File photo, Citrus Heights council members Bret Daniels and Tim Schaefer. // CH Sentinel
Sentinel staff report–
Council members Bret Daniels and Tim Schaefer both have new titles on the Citrus Heights City Council, following a vote Thursday night.
Schaefer will serve a one-year term as the city’s mayor and Daniels will serve a one-year term as vice mayor. The office of mayor was most recently held by Councilwoman Porsche Middleton, with Schaefer transitioning from his recent term as vice mayor.
Council members annually select a mayor and vice mayor from among their ranks. The titles are largely symbolic, with the mayor serving as chair of meetings.
The motion to appoint Schaefer as mayor was made by Daniels, and the motion to appoint Daniels was made by newly sworn-in councilwoman Jayna Karpinski-Costa for District 4.
The Dec. 8 council meeting also saw the swearing in of newly elected Councilwoman MariJane Lopez-Taff, who narrowly won election for the District 2 seat. Middleton was also sworn in for another four-year term on the council, following her narrow win in District 5.
The two newly elected council members fill the seats previously taken by long-tenured council members Steve Miller and Jeannie Bruins, who retired from the council this year and officially stepped down during the Dec. 8 meeting.
Changes to come? The annual nomination and ratification of council members to serve one-year terms as mayor and vice mayor has historically been a routine formality, but the process became contentious two years ago when Schaefer and Daniels both voted “no” on the nomination of Miller and Middleton to serve as mayor and vice mayor.
Schaefer and Daniels also joined forces in other split votes at City Hall, as a minority on the five-member council. The two were part of the minority in a 3-2 vote last year to approve a contract with Chris Boyd to serve as interim city manager last year, while the city searched for a new manager. Daniels said at the time “I don’t think there is any secret that there is a fracture in the council regarding the confidence in Mr. Boyd.”
The two were also vocal opponents of the Measure M sales tax proposal in 2020, as was Karpinski-Costa.
Daniels has had a rocky relationship with some of his colleagues on the council, but his appointment on Thursday indicates the new makeup of the City Council may result in a change of direction.
As another indication of potential changes to come, Daniels at the conclusion of Thursday’s meeting proposed placing a future item on the agenda to restore a rule requiring a lower threshold of support needed to place items on the agenda. Two years ago, the council had voted in a controversial 3-2 vote to increase the requirement from two council members to three, in order to place an item on the agenda.
The proposal to restore the lower threshold of support was supported by both newly seated council members, Lopez-Taff and Karpinski-Costa. The item is expected to be placed on the council’s next agenda for discussion, and if passed, would allow greater ability for a minority of council members to place items on the agenda for discussion and a vote.
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Tim Schaefer speaks at a rally opposing Measure M in 2020, held outside City Hall. // CH Sentinel
By Tim Schaefer–
As I watched the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum last month, City Council Candidate MariJane Lopez-Taff brought up the Citrus Heights Police Department budget cuts that were included in the 2021/22 budget that was passed by a 3-2 vote. Then-Mayor Steve Miller, Vice Mayor Porsche Middleton and Councilmember Jeanie Bruins voted in favor of the budget cuts while Councilmember Bret Daniels and I voted to oppose the cuts.
City Council Candidate Natalee Price echoed Mrs. Lopez-Taff’s observation. However, former council member and City Council Candidate Al Fox, claiming that he is the most experienced on the panel, said “I don’t think we ever de-funded the Police Department.” Mr. Fox is either misinformed, out of touch or simply hasn’t been paying attention.
It doesn’t matter if you call it “budget cuts” or “de-funding”, the result is the same. That very controversial vote collapsed critical units in the Police Department that directly affected our public safety, the safety of our school age children and the quality of life in Citrus Heights.
The following month after the passing the budget that cut the CHPD funding by $3M, the Council allocated $5.3M to CHPD. But unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Chief Lawrence and City Manager Boyd had already collapsed the Traffic, School Resource Officers (aka SRO), Gang and Problem Oriented Police (a.k.a POP) units. After 18 months of CHPD has restored a dedicated Traffic enforcement unit.
Councilmember Daniels and I implored the rest of the Council not to accept the budget that included these cuts.
In the final review after year end, the City had $6.2M more revenues than anticipated, resulting in a $3.6M budget surplus. No budget crisis ever existed.
