CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the Feb. 12 Citrus Heights City Council meeting, council members considered adopting a 2025-2027 Economic Development Work Plan, which will establish a policy to guide economic development over the next three years.

The work plan provides a structured approach to supporting business growth, revitalizing commercial areas and creating streamlined, business-friendly policies.

Included in the work plan is a Business Attraction Incentive Program, which will provide financial incentives to targeted businesses, such as sit-down dining and entertainment venues, which are top priorities for residents. The incentives will target these high-priority businesses to fill vacant commercial spaces.

Through the Small Business Design Support Program, staff will help small businesses navigate design, zoning and permitting requirements, providing guidance on the process of establishing or expanding operations.

Councilmember Porsche Middleton said that the plan puts the city in a good position to address existing challenges and support new businesses.  

Vice-Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff said she was glad to see that the plan includes small businesses, since it is important to support local entrepreneurs.

Mayor Jayna Karpinski-Costa said she was pleased that the plan is proactive and influenced by community input.

City Council voted unanimously to approve the Economic Development Work Plan.

The council then considered possible options for mediation services to resolve neighbor-to-neighbor disputes within the city. The disputes are often the result of differences of opinion regarding property boundaries, parking issues, shared trees, etc. Currently, these conflicts are handled by whatever city department fields the complaint, whether it’s the police department, code enforcement, or the planning or building department. But most of these disputes are beyond the staff’s ability to resolve and would require the neighbors to undergo a civil judicial case for legal judgement.

To help Citrus Heights residents communicate effectively and resolve these disputes, staff offered two recommendations for mediation services.

Members of the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Problem-Oriented Policing could undertake a mediation training course, either at University of California, Davis for $650 per person or through the Sacramento Mediation Center for $800 per person. The training would enable Problem-Oriented Policing officers to effectively mediate the conflicts, helping the neighbors communicate their perspectives and come to a compromise.

The other option is a one-year pilot program with the Sacramento Mediation Center to provide dispute resolution for Citrus Heights residents. It would cost $25 to open a case and $250 per party for a three-hour session. Staff estimate that mediations could take two sessions to resolve, equaling $500 per party for $1,000 total. The city could cover that cost for the pilot program for approximately 10 disputes during the first year.

During council input, Councilmember Kelsey Nelson suggested that the program could include language that the cost of mediation would need to be repaid if the neighbors don’t abide by the mediated agreement.

Councilmember Tim Schaefer said he liked the idea of investing in additional training for Problem-Oriented Policing officers but he also liked the immediacy of having a group of mediators available to handle disputes.

Councilmember Middleton suggested that only one mediation should be allowed per person per calendar year to ensure that residents don’t take advantage of the program.

Vice-Mayor Lopez-Taff liked the idea of offering this service so residents can avoid legal fees and keep their disputes out of the court system. With the outsourced mediation, Lopez-Taff suggested, the residents should pay the fee up front and the city could reimburse for successful mediations. Lopez-Taff also suggested moving forward with both options so the pilot program can begin while the Problem-Oriented Policing officers undergo mediation training, and then council can evaluate the program after one year.

Mayor Karpinski-Costa also supported the hybrid approach.

Councilmember Nelson agreed, especially since after the Problem-Oriented Policing officers have adequate training, those mediations would not require any additional costs for residents.

Staff was directed to pursue both options for mediation services and mediation training and to bring a proposal back to City Council for approval.

During the Public Comment portion of the meeting, a resident gave her concerns about the poor condition of roadways and the Sunrise Mall. She said the property tax money that the city is now receiving should be “spent on needs, not wants.” She added, “On a personal note, mayor, I would like to say simply, please do better.”

Another resident also directly addressed Mayor Karpinski-Costa. Melissa Hayden, who describes herself as a passionate animal advocate, said she overhead the mayor’s whispered remark after Hayden’s public comment at the Jan. 22 meeting, a remark picked up by an unintentional live microphone.

“To say, in your words, you’re not putting up with my b……t, is the most uncompassionate, unprofessional and demeaning thing you can say to any community member that is doing the best they can to make the city a better place,” Hayden said. “If you truly want to help our community this next year as you are seated as mayor, I truly hope your actions will speak louder than your words.”

Another resident addressed the incident, stating, “Mayor, your comment was appalling. A citizen, who is an active animal welfare advocate in our community, came to you asking for help and collaboration. And your response was to be dismissive, disrespectful, and to say that you’re tired of her, and I quote, ‘b……t.’ What are your constituents supposed to think? How many other derogatory comments have you made about the people who have taken time out of their lives to address this council?”

The mayor did not address the public comments.                                                                

On Feb. 13, however, the mayor issued the following statement to another newspaper, “I regret making the comment and I apologize to her, to my fellow council members, and to the community. Public comment is always welcome, and I have always urged people to come to council and express their views on subjects or call our attention to problems, especially if the issues are not addressed by staff. Again, I apologize for any embarrassment this has brought to my fellow council members, our staff, and the community.”

The next Citrus Heights City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 26.