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Citrus Heights honors neighborhood volunteers, highlights communications gains
Summary
At its Jan. 28 meeting the council proclaimed January Neighborhood Area Awareness Month, heard from neighborhood‑area leaders and recognized student poster winners from Republic Services' contest. The council also received an annual communications update reporting strong social and newsletter engagement and new volunteer‑hub participation.
The Citrus Heights City Council used part of its Jan. 28 meeting to celebrate neighborhood volunteerism and to review the city’s communications performance.
Councilmember Karpinski Costa read a proclamation declaring January 2026 Neighborhood Area Awareness Month and invited neighborhood presidents and REACH leaders to brief the council on local projects. “We work really hard… it works best in the community if we work people to people,” said Kathy Morris, REACH president, describing community potlucks and holiday adoption efforts. Multiple neighborhood leaders described adoption of families during Operation Holiday Cheer and upcoming neighborhood events, and the mayor and council thanked volunteers for their time.
Earlier in the meeting Republic Services and city staff recognized 12 student winners of an art poster contest to appear in a mailed calendar; staff encouraged families to photograph winners and accepted a group photo with council.
Later, director Megan Huber introduced communications officer Marissa Brown to present the department’s annual update. Brown outlined the communications team’s structure, strategic messaging pillars (fiscal prudence, public safety and local control) and outreach channels. She reported gains across platforms — Instagram grew by roughly 2,500 followers in 2024, Facebook added about 1,000, the city recorded about 2 million impressions and newsletter open rates averaged about 52% (exceeding the public‑agency industry average). Brown also described the new volunteer hub (317 participants, 23 organizations) and upcoming campaigns including Love Local phase 2, economic development recruitment on LinkedIn and seasonal events.
Councilmembers praised the communications team’s outreach and metrics; one member asked whether Facebook demographics are available, which staff confirmed. A councilmember suggested exploring a digital message sign at a City Hall entrance; staff said they would add that to an idea list. The council closed the meeting by agreeing to honor longtime attendee David Shelton with a standing ovation.
