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Tag: City Hall

Will the medical office building in Citrus Heights ever be built?

The future site of a medical office building in Citrus Heights has remained dormant nearly two years after the project was approved in March, 2015. // CH Sentinel

Nearly two years ago, city leaders approved a controversial plan to relocate the old Citrus Heights city hall and construct a new three-story medical office building in its place, at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive.

Despite being approved at the same time as the now-completed new city hall project, the old city hall lot has remained dormant — with no construction activity, apart from demolition of the old hall last September.

The lack of visible progress at the site caused one city council candidate, Tim Schaefer, to question during his campaign whether the medical building would ever be built. He cited a September report by Dignity Health which showed a $238 million loss for fiscal year 2016, with $12.6 billion in revenue.

Last January, the city manager’s office estimated Panattoni Development Company would begin work on the medical building by spring 2016. However, by August, the lot still remained dormant and Panattoni Development Manager Brent Collins said at the time that his company was “frantically working with all the parties involved to start in late September.”

Several city leaders had also previously told The Sentinel that construction on the medical building was delayed due to financing arrangements. A lawsuit against the project that was settled in March 2016 may have also contributed to delays.

So where does the project stand now?

According to Mayor Jeff Slowey and a Dignity Health spokeswoman, the project is continuing to move forward and the health care organization recently approved a plan to self-finance the project.

Slowey said he met with Dignity Health officials last month and said the organization had initially been working with another lender, but approved a plan to self-finance the project in November. He said “they’ll be breaking ground January or February, if there isn’t an issue.”

“We just want to see it move forward,” Slowey told The Sentinel in a December interview. “Quite frankly we’re getting tired of looking at an empty parking lot with weeds.”

Dignity Health Spokeswoman Brooke Burgess also confirmed the plan to self-fund the project and said the organization looks forward to constructing the medical building “as soon as possible.”

When completed, the Dignity Health building at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive will be a 68,727-square-feet structure, with three stories and over 300 parking spaces. The new facility is expected to bring 170 professional jobs to Citrus Heights, according to the city.

>>See image of what the new medical building will look like

Background
The medical office building is part of a $53.2 million project approved by city council members on March 26, 2015, which also included the now-completed $22 million new city hall. As a key part of the deal, the medical building will generate $6.9 million in lease payments to the city over the next 15 years, according to the city manager’s office.

The initial proposal to demolish and move the existing city hall drew significant opposition from residents in 2014, with the formation of a “Save City Hall” campaign and threat of litigation. Opponents expressed concern about cost, location, traffic impacts, and the medical building “monstrosity.”

The initial location for the new hall was proposed on a residential-zoned lot on Antelope Road near Mariposa Avenue, but the site was opposed by vocal residents who wanted to keep the existing city hall building and also keep city hall near the police department and community center.

Opposition to the proposal noticeably dwindled after developer Rod Johnson made an offer to build the new hall where it now sits on Fountain Square Drive, just a block away from the old city hall. The new location received largely positive feedback from community members and the project was unanimously approved by the city council several months later — although an environmental lawsuit was filed and some resident criticism remained about the medical building.

>>Learn more about the lawsuit: Settlement reached in lawsuit against new city hall & MOB project

Once construction commences on the medical building, the city manager’s office has estimated the project will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

What do you think of the project? Click here to submit a letter to the editor for publication

December 29, 2016
Video shows off new Citrus Heights city hall, dedication

A new video uploaded to Youtube by Sacramento Metro Cable 14 this week highlights various shots of the newly completed city hall building in Citrus Heights.

The short, minute-long video includes views from inside and outside the new 35,000-square-foot building, as well as footage from a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Aug. 25.

Council members approved the $22 million project in March of 2015, with the final cost of the project coming in under budget at $21.3 million. The City paid for the building in cash, without incurring any debt.

The new hall officially opened for business on Aug. 9 and is located at 6360 Fountain Square Dr., across from the police department.

