Citrus Heights Police released a photo of a blue four-door on Aug. 15 and are seeking more information from the public regarding a deadly house fire which occurred on June 7, 2024. // CHPD
By Sara Beth Williams– The Citrus Heights Police Department has released new information regarding a deadly house fire that occurred in June and is seeking information from the public.
At 11:45 a.m. on June 7, the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District responded to a house fire on Oak Grove Avenue. After extinguishing the fire, crews discovered a deceased occupant, who has been identified as 61-year-old George Benson. Police have called the death “suspicious” and coroner reports have labeled the cause of death as “undetermined.”
Police on Thursday released a photo of a vehicle on the department’s social media page and are asking anyone with information regarding the incident, the vehicle, or the vehicle’s owner to contact authorities.
Information leading to the suspect’s identification or arrest may be eligible for a reward, according to Police. Residents can provide anonymous information through the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers or by calling 1-800-AA-CRIME.
A screenshot from a video via Sac Metro Fire showing crews on the roof of a duplex fire amid a plume of smoke, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. // Sac Metro Fire District
By Sara Beth Williams– Authorities said one person was rescued from a burning duplex building early Thursday morning, along with a dog.
Fire crews responded to a home on Sperry Drive just before 8 a.m. on Aug. 15 to heavy fire, according to Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. Multiple fire trucks and Citrus Heights police vehicles could be seen on Sperry Drive in front of the Summer Hills Apartments. Police blocked off Sperry Drive at San Juan Avenue during the incident.
A video obtained by The Sentinel shows a dark plume of smoke rising as flames engulfed the front entrance of one side of the duplex.
After hearing reports of an occupant still inside, fire crews were able to locate the victim and successfully pull her out. Officials said the victim was immediately transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Another occupant was able to escape independently and was treated on scene for burn injuries. Fire officials also rescued a dog from the house.
The fire was contained to the home, officials said, and no other structures were threatened. Within an hour of the incident, fire officials were alerted that the critical patient was awake and able to speak.
By Sara Beth Williams– With cost increases and shelter overcrowding, the Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday will consider an agreement with the County of Sacramento for animal shelter services through the Bradshaw Animal Shelter, a shelter located about 12 miles away in Sacramento.
The proposal for a new 5-year contract with Bradshaw Animal Shelter (BAS) will be heard at the next City Council meeting, on Aug. 14. The agreement, if approved, would take effect on Sept. 1, 2024, and extend through June 30, 2029, with an option to renew for another two years.
In March 2024, the city received notification from the Placer County Animal Shelter (PCAS) that services with Citrus Heights would not be able to continue after the end of December 2024. The animal shelter cited a significant cost increase and overcrowding of the shelter, which required them to limit service to agencies within Placer County, according to the agenda packet. The current contract between Citrus Heights and Placer County Animal Shelter expires Aug. 31, 2024.
Placer County did offer a limited term contract renewal at $34,000 per month, which would allow the city time to locate and contract with a new vendor. According to the city, the limited-term contract represented a “significant price increase” compared to the regular monthly cost of $18,600. Placer County would also be discontinuing after-hour on-call animal control services, if the limited-term contract renewal went into effect.
After researching multiple regional sheltering alternatives, including, Sacramento County SPCA, Placer County SPCA, Elk Grove Animal Shelter, and El Dorado County Animal Services, the city said that apart from Bradshaw Animal Shelter, no other shelters throughout the region “had the capacity or infrastructure to offer services” to Citrus Heights. Further, the city said all regional shelters are experiencing maximum capacity.
The city has already negotiated an animal services agreement with Bradshaw based on the actual number of animals in need of sheltering, which the city says, allows “flexibility” to pursue alternate kenneling options throughout the five-year term agreement.
“The overall fiscal objective is to limit the number of animals entering BAS from the city by developing and utilizing alternate, locally accessible temporary kennel options for the city’s stray and abandoned animals,” the city said.
The proposed shelter service agreement includes the standard level of care, such as provision of food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, along with fostering services and pet adoption services.
The city lists several benefits wrapped up in the five-year agreement, including a dedicated telephone service for citizens to report animal calls, and the ability for citizens to report online as well as by phone. The agreement also includes dispatch services for current Citrus Heights Animal Services Officers, use of dedicated animal service software, and animal licensing and tracking at no additional cost.
Bradshaw also provides an on-site pet hospital and veterinarian for sheltered animals, low-cost spay and neuter clinics, vaccination clinics, and drive-thru micro-chipping clinics.
