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Tag: Jayna Karpinski-Costa

  • Citrus Heights City Council Election: Who’s funding who?

    Citrus Heights Council Candidates for 2022. Top left to right: Albert Fox, Manuel Perez, Jayna Karpinski-Costa (District 4). Porsche Middleton, Natalee Price (District 5). Lower, left to right: Michael Nishimura, Steven Durham, James Tipton, MariJane Lopez-Taff (District 2). // Compiled by M. Hazlip

    Sentinel staff report–
    Latest campaign finance disclosures show more than $100,000 has poured into the various races for Citrus Heights City Council this year, far more than the city has ever seen in recent years — despite elections shifting to smaller council districts within the city instead of being held at-large.

    The most money being pumped into the city’s three district races is in the southeastern portion of Citrus Heights, where Mayor Porsche Middleton is facing businesswoman Natalee Price in the race for District 5. As of Oct. 22, Middleton reported receiving over $37,000 in contributions so far this year, while Price reported just over $6,700.

    Middleton also reported early contributions over the past two years, bringing contribution totals to her 2022 election committee to more than $78,000. She and MariJane Lopez-Taff, in District 2, were the only candidates who reported early fundraising efforts prior to this year.

    Campaign disclosures are required by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) for local candidates who raise or spend over $2,000. Two pre-election disclosure filings are required by the commission, with an additional requirement for candidates to file a separate form each time a donation of $1,000 or more is received.

    Below is a summary of the financial filings for each of the nine candidates’ running for Citrus Heights City Council in 2022, categorized by district.

    DISTRICT 2

    Steve Durham: No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Aug. 11, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.

    James Tipton. No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Sept. 27, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.

    Michael Nishimura. Reported receiving a total of $18,000 through Oct. 22, with $10,000 coming from personal loans and a pair of $4,000 donations appearing to come from family members with the same last name. Nishimura’s top recent expense listed was $2,005 to All Star Printing for postcard mailers. Total expenses listed were $8,354.

    MariJane Lopez-Taff. Reported receiving $4,635 through Oct. 22, with the top donation of $1,016 coming from Sondra Nunez, owner of Mountain Valley Petroleum, a fuel transportation company based in West Sacramento. She also received $734 in contributions last year. Total expenses listed were $3,862, with the top expense of $766 for campaign signs to buildasign.com.

    DISTRICT 4

    Manuel Perez-Salazar: No donations reported. Filed a sworn statement on Sept. 27, stating he anticipates receiving and spending less than $2,000 during the calendar year on the election.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa: Reported personal loans to her campaign totaling $25,000 through Oct. 22, with no other donations except for a $275 nonmonetary contribution from District 5 candidate Natalee Price for social media management. A total of $5,747 in expenses are listed, with the top expense being $3,936 to Commerce Printing in Sacramento.

    Albert Fox. Reported receiving a total of $5,763 through Sept. 29, with an additional $300 reported through Oct. 22. A personal loan for $5,000 is listed as the top donation, followed by a $250 donation from Jerry Roach, who is listed as an individual with no occupational information. A total of $3,250 in expenses are listed, with the top expense of $1,656 being paid to All Star Printing in Citrus Heights for campaign material.

    DISTRICT 5

    Porsche Middleton. Reported receiving a total of $37,633 through Oct. 22, with an additional $32,391 raised in 2021. Middleton has three top donors who each gave the maximum annual limit of $4,900, including the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber PAC and Inter-State Cooperative, Inc., which lists an address of “The Sanctuary” cannabis dispensary in Sacramento. A personal donation of $4,900 from Citrus Heights resident and Google engineer James Prioleau is also listed. Prioleau also gave $4,900 to her campaign in 2021.

    Middleton’s 2022 election committee also received $8,675 in 2020, largely from an $8,500 donation from Citrus Heights Residents for Better Community, which The Sentinel previously reported was formed in 2020 to support Measure M and received donations from “The Sanctuary” and a company with a New Hampshire address listed as Ajala, Inc.

    A total of $40,502 in expenditures are listed this year, with Middleton’s top recent expenditure being $6,097 to the United States Postal Service for postage/delivery services, and $10,500 to the American Leadership Forum last year.

    Natalee Price. Reported receiving a total of $6,707 in contributions through Oct. 22, with $1,850 coming from a personal loan to her campaign and the top contribution of $900 coming from District 4 candidate Jayna Karpinski-Costa’s committee, who has endorsed Price. A total of $6,717 in expenses are listed, with the top expense of $845 being paid to Brother’s Printing on Roseville Road for campaign material.

    The next FPPC reporting deadline for candidates is Jan. 31, 2023. To see all the candidates’ full campaign finance filings, click here.

    In contrast to prior years, Bret Daniels won election to his district seat in 2020 with around $3,000 in contributions and Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer won election with less than $2,000 reported in contributions the same year.