>>See night-view image of city hall here, or see prior story for more: New Citrus Heights city hall dedication draws crowd for ‘momentous occasion’

September 10, 2016
New Citrus Heights city hall to open Aug. 9; tours planned

A photo taken of the new city hall on July 27 shows new landscaping and exterior painting underway. // CH Sentinel

Updated July 29, 9:03 a.m.–
After just over a year of construction, the new 35,000-square-foot city hall in Citrus Heights is scheduled to open for business on Aug. 9, with a public dedication ceremony on Aug. 25.

Mayor Jeannie Bruins called the new hall a great accomplishment for the City, highlighting that the $22 million building was constructed without incurring any debt. “It’s a valuable amenity for the community and a great way to usher in our 20-year anniversary in 2017,” she said in an email to The Sentinel Tuesday.

The project was unanimously approved by the city council last March and began construction several months later in July. The entire project will end on track with the original estimated timeline of 12 to 14 months to complete and will also remain on or below budget, according to Monica Alejandrez, assistant to the city manager.

Alejandrez said furniture is currently being moved in to the new building, with major items still to be completed including exterior painting and tile work, additional landscaping and paving, and a fountain in the front plaza. She said about 65 city staff will be housed in the new building, most of whom have been “squeezed” into a temporary city hall location on Auburn Boulevard for the past year.

“We’re really looking forward to working in the new facility to serve the community properly and efficiently,” said Alejandrez. “We just have a lot of pride with this building and what it will do for the community.”

The project was overseen by Capital Partners Development Co. and features a 4,000-square-foot utility yard on the 10.9 acre parcel, located next to the the post office on Fountain Square Drive.

[Related: Drawing shows what new city hall will look like when complete]

Mayor Bruins called the new hall’s design “customer-friendly” and said the building was designed for energy efficiency, with LEED Gold certification. She said a time capsule will be embedded in the new council chambers that will be opened on the 50th anniversary of the city in the year 2047.

The mayor also said she was “especially pleased” that outgoing City Manager Henry Tingle would be able to work in the new hall before his retirement later this year on Sept. 30. She said Tingle’s vision “has carried our city forward for 18 years” and said one of the goals he sought to accomplish prior to retirement was to build a new city hall.

[Related: Citrus Heights city manager announces plans to retire]

During the transition to the new building, city hall’s temporary location at 7927 Auburn Blvd. will be closed on Friday, Aug. 5, and Monday, Aug. 8. City hall will then re-open for business on Aug. 9 at noon, according to a posting on the City’s website.

Dedication & public tours

A dedication outside the new city hall will be held at 9 a.m. on Aug. 25, which Alejandrez said will feature a “short but sweet” ceremony with speeches from the mayor and city leaders. She said the community is invited to the dedication, as well as area dignitaries and staff from other cities.

Public tours of the new hall will be held after the ceremony, with city hall opening at noon for regular business on the 25th.

The new hall is part of a larger $53.2 million project approved by city council members last March, which includes a new three-story Dignity Health medical office building in place of the old city hall at the corner of Fountain Square Drive and Greenback Lane. According to the city manager’s office, the medical building will generate $6.9 million in lease payments to the city over the next 15 years.

Alejandrez said the Dignity Health building is expected to break ground next month — although the date has been moved several times. The project will be overseen by Panattoni Development Co. and is estimated to take 18 to 24 months to complete, once construction begins.

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July 28, 2016
Citrus Heights News Briefs: city hall update, plastic bags, elections

A photo taken on July 16 shows progress on the new Citrus Heights city hall currently under construction. It is expected to open on Aug. 9. // CH Sentinel

Latest local news briefs include an opening date set for the new city hall, clarification on whether Citrus Heights is affected by Sacramento County’s plastic bag ban, and a look at what’s taking shape in the upcoming race for city council.

