city views
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winter 2012TRANSCRIPT
WINTER 2012Rancho Cordova
2010
www.cityofranchocordova.orgOn the cover: Community and City Hall Volunteers
Photo by: Paul Junker
Page 2 Thank you Volunteers
Page 3 City Hall Wins National Recognition
Page 4 Let it Snow...
Page 7 Neighborhood Watch
During this holiday season of giving, we want to thank our residents who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference in our community.
City Hall Volunteers
One of the newer ways to volunteer is offer services at City Hall. So far, 26 volunteers have logged more than 650 hours of their personal time to this program. They have worked with PAL and Neighborhood Services, fixing donated bicycles and providing assistance with Code Enforcement inspections. They have provided research for Economic Development, performed license inspections for Finance, and helped with community events in our neighborhoods.
Some volunteer several days a week, others one or two days a month, and some work on an “as needed basis.” Some are volunteering to gain experiencebut most volunteer for the love of their community. They range in age from teenagers to senior citizens. For more information about volunteering at City Hall, contact Lorianne Ulm, the City’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 851-8755.
Why did you become a City Hall volunteer?
“I wanted to have an opportunity to volunteer in the community and become better acquainted with the function and operation of our City. Being able to choose what we want to do is a nice option.” –Marilyn Hamm
“I enjoy working with volunteers who are dedicated in making this a fantastic community.” –Al Rogel
“I chose to volunteer while looking for full-time employment. Volunteering enables me to be professionally engaged and keep my skills sharp.” –Diana Duffy
“I chose to start volunteering because I had to get some community hours done in order to graduate high school—which honestly was the best decision I have ever made in life.” –Serena Shimp
“My reasons for being a volunteer in my neighborhood is my home. I care, keep informed, meet new people, and it gives me a voice. As a group, we can get things done. We help in a small way by being the eyes and ears for both good and not-so good things in our community, especially now during these hard economic times.”
–Jeanette Galloway
What has been one of your favorite volunteer activities?
“I am pleased with starting off Cordova’s graffiti abatement and watching it grow to the point where it is successfully handled by the City and citizens in every neighborhood.” –Karen Teague
“One of my favorite things was to update the email information for new businesses.” –June Goshi
“Through VINS and Cordova Pride, I have been able to give a helping hand to a Cordova resident who needed a yard trimmed, a fence repaired, or graffiti painted over. As a bonus, I have met great people who care about Rancho Cordova as much as I do.”
–Maureen Nelson
Community volunteers come in all shapes, sizes, and ages; but the one thing they all have in common is a BIG HEART!
Thank You to Our Volunteers
On the Hunt for Great VolunteersOn Friday, February 22, the Cordova Community Council will celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding community volunteers during a jungle safari-themed awards event at City Hall. Do you know an extraordinary volunteer effort? The hunt is on for the latest group of community volunteers who deserve special recognition. Contact the Cordova Community Council at 273-5704 for more information.
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The City of Rancho Cordova has been named to the “2012 Best Small Workplaces List” by the Great Place to Work®. It’s the first time in the list’s nine year history that a town or local government organization has been selected. According to the Great Place to Work® officials, competition grows every year and this year’s list represented the best of the best. The selection process included a lengthy entry form, followed up by employee surveys and in-depth questionnaires about company practices.
City management empowers employees to make decisions at the lowest levels, encourages risk, and creates conditions for employees to have peak experiences which lead to peak performances.
Amongst the City’s innovative programs is its Office of New Ideas that vets suggestions from employees and then empowers them to implement selected ideas. “Stock certificates” that signify City ownership are awarded for exceptional works.
Organizations named on the list see many benefits that include better financial performance, less employee turnover, higher levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, more innovative and creative thinking, higher productivity, and enhanced public perception.
National Recognition Given to City Hall’s Work AtmosphereList was published in October 29th Fortune Magazine
On-line Plan Review to Start in 2013Are you planning some home or other major remodeling projects? The City is initiating a new system that will make the plan review process much easier. Expected to start in January, Active Review will enable applicants to electronically submit and receive project plan approval on-line.
After applicants register and submit their plans on the City’s website, City staff will process the application and begin plan review. Applicants will have one-on-one contact with the plans examiner and will be notified of any steps that need to take place to finalize the permit. For more information, contact the City’s Building and Safety Division at 851-8760 or email [email protected].
Holiday Tree Recycling• Remove all ornaments
and other decorations.
• Cut tree into pieces to fit inside your green waste can with the lid shut
or
• Set tree at curbside (next to your trash can) on your regular trash collection day from December 26 through January 10.
The City has released a Mobile App for both the Android and iPhone that empowers and engages residents to report non-emergency problems in our community via an easy-to-use app on their Smartphones.
