The Neighborhood Services/Special Events Division of the City of Sacramento will hold their first in a series of quarterly Community Partnership Meetings on Monday, January 9, 2012 at the South Natomas Community Center at 6:30pm. The meetings are held to facilitate broad communication between the City and the community on issues, policies & priorities. Top discussion topics include a presentation by the Department of Utilities regarding proposed water and sewer rate changes. Utilities has provided their own outreach through Rate Workshops and the "Your Utilities, Your Voice" website. Another top discussion topic is the update to the Special Events Ordinance, particularly changes regardi

Congress passed a funding package Friday for water projects in the Sacramento region – including $25 million for improvements along the American River – but without federal authorization, the levees surrounding the Natomas Basin can’t use more than four or five thousand of those dollars. "While it is very encouraging to see Washington D.C. responding to some areas of flood control in the Sacramento Valley,” City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby said in an email Monday, “this funding does not address the most important public safety infrastructure project in Northern California.” Although the newly-passed funding package includes more than $50 million for flood control projects in the Sacrame

photographs by Barry Wisdom Wednesday's Grinchy wind storm may have turned the centerpiece of the South Natomas Community Center's holiday tree lighting into a slightly bent, Whoville caricature, but the shiny bright ornaments, entertainment, refreshments and neighborhood fellowship were straight-up festive. Emceed by Sacramento Councilmember Steve Cohn, the ceremony featured music by the drummer boys and girls of the Natomas High School Drum Corps, as well as the Natomas Middle School Choir and the Heritage Park Chorale. "Santa Claus" also made an appearance to lend an ear to the whispered wishes of the children during the event's post-lighting reception in the community center.

A group of central city restaurateurs is teaming up to branch out into Natomas, but in a more casual setting than their full-service Midtown and East Sacramento locations. Pork Belly Grub Shack is scheduled to open this week and is a collaboration between the owners of Kru, a Japanese restaurant at 2516 J St., and Formoli’s Bistro, which recently moved to 3839 J St. “It’s going to be really casual – burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads,” said Billy Ngo, owner of Kru. “It’s going to be simple, good food, and it’s going to be cheap.” Menu items will feature a lot of pork, with a pork belly grilled cheese, sandwiches built around pork, and burgers such as the Notorious P.I.G., a 10-ounce

City staff and Think Big Sacramento representatives presented the City Council with technical and financial option reports on the proposed entertainment and sports complex Tuesday, and asked council to direct them where to go next. “We have a lot of work to do in the next six months,” said City Manager John Shirey, “and we need both internal and external resources to do it.” To keep things moving forward, though, Shirey told council members that he plans to deliver three things: “a game plan with a timeline, a list of the consultant work we need and a list of how we’ll pay for those things.” Although the technical report presented Tuesday included more detail than previous reports, Shir

The Witter Ranch neighborhood in Natomas has been selected to participate in “Blue Thumb Neighbors,” a free program sponsored by the Regional Water Authority and City of Sacramento Department of Utilities. The project will teach residents there how to create healthy, beautiful, River‐Friendly landscapes that compliment their homes and neighborhood. River‐Friendly landscaping is a holistic approach to sustainable landscaping that uses resources, like water, efficiently and incorporates practices that foster soil health, reduce waste and prevent pollution of the air and waterways. Each participating household will receive a free at‐home consultation on efficient watering, sponsored by the

A new children’s hospital, a high-tech business center and a television-film-video game industry complex were some of the ideas Natomas residents discussed Thursday as potential re-uses for the current arena site – if the arena is relocated. More than 80 residents and business owners met at a town hall meeting hosted by Assemblyman Dr. Richard Pan and City Councilwoman Angelique Ashby for an hour-long discussion and question-and-answer session about the arena’s future. Attendees expressed ideas and concerns about what the city should do with what has been a hub of sports and entertainment activity for more than 20 years. Power Balance Pavillion (formerly Arco Arena) has been home to the

To those unfamiliar with wresting, it’s a somewhat confusing sport. It’s a bunch of men acting really manly but with tan, smooth, hair-free thighs and chests that glisten with baby oil while fighting in neon spandex panties. WWE’s SmackDown at the Power Balance Pavilion on Tuesday was the first time I had ever been to a wrestling event. I knew there would be a storyline but was surprised by the length of it, the amount of "back story" each match contained. It was like a soap opera for 10-year-old boys.  And there were a lot of 10-year-olds there. A lot of families. Commercials for toys based on wrestlers aired between matches on a big screen, cotton candy was sold in each aisle and an an

The Sacramento City Council was asked to accept a feasibility study on new river crossings Tuesday night, but council members put off taking any action until they get an acceptable definition of a “neighborhood-friendly bridge.” The nine-month study was a collaborative effort between the city of Sacramento and city of West Sacramento that reviewed alternatives for new river crossings to improve connectivity between the two cities. But the study did not specify a particular design for the proposed bridges, and council members – and residents who came to the meeting to voice their opinions – were concerned that the end result would be a “commuter bridge” that floods residential neighborhoo

A new downtown arena could draw 3.1 million visitors to the central city each year and bring the region more than $7 billion over 30 years, according to a report released Thursday by an arena campaign committee. The 37-page report on an arena’s expected impact to the region was released to reporters at a press conference at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel. "In downtown Sacramento, there's a considerable economic boost, just by the fact that there really isn't a facility like that," said Cathleen Dominico, author of "The Economic Engine Report: An Economic Analysis on the Regional Impact of an Entertainment and Sports Complex," during the press conference. "If you can create a downto