New city hall to open next month
The new 35,000-square-feet Citrus Heights city hall is nearing completion and is scheduled to officially open for business on Aug. 9. According to a posting on the City’s website, city hall’s temporary location on Auburn Boulevard will have its final day on Aug. 4, with city offices then closed until re-opening at noon on Aug. 9 at the new location at 6360 Fountain Square Dr. Plans for a grand opening ceremony have previously been discussed by city leaders, but no information was posted on the city’s website as of July 16.

City clarifies plastic bags are still OK in Citrus Heights
Seeking to clarify some confusion among businesses as well as consumers, the City of Citrus Heights posted a statement on its website this week stating that Sacramento County’s recent enactment of a ban on carryout plastic bags does not apply to Citrus Heights. The County’s bag ordinance went into effect July 1, but only applies to businesses in unincorporated areas of Sacramento County. “Businesses in Citrus Heights may continue to use plastic bags and not charge customers for their use,” the City said in its July 14 statement. The County’s website also confirms the bag ban only applies to unincorporated areas. (Read full statement)

Local elections: nomination period opens for city council candidates
Beginning Monday, Citrus Heights residents wishing to run for one of two city council seats up for election this year can submit nomination paperwork with the city clerk. The official nomination period for city council is from July 18 through Aug. 12, 2016, with aspiring candidates required to gather and submit at least 20 signatures from registered voters in the city. (Link)

Out of the five-member council, the two seats up for election this year belong to Councilwoman Sue Frost and Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey. Frost has announced she is not seeking re-election due to her current campaign for Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. So far, Planning Commissioner Rick Doyle and policy analyst Marcel Weiland are the only candidates who have submitted official declarations with the city clerk regarding their intent to run for city council.

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July 17, 2016
Aerial photo shows progress on new Citrus Heights city hall

An aerial shot, taken on Jan. 23, 2016, shows progress on the new Citrus Heights city hall project on Fountain Square Drive. Credit: Rod Johnson, Capital Partners Development Co.

An aerial photo released this week shows progress on the new Citrus Heights city hall, currently being constructed on Fountain Square Drive just north of the Post Office.

The image, taken by a drone on Jan. 23 and released by developer Rod Johnson of Capital Partners Development Company, shows the general shape of the new building’s curved design, roof in place, and outline of parking areas. Johnson said the project is “on track” and “on budget” for completion later this year.

[Related: Drawing shows what new city hall will look like when complete]

The new hall will feature a 35,000-square-foot design and an adjacent 4,000-square-foot utility yard, all located on a 10.9-acre parcel about a block away from the old city hall property.

As previously reported on The Sentinel, construction of the new $22 million city hall is expected to be completed by September of this year, according to Project Manager Tyler Gahagan, with Ascent Builders.

For additional context on the city hall project and related medical office building project, see story: “Citrus Heights city hall ‘on target’ for completion by September”

February 5, 2016
Citrus Heights News Briefs: tree lit, city hall update, water use

A crowd gathered outside the Citrus Heights Community Center Thursday night to celebrate the lighting of the City’s Christmas tree. //CHSentinel

Highlights from a few Citrus Heights happenings this week include walls being raised at the new city hall building, the City’s official Christmas tree being lit, and latest water conservation figures being released for the area.

Citrus Heights’ Christmas tree lit during ceremony
Not dampened by Thursday rain showers, hundreds gathered outside the Citrus Heights Community Center as Mayor Sue Frost led a cheerful crowd in a countdown before the City’s official Christmas tree was lit up for the season. Free hot cider, cocoa and cookies were served up inside, followed by performances from the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band and several cultural dance teams from the region.

CHWD water savings continue to beat regional, state averages
A state report on water use released this week showed the Citrus Heights Water District reporting 29 percent water savings during October — beating the statewide average of 22 percent and the regional average of 27 percent. Although still beating its cumulative 32 percent savings requirement by five points, local conservation totals have been slipping since the summer, as there are less opportunities for outdoor water savings in colder months. CHWD reported a 42.5 percent drop in July, 38.3 percent in August, and a much lower 29.1 percent drop in September.

