The City Council honors Councilmember Tim Schaefer for his term serving as mayor in 2023. Photo provided by the City of Citrus Heights.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the January 25 meeting, the Citrus Heights City Council presented Councilmember Tim Schaefer with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his service as mayor last year. Current Mayor Bret Daniels said Schaefer “did an incredible job” as mayor while also working a fulltime job. “It’s very, very demanding,” said Daniels, “we were lucky to have him.”

Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff thanked Schaefer for being “so dedicated” and for showing her the ropes when she joined the Council as a new member.

Councilmember Porsche Middleton said, “I deeply appreciate all the ways you went out of your way to make sure you were in the community, present. I know how difficult it is.”

Vice Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa said, “When we had to be somewhere, he was always there.”

Schaefer said, “To my councilmember colleagues, you made my job very much easier than it could have been. It could have been a lot tougher. I also want to thank the city manager for his support and, at times, guidance, where I needed to be sort of dialed back a little bit. It was really an honor. It was a great year; I feel like we accomplished a lot last year.”

The Council heard a request from the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce for $17,010 in funding from the City’s Economic Development Support Fund, which provides sponsorships and grants to promote and increase business activities in Citrus Heights.

The Chamber requested $7,010 for the annual cost to rent the Citrus Heights Community Center facility to host their monthly Chamber luncheons, and $10,000 for the City’s annual Chairman’s Circle sponsorship of the Chamber.

Al Gonzalez spoke on behalf of the Chamber, outlining the various activities and events they hold each year to promote local businesses. Gonzalez said that 17 businesses joined the Chamber in 2023-2024, for a total of 312 current members.

Councilmember Schaefer didn’t have questions about the requested funds, but instead asked Gonzalez for details about the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (PAC). Gonzalez said the purpose of the PAC was “to support the members that are running for local office.”  

Schafer asked, “How many of the members on this Board (the City Council) has the PAC ever supported?” Gonzalez said he didn’t know. 

Vice Mayor Karpinski-Costa said, “Not me. Not him.”

Councilmember Lopez-Taff explained that Gonzalez wouldn’t be able to speak on behalf of the PAC, because the Chamber and the PAC are separate entities: “The PAC has its own governance and membership … although they sound similar, they’re very separate.”

Schaefer continued, “But the PAC is using the credibility of the name of the Citrus Heights Chamber to convince voters that this is their influence. So, they are connected. It’s very difficult to say they’re not connected.” He said that while he heard the Chamber was suspending their relationship with the PAC, he wanted to know how the PAC was funded.

Gonzalez responded, “Well the PAC isn’t funded anymore, because we’re looking at, they go their way, we go our way.”

Schaefer said in his personal experience with the PAC, “there have been times where they completely denied me an opportunity to interview.  … I had some questions that I directed toward one of the PAC members, and he basically told me it’s none of my business. … It’s very difficult because the names are the same. The perception of the public is going to be that the Citrus Heights Chamber, that is you, are going to support a particular candidate, when you may or may not be supporting that candidate. So that’s a problem for me.”

Mayor Daniels brought up a concern of his own, that the current executive director of the Chamber had stepped down and a new one had not yet been selected. Mayor Daniels said, “I think everybody here supports the Chamber. … The effort, and what it does, and the need for it, too. … If our businesses don’t thrive, Citrus Heights doesn’t thrive. We die. It’s plain and simple.” But he said that while he was prepared to support covering the cost for the Chamber’s use of the Community Center, he did not want to support the $10,000 sponsorship until after a new executive director was chosen and had discussed future plans with a representative from the City Council.

Vice Mayor Karpinski-Costa said, “Well, I disagree with the mayor. I think that this is a budget item, and this money is in our pot now, and it may not be in the pot when you get your executive director. … We have just a limited amount in the pot, and when that pot goes, it’s gone. … I don’t think our vote should reflect on whether or not they have a Chamber person in charge today or next week or next month. That’s not what they’re asking. We’re not funding that position.” The request was for the facility cost and the sponsorship, and she said, “We are beneficiaries of all their events, we’re always invited.”

Councilmember Lopez-Taff moved to approve the full request, which was seconded by Councilmember Middleton. Mayor Daniels requested a substitute motion, seconded by Councilmember Schaefer, to vote on the two funding requests separately. The Council voted first on the request for funding to cover the facility rental, which was approved 5-0. Then the Council voted on the $10,000 sponsorship, which passed 3-2, with Daniels and Schaefer dissenting.

Gonzalez invited all councilmembers to attend the Chamber luncheons: “I would like our membership to get to know the City Council members. It’s vitally important. … We’re the connection between them and you. And if you come and they come, they have an opportunity to get involved and be more active in the Chamber.”

The Council then heard an update from the Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) about their plan for crime detection and prevention in commercial areas—specifically looking at ways to use technology to maximize resources and improve efficiency.

Lt. Wesley Herman said, “We understand, obviously, the significance of the commercial businesses. … It’s clearly the economic engine of our city and it’s vitally important that we protect that asset and the future of our city.” 

Plans for new technology include equipment such as license plate readers at intersections, anti-loitering devices at business locations, mobile cameras and lighting that can be moved to various locations as needed, and vehicle and property trackers. The CHPD is also planning to implement live 911 software so patrol officers can hear calls as they are answered by dispatch, which will improve response time.

The plan also includes staffing increases such as a real-time information center operator (in collaboration with Elk Grove Police Department) and part-time detectives focusing specifically on retail theft. Collaboration with officers throughout the region will allow related cases to be consolidated, leading to more effective prosecution. 

Councilmember Lopez-Taff said, “I just want to thank our police department for being innovative, getting these grants, and making a plan to protect our businesses. … We want to say loud and clear that criminals are not welcome here. And you are making a tremendous effort to support our business owners.”

Councilmember Schaefer agreed: “This is really a great step in the right direction.”

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2024.