Chico City Council redeclares shelter crisis
The Climate Action Commission stays put
CHICO » The Chico City Council met Tuesday night to discuss among other agenda items, declaring a shelter crisis and whether or not the Climate Action Commission would be disbanded.
The climate commission was brought up as item 5.2 which asked if the council wants to change the structure of the commission to an ad hoc advisory board as discussed at the last meeting, the council will first need to adopt an ordinance repealing Chapter 2.54 — Climate Action Commission which requires a first and second reading. If adopted, the change would become effective 30 days following a passing vote.
Meeting publicly for the first time since receiving a second cease and desist letter alleged violations of the Brown Act for a vote taken during the last meeting to disband the Climate Action Commission, Councilor Alex Brown asked City Attorney Vincent Ewing whether the actions taken at the previous meeting violated the Brown Act.
“A different motion was made relating to that subject — an ad hoc,” Ewing said. “I don’t see a violation. The public has been given the opportunity to participate in three meetings. There’s no hiding, secrecy or lack of transparency about what’s going to happen here.”
The previous vote to disband the Climate Action Committee passed 5-2, without support from councilors Brown or Dale Bennett.
Fourteen people spoke during the comment portion of the agenda item.
“The air we breathe is important. It sustains our lives and it sustains nature,” said resident Robyn Engel. “I think those of us that are concerned about climate action agree that this council is not concerned about global warming and this ad hoc does not suffice.”
Other people questioned why the public is being told there is a lack of applicants.
“Until tonight, I hadn’t heard anyone in this community say we should be doing less to address climate change,” said Bryce Goldstein. “I would like to know why it took so long to address the climate action appointments. There was no lack of interest — there was a lack of interest in the council to appointing so the committee could continue its work.”
On Tuesday, city staff reported
to council that seven applicants had applied for the five vacancies on the commission.
Prior to making a motion to establish a climate committee that would meet at the request of the council, Councilor Sean Morgan defended his recommendation.
“I’m not a climate change denier. The climate commission was made a standing commission a few years ago because it made some people feel better,” Morgan said. “The ad hoc community will do exactly the same thing, it can meet more or less, or just as often.”
Morgan’s motion failed to receive a second vote and Mayor Andrew Coolidge recommended the standing committee stay as is.
“We all want to leave the earth better than we found it. With any impact on the environment, there’s an impact on us,” Coolidge said.
Following no action taken, Ewing presented the council with an agenda item to declare a shelter crisis. The document prepared by Deputy City Attorney Mark Murray recommends the city vote to declare a crisis with the findings of a significant amount of people within the city unable to obtain shelter. A shelter crisis was previously declared by city council Oct. 8, 2018, but the declaration expired June 30, 2021.
In the document, Murray wrote the most recent Point in Time Census and Survey Report identified 571 unsheltered homeless people in the city — a 32 percent increase since the previous shelter crisis was declared. Murray noted there are approximately 180 shelter spaces within the city.
The declaration would make any “vacant or underutilized facility or property currently owned, leased, operated or maintained by the city” able to be designated as a public facility for the purpose of emergency sheltering during the declaration.”
Prior to a vote by council, 13 public speakers commented on the item.
“How much money is going to be made if we declare another crisis?” asked Lori Harris.
When the first shelter crisis was declared, the city became available to receive a portion of $4.9 million from Homeless Emergency Aid Program which was coming into Butte County which also had declared a shelter crisis.
“I’ve been asking since April for this to be on the agenda,” said resident Jesica Giannola. “People don’t have places to live. We have shelters but these are limited in services. Our goal should not be to make the judge happy about this declaration. I’m hoping there’s good intention here.”
Additional support came from Larry Wahl, who encouraged the council to make the declaration, saying he represents the voice of many residents he’s spoken to.
“Passing this resolution is a no brain thing. It’s going to give us money and access to resources to fix our situation,” said Wahl. “It also will provide an opportunity to clean up our parks in the near future. It’s a simple request for you to pass this thing.”
Morgan, moving for a motion, said making a declaration is the right step.
“We are in crisis. Chico is fighting the results of Martin v. Boise and we’re doing it alone,” said Morgan. “There is though, a strategy that may allow us to enforce our ordinances and provide for the citizens. We can’t talk about that strategy, we’re bound by pending litigation and confidential negotiations. But our staff believes a declaration of shelter crisis will help us return to a city within our control.”
The motion to declare a shelter crisis passed 7-0.
Other business
The council also approved:
• $50,000 for Chico Area Park and Recreation District’s share of its California Parks and Water Bond (Prop 68) Per Capita grant funds to assist the city in resurfacing the safety play surface and installing new large shade sails for the Nico sea serpent play area in Caper Acres in Bidwell Park.
• A recommendation from the Airport Commission that the City Council approve Amendment No. 1 to the Enloe Medical Center ground lease in which the leasehold shall decrease from an area of 1.807 to 1.10 acres and rental rate shall increase from $0.08 to $0.48 per square foot per year.
• Updates to Chico’s Fiscal Year 2021-22 Annual Budget Employee Pay Schedule.
• Proceedings to annex a 43-acre unincorporated island on the western edge of the city near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Oak Way.
• Appointing a cannabis permit appeals board which the council will serve as.
• A request by Councilor Deepika Tandon to waive sewer fees for Chico Housing Action Team’s Everhart Village.
The next council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021 in the City Council Chambers at 421 Main St.