Walls raised on new city hall project
The new Citrus Heights city hall building took a big visual step forward this week, as a construction crane raised walls for the new 35,000-square-foot facility. The project was approved in March of this year, with an expected completion date towards the end of summer 2016.
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Construction crews aided by a crane raise a cement wall for the new Citrus Heights city hall building this week. // Photo, City of Citrus Heights

December 4, 2015
Citrus Heights leaders break ground on new city hall project

Citrus Heights city leaders dug in a shovel Wednesday to celebrate the start of construction on a new city hall.

Updated July 16, 11:42 p.m.–
After more than two years of discussion, debate, and planning, Citrus Heights city leaders finally broke ground Wednesday in a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on a new $22 million city hall.

“I want to thank all of you for being here to join us for this epic moment in our history,” Mayor Sue Frost told a crowd of about 150 people Wednesday morning, calling the city hall groundbreaking “an important step for our future.”

“This is by far the largest project in the history of the City,” Citrus Heights City Manager Henry Tingle told the crowd, who had assembled under a tent on a patch of dirt and crushed gravel at the site of the soon-to-be new city hall. He praised various City employees for their efforts in making the project go from a dream to reality, highlighting the work of his assistant, Monica Alejandrez, who spearheaded the effort.

“When this project is completed, there will be a plaque put on this building and it will have your mom’s name on it,” the city manager told Alejandrez’s two children who were present at the ceremony, seeking to highlight the significance of the project. “When you grow up and have your own families, you can bring her grandkids and show what their grandmother did many years ago.”

Former mayor of Citrus Heights and current Sacramento County Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan was also present for the ceremony, having been one of the City’s first five council members when the City was formed in 1997. MacGlashan called the project a “wonderful accomplishment” and noted it is scheduled for completion just prior to Citrus Heights’ 20th anniversary of becoming a city.

[GALLERY: Preliminary artistic Images of New City Hall]

Looking ahead, Capital Partners Developer Rod Johnson told the crowd the site would be transformed quickly, with “a flurry of activity” scheduled to occur next week. He said in a little over 12 months, community members can expect to be sitting outside in a “very beautiful quad area, looking at a state-of-the-art city hall.”

The new hall is part of a larger $53.2 million project approved by city council members in March, which includes a new three-story Dignity Health medical office building being constructed in place of the old city hall at the corner of Fountain Square Drive and Greenback Lane. The new hall will be constructed nearby on a 10.9-acre parcel next to the Post Office, just a block away from the original hall on Fountain Square Drive.

[From March: Council votes 5-0 for new city hall & MOB; lawsuit threatened]

The new city hall will feature a single-story, 35,000-square-feet design, with an adjacent 4,000-square-feet utility yard.

Demolition of the old city hall property will likely begin in mid-August, according to the city manager’s office.

July 15, 2015
Citrus Heights to sell off City plants, pottery at Cash & Carry day

Citrus Heights city hall fountain and rose garden area. Photos courtesy, City of Citrus Heights.

Community members are invited to bring cash and a shovel for an opportunity to pick up a piece of local history during the City’s July 18 “Community Cash and Carry” day at the soon-to-be-demolished Citrus Heights city hall.

Items up for grabs will include roses, shrubs, trees, and potted plants; as well as statues, fountains, planters and benches — all of which range in price from $5 for a rose bush, to $30 for fountains over four feet in height, according to the City’s website.

The City says the day was scheduled in an effort to preserve plants, pottery, and other items within the community — many of which trace back to the days when the current city hall campus was originally operated as a plant nursery, prior to the City’s incorporation in 1997.

The cash-only event will take place on Saturday, July 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the current city hall campus at 7115 Greenback Ln., with buyers responsible for “unearthing” and moving all items.

