This is moving closer to becoming a reality and, if approved, will be the better for the new city and its residents, and for the region as one of its members becomes revitalized.
Road map to cityhood: Citrus Heights sets example for Arden Arcade
By Ed Fletcher - efletcher@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The plan called for holiday singing, hot chocolate and outdoor merriment before the official lighting of the Citrus Heights Christmas tree.
Mother Nature had other plans. A steady rain drove the annual tree ceremony into the carpeted confines of City Hall last week. But the celebration went on, capped by a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Citrus Heights has been a city for just 10 years, but its leaders are already good at creating silver linings – whether improvising on a tree-lighting ceremony, or thriving with a reserve fund approaching $35 million while surrounding municipalities suffer in budget deficits.
While most cities bank on taxes and fees from new developments to fill civic piggy banks, Citrus Heights prospers for now by focusing on existing business districts and neighborhoods.
Citrus Heights' successful launch as a city may well serve as a template for organizers working to turn the unincorporated Arden and Arcade neighborhoods of Sacramento County into the city of Arden Arcade.
"They have been able to be very efficient and effective with their budgets. They have done everything right," Joel Archer, chairman of the incorporation committee, recently told a handful of residents. "I see no reason Arden Arcade can't be like Citrus Heights."
Archer makes the Arden Arcade-Citrus Heights comparison for good reason.
Arden Arcade has more in common with Citrus Heights than any other Sacramento County city. Unlike Folsom, Elk Grove or Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights and Arden Arcade have no geographic room to grow. Citrus Heights is 14.4 square miles. Arden Arcade, as proposed, would be 13.3 square miles. Citrus Heights' primary tax generator is Sunrise Marketplace, while Arden Arcade boasts nearly two dozen automobile dealerships along Fulton Avenue.
