Rocklin's 2022 accomplishments and plans for the year

The former and new mayors of Rocklin discuss the achievements from last year and talk about their plans for this year. Accomplishments of 2022 As a councilmember in 2022, Mayor Ken Broadway said he is proud of adopting "a balanced Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget ensuring the city of Rocklin remains fiscally sound." The Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget was adopted on June. 8, according to the city of Rocklin's website at rocklin.ca.us. Broadway said the budget includes adding job positions, including a "one full-time frozen firefighter position," two police officer positions, and the adding of a full-time irrigation technician position. Included in the new budget, Broadway said, is the "completed Phase II of the Sunset Whitney Recreation Area (SWRA) East Trails restoration opening more than two additional miles of walkway in the park," and "set aside funds for construction of restrooms at the SWRA and to fund the bike pump track at Whitney Community Park." The Sunset Whitney Recreation Area is a project that includes a set of walking and bike trails located near the Whitney Ranch community and amenities such as a playground, open turf and pickleball courts "I was thrilled to see us nearly double the trails we have open in the Sunset Whitney Recreation Area, now more than five miles of trails for the entire community to enjoy," said Councilmember Bill Halldin, who was mayor last year. Halldin said that during 2022, the city "had a great year in working with the business community to facilitate business relocations to Rocklin and see quite a few empty storefronts and office buildings get new tenants. I worked to use my platform as mayor to promote our local businesses and welcome many new, unique businesses to our community." Plans for 2023 Both Broadway and Halldin said they are looking forward to the completion of the Sunset Whitney Recreation Area Master Planning process. "We have been working on a master plan for more recreational opportunities for the Sunset Whitney Recreation Area and I'm looking forward to that plan being implemented, including bringing pickleball to that area," Halldin said, "We also should break ground shortly on a two-acre bike "pump track" at Whitney Park that I think will be very popular with kids and add a new kind of recreational amenity to our community." Halldin also said the city will be working on "a number of road improvements" addressing specific traffic issues in "various parts of town." He said a Rocklin capital improvement list has "quite a few projects," that are "big and small."He is specifically interested in improvements to Rocklin Road near the Interstate 80 interchange. Why it's great to live in Rocklin Broadway said that "the fact that Rocklin maintains its small-town feel with many of the benefits of a large city" is one reason why he loves living here. Halldin shares the same small-town sentiments, "I've lived in Rocklin for more than 23 years and, while it's doubled in population, I still think we have the feel of a much smaller town." Halldin also appreciates "how many people I was able to connect with and encourage people to continue to reach out with any questions or concerns." He wants to make sure the community knows they can always reach out to him "and the rest of the council." Residents can email Halldin at bill.halldin@rocklin.ca.us or calling 916-718-1251. Broadway also appreciates that the small-town atmosphere allows residents to reach out to the city. "Whether it's residents reaching out to me directly with questions, people waving to you as you are out for a walk or running in your neighborhood or sharing their thoughts and ideas with you when you are at the grocery store," Broadway said, "Rocklin is a great place to live."