Prior to news about the surplus, it was clear to me and Councilmember Daniels that the numbers did not add up. Yet our current Mayor, Porsche Middleton was so committed to this false narrative that she lead the Yes on Measure M Campaign. Helping raise more than $47,000 in an attempt to raise the taxes of everyone that lives and shops in Citrus Heights.
Believe what you like, but I believe the cuts and consolidation of CHPD critical police units were nothing more than retaliation for the failure of Measure M in 2020, the City’s attempt at adding a never-ending 1% sales tax in Citrus Heights.
Tim Schaefer
So, this week the ballots are being mailed to voters. I ask that voters remember the actions of their elected council members and make an informed, mindful decision. We need city council members and school board trustees that are loyal to their constituents and not to special interest groups or executive staff.
Tim Schaefer is currently serving as Vice Mayor of the City of Citrus Heights. He can be contacted at: tschaefer@citrusheights.net.
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Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer speaks during a Jan. 27 public hearing on waste fee increases.
Sentinel staff report–
Residents can expect to see, on average, a 26% increase in their bill for waste collection in Citrus Heights, after the City Council held a public hearing Thursday night and narrowly voted to affirm a fee increase to cover the cost of a state-mandated organics recycling program.
According to City Clerk Amy Van, a total of just over 100 letters of protest were received from residents, falling far short of the required majority protest specified by law to halt the fee increase. Public testimony was also heard on both sides, with three residents opposing the increase and one in favor.
“We have the highest cost of living, the highest gas taxes,” said one resident, John Cain. “I’m drawing a line in the sand. I’m going to become a political activist.”
Although acknowledging the city’s position in being forced to comply with state law or face daily fines, he urged the council to consider ways to lower the cost of the increase for residents and also said many people weren’t aware of the increase in fees.
Another resident called it “an outrage on so many levels,” and another wrote a letter to the council calling it “a HUGE increase for those of us that are seniors, veterans, immigrants, and living on ‘fixed incomes.’”
The organics recycling law, SB 1383, also has its supporters, with speaker Glenda Green telling the council the fee increase seemed reasonable due to the increase in weekly pickup of green waste cans, while adding that an assistance program to help low-income residents would be a good idea.
“I am in favor of composting, and I’m actually really excited that we will have municipal composting,” she said, calling composting “the way of the future.”
Despite the 3-2 vote in favor of approving the fee increase, council members were united in their opposition to the organics waste recycling being an “unfunded mandate” from the state. However, under threat of fines for non-compliance, the majority agreed to vote for the increase.
“Nobody is happy about this,” said Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins. “We really are between a rock and a hard spot: if we vote this down, we still have to do it, we just get fined up to $10,000 a day if we refuse to do it.”
“My over-arching message is that we need to change things at the state level,” said Bruins. “If we are really serious about being activists, as John said earlier, that’s where it’s gotta start.”
Vice Mayor Tim Schaefer also had critical remarks about the program being mandated by the state, but called resident response “disappointing.”
“I did, myself, reach out to folks and asked them to send their protest letter is, and 108 people… that’s just pretty disappointing,” said Schaefer. “If people aren’t going to make their voices heard, I don’t know what else we can do.”
Councilman Bret Daniels said he wasn’t surprised by the low number of protest letters, noting that a city-wide mailer that was sent out could have been more easy to fill out a protest vote, with postage pre-paid.
“Not to be too dramatic about it, but I almost feel like it’s similar to the day when they dumped the tea into the Boston harbor and said ‘no’ to a very small tax,” said Daniels. “I feel like: why don’t we take our garbage cans down to the capitol and dump em out and tell them ‘No, we’re not doing it.’”
“I know its gonna pass, but again guys at some point we’re also elected to be the voice of the community and I can guarantee you the community doesn’t support this,” said Daniels, just prior to casting his vote. “At some point are we gonna push back, or are we gonna continue to let ourselves be pushed around?”
At the conclusion of the meeting, council members agreed to support a proposal by Councilman Steve Miller to draft a “strongly worded resolution objecting to SB 1383 and forwarding that on to the Governor and the California legislature.”
