimed at targeting and attracting new businesses, as well as supporting and enhancing current local businesses.
Meghan Huber, the city’s economic development and community engagement director, who authored the comprehensive work plan, presented the plan to the City Council for approval on Wednesday and received praise for her efforts from city council members and City Manager Ash Feeney, who said her work was “on par” with work done by many consultant companies.
During her presentation, Huber explained that economic development at the city level consists of attracting new businesses, retaining and expanding business, marketing, and entrepreneurship and start-up support.
“Economic development is not confined to a single program but is woven into every aspect of City operations,” the city said in its staff report.
What the data shows
In understanding the potential areas for economic growth, Huber said it’s critical to get to know your community via data. She also said while many people might assume retail is the top industry represented in Citrus Heights, it turns out that retail comes in at the second highest in terms of job count, with healthcare and social assistance listed as the top industry in Citrus Heights with 4,900 workers. According to the work plan, there are 4,200 retail workers in Citrus Heights and 2,800 employees who work in accommodations and food service.
Health care and social assistance continues to be an area of target growth and expansion, Huber said, because the health care industry is “recession proof” and because the city has an aging population, which leads to more residents requiring expanded and specialized health care needs.
Huber said it’s also important to know the city’s available commercial real estate inventory and to understand the demographics of the city, like resident income level, education level, and even the number of residents who own pets, which helps inform future potential businesses who might be looking to locate to Citrus Heights.
Retail is listed as another area for targeted growth based on analyzed data. Real estate analytics show the city has a high number of retail commercial property spaces available. As of January 2025, the city’s retail vacancy rate was 12 percent, or 725,000 square feet out of 6 million square feet, the plan indicates. The vacancy rate shows a continuing trend following the pandemic. Pre-pandemic vacancy rates hovered between nine and 10 percent.
Office space vacancy sits at 14 percent locally, according to Huber, which reflects an ongoing trend of companies downsizing and adapting to hybrid models of both in-person and remote work. Medical office space is a strong performer in the market, with sustained demand from healthcare providers, according to the work plan. There’s also interest in repurposing office space into mixed-use, medical, or flex-office configurations.
Arts, entertainment, and recreation services was identified as another area of target industry growth, according to Huber.
“That is one of the strongest community desires,” Huber said, adding that it’s great to see data backing up that growth potential in the city.
In recruiting new businesses to fill in vacant commercial and office spaces, Huber said the city has proactively developed data ahead of time for companies to utilize when making decisions. Data such as population density, demographics, traffic patterns, and potential spending power help to inform businesses looking for commercial retail spaces, as well as the location’s visibility, accessibility, zoning regulations, and the state of the infrastructure. Companies also want to know about the competition nearby so they can assess whether there are under-served areas and whether the mix of retailers is complimentary and beneficial.
Next Steps
The economic development work plan is organized around five key focus areas and includes implementation steps for each area: business attraction and development, business retention and expansion, small business support and innovation, marketing and placemaking, and organizational culture. Implementation steps range from improving regulatory processes and streamlining zoning and permitting, to reestablishing the Business Attraction Incentive Program and launching a Small Business Design Support program.
Community feedback played a “critical role” in informing the priorities and recommendations outlined in the work plan, according to Huber. Input from residents, business leaders, property owners, and city council members helped identify “challenges, opportunities, and areas for investment,” ensuring that the plan reflects the “community’s needs and aspirations.”
To help with implementation, the city is seeking to establish a dedicated Development Process Liaison to assist businesses with permitting and development. The city also wants to implement a business safety and resource hub and a Citrus Heights Police Department liaison for businesses. The plan also lays out the desire to create a small business development center, which would host tech workshops and provide other resources.
Additionally, an existing city analyst position will be “re-tooled” to focus exclusively on economic development, and the city will launch a “refreshed and targeted” retail recruitment strategy. Other action items will also be implemented, and will be covered in subsequent articles in this series by The Sentinel.
Implementation of the work plan policy will take place over the three-year period, according to staff. Funding that may be required for various initiatives during the implementation process will be requested and incorporated into the city’s two-year budget cycle and presented for City Council approval as needed. The city also plans to do quarterly updates regarding progress on the plan to City Council.
