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  • Council Votes 5-0 to Take ‘No Action’ on City Hall Proposal

    With speaker after speaker lining up to voice their opposition to the controversial proposal to move city hall and construct a medical office building in its place, Citrus Heights council members voted unanimously to postpone a final decision on the proposal Thursday night, pending a full Environmental Impact Review.

    Holding a sign opposing moving city hall, resident Susan Miller awaits a decision from the council, Thursday night.
    Holding a sign opposing moving city hall, resident Barb Miller sits in audience awaiting a decision from the council, Thursday night.

    Although the City had prepared an environmental assessment document known as a “Mitigated Negative Declaration,” attorney Chris Butcher with the group Save Our Civic Center threatened a lawsuit last month over “inadequacies” in the document, asserting the City would violate the California Environmental Quality Act if it were to go ahead with the proposal before conducting a full EIR.

    Tim Schaefer, who heads up the Save Our Civic Center Group, said potential litigation over the project “is not about saving a bug or a bird,” but rather about “quality of life” for Citrus Heights residents. The group hopes to delay a final vote in order to allow more thorough analysis of other options for the city hall facility, while keeping it within the existing civic center.

    A full environmental report could be due as early as February or March, according to Councilman Jeff Slowey, who expressed “disappointment” that a final decision on the proposal was not able to be made Thursday.

  • New Staff Report Recommends Council Take “No Action” on Moving City Hall

    Updated 5:14 p.m., August 14-

    A new Staff Report is recommending the Citrus Heights city council take “no action” on the controversial proposal to move city hall, according to documents released Friday night on the City’s website.

    Proposed three-story medical office building which would replace existing city hall at Fountain Square Drive and Greenback Lane. // Courtesy of Dignity Health
    Proposed three-story medical office building which would replace existing city hall at Fountain Square Drive and Greenback Lane. // Courtesy of Dignity Health

    “Staff recommends that the City Council take no action on the medical office building and City Hall project at this time and direct staff to do additional environmental review,” reads a summary of the report issued by City Manager Henry Tingle, who has been a vocal supporter of the proposal.

    Opponents of the plan to move city hall see the report as a change in the right direction, as prior reports from staff have recommended going ahead with the proposal.

    “We see this as a favorable development, but our position remains unchanged,” said Tim Schaefer, with the group Save City Hall. “We will remain vigilant until moving city hall is off the table for good.”

    The Staff Report will be presented to the council at its August 14 meeting, and council members will decide whether to move ahead with the proposal or to follow the recommendation of staff and hold off on a decision.

    Previously, in a split 3-2 vote, the council voted to postpone a final decision on the proposal during its July 24 meeting, after environmental attorney Chris Butcher threatened a lawsuit if the plan moved forward.

    —

    City Council Meeting:
    Thursday, August 14, 2014
    7:00 p.m.
    City Council Chambers
    7117 Greenback Lane
    Citrus Heights, CA 95621

    Full Staff Report: http://www.citrusheights.net/docs/item_9_medical_office_building_and_city_hall_project.pdf

  • Council Postpones Vote on New City Hall Deal, After Lawsuit Threat

    In a crowded room Thursday night, Citrus Heights council members voted 3-2 in favor of postponing a final decision on the controversial proposal to move city hall and allow construction of a three-story medical building in its place — expressing the need for more research after an environmental attorney threatened a lawsuit.

    Council members listen as an environmental attorney criticizes parts of the proposal and threatens a lawsuit, Thursday night.
    Council members listen as environmental attorney Chris Butcher criticizes parts of the proposal and threatens a lawsuit, Thursday night.

    During nearly two hours of public comment, those in favor of the project accused opponents of being too emotional rather than fact-based, while opponents expressed their desire for city hall to remain in the centralized civic center.

    Members of the business community spoke out in favor of the deal being good for the city’s economy, while many residents emphasized their attachment to the current civic center as a “one-stop-shop” for city hall, the community center, police department and post office.

    The council will take up the matter again at their August 14 meeting, where a final vote is expected.