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Tag: Bill Van Duker

The story behind this influential little print shop in Citrus Heights

Bill Van Duker, right, stands with his wife and son outside All Star Printing in Citrus Heights. // M. Hazlip

Updated 11:45 a.m., Sept. 28th–
By Mike Hazlip– Bill Van Duker has operated All Star Printing in Citrus Heights more than forty years, but his influence in the city extends far beyond the walls of the little shop at 7920 Alta Sunrise Drive.

Van Duker has been called the “godfather” of Citrus Heights for his instrumental role in the effort to make Citrus Heights a city. Following the success of that effort in 1996, he later served eight years on the city’s Planning Commission, and one of his sons now serves as a commissioner today.

Van Duker first started in the printing business when he found himself without a job in his early forties. He decided to change careers and tap into the expanding field of fast turn-around printing shops.

“At that time, small format printing was exploding,” he told The Sentinel in an interview last week. “So I bought a franchise for one of the quick printing companies and we started our business here in Citrus Heights.”

That was toward the end of 1977, and he decided to run the business independently after only a few years with the franchise company. Van Duker has been rolling pages off a press with his wife and two sons ever since at All Star Printing shop.

When he started the business, printing was still a labor intensive skill, and Van Duker said his wife would help typeset the jobs in the early days of the company. That soon gave way to new technology that made the process more efficient, he said.

The printing industry has changed dramatically over the years. Van Duker remembers printing equipment that cost tens of thousands of dollars to purchase new eventually selling for only hundreds as the technology changed the industry in the 1990s.

“A lot of capabilities that offices didn’t use to have are now present,” he said. “Everybody has a little color printer.”

Although All Star Printing now has digital equipment, Van Duker is one of the hold-outs who still operates an off-set press. He said many of the business owners he knows have already phased out the old technology, and he plans to do the same.

Van Duker says maintaining good relationships with customers and other business owners has kept All Star Printing going through difficult times. During the pandemic shutdown when many businesses were struggling, Van Duker was busy printing banners and other signage.

Much of his business comes from churches and medical professionals such as dentists, and Van Duker tries to deliver more than the printed project –emphasizing relationships with customers and also treating employees well.

“My employee costs in terms of percentage of sales has always been higher than the average, but I don’t regret that at all,” he said. “If I have somebody really good, I want to make them happy and productive.”

That approach paid off when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2000. He said his manager at the time had already been with the company for 15 years and was planning to move on to another job. Instead, the manager chose to stay until Van Duker recovered from surgery.

“He stayed with me until I got back in the saddle, then he left,” Van Duker said. “I’ve never forgotten that kind of loyalty. That was 20 years ago; I try to reciprocate that.”

Aside from providing print services for many local businesses and community groups, Van Duker’s local involvement includes serving as chairman of the Citrus Heights Incorporation Project (CHIP) for six of the 12 years it took to become a city.

Although looked upon now widely as a successful example of cityhood, the fight to break off from county governance and incorporate as a city was a decade-long battle that culminated with a “Measure R” vote for cityhood in 1996. While ending up with 62 percent approval by voters, those involved in the effort weren’t so sure it would pass.

“When we were watching the election results… we didn’t know whether we were going to win or lose,” Van Duker said during the city’s 20th anniversary celebration in 2017. He described the Citrus Heights cityhood effort as a small, dedicated group that dwindled at times to just a half-dozen people serving with CHIP during prolonged court battles in the 80’s and 90’s, which went all the way up to the supreme court.

Reflecting on that effort, Van Duker said cityhood “far, far exceeded my expectations.”

“Can you imagine us being unincorporated right now? All the development and street improvements have been an absolute benefit for the people of the community,” he said. “The county wouldn’t be dealing with the Sunrise Mall problem the way we are if we were unincorporated. Law enforcement alone was sufficient reason to incorporate.”

Commenting on his future plans and retirement, Van Duker replied, “When am I going to retire? One of these days, maybe.”

*Correction: An initial version of this story incorrectly listed the address for All Star Printing as being on Sunrise Vista Drive instead of Alta Sunrise Drive. The correct address is: 7920 Alta Sunrise Drive.

September 27, 2021
Guest Opinion: Measure M is the most important vote since incorporation

By Bill Van Duker–
As we approach the election, I am reflecting back on the last 36 years in Citrus Heights.

