On the Issues
Facts on Measure H
Attracting & Retaining Business
Rancho Cordova Supermarkets
Rancho Cordova - Candidates Forum
“We need to let everyone know that the candidates attended the League of Women Voters televised forum this past weekend. The Rancho Cordova segment will be re-broadcast at 11:30 AM on Sundays, including October, 12, 19, and 26, 2014. Also November 2nd 2014. It’s very important that voters watch all the candidates
share their experience and their views during this televised hour. They will be able to chose the two candidates that they believe will best represent their views and effectively participate in growing Rancho Cordova in the direction that represents their goals for our City.” Metro Cable Channel 14
Rancho Cordova - Facts about Measure H
There are many really great questions floating around the internet about Measure H. So let’s be clear about the reasons behind offering Measure H on the ballot so that people can continue to participate in local decision-making - just as we did when we voted to incorporate. The City of Rancho Cordova continues to maintain a balanced budget. But the City budget has been negatively impacted by the slowed economic growth following the recession, the accompanying decline in regional sales tax revenues, the decrease of property tax revenue caused by the decline in all of our property taxes, and the elimination of Redevelopment.
But the decline in revenues does not mean that our residents want or need less in the way of services and economic opportunities. In our bi-annual resident satisfaction survey, people wanted to see more improvements, such as repairing streets and sidewalks faster, having more programs for kids, the construction of libraries and community centers, things like that.
So, in a different survey of almost 1000 residents, the support for a 1/2 cent sales tax - that cannot be stolen by the state, or any other entity - was overwhelming. There is between 60% and 70% support for an increase in the sales tax. It’s the idea of paying for things as we go along. The City is not going to copy some jurisdictions and go into debt to increase services. This is truly pay as you go.
And frankly, it's always been my perspective that we should not be afraid to ask the voters what they think! If people vote 'no' in November, then they will have made a choice. If people vote 'yes' in November, then they will have validated the statement that they want to pay a little in order to make more progress - and faster - than is otherwise possible.
Rancho Cordova Measure H Information Links
Business Attraction/ Retention
The City of Rancho Cordova has been working very hard to insure that the City remains a favourable place to do business. Our business community is as diverse as our population, in that it represents all sectors of employment types. We are home to major corporate offices, insurance and health care, data centers, and call centers or service centers that specialize in customer contact. Maker space, or flex space, provides small contractors and manufacturers with a location that combines a small office with manufacturing or warehousing space that includes roll up doors and delivery space. Restaurants, delis, food trucks, day care, and shuttle to public transportation are close by.
Rancho Cordova is also home to a variety of niche industries, such as home improvement. Every after-market product for the home is available, from paint to windows to tile, flooring, garage doors, cabinetry, and much more.
After market offerings also include the automotive parts industries that serve all makes of automobile in either off the shelf or pull it yourself locations.
In order to attract, retain, and grow this wide variety of business, the City Council leads staff in:
• participating in Biz Walks to be on-site with the biz community offering support and assistance and promotion as needed.
• lowered or maintained development fees which we control to encourage and facilitate growing the residential, retail, office, and industrial sectors of our local biz community.
• initiated regular ombudsman, or pre-application type committees to identify needs or issues to be resolved at the start of new projects, saving the owner time and money.
• adjusted or maintained local zoning as necessary to insure that our residents get the retail they want and that the biz community is able to locate in Rancho Cordova, grow and prosper.
• instituted the Artisanal Zone in the Folsom Boulevard Specific Plan to provide more visible showroom/work space for artists and craftsman or manufacturers and inventors, provide more flexibility of tenants for building owners, and facilitate the repurposing of older structures on Folsom Boulevard.
• brought the Google Get Your Biz On Line Challenge back from USCM to support and assist small biz in creating an effective web presence.
• participating heavily with RC Chamber and its members to promote friendships and communication for the biz leg of our three-legged stool.
• voting to establish the RC Travel & Tourism to add the 4th leg to our stool and support our local entertainment industry in attracting people to RC, attending events, filling hotel beds and restaurant seats.
• taking advantage of all opportunities to meet with business representatives both here and at their industry conferences and conventions.
• taking advantage of all opportunities to further our education in the development of economic development strategies and tactics.
• involving the biz community directly in the development of all codes and regulations that affect their operations.
Linda Budge, AICP 9/22/2014
Rancho Cordova Grocery Stores
Beautiful Fresh Produce inspiring appetites at Smart & Final Express.
The Los Angeles Korean Cultural Center shared a Traditional Music and Dance Concert in September for shoppers at KP International.
Attracting grocery stores to locate in Rancho Cordova has been almost a 20 year challenge for us, and we continue to struggle with finding a grocer willing to build south of Highway 50 and Folsom Boulevard to serve the 15,000 households that stretch all the way to the Jackson Highway.
After losing Raley’s, we were all tantalized by the TESCO Corporation from England announcing that they would be locating Fresh & Easy stores in Sunriver and on
Bradshaw. But after several years of waiting and hoping, they decided they were over-extended and pretty much left California.
The City and the Chamber of Commerce have talked to every main stream grocery store, and many people have written letters asking them to open stores.
But, have you noticed? Guess what happened while we were all looking in the direction of everyone’s favourite name brands, a funny thing happened on the local grocery scene... First, the gentleman who owns Koreana Plaza, which opened as a Korean grocery about ten years ago, took notice of the remarkable number of different cultures who live in Rancho Cordova. He reinvented Koreana Plaza into “KP International” and now feeds people from all over the world by stocking the products and foods that they are familiar with from their home countries. It has become a magnet for our area. He expanded and introduced a Food Court with six or eight different food counters and a bakery. He has even added specialty stores next door and a Karaoke Studio!
And then, a couple of weeks ago, Smart & Final opened their specialty store called “Smart & Final Express” on Sunrise Blvd. They have the most inspirational Produce Section anywhere, and have added local flavour to the design of the store with local photos and place names!
Check out both of these stores. While we still need an all-purpose grocer south of Highway 50 and something to fill the gap in Mills Center, Rancho Cordova, once again, has strong, valuable grocery shopping options to fill many needs!
Linda Budge, AICP 10/13/2014