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.
DarkHeart Brewing owners Rick and Cynthia Lee stand behind a ribbon along with city staff, Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheri Merrick, and representatives from the offices of Sacramento County, State Assembly and State Senate, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A local nano-brewery held its official grand opening last Friday afternoon.
DarkHeart Brewing, located at Sylvan Corners in a portion of the former Goodwill Industries store that closed in January 2024, held its official ribbon cutting on Friday to a crowd of attendees, including local police officers, city staff, and regional representatives from Sacramento County, and the State Assembly and State Senate offices.
“Our residents have long asked for a brewery within our city,” said Meghan Huber, Director of Economic Development and Community Engagement, adding that the city looks forward to seeing the community support a new local business.
DarkHeart owners Rick and Cynthia Lee said all brews are made in-house and that the brewery has 2o different taps, including 16 beers plus a nonalcoholic root beer. The brewery has also been able to supply its brews to local restaurants in the region.
“We had an amazing community at the old location. That’s where we had found family. Citrus Heights is where we found home. And I think that’s the difference,” Cynthia Lee said following the ribbon cutting Friday.
Lee recently announced on social media that the brewery has launched live musical acts on select evenings. Because of the limited space inside, Lee said live music would include either solo or duo musical acts. Lee also wants to utilize the outside space when weather permits for more community-oriented events, such as car shows.
Currently the small brewery can hold 49 patrons. While the venue is smaller than their former location, Lee said the new location has a working HVAC system, which their previous location did not have, as well as more available parking.
In June of last year, the Citrus Heights City Council approved a request for DarkHeart Brewing to receive $86,869 in grant funds to relocate their business to Citrus Heights through the Business Attraction Incentive Program.
Huber said DarkHeart Brewing is not the first brewery to exist in Citrus Heights, but it’s “the first time in a long time” since Citrus Heights has had a brewery that brews in-house.
After holding a soft opening for a few hours on the day before Christmas Eve, the brewery officially opened its doors the day after Christmas in 2024.
According to the company’s social media page, DarkHeart’s hours are Monday through Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. The brewery also said it can accommodate groups and open earlier in the afternoon for private events.
Macy’s at Sunrise Mall is closing next month. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– Sales are in full swing at Macy’s at Sunrise Mall, which is expected to close next month, according to employees.
Throughout Macy’s Men’s, discounts currently range from 20 to 60 percent off most merchandise, including men’s shoes, apparel and household merchandise, with 70 percent off large area rugs.
At Macy’s Women’s, sales range from 20 to 60 percent off with the majority of clothing ranging from 40 to 50 percent off and signs indicating 10 percent off select cosmetics. Several signs indicate all store fixtures and shelving are also on sale, and one employee directed anyone interested to a sign-up list in-store.
Employees said they expected the store to close “soon” to the public, but employees are expecting to work until the end of March. One furniture sales employee said the faster store merchandise sells, the earlier the store will close to the public. Another employee explained that the final date of closure to the public is unknown because things change from week to week, but they expect the store to close sometime in March.
Another employee who works in women’s shoes said merchandise is “moving fast” and he has already cleared out the back storage room of shoe inventory.
Shelves and racks in Macy’s Men’s were noticeably more bare than clothing racks in Macy’s Women’s, with racks of marked-down home and bath merchandise lining the aisles near the entrance to Macy’s Men’s.
The Citrus Heights location is one of several locations in California listed in a Jan. 9 press release, slated to close. Other notable California locations closing include Macy’s stores in Downtown Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. The closure list includes a note stating that the Sunrise Mall closure includes two boxes within the same location and therefore is counted as one location.
Macy’s shuttering will leave JCPenney as the last remaining major anchor store at Sunrise Mall.
Sentinel Staff Report– Latest police logs show an overall uptick in incidents, including an increase in suspicious circumstances, vehicle violations and code enforcement. Below is a summary of activity logs from Feb. 6-12, 2025.