With the council’s vote on Thursday, fees are slated to jump by about $6 beginning in July 2022, rising from $23.61 for a typical 64-gallon garbage cart to $29.80, according to a staff report. Prices will then rise by up to 3.5% per year over the next five years, based on the Consumer Price Index.
A city spokeswoman said an average cost increase for residents will be about $7.10 per month, or $14.20 per every two-month billing cycle.
Under the new changes, beginning in July, green waste carts will be collected weekly instead of bi-weekly, and residents will be required to place food scraps and food-soiled paper in the green bin.
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Councilman Tim Schaefer prepares to speak as neighborhood area president Jayna Karpinski-Costa addresses a Sunrise Old Auburn Road neighborhood meeting on July 26, 2021. // M. Hazlip
By Mike Hazlip—
Freshman Citrus Heights Councilmember Tim Schaefer during a community presentation on Monday opened up about what it’s been like to serve on the council and also fielded questions on a range of issues, from an upcoming double-digit rate increase, to plans for Sunrise Mall and problems with local schools.
Schaefer, who is the newest member of the five-member Citrus Heights City Council, won election last year after previous unsuccessful bids for a seat on the council in 2014 and 2018. He told attendees on Monday that his fiscal positions as well as his opposition to the city’s Measure M sales tax proposal last year and his prior opposition to building a new City Hall made him not feel welcomed on the council.
“When I was elected to council, let’s just say I didn’t get the warmest welcome. It was pretty cold in general. Very little interaction, not congratulatory,” he said.
Schaefer later on in the meeting said his role on the council is not to be friends with city staff, and cautioned that he believes other council members are “too close to staff, and they’ve lost their objectivity.”
“It’s great to be friendly, it’s great to get along,” said Schaefer. “(But) my role is oversight. It’s my job to maintain a distance that allows me to objectively decide ‘This is what I think is best for the city.’”
Garbage rates
The councilman described himself as “very fiscally hawkish,” but said one unavoidable cost increase residents will see next year is related to the passage of AB1383, a new state law mandating the collection of bio waste. Complying with the bill will mean moving to weekly pickups for organic waste, Schaefer said.
The added waste collection pickups means in January residents will see a 3% increase in their bill, followed by a 27% increase in July 2022, he said. The new law assesses fines on cities for non-compliance.
Schaefer said residents can help reduce their costs by opting for a smaller garbage bin and eliminating a second green bin for those who currently have two green bins. He also said the city is in the process of preparing an awareness campaign to notify residents of the upcoming changes.
City manager
Answering questions about the city’s search for a new city manager, Schaefer said he hopes the change will bring an opportunity to trim the city’s budget with cuts to the city manager’s salary.
With a total city employee workforce of 246, Schaefer said the city manager’s salary is out of step with surrounding cities like Roseville and Rancho Cordova.
“The city as an organization is relatively small, and the pay for the city manager should be commensurate with that,” he said. “We shouldn’t be paying along the same lines as Roseville that has a lot more employees.”
According to data posted at publicpay.ca.gov, Roseville last year paid its city manager a total of $336,831 in wages and benefits, while Citrus Heights paid its city manager $363,498. The data also shows Roseville has more than 2,000 city employees, including its own fire department and electric utility service, while Citrus Heights has more limited services.
Responding to a related question, Schaefer said he was “absolutely” concerned about paying enough to attract quality candidates, but indicated the most recent salary and benefits package was more than needed.
Sunrise Mall
Schaefer also addressed redevelopment plans for Sunrise Mall, calling the city’s recently released plan “phenomenal.” He said the city’s effort to complete an extensive Environmental Impact Review (EIR) has eliminated much of the “red tape” that can stall development projects.
Despite the plans however, Schaefer clarified the mall is privately owned and he remains skeptical of the mall’s majority owner’s intentions. However, he said: “I think ultimately we’ll come to a resolution and I think we’ll come to a resolution relatively soon, within the next couple of years.”
The mall’s 289-page Specific Plan, which is still a draft that must be approved by the City Council later this year, calls for entertainment, residential, office space, restaurants, and other uses on the nearly 100-acre Sunrise Mall property.
Schaefer said the city’s plan for Sunrise Mall establishes “guiderails” for development, meaning things like gas stations and fast food uses will not be allowed. “We want the mall to be a destination, we want people to come to Citrus Heights… and keep the community vibrant.”