    Four years ago, when the city still held at-large elections, Councilman Steve Miller reported just over $10,000 in contributions to win re-election, and Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins reported around $16,000. Middleton, who won her seat on the council for the first time that year, reported more than $40,000 in contributions in 2018 to beat a pair of well-funded contenders.

    To learn more about each candidate, see prior story: Election 2022: Who’s running for Citrus Heights City Council?

  • Meet Jayna Karpinski-Costa, candidate for Citrus Heights Council District 4

    Note: As part of The Sentinel’s 2022 coverage of local elections, we have asked a series of seven identical questions to each of the candidates running for a seat on the Citrus Heights City Council. The questions are designed to give each of the candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to the community and give voters an opportunity to learn more about each candidate’s life and background. Candidates replied via email, and those who responded to each question in less than 100 words have their answers published word-for-word.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa, District 4

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa
    Jayna Karpinski-Costa

    Why are you running for City Council? When I attended the city council’s Strategic Planning session in May, I was energized by the objectives introduced by the new city manager. I resolved to be part this innovative plan. The seat for District 4 needs to be filled with someone who will support these strategic objectives. In this post-pandemic time and under new leadership. Citrus Heights is poised to launch policies that will restore cuts made to public safety, combat homelessness, fix our roads, re-envision Sunrise Marketplace and more. I believe I am uniquely qualified to set policies that can make Citrus Heights the best city in our region.

    What are two aspects you like most about living in Citrus Heights?

    • We have a city government that is open and accessible.
    • We have a network of neighborhood associations that promote community participation, the highest form of democracy.

    What are the top two things you’d like to change/improve in Citrus Heights, if any?

    • Change: Homelessness
    • Improve: roads

    What are two books that have had the most influence on your life, and why/how?

    I love books. I have several thousand. Hard to select. But I have to credit James Herriot for inspiring me to be a veterinarian in All Creatures Great and Small (and his others). In 2005, I attended League of Cities conference and bought The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn. Fred, the postman, converted his ordinary job into an extraordinary one making a difference in the lives of others, doing his job with passion, creativity and commitment. I strive to be a Fred.

    What are three key principles that would guide your votes on the council?

    a) Do we really need it?
    b) Can we afford it?
    c) Does the community support it?

    What kind of volunteer work have you done for charities, churches or service organizations in the community?

    President of SOAR, Area 10, Sylvan Old Auburn Road neighborhood association since 1998. We organized a cleanup prior to the park construction, donated $8,500 from our fireworks booth sales, added a section of the trail for visually impaired. At Christmas, I dress as Santa and bring shelf-stable food to seniors in partnership with Meals on Wheels and as the Spring Chicken, some fresh produce at Easter. I organized the Senior Health and Resource Fair for 11 years. With great community partners and the other neighborhood associations helping, it was the biggest and best in the region. See my website www.drjayna.com for more information.

    City Council members are paid a small monthly stipend of $600 for their service. If elected, how do you plan to balance work life elsewhere with council responsibilities?

    I started my veterinary housecall practice when I was elected to council in 2004 so that I could schedule my clients to fit the demands of my community commitments. It worked out fine. Although the pandemic restricted my business severely, I hope to resume in 2023. I am financially secure so that I don’t need to earn an income. I just love doing what I do.

    Key Endorsements:

    • Henry Tingle, former City Manager for 17 years.
    • Councilmember Tim Schaefer

    Key Donors: “In these tough economic times, I am not seeking contributions; I am using personal funds. Also, I’ll be less subject to the pressures of special interests.”

    Campaign website: www.drjayna.com

    *Editor’s note: Manuel Salazar and Albert Fox are also running for District 4. To read more about each candidate, see article: Election 2022: Who’s running for Citrus Heights City Council?

  • Election 2022: Who’s running for Citrus Heights City Council?

    Election 2022: Who’s running for Citrus Heights City Council?

    Citrus Heights Council Candidates for 2022. Top left to right: Albert Fox, Manuel Perez, Jayna Karpinski-Costa (District 4). Porsche Middleton, Natalee Price (District 5). Lower, left to right: Michael Nishimura, Steven Durham, James Tipton, MariJane Lopez-Taff (District 2). // Compiled by M. Hazlip

    Sentinel staff report–
    A total of nine residents are running for three seats up for election this year on the five-member Citrus Heights City Council — and at least two new faces will join the council, due to a pair of current members retiring.

    Council districts 2, 4 and 5 are all up for election, with only District 5 having a current council member vying for the seat: Porsche Middleton. Council members Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller are both not on the ballot, leaving the District 2 and District 4 seats up for a newcomer to join the council.

    The Sentinel asked each candidate to submit a 100-word biographical statement, which is included word-for-word below, unless edited due to excessive length. Their statements and campaign websites are provided below.

