CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights City Council on June 13 considered the renewal of the Sunrise Marketplace Property and Business Improvement District (PBID), which was nearing the end of its current term.

The Sunrise Marketplace Property and Business Improvement District is a benefit assessment district that levies an additional tax on property owners in the business district and uses proceeds to provide those businesses with benefits such as maintenance, improvements, security, marketing and special events.

The improvement district helps increase sales within the business district, attract new tenants, lower property vacancies and increase property values. The Sunrise Marketplace Property and Business Improvement District has been renewed every term since it was established in 2000. 

For each proposed renewal, ballots are sent to every property owner within the Property and Business Improvement District area and city staff tabulates the votes. If the majority is in favor, City Council can approve the renewal and levy the assessments.

There is no fiscal impact to the city, but if approved, the Sunrise MarketPlace Property and Business Improvement District would generate approximately $882,637 in assessment revenue each year for district enhancement programs, economic development, and related policy development and administration services above what is provided by the city.

The most recent Property and Business Improvement District term was for three years but the proposed renewal is for a 10-year term that would end in December 2034, at which time another ballot process would be required for renewal.

Councilmember Tim Schaefer clarified to the public that the Property and Business Improvement District provides the business district with marketing, holiday decorations and programs, private security and blight removal, making the area’s businesses safer and more enjoyable to visit, which increases sales.

“This is the owners of the properties in Sunrise MarketPlace voting to tax themselves. That’s pretty remarkable,” Schaefer said. “… I can’t say enough how important the PBID is to the city.”

The ballots were tabulated and 95.3% were in support of renewing the improvement district.

“Clearly the businesses see the advantage of the PBID, and so do we,” Vice-Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa said.

City Council voted unanimously to approve the Property and Business Improvement District renewal and levy the assessments.

Mayor Bret Daniels thanked the property owners: “The PBID is significant to the success of the area, which is significant to the success of Citrus Heights.”

City Council then heard an update about this year’s Stars and Stripes, the city’s second annual event to celebrate Independence Day. The festivities will take place on Saturday, June 29 at Van Maren Park, starting at 6 p.m. Live music by dance band Pop Fiction with hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The kids’ zone will be open until 8:30 PM, offering face painting, games, and activities. The celebration will conclude with fireworks show at 9:45 p.m.

Staff said the event was very popular last year, so they expect an even greater number of attendees this year. There will be more food trucks this year, free water will be available throughout the event, and Metro Fire Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be onsite to provide first aid if needed.

This year, the event has community sponsors that will have booths promoting their businesses or organizations. Event sponsors include Republic Services, YMCA, Sunrise MarketPlace, San Juan Unified School District, Stones Gambling Hall, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), Herc Rentals and Arrow Construction.

Community partners Police Activities League and Sunrise Recreation and Park District will host the kids’ zone, and Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA) will provide a bicycle valet in front of City Hall so attendees are encouraged to bike to the event.

There are also a variety of general parking lots available around the event space, and golf cart shuttles will provide pick-ups and drop-offs. Full details and a map of the event space and parking areas is available online at www.citrusheights.net/1338/Stars-Stripes-Celebration.

Councilmember MariJane Lopez-Taff was appreciative about the addition of event sponsors this year: “Thank you for always keeping our finances top of mind.”

Mayor Daniels said, “This is big. … I’m so extremely excited that this event’s going to happen again.”

City Council also heard an update on the city’s recent partnership with the Sacramento County Department of Homeless Services and Housing to deliver a street outreach program for homeless individuals in Citrus Heights to replace the city’s prior navigator program.

The county contracts with Community HealthWorks to provide Citrus Heights with the equivalent of one full-time employee to serve homeless individuals in the city. Services include emergency shelter, supportive housing or permanent housing, as well as providing clients with food, clothing and hygiene items. Clients also receive help with accessing supportive services, medical and mental health care, and substance abuse treatment; obtaining government benefits, ID cards, and transportation to appointments; and help with resumes and job applications.

This program started last October and is funded through Sacramento County’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation for district-directed funding. A total of $344,836 has been awarded for this program through the end of December 2025. The city will be responsible for securing funding to cover the contract costs starting in 2026, if they wish to continue the program.

A Community HealthWorks representative said that the full-time equivalent employee is split between two Community Health Workers who each work 20 hours per week in Citrus Heights at full days on Mondays and Tuesdays and half days on Fridays.

The program currently has 57 clients enrolled and 24 individuals have been housed, seven in permanent housing and 17 in shelters or transitional housing.

Every two years, Sacramento County conducts a Point-In-Time (PIT) Count to estimate the number of homeless individuals in the county. On one night in January, volunteers attempt to contact as many homeless people as possible. In 2022, the Point-In-Time Count found 89 homeless persons in Citrus Heights, while this year’s count found just 62. Since this count happens on one night by volunteers who might not know the area, however, there are concerns about the count’s accuracy because the count can affect the amount of federal funding a jurisdiction receives for homeless services.

The Citrus Heights Police Department also conducts its own count over a two-week period each year in March. In 2024, the Police Department counted 108 homeless individuals, which is a 14% increase over its count in 2023.

Councilmember Schaefer said he was frustrated it took so long to get a report on how many homeless individuals there are in the city. He said that City Council “needs to make decisions about future funding and it’s hard to set policy without knowing how many people need services.”

“We’re looking for accountability in this process. … How are we spending this money? … How do we make this money go as far as we can?” Schaefer said.

This was an informational item and no City Council action was required.

The next Citrus Heights City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. June 27 at City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Drive.