There will be a share of cost for animal services through Bradshaw for each year between Citrus Heights, the City of Galt, and the County of Sacramento. The agreement terms would provide the city with sheltering services each year based on the percentage of actual animal intake numbers from the two prior fiscal years. That percentage would be applied to the estimated budget expenses. The county would provide Citrus Heights with cost estimates by March 30 of each year, beginning in 2025, according to the city.
According to a city staff report, there will be no fiscal impact to the city’s General Fund from the proposed change in shelter contracts, as the city has already budgeted for an increased cost of sheltering and has budgeted a prorated cost of $414,354 for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
Those wishing to make a public comment can do so by attending the next City Council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 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. See the full agenda packet online: Click here.
Tim Schaefer at a council meeting in March 2024. // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– As of the close of the nomination period on Friday, Aug. 9, Councilman Tim Schaefer was the only candidate to file papers to run for the District 3 seat on the Citrus Heights City Council, prompting questions as to what will happen on the November ballot for this race. Schaefer is the incumbent for District 3, and his current term expires at the end of this year.
The city announced on Friday that in the event that zero candidates or only one candidate files to run in any given district race, there are three courses of action that can take place:
If no one has been nominated, the City Council can appoint any eligible voter to the open seat; if only one person is nominated, the City Council can choose to appoint the person who has been nominated; lastly, the City Council can choose to continue the process of holding an election.
According to the city, the council must wait five days past the filing deadline, and then may conduct a regular or special council meeting in order to decide whether to appoint Schaefer or hold an election.
The city further explained that if no person has been appointed by the 75th day before a municipal election, the election will proceed as scheduled. If the City Council makes an appointment, the City Clerk cannot accept any statements or write-in candidates after an appointment is made.
Any individual appointed to an open City Council seat must meet the regular eligibility qualifications and will serve as if they were voted in through a municipal election.
It remains to be seen what option the city will choose for the District 3 election, but for the District 1 race, because the incumbent council member did not file papers to run again, the deadline for filing for District 1 has been extended to Aug. 14. In an announcement Friday, the city said that the deadline extension only applies to candidates running in the District 1 race.
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 14. Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting at City Hall at 6 p.m. or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website.
Sentinel staff report–
Latest police logs in Citrus Heights show a drop in animal control calls, 911 hangups, code enforcement calls, and incidents of disturbance, while showing an increase in vehicle violations, theft, homeless related calls, vandalism, violence and threats, and suspicious circumstances.
A summary of the most recent seven police logs are listed below, from Aug. 1, 2024 to Aug. 7, 2024.
Animal control: 41 (down from 56)
911 hangups: 35 (down from 47)
Code enforcement: 41 (down from 47)
Traffic accidents: 30 (same as prior week)
Vehicle violations: 266 (up from 235)
Theft: 30 (up from 26)
Homeless-related: 25 (up from 24)
Vandalism: 11 (up from 10)
Violent/threats: 40 (up from 23)
Disturbance: 86 (down from 97)
Suspicious circumstances: 191 (up from 190)
All incidents: 1384 (up from 1293)
See full police activity and arrest logs on the city’s website: click here.
Citrus Heights police resumed publishing of daily incident logs in March 2023. The 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.
Updated Aug. 14, 9:37 a.m.–
By Sara Beth Williams– The city on Friday officially extended the filing deadline for candidates filing to run for the open Citrus Heights City Council District 1 seat.
The city announced at the end of the day on Friday that the nomination period would be extended until Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 5 p.m. for those wishing to run for the open District 1 seat on the City Council.
According to the city, in the event that an eligible incumbent City Council member does not file nomination papers by end-of-day on Aug. 9, the deadline for filing would be extended to Aug. 14.
Mayor Bret Daniels, who represents District 1, had previously announced his plans to move out of state at the end of his term, which expires at the end of this year, and will not seek reelection. Councilmember Tim Schaefer of District 3, whose term also expires at the end of 2024, confirmed with The Sentinel that he will “absolutely” seek reelection.
As of Saturday, the Candidate Filing Status Report shows Schaefer filed nomination papers for District 3, but no one else has filed to run for District 3. The report shows four candidates pulled papers to run for the open District 1 seat, but candidate Laura Wilbur recently announced on her social media campaign page that she would be withdrawing from the race.
The nomination period extension applies to non-incumbent candidates only.
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age, be a citizen of the U.S., a resident of California, and be a registered voter within the district in which he or she is seeking to run. Nomination packets are available at the city clerk’s office during regular business hours.
Anyone interested in running can visit www.citrusheights.net/2024election to make an appointment with the city clerk as well as review additional information about the candidate filing process.