Animal control: 7 (same as prior week)
911 hangups: 30 (down from 31)
Code enforcement: 33 (up from 22)
Traffic accidents: 49 (up from 33)
Vehicle violations: 324 (up from 271)
Theft: 26 (down from 31)
Homeless-related: 20 (up from 18)
Vandalism: 6 (down from 8)
Violent/threats: 28 (up from 27)
Disturbance: 92 (up from 84)
Suspicious circumstances: 191 (up from 152)
All incidents: 1,362 (up from 1,172)
Arrest logs can be viewed on the city’s website here. Full police activity logs can be viewed by date here:
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.
Submitted by Shannon Grosser–
Cheryl Catherine Grosser of Citrus Heights, California—a beloved mom, grandma, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend—passed away peacefully in the presence of family on January 30th, 2025, after succumbing to her battle with breast cancer at the age of seventy-seven. Her husband Ernest preceded her in death in 2010. Cheryl leaves behind her four children, Shannon, Scott, Cari, and Lisa, as well as her brother Craig and her sister Alvina.
Funeral services are on February 19th at Calvary Cemetery and Funeral Center located at 7101 Verner Ave., Citrus Heights, CA 95621, which include an 11:00am Viewing & Rosary, 12pm Mass, and 1pm Burial. There will be a reception after from 1:30pm – 4:30pm at the Calvary Reception Hall for family and friends.
Cheryl, born December 1947 in Dickinson, North Dakota, was the sixth of seven children to Conrad and Katherine Blasy. She spent her younger years on the prairies of North Dakota on the family farm before her parents moved to California while she was a young girl. Cheryl and Ernie met in California and were married in 1968.
She dedicated her younger years to raising her family, volunteering at her children’s schools, and participating in after school activities. As her children grew older and her sons had graduated high school, she returned to the workforce and achieved her goal by becoming a medical transcriptionist.
After retiring, she spent time enjoying her family, grandchildren, and travel. In 2024 she made the decision to take a huge leap of faith by purchasing her dream home so she could be close to her daughter and grandson, and close friends in the new neighborhood. She was looking forward to years of family gatherings, holidays, and travel—all cut short by her unfortunate recurrence of cancer.
Though we are all deeply saddened by her loss, her spirit and perseverance will continue to inspire and guide us. We will all miss her soft and gentle nature, indomitable will, commitment to her family and friends, and strength in the face of adversity. We will never forget her.
*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
The Courte at Citrus Heights memory care center is located at 6825 Sunrise Blvd. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A lawsuit has recently been filed against a memory care center in Citrus Heights.
Attorneys for Beyond Loan 5 LLC, which alleges a loan default, filed an amended motion on Wednesday, Feb. 5 in Sacramento County Superior Court against The Courte in Citrus Heights, asking the court to a appoint a receiver to manage the facility’s debt, with agreement from the borrower, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
The suit states that a receivership would avoid formally foreclosing on the property, which could take several months, would “compel a quicker resolution” and would also ensure continued care of current residents at the memory care center.
The Courte at Citrus Heights is a memory care facility for patients diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s and opened in 2016. The 48-bed facility is 27,768 square feet and sits on almost three acres.
According to the original suit filed on Jan. 22, Citrus Heights Memory Care LLC, based in Oregon, borrowed $8 million in May 2024 from Beyond Loan 5 LLC, the plaintiff in the suit. The loan was attached as a lien on the property.
Citrus Heights Memory Care has not paid much toward the cost of the $8 million loan, and has also defaulted on an original loan, along with associated closing costs, for a total unpaid balance of more than $9 million, the Journal reported the lawsuit claims.
A visit to the memory care center last week found a full parking lot with at least two vehicles waiting for a parking space to become available. A listing on Google indicates the memory care center still remains operational and is open 24 hours a day. A phone number on the listing is also operational. Management at The Courte at Citrus Heights said in a phone call Friday they do not handle media inquiries and directed requests for comment to Frontier Senior Living.
A website for the Citrus Heights Memory Care or The Courte at Citrus Heights no longer appears active, but instead redirects parties to Frontier Senior Living, which manages a number of senior care facilities. A location search on the senior living management company’s website does not show a location for The Courte at Citrus Heights.
Frontier Management, located in Dallas, Texas, does not list any contact information other than a physical address.
