Sentinel staff report–
The recent unanimous decision by two Citrus Heights neighborhood associations to merge together was motivated by multiple factors, according to the association’s president.
Citrus Heights Area Seven Eight Nine (CHASEN) President Kathy Morris told The Sentinel in an email Wednesday that the newly created City Council District 2 lines up exactly with the boundaries of the now-merged neighborhood areas — a factor that didn’t exist before the city adopted a district map following a voting rights lawsuit threat two years ago.
From 2019: City adopts new Citrus Heights district map
She also said participation at monthly meetings “has always been a challenge,” and neighborhood association board members found during the pandemic that joining together to continue communications with residents was significantly more effective.
“We checked with each neighborhood and all was positive,” Morris said. “So, for greater participation, better communications and more effective actions with our neighbors and the City, we combined.”
Sentinel staff attended several joint meetings of the two neighborhood associations this year, where unanimous votes were made approving the merger and related adoption of bylaws. No opposition was voiced during the meetings.
From last week: Two Citrus Heights neighborhood associations vote to merge
Citrus Heights is made up of 11 neighborhood areas, three of which have now combined over the years. Areas seven and eight merged previously and were known as Citrus Heights Area Seven and Eight (CHASE). With the most recent merger, area nine has been added to the association which now goes by the acronym CHASEN.
Each of the city’s neighborhood associations holds monthly meetings to discuss topics affecting their areas, and often invite speakers from the city. The groups also seek to organize neighborhood projects each year to improve their areas.
By design, membership in the various neighborhood areas includes every resident, property owner, and business owner in the area. Anyone over the age of 18 who works in the area is also a member, and there are no dues for membership.
To learn more about the city’s neighborhood associations, see prior article: Neighborhood groups REACH out to connect Citrus Heights residents
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