Citrus Heights City Manager Ashley Feeney’s work has delivered results in economic development, community growth and government efficiency. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – During the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Aug. 20, keynote speaker Citrus Heights City Manager Ashley Feeney highlighted the community's recent achievements and outlined plans for further development.

Feeney, introduced by Shelly Martin as a “municipal leader with extensive expertise in strategic planning and executive management,” spoke about the city's commitment to enhancing services and fostering economic vibrancy.

“The people that make up our city are what make it special,” Feeney said when referring to the importance of teamwork in the city. “Nothing happened in the city without a team and that team includes our city staff, our police department, metro fire and all the other districts we have that help deliver services to the community.”

Feeney outlined the city’s mission to provide high-quality, responsive services and its vision to be the city of choice for residents and businesses. He discussed core values such as diversity, integrity and innovation, and the importance of strategic planning in achieving the city’s goals.

The city’s three-year goals focus on maintaining fiscal stability, enhancing public infrastructure, diversifying the economy, preserving public safety and increasing community vibrancy. Feeney mentioned several success stories, including the approval of an incentive grant for Darkheart Brewery and the upcoming arrival of HomeGoods and Bearpaw Outlet.

“Fostering and nurturing our existing businesses while also looking at new businesses we can bring into our city is essential,” Feeney said. “Getting businesses to open here maintains and enhances fiscal stability and a vibrant community. Those things are like rocks in a pond. They come in, hit, cause ripples and has impacts on adjacent properties.”

Feeney also touched on the city’s approach to business attraction and public safety. He praised recent efforts to combat organized retail theft, including securing a $2.7-million state grant. Additionally, improvements in street maintenance and infrastructure were highlighted, with an increase from two to 52 lane miles of street resurfacing per year.

Feeney’s presentation also highlighted community beautification efforts, including the work of the Beautification Crew, which collaborates with the Police Department to clean up unlawful camps, address illegal dumping, and remove trash and litter. He also spotlighted the Citrus Heights Cares campaign, an initiative that invites community members to participate and engage in community beautification together by proactively reporting issues, maintaining residential and commercial properties, and chipping in to make the community better.  

“We strive to be a community of facilitators versus regulators,” Feeney assured attendees. “If you have an issue that you are struggling with, please reach out to us.”

Citrus Heights communications officer Marisa Brown also outlined some of the city’s strategies to support businesses in the community. Emphasizing the city’s commitment to fostering business growth, Brown highlighted the role of social media in promoting local enterprises.

“Social media highlights of businesses are shared with the city's 8,500 followers across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, helping to connect businesses with the community,” Brown said. “If you want your business to be highlighted, business highlight interest forms are available and we would love to share it with the community.”

Additionally, the city provides a monthly economic development business bulletin, offering valuable resources and updates from the city. Brown encouraged businesses to participate in city events, where they can showcase their services and engage with residents. The city also offers grants and incentives programs for local businesses and Brown highlighted the Volunteer Hub; an online platform designed to help businesses source volunteers.

The next Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Citrus Heights Community Center, 6300 Fountain Square Drive. The event will feature Police Chief Alex Turcotte as the guest speaker.