Residents can use their phones to quickly and easily communicate with City staff about graffiti, potholes, code issues, or requests for information; and they become an active part of the solution by being City Hall’s eyes in the community.
What to do:
• Point, click, and submit real-time information on issues.
• Attach a photograph to illustrate the problem.
• Assign the location of the issue or the software will auto-assign it for you.The application uses GPS technology to automatically provide the problem’s location, simplifying the reporting process for users while increasing the reliability of report location for the service crews.
City staff will receive the case immediately and the reporting resident can then use their phone to check on the status and receive messages from staff, if requested, as the case is processed.
The application and updates are free and available to citizens on www.cityofranchocordova.org. Or on GooglePlay and Itunes, look for My City Hall Rancho Cordova.
New Mobile App Can Be Used for City Issues
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The Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band will present 21 holiday carols and songs at its first-ever Rancho Cordova Christmas concert. Under the direction of Tom Seaton, the 60-member band will play Christmas standards and favorites, including several sing-alongs. Admission to the concert is free of charge, although donations will be accepted.
The music will begin at 7 p.m., but plan on coming a little early to enjoy some sparkling cider and treats before the concert.
The Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band is an all-volunteer organization of accomplished musicians. For more information, visit www.rccband.webs.com.
Holiday Magic, Community Christmas Tree, Santa, and More
Sunday, November 25 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Village Green Park 3141 Bridgeway Drive at Capital Village
Santa’s Rancho Cordova elves are working overtime to make sure that snow will be at the 13th Annual Cordova Community Christmas Tree Lighting. The Cordova Community Council and supporting sponsors have planned an evening of holiday entertainment and activities—and a series of “blizzards.” The forecast is for about eight snowstorms.
The event will offer free hay rides, free steam train rides, free kid’s activities, free music, and free admission. Santa will arrive aboard the Mills One antique fire truck around 5 p.m.
On stage, award-winning children’s magician Trevor Wyatt will conjure up Christmas magic as emcee and the Rancho Cordova River City Concert
Band will fill the air with music. Tree lighting honors at 7:30 p.m. will go to Conrade Mayer, the 2012 “Rancho Cordovan of the Year.”
Numerous local organizations and businesses will be providing free food and drink samples. Available for purchase will be hot kettle corn, Christmas wreaths, glow hats, and toys, all benefitting local non-profit groups. Plus food trucks will be selling holiday fare.
The Cordova Community Christmas Tree Lighting is produced with the support of the City of Rancho Cordova, Cordova Recreation and Park District, SMUD, and a host of businesses.
Other event partners include First Covenant Church, Sacramento Valley Live Steamers, Cordova Church of Christ, and Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova. For more information about the event, contact the Cordova Community Council at 273-5704, or at [email protected].
“An American Christmas Concert”
Monday, December 10 at 7 p.m. First Covenant Church 10933 Progress Court
a t t h e a n n u a l r a n c h o c o r d o v a t r e e l i g h t i n g
Let it Snow Sunday
november 25th
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Deck the Halls and Trees with... The 3rd Annual Rancho Cordova Christmas ornament series returns this holiday season!
The 2012 edition is decorated with the City seal centered inside a holiday wreath. They’re available for $8 each, or three for $20 at the Cordova Community Council office at 2729 Prospect Park Drive.
A limited supply of the first and second in the series—the 2010 All-America City ornament and the 2011 Holiday Ice Rink ornament—are available for $8 each or three for $20, mix and match.
Photo Show at City HallSee the world through the lenses of local artists during “Clicks: An Exhibit of Photography and Digital Art by Rancho Cordova Artists” on display in Rancho Cordova City Hall through January.
“Clicks,” the second show produced by art lovers and the Cordova Community Council, features more than 75 pieces of art, collected from mostly local photographers and others working in digital art media. The exhibit is open during normal City Hall hours.
Are you a Rancho Cordova artist? The Cordova Community Council is building a database of local artists for participation in local arts activities. Submit samples of your artwork at www.cordovacouncil.org, clicking on the “Call for Artists” link and share your talents! Contact Shelly Blanchard at 273-5704 for more information.
Pets Are Lifetime CommitmentsContact Animal Services for Licensing and Spaying Advice
• The best place to adopt a pet is from a shelter or rescue group, you possibly will be saving a life.
• If you are introducing an additional pet into your home make sure you do so slowly. You wouldn’t expect to get along with an unknown guest and hit it off right away.
• Provide a quiet place for your new family member to relax and become familiar with its new surroundings and any current pets. A spare room (bedroom or
bathroom) set up with food, water, and toys works best—add a litter box and
scratching post if the new pet is a kitten.
• If this is your first pet, especially a kitten, consider adopting two. Cats enjoy a playmate, especially in your absence, twice the fun and love.
