Latest news with #CBS13
CBS News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
1 year later, how is Sacramento addressing backyard encroachments onto city property?
SACRAMENTO — It's been one year since a viewer reached out to CBS Sacramento about the encroachments on city property happening along the Niños Parkway in south Natomas. The area is between San Juan and West El Camino Avenue, where people have been extending their backyards beyond their backyard fence lines. "There's one guy that always takes his lawn mower and goes up and down trying to keep Niños Parkway trimmed up, at least," said Annette Emery, who lives along the parkway. Many neighbors' main concern with the space has been over fire danger, but they have extended their backyards to the point where some have poured concrete to create basketball courts and batting cages. "Back in the day, the City of Sacramento allowed us to do planter boxes," Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes said. Talamantes told CBS13 that after reviewing the long history of the parkway, she wants to bring that program back, where they will charge people a yearly property tax fee to plant beyond their fence lines. They would not be allowed to create permanent structures, and anyone on the path would need to have access to the space. "What's most important to me is figuring out a solution that can work for the city, the city park's department and for neighbors," said Talamantes. Early in June 2024, Talamantes told CBS 13 that the city would be sending enforcement letters to neighbors with encroachments. She claims those letters were sent, but neighbors told CBS13 they never received them. George Azar has an encroachment along the parkway and spoke with us last summer. "I think, if anything, they should maybe be reimbursing some of these homeowners who are maintaining and allowing the public to use it," said Azar last July. Back then, he showed CBS13 his backyard extension that pretty much looked like a park with a bench and concrete from where a basketball court once was. CBS13 spoke with him again, nearly a year later, and he said he finds the plan to have them pay a fee to maintain city property "ridiculous." "We're in a budget deficit right now, the City of Sacramento," said Talamantes. "If people are willing to step up and plant some beautiful mustard seeds or plants, then why not?" Talamantes plans to submit the proposal by next week. She said the fee used to be $25 a year and expects it could range from that to $75. The city attorney will need to look over liability concerns. Neighbors are highly concerned about fire danger and said that city crews mowed down the brush about a month ago, but it is already growing back quickly. CBS13 put in a request with the city to see if it plans on doing any more vegetation management along the parkway before the summer heat.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Uncovered documents reveal decades-long structural issues as Modesto HOA pushes $4 million assessment
MODESTO — Homeowners at Walnut Orchards Condominiums in Modesto are facing a sudden $25,000 special assessment to repair structural issues with decks, stairs, and landings. But decades-old records show these problems may not be new. The Walnut Orchards Homeowners Association (HOA) claims the repairs are necessary due to age and deterioration, stating: "The property was built in 1981. There's no way we can confirm the maintenance performed since then." However, a 1996 engineering report obtained by CBS13 reveals that many of the same issues were already documented nearly 30 years ago, including rotted balconies, unsafe stair landings, and water damage. That report estimated repair costs between $2 and $6 million at the time. In 2019, the current HOA board approved a reserve study estimating most balconies had a remaining life of 25 to 30 years. That same board is now claiming that 77 out of 80 balconies need immediate replacement. Despite this shift, a 2025 budget disclosure filed in September 2024 stated no special assessment was anticipated and that reserves were sufficient to fund major repairs. Just months later, the HOA began pursuing a $3.96 million special assessment, with designs already completed and contractors reportedly selected. Monthly HOA dues have risen nearly 80 percent since 2020, from $325 to $582 per unit. But reserve fund health remains virtually unchanged, increasing from 26% in 2019 to just 26.5% in 2025. While the HOA claims 41.7% of monthly dues go to reserves, no documentation has been provided to reconcile that with stagnant reserve growth. Management company Common Interest, which oversees the property, maintains that the community has been regularly maintained. But a video filmed in April shows workers saying the roofs and gutters had never been cleaned prior to that day. One is heard saying, "By the looks of it, I don't think so." Some residents fear they could lose their homes if the assessment proceeds. Ballots determining whether the community will take out a loan to pay the assessment are scheduled to be opened on May 28. CBS13 has reached out to Common Interest and HOA board representatives multiple times since March but has received no comment.
