MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
quality of life and doing so in a way that maintains fiscal discipline. As part of this commitment, the City and Cosumnes CSD are convening a community conversation series to hear directly from residents.
You are invited to join these upcoming conversation sessions. All sessions will be held in person at District 56 (8230 Civic Center Drive).
Registration is not required to attend the conversation sessions. Click on the links below to find out more information about these topic specific sessions.
Elk Grove voters approved Measure E during the November 8, 2022, general election. This decision came after the City of Elk Grove and the Cosumnes Community Services District partnered to hear from residents about their priorities for local quality of life services in Elk Grove.
The public identified a clear set of priorities, such as keeping Elk Grove safe and clean, medical emergency and disaster response, streets, parks, addressing homelessness, and local jobs. This public input was provided over two community surveys and numerous community engagement sessions, all of which formed the basis for Measure E.
City and Cosumnes CSD staff remain committed to transparency, listening to residents’ priorities, preserving our
Tuesday, February 7
Conversation Topic: Reducing Crime/Improving 911, Police, Fire, Medical Emergency and Disaster Response/Youth Crime Prevention
Monday, February 13
Conversation Topic: Economic Development: Attracting and Retaining Businesses and Jobs
Monday, February 27
Conversation Topic: Addressing Homelessness
Tuesday, February 28
Conversation Topic: Maintaining Streets and Parks
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2023
January
FIRE DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PLAN YEAR ONE UPDATE
The Board approved the 2022-2027 Fire Department Strategic Plan (“Plan”) on January 19, 2022. The Plan was developed using a community-driven strategic planning process that included input from external representative groups and internal Fire Department personnel. The Plan builds upon existing strengths within the Fire Department’s broad scope of public safety services, by identifying meaningful opportunities for improvement while developing an achievable road map for the future. Most importantly, the Plan was built upon and expands upon the 2021 Board-adopted Cosumnes CSD Strategic Plan.
The 2022-2027 Fire Department Strategic Plan serves as a guiding document for moving forward to implementation and continuous improvement. It includes six strategies, 23 goals, and 121 objectives. The strategies are:
• Strategy 1: Effective emergency response
• Strategy 2: Community risk reduction and preparedness
• Strategy 3: Health, wellness, and support
• Strategy 4: Infrastructure, resources, and process efficiency
• Strategy 5: Personnel development and education
• Strategy 6: Communication
Progress is being made across all six strategies with many objectives at the “Complete”, “Ongoing”, and “In Progress” status level.
The Strategic Plan serves as a living document and a work in progress, subject to change under evolving circumstances. During year one, the department faced unexpected obstacles and priorities such as changes in personnel, staff vacancies, and a department wide focus upon two academies, which ultimately required timeframes to be adjusted for nine objectives. All nine of these objectives were originally scheduled for year one which were either modified to another year or a multiple year timespan. Despite obstacles and timeframe adjustments, staff have made progress during this first year of the Strategic Plan.
Fire personnel will continue to update the department’s internal Strategic Plan tracking matrix and meet quarterly to discuss current objectives and tasks. During this process, objectives may be placed on hold or timeframes modified due to new priorities, resources, or needs from the community. Any adjustments or modifications will be communicated to the Board at the next annual update.
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NEW EXECUTIVE LEADER AT COSUMNES CSD
Cosumnes Community Services District announced the appointment of Amanda Chehrezad to the position of Administrator of General Services. With over 20 years of public, private and nonprofit experience, Dr. Chehrezad will oversee the district’s Administrative Services Department, including its finance, risk management, public affairs, and information technology divisions.
Prior to joining the district, Dr. Chehrezad served as the Regional Director for USA Girl Scouts Overseas in Japan. In this role, she supported the shift to modernize the operating model, established strategic goals and plans, led membership efforts, and increased revenue streams. Dr. Chehrezad also previously served as the TOMODACHI Women's Leadership Program Manager at the U.S.-Japan Council where she created an organizational culture of inclusion and developed long-term women's leadership goals and objectives.
Previously, Dr. Chehrezad was responsible for the strategic management of multimillion-dollar capacity building projects for international law enforcement officials under the U.S. Department of State's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section in Mexico. She has managed international programs for over 200 scholars and produced national public education campaigns for prominent U.S. nonprofits.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Cosumnes CSD community. I look forward to working with community members, local partners, elected officials, diverse stakeholders, and district team members to support all aspects of the district’s operations,” said Dr. Chehrezad.
Dr. Chehrezad holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Temple University, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University, Japan Campus, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California at Davis.
Dr. Chehrezad resides in Davis, Calif. with her husband and three children. Her employment with the district began Jan. 1.
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COSUMNES RECREATION OPPORTUNITY
FUND
The District began accepting applications for the Cosumnes Recreation Opportunity Fund (CROF) for 2023. CROF provides financial assistance for low-income residents who participate in recreation activities offered by the Parks & Recreation Department.
Applications will continue to be accepted until all 50 scholarships are awarded.
DISTRICT POLICIES
Effective January 1, 2023, the District implemented the Employee Choice Holiday. This holiday was implemented to recognize the diversity of holidays, celebrations, or other significant dates important to personnel. As a part of the initial implementation, eligible employees received a credit of 8 hours on January 1, 2023. On July 1, 2023, and every July after that, eligible employees will receive another 8 hours (maximum 8 hours). Please see District Policy 3310 for more information.
