Although mild for the most part, accusations of “backroom deals,” poor decisions and “PR mistakes” highlights some of the controversial remarks made during a second candidate forum for the Citrus Heights city council race, Thursday night.
Councilman Steve Miller responds to a question at Thursday night’s candidate forum, as challenger Bridget Duffy listens.
“I think we’ve done a heck of a job,” said current mayor and candidate Mel Turner, highlighting the opening of Stones Casino, which he says created jobs for 51 Citrus Heights residents. “No, we’re not perfect — yes, we can improve.”
Turner’s current colleagues Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller likewise focused on their accomplishments while in office and expressed support for continuing in the same direction, while challenger Bridget Duffy criticized the council’s support of a failed 2012 local tax measure to pay for roads and more police.
“What kind of report card you would give your city council that’s in place today?” Challenger Tim Schaefer asked the audience, urging a vote for a “fresh perspective” on the council. “We’ve talked about economic development, we’ve talked about jobs, and I can’t say that I’ve seen much of that change in the last 12 years.”
Sponsored by the Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights, each of the five city council candidates were asked a series of nine questions, all focusing on local issues and candidate qualifications and goals.
During opening statements, Miller emphasized his family focus and 30-year marriage, while Bruins highlighted her experience and involvement in the early cityhood effort. Schaefer and Duffy both focused on their opposition to a new city hall and concerns with budgetary issues, and Turner cited his “servant leadership” philosophy and 30-year residency.
As a proposal to relocate city hall moves to council for a vote this Thursday, Citrus Heights residents hosted a noontime “Save City Hall” rally at Rusch Park on Sunday — vowing to vote out council members who vote for replacing city hall with a three story medical building.
Save City Hall Coordinator Tim Schaeffer speaks at Sunday’s rally in Rusch Park, joined by volunteer Joan Bippus on the right.
“We’re gonna take every step that we possibly can to stop this project,” said Save City Hall coordinator Tim Schaeffer, mentioning his group had gathered over 1100 signatures to petition the council to vote against the proposal. He also warned city officials that his group plans to put the issue before voters through a referendum process — if the council votes to move city hall away from the civic center.
With four city council members in the audience, about a dozen residents took the opportunity to be heard from the microphone during the rally, voicing concerns over cost, location, environmental impacts and deviation from the General Plan.
“When Citrus Heights incorporated, the founding fathers wrote a General Plan and it stated that our civic buildings will be all placed in the same area,” said resident Susan Howell, referring to city hall’s current location next to the Police Department and community center. “Now the City is going to erase this and write in: the buildings can be scattered about.”
The Planning Commission voted earlier this month to recommend the council change the General Plan to allow for the proposal to be approved, despite vocal opposition during public comment.
Howell also expressed concern about the $500 per square foot cost that the proposed 34,000 square foot $18.9 million city hall would run, although Dignity Health would help pay for the cost through a 15-year lease of the current hall property on Fountain Square Drive.
Resident David Warren tossed in some more controversy during his time on stage, expressing concern that Catholic-founded Dignity Health would choose to not provide access for abortion if allowed to construct a new medical building. Although saying he had been “assured by the city administration” that protection for abortion access would be in a lease agreement, Warren said he wanted the text of a lease agreement to be public before the council votes.
Many speakers also accused the council of not listening to their concerns, a feeling shared by Schaeffer, who described City officials’ response as “dismissive.” Other residents, although expressing a sentiment that the proposal is a “done deal,” took a moment to thank four council members for attending the rally – with one speaker asking members to raise their hands so residents could speak with them afterward.
Mayor Mel Turner, who said he attended the rally to listen as a resident rather than as mayor, said warnings made by speakers about voting him out of office were a little “intimidating to hear.” He also highlighted a side comment he and Planning Commission Chairman Albert Fox said they heard from a well-known audience member who suggested “hanging” council members on nearby oak trees.
“I’m sure it was made in jest,” said Mayor Turner, saying that he knew the person making the comment and wouldn’t be taking the issue to police. He added that the comment was “definitely out of line,” although indicative of how heated sentiment from residents over this issue can be.
Mayor Turner is up for election in November, along with Jeannie Bruins and Steve Miller, all of whom were present at the rally. Races for council are still taking shape, as applicants have until August 8 to file nomination papers to run for a seat on the 5-member governing body.
Although many fingers were pointed at council members, resident Robert Wicker said he believed that City staff – rather than the council – were the real ones to blame.
“The reason we’re considering this is because City staff wants a new house,” Wicker told the crowd. “Any objections that come up, City staff says ‘oh that’s okay, I want a new house.’ So, we’re up against it folks.”
City officials have referred to the deal as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” where the City could get an $18.9 million new hall for an estimated net cost of about $5 million — primarily from leasing land for the medical building, as well as projected energy and repair savings coming from a new city hall, according to numbers released by the City.
Although hoping for a higher turnout, Schaeffer said he estimated about 60 people attended the rally, and hopes for a large turnout at Thursday’s council meeting where a final vote on the proposal is expected.
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If you plan to go:
City Council Meeting 7:00 p.m., July 24
Council Chambers
7117 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
Proposed 3-story medical office building being considered by the Planning Commission. //Photo courtesy Dignity Health
After a year of negotiations and community input, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission will hold a public hearing Wednesday night for the proposal to build a 68,000 square feet medical building at the current City Hall site, and build a new hall on Antelope Road.
While the City calls the proposal a “once-in-a-lifetime” deal that would give residents a new City Hall and bring jobs and dollars to the area, opponents say the numbers “don’t make sense,” and plan to be at Wednesday’s meeting to advocate for keeping City Hall at its current location on Fountain Square Drive.
“We’re taking every opportunity to make our point known, whether it’s through the Planning Commission, or through the City Council.” said proposal opponent Tim Schaeffer, who heads up a volunteer group called Save City Hall.
Schaeffer said his group is made up of about 25 volunteers who have been circulating petitions, sign-waving, and educating residents as part of their effort to keep City Hall in the civic center, next to the Police Department and the recently built Community Center.
The civic center aspect of the proposal to move City Hall is expected to be a major point of discussion at tonight’s meeting, due to the wording of Goal 21 in the City’s General Plan which states that government services are to be concentrated at a “civic center complex.”
Suggested amendment to the City’s General Plan, which would allow for City Hall to be moved away from the other civic center buildings.
A City staff report suggests that the Planning Commission eliminate the “civic center complex” language from the goal to allow the proposal to go through. The report also recommends the commission approve several other key entitlements needed for the projects to go forward, including the approval of zoning code amendments, tree permits, design review permits, and an environmental report’s findings.
Following the Planning Commission’s recommendations, the City Council is expected to take up the matter at their July 24 meeting.
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If you plan to go tonight:
Planning Commission meeting
Public Hearing
7:00 p.m., July 9, 2014
City Hall Council Chambers
7117 Greenback Lane
