Representatives of elected officials and community leaders gathered at the Carmichael Park Community Clubhouse on Feb. 19 for February’s installation of Inside Carmichael. Photo courtesy of Carmichael Chamber of Commerce

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – Community leaders, elected officials’ representatives and residents gathered at the Carmichael Park Community Clubhouse from 9 to 10 a.m. Feb. 19 for the latest installment of Inside Carmichael, the town’s monthly forum for updates, discussion and civic connection.

Rosie Buck, president of the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce, opened the meeting declaring that “we are off to a busy year ahead of us.”

One of the community’s signature events, the People of the Year Awards Dinner, will take place March 25 at the Milagro Event Center by Bella Bru, 6241 Fair Oaks Blvd. The event honors the Person of the Year, Business of the Year and other standout contributors to the community.

Food Truck Nights, hosted in partnership with Carmichael Parks and Recreation, will return on the second Thursday of each month from 5 to 8 p.m., beginning in March. According to Buck, one of the highlights of food truck nights are the competitions between vendors, starting with a Mediterranean-themed showdown in March.

Samantha Beck, executive director of the Carmichael Improvement District (CID), emphasized the district’s continued focus on keeping Carmichael clean, safe and thriving.

Several new businesses are opening their doors this month. Jack’s Urban Eats at 4005 Manzanita Ave. is scheduled to open Feb. 27, while A Goddesses Touch Health and Bodywork Wellness Center at 5840 Gibbons Drive, Suite C, opened Feb. 21.

Chick-fil-A at 7411 Fair Oaks Blvd. is expected to open April 7.

Beck also shared an update on the former 99 Cents Store at 6431 Fair Oaks Blvd., which has been purchased and is currently in escrow. Details about the incoming business will be announced once escrow closes.

“It’s going to be a cool activation of the space,” Beck said, noting that the new owners plan to renovate the parking lot, install updated lighting and improve overall safety. The lot has experienced break-ins, encampments and illegal dumping in recent months.

Another vacant property drawing concern is the former Kelly-Moore Paints building at 4555 Manzanita Ave. CID has been working with code enforcement to pursue a nuisance hearing, scheduled for Feb. 20.

“All of these spaces that have inactivity or are vacant, we are trying to see what we can do to bring some more life and safety to the area,” Beck said.

CID is also partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael, the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Tree Foundation to plant trees along Fair Oaks Boulevard. Residents interested in adding trees to their properties, and who can provide irrigation, are encouraged to contact CID. The Kiwanis Club hopes to plant 15 trees on April 18 and is seeking participating property owners.

Beck reminded residents that CID’s security team is on duty daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. but urged community members to call 911 when crimes are in progress so law enforcement can respond and file police reports.

The Kiwanis Club of Carmichael is offering community grants through its Impact Projects program at three levels, $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, supporting schools and nonprofit organizations. The club will also host its annual Easter Pancake Breakfast on the Saturday before Easter.

Taste of Carmichael, one of the community’s most popular events, returns May 29.

At the state level, Lane Gonick, field representative for Assemblyman Josh Hoover, discussed Hoover’s recent audit into a failed 911 system update that cost taxpayers $450 million through phone bill surcharges.

“It’s really frustrating to see taxpayer dollars go to waste,” Gonick said, noting the audit seeks to determine what happened to the funds.

Gonick also addressed proposed ballot measures aimed at preventing retroactive tax increases, including efforts tied to California’s proposed billionaire tax. Several of California’s billionaires have left the state in recent months amid tax concerns, including, most recently, Mark Zuckerburg.  

Linda Martin, board chair of the Aerospace Museum, asked about progress on a proposed highway sign for the museum on I-80. Gonick said there were no updates and acknowledged the process can be lengthy.

Representing Supervisor Rich Desmond, Kendra Johnson announced updates to Sacramento County websites and the 311 app, which allows residents to report potholes, illegal dumping and code violations while tracking their requests.

Johnson also invited residents to a transportation community meeting March 26 at the Gibbons Community Center, encouraging attendees to bring road-related questions and concerns.

As of press time, District 3 is still seeking nominees for the 5 Over 50 Awards.

Matthew Ceccato, from the office of Representative Ami Bera, shared federal updates including impacts from the partial government shutdown affecting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), cybersecurity programs and TSA officers.

Ceccato emphasized that agencies like FEMA are still doing their jobs right now, despite the partial shutdown.

Ceccato also addressed a recent tragedy near Lake Tahoe, where eight skiers were found dead following an avalanche. “Our hearts are going out to all the folks in the heartbreaking moments,” he said.

Bera’s office is currently hosting an art contest for high school students. The winner will receive a roundtrip flight to Washington D.C. from Southwest Airlines for themselves and their family, and the artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. An essay contest themed “America’s 250” is also underway, inviting students to reflect on the nation’s anniversary.

The Carmichael Community Planning Advisory Council did not meet in February and had no updates.

Stacey Yankee of the Carmichael Recreation and Park District provided updates on Measure G projects, including recent ribbon-cuttings at Glancy Oaks Park. Improvements include a new play structure, ADA-accessible ramps and walking paths.

Six new pickleball courts at Carmichael Park are nearing completion, though weather delays have slowed progress. The professional-grade surface requires overnight temperatures of at least 60 degrees to cure properly.

New three-stall restrooms and upgraded paving near the Carmichael Farmers Market have also been completed. The park recently installed a new “tot lot,” one of two of its kind in the community.

Several additional parks including Cardinal Oaks Park, O’Donnell Park, Jan Park and La Sierra are out for bid for upgrades including redesigns, ADA accessibility and solar panel installations. Cardinal Oaks, which does not currently have a parking lot, is looking to get its own parking lot on El Camino Avenue.

The district is also conducting a feasibility study for a potential community pool, funded by an anonymous donor. While interest and possible locations are being explored, there is currently no funding identified for construction or long-term maintenance. Regulatory requirements for public pools continue to increase.

“As the years progress, the requirements grow larger,” Yankee said.

Robert Olmstead, representing State Senator Roger Niello, highlighted DUI legislation expected to be a major topic on the ballot this year. California has seen a 50 percent increase in DUI fatalities over the past decade, with Sacramento County ranking high in repeat offenses.

Roughly a dozen bills aim to strengthen DUI laws, including proposals to classify vehicular manslaughter as a violent felony, require ignition interlock devices for offenders and implement “No Alcohol Sale” restrictions on driver’s licenses. Olmstead also pointed to California’s inmate credit system as a contributing factor in repeat DUI cases.

Closing out the meeting, Carmichael Water District General Manager Cathy Lee announced the district received $1.09 million through the congressional Community Funding Project secured by Ami Bera’s office. The funds will support maintenance of Ranney collectors along the river.

A ribbon-cutting for the district’s first Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well, located at Garfield Avenue and Engle Road, is planned for early April and is an infrastructure milestone for the community.

The next Inside Carmichael will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. March 19 at the Carmichael Park Community Clubhouse.