NEW MAYOR, NEW ERA
Three new councilors sworn in to Chico council; park camping code changed
CHICO » The new lineup of the Chico City Council, as 2020 draws to a close, was named Tuesday night — closing out the 2020 election results.
Ann Schwab opened her last meeting as mayor as a crowd with signs for the local PAC Citizens for a Safe Chico gathered outside the doors.
Three new elects Deepika Tandon, Andrew Coolidge and Kami Denlay joined the meeting Tuesday for the swearing in ceremony before taking their seats. Sean Morgan, Scott Huber, Kasey Reynolds and Alex Brown continue on the council with Morgan having won another four years in his seat.
And, the new mayor of Chico has been named — Coolidge, returning to the council, with Reynolds as vice mayor. Morgan nominated Coolidge for mayor and Huber nominated Reynolds. Both votes
passed unanimously.
Honoring service
Schwab and councilors Karl Ory and Randall Stone were honored first for their years of service.
Schwab thanked Ory for his return to the council decades after his first two terms and service on multiple committees as well. Ory thanked his son born during his first term for being present
She also thanked Stone for his time as councilor and as mayor while on different committees, for his “passion for this community and your intelligence.”
“It’s been said you were playing chess when we were playing checkers,” she said. “A couple steps ahead of us, a great strategizer and mayor.”
Stone, becoming emotional, thanked the city and said to the incoming councilors that the experience will change their perspective on public policy.
“I’ve grown so much personally, professional and emotionally,” he said.
Schwab struggled to hold in tears as she was thanked by Morgan for her service — a reaction for which she was congratulated by Huber. Morgan recognized her for her advocacy for Chico in local causes like Bidwell Park and on behalf of local businesses and support for the Chico Police Department and Chico Fire Department. He presented her with a key to the city.
Morgan told Schwab she will always be “One of Chico’s greatest servants,” — “You will forever be remembered as a luminary of Chico.”
“It was never a rut, it was always a groove,” Schwab said in her address, wincing once with tears. “It was always personal and always a great honor to serve you.” She encouraged the community to work to listen to each other and embrace personal difference to find solutions, then accepted a bouquet from Morgan.
Business
Mayor Andrew Coolidge opened his first meeting with looking at an “urgent” and extensive ordinance modification to the city code for rules in the city parks, and more ways to enforce them.
Community Development Director on Code Enforcement Tony Lindsey said the ordinance is designed to “allow additional enforcement tools to address rules and regulations of the parks which are already on the books.”
Before, violators could get an administrative citation — now, all violations of city park rules can be cited as misdemeanors or infractions.
The ordinance also allows citing for camping overnight in any city park or playground without a permit. When Brown asked for clarification, Lindsey cited the 2019 case City of Boise, Idaho v. Martin court case which he said was questioned “for preventing people from camping outside with any type of shelter.” As a result, the case conclusion meant it would be “cruel and unusual punishment” to prohibit camping citywide, and also meant shelter space must be available in the city.
Huber asked for an alternative view of the request before, as he said, enforcing citations for “rubbish” or camping, the city must have alternatives to help. The rubbish ordinance should be put off until there are sufficient trash receptacles in the park, he said.
More important to Huber was to not begin citing people for camping — a key issue for several of the newly elected councilors in the room.
“You know if we were being asked to approve a rule that said we should be able to cite people for crossing over the line on the highway but we didn’t have any pans for painting the lines on the highway it wouldn’t make any sense,” he said.
“We have not provided an alternative for anywhere for anyone to go. If we accept this camping rule at this time, all we do is we start driving people out of the parks and into the neighborhoods and deeper into the park and other places we don’t want them.”
There are also food lines everywhere such as in Oroville, he said, citing reporting from this newspaper. The key issue is the city needs a sanctioned campground, he said and until then, “prohibiting camping is wrong.”
Lindsey also asked for a new ordinance to allow police to impound vehicles used for prostitution or illegal dumping.
Brown agreed with Huber that she would vote no until alternatives for people camping are available.
However, the full ordinance passed 5-2. It is available on the city’s website in the City Council agenda for Dec. 8 under item 8.1 Staff Reports and Ordinances.
Lindsey also asked for a new ordinance to allow police to impound vehicles used for prostitution or illegal dumping. The council passed this 6- 0 with Brown abstaining.
Winter sheltering
Huber had asked to discuss winter sheltering options, as so far the city only has a warming center capability.
City Manager Mark Orme said despite “in- depth discussion” there are no new sheltering solutions for those currently living without a home. Assistant City Manager Chris Constantin clarified the operation of warming centers, which are activated only under certain extreme conditions, is the city’s responsibility now and due to the COVID-19 regulations there is no ability for a warming tent.
Homeless Solutions Coordinator Suzi Kochems said there are some solutions still being considered, but there is no other permanent location currently under active consideration for a campground or extra shelter space. There aren’t locations that fully meet building codes, such as for those requiring functioning sprinkler systems.
The Torres Shelter remains the only emergency shelter in the city, with 20-30 beds open on average if a person tests negative for COVID-19.
The next regular meeting of the Chico City Council will take place 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at 421 Main St. in Chico.