New beginnings

Happy New Year! As 2020 begins, we start a new chapter and a fresh new decade – an opportunity for new beginnings and fresh starts. I rang in the New Year at home with my husband and my daughter, home from college for the holiday break. We also welcomed Minnie, a new Labrador retriever rescue, to our family last weekend. Minnie was rescued from an unscrupulous breeder in Oregon. She has spent almost the entire eight years of her life birthing litters of puppies for this breeder, in terrible conditions. Unfortunately, she has mammary cancer as a result, and it has metastasized. We are determined to fill whatever time Minnie has left with love, laughs, walks on our trails, a cozy bed and fireplace, and all the treats she wants. At City Hall, the new year means new opportunities, projects, and plans. This year, we will continue to invest in our infrastructure and modernize our traffic signal system to make it more adaptive and responsive. The Green Valley Road widening project will be completed and we'll begin construction of the newest segment of the Capital Southeast Connector project – from Prairie City Road to E. Bidwell Street – which will continue the four-lane expressway from the intersection of Prairie City Road eastward. Investments in the water treatment plant and sewer infrastructure will improve water treatment reliability for our water customers. This year, design of the Benevento Family Park in Empire Ranch will begin, and Bud and Artie Davies Park will be completed, with new landscaping, a ball field, and parking lot off Santa Juanita Avenue. Broder Family Homestead Park, next to Hazel McFarland Park, will open in the early months of this year with its unique topography and offerings of olive trees, grape vines, fruit trees, and beautiful gardens. This summer, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Steve Miklos Aquatic Center with fun and free family festivities. Our beloved library – the busiest in the Sacramento region – will introduce a series of new and innovative programs, book clubs, and special events. With nearly half of our annual operating budget dedicated to police and fire services, we'll continue to invest in public safety, including the renovation and modernization of Fire Station 38 at 1300 Blue Ravine Road. New public safety programs will be introduced to ensure that our most vulnerable residents stay safe. Folsom will continue to welcome residents to their new homes in the Folsom Plan Area, and break ground on the first park and school south of Highway 50. The city will update its zoning code with the goal of creating clear expectations for quality development. We will also update our tree preservation ordinance to ensure Folsom's trees are preserved and protected. A new state-of-the-art permit center will improve and streamline development services and access to information, and we'll introduce electronic plan checks to streamline the city's building permit services. This year, Sarah Aquino will serve as Folsom's Mayor and Ernie Sheldon as Vice Mayor. Mayor Aquino will update the community on short and long-term plans and share her vision for the future at the annual State of the City address Thursday, Jan. 23 at 11:30 a.m. In the annual address, she will review last year's milestones and highlight upcoming initiatives in 2020. Tickets are available on the Greater Folsom Partnership website, and the speech will be posted to the city's website following the event. Many Folsom community members take an opportunity to renew, refresh, and refocus on goals as the calendar turns. Consider Folsom's extensive and ever-expanding network of beautiful recreational trails for your fitness goals. Learn a new hobby or embrace the richness of historic education in one of the winter/spring classes offered by the Parks & Recreation Department. Read more or explore a new interest at the Folsom Public Library. Volunteer and serve your community with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Citizens Assisting Public Safety (CAPS) program, Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, Folsom Public Library, or at Folsom Parks and Recreation events. Consider joining organized volunteer events such as Creek Week, Trails Day, and Community Service Day. You can learn more about these programs, services, amenities, and volunteer opportunities on the City of Folsom's website folsom.ca.us. I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. As always, I welcome your comments at eandersen@folsom.ca.us.