In Citrus Heights in 1984, Montgomery Ward was where Lowe’s is, and Macy’s was located where Target is now. The Post Office was near Sylvan Corners, and there was nothing north of Fountain Square except fields.

In November 1984, a few business people and others met to explore the idea of forming a new city. Past attempts to incorporate had never materialized.

Why incorporate? Well, we were a “cash cow” for the county; we generated more in dollars than we received in services. Our supervisor represented other communities like Folsom, Orangevale, and Fair Oaks, with interests that sometimes conflicted with ours.

Our law enforcement was a joke. At times we had less than one Deputy Sheriff patrolling Citrus Heights at night. Further, we had no control over local land use decisions.

For those and other reasons, the Citrus Heights Incorporation Project (CHIP) was launched under the leadership of Chamber President Rich Wagner, CPA. The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce endorsed the project, and stayed involved to the end.

In the next year (1985), CHIP went before the Sacramento County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) which allowed CHIP to develop the first financial feasibility study, to gather signatures (12,000) and to raise money for the election effort.

LAFCO endorsed cityhood and sent the measure to the Board of Supervisors to set the ballot date. We believed that we would be on the ballot in 1986, and be incorporated on Jan. 2, 1987, but the County Board of Supervisors refused to put the measure on the ballot, and the lawsuits began.

Those were bleak years – first the Superior Court in Sacramento, then the Third District Court of Appeals, then the California Supreme Court.
We prevailed at the California Supreme Court.

Sixty-seven cities in California filed Amicus briefs supporting our lawsuit. But the county appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court who declined to hear the appeal and sent the matter back to the California courts.

It’s a matter of trust
When Citrus Heights voters in 1996 faced the choice of whether to incorporate, they were facing a big risk with many unknowns. Where would City Hall be? Who would be our City Council? Who would provide law enforcement services?

Would we be better off as a city? Would the new City Council do the right thing?

The battle had gone on for 12 years. Would that effort and all that pain be wasted? On that election night in 1996, over 62% of the voters voted our new city into existence.

Now we are facing another important vote for our future: Measure M.

I have great confidence in our city leadership. Over the years the professional staff and our friends and neighbors whom we have elected to the City Council have demonstrated trust, vision, insight, and determination. By and large they have done a superb job.

The Community Center, the award-winning Police Department and its facility, City Hall, Auburn Boulevard revitalization, major reduction in crimes are just a few of the long list of accomplishments.

City leadership says we need Measure M to thrive, and I believe them.

For those of you who are on the fence regarding Measure M, I ask you to look at the track record of our city’s leadership. For 23 years we have “made do” without our property taxes. The first projection was that we would cross over into deficit spending in year 9. Then year 13. Actually it was around year 20 of Cityhood that it happened. Moving the crossover 11 years beyond the first projection is leadership of the best kind.

Since we will be receiving our property tax in 2023, some say “Let’s wait”. The property tax amount is about half of what we need each year to fix our roads. It will not cover roads and the 17 vacant positions in the Police Department, let alone the other needs that we have told the city that we want them to address.

For those of you who don’t like taxes, I understand. I don’t like them either. But to add an additional dollar to a $100 purchase to ensure the future of our city is something I will support. And I trust the City Council to do what they have said they will do with the money. Their track record speaks loudly for being excellent stewards of the money we have entrusted them with.

I am saddened by the intensity of the attacks on the backers of Measure M. We should be able to advocate diverse positions without resorting to attacks on the motives and character of those with whom one disagrees.

I am also dismayed by some of the very businesses who have benefited significantly from city assistance who have come out against Measure M.

This is the most important ballot measure facing Citrus Heights since the incorporation vote. We have the opportunity to soar going forward, or to slowly decline into one of those cities we read about too often. I know which choice works for me.

I urge you to continue the vision that brought us our city and vote “Yes” on Measure M.

Bill Van Duker is a local business owner and former chair of the Citrus Heights Incorporation Project for 6 years. He was also co-chair of the Measure R incorporation effort in 1996.

October 25, 2020
Guest Opinion: Why I’m supporting Measure M

By Bill Van Duker–
For more than a year, the senior city officials have studied the issue of revenue needs for the Citrus Heights going forward in the 21st Century. They recognized the need to do something about our streets, the need to continue to build and enhance the finest law enforcement organization in the region, and the responsibility to address in a new way the issue of homelessness in our community.