    District 2 Race:

    Steven Durham. “I will turn 76 by Election Day. I grew up in Massapequa, NY, but most of my adult life, I’ve lived in California. My wife, Sharon and I retired to Citrus Heights in 2017, after 30 years in Orange County. I have 3 degrees: BA in Geology (Hofstra, 1970), MA in Urban Geography (South Carolina, 1972) and MBA in Marketing (Harvard Business School, 1975). (George W. Bush was a Harvard classmate!). My 40-year business career includes Marketing (General Mills), VP Advertising, Sr. VP Mergers & Acquisitions, Sr. VP Sales for a Television network, and COO for a 1,000-person tech support company.”
    Website: not submitted.
    Full candidate profile: Meet Steven Durham

    MariJane Lopez-Taff. “MariJane Lopez-Taff (aka Jane Taff) is a 49-year-old San Francisco native who discovered Citrus Heights while looking for a safe community to move to with her then fiancé in 2000.  Jane is a Certified Professional Life Coach serving business owners in the areas of Leadership, Management and Communication since 2011. Her professional career in non-profit fundraising and volunteer management began at the age of 17 and she has been involved in both paid and volunteer community organizations since such as the Citrus Heights Chamber, ABBA, Women’s Club and Soroptimists. Jane supports a thriving Citrus Heights community – safe streets, economic growth, and fiscal responsibility.”
    Website: voteforjane.com
    Full candidate profile: Meet MariJane Lopez-Taff

    Michael Nishimura. “I have lived in the City of Citrus Heights for forty years. Currently, I sit on the City’s Planning Commission, I am the President of the Resident’s Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights
    (REACH), I am on the Board of Citrus Heights Areas Seven, Eight, Nine (CHASEN), I am a volunteer Wrestling Coach at Bella Vista High School, and I am active with Citrus Heights HART acting as coordinator for one week of its Winter Sanctuary. I sat on the Board of the Sunrise Marketplace PBID for 12 years while I was the General Manager of the Elephant Bar Restaurant…”
    Website: michaelnishimura.com
    Full candidate profile: Meet Michael Nishimura
    *Editor’s note: Nishimura did not submit a bio statement by deadline. However, in the interest of informing residents, his statement above is taken from his official ballot statement and shortened due to length.

    James Tipton. “My name is James J. Tipton, I am a 28 year old Native American from the Wiyot tribe in Loleta, California. I am a Christian conservative and I do not stray from my beliefs to obtain votes. I grew up in Sacramento County, in a middle class household. I have worked extensively in both legal and government fields. I am a local business owner and second amendment advocate. I support our law enforcement and would like to see an increase in police funding. I am community focused and accountable to my constituency.”
    Website: None currently
    Full candidate profile: *Did not submit response.

    District 4 Race:

    Albert Fox. “Retired law enforcement and 21-year resident. Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice Administration. College Director of Criminal Justice. Graduate of Citrus Heights Leadership Academy, the Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Committee; member and chairman of the Planning Commission and appointed City Council member. During COVID I coordinated a charitable effort in support of 12 local schools to improve distant learning for students and families through our Impact Campaign. Our campaign supplied equipment, headphones, e-tablets, gift cards and supplies. to the Elementary, Middle and High Schools. I look forward to serving Citrus Heights District 4.”
    Website: ajfox.org
    Full candidate profile: Meet Albert Fox

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa. 31 years in Citrus Heights, married to Ted Costa, no children, lots of critters. Professional: Veterinarian and attorney. Education: B.S., Colorado State University, Microbiology, cum laude 1974. D.V.M., Colorado State University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1980. J.D. University of Santa Clara School of Law, 1986. Leadership Experience: Elected to Citrus Heights city council in 2004 and 2008, served as Mayor in 2011; served on several regional boards during this time. Since 1998, served as president of Sylvan Old Auburn Road Neighborhood (Area 10). Represented People’s Advocate in the US Supreme Court to defend Prop 13.
    Website: www.drjayna.com
    Full candidate profile: Meet Jayna Karpinski-Costa

    Manuel Israel Perez-Salazar. “My name is Manuel Perez. I am 40 years old, married for 21 years and have 3 kids. I have lived in Citrus Heights for the last 20 years.  I grew up in Sacramento and moved here when I met my wife. I have been a Class A driver for 19 years, I attended ARC for EMT, I  have been a volunteer at the Marysville PD since 2018, also completed the Citizens Academy, I was also on the Construction Board of Appeals for Citrus Heights.  When you see me around please say hello, I look forward to getting to know everyone.”
    Website: none currently.
    Full candidate profile: Meet Manuel Salazar

    District 5 Race:

