New council to consider fiscal, staffing concerns
Banning future needle distribution programs among items on agenda
CHICO » One week after the official swearing in of three new Chico City Council members, the council will meet again Tuesday to consider a long list of public hearings and new requests before the year’s end.
All councilors will be reappointed to city committees and organizations under the direction of new mayor Andrew Coolidge. Each appointment will be for two years. Assistant City Manager Chris Constantin will be honored as he departs the city for a new position in 2021.
The company NorthStar has appealed a determination by Public Works Engineering Director Brendan Ottoboni to collect sewer main fees as outlined in the city’s municipal code for developing three industrial parcels. Ottoboni has recommended that the council deny the appeal and uphold his determination.
The council will also consider whether to allow City Manager Mark Orme to enter into an affordable housing fund loan agreement with Chico North Creek, LP for an affordable housing project. The development, North Creek Crossings, would be located north of Little Chico Creek and adjacent to and east of Notre Dame Boulevard and include 105 units priced for low to extremely low income households, and one manager unit.
Housing Manager Marie Demers reports the city has funds available in the Affordable Housing Fund to support the production of severely needed affordable housing units and the project will help meet local goals to provide for low-income housing under the recently awarded State Infill and Infrastructure Grant for the improvement of Bruce Road.
Community Development Director on Code Enforcement Tony Lindsey has also requested amending the city code to be compliant with state and county regulations to help address the problem of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, and inoperative vehicles.
Councilor requests
Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds has requested discussing staffing of the Chico Police Department and a pedi-cab bar pub crawl.
Councilor Kami Denlay asked to discuss a ban of needle distribution programs.
Councilor Sean Morgan asked for his vote to be reconsidered on a previous decision on eight commercial cannabis fees for commercial cannabis businesses, after the council decided Tuesday to reconsider these fees. Thus, Orme recommends a pause and delay of the Commercial Cannabis Program Application Process, and to provide direction to city staff on any changes to ensure establishing appropriate fees and taxes.
Other business
Some items the council will also consider consenting to include:
• Amending city code which lists the required disclosure categories of designated city officials and employees under the Political Reform Act;
• Amending the city’s 2020-2021 budget for full time position allocations to the Chico Police Department • A request from a local community group to donate $26,000 through the North Valley Community Foundation to help use aircraft from California Highway Patrol Air Operations based in Auburn • Adopting new Hartley Neighborhood Park in the Northwest Chico Specific Planning Area to the Chico Area Recreation and Park District;
• A request to allocate federal funds and approved funding to help develop affordable housing for the Jamboree Housing Corporation project at the site of the existing Jesus Center located at 1297 Park Avenue
The meeting will take place 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Chico City Council Chambers at 421 Main Street in Chico.
The public is not able to enter the building while the county is under the Purple Tier for coronavirus restrictions. Anyone can watch the meeting live on the city’s website, and participate by using the Engaged Chico website or emailing publiccomments@chicoca. gov up to the start of the meeting.