Commission welcomes new members, discusses vegetation management

The Bidwell Park and Playground Commission welcomed newly selected members and chose a chair and vice- chair Monday.

The outgoing commissioners — former Chair Elaina McReynolds, Commissioner and former Vice Chair Aaron Haar and Commissioner Garrett Liles — were honored for their service in the regular virtual meeting of the commission.

The newly selected commissioners were then named:

• Jesse Alexander

• Jeff Glatz

• Anjanette Shadley • Megan Thomas Petty • Nancy Wolfe

The first swearing in of a new city commission via Zoom took place, run by City Clerk Debbie Presson, followed by the commission’s selection of a new chair and vice chair.

New Commissioner Megan Thomas Petty nominated the returning Jeff Glatz for chair. With no one else nominated, the vote for Glatz went 6-1, as Commissioner Lise Smith Peters voted against.

Glatz then nominated Thomas Petty for vice chair, with no other nominations. This was approved 6-1, with Smith Peters against.

Vegetation management work

Park and Resource Manager Linda Herman said review of the current proposed vegetation management plan led to discussion of upcoming projects, once the Chico City Council can review the proposed Environmental Impact Report for approval.

Herman’s department staff will make a list of what falls before the Environmental Impact Report, and once those tasks are complete, bring the work back to the commission for approval before taking them to the council.

Some work to be done will fall under small activities, and others will require project-level work, Herman clarified.

If the Environmental Impact Report is approved by the council April 6, the department will move forward on the work to hopefully bring it back to the commission in May, “if it’s done in time,” Herman said.

The commission approved this review process method by a final vote of 7- 0.