Schaefer said this means attracting families with young children in the area: “Those are the people we need to keep the community vibrant.”
Schools
Addressing a related question about schools, Schaefer commented favorably about splitting the San Juan Unified School District into seven electoral districts, to help ensure representation on the school board from Citrus Heights residents.
Schaefer said the city has “some of the lowest-performing schools in the district” and hinted at creating a new Citrus Heights School District even if the current school board shifts to a seven-member model.
The day following Schaefer’s presentation, the San Juan Unified School District’s board voted in favor of transitioning to a seven-member model, which includes one dedicated board position for a Citrus Heights resident, and the possibility of another resident being elected to a second seat that is shared with Orangevale. The board’s decision is awaiting final approval from a separate county committee on Aug. 5, and also requires approval from a state board.
Schaefer’s presentation was made during the July 26 monthly meeting of the Sunrise Old Auburn Road neighborhood association, which was held at the Sylvan Community Center on Sylvan Road. The association is one of nine different neighborhood associations in the city, each representing residents in different parts of the city.
By Oleg Shishko–
I have enjoyed the other pieces written by Mr. Bullington, but his latest column about discord on the City Council has unfortunately disappointed with its ad hominem attacks and little substance.
Mr. Bullington says that the reason for the council’s schism “lies in an examination of motives and personalities.” I think many will agree that motives and personalities are very hard to objectively judge without inserting personal opinion and animus.
I don’t know the intentions, motives, or personalities of the other council members (Bruins, Miller, Middleton, and previously Slowey); but their actions on the council say a lot.
The majority of the council approved a salary increase for our city manager two times in the last few years. They approved a 2% increase in 2017 and a 3% increase in 2019. The city manager’s total salary and benefits were at $411,610 in 2019. On both occasions, it was only Bret Daniels who voted no.
Many citizens have been raising the alarm about the city departing from its tradition of being debt free. The only ones who really seemed to listen and echo them were Daniels and Tim Schaefer. While Daniels had unfortunately voted to approve our city’s first line of credit, he has been a vocal critic and opponent of other financial decisions of the city.
We were told that the Measure M tax increase was in the works for a long time. However, the public only found out not long before the council voted to place it on the ballot. At the time it really seemed that they were trying to ram it through with minimal public input.
Had they really been interested to receive the input from the public on this, they would have at least held more public hearings on the issue than the absolute minimum required by law. The only ones who resisted it were Daniels and then-candidate Schaefer.
Consequently, the majority of the council recently voted to require three votes instead of two in order to put an item up for discussion on the council, thereby restricting the voices of Daniels and Schaefer. (Kudos to Miller for joining Daniels in voting against this disingenuous tactic of political maneuvering.)
I was not happy when I heard the announcement of the retirement of Chris Boyd. It is sad that he wasn’t able to come to an effective, working relationship with Daniels and Schaefer.
I thank Chris Boyd for his years of service to our city. I don’t doubt his good intentions. I am sure he is interested in the welfare and prosperity of our city. However, I am of the opinion that he lacked in responding to and balancing the concerns of citizens, some of which are listed above.
So what is the cause of the recent discord at the city council? It’s not from subjective perceptions of “motives and personalities” of certain council members. It stems from the lack of transparency and questionable decisions of the majority on the council that have derailed our city’s financial base.
Our council members do vote together and are united on most issues. However, matters of the budget are too important for us to gloss over for the sake of feeling good about our “unity”.
“Discord” and “schism” are not always bad. I am glad that we have Daniels and Schaefer who are ready and willing to question the status quo.
Oleg Shishko
They aren’t perfect, but we finally have council members who will give a voice to the many who are concerned about the city’s recent decisions and changes in financial direction. We need more like them on the council to ask hard questions and keep our public servants accountable.
Oleg Shishko is a four-year resident of Citrus Heights. He has served on the board of the Area 7/8 CHASE Neighborhood Association in 2020 and took an active role in defeating Measure M, serving as the Principal Officer of No on CH Measure M.
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Citrus Heights City Manager Chris Boyd, left, has had several contentious discussions with Councilman Tim Schaefer, right, during budget meetings.
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Sentinel staff report–
The Citrus Heights City Council met Thursday evening for a special budget study session, which included a contentious exchange between several council members and the city manager.
