Citrus Heights News Briefs: chickens win, K9’s, arson, election update

Local news briefs for the second week in August include a unanimous city council vote to allow backyard chickens in Citrus Heights, arson fires near Greenback Lane, a new police K9 dog added to the force, and an update on local elections.

Citrus Heights police welcome new K9 dog to force
The Citrus Heights Police Department announced the graduation of its newest police K9 dog this week. The department said 14-month-old “Blitz” is a German Shepard who’s father, “Bodie,” was severely injured in 2012 after being shot by a car-jacking suspect while serving as a K9 for the Sacramento Police Department. According to a news release, police have organized a reunion for the father-son pair next week where the two dogs will share a graduation cake and Bodie “will pass on the torch for Blitz to work hard and keep the community safe.

City council votes 5-0 to allow backyard chickens
Citrus Heights council members unanimously voted in favor of dropping a restriction on hen-keeping in the city, following a public hearing on Thursday night. Existing regulations banned hens from being kept on residential lots under 10,000 square feet in size, but the new ordinance wording will allow up to six hens to be kept on any size lot. About a half-dozen speakers addressed the city council during the Aug. 11 hearing, all of whom expressed support for dropping the restriction on hen-keeping. No one spoke in opposition to the proposal.

The ordinance changes are set to go into effect 30 days after a second reading is held at next month’s council meeting on Sept. 8. Roosters are unaffected by the ordinance change and are only allowed to be kept on lots over 20,000 square feet in size. At the council’s request, a staff report will be made at the end of 12 months to ensure the new regulations are not causing any unintended problems. (See latest draft wording)

Fires along I-80 near Greenback ruled arson
Several grass fires along eastbound Interstate 80 between Greenback and Madison Thursday afternoon were ruled arson by fire officials. Metro Fire said the largest blaze torched a half-mile stretch along I-80, with one of the fires jumping a wall into a yard. No homes were reportedly damaged. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Fire’s Tipline at (916) 859-3775, or email arsontip@metrofire.ca.gov.

Deadline extended to run for city council; 5 qualified so far
The deadline to file nomination papers to run for a seat on the Citrus Heights city council has been extended to Aug. 17 at 5 p.m., the city clerk’s office confirmed Friday. A deadline extension occurs any time an incumbent does not file by the original deadline. As expected, current Councilwoman Sue Frost did not file, as she gave up her seat to run for County Supervisor.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, City Clerk Amy Van said a total of five residents had qualified for the November ballot: Amor Taylor, Jeff Slowey, Rick Doyle, Marcel Weiland and Michael Nishimura. Porsche Middleton, who moved to Citrus Heights from Alabama recently, also returned nomination papers, but is still pending final signature verification. Four others have picked up nomination papers but have not turned them in: David Huber, Vincent Nicholas, Bret Daniels, and Tim Schaefer.

>>Find out more about each candidate and get all The Sentinel’s local stories delivered to your inbox each Sunday: subscribe to our free Weekend Edition.