Several residents raised concerns about the city’s use of automated license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety. Desgined by Freepik

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Cordova City Council discussed preserving historic sites, received an update on local policing and reviewed the city’s mid-year financial outlook during its March 2 meeting.

Community Development Director Darcy Goulart led a discussion on how the city might identify and preserve historic buildings and sites. No formal action was taken, but staff requested direction from council on next steps.

Rancho Cordova’s General Plan includes policies aimed at protecting cultural and historical resources that contribute to the city’s identity. Goulart said the city has a range of historic assets tied to Native American history, gold mining, the railroad, the Pony Express, Mather Field and rocket testing at Aerojet.

Staff presented options for the council, including developing a comprehensive preservation work plan or focusing first on protecting structures already listed in the General Plan.

Resident Helen Beshaw spoke in support of preservation but raised concerns about recognizing the land’s original inhabitants.

Brenda Gustin, speaking on behalf of Preserve the American River, urged the city to protect the Pfingst Realty Company building.

Vice Mayor Linda Budge said the city should revisit its historical records and develop a preservation process.

“At this point our General Plan is really out of date and not particularly accurate,” Budge said. “From my perspective the most important thing we do is direct staff to come back with some sort of preservation process.”

City Manager Micah Runner said once the council identifies sites of interest, staff could conduct further research into their cultural significance.

Outgoing Police Chief Matt Tamayo also presented an update on police operations and crime trends.

Tamayo said calls for service have declined over the past five years as more residents use online reporting tools. Overall crime in the city has decreased, though some categories have fluctuated.

Property crimes showed the most significant drop, decreasing 22% from 2024 to 2025. Burglaries, larceny and motor vehicle theft all declined. Arson incidents increased, with many cases involving unhoused individuals starting fires.

The department reported progress addressing mail theft. Since partnering with U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigators in April 2024, Rancho Cordova police have made 22 arrests or issued warrants related to mail theft cases.

Tamayo said the department has also implemented a strategy known as “ENF5,” which focuses enforcement efforts in areas with higher crime levels. The approach began with increased officer visibility, then expanded to directed enforcement, specialized teams and coordination with neighborhood services.

Traffic enforcement over the past year included 3,239 citations, 60 grant-funded enforcement operations and 38 DUI arrests.

Several residents raised concerns about the city’s use of automated license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety.

“As a resident of Rancho Cordova, I am concerned about the use of automated license plate readers,” resident Kristen Gast said, calling the system “an example of severe overreach and surveillance.”

Other speakers questioned data privacy and potential legal risks.

“Currently, Rancho Cordova has 52 or more of these ALPR systems within city limits, and while they are marketed for safety, they represent a significant privacy concern and an even bigger security risk,” said resident Autumn Grieshop.

Resident Julea Shaw added, “As a victim of mail theft these Flock cameras are not making me feel safer and the violation of our rights is not worth it.”

Lastly Caitlyn Sheehan added, “I am asking that we suspend the system until we confirm no unintended illegal use has occurred and the public have more consideration in the implementation.”

In response, Tamayo acknowledged the concerns but said the department has safeguards in place.

“The commenters are not incorrect; those are valid concerns that did happen in other states,” Tamayo said. “It is our goal and mission to make sure that it isn’t abused.”

He said the city’s system does not share data with out-of-state agencies or federal immigration enforcement and has helped solve crimes.

“Since our Flock network went live, we had 19 mail theft arrests and 13 of them were a result of using Flock. We also use these cameras for other crime preventions.” Tamayo said. “It’s not a cure-all, but it is a valuable tool for investigative follow-up.”

Administrative Services Director Kim Juran presented the city’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 mid-year financial report, which shows finances generally performing as expected.

Property taxes remain the city’s largest revenue source, accounting for 35% of the general fund. Rancho Cordova’s assessed property value increased 9.5% this fiscal year, the highest growth rate in Sacramento County.

Sales tax, the city’s second-largest revenue source at 25% of the general fund, is expected to decline compared with recent years. Officials project Bradley-Burns sales tax revenue will end the fiscal year about $700,000 below budget.

Hotel tax revenue, also known as transient occupancy tax, is currently up 2.7% compared with last year and is expected to exceed the city’s conservative budget estimate despite reduced occupancy at some hotels.

Building permit activity reflects a slowdown in residential construction, with new home permits down nearly 50% compared with the same time last year. However, commercial permit activity has been stronger than expected and has already surpassed the budget at the mid-year point.

Most city expenditures remain at or below budget levels. The largest expense is the city’s contract with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office for public safety services, which accounts for about 37% of the general fund.

Separate voter-approved sales tax measures, Measures H and R, are also performing better than anticipated and are projected to exceed budgeted revenues by about $500,000 each by the end of the fiscal year.