Following staff review of accomplishments over the prior fiscal year, City Manager Chris Boyd called out Councilman Tim Schaefer by name during the meeting, asking him to clarify critical statements Schaefer had made during meetings in January and February.
Schaefer had accused the city manager of presenting inconsistent and “misleading” figures relating to the budget, and also had said proposed budget cuts appeared “reprisatory” towards residents who voted against the city’s Measure M sales tax proposal. But the councilman’s tone was markedly different in responding to Boyd on Thursday, saying he “stand(s) corrected” on a past claim that several budget figures presented were “almost completely different.” He also commended staff efforts to balance the budget as “making the best of a bad situation.”
Boyd continued to press Schaefer for answers until Councilman Bret Daniels stepped in to say the manager should “stop this highly improper dialogue” with Schaefer during a public meeting. Mayor Steve Miller said he agreed the council should move on, and the budget presentation continued without further controversy.
The mayor later issued a clarifying statement to The Sentinel, saying his comment in agreement with Daniels to “stop the improper dialogue” was directed at Schaefer and not the city manager. Miller said he fully supported the city manager’s public questioning of Schaefer, and accused Schaefer of making “multiple false accusations of inaccurate financial reporting” in the past.
“As Mayor of the City of Citrus Heights, I will not stand for the continued disparagement of our City Manager and hardworking staff,” Miller said. “I ask Councilmember Schaefer to cease his reckless and false allegations so that we can focus on the critical task at hand of continued fiscal prudence.”
The Sentinel gave Schaefer an opportunity to respond to Miller’s statement, to which Schaefer said it sounded like the mayor “might be trying to talk his way out of” comments made during the meeting. Schaefer also called Boyd’s questioning “prosecution style dialogue,” and said as a council member he has an obligation to ask clarifying questions about the budget.
What’s in the budget? Interim Administrative Services Director Bill Zenoni presented budget plans to the council, calling it a “hold the line” budget, with the city in a tight financial position.
The two-year budget is slated for approval at the City Council’s April 22 meeting, and currently calls for a $3 million reduction in the Police Department’s budget, cutting it from $22.5 million to $19.5 million for the next fiscal year. Zenoni said the reduction largely comes from leaving 34 positions vacant, including 26 positions in the Police Department, in order to balance the budget.
An additional $540,000 for the Police Department would come the following fiscal year, when an estimated $6.4 million will be received in property taxes for the first time in the city’s history. The city has had a 25-year agreement with the County of Sacramento to forfeit its property tax revenue to the county, as a condition of becoming a city in 1997.
Zenoni said as a result of the property tax revenue, the city’s general fund reserves are projected to increase by roughly $3.7 million in 2023. Sales tax revenues are also projected to recover, increasing from $11 million to more than $13 million annually beginning with the next fiscal year.
Notably, Zenoni said the budget calls for repaying the full balance of the city’s line of credit by 2024, with a $2 million payment in 2023 and the remaining balance paid off the following year. He said the city also will not need to tap into the line of credit to meet operating costs over the next two years.
The budget also allocates full or partial funding for a list of deferred expenses, including building maintenance, vehicle replacement and other costs Zenoni said the city hasn’t set aside funds for in prior years. The only item to be left without any funding from the general fund is roads
The list includes seven deferred expenses, which have been the focus of contention between Councilman Schaefer and the city manager. Schaefer has said various costs on the list have changed in different presentations, while the mayor and city manager’s office have said changes are due to the “evolving” budget process, with costs being categorized differently or shifted to different budget years.
Editor’s note: Schaefer’s prior comments from Jan. 28 can be viewed online here, beginning at the 1-hour mark. His comments from Feb. 11 can be viewed here, beginning at the 19 minute mark. The dialogue between council members and the city manager from the April 8 meeting can be viewed here, beginning around the 57-minute mark.
Zenoni said next year’s budget faces a $77,000 shortfall, while the 2022-23 budget will see a nearly $3.7 million surplus. He said surplus revenues will go to increasing the city’s dwindling reserves, which were at $2.1 million at the start of the current fiscal year. Zenoni said reserves must be increased in order to meet cash flow needs, noting the city regularly has to front costs before revenues are received.
