CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The September 10, 2020, Citrus Heights City Council meeting was again held via teleconference. Citrus Heights resident David Warren submitted a public comment regarding Councilmember Jeannie Bruins’ prepared remarks at the Chamber of Commerce’s Measure M forum. Bruins stated that the City has poll results showing a majority of residents would support a tax increase to gain the benefits provided by that funding, but Warren questioned those results.

Warren wrote that he and his neighbors were never asked if they would support a sales tax increase: “If such a poll was taken, the City should publish the specific question asked and the total number of votes cast approving or rejecting the 1% increase in the sales and use tax.” He acknowledged that the majority of residents likely do support increased funding for the police department, city services, and street repairs. Warren suggested that the City conduct a poll specifically asking whether residents would support Measure M, “instead of asserting because residents want public services and municipal repairs, that the taxpayers will agree to a sales tax increase to pay for them.”

Dan Stockridge, communications supervisor with Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD), asked the Council to renew the agreement with the Sacramento Regional Radio Communications System (SRRCS). Stockridge explained that the SRRCS, which is maintained and operated by the Sacramento County, is the sole source provider for radio communications in the region. “SRRCS maintains a vast network of radio communications, equipment that provides two-way voice radio communications, and agency interoperability,” said Stockridge. He described it as “the backbone for all radio communication for the CHPD.”

Citrus Heights originally joined SRRCS in 2006 with an initial buy-in cost of $116,194. The contract allowed Citrus Heights to operate its own police department and 911 communications center, and Stockridge said the renewal will allow CHPD to maintain its radio communications. If the City decides not to renew the contract, they would have to build and maintain an entire radio system, which would be cost-prohibitive. If approved, the proposed licensing agreement will run through July 1, 2030.

CHPD has 215 radios with SRRCS and the annual maintenance fees for this fiscal year are $330 per radio, for a total cost of $70,950. Planned increases in the next several years, which are already included in the CHPD’s projected budget, will absorb the cost of required infrastructural improvements necessary for system sustainability. The annual increases will bring the cost to $375 per radio by fiscal year 2026-2027.

Alliance with SRRCS promotes cooperation among 28 user agencies and spreads large capital and on-going operations costs across these agencies. Stockridge said, “Continued participation and influence as an SRRCS member allows CHPD to continue innovation and relevance in the region,” and CHPD benefits from the shared costs as well and the shared knowledge and experience.

The City Council unanimously approved renewal of the SRRCS agreement.

The Council then considered an amendment to the City’s Cardroom Ordinance Sunset Provision. After the City incorporated in 1997, many of the County’s codes and ordinances were adopted until the City could adopt their own amendments. At that time, the County’s cardroom ordinance was adopted—but with a sunset provision specifying the future date when cardrooms in the city would be prohibited.

Over the years, the sunset provision has been extended on several occasions—postponing the prohibition date. The current sunset date is December 31, 2020. Staff recommended an amendment permanently eliminating the sunset provision. The City submitted the proposed amendment to the Bureau of Gambling Control, which responded that eliminating the sunset provision does not conflict with the Gambling Control Act.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the amendment. So, cardrooms in Citrus Heights will not be prohibited.

Citrus Heights is part of the League of California Cities, which is holding its annual conference in October (via teleconference this year). The Council chose Councilmember Porsche Middleton as its primary voting delegate, with Councilmember Bruins serving as alternate.

The Council then gave direction to Councilmember Middleton about their position on the League’s proposed resolutions, which will be voted on during the conference. Katherine Cooley, assistant to the city manager, said there is only one item for consideration: Call to Amend the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The resolution would require that social media companies remove materials promoting criminal activities. Currently, social media companies are immune from civil liability for criminal activities promoted on their sites, which Cooley said is likely a case of the law not having caught up with how social media is used.

The League is requesting that social media companies can only retain their immunity if they meet the following requirements: Platforms must establish a reasonable program to identify and take down criminal content, and platforms must provide information to law enforcement. If a company willfully or negligently fails to meet these requirements, it will lose immunity from state and local laws and civil liability.  The Council agreed that they support this resolution.