Civic Minute: What’s going on in the City of Citrus Heights?

Sentinel Staff Report–
Citrus Heights City Council members will meet on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to discuss several items, including a grant to Hope Cooperative, amendments to a camping ordinance, neighborhood cleanup survey results, and consideration of endorsing Proposition 36.

Supportive Housing. The City Council will hold a follow up consideration regarding a nonprofit requesting approval of a grant in the amount of $500,000 to aid in the purchase of 7501 Sunrise Blvd. Hope Cooperative wants to update the Auburn Oaks senior living facility to include 88 supportive housing units for seniors experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. At the previous City Council meeting, multiple council members expressed concerns, and Mayor Bret Daniels requested that staff and Hope Cooperative return to the council again with more information addressing the council’s concerns.

Camping Ordinance. The City Council will be asked to approve amendments to the city’s existing camping ordinance, adding “more stringent regulations on camping on private property,” according to a staff report. The report says unauthorized camping on private property has remained a “significant blight issue” throughout the city, with a “noticeable increase in the number of encampments on private land, which often lack essential services such as sanitation and waste disposal.”

Proposed amendments include broadening the definition of “camping” to include use of various types of vehicles, like RV’s and motor homes, and requiring property owners to provide written permission to individuals that are on private properties for non-commercial activities. The city also plans to amend the code in order to “distinguish the handling of abandoned and unabandoned personal property for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.”

Prop 36. The City Council seeks to vote on a resolution that would pledge their support in favor of Prop 36, which would both increase penalties for certain theft crimes, and increase penalties for certain drug crimes by increasing sentence lengths and levels of crime. The initiative would also add fentanyl to the list of drugs (cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine) that will warrant a felony charge if an individual possesses one of the listed drugs and a loaded firearm.

Neighborhood Cleanups. City staff plan to share results from a recent FlashVote survey that asked residents questions regarding the quarterly Neighborhood Cleanup program that services neighborhoods throughout Citrus Heights. Survey results show a high majority of Citrus Heights residents use and want to continue to use the Neighborhood bulk waste cleanup program.

Last week, the city issued a statement to The Sentinel explaining the reason for the survey, saying in part, “Over time, we’ve received numerous complaints about piles being out for days before scheduled pickups, the blight this creates, scavenging, and residents missing scheduled pickups.” The Neighborhood Cleanup Program has been in operation since 2006, the city said.

Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at City Hall at 6 p.m., 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. See full agenda packet online: Click here.