The Civic Minute: What’s happening at Citrus Heights City Hall?

Citrus Heights council members will meet Thursday evening to vote on contracts dealing with intersection improvements, homeless services, police vehicles, and the allocation of up to $180,000 in community support funding.

The council’s Sept. 14 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive. A summary of what’s on the 308-page agenda is included below.

Presentations. The council will issue a trio of proclamations declaring September as Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Month, and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The council will also proclaim the week of Sept. 17-23 as National Forensic Science Week.

$140k Microsoft Contract. The council will consider a staff recommendation to renew the City’s Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, with a $139,990 purchase to cover 280 subscriptions to Microsoft 365, and other associated subscriptions and maintenance purchases.

Intersection Upgrade. The council will consider awarding a $159,620 professional engineering services agreement to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., for the Roseville Road/Butternut
Drive and Systemic Signalized Intersection Improvements Project. Funds would come from a Highway Safety Improvement Program grant and Measure A dollars, and would go towards installing sidewalk and corner bulb-outs at the intersection of Roseville Road and Butternut Drive, along with high-visibility pedestrian crossings and pavement widening “to provide a southbound left-turn pocket on Roseville Road,” according to a staff report.

Trail Project. The council will consider finding a “public necessity” exists to allow Central Valley Engineering & Asphalt, Inc. to subcontract out pile-driving work for installing a bridge in the Sundance Park area of the Arcade-Cripple Creek Trail Project, that was initially planned to be done by CVEA. State law allows for the change to be made, as long as the council declares a public necessity or emergency exists. A staff report says the previously authorized construction amount of $9.3 million will remain unchanged.

$470k Police Vehicle Purchase. Council members will consider approving a recommendation from the police chief to authorize the purchase of five police vehicles that the department says are in need of replacement. A staff report says the department follows industry best practices to replace vehicles by the 100,000-mile mark, or six years for a patrol vehicle and 10 years for a community services vehicle. Funds would come from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Homeless Services. The council will consider approving a contract with the Sacramento County Department of Housing and Homeless Services to replace the former role of homeless navigators through the now-defunct Sacramento Self-Help Housing. A staff report says Community Health Workers are employed to “connect unsheltered individuals living in a state of homelessness to
supportive services, emergency shelter, interim and permanent housing; and [to] establish positive relationships with local community organizations, residents, and businesses in order to
foster supportive coalitions for homeless individuals within the identified service areas.” The cost to provide one full-time Community Health Worker would run $137,918 per year, with funding coming from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Community Support Funding. The council will consider recommendation from the Finance Committee to award $149,863 in Community Support Funding for five out of six organizations that submitted funding requests. A staff report shows the committee recommended awarding the full amounts requested for all organizations, except for the Sunrise Christian Food Ministry. The food closet requested $21,600, but the committee recommended not awarding any funds, noting “the committee wants a more significant focus on Citrus Heights residents.” An accompanying letter says about one-third of those served by the ministry are Citrus Heights residents. A total of $180,000 is available in support funding, which comes from a federal Community Development Block Grant.

Auburn Blvd Plans. The council will consider adopting Objective Design and Development Standards for the portion of Auburn Boulevard from Sylvan Corners to the Placer County Line. Standards reflect changes in state law that require cities to allow residential and multi-family units in commercial zones, and give the city some say in ensuring the appearance of any new development “is compatible with the City’s vision,” according to a staff report. See prior story: A closer look at potential mixed-use development on Auburn Blvd

Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 14, or by submitting a written comment beforehand using the city’s website. The deadline to submit comments online is 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting.