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Council directs staff to pursue hybrid mediation pilot for neighbor disputes; estimated pilot cost about $12,000
Summary
Council instructed staff to pursue a two-track approach: train problem-oriented policing officers in mediation and pilot a partnership with the Sacramento Mediation Center to handle disputes the department cannot resolve, with a proposed pilot budget covering initial case fees.
The Citrus Heights City Council heard a staff report on options to mediate neighbor-to-neighbor disputes and gave staff direction to pursue a hybrid pilot: train problem-oriented policing (POP) officers in mediation techniques and partner with the Sacramento Mediation Center to cover cases a POP officer cannot resolve.
Commander Chris Fry of the Citrus Heights Police Department introduced the item and described typical neighborhood conflicts—property lines, parking and trees straddling boundaries—and staff's interest in adding mediation tools to reduce escalation and repeated city interventions. Nicole Piva, Housing and Human Services Program Coordinator, presented two options: (1) send POP officers to a 40-hour mediation course (UC Davis or Sacramento Mediation Center offerings), and (2) create a city-funded pilot with the Sacramento Mediation Center to open cases and provide up to two mediation sessions per dispute.
Piva told the council the proposed pilot would cover the mediation center's fee schedule in advance for each case; staff estimated covering roughly 10 households for the initial pilot at a not-to-exceed amount near $12,000. Under that model the city pays the mediation fee up front on behalf of the parties and then may pursue repayment or include repayment terms in the mediated agreement.
Council members discussed the benefits and constraints of both approaches. Concerns raised included officer availability for training and mediation work, the time required for officers to reach proficiency, how the mediation center vets volunteers and paid mediators, and whether participants should have some financial "skin in the game." Several council members recommended a pilot that combines both options: begin by training POP personnel and simultaneously establish a partnership with the Sacramento Mediation Center for cases requiring a third-party neutral. Council members asked staff to return with program details that incorporate council feedback, including suggested contract language allowing for repayment or other protections if parties renege on signed agreements.
No formal council vote was required on next steps; council gave staff direction to pursue both training and the mediation-center partnership and to bring back implementation details and budget requests to the council (midyear budget or other appropriate item).
Why it matters Residents and staff said recurring neighbor disputes generate repeated calls to code enforcement and police, and mediation aims to provide an early, lower-cost voluntary pathway to durable, written agreements rather than escalating to citations or litigation. Staff estimated the pilot could be started with modest funding and recommended working with the city attorney to draft agreement language addressing repayment or enforcement if parties fail to honor signed resolutions.
Ending Staff will return to council with a more detailed pilot plan, a proposed budget request for midyear or the next appropriations cycle, and recommended agreement language as requested by council members.
