City Council Extends Fireworks Urgency Ordinance, Adopts Local Roadway Safety Plan
Jul 29, 2021 12:00AM ● By Story by Shaunna BoydCITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the July 22 regular meeting of the Citrus Heights City Council, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) presented information about proposed rate increases, which the utility says are needed because their operating costs are going up. Increases in service costs can be attributed to rising materials and labor costs, wildfire prevention and mitigation costs, infrastructure improvement requirements, and clean energy requirements.
A proposed 1.5% rate increase would go into effect on March 1, 2022, with another 2% increase taking effect January 1, 2023. Looking at an average monthly customer bill of $126.44 as an example, the 2022 increase would add $1.91 to the bill and the 2023 increase would add another $2.57.
Other proposed changes include updates to SMUD’s solar program and the implementation of an optional residential Critical Peak Pricing rate, which will be available to customers with smart thermostats and those in the solar program. This program would be applicable June through September. In times of grid stress, such as an extended heat wave, SMUD would give advance notice of a Critical Peak Pricing Event, which would last from one to four hours (with no more than 50 total hours over the summer). During these events, customers who opted into the program would pay higher rates for power—in exchange for discounted rates the rest of the year. The program is intended to encourage energy conservation, helping to ensure there is enough power for everyone and to reduce the need for using less environmentally friendly energy sources.
The SMUD Board of Directors have already hosted two public workshops about the proposed rate increases, and the final public hearing will be hosted through Zoom on August 31, with the Board taking the final vote at the September 16 meeting. More details can be found at https://www.smud.org/rateinfo.
The Council heard a presentation by the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC), of which Citrus Heights is a contributing member, about their plans for regional recovery after the COVID-19 downturn. Barry Broome, president and CEO of GSEC, said that after the 2008 recession, the region had one of the worst recoveries in the state and the nation. But Broome said the Sacramento region is now expected to recover from the current downturn at a faster rate than the state and the national average.
The GSEC’s three-year strategic plan for regional recovery includes the attraction and retention of both businesses and a talented workforce. Using data-driven practices, targeted marketing, and a focus on emerging industries, GSEC aims to produce a local economy that is resilient, diverse, more inclusive and dynamic, and that produces higher wages.
Mayor Steve Miller provided an update about the search for a new city manager, explaining that Interim City Manager Chris Boyd is using his “experience and knowledge of the industry” to oversee the process. The City is currently in the process of hiring a search firm to coordinate the recruitment of qualified candidates after the development of a candidate profile. With the marketing planned for this process, Mayor Miller said they hope to have a new city manager starting sometime around December/January.
The City Council also heard information about the recently completed Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP), which identifies and analyzes road safety issues, facilitates local agency partnerships and collaboration, and prioritizes safety improvements. The LRSP is similar to another recent City plan, the Multi Modal Transportation Safety Program (MMTSP); but while the MMTSP focuses on improving the safety of neighborhood streets, the LRSP includes all local roadways with a focus on major arterials and areas with higher collision levels.
The development of the plan was funded by a Caltrans Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant with a 10% local match by the City. The creation of the LRSP document will ensure that Citrus Heights remains eligible for future HSIP funding cycles in order to secure funding for local roadway improvement projects.
In developing the LRSP, crash data were reviewed from 2015-2019, revealing that 90% of collisions occur at intersections, with speeding as the leading cause of collisions. The LRSP includes a toolbox of countermeasures that can be implemented citywide. Some of the most effective low-cost changes include adding retroreflective backplates on intersection signals and red reflective posts to stop signs. These measures have been shown to increase visibility and reduce crashes.
The Council voted unanimously to approve the LRSP, which will be updated over time to address the city’s changing safety needs.
The Council also considered an extension to the urgency ordinance regarding fireworks regulation and enforcement. The initial urgency ordinance (passed on June 24 and valid for a period of 45 days) added temporary changes allowing for social hosts to be cited and fined for illegal fireworks on their property, increased fines for second offenses, and time restrictions for legal fireworks.
The Council voted unanimously to adopt an extension to the ordinance for a period of 10 months and 15 days. During that time, a recommendation will be drafted for a non-urgency ordinance, which if approved by Council, will replace the extended urgency ordinance and make the changes to the municipal code permanent.
Interim City Manager Chris Boyd presented Council with a COVID-19 update from the Sacramento County Health Officer, who shared that case rates in the county have increased dramatically in recent weeks. If California’s tiered system were still in place, Sacramento County would currently be in the most-restrictive purple tier. The case increase is due to reduced mitigation measures such as distancing and masking, the spread of the more-aggressive Delta variant, and the large number of residents who are not vaccinated. The County has issued a recommendation that everyone wear face coverings in indoors settings where vaccination verification is not required and the vaccination status of others is unknown.