Council comments regarding the budget figures presented on Thursday were minimal. Vice Mayor Porsche Middleton credited staff with helping make the budget be “not as terrible” as initially projected, and Schaefer reiterated his appreciation for staff work.
No mention of temporary pay cuts was made during the presentation or council comments, although Schaefer and Daniels have both floated the idea in the past.
Asked why more funding isn’t proposed to be allocated to police or roads, both of which have been top resident priorities listed in city surveys, Miller told The Sentinel on Saturday that increasing reserves for cash flow must take priority and will take several years to get to a healthy level.
He also said maintaining city streets would need a minimum of $7.4 million annually, with partial funding being inadequate to meet the city’s infrastructure needs. He said the council “will continue to explore possible alternate sources of funding for this major capital requirement.”
Miller said further questions and adjustments to the proposed budget will likely be made over the next two weeks, prior to the budget’s final approval. The mayor also said he was pleased the budget doesn’t call for any staff layoffs, with cuts only made through attrition.
Councilman Bret Daniels later told The Sentinel he opposed the proposed cuts and called the meeting a “waste of time,” due to the budget not accounting for federal funding coming to the city from the American Rescue Plan.
How much federal funding will Citrus Heights get? The City of Citrus Heights is slated to receive an estimated $15.9 million from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan passed by congress this year. According to a presentation to the council by Congressman Ami Bera following the budget meeting Thursday night, the city will receive 50% of that money by May 11, and the rest within 12 months.
The city plans to pass a two-year budget on April 22 which does not account for federal funding. The city manager’s office said the budget will then be revised later this summer once COVID relief money has been received and more is known about what restrictions are put on the funds.
The city’s general fund budget for the next fiscal year currently includes revenue projections of just under $39 million, not including any federal relief funds.
Bera said the city will largely have discretion where to put the money, but specific guidelines have still not been released at the federal level. He listed several eligible uses like hazard pay increases of up to $13 per hour for essential city employees, replacement of revenue lost due to the pandemic, costs associated with responding to the pandemic, and investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Funding pensions with the money are a specifically prohibited use, the congressman said.
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By Tim Schaefer–
I am humbled and honored to have been elected by the voters of Citrus Heights in District 3 on Nov. 3, 2020.
Since being sworn-in and seated on Dec. 10 there have been four City Council meetings and one study session. Each meeting having various levels of controversy, from the election of Mayor and Vice Mayor, to the most recent vote to hire William Zenoni on the heels of the very abrupt departure of the Assistant City Manager Ronda Rivera.
To clarify why I have voted “no” to some of these issues I would like to share my philosophy for my decision making as well as how I conduct myself as a member of the community. My guiding principles of governance are:
Community Input
I am accountable to not only the voters that put their faith in me on election day, but every resident of Citrus Heights. The opinions and thoughts of Citrus Heights residents will always be paramount in my decision-making process. While it is impossible to please everyone, I believe it is important that every Citrus Heights resident can have their opinions heard to make Citrus Heights a better place to live and work.
After considering community input and deciding, I will not change my vote to suit staff or other council members. All topics should be weighed and debated by the members of the Council and unanimous votes should not be the goal.
Transparency in Government
Government is designed to serve the community. Generally, a smaller government is more efficient with less “red-tape” and bureaucracy. This creates more of a “grass-roots” environment with city employees more connected to the community and the public they serve. More employees, more layers of government only create a less efficient, more expensive workforce. The goal of those governing should be creating jobs and ensuring public safety, while maintaining a budget that does not require tax increases.
As a City Council member my role is oversight and to provide ongoing policy decisions and senior staff accountability. An effective manager delegates responsibility and empowers subordinates with the ability to make reasoned and rational decisions. The best reasoned decisions can result in an unintended bad outcome. Good or bad outcome, the focus must be on replication of successes and minimizing failures.
My loyalty
While I may seem oppositional at times, I do believe building relationships with my fellow Council members is important in helping to govern our community. However, I will push hard for reforms where needed and my loyalty resides with the residents of Citrus Heights. All relationships, personal and professional should tolerate and respect differences of opinion.
The spirit of the Brown Act is to maintain a level of truth, fairness, and transparency in government. I strongly believe in those tenets and will make every effort to ensure the Act is adhered to.
