INCLUDED IN THIS E-NEWSLETTER:

•City Budget and Water Audit

•2008 Screen on the Green

•Ben Ali Street lighting Project

•McKinley Park Irrigation Improvement Project

•Tree Foundation Honored at U.S. Conference of Mayors (from Constance Crawford, Sacramento Tree Foundation)

•Mercy/SHPS Construction Update

•Sutter Master Plan Update

•Second Saturday Shuttle

•Code Enforcement Status – Online or by Telephone

•Development Services Department Information Access

•Police Department: The Crime and Case Log

•Fight the Bite

•Sacramento Old City Association (SOCA) Home Tour – September 21st

•Friends of Grant Park Summer Fun

•Urban Farm Stand – J Neely Johnson Park

•Certified Farmer’s Markets Open in May

•Neighborhood Association News

City Budget and Water Audit

On June 17, 2008, the City Council adopted the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008. It is no secret that due to the economic downturn and continuing decline in property and sales tax revenues, there is a growing gap in the City’s budget. Efforts to close a projected $58 million gap in fiscal year 2008/09 and beyond involve a variety of different measures aimed at reducing expenditures and increasing funding sources. The City Council needed to make some tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. All City departments were asked to make downward adjustments in their budgets, some by as much as 20%. Because public safety is a priority, the Council directed the Departments Police and Fire to prepare an 8% reduction plan while other departments were reduced by 20%. However, after further review by the Council and after hearing public testimony, the Council decided to reduce the Fire Department budget cuts to only 4%. Additionally, the City worked with the Library Joint Powers Authority to have no reduction in library hours. To help offset the budget, the City Council approved using $20 million in one-time reserves to balance the budget.

On June 24, 2008, the City Council agreed to delay until July 22, 2008, a proposal to increase residential and commercial water rates by 3.7%. This increase is slated to pay for the city’s water meter retrofit program which is mandated by State law. The delay is in response to a recent report to Council by Auditor Marty Kolkin that revealed many problems within the Department of Utilities including competitive bidding, and missing water meters. Many corrective procedures have taken place and an ongoing investigation is occurring by an independent firm to assist with reconciliation of the actual meters in the ground to determine the number of meters that may be missing, replaced or not recorded properly.

2008 Screen on the Green

Saturday, August 2nd – Charlotte’s Web (2006) at Grant Park

Saturday, August 9th – Hairspray (2007) at East Portal Park

Saturday, August 16th – Goonies at Babcock Park

Saturday, August 23rd – Breakfast at Tiffany’s at Glen Hall Park

All movies begin at Sundown

Ben Ali Street Lighting Project

I am pleased to report that Phase 1 construction on the Ben Ali Street lighting project began in late May and is scheduled for completion in early August. In early September, Phase 2 will begin and is scheduled for completion by December 1, 2008. In all, 102 streetlights will be added to the neighborhood for a cost of approximately $800,000. Streetlights provide several benefits to a neighborhood including pedestrian and traffic safety as well as lower crime rates. Congratulations Ben Ali Neighborhood!

McKinley Park Irrigation Improvement Project

Construction has begun on the irrigation system in the northwest quadrant of McKinley Park (existing soccer field). Construction will take about sixty days to complete. During this time, the soccer field will be closed but he jog trail will remain open. This project is made possible through an $800k Proposition 50 Urban Water Use Efficiency Program grant. The project is part of an on-going effort to replace the aging galvanized irrigation system. Additionally, we anticipate that this will improve overall water use efficiency by reducing applied water, overspray and runoff. For more information, contact Dennis Day at 808-7633.

Tree Foundation Honored at U.S. Conference of Mayors (from Constance Crawford, Sacramento Tree Foundation)

The U.S. Conference of Mayors® and The Home Depot® Foundation announced the Sacramento Tree Foundation and New Jersey Tree Foundation as winners of the third annual Awards of Excellence for Community Trees at The Conference of Mayors 76th Annual Meeting in Miami. The grant awards program was created to showcase the success and benefits of public/private partnerships in developing healthy communities through the strategic use of trees. The City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Tree Foundation won first place and $75,000 in the Large City Category for its Greenprint Initiative, a regional partnership between government agencies, nonprofit organizations and businesses to increase investment in urban tree planting, urban forest management and community education. This initiative is a critical component to the region’s sustainability and livability goals. Elected officials throughout the Sacramento region have participated in the initiative and have shared best practices, developed community partnerships and committed to planting five million new trees.

For more information and to view case studies of past award recipients, visit www.homedepotfoundation.org/award_winners.html ( https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=253191 ).