[Related: Council votes 5-0 for new city hall & medical building]

According to an event flier, all participants “will be required to sign a release of liability waiver prior to admission,” and those under 18 will be required to have a parent or guardian present.
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Cash & Carry event flier: cash-and-carry-day_flier.jpg

July 10, 2015
Citrus Heights This Week: what’s happening around town (July 6-12)

Events highlights in Citrus Heights this week include the annual Community Camp Out in Rusch Park, a free outdoor movie showing of Paddington, and free train rides and a kids camp at the Citrus Town Center, among other events.

From Monday through Friday this week, city hall will operate out of the Fountain Square Drive Community Center while city offices are moving to a temporary location at 7927 Auburn Blvd. The move will allow for demolition of the old hall buildings in preparation for construction of a new medical office building at the corner of Greenback Lane and Fountain Square Drive.

[Learn more: Citrus Heights city hall moving to temp Auburn Blvd location this week]

Wednesday: A swarm of food trucks will once again descend on Rusch Park from 5 to 9 p.m., as part of a new 2015 Food Truck Mania summer event series at the park. Continuing through August, the wide array of food trucks will be out in the park on the second Wednesday of each month.

Thursday: The Citrus Heights city council will meet at its temporary location in the Community Center at 7 p.m. this Thursday. According to the meeting agenda, council members will consider approving several 2015-16 fiscal year amendments and updates relating to executive competition, payrate, and police benefits. Council members will also hear several other items, including an amendment to the City’s cardroom ordinance and a public hearing related to delinquent solid waste service charges.

[Document: City council agenda for July 9, 2015]

Friday: A free “Summer Safari” kid’s camp will be held at the Citrus Town Center from 10:30 a.m. to noon, with rainforest-themed activities and free train rides around the shopping plaza afterwards until 2 p.m. Two other camps are also planned for July and August. (Click for camp schedule)

The weekend: The Citrus Town Center will also be hosting a free outdoor movie showing of the kids film “Paddington,” beginning at dusk on Saturday. The film is part of a summer outdoor movie series put on by the Town Center, with different films featured each month — all shown on a large inflatable projector screen at the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard on the Town Center plaza.

On Saturday and Sunday, residents are invited to grab a tent and camp out with the community at Rusch Park. The overnight Community Camp Out began in 2001, and organizers call it “one of the best family events that the City sponsors.” (Click for additional info and registration form)

Preview of next week: Check back next Monday to learn more about a groundbreaking ceremony for the new city hall, World Team Tennis games in the Sunrise Mall parking lot, a Hawaiian Luau in town, and more.
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July 6, 2015
Citrus Heights city hall moving to temp Auburn Blvd location this week

The new temporary home for Citrus Heights City Hall will be located in the Grand Oaks Shopping Center on Auburn Boulevard.

Citrus Heights’ city hall offices will be relocating to a 12,500 square feet temporary facility on Auburn Boulevard this month, closing doors to the public after July 2 and reopening at the new location on July 13.

The move comes after city council members approved a plan in March to tear down the existing city hall on Fountain Square Drive and allow Dignity Health to construct a three-story medical office building in its place, with a new $22 million city hall to be constructed just a block away next to the Post Office.

The temporary location for city hall will be at 7927 Auburn Blvd in the Grand Oaks Shopping Center, near Rusch Park. The location was preferred due to its size, commercial location and convenient access, according to an April report to the council by City Facilities and Landscape Manager Chris Meyers.

[Related: Council votes 5-0 for new city hall & MOB; lawsuit threatened]

As previously reported on The Sentinel, the 13-month lease agreement for the temporary hall will cost a total of about $190,000 and includes an option for up to three two-month extensions, according Meyers. Although the new city hall is expected to be completed in 12 to 14 months, the extension options allow for any delays in the process, according to Monica Alejandrez with the city manager’s office.

While staff transition to the temporary location, city hall will operate out of the Citrus Heights Community Center from July 6 to 10, according to a news release issued by the City.

July 2, 2015