Update: An initial version of this story said four candidates had filed to run for District 1 and has been updated to accurately state that four candidates pulled papers to run for the seat.
A rendering of 3-story apartments planned for a vacant lot near Sunrise Mall, at 6031 Sunrise Vista Drive. // Image source: city planning docs
By Sara Beth Williams– Construction on a three-story apartment complex located at 6031 Sunrise Vista Drive next to Sunrise Rollerland has yet to begin, more than two years after the project was approved.
Plans for the complex include the construction of a trio of three-story apartment buildings, along with amenities including a pool, courtyard, and community center room, and landscaping and fencing around the complex. The property was purchased in 2019, and the Sunrise Vista Apartments project was approved in April 2022, according to the city’s website.
Renderings of the three-story buildings show apartments with balconies on the second and third floors and several single-car garages on the first floor. The construction of a masonry sound wall on one side of the complex is also listed in the plans.
Floor plans listed with the city for “Building A” show two two-bedroom, two-bath apartments with patios, a caretaker unit, and six garages on the ground floor, and four two-bedroom, two-bath units with a balcony on the second and third floors. Floor plans for “Buildings B and C” show plans for one two-bedroom, two-bath unit, one one-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath unit, and eight garages on the ground floor. The second and third floors will consist of two two-bedroom, two-bath units and two one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath units on each floor.
The city told The Sentinel on Thursday that it has received a building permit for the Sunrise Vista Apartments project, and the permit is under review while awaiting completion by the developer. According to the city, there have been no updates as to when construction will begin.
Ground has yet to break on the project, but crews have removed several trees throughout the lot, which has frustrated nearby local residents and business owners.
Lloyd Neutz, one of the owners of Sunrise Rollerland, recently criticized the toppling of an “ancient” oak tree, which stood at the site of the proposed apartment complex.
“The Heritage Valley Oak, which was healthy for decades as evidenced by historical Google Earth images, was explicitly marked for protection in the development plans,” Neutz said, adding that the tree was among several that were removed by the property owner in May 2024. According to Neutz, the tree, which “boasted a 60-inch diameter and had survived numerous grass fires,” had begun showing signs of decline in recent years. By 2022, the tree had lost all its leaves, Neutz said.
“I am passionate about the 100-year-old oak trees in the area and how they are slowly being taken out by over-watering, poison, and other means,” said Neutz, expressing suspicion of the timing of the tree’s decline. “If nobody fights for the trees, they will all be gone.”
Developer Leonid Kotyakov told The Sentinel on Friday that several dead trees were removed because they were a fire hazard.
“Whatever trees were dry and bad and damaged were a hazard, because homeless people sometimes walk in there and can start fires,” Kotyakov said.
According to a February 2020 arborist’s risk assessment report conducted by Tree Care Incorporated, which was obtained by The Sentinel, 18 of 24 assessed oak trees showed poor health conditions and were recommended for removal.
Neutz also alleged that the developer had not secured permits nor paid permit fees for the tree’s removal and that the city found “multiple violations” during a visit to the site.
In a statement via email, the city indicated that during a project review process in the spring of 2021, the large oak tree began to show signs of declining health, and the city requested a risk assessment by an arborist.
An arborist risk assessment report from California Tree and Landscape Consulting, Inc. provided to The Sentinel found that the live oak in question had internal decay and that the tree posed a probable fall risk to people and property.
The tree was recommended for removal. In October 2021, the city said they had issued a Tree Permit. Further, plans approved by the Planning Commission in July 2022 showed that the tree was being removed.
City spokesperson Marisa Brown confirmed that the city recently inspected the project site again on July 10 of this year and found other on-site tree removals had been properly permitted. The violations that occurred were due to a lack of fencing installed under the dripline of trees being retained, which protects the root system, the city said. The owner of the project site was cited for violations.
Kotyakov confirmed Friday that a construction permit is being reviewed, and currently there is no expected start date for construction.
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A photo from December 2023 shows the future site of an Amazon Fresh store in the Sunrise Village shopping center. // CH Sentinel
By Sara Beth Williams– A public hearing is scheduled to take place during the upcoming Aug. 14 City Council meeting to discuss approval of a Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity submitted by Amazon Fresh requesting two alcoholic beverage licenses.
According to the city, Amazon Fresh submitted a Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity for a request for Type 21, off-sale general, and Type 86, instructional tasting, Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licenses for review on July 15.
A Letter of Public Convenience and Necessity (PCN) is required when a business applies for certain types of alcohol licenses in areas where the number of existing licenses exceeds a state-determined threshold.
