City Council members present the Cordova Community Council with a proclamation for their 65th anniversary. Photo courtesy of the City of Rancho Cordova

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - During the March 3 Rancho Cordova City Council meeting, council and residents celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Cordova Community Council with reflections on the group’s standing commitment to fostering community collaboration and service.

Shelly Blanchard, executive director of the Cordova Community Council, provided a brief update on the council's activities, highlighting the organization’s accomplishments in 2024 and its goals for 2025.

“The whole purpose when we were founded was to foster collaboration and community life here in Rancho Cordova,” Blanchard said. “This spirit of working together to create a vibrant Rancho Cordova is still a hallmark of community life. We encourage and honor volunteerism.”

In 2024, the Cordova Community Council organized 204 events, including signature activities such as the Fourth of July parade, Kids Day in the Park, and the iFest International Festival. Blanchard noted that the community's love for the city and its pride in the events organized by the council were evident.

“Our goal for 2025 is to grow our volunteer community, deliver great events that are fun and boost city pride, and help people fall in love with our city all over again,” Blanchard added.

Jason Harper, director of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association (RCAA), expressed gratitude for the city’s ongoing support of local youth sports. The organization aims to foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy lifestyles.

“The three main priorities we focus on are field enhancement, accessibility, and character development,” said Jason Harper, director of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association. “First, we work with the city and the park district to ensure our kids have incredible, safe venues to play in. Second, we strive to eliminate financial barriers for families by offering generous fee support and a program called ‘Serve to Save,’ where families can reduce registration costs by volunteering for key roles in the league. Lastly, we use sports as a tool to teach life lessons, focusing on character development and healthy competition.”

Cheryl Gleason, the art director and curator at the Mills Station Art & Culture Center (MACC), reflected on the center’s success over the past year. With more than 5,300 visitors attending exhibitions, workshops, and concerts, the MACC has been a hub of artistic expression and community involvement.

“We have done nothing but grow, and this year is all about collaboration,” Gleason said. “Thank you for your continuous support of the arts in Rancho Cordova.”

Council members acknowledged the contributions of these local organizations and their impact on the city’s vibrant community life.

“I’d like to congratulate you on 65 incredible years of service,” Mayor Siri Pulipati said. “You put a smile on the faces of people in Rancho Cordova. This is a passion project – you are the heart of what makes Rancho Cordova smile.”

Councilmember David Sander echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and volunteerism in building a strong community.

“This is what being a citizen, and a resident of a place, is all about,” Sander remarked. “It’s about giving back and being engaged in your community. We are tapping into that in a way that no other jurisdiction is doing.”

The City Council also provided guidance for the preparation of the Fiscal Year 2025-2027 budget, which will govern city operations from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. The priorities for the new budget were discussed in alignment with the city’s long-term vision for growth and sustainability.

The strategic priorities include growing strong neighborhoods by expanding outreach programs and enhancing neighborhood investment strategies. A key proposal is to establish a seven-day-a-week homeless outreach team to provide consistent support.

Another priority is building robust infrastructure, which involves prioritizing critical projects such as  the Zinfandel bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing and the Mather Field Road Corridor Revitalization. The city also aims to lead community growth and innovation, with plans to complete the general plan update and implement a comprehensive economic development strategy.

Creating vibrant community and cultural spaces is a focus, with initiatives to expand arts programs, develop community hubs, and leverage partnerships with local organizations such as the Martin Avenue Cultural Center (MACC) and Soil Born Farms. These areas will guide the city’s development as it plans for future growth and sustainability.

The council also noted that the city’s fiscal health remains stable, though growth in revenue is expected to slow in the coming years.

As the city begins preparations for the next two-year budget cycle, councilmembers reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining Rancho Cordova’s growth and fostering a strong, connected community.