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson released the names of his regional arena coalition Monday, amid hopes the Here We Build campaign will be able to figure out financing options. But the absence of a representative of Natomas, where Power Balance Pavilion sits, raised protests from the Natomas Chamber of Commerce. Johnson announced the members of a bipartisan, 15-member executive committee Monday morning. The remaining 45 members of the community coalition were expected to be announced Monday evening, according to the mayor’s office. No one from the Natomas Chamber of Commerce, which has led a campaign to keep the arena there, had been asked to be part of the coalition as of 5:30 p.m. No Nat

The region’s international award-winning Business Walk program arrives in Natomas on June 15, when volunteers will canvass local businesses to find out what’s happening with the economy and how conditions can be improved. The Natomas Business Walk is presented by the city of Sacramento and Natomas Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Sacramento Metro Chamber and supported by the region’s Metro Pulse partnership. The business walks have won acclaim from international economic developers and most recently as a chamber outstanding program for strengthening local economies. The business walks help initiate contacts with businesses in the region and is the start of an ongoing conversat

Drivers, bikers and pedestrians on Del Paso Road Boulevard may have noticed an 18-foot-tall steel post topped with an eyeball peering down upon a 10-foot-tall open book sculpture with giant spectacles on the side. What they are looking at is a piece of Sacramento's public art collection. “We have one of the best public art collections in the country. We have been doing it for over 30 years,” said Art in Public Places Education Coordinator and tour guide Dixie Laws. Art in Public Places is managed by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and is funded by the city and county through ordinances that dedicate 2 percent “of eligible capital improvement project budgets,” for artworks, La

Second Saturday at Old City Gallery On May 14, student artists from Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts Academy will host a Second Saturday showing of their artwork at the Old City Gallery located at 2512 Franklin Boulevard. Admission is free. All painting and drawing students will display at least two pieces they have created during this school year, showcasing everything from paintings that reflect the aesthetics of the Impressionists and Cubists to traditional Chinese brush paintings. "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students' art to be seen in the larger Sacramento arts community!" said Carrie Markel, an artist and teacher at the school. "I hope our community comes out i

Participating in a family-centered activity group in Natomas helped Katie Rozental feel less isolated when she was a new mom. Rozental said she benefits from the Natomas Mothers’ Group, which offers a wide range of activities for mothers and young children up to age 5 for a membership fee of $40 per year. “I’ve been in the group for almost five and a half years now, and I really don’t know what I would have done without (Natomas Mothers’ Group),” Rozental wrote in an email Thursday. “There were times when I was a first-time mom where I felt trapped in my own house and just felt lost, and if I didn’t have the play groups to go to, I think I would have gone crazy! NMG has been an invaluab

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission will decide later this month whether to fine Dan Waters, a former city employee and son of former City Councilman Robbie Waters, $2,500 for his role in altering a permit for a business he co-owned. FPPC staff argue that Waters, the former customer services supervisor at the city’s development department, disregarded the Political Reform Act by improperly interfering with the permit process for Oshima Sushi in Natomas. Waters co-owned LEWA Inc., a cigar business located at a patio at Oshima Sushi. An FPPC report claims that Waters intervened in a permit process in order to improve the business environment for the cigar shop. While staff is

The partially built TGI Friday’s and Sonic Drive-In restaurants at Truxel Road and Gateway Park Boulevard in Natomas were being torn down Wednesday. One of the buildings was crushed by 5 p.m., while the other still has yet to be demolished. Exchange Bank, which now owns the property, is demolishing the buildings in response to a city order. Councilwoman Angelique Ashby started the process of removing the buildings in November, according to her public policy director, Michelle Kille. The structures are located in a commercial area near many chain retail stores, including Walmart and In-N-Out Burger. The buildings were a blight in the community, Kille said. “I am thrilled to see the stru

Found In Sac:  The Oscar Mayer WienerMobile sits outside a hotel in Natomas, March 9th 2011. "IWSHIWR" Fun Fact:  The operators of the WienerMoblie are called "Hotdoggers", and the vehicle has a horn that can play the Oscar Mayer Jingle in 21 different genres. Got an idea for a future Found In Sac?  Send an email to me at SacramentoIsaac@gmail.com    

Natomas Unified School District officials probably know better than any other in California the importance of Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed tax extensions. Voter approval in June has the power to pull this small Sacramento-area district of 10,000+ students back from the brink of bankruptcy. If the proposition fails, state funding to K-12 education could be cut 6 percent – or more – and two local legislators are poised to introduce legislation in the coming weeks that would empower the state to take over the cash-strapped school district in Natomas. While school districts statewide will be equally impacted if Gov. Brown's propositions fail to pass, Natomas Unified will financially be out of

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) introduced the Natomas Basin Flood Protection Improvements Act in the House of Representatives Tuesday, which would provide Natomas families and businesses the flood protection they need by authorizing additional construction work on the Natomas Levee Improvement Program, and in turn create jobs and support the area’s construction industry. "This is an opportunity for the federal government to deliver for the Sacramento region by improving our public safety, strengthening our economy, and creating good jobs for our constituents,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to authorize this project. This Natomas Basin