    Porsche Middleton. “Growing up the middle child of nine and traveling all over the United States, my roots in service to others began in childhood. My family has served our country for several generations, including my late father, SGM Rayford. My husband of nearly 15 years and I have called Citrus Heights home for seven years, raising two boys who attend schools in our city. For the last four years, I have served as a councilmember and Mayor of our city, proudly earning my master’s degree while educating my two boys at home during one of the most challenging times in recent history.”
    Website: www.porschemiddleton.com
    Full candidate profile: Meet Porsche Middleton

    Natalee Price. “As a mother, I am committed to giving Citrus Heights a safe, sustainable future with improved quality of life for its residents. A 7-year member of Lions Club International and a 10-year resident of Citrus Heights with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. Since 2008, my local restaurant, Taste of Tuscany, has been a community resource. Securing partnerships during COVID-19, I co-designed and implemented a community grocery program feeding over 10,000 people and earning a 2020 ‘Kindness Matters’ service award, one of 20 given globally. With proven management and leadership qualities, a vote for Natalee Price is right for Citrus Heights.”
    Website: www.nataleepriceforcitycouncil.com
    Full candidate profile: Meet Natalee Price

    The Sentinel will be continuing local election coverage over the next two months leading up to Election Day on Nov. 8, 2022. Future articles will address each candidate’s position on various local issues.

    See all candidate answers to three top local issues:

    Publisher’s note: Want to support our efforts to provide residents with unbiased news coverage of local races in Citrus Heights? Consider a subscription to The Sentinel for just $4.99/mo. (Click here to see subscription options)

  • Two on Citrus Heights council won’t be seeking another term

    2018 city council, Citrus Heights election
    File photo, 2018. (left to right) Steve Miller, Porsche Middleton, and Jeannie Bruins.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Three seats are up for election on the Citrus Heights City Council this year, and at least two of those seats will see new faces join the council, as a pair of long-tenured council members have both announced they will not seek another four-year term.

    The City Council seats for districts two, four, and five are up for election on Nov. 8 this year, with those seats currently being at-large seats held by Mayor Porsche Middleton and council members Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller. Both Miller and Bruins have said they are retiring from their positions on the council.

    Bruins announced last month during a prospective candidate forum that she will not be seeking a sixth term in office. She was first elected in 2002, six years after the city incorporated, and subsequently won re-election every four years over the past 20 years.

    Miller announced in a July 23 news release that he will be seeking a position on the San Juan Unified School District’s governing board and will not seek re-election to the City Council, after serving in that position since 2005.

    “It has been a pleasure and blessing serving on our city council for the past 17 years and I am proud of everything we have accomplished,” said Miller, highlighting the formation of a police department and building of a new City Hall. “…I am comfortable stepping down knowing our finances are solid, the Sunrise Mall redevelopment plan is in place, and our city is moving forward under the leadership of our new City Manager, Ash Feeney.”

    Related: Want to run for Citrus Heights City Council? Here’s what you should know

    Commenting on his bid school board, Miller said he wants “to make Citrus Heights schools the number one choice for our parents and students.”

    Miller is seeking a newly created seat on the SJUSD board, which the board recently voted to expand to seven members, up from five. One of the new seats, Area 7, encompasses most of Citrus Heights, and is the seat Miller is running for.

    The race to fill Miller and Bruins’ seats on the City Council is still taking shape, with residents having until Aug. 12 to submit nomination papers to run for one of the seats on the council. Mayor Porsche Middleton has announced she will seek another four-year term on the council, seeking to represent District 5 in the southeastern area of Citrus Heights.

    As of Monday at 3:30 p.m., the City Clerk’s Office reported that a total of six residents have pulled papers to run for City Council. MariJane Lopez-Taff and Michael Nishimura are seeking the District 2 seat, Manuel Perez and Jayna Karpinski-Costa are seeking the District 4 seat, and Natalee Price and Porsche Middleton are seeking the District 5 seat.

    None of the six residents who pulled papers so far have filed the required nomination papers, but candidates still have a little over two weeks to do so.

    The other two current members of the council representing Districts 1 and 3, Bret Daniels and Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer, are not up for election until 2024. Daniels and Schaefer both won election two years ago in the first election held by district. The remaining three at-large seats are transitioning to district seats this year.

    While Citrus Heights previously held its elections “at-large,” where anyone in the city could run for a position on the council, a district-based system was created in 2019 after the city was threatened with a lawsuit. Cities around the state have made similar changes in their election systems, when faced with lawsuits alleging that at-large voting disenfranchises minorities and violates the California Voting Rights Act.

    Previously, all of the voters in Citrus Heights could vote on all five positions on the council, whereas voters can now only vote for candidates in the district of the city where the voter lives.

    To see a district map of the city, see prior story: Filing period to run for Citrus Heights City Council opens

  • Guest Column: What dog owners need to know about mosquitoes and heartworm

    By Jayna Karpinski-Costa–
    By now everyone has been told to drain standing water to prevent mosquito breeding and hopefully lower the incidence of the diseases they transmit.

