CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the May 9 meeting, the Citrus Heights City Council considered approval of a construction contract to begin work on Phase 2 of the Auburn Blvd. Complete Streets Project.

In the works since 2005, the Complete Streets Project focuses on improvements to the Auburn Boulevard corridor, from Sylvan Corners to the northern city limit. Phase 1, from Sylvan Corners to Rusch Park, was completed in 2014. This is the city’s largest public works project, with work including undergrounding of utility lines, upgrades to traffic signals and storm drains, and installation of bike lanes and widening of sidewalks.

The project aims to increase safety and visibility throughout the corridor with decorative street lighting and to beautify the area with new trees and landscaping. Driving conditions will also be improved with the installation of a new asphalt layer on the roadway.

The engineering design process for Phase 2 was completed last spring, and through the bid process, staff identified George Reed, Inc. as the best option for a construction contractor to complete the work.

The total cost for Phase 2 is $35.5 million, which includes the construction contract amount, as well as costs for contingencies, construction management and design support services. Of that total, $4 million has been budgeted from the city’s General Fund, nearly $26 million is coming from a variety of grants and the rest will be supplied by partnering agencies.

“Anyone who has concerns about how we’re funding this, it’s been built into our budget for quite a long time,” said Councilmember Tim Schaefer.

Mayor Bret Daniels said, “It’s been 19 years in the process…and we finally made it. It’s going to happen.”

The Complete Streets Phase 2 contracts were unanimously approved by City Council.

City Council then discussed whether to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission or to potentially dissolve the Commission, a possibility requested by Vice Mayor Jayna Karpinsky-Costa at a prior meeting. 

The Planning Commission was established shortly after the city’s incorporation to hold hearings and communicate with stakeholders, residents, staff and councilmembers regarding land use decisions. The commission reviews use permits, design review permits and subdivision maps, and makes recommendations to City Council regarding general plans, specific plans and the zoning code. There is currently one vacancy on the seven-member commission.

During Public Comment on this item, many residents spoke in support of retaining the Planning Commission, such as Kathy Morris, who said she loves Citrus Heights’ “sense of community, the sense of participation, the fact that people really care about this community and they’re willing to say so.” 

Morris said the Planning Commission provides a forum for residents to share their opinions: “You want the input from the citizens of Citrus Heights. The last thing you want to do is get rid of the Planning Commission.”

Michael Lagomarsino said he previously served on the Planning Commission, as have some past and current councilmembers.

“We have heard about how hard you work,” Lagomarsino said. “Now you want to add more work to your duties?”

And Lagomarsino pointed out that if a decision made by the Planning Commission is appealed, the appeal is heard by the City Council: “If you decide to get rid of the Planning Commission, how are you going to handle the appeal process?”

Bill Van Duker previously served on the Planning Commission and said that in addition to reviewing and either approving or denying certain categories of projects, the commission also serves as a first review for projects that must come to City Council for approval.

“The projects are heard and often refined at the Planning Commission level and very often allow for the clearing up of misunderstandings on the part of neighbors before the project comes to the council,” Van Duker said. “…I don’t recall hearing of any you councilmembers complain because you don’t have enough work to do, and if you abolish the Planning Commission, your work will certainly increase.”

Albert Fox submitted a written comment, calling the idea of dissolving the Planning Commission an “ill-planned assault upon the freedom of the community to have input on important development within the city or changes in the various city codes and regulations. … These commissions serve as a check and balance to public planning and land use.”

Mayor Daniels said he wanted to clarify that City Council “has not taken on an effort to eliminate the Planning Commission.” He explained that one member requested the issue be added to the agenda and another member offered a second to allow for the conversation. Daniels said that didn’t indicate support or opposition to the idea, simply a willingness to allow for discussion.

Councilmember Porsche Middleton said that as a prior member of the Planning Commission, she knows firsthand about the vital role of the commission. Middleton said she seconded the request so Vice-Mayor Karpinski-Costa “could have her voice heard and be able to see why this is so important to our community.” She said to those in attendance, “Thank you for giving us grace to have this conversation in public in the way that it’s meant to be done.”

Karpinski-Costa said that she also served on the Planning Commission in the past but she brought this item up for discussion because Citrus Heights is now mostly built out, so she doesn’t think the commission is currently necessary: “There’s hardly any projects left for the Planning Commission to have a final decision on.”

After reviewing the last two and a half years of Commission meeting agendas, she said they had only 14 meetings during that time, because there was often nothing on the agenda for them to review or discuss.

Councilmember Schaefer, who also served on the commission, said it provides another opportunity for individuals to share their input: “That’s a responsibility that we have as a council to keep that engagement, to heighten that engagement, to the greatest degree that we can. … There’s no way I can support this.”

Karpinski-Costa said, “I’ll withdraw my motion to abolish.”

Daniels asked if there were any motions to fill the Planning Commission vacancy. Schaefer nominated Kelsey Nelson and the motion was approved 3-2, with Karpinski-Costa and Middleton dissenting.