Measure M: Citrus Heights council votes 4-1 to put $12M sales tax increase on ballot

Further, they saw the need for the City to have the resources to invest in attracting businesses and restoring the viability of Sunrise Mall and build an economic base that would make us, once again, a commercial hub for the region.

They asked us, the citizens of the Citrus Heights, if we would support a measure that would give the City these resources. The answer was a resounding “yes”.

But there are those who oppose this measure. They have been early and loud in their opposition.

They say that politicians can’t be trusted. I would point out that the four Council Members who voted to put this measure on the ballot have collectively served you and me for an aggregate of 50 years total.

They have shown that they can be trusted to do the right thing. Have all their decisions been perfect? Of course not. I haven’t risen to the level of perfection either.

But they have done the right thing for our city. And Measure M is the right thing.

Guest Opinion: a new ‘forever tax’ isn’t the answer for Citrus Heights

The opponents say that Measure M will drive people to the Galleria. Perhaps the opponents haven’t noticed that the shoppers have already left. Measure M will help bring them back through the renewal of Sunrise Mall and the establishment of other centers of interest and activities in the community.

The opponents say that politicians have broken promises elsewhere. They are forced to go “elsewhere” for the examples, because our City Council has kept its word throughout the city’s history.

Let’s look at the seven official opponents to Measure M for a moment. Three of the seven don’t even live in Citrus Heights, and, I believe, one doesn’t even live in Sacramento County.

We fought for 12 years clear to the U. S. Supreme Court to get Cityhood on the ballot because those who lived outside Citrus Heights did not want us to become a city. It appears that those who live outside the city don’t want us to thrive.

I suggest that those three should go home and let us decide our own destiny.

Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost’s opposition is a puzzle to me. Her political career was born in Citrus Heights, and she was coached and nurtured by fellow council members in her time on the City Council and rose to hold the position of mayor. I am surprised she signed her name to the unfair and incorrect arguments of the opposition.

The question before us is whether we want our city to thrive, or whether we will allow it to drift down into mediocrity and decline.

For me, I want our city to thrive. I want to see a vibrant economic center at Sunrise Mall. I want to see a landmark development at Sylvan Corners, the geographical center of our city. I want our streets to be safe and well maintained, and greater safety for all our residents and guests.

That’s why I am supporting Measure M. I urge you to support it, too.

Bill Van Duker was an active player in Citrus Heights incorporation efforts and is the owner of All Star Printing.

August 30, 2020
Opponents mobilize to fight Measure M sales tax proposal in Citrus Heights

Sentinel staff report–
Opponents of a $12 million sales tax increase in Citrus Heights are beginning to mobilize to defeat the measure in November.

In addition to an unsuccessful, last-minute attempt to derail the measure during Thursday’s council meeting, opponents have banded together and submitted a ballot argument against the measure, calling the timing of the one-cent sales tax proposal during a pandemic “the absolute worst time.”

The statement also takes aim at the measure’s lack of a sunset date and says “nothing prevents Measure M funds from going to salary increases, pensions, or pet projects voters do not even want.”

Key opponents who signed the ballot argument are Sacramento County Supervisor Sue Frost, City Councilman Bret Daniels, former City Councilwoman Jayna Karpinski-Costa, local American Legion board member Jim Monteton, and Sacramento Taxpayers Association President Bruce Lee.

The statement lists a website of VoteNoOnM.org, but as of Saturday night the website did not appear to be set up with any content.

Measure M: Citrus Heights council votes 4-1 to put $12M sales tax increase on ballot

Proponents of Measure M also submitted their own ballot argument, highlighting that the sales tax is needed to help maintain roads, 911 response, homelessness reduction and other city services. Proponents also note that out-of-town residents who shop in Citrus Heights will be paying “their fair share” to help boost city revenues, rather than the tax burden only falling on residents of Citrus Heights.

Additionally, the statement highlights that the measure would create a Citizens Oversight Committee for fiscal accountability, with all tax revenue required to be spent locally in Citrus Heights.

Proponents who signed the ballot argument in favor of Measure M are local business owner and city “godfather” Bill Van Duker, Police Activities League representative Charles McComish, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry Director Rocky Peterson, lifelong resident Kathy Cook, and neighborhood watch community leader Rick Doyle.

The statement refers to the city’s website, citrusheights.net, to learn more about the measure.