    There are about 23 species of mosquitoes in the Sacramento area and at least two of them are notorious for carrying West Nile Virus (WNV). Culex pipiens and Culex tarsalis. You have all heard of the 7 Ds? Drain, Dawn/Dusk/Dress, Defend, Door, District. See www.fightthebite.net.

    Let’s add another D! DOGS. Yes, DOGS.

    Just as Culex mosquitoes transmit WNV to people, Aedes sierrensis, the Western tree hole mosquito (common in our area), transmits heartworm disease to dogs (and other species).

    The Western tree hole mosquito is just that. Lives in tree holes. Citrus Heights has one of the densest tree canopies in the valley. All those trees. All those tree holes – where branches come together and make Vs in the limbs. Tree holes that hold water. Water that helps mosquitoes develop. Tree holes that cannot be drained!!!

    The dog heartworm is another D. Dirofilaria immitis. The worms are 5-12 inches long and look like strands of spaghetti. They can live 5-7 years in your dog.

    The adults live primarily in the heart, lungs and great vessels. They produce offspring called microfilaria. The microfilaria circulate through the bloodstream damaging the tissues (kidneys, liver, etc) and continuing to grow into adults that get lodged in the heart, lungs and great vessels where they mate and make more microfilaria.

    A mosquito bites an infected dog, taking in some microfilaria which will develop a little in the mosquito gut, then move into the mosquito mouth parts and then infect the next dog that the mosquito bites with microfilaria that then circulate until they are adults. It takes about 6 months for the larvae from the mosquito to develop into an adult worm in the dog.

    How do you know if your dog has heartworm? It requires a simple blood test performed by your veterinarian often right in the clinic. In the early stages of the disease, a dog may not have any symptoms at all – the microfilaria are circulating.

    As the disease progresses a dog might show a mild cough or fatigue after mild exercise. As the larvae mature, the dog may show anemia, decreased appetite, weight loss and eventually heart failure.

    Helpful websites are: www.heartwormsociety.org, www.petsandparasites.org, and www.capcvet.org.

    We cannot drain all the tree holes in our neighborhood. The really good news is that there are many products available through your veterinarian that are safe and effective to prevent heartworm disease. They should be given all year (due to the long development cycle after the mosquito bites).

    I have heard people say that prevention is too expensive! Consider this: Treatment is hard on the pet and hard on the wallet. It can cost over $1,000 to diagnose, treat and hospitalize your dog. Treatment requires injections, prescriptions, 6-12 months of cage rest (to prevent the dead worms from becoming an embolus).

    We brush and floss to prevent dental disease. We vaccinate to prevent a variety of disease. We use seat belts, condoms, anti-slip flooring, anti-this and anti-that. Why not save your pet from a devastating disease with a simple monthly cookie? There’s even a 6-month injection!

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa
    Jayna Karpinski-Costa

    Your dog depends on you to keep him/her safe.

    Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa is a veterinarian currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District representing Citrus Heights

  • Guest Opinion: ‘M’ is for Misleading

    By Jayna Karpinski-Costa–
    When I was in law school at Santa Clara, I recall reading a definition of the terrific Yiddish word “chutzpah:” when someone murders both parents and throws himself or herself on the mercy of the court for being an orphan.

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

    The City of Citrus Heights has shown such “chutzpah” in offering the voters an opportunity to show mercy on its plight of indebtedness, clearly a result of its own lack of vigilance. They want you to pay more sales tax when you shop in Citrus Heights, like it’s YOUR fault because you want police protection, emergency services or paved streets.

    When I served on the City Council from 2004-2012, the city showed sound financial management. Our former city manager, Henry Tingle, was an incredible and notorious tightwad, prioritizing spending and keeping us not only in the black, but creating a surplus (around $32 million).

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

    The “crossover” point (when expenses exceeded income), steadily moved from somewhere about 2015-16 when I started, towards 2021-22 when I left.

    The city knew this crossover was looming. But after Henry left, so did the reins that tightened spending. Even though our population has remained somewhat stable, the “appropriations limit” (the amount the city can spend from tax revenues) has grown from about $20 million at incorporation to nearly $58 million for FY 20-21.

    Some people blame poor land use decisions and acquisitions, e.g. practically donating the Fountain Square property to Dignity Health for its Medical Office Building, buying Sayonara (still not developed) or Sylvan Corners (a dubious investment). Other people blame the building of the new city hall. But these decisions benefit the community in one way or another – better land use, more future property taxes.

    What gripes my gizzard (a phrase of my former neighbor Naomi) are the high salaries we pay – with no more benefit to the community than a workforce at half the price. I urge you all to go to www.publicpay.ca.gov (data thru 2019) or www.transparentcalifornia.com (data thru 2018).

    In salaries and benefits, our top eight dedicated employees each earn more than Governor Newsom! While the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court only makes $267,000, our city manager in 2019 was given $411,610 in salary and benefits (add 4 exclamation marks)!!!!