My priorities
My initial priorities are on evaluating, prioritizing and, where appropriate reducing expenses. When the residents of Citrus Heights believe their tax dollars are being managed by great stewards, perhaps there can be a small temporary tax increase to handle some of the bigger ticket items that need funding. To be clear I am not in favor of a tax measure that results in government growth that would require any kind of permanent tax.
Maintaining public safety is a mission that I expect to be prioritized by executive staff. Our law enforcement officers are dedicated professionals I am extremely grateful for their service.
As the recovery from this pandemic begins, focusing on economic development and recovery must be a priority. We need to consider ideas to make our city a destination again. We need to be friendly to new business and renew our commitment to supporting initiatives that bring speedy development and redevelopment to our city.
Moving Forward
On March 16, a strategic planning meeting called the “Strategic Planning Retreat” will occur where City Council and staff collaborate and set goals and objectives for the next three years. This meeting happens twice per year to update the Strategic plan. In anticipation of this meeting, please email me your thoughts and ideas. I can be emailed at tschaefer@citrusheights.net.
Tim Schaefer is a 30-year resident of Citrus Heights and was elected to the City Council in 2020 for the newly created District 3 seat.
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File photo, candidate Tim Schaefer, right, sits next to Bret Daniels at an election forum in 2016. // CH Sentinel
Sentinel staff report– Citrus Heights Council District 3 candidate Tim Schaefer has declared victory after receiving 62% of the vote from ballots counted so far, with contender Thomas Goetz trailing at 37%.
“I am grateful and honored to have been elected to represent District 3,” Schaefer told The Sentinel in an email Wednesday night. “I will serve with the best interest of the residents of Citrus Heights in mind.”
Councilman Bret Daniels also holds a strong lead for District 1, with 63% of the vote, while his opponent Nicole Castor held just 36%.
“I am pleased with the results so far,” Daniels told The Sentinel on Wednesday. “I want to thank those that supported me and I look forward to serving the residents and businesses of District 1 and all of Citrus Heights.”
Schaefer currently sits on the city’s Planning Commission and previously ran two unsuccessful bids for City Council in 2014 and 2016. Daniels currently sits on the council as an at-large member.
Both Daniels and Schaefer spoke positively of the city’s change to district-based elections, which split the city into five separate districts and was implemented for the first time this election. The city previously selected council members at-large, where all voters from all parts of the city could vote for all five council members, rather than only the council member from their specific district.
“Elections by district are considerably easier due to the smaller geographical area to cover and the fewer voters to reach,” said Daniels.
Schaefer also said the district-based election system “allows the candidate to develop a better sense of who their constituents are,” noting during his prior attempts at running for an at-large seat on the council “it was difficult to reach everyone.”
With only two of the five council members up for election this year, the majority of voters did not have a City Council race for their district on the ballot.
Election results could change as more votes continue to be counted. Sacramento County elections officials are expected to issue an updated vote count this Friday by 4 p.m.
Council members are typically seated in December, following official certification of election results.
Note: As part of The Sentinel’s 2020 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.
Tim Schaefer, businessman | Age: 59
Basic bio: “Moved to Citrus Heights from Santa Cruz in 1990. I grew up in Santa Cruz CA, 2 years community college, served as V.P. Resident Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights, Parkoaks Neighborhood President, current chair of Planning Commission. Family: married, 4 grown children, three grandchildren.”
Why are you running for city council?
“I have volunteered in the city for many years. I see that there are serious issues that need addressing, i.e., poor performing schools, crumbling roads and a growing homeless population. I will offer a fresh perspective on these long standing issues. I will represent the citizens of Citrus Heights with fiscal restraint and integrity.”
What are three things you like most about living in Citrus Heights?
1) Citrus Heights has a very unique sense of community and family. 2) I like friendly people that live here. 3) The police department.
What are two books that have had the most influence on your life, and why/how?
1) Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged. “I don’t necessarily follow her atheist views and utilitarian philosophy but I understand the caution she expresses about over regulation, but it was a great story about the characteristics and drive of the entrepreneurial spirit.” 2) Dale Carnegie’s “How to win friends and influence people”, this classic book’s message is about treating people with respect and courtesy.
What are three key principles that would guide your votes on the council, if elected?
