North Chico, Upper Park set for road resurfacing
City plans pavement projects from Measure H funds
Roads in north Chico and Bidwell Park will become smoother under a plan for utilizing the first wave of funding from the city's salestax increase.
City Manager Mark Sorensen announced Monday morning that Chico will start collecting the additional 1% sales tax from Measure H on April 1. Drawing from this estimated $24 million in annual revenue, Sorensen revealed a $4 million proposal to resurface stretches of East and Lassen avenues and El Paso Way, and streets in the Amber Grove neighborhood.
In addition, the city will resurface Upper Park Road with $515,000 reallocated from Lower Park Road rehabilitation.
The City Council will decide on the paving plan at its next meeting, March 7. “Other future uses of Measure H funds will be considered by Council in May and June during the annual budget process,” he added by email, noting the city set out infrastructure and public safety as primary goals for the funding.
The paving improvements would entail applying treatments (i.e., asphalt slurry sealant) to the roadway surfaces, which will expedite the work.
“Road reconstruction projects typically require one or more years of engineering work and sometimes years of environmental work before the bid process can begin,” Sorensen said. “However, slurry sealing projects that can be ready for the bidding process within a few months.”
So, if approved by the council next Tuesday, “the work can be completed this summer,” he continued. “This is over and above the previously planned annual road maintenance efforts. The proposed project will provide an immediate demonstration of deployment of Measure H funds to very tangible, publicly visible results in infrastructure improvements that were targeted in the support of Measure H.”
The ballot measure, approved by city voters in November, increases the sales tax in Chico to 8.25%. Groceries, prescriptions and rent are exempt. Businesses
will start collecting the funds in April; the city will receive its first payment in July.
“This measure specifically supports the Chico community, and the dollars stay here locally,” Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds said in the announcement. “Chico visitors will pay their fair share,
so residents won't shoulder the entire cost.”
Mayor Andrew Coolidge said the council “understands that our community has many needs,” adding that “citizens of Chico need to feel safe and (the city needs) to improve maintenance of our parks, open spaces and roads.”