dev.citrusheightssentinel.com

Tag: 2014

Citrus Heights water official talks drought, rain, rates

Updated Feb. 12, 11:55 a.m.–
Wondering how much local rainfall has affected the drought, or if higher water rates are planned for 2015?

A large puddle off Fair Oaks Boulevard, formed after a recent storm brought several inches of rain to the area.

A spokesman for the Citrus Heights Water District said Wednesday that local water users maintained a 20 percent average reduction in consumption for 2014 and shouldn’t anticipate increased drought rates this year, in light of seasonal rainfall totals being near average.

“We are pleased that CHWD customers voluntarily met the California statewide goal for reducing water use in 2014 without the need for penalties or extra enforcement measures,” said David Kane, assistant general manager for the local water district.

Looking ahead at 2015, Kane said the good news is local rainfall totals are “near seasonal averages” – despite January being the driest month in California’s recorded weather history. But the bad news is mountain snow pack is “well-below normal.”

“Unless we get some significant colder storms that deposit a lot of snow, we anticipate needing to continue the District’s current Stage 3 Water Warning status during 2015,” said Kane, adding that snow pack serves as the District’s “reservoir” for water during the summer and fall dry seasons. He added there’s been “no discussion by the Board” of declaring a Stage 4 Water Crisis or implementing drought water shortage rates, but said “the District continues to evaluate water supply conditions as we move closer to spring and summer months.”

<<Find out what’s going on around Citrus Heights: Like us on Facebook, or Click here to sign up for our free Weekend Edition and get our top local news stories delivered to your inbox once a week!>>

Kane said water savings tips this time of year include fixing any indoor or outdoor leaks, along with the District’s top tip to keep outdoor water turned off.

“Most lawns and landscaping will survive just fine during the winter months during extended dry periods,” said Kane, stating that outdoor watering can often represent more than 50 percent of a customer’s annual water use.

Across California, other water districts have struggled to reach the 20 percent water savings goal, but still helped save a total of 134 billion gallons of water since July of last year, according to a State Water Resources Control Board announcement last week. The Board also said its Emergency Water Conservation Regulation expires on April 25, 2015, but will likely be extended if drought conditions persist.

[Related story: Citrus Heights Water District seeks applicants to fill board vacancy; Deadline Feb. 17]

Calling water a “precious resource,” Kane said he’s hopeful local users will continue their water-efficient practices, regardless if the drought continues.

Despite its name, the Citrus Heights Water District’s service area doesn’t actually cover all of Citrus Heights, although a majority of the city’s residents are included within the District’s boundaries. Some portions of Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville are also included in the CHWD service area.

February 12, 2015
Community votes online for “Best of Citrus Heights” businesses

Citrus Heights consumers have an opportunity to vote online for which local businesses they think deserve to win a “Best of Citrus Heights” annual award from the Chamber of Commerce.

Note: this story is from last year. See 2016 story here: Voting underway to select ‘Best of Citrus Heights’ businesses

Winners of the latest annual competition earn the right to use this logo in their business promotional material. // Courtesy, Citrus Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Featuring over 200 local businesses in a total of 34 categories this year, the Chamber’s “Best of Citrus Heights” website lets visitors vote on the best business in each category – ranging from choices between just three businesses listed in smaller categories like car washes and catering, to as many as 18 businesses in categories like automotive services.

In 2013, over 5,000 votes were cast to determine winners in 26 categories that year, with winning businesses earning the right to use the “Best of Citrus Heights” logo on their website and marketing material.

The Chamber says the competition “celebrates the best business members in good standing of the Citrus Heights Chamber in certain categories,” adding that not all Chamber categories are included, “because there are not enough members in that category to make it competitive.”

Those wishing to vote in the competition can do so online at www.BestofCitrusHeights.org.

January 6, 2015
Local Veterans Day event today at Sylvan Cemetery

Looking for a local Veterans Day event?

There’s one right here in Citrus Heights, hosted by the American Legion Citrus Heights Post 637.

What: Veterans Day Ceremony
When: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Where:
Sylvan Cemetery
7410 Auburn Blvd.
Citrus Heights, CA 95610

November 11, 2014
Election Official: Too late to mail in ballots; must drop off at polling place

Warning Monday that it’s too late to mail in vote-by-mail ballots, Sacramento County Registrar of Voters Jill LaVine urged voters to make sure their votes count by dropping off their ballots at any polling place in the county on election day, between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.

“All ballots must be in our office or dropped off at a Sacramento County Polling Place [by 8 p.m. Tuesday] in order to be counted for this election,” read Monday’s press release from the Registrar of Voters. “Postmarks do not count.”

In the June Primary election this year, Sacramento County election officials said over 1,000 vote-by-mail ballots were delivered too late to be counted, as state law currently does not allow ballots received after polls closed to be counted.

Senate Bill 29, signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown this year, hopes to get these late ballots counted, but doesn’t come into effect until January 1, 2015. The new law will allow for ballots “postmarked on or before election day” to be counted — as long as they are received within three days after the election.

To find the nearest polling place to drop off a vote-by-mail ballot, voters can call the Registrar’s office at (916) 875-6451, visit www.elections.saccounty.net, or use the SacVote mobile app.

