Council makes commission changes, hears report
CHICO >> The Chico City Council changed some formal City Commission rules and appointments Tuesday night in another meeting no members of the public could attend in person.
City Clerk Debbie Presson said staff were aware of audio blackouts as people tried to watch the live streamed meeting, which has happened at previous meetings due to technical difficulties.
Councilor Kami Denlay requested waiving council rules to immediately discuss opposition to proposed regulatory changes by the California Department of Public Health of more state authority over syringe exchange programs. It carried 5-2. The council then voted 5-2 to write a letter to the state against the changes regulating syringe exchange programs, and to have a public hearing.
Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds had an emergency request discussing using federal funds for low income families under CalWater, suggesting a resolution to ask for the funding. It passed 7- 0.
Meetings
Mayor Andrew Coolidge had moved in a special meeting March 9 to formally absolve standing subcommittees and require new ones to come forward for approval from now on.
In reviewing this move, Councilor Scott Huber made a motion against it, saying he wanted to preserve city commissions’ subcommittees. While Councilor Alex Brown seconded Huber’s motion to keep the subcommittees and Councilor Deepika Tandon voted for it, the other four councilors voted against for a 4-3 fail. Tandon subsequently supported Coolidge’s motion, which passed 5-2.
Formal city commission nominations for three commissions also came through, although Brown abstained from voting for the nominations —
• Arts Commission — Louis Nava, Kimberly Ranalla, Daniela Ferguson, Monica McDaniel
• Bidwell Parks and Playground Commission — Anjanette Shadley, Jeff Glatz, Jesse Alexander, Megan Thomas Petty
• Planning Commission — Lindsay Poulin, Toni Scott,
Paul Cooper, Larry Wahl People can apply for positions on the Climate Action Commission and Airport Commission.
Housing, shelter beds
Coolidge had requested to revisit the Housing Committee recommendations the council approved in November 2020, hoping to send them back to Internal Affairs; this passed 7- 0.
Homeless Solutions Coordinator Suzi Kochems presented new findings on shelter beds coming forward. As of March 10, 60 low barrier beds were available at the Torres Shelter, with no confirmation if those beds were all filled as of Tuesday. Jesus Center’s Renewal Center will offer 60 sober beds starting in mid-April.
In July 2022, there may be 100 more sober beds available at the Renewal Center. Affordable housing approved by the city for construction may create 100 beds by 2023, for seniors only. The Torres Shelter may at some date be able to expand and add 50 more beds, although no timeline is yet in place.
By May, of the reported beds underway, only 120 beds, half low barrier and half sober, will have been made available. Chico Housing Action Team’s Everhart Village is hoped to have 20 tiny house beds for referrals from Butte County Behavioral Health in December.
Town hall
At 5 p.m., activists gathered to discuss the declared housing and homelessness crisis in a town hall style
demonstration. Before 6 p.m. there were approximately 100 present.
With Steven Marquardt of Sunrise Chico performing emcee duties, the organizers talked about different housing issues and criticized the city’s enforcement actions evicting multiple camps around the city. Activist Charles Withuhn said he counted at least 200 people in four major camps around Chico during recent cold nights as several deaths due to exposure have occurred.
Activist Ali Meders Knight — who recently was named to the Federal Tribal Programs Implementation team and to the Environmental Conservation and Education Committee for the Northwest Forest — mentioned going to local tribal entities for more opportunities to potentially use federal land. Attorney Kelli Johnson said she is preparing to file a class action lawsuit on behalf of 75 people against multiple entities including the city for the recent enforcement actions, and criticized local social media groups for vilifying unhoused individuals
“They’re (unhoused people) being called animals, vagrants. Bu these are people just like anybody else and they have problems to get past just like anybody else,” Johnson said.
Another protest took place on the other side of the chamber calling for the city to open for public participation. Local contractor Tim Downing said he joined because he is concerned about people not being allowed inside for participating in public meetings, and added he is part of a movement to form a “Butte County militia.”
Other business
The council
• A supplemental appropriation change to the 20202021 budget for funds suspended due to the pandemic, totaling $1,077,114 from additional projected sales tax receipts in the current fiscal year. The majority of the cost includes restoring General Fund transfers to Private Development Enterprise Funds, totaling $768,321.
• A resolution to amend the contract between the city and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System to implement negotiated changes to paying and reporting of retirement contributions, introducing an ordinance authorizing the amendment;
• The new Upper Park parking fee implementation plan and considering approving allocating $108,000 during the Capital Project Budget cycle for technology and equipment to implement managed parking in Upper Bidwell Park;
• An amendment to the
City of Chico’s 2020-2021 budget, modifying the Contracted Management Employees’ Salary Table for the addition of a Deputy
City Manager classification; • A resolution, based on results of a secret ballot election, certifying formal recognition to Chico Police Management Employees; • Accepting the Chico Fire Department application for two Assistance to Firefighters Grants for the purchase of new fire hose and fittings and a new Medium Rescue Vehicle;
• Authorizing Mayor
Coolidge to sign the letter of intent to lease city-owned land to Ampla Health; • Reynolds’ request to review Chico Municipal Codes related to code enforcement;
• Huber moved to discuss reappropriating federal COVID-19 relief funds which were approved to be used by CHAT.
also
approved:
The council will meet again 6 p.m. April 6 in the Chico City Council Chambers at 421 Main Street in Chico.