Mercy/SHPS Construction Update

39th Street Utilities Work between H Street and J Street will continue through the summer with trenches along 39th Street. Traffic on 39th Street will remain open but at times may be limited to one lane. Mercy will soon begin underground utilities work on the hospital’s south parking lot as well as other on-site work throughout this summer. The work focused on I Street, 39th Street, and Spine Street will take place during the school summer vacation. Some Mercy employees are using off-site parking and taking the new Capital City Hospital Shuttle to Mercy. Remember that this Shuttle is FREE to the community and runs Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., every 30 minutes to both the 29th Street and 39th Street Light Rail Stations. Mercy’s shuttle is part of the “Capital City Hospital Shuttle” program along with UCD Med Center and Sutter Health. Fore more information, visit www.mercy general.org.

MGH’s expanded free light rail shuttle service was the highlight of Mercy’s 2nd annual East Sacramento and Mercy General Hospital (MGH) Spare the Air Transportation Fair that took place on Saturday, June 28th. Despite the smoky air, about 200 people attended the event that provided information about commute and transportation alternatives, and air quality promotions for MGH employees and community members. Families and friends enjoyed free bicycle tune-ups, ice cream, lemonade, and the quaint sounds of the Sacramento Banjo Band. A majority of event attendees arrived on bicycles.

The next Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, August 12th, 5:30 p.m., at the Sacred Heart Parish School gym.

 

Sutter Master Plan Construction Update

Framing of the building’s outer walls continues on the Sutter Medical Foundation Medical Office Building and Energy Center (L Street to Capitol Avenue/27th to 28th Street). Construction will continue on the 28th Street tunnel, which will link the Sutter Medical Foundation Medical Office Building, the Sutter Cancer Center (Buhler Building), and the Women’s and Children’s Center. Renovations continue inside Sutter General Hospital, including the construction of the Information Technology closets that are critical to the success of the phasing plan. Traffic controls around the site will remain in place until the vault work is complete and will continue through the construction of the pediatric emergency department that has begun on the ground floor at the southeast corner of the hospital. The L Street tunnel work will be completed very shortly. Construction activities for the Women & Children’s Center’s utility infrastructure should begin within the next few months, pending on the approval of changes to its design. The first four homebuyers have closed on their homes and are beginning to move in to the

Loftworks Sutter Brownstones. For more information about the residences, please visit Sutter Brownstones Friday-Sunday from 11 am - 6 pm or online at www.loftworks.biz. Steel erection is complete and glazing began in mid May on the Loftworks Office Building. Building completion is scheduled for August 2008. For construction questions or concerns please contact Gurjeet Kaur Toor at (916) 383-3333.

Second Saturday Shuttle

Vice Mayor Cohn and the Midtown Business Association jointly sponsored a new shuttle bus system that runs every 15 minutes from 6 to 10pm on Second Saturdays. The route goes from 16th to 28th Streets along J and L Streets. The shuttle buses started at the June 14th Second Saturday and will run at least through the summer months. There is some discussion about making these shuttles permanent or even building a streetcar extension from Downtown to Midtown one day. It’s a great way to get around without causing traffic jams. You can walk, bike or park in the State Garage at 17th and L, which the City operates on weeknights and weekends for a flat $2.00 rate. A great deal.

Code Enforcement Status – Online or by Telephone

You can now check the status of code cases you have reported online or call 808-5404. Please be sure to provide the case number or exact property address, or the address that is related to the problem. Please keep in mind that cases are read as they are entered, therefore you may need to switch "Street" with "ST", etc. to find an existing case online.

Please visit http://www.cityofsacramento.org/code/check-cases-online.html . For more information, please contact Larry Cyrus at 808-8147 or lcyrus@cityofsacramento.org

 

Development Services Department Information Access

The Development Services Department has launched a new map tool on the City website at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/reference/maps/active-projects/ . The purpose of this tool is to allow the public greater access to information regarding current planning projects that have been submitted to the City of Sacramento. Users can enter information into the web page to see very specific information regarding projects based on the

criteria that is entered. Users can also click the link "show all projects on a map" to see all of the active planning projects Citywide; and by clicking on the project icon additional information on each project will be displayed. The map was developed using the existing Google Map program. This platform was selected as it is readily available to all internet users and is simple to use. The Google platform provides an enhanced experience allowing the project to seen in a traditional map view, or in the increasing popular satellite view. This gives the viewer a clearer picture of not only where the project will be but the current surrounding and neighborhoods of the proposed project. The map will be updated monthly with Current Planning projects. Design Review and Preservation Projects will be added prior to the end of the year. For more information, please call Wendy Klock-Johnson, Support and Information Manager (916) 808-5099.

 

Police Department: The Crime and Case Log

The Crime and Case Log is up and running on the Police's web blog. You can now access daily crime reports, city-wide, using the blog. This is a work in progress and the Police Department is soliciting any comments and suggestions. Please go to http://blog.sacpd.org/?cat=21 to access the blog.

