RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The proposed Mills Crossing Civic Center has been one of the city’s most debated topics in recent memory, and as it once more came up for discussion at the December 6 City Council Meeting, it again elicited heated debate. In fact, other items on the agenda were pushed to a later date to ensure the subject got its due notice.

With the hope of securing a Development Agreement from the City, Korin Crawford of developer Griffin Swinerton gave a presentation which touched on the previously requested expanded outdoor space as well as the next steps regarding the development process and proposed deal structures for the various components of the project: the overall land development, the community facilities, and the housing amongst other items.

The housing component itself has provoked the most ire from residents"'many of whom appeared in person at City Hall or through Zoom to voice their displeasure.

“Pick a lane. Is this a civic center or a housing center?” asked Fayzah Mughal. Not enough Council transparency and not engaging the community enough were also put forth by residents as issues. One bluntly said the assemblage should be fired.

Perhaps feeling the heat, the Council went about debunking the accusations.

City Manager Cyrus Abhar and Deputy City Manager Micah Runner detailed the history of the project emphasizing housing had always been on the table and not some last minute add-on.

The City Manager also addressed the lack of success in the past in securing interest from private investors that could help revitalize Folsom Boulevard. He said this current plan (including the housing) can bring the outside interest the area needs.

Mayor Garret Gatewood held up the many community coffees he had with residents after the previous Council Meeting discussion as proof he had personally reached out to the community. ‘I didn't want to feel I didn't do my due diligence,” he said while echoing the words of the City Manager that the site will reinvigorate everything around it.

Councilmember Siri Pulipati acknowledged the work done by residents who submitted their own site proposal but said in her research (as well as the research of the Council and city staff as a whole) without housing there would be no way to pay for such an endeavor. The Council also explained how other suggestions wouldn’t be feasible.

Referring to bulk emails decrying the work thus far done on the project sent to the Council that featured boilerplate copy with no signature as well as gossip on social media, David Sander called such things “damaging” to the community. He stated the Civic Center proposal was the best thing he’d seen in the close to twenty years that the matter had been discussed and would bring a “higher quality of life for everybody and more economic opportunity.” Sander said helping to make something like this into a reality was why he wanted to join the local  government in the first place.

Vice Mayor Donald Terry tried to assuage fears that Rancho Cordova residents wouldn’t have access to the housing. He also emphatically stated that the specific design is still in flux, but he did believe that the much desired more open space was a “recipe for disaster” describing it as increasing an already present homeless problem.

The Vice Mayor was enthusiastic about how the proposal dwarfed other Civic Centers in Sacramento and surrounding cities.

The Civic Center discussion concluded with a vote to hold another community meeting while the Development Agreement is being finalized.

The Council also discussed the proposed development of a 24-hour Chevron Service Station, Convenience Store and Carwash at the Anatolia Marketplace location on the corner of Douglas Road and Sunrise Boulevard. Prompted by Councilmember Linda Budge’s concern over illegal activity in early morning hours, a condition to have a review of any crime after a year’s time with the possible reduction in operation hours was added. Comments about the design of the convenience store also sent city staff and the developer back to the drawing board.

Approval came swiftly for a traffic signal on Zinfandel Drive and Baroque Drive in anticipation of the recently approved Stone Creek Village. Councilmember Budge stated"'with all the activity in the area"'it was a necessity.

Representatives from the City’s legislative advisory groups gave lengthy reports to the Council about state and federal matters respectively.

During Council Reports, new positions were announced by Councilmember Sander and Vice Mayor Terry. The former is now the 2nd Vice President of the National League of Cities, and the latter has begun serving as Board Chair for the Sacramento Children’s Museum.

Councilmember Budge and others described the success of the city tree lighting. The Mayor took particular pride in having pushed the button that brought the tree to life. He struck again wielding a baton at a performance by the River City Concert Band at, of all places, KP International Market.

Councilmember Pulipati urged any residents who have yet to get vaccinated to do so, especially in light of the new Omicron variant.

Vice Mayor Terry reported only 27 percent of students in Sacramento County Unified were vaccinated although they still had some time to be in compliance.

City Manager Cyrus Abhar reminded the public of the Workforce Development program which offers job skill training for Rancho Cordova residents.

New employee Xee Vang was introduced to the Council. Mayor Gatewood humorously remarked she had been rescued from her former work with Sacramento County. Vang will serve as Senior Finance Analyst.

Public Comment included a claim by Larry Ladd that Rancho Cordova drinking water was poisoned. Fayzah Mughal praised the work of Turning Point, a provider of behavioral health and social services. Chamber of Commerce CEO President and CEO Diann Rogers thanked the City’s Facilities department for their assistance at recent events.

The next meeting held on December 20 will reflect on Donald Terry as the new Mayor and Linda Budge as the new Vice Mayor.