    And on the very same day (March 26) that the council formally declared a state of emergency in Citrus Heights due to the coronavirus pandemic, they passed a resolution giving pay raises to some employees. All this while other California cities are laying off employees and/or taking pay cuts!

    Why not set priorities, tighten the belt, trim the fat, think outside the box and amend the current budget. Why not have that “citizens oversight committee” get to work NOW with the current tax revenues.

    Yes, Citrus Heights is a great place to shop and dine, but only if the proposed sales tax increase fails. And Citrus Heights is a great place to work – if you work for the city.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa
    Jayna Karpinski-Costa

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa is a former Citrus Heights councilwoman and current president of the Sunrise Old Auburn Road neighborhood association.

    The Sentinel welcomes guest columns about local issues of concern to Citrus Heights residents.  Click here to submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication.

  • Guest Column: Reflections on Leonard Shymoniak, the Citrus Heights Pumpkin Farmer

    Leonard Shymoniak, Citrus Heights
    Leonard Roy Shymoniak, the founder of the Citrus Heights Pumpkin Farm, passed away on Nov. 13, 2017. // Image credit: PumpkinFarm.net

    By Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa–
    For those who never met or knew Leonard Shymoniak, the farmer who founded the Pumpkin Farm in Citrus Heights, let me relate a few memories and my thoughts about what a great person he was.

    When my husband Ted and I first moved to Citrus Heights in 1991, we would see a lone, humble figure every Sunday in a pew at Holy Family Catholic Church on Old Auburn Road. Some months later, we met him at a church event and became casual friends.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa
    Jayna Karpinski-Costa

    When I served on the Citrus Heights City Council from 2004-2012, I judged for his annual scarecrow contest for several years, where entries received cash prizes for creativity and ingenuity which he felt should be rewarded.

    He loved kids and animals. He drove his “farm train” in the annual parade and it was a familiar shuttle at Family Funday. He was proud of his Polish heritage and recruited me to join the Polish American Club in Roseville by paying my membership, unbeknownst to me (I’ve continued my membership every since!).

    One year, there was a little black sheep in the kids’ petting area of the Pumpkin Farm and I mentioned my frail and ailing elderly neighbor who had a few white sheep and how I knew she would be cheered up with this cute little “nursery rhyme” black one when the season was done.

    Related: Citrus Heights Pumpkin Farmer’s legacy lives on after his death

    One day, there it was in the pasture! Leonard just drove down Bonita Way and put it there. That’s the kind of guy he was: humble, unpretentious, not needing fanfare, no chest thumping. A quiet, gentle giant, devout in all his beliefs and dedicated in all his commitments, who loved his community, children and animals.

    To preserve the Pumpkin Farm is so like Leonard. He could have made tons of money subdividing the land into a hundred or more homes and rentals. Instead, his legacy is to serve his community! Rest in Peace, Leonard. I miss you.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa is a former Citrus Heights councilwoman and current president of the Sunrise Old Auburn Road neighborhood association.

    Want to share your thoughts on this article or another local topic?  Click here to submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication.

  • LETTERS: home prices, potholes, neighborhood blight

    LETTERS: home prices, potholes, neighborhood blight

    Citrus Heights, Home sale
    A home on the 7300 block of Cross Drive recently sold for over $600,000. // Bethany Reeves

    Latest letters to the editor comment on housing price trends in Citrus Heights, potholes, blight in neighborhoods, and rental housing inspections.

    Housing prices are going up, and that’s good news for the city
    [RE: This Citrus Heights home sold for over $600k, a sale price once unheard of; July 19] There was an article last month about a house on Cross Drive that sold for over $600,000. Well, who’d a thunk the trend stretched all the way over to Area 10’s Community Drive — where sneakers occasionally hang over the telephone lines and potholes eat up my Smart car. A street of an eclectic blend of houses that need — or have had — demolition or renovation. How about that house now for sale at 7602 Community Drive for $525,000? It’s gorgeous in the photos provided by the realtor. A long private driveway going to a dying breed of large lot offerings (0.36 acres) with just 1827 square feet of house built in 2000? I think we are seeing a upward trend in housing costs — which is good news for the city, who looks to get back our property taxes from the county in 2022. Now if we could just pave the street there!
    -Jayna Karpinski-Costa, Citrus Heights

    Four problems with Citrus Heights and deteriorating neighborhoods
    [Citrus Heights council votes 4-1 to move forward with mandatory rental inspections; Aug. 12] First, residents of rental property that are in bad shape will opt out because they would be afraid of rental increases.
    Second, the City of Citrus Heights at present will not remove cars that are not licensed or registered on streets like Mauana, etc. Why is this? The city has spent millions on cleaning up Sayonara Drive and yet leaves these cars on the streets which creates an eyesore and deteriorates the neighborhood. Some of these duplexes are owner occupied. How do you expect the owners to improve the area? We have heard that a resident’s friends are parking there because their cars will not be towed. Third, how about cars parked on lawns? This further deteriorates the neighborhood. Fourth, if the city cannot police the rules, it makes it harder for the landlord.
    -Diana Beals, Fair Oaks

