(ROSEVILLE, Calif.) -- With little to no commentary from Citrus Heights constituents, the Oct. 14 council meeting spotlighted its community through positive updates from council members. The last time the council convened had been over a month ago, on September 9. The long period of leave allowed members to articulate a full report highlighting recent achievements and activities within the municipality.
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / YouTube / Council members, excluding an absent Karpinski-Costa, convening on October 14. The meeting marked the first attended by Council Member Nelson since August 12, after which she departed on maternity leave.
Tim Schaefer, Councilman and Citrus Heights representative on the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), was first to share his recent efforts for the city.
The SACOG board met in September to discuss financial allocations for roadway preservation and alternative funding for new projects. A final board vote on increasing funding for preservation from the proposed 35 percent to 45 percent, with the remainder going towards new infrastructure projects, had been supported by Schaefer and was passed.
“My feeling was that number one, [the proposed 35% plan] held money back,” Schaefer said. “I wanted to allocate more money for preservation now versus wait [...] things are only going to get more expensive.”
Schaefer also noted the Council’s approval of a Citrus Heights grant proposal, which will give the city 3.5 million dollars for the preservation of community roadways.
Infrastructure remains a high-priority issue for many residents of Sacramento area cities, and Schaefer’s updates brought glad tidings to concerned Citrus Heights residents.
Vice Mayor Porsche Middleton was next to share her recent involvements.
In September, the Sacramento Metro Chamber traveled to Detroit, Michigan, with Middleton joining as representative for Citrus Heights. The Chamber spent a week assessing how Detroit has been successful in moving beyond its underdog reputation through instituting historic and locally focused public-private redevelopment measures.
“That is the goal of what I want to see for our community,” Middleton said. “How do we find that funding to reinvest in our small, local businesses?”
One of the most remarkable triumphs for Citrus Heights was Middleton’s year-long involvement in the September 30 launch of the city’s Blue Envelope Program. In possessing an envelope, which is indeed colored blue, the project provides those with autism or other unobserved developmental challenges a way to signal potential need for patience during interactions with law enforcement.
With other Placer County cities also instituting the program, Middleton mentioned the availability of these envelopes at any local Police Department or Sheriff’s office.
Photo Credit: Porsche Middleton / Citrus Heights Sentinel / September 30 gathering to celebrate the successful launch of the Citrus Heights Blue Envelope Program.
Unsurprisingly, comments from Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff included some of the most heart-warming news relevant to Citrus Heights residents.
Per City Mayor duties, Lopez-Taff shared her frequent representation of local government at various community meetings, events, and celebrations. The list of functions was wide, ranging from local business and board conventions to more intimate gatherings.
In the earlier part of September, Lopez-Taff participated in welcoming seven new Citrus Heights police officers to the force. Her later attendance at multiple September meetings for community businesses involved in the upcoming Sunrise Mall project reflected comments made earlier by the Vice Mayor and the council’s shared emphasis on promoting positive economic growth.
The council’s recent efforts to support the local community also included smaller displays of resident encouragement.
Included in her exhaustive list of month-long community engagement, the Mayor shared her attendance at the 100th birthday celebration gathering for Emil Giusti. She noted particular enjoyment at meeting multiple generations of his family.
“He’s been a resident so long in Citrus Heights that he predates cityhood,” Lopez-Taff remarked.
As meeting minutes ticked on, the Mayor was not yet close to concluding her commentary.
Photo Credit: City of Citrus Heights / Youtube / Mayor Lopez-Taff listing her month spent championing the local community
In participating in Habitat for Humanity’s September 19 “Hard Hats and High Heels” event, Lopez-Taff highlighted two households on Sayonara Drive whose video compositions were showcased. She described this Citrus Heights community spotlight as a particularly “notable” item at the event.
The mayor also noted her support for Kingswood Middle School’s unique “Civic Class” course. Citrus Heights children were able to hear from Lopez-Taff about her duties and the larger responsibilities of local government.
“I love working with youth and seeing their eyes light up with new understanding,” Lopez-Taff smiled.
Towards the end of September, local entrepreneurs benefited from a special community business meeting attended by Josh Hoover, 7th district representative for the California State Assembly. Constituents fielded questions for the politician who Lopez-Taff noted is a keen advocate for local-level economic success.
“I think they really felt heard, and that is our most important job,” Lopez-Taff highlighted.
Illuminated by council members at the October 14 meeting were the extensive positive updates worth celebrating for the Citrus Heights community. As November 3 elections rapidly approach, council remarks stressed the sustained involvement of local government alongside notable efforts achieved within this active city.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for October 28. More information can be found on the Citrus Heights website.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at piper.a@lead4earth.org.
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