 

Fight the Bite

Remember the 7Ds: DRAIN any standing water that may produce mosquitoes. Swimming pools with stagnant water are perfect breeding places, producing thousands of mosquitoes that infect an entire neighborhood. DAWN and DUSK are times to avoid being outdoors. These are the times when mosquitoes are most active. DRESS appropriately by wearing long sleeves and pants when outside. DEFEND yourself against mosquitoes by using an effective insect repellent, such as DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus. Make sure you follow label directions! DOOR and window screens should be in good working condition. This will prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. District personnel are available to address any mosquito problem you may be experiencing by calling 1-800-429-1022 or visiting FIGHTtheBITE.NET.

The State of California is asking for our help to identify “hot spots” of West Nile activity by reporting all dead birds and tree squirrels to the California Department of Public Health “West Nile Virus and Dead Bird Hotline” at 877-968BIRD (2473) or online at westnile.ca.gov

Friends of Grant Park Summer Fun

Mark your calendar for Children's Music Day on July 25th,

Screen on the Green - Charlotte's Web August 2nd and an Ice-cream Social on August 5th. For more information on any of our events, please contact Cynthia Torres at friendsofgrantpark@yahoo.com or at 492-0470. All events sponsored by Friends of Grant Park are free and all are welcome.

Sacramento Old City Association (SOCA) Home Tour – September 21st

SOCA Home Tour will take place on Sunday, September 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year the tour will feature old and new residences in the Winn Park and Capitol Avenue Neighborhood focusing on the district bordered by N, K, 22nd and 27th Streets. There also will be a street fair with artisans, entertainment and historic exhibits. Updates about the SOCA Annual Home Tour including ticket information will be posted on the SOCA website at http://sacoldcity.org

Urban Farm Stand – J Neely Johnson Park

Tuesdays from 4:00 pm. to 7:00 pm. at J Neely Johnson Park, F Street at 11th Street.

The Urban Farm Stand is a joint project of Alchemist Community Development Corporation and Sacramento Mutual Housing Association. The Urban Farm Stand project is funded, in part, by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF), to make positive changes in the health of the area's residents. TCWF improves the health of the people of California by providing grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease-prevention. Partial funding for the Urban Farm Stand project is provided by the First 5 Sacramento Commission which uses Proposition 10 (tobacco tax) funds to support the healthy development of children age zero to five. Additional information about the First 5 Sacramento Commission is online at www.first5sacramento.net or by calling 916-876-5865.

Certified Farmers Markets Open

EVERY TUESDAY

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Roosevelt Park, 9th & P Streets

Open May 6th to October 28th

EVERY TUESDAY

10:00 am. – 2:00 p.m.

Fremont Park, 16th & P Streets

Open May 6th to October 28th

EVERY WEDNESDAY

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Chavez Plaza, 10th & J Streets

Open May 7th to October 29th.

EVERY THURSDAY

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Plaza, 4th & J Streets

Open May 1st to October 20th

Neighborhood & Business Association News

Alkali & Mansion Flats Historic Neighborhood Association. Next meeting: Thursday, July 10th, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Boys & Girls Club, 1117 G Street... For more information contact Sean Wright at (916) 806-8198.

Area 1 NRT – Next meeting: July 9th at 6:00 p.m. @ Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street.

Area 1 NAG – Next NAG meeting: Monday, July 21st, Pizza at 6:15 p.m. at Hart Senior Center.

Area 4 Neighborhood Leadership – Next meeting: Monday, September 8, 7:00 p.m. at Robertson Community Center.

Area 4 NRT – Monday, July 23rd, 6:00 p.m. at Robertson Community Center.

East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce: Membership luncheon - Second Wednesday of each month at various locations, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Cost $15. For details call Lisa Schmidt at (916) 457-2721.

Hagginwood Community Association: Next meeting: Wednesday, September 3rd from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For questions contact: Bill Maynard, Chair, 508-6025, sacgc@ulink.net or Barbara Stanton, Vice Chair, 927-7446, barbs992@earthlink.net.

McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA): Board meeting open to the Public, First Wednesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park. Contact: Patrick Gage at pxg62@yahoo.com

Midtown Business Association (MBA) Board Meeting – Wednesday, July 16th - 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – location TBA.

River Park Neighborhood Association 4th of July Parade and Festival – For more information, visit www.riverparksacramento.net

BOARD & COMMISSION OPENINGS: visit www.cityofsacramento.org

Vice Mayor/Council Member, 3rd District of Sacramento

-Steve Cohn

All site contents exclusive of third-party-generated material are the property of Steve Cohn and may not be used without express written permission. All rights reserved. ©2007 Steve Cohn.