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  • 42-unit townhouse project proposed near Sylvan Corners

    Bearpaw Village
    A proposed 42-unit development near Sylvan Corners will be considered by the Citrus Heights Planning Commission on Jan. 24, 2018.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Plans to bring a 42-unit townhouse project to a 2.5-acre vacant parcel behind the Bearpaw Village shopping center at Sylvan Corners will be heard by the Citrus Heights Planning Commission on Jan. 24th — and a vocal neighborhood association is not happy.

    Update: This project has been approved by the Planning Commission 

    The townhouse development proposal was submitted in 2014 by Bearpaw Shoes owner Thomas Romeo, who owns the shopping center and adjoining vacant land on the southeast section of Sylvan Corners. The project has slowly made it through the planning process and is now seeking planning commission approval for construction of nine new buildings for rental units, along with a 2,300-square-feet clubhouse, a pool, and a community garden with 20 raised beds. Planning division staff also recommend that commissioners approve a condition to require the development to have an on-site manager, along with an additional two parking spots for a total of 86 spots.

    According to a planning division staff report, each of the proposed units are about 1,200-square-feet in size, with two bedrooms and a small private rear yard. Each unit would also have an attached one-car garage, as well as one outdoor parking spot. Primary vehicle access would be off Old Auburn Road, next to Vice’s Collision Repair, and residents would also have egress through a gated exit leading into the existing shopping center on the Sylvan Road side.

    In a letter submitted to the city last month, Romeo described the proposed development as “the transformation of an empty lot into peoples’ homes, complete with new trees and manicured green spaces.” He further envisioned that his shoe company, which is headquartered at Sylvan Corners and employs a staff of about two dozen, will continue to grow and the Bearpaw Village Townhomes will present “an amazing opportunity for employees to minimize their commutes,” by living next door and walking to work.

    Jayna Karpinski-Costa, president of the area’s Sylvan Old Auburn Road neighborhood association, said her group is opposed to the project and submitted a letter of opposition to the city’s planning commission. A copy of the letter acquired by The Sentinel cites concerns about traffic on Old Auburn Road, limited green space in the plan, and concerns about too many rental units in Citrus Heights.

    “It is clear that jamming [that] many buildings on that lot is motivated by greed/profit,” the letter states. “There is no sense of community on this project. It is exactly how the building on Sayonara were originally planned – small lot, small house rentals… and look at how many resources the city spends there now.”

    Asked for comment on the objections, John Richey, spokesman and general counsel for Bearpaw Equities, the property division of Romeo’s shoe company, said he believes traffic impacts will be “completely nominal,” due to the number of housing units proposed and entry and exit points being close enough to the intersection to not affect other residential side streets. He also said the plan focuses on building a “walking community,” where tenants would hopefully walk to work or grab a bite to eat at Sylvan Corners, rather than drive a car.

    Acknowledging common problems with absentee landlord’s, Richey said “there’s always a challenge of renting these properties,” but added that the housing being situated next door to Bearpaw’s headquarters would make it easier to keep an eye on and would be “a point of pride” for the company. Richey said the company also has a track record of keeping up other rental properties it owns, citing Garfield Village Apartments, located just outside Citrus Heights on Garfield Avenue.

    He also said the townhouse aspect will likely attract different tenants than a standard apartment and said additional greenbelts and lawn areas are still being discussed.

    Image: See rendering of proposed Bearpaw Village Townhomes

    Asked about the percentage of rental units in Citrus Heights, Planning Division Manager Colleen McDuffee said about 58 percent of housing in the city was owner-occupied, and 42 percent renter-occupied, as of 2010. She said the numbers have likely changed slightly in the past eight years, but called the figures “a pretty good estimate for now.”

    Karpinski-Costa previously called the 42 percent rental figure “plenty” for the city and said, in her experience, homeowners tend to be the ones who are more involved in her neighborhood. On Friday, she sent an email to her neighborhood association members, encouraging them to attend the upcoming planning commission hearing.

    Planning commissioners are slated to holding a public hearing on the proposal at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24 at city hall.  Commissioners will consider four motions related to the project, including adopting a mitigated negative declaration and monitoring plan, approving a minor use permit for the project, and approving a design review permit and tree permit.

    More information about the project can be found in the Planning Commission’s Jan. 24 agenda packet. (Viewable by clicking here)

    Want to share your thoughts on this housing proposal? Click here to submit a letter to the editor for publication.

  • Q&A: How much do Citrus Heights council members actually get paid?

