Wheelbarrows full of a Citrus Heights special coconut crown bark blend were disbursed around landscaping beds on the city grounds facing the nearby mail U.S. Post Office leading back towards the entrance to the city’s general service department’s main service yard in the back of the building where a public sandbag station was recently set up. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan


CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – More than 50 volunteers gathered on Saturday morning, Oct. 17th on the grounds of Citrus Heights City Hall at 6360 Fountain Square Drive on Fountain Square to refresh landscape bark and plant fresh flowers in front of the main entrance to the building as part of “Chip-In” event, led by the city’s general services department (GSD).

Over the past three years, the city’s “Chip-In” volunteer event has revitalized landscaping in multiple locations across the city of Citrus Heights. The effort is coordinated by Armando Velasquez of the city’s construction and maintenance department.

Past projects have included the revitalization of landscaping beds along both sides of the length of Fountain Square Drive, around the palm trees in the roundabout near Van Maren Park, and the grounds surrounding the Citrus Heights Police Station.

Two new trees, an Arizona blue oak and a California live oak were previously planted by the city’s general service department before the start of Saturday event in circular block berms which guide traffic into each of the building’s two main parking lots. 

Saturday morning, young children and their parents planted fresh flowers in the beds around each new tree and in front of the curved block marquee sign facing Fountain Square Drive.

Wheelbarrows full of a Citrus Heights special coconut crown bark blend were disbursed around landscaping beds on the city grounds facing the nearby mail U.S. Post Office leading back towards the entrance to the city’s general service department’s main service yard in the back of the building where a public sandbag station was recently set up.

Saturday morning, young children and their parents planted fresh flowers in the beds around each new tree and in front of the curved block marquee sign facing Fountain Square Drive. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Ahead of a forecast record-strength El Nino winter, the city of Citrus Heights is expanding free sandbag distribution to residents. New weekend hours will give residents who can’t make it during the week a chance to pick up sandbags.

During the week, residents can pick up sandbags at City Hall Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents are limited to a total of 10 bags and must bring identification or a utility bill for verification of Citrus Heights residency.

Last Saturday’s special event was the city’s second “chip-in” beautification event held at Citrus Heights City Hall this year.

Earlier this spring, volunteers and city GSD staff braved overcast morning skies to mark Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, planting a young live oak just outside the city planning department’s front window.

Volunteers also spread wheelbarrows of fresh bark across the landscaping beds that surround the City Hall fountain and line the front of the city council chamber’s main wall facing Fountain Square Drive.

A new mural, painted in the exterior cover near the front entrance this summer, with the wording, “Welcome to Citrus Heights - Established in 1997” recognizes the city’s year of incorporation in white letters on a prominent black municipal-style shield.

Volunteers from four different local churches, including The Heights Church, Foundation Church and the Church of Latter-Day Saints arrived early for a safety brief before taking shovels and wheelbarrows in hand and getting to work.

City officials, including Casey Kempenaar, city community development director, along with his family were also among the volunteers. Regina Cave, the city’s general service director, welcomed student volunteers from Mesa Verde and San Juan High School who also came to pitch in for their community and the local sponsors of the bi-annual public event who help make it such a success.

Many who participated had registered for the annual Earth Day “Chip In” event through the city’s online volunteer hub which networks volunteers with opportunities to serve within their community, Velasquez said.

“The city’s annual “Chip-In Days” is designed to foster community pride while enhancing the beauty of Citrus Heights’ public spaces,” Velasquez said.

“We pick a different location every year throughout the city,” Velasquez said. “All of the materials were provided by our sponsors, and no city funds are involved (in this annual project).”

Many who participated had registered for the annual Earth Day “Chip In” event through the city’s online volunteer hub which networks volunteers with opportunities to serve within their community, Velasquez said. Photo by Thomas J. Sullivan

Past “Chip-In” days saw volunteers revitalize the grounds of Citrus Heights Police Headquarters, a substantial portion of Fountain Square Drive near the Citrus Heights City Hall, the frontage shoulder of Auburn Road from the Stock Ranch marquee sign heading toward Sylvan Middle School and the traffic roundabout on Fountain Square Drive at Stock Ranch Road across from Van Maren Park.

By 12:30 p.m. much of their work was done, and the many “chip-in” volunteers who each participated enjoyed a pizza lunch, compliments of the city.