Polling of 404 likely voters conducted by EMC Research in late-June found as much as 71% support for a general purpose sales tax measure, which requires only a bare majority to pass in November.

See polling results: click here

A city manager’s office spokeswoman confirmed Friday that the polling did not include criteria to see how results might change if organized opposition arose to the measure. A prior tax proposal in 2012, Measure K, failed after only garnering 44% support.

Rebuttals to ballot arguments can also be submitted by each side. The deadline for each side to submit rebuttals is Monday, August 17. Full statements can be viewed online here:

Yes on M: click here

No on M: click here

August 16, 2020
Public Comment: marijuana sales, gag rule, homelessness

Editor’s note: As part of The Sentinel’s mission to serve as a public forum for discussion of local issues, we have begun publishing full transcriptions of public comments made during City Council meetings.

Comments submitted by members of the public for the Citrus Heights City Council’s May 28 meeting addressed a range of topics, including marijuana sales, whether planning commissioners should be allowed to speak to media, and homelessness.

As the meeting was conducted remotely via teleconference and streamed online, public comments were required to be submitted to the City Clerk via email and were limited to 250 words. Each comment was read out loud during the meeting.

Below is a transcription of each comment. A recording of the two-hour meeting can also be viewed on the city’s YouTube page.

James A. Crisamore:
I along with other citizens in my neighborhood feel that the city should institute a process to call in or outbound calls be made by the city clerk for the purpose of public comment, at least for future meetings, as long as they stay virtual.

Regarding the main concern for my public comment. I have seen a decline in the city regarding the homeless not only due to the COVID-19 issue but much like a virus they are spreading the mess throughout the city. I along with many others are fed up with the health and safety concerns associated with the homeless population, and clean up is needed on the properties they occupy, including city, county, and state properties.

A joint effort with border communities like Roseville, state property (Interstate 80), Sacramento and Placer counties is necessary for cleaning up the drugs (needles), human waste, aggressive dogs that block citizens from daily activities. Citrus Heights has a beautiful community that needs protecting from this Health and Safety matter, Please help make it safer to live here.

Brandon Bolton/United CORE Alliance
On behalf of the undersigned organizations and community partners, we write to express the need for action from the City of Citrus Heights to sanction the opening and establishment of legal cannabis businesses pursuant to the California Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and the Adult-Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). Establishing ordinances and evidence-based policy with community support will foster an environment where social goals can be best served and ensure an equitable industry where qualifying cannabis businesses are able to thrive under the state’s legal cannabis structure.

Mark Mabutas
CORE Program — The equity program has allowed me a opportunity that would not be possible if the program had not been started. It has allowed me to network with individuals in the industry and given me hope that I am on a path that will allow me (to) build generational wealth for family as well as give back to the community that I am from.

Bill Van Duker
I support the modification of the Planning Commission rules that will limit the ability of the commissioners to comment to the press on matters that are or have been before the commission. As one who has served a total of 12 years on Planning Commissions (city and county), it was always clear to me that the time for commissioner’s comments was during the hearing process. It seems inappropriate for a commissioner to expand his/her views on the results of a hearing outside of the formal hearing process.

May 31, 2020
Citrus Heights City Council approves first-ever $12M line of credit

Citrus Heights Councilman Bret Daniels speaks prior to a 5-0 vote to approve a $12 million line of credit for the city. // Image credit: Metro Cable 14

Updated 7:23 a.m., Nov. 18–
Sentinel staff report– Citrus Heights City Council members on Thursday night unanimously voted to approve a $12 million revolving line of credit, making it the first time the city has ever authorized incurring debt in its 21-year history.

City Manager Christopher Boyd, who in 2016 assured that the city would “never go into debt,” said access to the new line of credit will put the city in a position “to invest in our community for return” and also allow “a nimble and flexible way” to get by until the city receives a long-anticipated boost from property tax revenue in four years. Assistant City Manager Ronda Rivera said the funds will be drawn on for both “unanticipated operating or known operating deficits that we have and capital needs as they come up.”

According to a 10-year projection presented to the council, without the line of credit, the city’s current reserves of $5.3 million were projected to dwindle to about $350,000 by fiscal year 2021-22, before increasing to more than $4 million beginning the following fiscal year when the city begins receiving its property tax revenue. An updated projection, accounting for the line of credit being used, showed reserves only dropping to $2.9 million before rising to almost $5 million the following year.

