The purpose of the plan is to evaluate crash trends, identity significant roadway safety needs and establish a framework for pursuing safety improvements and grant funding. Photo designed by Magnific

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - At the Oct. 28 meeting of the Citrus Heights City Council, staff from the general services department presented an update on the Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) adopted by council earlier this year. 

The purpose of the plan is to evaluate crash trends, identity significant roadway safety needs and establish a framework for pursuing safety improvements and grant funding. 

From 2020 through 2024, there were 3,584 crashes on public roads in the city; 14 resulted in fatalities and 114 in severe injuries. More than half the crashes only resulted in property damage with no reported injuries. 

The most common causes of crashes that resulted in injury or death were driving under the influence (25%), driving at unsafe speeds (16 %), and traffic signals and signs violations (11%). 

The highest number of total crashes occurred where Greenback Lane intersects with Auburn Boulevard, Sunrise Boulevard and San Juan Avenue, with rear-end crashes due to aggressive driving as the most common cause. 

Pedestrian involved crashes were most common at Greenback Lane and San Juan Avenue, Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard, and Sunrise Boulevard and Old Auburn Road. 

To reduce crashes, the plan includes countermeasures such as rapid-flashing beacons, speed feedback signs, roundabouts, increased roadway lighting, upgraded warning signs, reflective stop signs, reflective backplates at traffic signals, etc. 

The city also plans to implement the Old Auburn Road safety improvements, with buffered bike lanes, signalized right-turn slip lanes and coordinated traffic signals.  

Approving the updated LRSP ensures the city remains eligible for grant funding, and staff are currently applying for the Highway Safety Improvement (HSIP) Cycle 15 funding. 

Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff thanked staff for the report and said the reflective backplates at stoplights have significantly improved signal visibility. 

The council considered a second amended Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City of Citrus Heights and the City of Folsom, the City of Sacramento and the County of Sacramento – operating as the Sacramento Groundwater Authority (SGA). 

The JPA was established in 1998 to manage, protect and sustain the groundwater resources in Sacramento County north of the American River.

The SGA’s 16-member board of directors includes representatives from the coordinating agencies as well as local municipal water agencies that pump groundwater. 

Currently, Citrus Heights’ appointed representative on the SGA board is Caryl Sheehan (with Raymond Riehle as the alternate) from the Citrus Heights Water District (CHWD). Appointments are for four-year terms. 

The SGA board identified several administrative updates to the JPA, which was last updated in 2002. 

Most significant is the dissolution of the Del Paso Manor Water District (DPMWD), which was absorbed into the Sacramento Suburban Water District in 2025. This has left a vacancy on the board that can’t be filled since the entity no longer exists. The proposed update would remove DPMWD as a member and remove the associated seat. 

Other changes would align the JPA powers with those outlined in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) of 2014, which gave groundwater sustainability agencies certain powers to manage groundwater use. 

Another revision hopes to address the occasional delay in appointing new board members when a vacancy occurs. 

During public comments, Citrus Heights resident Ted Costa said he served on the CHWD board for 30 years, and he opposed Citrus Heights appointing their SGA representative from within the CHWD. He said it’s usually a councilmember or county supervisor who serves on the SGA board. He recommended the council appoint one of their own members to the SGA in the future, in order to better represent Citrus Heights’ interests. He said, “We’re talking about billions of dollars of water” that needs to be managed. 

The council had additional questions about this item, and the consensus was to continue the discussion at a future meeting. 

Finally, in February the council established a Youth Advisory Commission (YAC), which would allow local youth to participate in the governance of Citrus Heights by making recommendations to the council. 

To be eligible for the commission, youth must be residents of Citrus Heights in grades 8-12. There were 13 available positions, and applications were accepted from June through September. The initial term is for one year, with the option for re-appointment to a second year of service. 

The city received nine applications, but one was not a Citrus Heights resident, so eight were recommended for appointment: Abigail Davis, Kameron Edwards, Emelin Hernandez Serrano, Charles Howland, Tyler Panag, Lilliana Perez-Salazar, Hana Robbins and Gabreal Sansing. 

Councilmember Jayna Karpinski-Costa suggested all nine should be accepted, since the non-resident did attend school in Citrus Heights. 

Councilmember Tim Schaefer thought the residency requirement was reasonable. Mayor Lopez-Taff agreed, stating that residents would have a different viewpoint. 

The council voted 2-1 to approve the YAC appointments, with Karpinski-Costa dissenting and Councilmembers Porsche Middleton and Kelsey Nelson absent. 

City Attorney Ryan Jones said resolutions, ordinances or expenditures of money require a council majority of at least three members in favor, but in this case a simple majority of those in attendance can pass the motion. 

So, the YAC appointments were approved. 

The next regular meeting of the Citrus Heights City Council was scheduled for Nov. 11, but due to the observance of Veterans Day, it will instead be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10.