City of Rocklin Government News Digest

The community is invited to celebrate what makes the city of Rocklin a great place to live, work and play with Rocklin’s 130th-anniversary Historical and Cultural Celebration on May 6 at Johnson-Springview Park.

Sierra College broke ground April 11 on a complex that will provide housing for more than 350 students. Expected occupancy is for the fall 2025 semester.

Midas Avenue closed for storm damage repairs on Jan. 16 and work began April 3. Rocklin Public Services director Justin Nartker said the estimated completion date has been pushed “closer to mid May.”

The city of Rocklin has received an application to develop a 10-acre retail and hospitality complex on the northwest corner of Sunset Boulevard and University Avenue, across the street from William Jessup University,

A 45,300-square-foot dealership and service center is in the permit process for the city of Rocklin, according to a project proposal presented to the Rocklin Planning Commission.

The Rocklin City Council received a presentation from Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Huntzinger and representatives from Melton Design Group on the proposed master plan for the Sunrise Whitney Recreation Area, an 184-acre parcel purchased by the city in 2018.

The former and new mayors of Rocklin discuss the achievements from last year and talk about their plans for this year.

In Placer County, there are many ways residents can stay happy and healthy. Rocklin, Roseville, Loomis and Lincoln each have parks that provide open space and recreational programs.

Scott Alvord, a Roseville councilmember running for Placer County supervisor, says he has sued restauranteur/podcaster Matthew Oliver, complaining that Oliver edited an interview to make him look bad. Oliver, himself a candidate for Rocklin City Council, suggests it's all just a political stunt.

Former Rocklin planning commissioner David Bass and restaurateur Matthew Oliver are running for a two-year term on the Rocklin City Council. Also: Measure F is 2 percent increase on transit occupancy tax for hotel guests, any future RV parks.

After two years of litigation, the Loomis Town Council approved a settlement with the city of Rocklin on Oct. 6, paving the way for a Loomis Costco on Sierra College Boulevard.

The Rocklin City Council approved Estia at Rocklin, a 181-unit residential project. Councilmembers voted 3-2 to rezone the 30-acre parcel that Rocklin staff said is one of the last remaining large, commercially zoned properties in the city.

During its Sept. 27 meeting, the Rocklin City Council will discuss Estia at Rocklin, a proposed 181-unit residential project next to William Jessup University.

xRocklin City Council has expanded automatic license plate cameras. The Rocklin Police Department currently uses five automated license plate readers, and police will add another 32 cameras to cover all entrances and exits of the city, Rocklin Police Chief Rustin Banks says.

The Rocklin City Council has appointed local businessman Paul Ruhkala to fill the seat left open when Councilman Joe Patterson resigned to run for the state Assembly. Ruhkala will serve only until the end of Patterson’s term and is not running for the seat in the November election.

With East Trails Phase I improvements wrapping up, the Rocklin City Council approved the next step for the 180-acre Sunset Whitney Recreation Area, formerly the shuttered Rocklin Golf Club.

Balancing $102 million? No big deal for the Rocklin City Council. Its new budget supports 260 positions and resources, including three new public safety employees. The general fund will be used for Sunset Whitney Recreation Area capital expenditures.

Rocklin City Councilman Joe Patterson resigned during an emotional meeting. He plans to run for State Assembly this November, and though he still has two years left on his term, he is leaving now to make room for a successor to be selected by voters.

Rocklin is becoming known as one of America’s fastest growing cities, and it is about to get affordable housing for the first time. Construction has begun on a 288-unit apartment complex that will include units for those that earn 30% to 70% less than the median income of Placer County.

A 20-acre Nugget Markets will anchor a new shopping district being built at Whitney Ranch Parkway and University Avenue in Rocklin. It is part of a master development plan for Rocklin, including walkable community areas. The shopping center hopes to open in 2024.

Clover Valley, 487 acres in Rocklin known for both historical and ecological significance, might be permanently preserved due to the efforts of the Placer County Board of Supervisors, Placer Land Trust and William Jessup University.

The Rocklin City Council voted to change parks and recreation development impact fees for the first time in two decades. Fees will be based on unit-size ranges rather than categories based on the type of development.

Carolyn Verheyen, the principal-in-charge at MIG Consultants, delivered the phase one report for Placer Regional Homelessness Response Emerging Strategies to the Rocklin City Council.

Rocklin City Council received presentations on the Rocklin Police and Fire departments’ annual reports for 2021 at its March 22 meeting. The Rocklin Police Department recorded that the crime rate for the year dropped but violent crime in Rocklin rose from the previous year.

Bill Halldin was recently appointed Rocklin’s new mayor after a unanimous vote from the Rocklin City Council. He previously served as vice mayor.

Rustin Banks, a Del Oro High School graduate and longtime resident of Placer County, has been named Rocklin's new police chief. He previously worked as a captain for the Solano County’s Sheriff Department.

City officials in Rocklin have approved an urgency ordinance to help restaurants and bars extend outdoor dining infrastructure through the holidays. The ordinance creates a permit process and streamlines regulations.

Rocklin's recent population spike was the largest in the Sacramento region over the past decade, with a 26 percent increase. It was also recently rated one of the Top 50 Places to Live in the U.S. by Money Magazine.

Circling back to an issue first raised in July of 2020, the Rocklin City Council is weighing an increase in development impact fees, which fund parks, recreation and public facilities. The amount and timing of the increases will be discussed at the Oct. 26 council meeting.

The Rocklin City Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution to streamline the permitting approval process for permanent outdoor-dining structures. The council is also looking to extend the temporary outdoor dining program, which is scheduled to end on Nov. 1.