The city’s share of property taxes is currently about $5.6 million, but as part of a 25-year “revenue neutrality” agreement with Sacramento County, Citrus Heights has reluctantly had to fork those funds over to the county each year — a condition imposed to allow the city to incorporate in 1997. After an unsuccessful attempt to strike a deal with the county to get early access to the funds, the city pursued a line of credit as the most “cost effective” alternative.

The revolving line of credit with Western Alliance Bank is structured as a site lease with the Community Center pledged as collateral and comes with an interest rate of 4.4% on $4.5 million, and 6.09% on the remaining $7.5 million. An interest rate of 0.25% will be charged for any undrawn amount.

“Good faith estimates” included in the council’s Nov. 15 agenda packet state that if funds borrowed are paid in full at the end of the 20-year sublease, the city would pay about $9 million in interest, although that amount will be less if prepayments are made by the city. The city plans to pay any debt off by September of 2024.

The line of credit will enable the city to fund two “big ticket” expenses — purchasing the old Sylvan Middle School property and helping fund the second phase of improvements on Auburn Boulevard, according to Mayor Steve Miller. The city recently announced around $16 million in outside funding is available for the Auburn Boulevard project, which will extend roadway improvements from Rusch Park to the Roseville border, but the city needs to put forward about $4.5 million in matching funds.

The mayor has said the city’s intention with the old Sylvan school property is to buy it from the San Juan Unified School District and then sell it to a private party, in order to “have a full say in what happens there.”

In comments made during the meeting, councilmembers Bret Daniels and Jeff Slowey both said they “reluctantly” were voting for the line of credit, in light of the city’s long tradition of operating without debt. Four members of the public also addressed the council during the meeting to express their general support or opposition to the proposal.

Resident David Warren spoke during public comment and warned that another economic recession could hinder the ability of the city to repay the debt and said the council should specifically limit the use of credit for capital improvements, rather than operating expenses, arguing that “operating expense should never be something you use a line of credit for.”

“If the city borrows money and goes into debt and it has a compensating asset, then the city’s books remain in balance,” said Warren. “If instead we are spending it for operating expenses, the city’s books go out of balance because we will have a debt without a corresponding asset.”

The final wording of the agreement allows for the line of credit to be used for both “operating and capital funding needs.”

Bill Van Duker, sometimes called the city “Godfather” for his role in helping with the incorporation process, also spoke during public comment and told the City Council that it was known “from day one” that there would come a time when the city would reach a “crossover point” before the end of the 25-year agreement with the county, where expenses would exceed revenues. He said if former City Manager Henry Tingle were here today, “we would still be in exactly the same position.”

EDITORIAL: Council should re-watch tribute to ‘Tightwad Tingle’ before $12M vote

Several other council members and the assistant city manager also referenced the “crossover point,” which was initially projected to be reached in 2010, according Councilman Jeff Slowey. However, with frugal management under Tingle’s leadership, the city steered away from debt and amassed $33 million in reserves by 2012 — enabling the city to spend $21 million in reserves on the new city hall in 2016.

That move to purchase the new city hall was criticized by Councilman Bret Daniels, who has frequently voiced his opposition to the city draining its reserves on the new hall.

“We’re having [this] discussion today because of the decision to build this building and spend the general fund reserve to do that,” said Daniels. “If that had not occurred, we wouldn’t be having this meeting tonight. We would have a nice healthy reserve and we would be able to make it over those next five years or so.”

In the end, Daniels said he would “very reluctantly” support the line of credit in order to “return back to taking care of some of our different needs,” primarily referencing roads.

Related: Henry Tingle reflects on 17 years as Citrus Heights city manager

Vice Mayor Jeannie Bruins, who co-chaired the cityhood effort in 1996 and has served on the council since 2002, called the city’s move to incur debt for the first time a “very big paradigm shift” and said “we all hoped that this day would never come.” She said she was supporting the proposal due to its “very limited scope” and the goal “to get debt-free again as soon as we can.”

Councilman Slowey said in comments before the vote that future council members could make different decisions about how the line of credit is spent, noting governmental misuse in funding is common across the country. As he will be retiring from the council in two years, he said voters will need to keep council members “on their toes to make sure that they’re held accountable for how that money is spent.”

“I’m reluctantly going to support this, just because, again, it’s always nice to go everywhere and say your debt free,” said Slowey. “But, I think that fiscal frugality will continue to play on our part so that we will use that money wisely and only when we need to.”