Other policies which went into effect January 1, 2023, include 2112 Procurement, 2114 Procurement Card, and 2125 Budget Preparation. Lastly, policy 2175 Grant Management has also been updated as of January 18, 2023. Please visit the policies button on the Cosumnes Connect Intranet homepage to familiarize yourself with the updates.
RECREATION ADVENTURES FUNDRAISER
On Thursday, December 1st District personnel wore Maroon to show their support and recognition of International People with Disabilities Day. In addition, a fundraiser was held at BJ’s restaurant where $366 was raised in support of the Cosumnes CSD RAD program.
GIRL SCOUT TROOP BOOK BOX
Stay tuned on upcoming programs and events hosted by Parks and Recreation!
Programs & Events
Danielle and Faith are genuinely making a lasting impression on their community. Through Girl Scout Troop 569-34, this dynamic duo has put a fantastic little library (Book Box) at Albiani Recreation Center - all to promote early childhood literacy initiatives! Their enthusiasm shone through as they captivated Tiny Tot families with an interactive reading of everyone's favorite book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Thanks for showing outstanding leadership, Danielle and Faith!
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ALL HANDS-ON DECK WORK-DAY
Park & Golf Operations hosted their quarterly All Hands-on Deck Work Day on Thursday, December 15th at Laguna Town Hall. Personnel participated in a Strengths Finders Training, received an overview of 2022 hotline calls, and supervisors provided activity stations for staff to rotate through, which provided teambuilding opportunities and fostered camaraderie.
EG FOOD BANK DONATION
from the 7 sites and donated over 800 lbs. of can foods to the Elk Grove Food Bank on December 6th. During the food drive each class talked about the importance of philanthropy and counted the food items.
FLANNELS & FLAPJACKS
Programs & Events Stay tuned on upcoming programs and events hosted by
and Recreation! 5
Parks
perishable
items
On Saturday, December 3rd Cosumnes CSD and the Pride of Laguna Creek Lions Club hosted
to help celebrate the season.
guests
magical winter wonderland breakfast at Laguna Town Hall. Special guests included Santa, Sammy the Duck,
Pumpkin & Sparky! UPCOMING EVENTS Sweetheart Soiree 2/3/23 from 6pm-9pm @ District 56 2/4/23 from 5pm-8pm @ District 56 Kid’s Night Out 2/14/22 from 5:30-8:30pm @ Wackford Making Waves Swim Scholarships Applications open 2/15/23 Scholarship Includes: Two sessions of swim lessons ($146 Value), swimsuit, towel, and goggles
Tiny Tot Preschools collected
food
Flannels & Flapjacks
568
enjoyed a
Peter
TOWN SQUARE PARK REVITALIZATION
The contract for Town Square Park has been approved. Town Square Park is a 6.2-acre neighborhood park built in 1992 and located in the West Laguna area at 3020 Renwick Avenue. Renovations will include replacing the existing play structure equipment, adding a new 2 to 5 aged play area, new accessible concrete pathways, a new prefabricated shade structure, an adult fitness station, half-court basketball, site furnishings, and planting and irrigation improvements.
A design workshop was held on October 24, 2019, to discuss and review the design proposal for the revitalization and upgrade of Town Square Park. As a result of the feedback received from participants at the park design workshop and online comments received during the community outreach process, the conceptual plan has been modified to include a basketball court.
Construction will start early 2023 with an anticipated opening date for end of year 2023.
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Programs & Events Stay tuned on upcoming programs and events hosted by Parks and Recreation!
TOP 5 CAUSES OF FIRE
In 1995, California became the first state to ban smoking in public places. Banning smoking in public places may improve the dining experience, but it obviously did not impact the risks associated with smoking at home.
Home fires started by smoking are the Number 4 cause of fires in the United States. Additionally, fires caused by smoking were the leading cause of fatal fires from 2012-2016. Overall, 1 in every 31 home smoking fires resulted in death during that time frame.
If you smoke, we strongly recommend that you follow these safety tips to avoid a life-altering fire.
If you smoke, smoke outside. Most deaths related to smoking fires started in living rooms, family rooms, and bedrooms.
Keep cigarettes, lighters, matches, and other smoking materials up high or locked up and out of the reach of children.
Use a deep and sturdy ashtray; keep it 36” away from anything that can burn.
Make sure the cigarette butt is completely out before discarding it. The best way is to soak in water or sand.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER smoke near someone using medical oxygen. Oxygen will increase ignition potential and increase the speed in which the fire spreads. Fire Marshal Lantz Rey has personally investigated two fatal fires that are suspected to be related to smoking while on medical oxygen.
One in four deaths related to smoking fires is not the smoker whose cigarette started the fire. You owe it to the people you live with to smoke in a responsible manner.
We hope you stay safe and have a great day.
Never discard cigarettes in landscaped areas.
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FINANCE DIVISION
The District’s Finance Division has recently worked with Richardson & Company, LLP to complete the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) which summarized the District's financial activities and fund balances as of June 30, 2022. The 2022 ACFR is prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
The financial statements contained within the ACFR were audited by Richardson & Company, LLP who issued an unmodified opinion, the optimal opinion issued by independent auditors.
A job well done to the Finance Division!
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