CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the Aug. 13 meeting, the Citrus Heights City Council considered amendments to the municipal code regarding nuisance shopping carts and fireworks. 

The existing ordinance governing nuisance shopping carts only covered the unauthorized removal of a cart from a business. The proposed change would add language clarifying that both unauthorized removal and possession of a shopping cart are code violations. 

Mayor Karpinski-Costa asked how much the fine was for this violation and Police Chief Alex Turcotte clarified that these particular violations are not handled administratively by the city. Rather, they go through the court system, with violations charged as a misdemeanor, which can be reduced to an infraction or a fine. 

An amendment to the social host ordinance for illegal fireworks would impose a $5,000 penalty for the third and subsequent violations in the same year, which was already directed by council but was omitted from the code in error. The violation was also recommended to be changed from a misdemeanor to an infraction. 

Clarifying language would be added to specify that juveniles who commit firework violations are not financially responsible and the parents would be obligated to cover the fines. 

The sale of “Safe and Sane” fireworks was allowed under the city’s existing municipal code starting at noon June 28 through 11 p.m. July 5. The proposed amendment would change the end date to July 4, with daily sales hours from 9 a.m.to 9p.m.. 

Mayor Karpinski-Costa supported the change to the sale hours for legal fireworks but she recommended maintaining the noon start time on June 28 since that is consistent with Sacramento County’s guidelines. The council voted unanimously to approve all the proposed code amendments. 

A potential work plan was considered for the possible annexation of an area just outside the city limits at Fair Oaks Boulevard and Madison Avenue. 

In 2022, the city looked at five areas for potential annexation but the areas were expected to have a negative fiscal impact on the city. Annexation of this particular corner was estimated to have a negative annual impact of $5,500 to $16,000, mostly due to poor road conditions on Madison Avenue and the costs for necessary repaving. 

However, the county is now planning to repave that section of Madison Avenue in the next couple of years, which could change the fiscal impact of annexation.  

The 5.4-acre area has a total of five parcels with three owner groups. The area includes a multi-story commercial building, a commercial retail center with various restaurants and businesses and a multi-family residential development. 

Annexing this corner would create straight boundary lines on that side of the city. It would also give the city more control over that intersection, which is viewed as a significant gateway into Citrus Heights.          

Potential benefits of annexation for the parcel owners could include quicker emergency services response time, access to the city’s business development and property improvement programs, more direct representation in local polices, and streamlined local permitting and zoning processes. 

Staff recommended sending a letter to gauge the interest of the property owners for a potential annexation. If there is owner interest, then the city would have to conduct a municipal services review and amend its sphere of influence before undertaking the official annexation process through Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) and negotiating a property tax-sharing agreement with Sacramento County. 

The whole process includes various associated costs and staff time, so City Manager Ashley Feeney said it would be best to determine if there is owner interest before making any other investments.

“There’s quite a bit of effort around an annexation,” said Feeney. 

The council members agreed that they should move forward by sending a letter to the owners. Owner meetings would be attended by the council’s ad hoc finance committee, which would then report back to the full council. 

The next Citrus Heights City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27.