Vote by mail voters can also drop off their ballots today — or on election day — at the Citrus Heights city hall, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Local Vote by Mail Drop-off Site
Citrus Heights City Hall

6237 Fountain Square Dr

Citrus Heights 95621

November 3, 2014
WATER: Citrus Heights usage drops 21%, State lags behind

As California’s drought continues, the Citrus Heights Water District says its customers cut back water use by an average of 21.2 percent during the first eight months of 2014 – exceeding Governor Jerry Brown’s call for a 20 percent reduction.

Photo credit: Sarah/mira66 via Flickr Creative Commons

Ranking among the highest water savers across the state, data shows CHWD users consistently beat statewide averages, which have only been in the single digits until finally hitting an 11 percent reduction in August, according to figures released by the State Water Resources Board in October.

State numbers show CHWD reporting a savings of over 1.45 million gallons of water in August alone, and District Assistant General Manager Darlene Gillum said the total 2014 reduction amounts to a savings of about 36 gallons per capita per day for local users, compared to water use in 2013.

Currently at a Stage 3 Water Warning level, Gillum said the District has “no near-term plans” to bump the warning up to a Stage 4, which would be accompanied by “Water Crisis/Emergency tiered pricing” increases, if the warning remained implemented past 45 days.

The current Stage 3 warning comes with a list of 11 regulations, including a ban on water run-off from properties, and a requirement that automatic shut-off devices be attached at the end of outdoor hoses. The warning also states that restaurants “shall serve water only upon request,” and landscape irrigation is to be reduced by 11 to 25 percent.

Water users in CHWD currently pay about a dollar for every 350 gallons the District delivers, although the Board of Directors will consider a 3 percent rate increase at a November 19 meeting.

Despite its name, CHWD’s service area doesn’t reach all of Citrus Heights, although a majority of the city’s residents are included within the District’s boundaries. Some portions of Fair Oaks, Orangevale, Carmichael, and Roseville are also included in the CHWD service area.

October 16, 2014
Local Elections: Two Upcoming Forums for City Council Race

Want to know more about who’s running for Citrus Heights city council this year?

With candidate forums set for October 11 and October 16, voters in Citrus Heights will soon have a chance to learn more about the five candidates running for three city council seats in the November 4 election.

Signs for candidates in the Citrus Heights city council race are seen outside Walmart on Auburn Boulevard.

Contestants include current council members Jeannie Bruins, Mel Turner and Steve Miller, with businessman Tim Schaefer and homemaker Bridget Duffy entering the race this year, both known for their public opposition to moving city hall.

The first forum has been organized by the Sacramento League of Women Voters, and will be a one-hour event held at the Board of Supervisors chambers in Sacramento, with live stream video available on Metro Cable 14. Candidates will respond to various questions offered by a panel of media members and the League, and will also be offered one-minute opening and closing statements.

The second forum is set for October 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Citrus Heights city council chambers, and is hosted by the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH), a non-partisan organization led by the city’s neighborhood association leaders. The forum will be moderated by Dr. Danielle Joesten from the Department of Government at California State University, Sacramento.

The deadline to register to vote in this year’s election is October 20.

Candidate Forums:
Citrus Heights City Council

Sponsor: League of Women Voters
Saturday, October 11, 2014
1:30 p.m.
Board of Supervisor Chambers (or live online: http://www.sacmetrocable.tv/)
Sacramento, CA 95814

Sponsor: Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights
Thursday, October 16, 2014
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
City Council chambers
7117 Greenback Ln.
Citrus Heights, CA 95621

October 6, 2014
Campers Choose Citrus Heights ‘Tent City’ Over State Fair

Campers gather around a fire and listen to live music at Rusch Park, Saturday night.

Dozens of tents dotted the grass at Rusch Park this weekend, as the Citrus Heights Community Camp Out kicked off with live music, star-gazing, hot dogs and more, at the annual overnight event.

Drawing about 200 sign-ups from residents, camp organizers said they were happy with the turn-out, given competition from opening weekend at the nearby California State Fair.

The annual event is sponsored by the Sunrise Recreation and Park District, in collaboration with the City of Citrus Heights and the volunteer-led Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights.

July 13, 2014
ELECTION: Sample Ballots Arrive for Citrus Heights Voters

*Editor’s note: to find out most recent information on local candidates in the November 4 election, see story: Citrus Heights Council Candidates Differ on Taxes, New City Hall

With the primary election coming up in just over a month, Citrus Heights voters can expect to receive their sample ballot pamphlets in the mail this week — if they haven’t already — according to a press release by the Sacramento County Registrar of Voters.

An April 28 report by the Registrar’s office shows that Citrus Heights has 40,892 voters, with Republicans leading in voter registration totals.

The report reveals that Republicans hold about 41 percent of registered voters in the city, compared to 34 percent who registered as Democrats. The remaining 25 percent are registered as either “no party preference,” or a third party.

Voters who do not receive a sample ballot this week can check their voter registration status online to make sure they are registered to vote before the May 19 deadline.

The Registrar’s office reminds voters that they must re-register any time they move, change names, or wish to change political party affiliation. This can be done using a form on the California Secretary of State’s website that now allows citizens to easily register or re-register online.

Sample ballots also include an application to receive a vote-by-mail ballot, for those who prefer to vote from home instead of showing up at a polling place on election day. Those registered to vote by mail will begin receiving their official voting ballots starting next week, and must turn them in by mail or in person by June 3 at 8 p.m.

Vote-by-mail ballots can be dropped off in person at several locations throughout the county, including Citrus Heights city hall from May 19 through May 31, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

April 29, 2014