File photo, Citrus Heights Community Center. // CH Sentinel
Sentinel staff report–
The City of Citrus Heights will host its third annual “State of the City” address in-person this Thursday at the Community Center, with the event to feature an address from the mayor as well as a presentation from the city manager.
The first “State of the City” address in Citrus Heights was held remotely during the pandemic in 2020, and also in 2021. This year’s event will be held in-person, with members of the public invited to attend from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 20, 2022.
According to an event flier, admission is free and open to all community members. A pre-event VIP mixer will be held by the Chamber of Commerce from 5:30-6:30 p.m., with individual tickets running $40, or $70 for a pair.
Events this week in Citrus Heights include the mayor’s annual “State of the City” address, several California Dream tennis team matches, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new city hall, and more.
Monday: Kicking off the week, city hall will open its temporary offices at 7927 Auburn Blvd. beginning Monday morning and continuing for the next year, as a new city hall is constructed on Fountain Square Drive.
The California Dream tennis team will also play its first of seven home matches in Citrus Heights this season against the Springfield Lasers. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. in the temporarily constructed Dream Stadium, located in the Sunrise Mall parking lot. Home matches will also be on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday this week. (Click for schedule and tickets.)
Tuesday: Citrus Heights Mayor Sue Frost will deliver the annual “State of the City” address on Tuesday at the North Ridge Country Club on Madison Avenue, during a noon-hour luncheon hosted by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Chamber can purchase tickets to the luncheon onlinefor $25, while the non-member fee is $30.
Also on Tuesday, the Citrus Heights-based “SCORE” chapter is offering a free class called “How to develop an idea into a business.” The class is open to anyone who signs up online, and will be held from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Small Business Administration building at 6501 Sylvan Rd.
Wednesday: The City of Citrus Heights will be kicking off construction of its new $22 million city hall building with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new location next to the Post Office on Fountain Square Drive. The one-hour Wednesday ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at 6360 Fountain Square Dr.
Friday: California Dream tickets will be offered to residents at half-off for “Citrus Heights Night,” where community members will also be involved in halftime entertainment and will have a chance to win prizes from local businesses, according to CaliforniaDreamTennis.com. The discounted tickets can be purchased in advance using the code CITRUSHEIGHTS on the team’s web page.
Saturday: The City will be hosting an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Community Cash and Carry” day at the soon-to-be-demolished Citrus Heights city hall — selling off roses, shrubs, trees, and potted plants; as well as statues, fountains, planters and benches. Prices will range from $5 for a rose bush, to $30 for fountains over four feet in height. (Click for more.)
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Citrus Heights Mayor Mel Turner delivered the annual “State of the City” address to a sold-out business luncheon, Tuesday, highlighting a 13 percent drop in crime over the past year, a rise in home values and the newly opened Stones Gambling Hall.
Citrus Heights Mayor Mel Turner delivers his “State of the City” address to a sold-out business luncheon, Tuesday.
Defining Citrus Heights as “a city of promise,” Mayor Turner articulated his perspective on secrets to the city’s success: its voters and council members, a “caring city manager,” a community of involved volunteers, and the ability to manage change well.
“We don’t believe in change for the sake of change,” the mayor said, speaking highly of the city’s latest change in approving a 400-employee casino. “There needs to be a sound reason, with a return on investment to the community as a whole for the change.”
Citing opportunities for the city, the mayor highlighted plans for more change with additional business improvement districts, as well as new potential with Police Chief Christopher Boyd’s recent promotion to the head of the California Police Chief’s Association. He also cited the potential for change with a new medical office building and city hall in the Citrus Heights — a proposal the city council will take up later this month.
Highlighting accomplishments, the mayor cited construction beginning on the 46-home Autumn Woods housing development, the passage of a medical marijuana cultivation ordinance, and the recent completion of the Stock Ranch Nature Preserve — which he called “almost the best kept secret in Citrus Heights.”
Turning his attention to threats the City is facing, the mayor spoke of unfunded state mandates, increases in California Public Employees’ Retirement System obligations, and current litigation with the Department of Finance over redevelopment funds, where he said the City is being asked to give back $9 million.
The mayor also criticized changes in the State’s energy code, saying new policies have “some unrealistic expectations,” adding that the City is additionally working to address problems created by AB 109, a prisoner realignment plan passed by the legislature to reduce over-crowding in prisons.
Turning to focus on the city’s strengths, Mayor Turner praised a “strong, united city council,” and applauded a “dedicated, talented city staff” and an “innovative, fiscally responsible city manager.” The mayor also expressed gratitude for the volunteer-work done by the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights and the city’s 11 neighborhood associations, which he called “the backbone” of the community.
“Kudo’s” were also given to the police department for its winning of the James Q. Wilson Award for Excellence in Community Policing, and for its work with youth through the Police Activities League.
The mayor closed out his 25-minute speech by citing several national and international awards that City employees had earned, emphasizing to the business-crowd that a city — like a business — “cannot be successful without good staff.”
Mayor Turner’s speech was held at Crosswood Oaks retirement center and was delivered during the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon.
