Note: In the interest of providing voter information and fair election coverage, The Sentinel has given all five Citrus Heights City Council candidates an equal opportunity to submit 100-word written statements on a variety of local issues. Jeannie Bruins’ word-for-word responses can be found below.
Jeannie Bruins, 71, is currently serving a one-year term as the City’s vice mayor and is running for her fifth term on the City Council, after being first elected to office in 2002. She has lived in Citrus Heights for 34 years and has been endorsed by Supervisor Sue Frost, former Congressman Doug Ose, and Senator Jim Nielsen. (Click to read full candidate profile)
One of the City’s three-year strategic planning goals is to enhance and expand public safety. What specifically would you advocate doing to accomplish this goal?
“The best way to accomplish this goal is to follow the lead of Police Chief Ron Lawrence, a man I greatly respect and trust. That includes providing the training, equipment and technology to help our officers do their job and be safe.
“It also includes emphasizing community policing that engages the public as partners to keep our city safe, focusing on youth and family services. Our newly formed Youth and Family Services Division does just that. It comprises of 2 school resource officers, a youth detective and a sergeant, and youth programs like the Explorers and the Police Activities League.”
Homelessness continues to be ranked among the top issues faced by businesses and residents in Citrus Heights. What additional actions do you believe should be taken to address this, and what role do you see private organizations playing?
“I don’t have the magic answer for homelessness, but finding housing is recognized as the key issue to impact homelessness and to reduce the homeless number on the streets. This is where we start. Then we expand our multi-faceted approach to homelessness, providing individuals with support who want a life change.
“With HART, the Navigator program, Winter Sanctuary, community policing, and social service partners, we are tackling homelessness. As resources become available we will expand the effort. I’m not sure what is meant by ‘private organizations’ but service clubs and churches are active partners.”
In August, the City Council voted 4-1 to pursue a $500,000 mandatory inspection program for thousands of rental homes/apartments in Citrus Heights. Do you believe the council made the right decision?
“I voted for the rental inspection program because it provides the means to hold landlords accountable for the condition of their properties. Badly maintained properties lead to decreased property values for surrounding homes, and can attract a poorer quality of tenants.
“This is a self-funded program and will enhance the quality of life within our neighborhoods. One of the complaints I hear from the community is that code enforcement takes too long and occurs only on a complaint-driven basis. This program will fund the code enforcement staff necessary to be proactive in addressing rental property problems.”
In four years, Citrus Heights will finally begin receiving its share of property taxes (estimated over $5 million/yr), due to a 25-year “revenue neutrality” agreement with the county as a condition of incorporation coming to a close. How do you think that money would be best allocated, and why?
“My 3 priorities for using the funds we will receive at the end of revenue neutrality are (1) step up the program for infrastructure improvements, giving roads the top priority, (2) more assertive economic development, pursuing employers who will bring good-paying jobs to Citrus Heights, (3) building up our reserves to a healthy level again.”
Proposition 6 seeks to repeal SB 1, which increased gas taxes and vehicle licensing fees to help cover transportation-related projects. How will you vote on Prop 6 and what option(s) for road maintenance in Citrus Heights will you advocate for if SB 1 funding goes away?
“I support Proposition 6 because the gas tax increase should have gone to the voters according to existing law, not be imposed on us by the legislature. The hard part for me is knowing that our city is already benefiting from this tax increase because we have received revenues that are funding street improvements right now.
“Another hard part is knowing that billions of dollars are being wasted on things such as high speed rail rather than funding local transportation needs, as it was meant to. We need state legislators who will put that money back into the local community.”
Proposition 10 seeks to allow local governments to enact rent control on any type of rental housing. If Prop 10 passes, would you be in favor of implementing rent control in Citrus Heights?
“I support affordable rents, but rent control is not the answer. I experienced the result of rent control when I lived in Southern California and it did not give the result it promised. Rather, it resulted in properties not being maintained, which affected entire neighborhoods. Renters abandoned properties and moved on. It caused a downward spiral in property values and quality of life. I do not want to see that for Citrus Heights.”
Nearby cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Davis have voted to discontinue their redlight camera programs in recent years. If elected to the council, would you vote to renew the City’s contract with Redflex and continue redlight cameras in Citrus Heights?
“The red light camera program works in Citrus Heights – I know from personal experience. I’ll never make that soft stop and roll into a right hand turn on a red light at San Juan and Greenback again without coming to a full stop!
“If you don’t want to pay the hefty fine I paid and spend those meaningful hours in traffic school to keep your record clean, obey the traffic laws. After you view the video and pictures of your red light camera experience, if you feel you were unfairly cited, you have the right to appeal the ticket.”
Schools in Citrus Heights have long been criticized as under-performing. Although the San Juan Unified School Board is ultimately tasked with governing local schools, what role (if any) do you believe the City Council can play in improving education in Citrus Heights?
“The schools ARE under-performing. We have brought ideas to SJUSD in regular meetings, including a highly successful model in the City of Fairfield, but the district tells us they aren’t interested. I’ll continue to work with SJUSD but, after 21 years of our residents crying for an improved education system, I’m ready to partner with other education providers if SJUSD isn’t going to listen.
“Sadly, our schools do have some good programs and dedicated teachers and principals, but SJUSD doesn’t market them while Citrus Heights students open-enroll outside of Citrus Heights. Over 700 Citrus Heights students are attending Roseville schools.”
Citrus Heights has striven to be a business-friendly city ever since its incorporation in 1997. What more do you believe could be done to attract new businesses and help existing businesses thrive in Citrus Heights?
“Our first responsibility is to address the public infrastructure to attract new businesses, as we have done on Auburn Blvd. We need to enhance our incentives, as resources allow, to help our existing businesses look better, as we do with our Façade Improvement Program.
“We need to continue to work with The Greater Sacramento Economic Development Council to give Citrus Heights a greater presence regionally as a job center. More quality jobs in Citrus Heights will lead to supporting our existing businesses as well as attract new ones. Working with property owners to re-purpose under-performing properties/vacancies is essential.”
Want to see where the other four candidates stand on local issues? Click here