Related: Middleton set to join Miller, Bruins on Citrus Heights City Council

Porsche Middleton, who won election to the City Council on Nov. 6 did not vote on the matter, as she will not officially replace Councilman Al Fox on the council until next month. Both Fox and Mayor Miller supported the $12 million line of credit.

Two other members of the public also spoke during the meeting, Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter and resident Kelly Severin. Carpenter focused her comments in support of the city investing in capital projects on Auburn Boulevard and Sylvan Corners, while Severin cautioned about taking on debt and said the city would be better off continuing its “pay-as-you-go” approach to projects, even if it would mean waiting four years for the city to receive its property tax revenue.

Funding from the line of credit is expected to be available by the end of this month, on Nov. 29, according to the city manager’s office.

What do you think of the City Council’s decision? Share your thoughts in a letter to the editor: click here.

November 16, 2018
Sunrise Mall to get new 2,500-seat stadium for outdoor concerts, events

A photo taken several years ago during a prior concert at Sunrise Mall. A newly approved pop-up stadium will be similar in design and appearance. // Image courtesy, Sunrise Marketplace

Sentinel staff report–
Citrus Heights will soon have a new venue for outdoor events and concerts, following the unanimous approval of a $300,000 grant by the city council on Thursday to pay for a new 2,500-seat “pop-up” stadium at Sunrise Mall.

The stadium proposal was initiated by the Sunrise MarketPlace and is part of a four-year $2.6 million investment the marketplace and mall have planned to attract consumers to Citrus Heights’ primary shopping district along Sunrise Boulevard.

“It really fills a gap in the current market that we have,” City Development Specialist Devon Rodriguez told council members in a staff report, calling the 2,500-seat venue an “ideal” size for many events. “There’s a lot of venues and a lot of larger venues but there’s no venues that are of this size.”

The stadium will feature a similar format to an outdoor stadium used for Sunrise Mall’s past concert series in 2012 and 2013, with a fenced venue and a village with food and beverage options. Events could include concerts, sports tournaments, craft and fair events, graduations, and other uses.

Beginning in 2018, the stadium will be set up outside Sunrise Mall from May through September. Components of the stadium will also be able to be moved to other areas of the Sunrise Marketplace, but grant terms will restrict use to events within city limits of Citrus Heights — and the city will also be able to use the stadium for branding.

About a dozen people spoke during public comment, all of whom were in favor of the stadium proposal and many of whom wore blue Sunrise Marketplace shirts in a show of solidarity. Notable community members and representatives were among speakers, including Chamber of Commerce and business representatives, as well as city “godfather” Bill Van Duker.

“I believe it will put the city on the map,” said Van Duker, noting other cities have attractions like Roseville’s fountains and Saturday-night concerts. “I don’t want the epitaph of this city to be we had great reserves and smooth streets, but no vision.”

Van Duker’s comments were echoed by others, including Fair Oaks resident Janet Mercado who spoke of positive memories about past fireworks display and concerts in the Sunrise Marketplace that drew her to shop and visit Citrus Heights.

Responding to Mercado, Mayor Jeff Slowey said with a smile, “We’ll do our best to make sure Citrus Heights can start taking your Fair Oaks money again here in town.”

Two regional events organizers also spoke in favor of the proposal, including EZ Events, Inc. owner Darlene Lyons.

“We’d love to bring more events to Citrus Heights,” Lyons said during public comment. “But one of our challenges is the lack of a large event venue and especially a gated venue.”

The proposal also won the support of Councilman Bret Daniels, who is often a lone “no” vote on fiscal issues.

“Usually when people pay taxes… they don’t probably think that their money might go towards a project that results in people going to concerts and things like that,” said Daniels, noting that the amount contributed by the city is about 12 percent of the marketplace’s multi-million dollar effort. “But every now and then some things come along and public-private partnerships makes a lot of sense.”

Daniels called the stadium plan “extremely good,” a sentiment expressed by other council members as well.

Also on The Sentinel: Two Citrus Heights companies listed among fastest-growing in region

Although speaking in support of funding the stadium, the mayor, as well as Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins, pushed back a bit on security aspects of the stadium — seeking to ensure the city wouldn’t be hit with any surprise bills for extra police services needed if an event went sour.

