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Citrus Heights Messenger

City Approves Independence Day Celebration with Fireworks Display

Jan 31, 2023 12:00AM ● By Story by Shaunna Boyd

Council considered approving up to $80,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to host a patriotic community event for Independence Day this year. Photo courtesy of kazuphotos/Pixabay

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the January 26 meeting, the Citrus Heights City Council considered an application from the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce for $14,848 in funding through the City’s Economic Development Support Fund, Part 1—which provides grants and sponsorships to business associations, businesses, and other economic development-related organizations.

The Chamber will use $4,848 to pay for the annual cost of renting the Citrus Heights Community Center for the monthly Chamber luncheons. The other $10,000 of the funding is for the annual Chairman’s Circle sponsorship. The City has been a sponsor since 2012, and benefits include four seats at the monthly luncheons, two presentations at the luncheons per year, and a table at the Chamber’s Installation Dinner with associated logos, links, and social media posts. The Chamber estimates the value of this sponsorship at $15,000, based on event participation costs and marketing value.

The Economic Development Support Fund had $147,047 allocated for the 2022-2023 fiscal year (which ends in June), and $107,923 is currently available.

Vice Mayor Bret Daniels said, “We’re showing that we’re supporting the Chamber, we’re supporting businesses, we’re doing what needs to be done to make business thrive in Citrus Heights.”

Councilmember Porsche Middleton commended the Chamber for their work in ensuring community activation for local businesses, and for their creativity and ingenuity throughout the pandemic. “I deeply appreciate that work,” said Middleton.

The Council voted unanimously to approve the Chamber’s funding request.

The City Council has been considering possible annexation of four locations along the boundaries of the city: Roseville Pointe on the northwest, the Fair Oaks Blvd./Madison Ave. intersection on the southeast, the Dewey Dr. area on the southern side, and the Greenback Gateway area on the western side. Staff asked Council to consider approving the issuance of a Request For Proposals (RFP) for professional services to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits and risks for those annexations.

The potential work plan would include strategic review of the annexation areas, dialogue with Sacramento County, outreach to the impacted areas, and analysis of the fiscal impact.

The Council unanimously approved the issuance of the RFP, which was then released the very next day. Interviews will be held in March, with the selected contract coming to Council for approval in April. The scope of work would begin in May and staff estimates completion around December with a report to Council for consideration.

Finally, Council considered approving up to $80,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to host a patriotic community event for Independence Day this year. City Manager Ashley Feeney explained that the event would meet the City’s goals of increased community engagement and improved public image, and many in the community have missed attending local 4th of July celebrations.

Funding for this event is not included in the current budget, so the City would need to use ARPA funding, which allows for allocations toward any service traditionally provided by government. The City was awarded a total of $15.7 million in ARPA funds, and there is still more than $5 million available. City Manager Feeney said that if Council wants this celebration to become an annual event, the cost will be included in future budgets. “This event can grow and improve in years to come,” said Feeney.

The event could be held on either Friday, June 30 or Saturday, July 1, with Van Maren Park as the likeliest location since there is ample parking available nearby. The event would include food and beverages, activities, musical entertainment, and the evening would culminate in a 20-minute aerial fireworks display starting around 9:30 PM.  

During public comment, several community members voiced opposition to the fireworks display, stating that it would take police and fire department resources away from the community on a weekend when illegal fireworks enforcement would be most needed. Most of the commenters believed that the money could be better spent on other, more important issues, rather than just for entertainment purposes. Others worried about the effect on veterans in the community with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who could suffer due to the loud noises, as well as the dogs in the community that are frightened of fireworks.

Councilmember Jayna Karpinski-Costa said, “On behalf of the dogs, I can’t support it.” She said that spending this money on fireworks would just “flush it down the toilet. It’s just gone in 20 minutes.” She wants to see the money spent on things that will have a lasting impact. She also worried that a fireworks display by the City would decrease the fundraising revenues for non-profits that sell Safe-and-Sane fireworks. She suggested a daytime event that is more family friendly, stating, “Kids at 9:30–10:00, I think should be in bed.”

Councilmember Middleton said she was on the fence, but she thought the event would be a great way to bring people together: “It’s a good way for us to build community in our city, and I think it’s a really good expense.” But she was conflicted after hearing the public comments.

Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff also felt torn after hearing the community feedback, but she said her family always enjoyed the fireworks displays, and because this is Citrus Heights’ 25th year of cityhood, it’s important to commemorate that with a big community event. She said that maybe fireworks aren’t the answer, but community gatherings are always worthwhile.

Vice Mayor Daniels said he didn’t even think the cost should be a consideration, because “this is way less than 1% of the budget, and will probably result in the largest amount of Citrus Heights residents coming together in a community event.” He said that previous fireworks displays were hugely attended and are some of his best childhood memories: “I think it’s a need for our community, coming out of COVID after the last couple years and not being able to do anything, not being able to come together. I think we need to bring the community together. I think the community is begging to come together, and this is one of the ways it can happen.”

Daniels pointed out that although the fireworks display is only 20 minutes, the event will be much longer, and it will create a feeling of connection in the community and “bring a lot of joy to a lot of people.”

Mayor Tim Schaefer agreed that community events like this “should be a priority,” but he said he would listen to the public comments and suggest that the event move forward without the fireworks.

Vice Mayor Daniels moved that the resolution be approved for the Independence Day event, including the fireworks display. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Middleton.

Mayor Schaefer offered a secondary motion that the resolution be modified to exclude the fireworks, which was seconded by Karpinski-Costa. That motion failed.

The first motion passed, with Daniels, Middleton, and Lopez-Taff in favor, and Schaefer and Karpinski-Costa opposed.