Rancho Cordova City Council members and city staff attend the luncheon. From left are Councilmember David M. Sander, Ph.D., Mayor Garrett Gatewood, Councilmember Siri Pulipati, Councilmember Linda Budge and City Manager Micah Runner. Photo by Ornella Rossi

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - With cheerleaders, big ideas and a strong sense of hometown pride, Mayor Garrett Gatewood laid out his vision for how Rancho Cordova is transforming into what he called “the new epicenter for the region.”

The Jan. 23 luncheon, held at Rancho Cordova City Hall, was hosted by the Cordova Community Council and the Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce. Each month, the event features a local newsmaker, but Gatewood’s appearance felt more like a celebration and a preview of what he called a pivotal moment for the city.

Gatewood entered the room alongside the Cordova High School cheerleaders, who performed a brief dance and song before attendees settled in for lunch and the mayor’s address.

“We love having fun at Rancho Cordova,” Gatewood said. “But we also know how to put our hats on and get to work.”

Gatewood framed his remarks around what he described as his mayoral theme: “Rancho Cordova, the new epicenter for the region,” built on three pillars, innovation, opportunity and community.

“Epicenter perfectly describes Rancho Cordova right now,” he said. “It’s the center of activity, and we have a lot of activity going on.”

Gatewood entered the room alongside the Cordova High School cheerleaders, who performed a brief dance and song before attendees settled in for lunch and the mayor’s address. Photo by Ornella Rossi

The mayor pointed first to public safety, calling it one of the city’s strongest recent accomplishments. According to Gatewood, Rancho Cordova recorded a 12% reduction in robberies, a 12% drop in burglaries and a 30% decrease in property crime last year, while recording zero homicides.

He credited those results to a combination of technology and policing strategies, including the city’s real-time information center, which helps officers quickly identify suspects and coordinate responses. Gatewood also highlighted Rancho Cordova’s unique partnership with the U.S. Postal Service aimed at combating mail theft, which he said has already resulted in dozens of arrests.

Financial stability was another key focus of the mayor’s address. Gatewood said the city closed the most recent fiscal year with a surplus of more than $3.4 million, while general fund revenues have increased by 35% over the past five years.

“That doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It’s the result of planning ahead, managing our finances responsibly and making decisions with the future in mind.”

Gatewood also praised what he described as Rancho Cordova’s “best-in-class” city services, ranging from the building department and business beautification efforts to workforce development, communications and community grants.

As one example, he pointed to infrastructure spending. The city invested more than $47.8 million in infrastructure projects last year, completing numerous improvements and continuing work on several others.

Looking ahead, Gatewood spent much of his speech outlining major projects he said are positioning Rancho Cordova as a regional destination.

At the top of that list was Downtown DOVA, a development that includes the planned 7,500-seat Cordova Arena. Gatewood described the arena as a “game changer” that will host professional soccer, concerts and year-round events.

“This is the kind of energy we used to have to leave town for,” he said. “Now it’s coming here.”

The arena project is locally owned and privately funded, Gatewood noted, calling it a sign of residents reinvesting their experience, resources and confidence back into the city. Beyond entertainment, he said the project will support thousands of jobs and benefit local businesses in hospitality, retail and construction.

“That arena signals something loud and clear,” Gatewood said. “Rancho Cordova is innovative.”

The Cordova High School cheerleaders opened the Jan. 22 luncheon with a high-energy performance. Photo by Ornella Rossi

Gatewood also highlighted the city’s growing AI ecosystem, which includes partnerships with companies such as Nvidia, HMCI and SMUD, as well as local schools. The goal, he said, is to connect education directly to workforce training and high-paying, in-demand jobs.

“We’re not waiting for the future,” Gatewood said. “We’re building it ourselves.”

Another major project is the Zinfandel Pedestrian Overcrossing, a new bridge over Highway 50 designed to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Gatewood said the bridge will feature a fully separated path and a bold architectural design that could become a city landmark.

“At its core, it’s about safety,” he said. “But it’s also about creating something iconic.”

The bridge will also function as an art walk, featuring works from artists across the United States.

Innovation and opportunity also came together, Gatewood said, in the expansion of the Mather Veterans Village. Phase 4 of the project will add more than 70 apartments for senior homeless veterans and is fully funded, with construction scheduled to begin next month.

“Helping veterans is in Rancho Cordova’s DNA,” Gatewood said. “This project allows us to walk alongside them.”

The village currently houses more than 150 homeless or disabled veterans. With the expansion, Gatewood said the city expects to reach “functional zero” for veteran homelessness locally.

Beyond major projects, Gatewood emphasized community connection. He announced plans for monthly “Coffee with the Mayor” events, held one Tuesday a month from 9 to 10 a.m., and said he will partner with the chamber to visit local restaurants and feature them on social media.

“These are opportunities for us to get to know each other and share what’s happening in our city,” he said.

Gatewood closed on a personal note, reminding attendees that this is his final year on the City Council after more than two decades of living in Rancho Cordova.

“Everything I do this year is a love letter to my city,” Gatewood said. “Signed, sealed and delivered. Here is to a year of innovation, a year of opportunity and a year of community.”