• Remember, your new family member is just that, “part of the family”...therefore, a “lifetime commitment.”
If you are thinking about bringing a pet into your family this holiday season, make sure everyone is committed to properly take care of a pet. The sight of a two pound ball of fur with big eyes can be irresistible but remember that darling little creature will become a full grown dog or cat with special needs and additional costs.
Required by law for both cats and dogs, pet licensing and rabies vaccination are inexpensive ways to ensure the safety and well being of a pet. Pets can’t speak for themselves but their license tags can.
Many lost animals have been reunited with their owners through their City license tags.
License fees for altered pets are $15 per year. Pet owners who are 65 and older pay $7.50 per pet. The cost for an unaltered pet is $150 per year. The City’s Animal Services staff can help you locate a local, low cost spay/neuter program if you want to get your pet altered. For more information, contact Rancho Cordova Animal Services at 851-8852 or stop by the Neighborhood Services Center at 2880 Gold Tailings Court.
Bonus Tips for Bringing a New Pet into the HomeBy Scottie Moore, President & Founder, Save Our Cats & Kittens–Sensibly (SOCKS)
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Calendar of Events DECEMBER–FEBRUARY
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
1st and 3rd Mondays at 5:30 p.m.— City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive.
Due to holidays: January 21 meeting will be Tuesday, January 22, and February 18 meeting will be Tuesday, February 19. For information and agendas, go to www.cityofranchocordova.org
City Hall will be closed from Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 1 and will reopen on Wednesday, January 2.
Saturday, December 1 and January 5 Coffee, Tea and Conversation, Senior Social Hour Rancho Cordova Branch Library, 9845 Folsom Boulevard, 10 to 11 a.m.
Friday, December 7 Progressive Christmas Caroling Party Evening of neighborhood caroling – 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Meet at Village Green Park, 3141 Bridgeway Drive. Information: 366-3133
Saturday, December 8 Breakfast with Santa & Holiday Craft Fair Cordova Senior Activities Center, 3480 Routier Road—$5 adults, $2 seniors and children. Pancakes, craft fair, and more. Information: 366-3133
Friday, December 14 Rancho Cordova Luncheon Rancho Cordova City Hall—11:30 a.m. “Annual Reindeer Games”. Reservations/Information: 273-5704 or www.cordovacouncil.org
December 26-28 and January 2-4 Winter Day Camp for ages 5 to 13 Riverview Community Center, 10700 Ambassador Drive. Arts & crafts, sports, cooking projects, etc. Information: 635-8977 x117 or at [email protected]
Friday, January 18 Rancho Cordova Luncheon Rancho Cordova City Hall—11:30 a.m. “New Mayor Shares Vision for the Year”. Reservations/Information: 273-5704 or www.cordovacouncil.org
Monday, January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day—City Hall closed
Friday, February 15 Rancho Cordova Luncheon Rancho Cordova City Hall—11:30 a.m. Reservations/Information: 273-5704 or www.cordovacouncil.org
Monday, February 18 President’s Day— City Hall closed
The City updates about 1,200 fans weekly with behind the scenes photos, media coverage, event promotions, and news from our partners. Fifty-nine percent of our Facebook fans are female with the majority in the 25 to 44 age group. Most live in the City but our users include people as far away as China and Spain! Aside from learning more about your community, Facebook is a venue to connect with family, friends, and colleagues through comments (likes) and messages, photos, chats, and even games. You can join the excitement by liking us on facebook.cityofranchocordova.org.
YouTube, Photobucket, MyCityHall
View videos at youtube.com/cityofranchocordova; photos at photobucket.com/profile/CityofRanchoCordova; and download our My City Hall app through iTunes or visit www.cityofranchocordova.
org to ask a question or request help.
Nextdoor.comNextdoor is a free private social network for neighborhoods that officially launched in the Rancho Cordova community in January 2012.
City Spreads the News Many Ways
Raven Oaks’ Experience with Nextdoor.comRaven Oaks is a strong, active neighborhood in the Cordova Meadows area. As Neighborhood watch coordinator, I have tried several methods for keeping neighbors informed about events and activities in that vicinity. After 10 years of using traditional methods such as flyer distribution, telephone trees, purchased websites, blogs, email, and word of mouth, it was decided to try Nextdoor.com. It is working!
Neighbors warmed up quickly to the user-friendly and security of the website since the site is only used by those living in our neighborhood. It is used to post questions about police activity in the neighborhood, lost pets, garage sales, garden clubs, neighborhood services, and public meetings. The participation is not 100% yet, but it seems to have attracted more neighbors than other methods. We also use printed flyers to make sure homes without a computer still get important information. –Katherine Weedman-Cox
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Employee Profile
JAY HADLEY Information Technology (IT) Manager
PAL (Police Activities League) News
PAL is joining forces with the Rancho Cordova Police Department (RCPD) to collect toys for the “Christmas in Cordova Toy Drive.” You can support the project by bringing a new unwrapped toy to the Police Station at 2897 Kilgore Road or to City Hall, by Friday, December 7. Toys will be donated to families that are served in the Christmas in Cordova program.
