Home: Recent News
A Closer Look at Community Development Block Grants: Putting Seniors First
Senior First wants to help older adults in Placer County maintain their independence and thrive. To do this, the organization offers programs that help seniors with nutrition, transportation options, and access to information and other long-term support services.
Rocklin Historical Society Honored at Wall of Recognition Ceremony
Rocklin City Council, residents, and members of the Rocklin Historical Society gathered on November 7 to celebrate the organization’s accomplishments and unveil the etching of their name in granite on the Wall of Recognition.
“Rocklin Historical Society has done an excellent job at helping us preserve the collective memory of the City,” said Rocklin Mayor Joe Patterson. “I don’t think there is anything remotely like it in the area, with all their tremendous accomplishments.”
A Closer Look at Community Development Block Grants: Stand Up Placer’s Support for Survivors
Once survivors of domestic violence recognize the need to leave an abusive home, it takes an average of seven “leaves” before a survivor is finally able to make the break. One such survivor is “Hannah,” who participated in several programs with Stand Up Placer and now lives independently with her children. She credits the nonprofit with changing her family’s life and hopes to one day return as a volunteer “to carry the burdens of women still stuck” in the cycle of domestic violence.
Exceptional Fire Safety Rating Benefits City
The City of Rocklin is in the top 4.1% of the nation in fire protection, according to a recent evaluation by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).
On a scale of 1-10, with a rating of 1 denoting the best ability to respond to a fire and a 10 signaling little or no fire protection, the City was classified as a 2 on the Public Protection Classification (PPC). Only 1,800 communities in the country have this rating or higher.
Willard Park Grand Opening Gallery
The City of Rocklin’s newest park, Willard Park, had its Grand Opening on Saturday, October 26. This all-new park features rubberized play surfacing, ramped access, musical and sensory features, and other amenities for children of all abilities. There is also a sand box, a Little Free Library, and a hard-top seating BBQ area as well as ample grass for play. The park is located at 820 Lazy Trail Drive.
Check out the photos of everyone who came to celebrate!
October 22 Council Meeting Update
Johnson-Springview Park Splash Pad Update
Plans for a new splash pad at Johnson-Springview Park are taking shape after City Council accepted staff’s recommendation to construct a water feature similar to amenities in Kathy Lund and Whitney Community Parks.
New Homes and Businesses Approved for Old K-Mart Site
The long-vacant former K-Mart property at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Pacific St. will undergo an extreme makeover after City Council, on Oct. 8, unanimously approved plans for development of a mix of residential and commercial buildings.
St. Anton Communities, the developer of the project, will transform the 15.4-acre lot with 180 income-restricted workforce housing apartments, 40 single-family homes, and two commercial structures.
Quarry Park Amphitheater Is a Little More Green
After four seasons of incredible concerts, the recent addition of a permanent green room behind the Platinum Living Amphitheater (PLA) at Quarry Park allows for more and even better events.
The new green room— which is actually painted red to match current theme—features two bathrooms, three private rooms, and a sitting room that binds it all together. The layout enables multiple acts to have private space, leading to more relaxed talent and an improved experience for guests.
Code Enforcement Cares: Volunteers Clean Up Local Property
Uninhabitable: That was what a local property was deemed by the Rocklin Building Department after a recent fire. On top of that, City Code Enforcement staff was obligated to file a number of violations after seeing preexisting junk and debris that covered the rear yard. Maybe the most concerning aspect of the situation was that the property owners did not have the resources to address the problems and needed help.
Rocklin Ranked in 100 Best Places to Live
The City of Rocklin was recently named as one of the 100 best places to live in America by Money Magazine!
Accessibility and Utility Upgrades at Johnson-Springview Park
Johnson-Springview Park was recently upgraded to better serve residents who frequently use the park and its facilities, and more improvements are underway. Ten new handicap spaces in the parking lot were completed in June after the need for additional ADA parking was identified. Every new space allows for senior and disabled residents to better access Johnson-Springview and its facilities.
West Trails at Sunset Whitney Rec Area Now Open
More than 150 Rocklin residents kicked off their Labor Day weekend on Aug. 30 by being part of the first group to officially walk the newly opened West Trails at the Sunset Whitney Recreation Area.
The West Trails offer 2.7 miles of paths, ranging from the parking lot and main trail access at 4201 Midas Avenue to secondary trail access points at Whitney Blvd. and at Sunset Blvd.
The special opening ceremony included remarks from Rocklin City leaders and volunteers, a ribbon cutting and the inaugural walk.
Woofstock 2019 Gallery
The 13th annual Woofstock, a free event for dogs and their owners, raised money for local canine rescue groups and the Rocklin dog park on August 25, 2019. The fun included wiener dog races, a costume parade, live music, art projects, food trucks, and more! Dog-themed vendors were a-plenty, and a free rattlesnake avoidance training clinic by Get Rattled ensured that all dogs stay safe this season. Check out the photos of this year’s entertainment!
Aug 13 Council Meeting Recap
New Rules Coming for Short-Term Rentals and Strategic Plan Updates
Short-Term Rental Regulations Designed for Accountability
Owners who list Rocklin properties for short-term rent on sites like Airbnb and VRBO will soon need to comply with new regulations approved by City Council on August 13.
The new ordinance requires people listing short-term rentals in Rocklin to obtain a permit from the City and sets ground rules for operation, which include:
Roy Ruhkala Honored for Community Contributions
The City honored the late Roy Ruhkala and the entire Ruhkala family on July 28 at Quarry Park Adventures with a special ceremony.
The event featured remarks from City Council and the Rocklin Historical Society, in addition to a special video presentation, and free cake and root beer floats.
Rocklin PD Joins ‘Neighbors’ by Ring to Provide Users Real-Time Crime and Safety Information
The Rocklin Police Department is joining the free Neighbors app by Ring to provide the Rocklin community with real-time, local crime and safety information. The Neighbors network already has millions of users and has been instrumental in catching package thieves, stopping burglaries, and keeping neighborhoods safe.
Roundabout at Rocklin and Pacific Takes Steps Forward
On Tuesday, July 9, the Rocklin City Council approved two resolutions related to the traffic roundabout planned at the current intersection of Rocklin Road and Pacific Street. The resolutions provided approval for needed changes to the roundabout’s design and authorized Rocklin staff to begin discussions with property owners to purchase the small amount of privately-owned surrounding land needed to build the roundabout.
Rocklin named the 7th Best California City to Live In by Business Site
The City of Rocklin was recently ranked as the 7th best California city to live in, according to the business website chamberofcommerce.org.
The site ranked a total of 2,509 qualified cities (those with populations above 25,000 and enough data for analysis) by five factors: employment (number of establishments, median earnings); housing (owner-occupied housing with a mortgage, monthly housing costs); quality of life (work commute, poverty levels); education (percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher); and health (obesity ratios).
Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Budget Prioritizes Residents and Responsibility
The Rocklin City Council adopted a balanced Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget on Tuesday, June 25, with $72,714,500 listed in operating expenses and $12,944,500 for capital expenditures.
This budget is fiscally responsible and represents a sound operational plan for the upcoming year. Although the City anticipates the local economy will continue to be strong through June 2020, Rocklin is taking a conservative approach by controlling service expansion and expanding reserves where possible.