Civic Minute: What’s going on at Citrus Heights City Hall?

By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights City Council members will meet Wednesday, Sept. 25, to discuss updating the budget for a Bridge Maintenance Project, consider zoning code updates regarding recycling centers, as well as consider conflicts of interest code updates. The council will also be asked to approve a professional services agreement for a Gateway Activation Project and hear an update on the efforts of the city’s Beautification Crew program.

Recycling Centers.
According to city staff, blight associated with local recycling centers continues to impact public safety and “community vibrancy.” Staff are asking the City Council to consider banning any future expansion of local recycling centers.

The proposed ban on restricting additional recycling centers, along with multiple other ordinance amendments and updates, was first brought to the Planning Commission in August. After some confusion and three rounds of voting, in which at least two commissioners changed their votes, Chair Natalee Price and Commissioners Marcelle Flowers, Kelsey Nelson, and Andrew Van Duker voted in favor of passing all other ordinance amendments with the exclusion of adding a ban on future recycling centers.

Conflict of Interest.
The Political Reform Act requires local government agencies to review its Conflict of Interest Code biennially. According to city staff, amendments to the city’s Conflict of Interest Code are necessary to account for the addition, deletion, and modification of positions listed as “designated employees.”

The list of designated positions excludes council members, planning commissioners, the city manager, the finance director, and the city attorney. These positions are already required by state law (Government Code Section 87200) to disclose their financial interests. A full list of persons with conflicts of interest can be found in the agenda here.

$1M Bridge Maintenance.
The City Council is being asked to approve an increase in the overall cost of the 2024 Bridge Maintenance Project, bringing the total to an estimated $1,087,345.

In June, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with Coastline Water Resources Inc. for the 2024 Bridge Maintenance Project. The contractor bid for the project was $748,700, based on “quantities that were measured during design in September 2022,” a city staff report states. In the last two years, additional work has been identified and is estimated to cost an additional $226,339. Additional contingency fees are also necessary to add to cover the cost of potential unknown maintenance identified during the time of construction.

Gateway Activation.
City staff are recommending the council approve a $685,000 contract with Dokken Engineering, Inc., for preliminary engineering, environmental documentation, right-of-way, final design, and construction support services for a Gateway Activation Project on Old Auburn Road near the Roseville border.

In 2022, Assemblymember Ken Cooley’s office coordinated a $700,000 appropriation from the State General Fund for the Citrus Heights Gateway Activation Project. In May 2023, a fund transfer agreement was signed between the California Department of Transportation and the City, and the funds have been received and deposited.

Beautification Crew.
The General Services Department and Citrus Heights Police Department plan to give an update on the efforts and the outcomes of the Beautification Crew Program during the City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Those wishing to make a public comment during the meeting can do so by attending the council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25 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. City Hall is located at 6360 Fountain Square Drive.