CBS News
03-05-2025
- CBS News
Fairfield mom says preschool program "lost" her 2-year-old for unknown amount of time, files police report
FAIRFIELD — A mother filed a police report this week after she says a Fairfield preschool program "lost" her child for an unknown amount of time. "That's a mother's worst fear, not knowing where your kid is," said Kelsey Craig, the child's mother. It happened at the Fairfield Community Center on Tuesday morning. Craig's 2-year-old daughter, Scarlett, was enrolled in the "Terrific Tots" day program when she allegedly slipped out of sight. The Fairfield Police Department confirmed to CBS13 that it is investigating to see if a crime occurred. "Whether this is negligence or child endangerment, an oversight just doesn't do it. There has to be some type of actionable change going forward to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else's baby," Craig said. Craig said that this happened on her daughter's first day at the program and she will not be returning. At pick up on Tuesday, Craig said a teacher pulled her aside and explained that an incident had occurred. "She told me that my child got out. My immediate follow-up was, did you realize she was missing or did someone return her? And it was the latter," Craig said. Craig said that the teacher admitted they were short-staffed that day, and a program director told her a substitute had been called in to help staff the classroom of toddlers. The mother does not know how her daughter got out of the locked classroom. She said her 2-year-old was found down the hallway and in the community center lobby. "I trust you with the care of my child. For her to be unsupervised, unattended, unaccounted for, I can't accept that," Craig said. It is not known how long Scarlett was roaming. For a mother, the mind jumps to the unthinkable. "If she would have been snatched? If she would have traveled outside?" Craig said. "It could have been a lot worse." Scarlett was just steps from the automatic front door, leading to the parking lot. At that time, Craig said, a front desk worker at the community center stepped in. "She told me she was out of eyesight, but within earshot, she heard a man questioning my daughter, 'Where's your mommy, where's your mommy?' I just am very thankful that she was in the right place at the right time," Craig said of the worker who helped return her child to the classroom. She is demanding accountability from the City of Fairfield. A spokesperson provided this statement in response to CBS13: "The safety of our early childhood program participants is of the highest importance to the City of Fairfield. We are investigating this matter and have no further comment at this time." Craig hopes to hear from the city soon, wanting an update on what has changed. "I researched a lot of programs and felt this one was right. My trust is irretrievably broken," Craig said. Craig also says she tried to obtain video surveillance from the lobby to see how long her 2-year-old child was unaccounted for but was told it is part of the investigation and could not be released.
CBS News
30-04-2025
- CBS News
Claudette Stefanian
Email Claudette Claudette Stefanian joins CBS13 as a general assignment reporter. Stefanian has worked as a television news reporter up and down the state of California for the past several years and spent the last three years working as a reporter and fill-in anchor at FOX40 in Sacramento. Before that, she joined NBC7 in San Diego as a reporter just as the pandemic was taking the world by storm. Stefanian had a brief stop in Fresno and has also reported in Bakersfield. While in Bakersfield, she was frequently pulled to cover breaking news in California as a breaking news correspondent, going live every few minutes for different sister stations across the country. She has done wall-to-wall coverage on the Carr Fire and covered the tragic mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks. Stefanian is proud of her Armenian heritage and has spent most of her life in California. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated with a degree in rhetoric. She also attended the University of Southern California, receiving a master's degree in journalism.
CBS News
30-04-2025
- CBS News
All-volunteer patrol program to cover Sacramento's Del Rio Bike Trail
SACRAMENTO — Bike trails in Sacramento will soon have an extra layer of security. The parks department is teaming up with a group of volunteers to begin patrolling the city's bike paths. The American River Bike Patrol (ARBP) is a volunteer team -- in bright red uniforms -- that stops to assist when people have a flat tire, a broken bike, or need first aid. Team members have no law enforcement powers, but they keep an eye on the trails and can alert authorities when spotting problems like homeless encampments, loose dogs, and illegal activity. The team began in 2020, riding along the American River Parkway. Since then, they've expanded to Roseville, Folsom Lake, and El Dorado County. Now, they're launching a major new expansion effort and will be patrolling more than 70 miles of paths in the city of Sacramento. The new area includes the Del Rio Trail through south Sacramento. Rich Fowler, an ARBP team leader, lives in the neighborhood and has spotted problems in the past. "A homeless man had lit fires all along the trail," he said. They will also be riding along the northern parkway in Del Paso Heights. Last year, CBS13 first reported that cars were illegally driving on this path, putting pedestrians and bike riders at risk. "I think there's a lot of concern about what's going on on the trails," Fowler said. Together, the 110 members ride about 40,000 miles a year and have helped more than 1,700 people with medical emergencies. "Twice, we've been named the top bike patrol in the nation, and that's saying a lot because there are a lot of bike patrollers across the United States," said ARBP director John Poimiroo. They rely on donations to pay for supplies, and now they're looking for more members to help patrol this increased response area. "We're running thin, so recruitment is going to be really important," Fowler said. The team will begin patrolling Sacramento city paths on May 1, which is also the beginning of the annual Bike Month.