Sunrise MarketPlace Executive Director Kathilynn Carpenter responded to the concerns about security, replying in public comment that “we would pay for that; that would not be a city cost.” Under the approved proposal, the city’s only expense is a one-time $300,000 cost for purchasing the stadium, while ongoing costs and marketing will be the responsibility of the marketplace.

Sunrise MarketPlace will be contributing $1.6 million to the four-year $2.6 million marketing and operations effort related to the stadium, and Sunrise Mall will be chipping in $664,000. The city’s $300,00 portion will come from the city’s economic development fund, with funds replenished through several hundred “sewer credits” that the city is able to liquidate, according to city staff.

Following 5-0 approval from the city council on Thursday, Carpenter said the next step will be drafting a “more robust” agreement with the city, followed by the new stadium venue popping up next year.

What do you think of a new stadium at Sunrise Mall? Click here to have your thoughts published as a letter to the editor.

October 1, 2017
Residents organize, gather signatures to oppose new ARCO on Sunrise Blvd

A neighboring business owner speaks out at a Jan. 18 community meeting against a proposed ARCO gas station at Sunrise Blvd. and Sungarden Dr. // CH Sentinel

About 40 residents and business owners gathered in the community room at city hall Wednesday night to discuss strategy for opposing a proposal to build an ARCO gas station and convenience store at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Sungarden Drive in Citrus Heights.

The proposal was submitted by Barghausen Consulting three months ago and resulted in enough vocal opposition and questions that the mayor previously called a special community meeting in November to address some of the concerns. The plans submitted include demolition of the existing multi-story office building on site, construction of a 3,000-square-feet AM/PM convenience store, installation of a 42-feet-by-110-feet covered area for eight gas pumps, and the addition of a small car wash.

Since November, the group has continued to organize and mobilize opposition, with Wednesday’s meeting staffed with check-in tables at the door to keep in touch with attendees, signature sheets circulated for a petition opposing the proposal, and a plan to fight the ARCO project all the way to the top.

The Jan. 18 meeting featured a series of speakers addressing various reasons for opposing the gas station. Speakers cited concern about increased crime, loitering, lighting, traffic, location, proposed liquor sales, and whether there was a need for a new gas station and 24-hour convenience store in an area they argue is “saturated” already.

“We’re not fighting city hall, we’re not fighting the planning commission, we’re not even fighting [the developer],” said resident and speaker Fred Sullivan. “We’re fighting this project… to have a voice in the destiny of the City of Citrus Heights.”

Sullivan said the ARCO might make business sense, but called the proposal “a public nuisance.” He primarily addressed the aspect of liquor licensing and said the state’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) authorizes up to three liquor licenses in the area of the proposed ARCO, but he said the area already has double that number of licenses.

Although setting license limits based on census tracts, ABC allows local jurisdictions to approve additional licenses on a case-by-case basis through a “letter of public convenience or necessity” that is voted on by the city council.

The group also gained support from Bill Van Duker, a former planning commission member who has been called the “godfather” of Citrus Heights for his role in leading the fight for incorporation 20 years ago. Van Duker called the proposed ARCO “the wrong activity at the wrong site,” and promised the group that he would “do everything I can to help and support you.”

“This never has been a commercial site; it’s been a business and professional site,” said Van Duker, noting the location has been used as an office building.

The site is zoned “SC” commercial for shopping center use and is located in the Copperwood Square Shopping Center, along with FoodMaxx, Dollar Tree, and several other businesses and restaurants. Opponents argue that the center is surrounded by homes and is not fitting for a gas station, which requires a special use permit to operate in the location.

Several nearby business owners also spoke out against the project, with Randy Pastor, owner of Pastor’s gas station at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Old Auburn Road, stating another gas station would pull customers away from his business.

Pastor also told residents that the ARCO would bring in homelessness and loitering to the area, noting that his gas station deals with homeless issues “constantly.” He said used needles, panhandling, and vandalism are commonplace at his location.

Kyle Hasapes, a local resident and county prosecutor, called the project “very concerning” and said he was concerned about crime associated with alcohol sales. He said the proposed late night liquor sales and loitering would “bring the kind of people we do not want around our families [and] neighborhoods.”

“It’s not a matter of if crime is going to increase, it’s a question of how much,” Hasapes said.

Nancy Graham, who organized Wednesday’s meeting and is president of the neighborhood association the proposed project is located in, said she was pleased with the meeting’s turnout, in light of heavy winds and rain that night.