According to the city, Amazon Fresh is requesting an alcohol and beverage license in the same vicinity where nine other locations already operate with alcoholic beverage licenses. The number of alcohol licenses in the same area exceeds ABC’s standards, which equal one per 2,000 capita. After review, the city determined that three of the nine locations less than one mile from the vicinity are grocery stores or department stores, and only one is a liquor store.
According to the agenda packet, the grocer’s proposal includes an instructional tastings license. Instructional tastings are proposed to be held in-store “in a designated alcohol sampling area” for customers 21 years and older. Tastings will be led by grocery employees or staff certified in accordance with ABC’s Responsible Beverage Service training program, the city said.
The city also stated that the proposal has already been reviewed by the Citrus Heights Police Department, and the Sunrise MarketPlace Board of Directors. According to the agenda packet, the Police Department has found no concerns, and Sunrise MarketPlace submitted a letter of support “emphasizing the benefits to the existing shopping center.”
The new grocery store is proposed to open at 5425 Sunrise Blvd. and will offer a wide assortment of “national brands and high-quality produce, meat, and seafood,” as well as a range of prepared foods made fresh in store every day.
Construction has been ongoing on the 38,000-square-foot building that was formerly occupied by JoAnn’s Fabrics, according to prior reports. JoAnn’s Fabrics moved over to an adjacent building in the same shopping center.
The next Citrus Heights City Council meeting will take place Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Citrus Heights City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.
A mobile home on Cackler Lane sustained extensive damage after a fire. // Sac Metro Fire
By Sara Beth Williams– A mobile home in the Sierra Meadows Mobile Estates caught fire on Thursday, with improperly disposed cigarettes being blamed for the fire.
Crews responded to a home on Cackler Lane on Aug. 8 after 12 p.m. and found “heavy fire” coming from a mobile home, according to Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Battalion Chief Parker Wilbourn.
Fire caused extensive damage to the home, officials said, adding that the fire was contained to its point of origin. No occupants were home during the fire. A deceased pet bird was found inside the home following the incident.
Videos from Metro Fire show heavy smoke and extensive structural damage to the home, including a partial roof collapse.
The residents of the home were contacted and were safe, Wilbourn confirmed. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to the improper disposal of cigarettes. No other structures were reported damaged, and no injuries were reported.
RODS & MODS and The Rooted Collective partnered to host a small car show to help Park Fire victims, on Monday, Aug. 5. // SB Williams
By Sara Beth Williams– A local car show and events group and a nonprofit organization came together recently to collect donations to help those impacted by the Park Fire.
A car show took place at R Vida Cantina on Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights on Monday evening, Aug. 5, organized by RODS & MODS Car Shows and Events in partnership with The Rooted Collective, a nonprofit organization whose founder is based in Citrus Heights.
When The Rooted Collective announced on their social media page that volunteers were planning to deliver donated goods to an evacuation center for families affected by the Park Fire, Chris Faubel with RODS & MODS contacted The Rooted Collective and offered to help.
Faubel said organizing the car show for Monday evening was last minute, and though he wasn’t expecting a big turnout, helping victims of wildfires is close to Faubel’s heart. One of his family members lost their home in the Paradise Fire, and Faubel said it took two years for them to resettle and find a stable home again elsewhere.
Faubel has also volunteered to help other wildfire victims in the past and worked closely with families whose homes were destroyed by wildfires in Santa Rosa.
RODS & MODS organizes other car show events through the year to raise money and awareness for special causes through campaigns such as holiday toy drives and clothing drives, Faubel said, adding that he also delivers food to homeless residents during Thanksgiving, in partnership with another car club.
On Monday, residents piled donations like cases of bottled water on a small table that sat beside a row of classic cars.
“We’re doing what we can,” The Rooted Collective founder, Jesse Murchison, said, adding that his family was personally affected by the Dixie Fire, which occurred in Plumas County in July 2021.
Friday, The Rooted Collective volunteers told The Sentinel they planned to deliver supplies to The Hope Center in Oroville.
“We will keep attempting to gather supplies and deliver until we feel like there is no longer a need for it, which can last well into the recovering season of the fire,” The Rooted Collective said, adding that they have called local stores almost every day, but have not received any further donations.
The nonprofit is still seeking help from the local community. Donation requests include juice boxes and water, individually packaged snacks, hygiene products and toiletries, undergarments and socks, cleaning supplies, diapers, and dog and cat food. Monetary donations are also accepted and can be tax-deductible.
Murchison said all physical and monetary donations will go directly to help those affected by the Park Fire. Anyone interested in donating to help victims of the Park Fire can message The Rooted Collective directly on Facebook or make both personal and tax-deductible monetary donations here.
