At the May 27 meeting, the Rocklin City Council covered several important items focused on community recognition, long-term financial planning, and public safety.

Council Proclaims May as ALS Awareness Month

The meeting began with the presentation of a proclamation declaring May 2025 as ALS Awareness Month. The proclamation supports individuals and families affected by ALS and promotes continued awareness and advocacy efforts related to the disease.

Proposed Fiscal Years 2025/26 and 2026/27 Budget and CIP

City executive staff provided an in-depth overview of the proposed biennial budget for fiscal years 2025/26 and 2026/27 and the 2026–2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Beginning in fiscal year 2025/26, the City will transition to a biennial budget cycle. This approach supports long-term fiscal planning, aligns with the City Council’s strategic goals, and enhances operational efficiency.

The proposed combined Operating and CIP budgets total $111.8 million in fiscal year 2025/26 and $137.5 million in fiscal year 2026/27. These budgets support 268.5 full-time equivalent positions and continue to fund essential public services. The General Fund budgets are balanced at $69.5 million in 2025/26 and $71.2 million in 2026/27, reflecting modest revenue growth largely driven by increases in property and sales tax.

Expenditures in the General Fund are projected at $69.4 million in 2025/26 and $71.1 million in 2026/27, with Police and Fire services accounting for 56% of the spending. No new staffing or program expansions are proposed due to limited discretionary revenue growth and increasing costs related to pensions, retiree medical, and insurance.

The six-year Capital Improvement Program totals $7.7 million in 2025/26 and $30.1 million in 2026/27 across all funds. The General Fund will contribute $328,000 in 2025/26 and $520,000 in 2026/27 to support various priority projects and equipment needs. Projects were evaluated based on strategic goals, identified community needs, and available resources.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map

Chief Ryan Brayton introduced an ordinance to adopt the Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) map, as required under Assembly Bill 211. The State Fire Marshal designated 1,421 acres in Rocklin as Moderate FHSZ and 1,623 acres as High FHSZ. There are no areas designated as Very High FHSZ.

These designations bring new requirements under Assembly Bill 38, including defensible space and fire-hardening measures for properties within High FHSZs during real estate transactions. The City published an informational webpage and map to assist the public in understanding the changes. More information is available at www.rocklin.ca.us/fhsz.

For a detailed review of the full meeting and discussions, you can watch the recorded session here.

The next regular City Council meeting will take place on June 10, 2025, and the public is always encouraged to participate and stay informed on important community matters.