    Albert Fox, Citrus Heights city council
    File photo, 2017. Citrus Heights Councilman Albert Fox is sworn in by City Clerk Amy Van, as Vice Mayor Steve Miller and Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins look on. // CH Sentinel

    In response to several inquiries from our readers, The Sentinel looked into how much city council members make in Citrus Heights. Here’s what we found:

    California Government Code section 36516 puts a default cap on the salary of city council members based on a city’s population. For cities like Citrus Heights with populations of 75,000 to 150,000, the default cap is set at $600 per month, which is what Citrus Heights council members are currently paid in monthly salary, according to the city’s finance director.

    That amounts to a small pre-tax salary of about $7,200 per year — an amount Councilman Bret Daniels told The Sentinel is “woefully inadequate” and is likely why each current council member is either working another full or part-time job, or is retired.

    Despite the simple salary calculation, the amount actually paid out to each council member becomes a bit more complicated.

    According to public data published by the California State Controller on publicpay.ca.gov, the total annual wages paid to the five members of the Citrus Heights council in 2016 ranged from $6,300 to $15,000, depending on the council member. Additional benefits listed for 2016 ranged from $7,300 to $10,000 per council member for retirement, plus health, dental and vision coverage.

    Have a question about something related to Citrus Heights? Submit it here and we’ll consider it for including in a future Q&A article.

    Health coverage is the largest benefit provided to council members, with the city paying up to $600 per month for premiums. Alternatively, council members can cash-out of the plan and put the $600 into a deferred compensation program.

    Council members also receive additional compensation for sitting on various boards and commissions in the city, including the Sacramento Area Sewer District, RegionalSan, and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Compensation rates are around $100 per meeting, with council members typically sitting on one or two paid boards per month in addition to other committees and boards that do not offer compensation.

    Related: 12 boards, committees you didn’t know Citrus Heights council members serve on

    Retirement benefits were added in 2008 and can amount to the largest cumulative benefit council members receive, although after eight years of service, a former council member only receives a small monthly retirement check of just over $100. But with benefits kicking in at age 55, that small amount can result in a retirement benefit total of $46,460 over 30 years, with a larger amount for those who served longer than eight years. The amount is calculated by multiplying 2.7 percent by $7,200 and then multiplying that figure by the number of years served on the council.

    Other benefits include a $100,000 life insurance policy that was added administratively in 2004, after councilman Bill Hughes died in office.

    Document: Citrus Heights City Council Handbook

    According to the latest Citrus Heights City Council Handbook, council members can also be reimbursed for expenses “when reasonably and necessarily incurred while traveling or otherwise in the performance of official duties.” Each council member can also be issued a “CAL-card,” a $2,000-limit credit card to be used for small purchases incurred while on official business.

    How do wages and benefits in Citrus Heights compare with other cities?
    Data posted on publicpay.ca.gov shows Citrus Heights appears to be on par with similarly-sized cities in the region, with total wages paid to Rancho Cordova councilmembers listed at $6,000 each in 2016, along with benefits ranging from $10,000 to $21,000. Folsom councilmembers were similarly paid wages between $7,200 and $8,300, with benefits ranging from $200 to $14,600.

    By contrast, City of Sacramento council members received pay ranging from about $57,000 to $70,000 in 2016, with the mayor paid $123,000. Benefits ranged from about $12,000 to $33,000, according to data published by the State Controllers Office.

    Sacramento’s salary is significantly higher, which is allowed by state law for charter cities. By contrast, Citrus Heights is a “general law” city, which means it is structured according to standards set by state government code. State law does allow local voters to approve an increase to the salary in general law cities and the council can vote to increase the salary by five percent per year, but Citrus Heights has not chosen to do so.

    Asked about pay rates, Citrus Heights council members and a former councilwoman indicated their pay does not reflect the amount of hours put into the job.

    “Do we get paid enough?” said Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins in response to a question from The Sentinel. “Given the time we put in, absolutely not. But we don’t do it for money. We do it for community service.”

    In addition to the council’s two regular meetings per month, Bruins estimated she puts in 10 to 25 hours per week in council-related business.

    Councilman Daniels agreed, calling it “woefully inadequate and based on an antiquated system” that has been in place for decades.

    Former councilwoman Jayna Karpinski-Costa also agreed, saying, “I think $600 a month is way too little for the work you do being on the council.” She said going to other meetings, attending unpaid all-day retreats, and making appearances at events during the day made it hard to keep another day job and said her veterinary business suffered during her eight-year term on the council.

    Karpinski-Costa, whose husband Ted Costa heads an area taxpayer advocacy group, said a higher salary should be paid to council members, but opposed offering benefits.

    “I don’t think council members should get any benefits — we’re not employees.”

    Want to share your thought on city council pay and benefits? Click here to submit a letter to the editor for publication.

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