The neighborhood president expressed concern that nearby homes would be subjected to glaring lights at night, as well as sounds of car doors slamming, car wash noise, people talking late at night, and “joy-riders coming up with radios on full blast.” She also noted a Montessori school in the shopping center, as well as a nearby daycare.

Asked to respond to community concerns about the gas station, the project’s architect, Dan Goalwin, said impacts would be mitigated by conditions imposed by the city, as the project requires a conditional use permit. Goalwin said he was not authorized to comment further about the project and said no one else was available to respond to questions on Friday afternoon.

City Planning Division Manager Colleen McDuffee, who was not able to be reached Friday, previously told residents at the Nov. 28 community meeting that the planning commission can impose conditions of approval on development projects and often reviews recommendations on conditions like hours of operations restrictions and delivery times.

See prior story from November for more comment from the city: Residents pack out meeting to oppose new ARCO on Sunrise Blvd

The convenience store at the nearby Pastor’s gas station had hours of operation restrictions imposed by the city to close by 11 p.m., according to the owner, while the 7-Eleven at 6882 Sunrise Blvd. is open 24-hours.

Graham said her group is planning several more meetings in advance of the proposal reaching the planning commission.

Share your thoughts on the proposal: Submit a letter-to-the-editor here

January 21, 2017
Citrus Heights kicks off city’s 20th birthday with reception, review

Police department Honor Guard members file out of the council chambers on Thursday after posting flags in the room during a 20th anniversary kick-off celebration. // CH Sentinel

Updated Jan. 14, 10:29 p.m.–
Council chambers in Citrus Heights were packed with a standing-room-only crowd Thursday night for the city’s 20th anniversary kick-off celebration.

The evening began with a half-hour reception at city hall, complete with balloons, cake, and refreshments, followed by formal recognition of the city’s milestone anniversary during the regularly scheduled council meeting the same evening.

Republic Services, the city’s waste and recycling service provider, presented awards and recognition during the meeting for 13 children who participated in an artwork contest and had been selected to have their art published in a 20th anniversary calendar. City staff also presented a brief timeline overview of Citrus Heights’ incorporation effort and various achievements over the past two decades, followed by a five-minute video shown on the chamber’s new large-screen projectors. (See video below)

Various community and business leaders also spoke during the meeting, including city “godfather” Bill Van Duker, who chaired the original Citrus Heights Incorporation Project (CHIP) for several years.

“I want to challenge the city to not stop here 20 years later and look at what we’ve done, but look forward to what we can do because there’s still a lot of things that can happen,” said Van Duker, after praising cityhood as a success that “wildly” exceeded his best dreams. Setting sights on the future, he mentioned work was needed to get local schools “up to par,” and also expressed a desire for a future event center.

Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova, also spoke Thursday night, presenting an Assembly resolution in honor of the city’s anniversary and praising the city’s management as an example for other municipalities to follow.

“The success of the City of Citrus Heights was instrumental in the success in the formation… of the City of Elk Grove [and] the City of Rancho Cordova,” said Cooley, noting the pair of cities had incorporated just a few years after Citrus Heights. He also praised the city’s “pay-as-you-go” philosophy to avoid public debt, calling it a model other city’s have looked to across the state.

Although looked upon now widely as a successful example of cityhood, the fight to break off from county governance and incorporate as a city was a decade-long battle that culminated with a “Measure R” vote for cityhood in 1995. While ending up with 62 percent approval by voters, those involved in the effort weren’t so sure it would pass.

“When we were watching the election results… we didn’t know whether we were going to win or lose,” Van Duker told the audience on Thursday. He described the Citrus Heights cityhood effort as a small, dedicated group that dwindled at times to just a half-dozen people serving with CHIP during prolonged court battles in the 80’s and 90’s.

Read more about the fight for cityhood: 2017 marks 20 years since Citrus Heights became a city

City staff said the Jan. 12 kick-off event was only the start of a planned year-long celebration of the city’s anniversary, with additional plans including a “block party” at Van Maren Park in June and a traveling anniversary booth to be featured at community events in the city this year. 2017 will also feature a different theme for each month to highlight various aspects of the city, such as “top 20” city landmarks and “top 20 things you love about Citrus Heights.”

January’s theme is the top city awards and accomplishments, with fiscal responsibility and forming the city’s own police department named among the top 20 items.

January 14, 2017