Celebrating 20 Years of Cityhood in Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - As we celebrate 20 years of cityhood in Rancho Cordova, we invite you to take a trip down memory lane in a special series of articles that showcases the behind-the-scenes fight for cityhood, and everything that makes Rancho Cordova today a great place to live, work, learn and play. This is the first article in that series.

Rancho Cordova officially became a city on July 1, 2003. The road to incorporation was a 40-year effort paved with leadership, grit and determination.

The city’s first incorporation drive occurred in 1960-61, but it did not go far. In 1978, an incorporation committee formed. Civic leaders started with a million dreams to improve quality of life, increase representation of local government, provide greater control over community decisions, and provide an increased level of service.

These leaders commissioned a study which found that such a city would be financially viable. But later that year, California voters passed Proposition 13, which completely changed the way in which government is funded in California, and the cityhood drive was put on hold. A Sphere of Influence was adopted, and other signature drives were attempted, but nothing was successful.

Litigation and a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed Citrus Heights to put cityhood on the ballot in 1996, and it passed. The Rancho Cordova Incorporation Committee was inspired to re-form. A well-organized and focused petition drive, signature-gathering and fundraising campaign resulted in the required number of signatures with a 97% accuracy rate. The committee negotiated an incorporation deal and revenue neutrality with Sacramento County.

In November 2002, cityhood was on the ballot and passed with 78% of voters approving it, an unprecedented number in California. The City of Rancho Cordova officially became an independent city on July 1, 2003, with hundreds of people attending a grand celebration at the historic Mills Station.

Over the last 20 years, the city has grown from leasing its first office on White Rock Road at Gold Canal Drive to seven locations, including a beautiful City Hall, Neighborhood Services Center, Police Station, Corporation Yard, Youth Center, historic cemetery, and arts and culture center. Rancho Cordova has experienced 47% growth to over 81,000 residents. The city has seen a 61% drop in crime and celebrates being a safe community and family friendly place to call home.