1) Be fiscally responsible, 2) consider the impact of the current decision as well as the impact and implication for future generations.
What are the top three things you’d like to change in Citrus Heights, if any?
1) Increase opportunities for income growth for young families. 2) Improve Citrus Heights schools. 3) Reduce the crime rate. All three of these are connected.
What kind of volunteer work have you done for charities, churches or service organizations in the community?
“Volunteer, Parkoaks Neighborhood, Vice President & President. Volunteer, Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights V.P. Volunteer, Leader in Save City Hall, movement that ultimately contributed to the new City Hall location. Volunteer for Arcade Creek Preserve and Stock Ranch Preserve.”
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?
“Life is a balancing of family, business and community activities. My children are grown and I enjoy spending time with our grandchildren. I will do what other council members have done before me – find the right balance.”
Key endorsements: Sacramento Region Business and Sacramento Association of Realtors. Key donors: Ted Costa and Sacramento Association of Realtors.
Sentinel staff report– A Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce forum intended to allow both sides of the controversial Measure M sales tax to present their case will likely only have one side present on Monday night after opponents of the proposed tax increase said they are boycotting the event.
“No on Measure M” spokesman Tim Schaefer, who is also running for a seat on the City Council, said in an email to forum organizer and moderator Ray Riehle that “extreme short notice” and “lack of flexibility” were reasons for the decision to not participate in the forum.
Riehle said he had given a “heads up” about the forum to Councilman Bret Daniels, a key opponent of the measure, on the evening of August 16. Emails shared with The Sentinel showed a formal invite being sent to the entire City Council on Aug. 19, followed by an email to several opponents of the measure on Aug. 20, with a response from Schaefer on Aug. 25.
As of Saturday evening, Riehle said no Measure M opponents had confirmed participation in the Aug. 31 forum. Schaefer confirmed Saturday as well that he knew of “nobody from No on Measure M that would appear there.” He also said Councilman Daniels would be out of town for work and unable to attend.
Emails show Schaefer requested a rescheduling of the forum to mid-September, but that request was denied by Riehle who said delaying would conflict with other Chamber events.
Riehle said the forum was organized at the request of the Chamber’s board of directors in order to give the board an opportunity to hear from both sides before voting on whether to endorse, oppose, or take a neutral position on the measure. He said in an email to Schaefer that the Aug. 31 date was selected as the best day for the Chamber’s availability and would also be early enough to allow both sides to use the Chamber’s potential endorsement in their campaigns.
Schaefer said in light of circumstances and “unreasonable” lack of flexibility, the No on M side would be boycotting the event. He also noted concern about whether No on M would “get a fair shake” at the forum.
Schaefer called the Chamber’s restriction of only allowing residents of Citrus Heights to participate in the forum “unreasonable,” noting that Riehle is not a Citrus Heights resident and the Chamber is made up of local business owners who do not necessarily live in the city.
The residency restriction prevents Bruce Lee, president of the Sacramento Taxpayers Association, from representing the No on M side in the forum. Lee has been a vocal opponent of Measure M and his organization reportedly has “strong membership” in Citrus Heights, according to Schaefer.
Riehle acknowledged not being a resident of Citrus Heights himself, but noted he owns a business in the city and has “been a member of the Chamber for more than 20 years and [is] the current chair of the Government Issues Committee.”
Riehle confirmed on Saturday that the forum will take place as scheduled, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 31, at City Hall. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a cap of 10 people will be in place. Chamber board members will participate via Zoom, followed by a vote from the board on what position to take on the measure.
Measure M is a proposed one-cent sales tax increase that will appear on the November ballot. If passed by a majority of voters, the measure would raise an estimated $12 million per year and bring the sales tax rate in Citrus Heights to 8.75%, up from the current 7.75%.
Proponents say the city is in need of additional revenue to maintain local control and fund city services, citing a drop in sales tax revenue and demand from residents in a citywide survey. Opponents say the city has mismanaged funds and can wait until an additional $5-6 million in property tax revenues come to the city in fiscal year 2022-23, following the expiration of a “revenue neutrality” agreement with the county.
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Tim Schaefer is a 30-year resident of Citrus Heights and was elected to the City Council in 2020 for the newly created District 3 seat.