PAL is partnering with the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership to expand both agencies’ mentoring programs. Mentor groups will be sponsored for elementary, middle, and high school students at seven school sites. The goal is to serve more than 150 local youths. For more information, contact RCPD Officer Shelly Hodgkins at 524-0935.
“I never really wanted to work for a government agency; however after working on a contract basis for two years with the City of Rancho Cordova, I found it to be a very different government organization. One of the best decisions I ever made was to become part of the organization,” said Jay Hadley, the City’s IT Manager.
Jay and his staff are responsible for providing centralized automated information process, telecommunications, and network services to all department and divisions. This encompasses several buildings that are several miles apart.
He said he enjoys his job because of the constant changes in technology and the way it is utilized.
Jay was part of the design team for City Hall’s renovation and was responsible for the Enterprise software implementation that covers all City departments. “I’m especially proud of the maps.cityofranchocordova.org that was brought online more than a year ago that lets people view information on a visual map and determine what day their trash gets picked up or when their streets will get swept or get information about bike trails and much more—24/7.”
Jay studied computer science and programming at American River College, completed numerous courses at New Horizons Technical School, and earned many computer certifications. Rancho Cordova residents, Jay and his wife enjoy motorcycling and “have been over most of the U.S. and Western Canada.” They have two adult sons and four grandkids. “Fortunately, they all live locally so we can go to our grandson’s football games,” he said.
Neighborhood Watch“Crimes in the Workplace” will be the topic at the all-community Neighborhood Watch meeting on Tuesday, February 12, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Rancho Cordova Police Station, 2897 Kilgore Road. For those who are interested in starting a new group, a meeting will be held from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
There will not be any Neighborhood Watch community meetings in December and January. For more information, please contact Heidi Herrera at 875-5852.
Chamber of Commerce Celebrates 50 Years
50 Years of Service to Business Community
The Chamber of Commerce will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a year of celebrations and activities. On January 31, the Chamber will host a gala to honor past chairs, celebrate its history, and look at the future. Other events will include the annual
Business Forecast in February, an Elected Officials Reception in late spring, the 3rd annual Business Exchange in August, and the 15th annual Golf Tournament in the fall. For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 273-5688.
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David Sander, Mayor [email protected] Linda Budge, Vice Mayor [email protected] Ken Cooley, Council Member [email protected] McGarvey, Council Member [email protected] Skoglund, Council Member [email protected]
City Views is mailed to all residents and businesses in zip codes 95741, 95742, 95655, 95670 and areas of 95827 which also fall within the city limits of Rancho Cordova.
Who to Contact
Police Emergency: 911 or 362-5111 Non-Emergency: 362-5115 Traffic Hotline: 876-7558
California Highway Patrol Emergency: 911 Business Office: 464-2090
Fire Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 859-4300
Parking Enforcement 876-7558
Sewer (24-hr) 875-6730
Stormwater 875-7246
SMUD Emergency: 1-888-456-7683 Information: 1-888-742-7683
PG&E Emergency & Customer Service 800-743-5000
Allied Waste Garbage & Recycling 638-9000
Sacramento County Water Agency 874-6851
Golden State Water Company 800-999-4033
Animal Services 851-8852
Building & Safety 851-8760
Chief of Police Rosanne Richeal 875-9600
City Clerk Mindy Cuppy 851-8721
City Manager Ted Gaebler 851-8800
Economic Development Curt Haven 851-8780
Finance Donna Silva 851-8730
Human Resources Stacey Peterson 851-8741
Neighborhood Services/ Code Enforcement Kerry Simpson 851-8770
Planning Paul Junker 851-8750
Public Information/ Legislative Affairs Manager Troy Holt 851-8847
Public Works Cyrus Abhar 851-8710 207-9708—after hours
Rancho Cordova City Hall Room Rentals Laurel Bane 851-8953
City OfficesAmerican Water Company 888-237-1333
California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corp 800-252-4613
Cordova Recreation and Park District 362-1841
Cordova Senior Activities Center 366-3133
Cordova Community Council 273-5704
Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce 273-5688
Rancho Cordova Library 264-2700
Folsom Cordova Unified School District 355-1100
Sacramento City Unified School District 643-7400
Elk Grove Unified School District 686-5085
Sacramento Regional Transit District 321-2877 TDD 483-4327
Important Contacts
City Council
City ViewsCity of Rancho Cordova2729 Prospect Park DriveRancho Cordova, CA 95670(916) 851-8700
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