REGULAR CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 1, 2024
Chico Municipal Center, Council Chamber, 421 Main Street
1.1. Call to Order -
6:00 p.m. Mayor Coolidge called the October 1, 2024, Regular City Council Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, California. 10-01-24 Agenda
1.2. Invocation –
Pastor Heath Jarrett, Living Hope Fellowship
1.3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
1.4. Roll Call
1.5. October 1, 2024, Closed Session Announcement -
City Attorney John Lam announced that Council met in Closed Session at 5:00 p.m. with staff to discuss the following items.
Item 2.1 Labor Negotiations -
This matter was not heard or discussed.
Item 2.2 Warren v. Chico -
Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
Item 2.3 Rushing v. Chico -
Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
Item 2.4 Anticipated Litigation -
Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
1.6. Presentation -
Pioneer Community Energy, CEO Don Eckert
2. CONSENT AGENDA -
All matters listed under the Consent Agenda are to be considered routine in nature.
2.1. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF 09/17/24
9-17-24 Minutes
2.2. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS -
Members of the public may address the Council at this time on any matter not already listed on the agenda and within the jurisdiction's authority. Comments will be limited to three minutes or as determined by the Mayor based on the number of speakers. The Council cannot take any action at this meeting on requests made under this section of the agenda.
Addressing the Council was Estelle Pann.
Due to a disruption, the Council recessed at 6:33 for a short break. The Council reconvened, with all Councilmembers present.
Addressing the Council was Stephen Hazel. Due to a disruption, the Council recessed at 6:36 for a short break.
The Council reconvened, with all Councilmembers present.
Addressing the Council was Virginia Lee Gimbel, Barbara Chang, Samuel Barber, Mike Johnson, Lynn Haskell, Benson and Gia Monticello.
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1. BELL MUIR SPA DISSOLUTION AND AUTUMN LEAF ESTATES SUBDIVISION (GPA/RZ 24-02 AND SUB 24-01) (2870 NORD AVENUE and 1124 HENSHAW AVENUE) Hearing, adoption of a resolution, and introductory reading of an ordinance that would amend the General Plan and pre-zoning to remove the Bell-Muir Special Planning Area (SPA) designation and requirements identified in the 2030 Chico General Plan and approve a subdivision at the northeast corner of Nord and Henshaw Avenues. The General Plan Amendment and Rezone (GPA/RZ) would change the City's Land Use Designation of "Special Planning Area" to "Low Density Residential," change the City's pre-zoning of "SPA" to "R1" (Low Density Residential), and amend General Plan text that refers to the Bell-Muir SPA. The GPA/RZ would facilitate approval of a Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map (SUB 24-01) within the Bell-Muir SPA, just outside of the city limits of Chico in unincorporated Butte County, California (APNs 042-020-009 and 042-020-105). The proposed subdivision would divide 20 acres into 68 individual single-family residential lots and a parcel dedicated to stormwater retention. The Planning Commission voted at its September 5, 2024 meeting to forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve the requests. The City Council will consider initiating annexation of the 20-acre subdivision area as a separate action. A Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Report - Mike Sawley, Principal Planner)
Mayor Coolidge opened the hearing to the public. Addressing the Council was applicant, Chris Giampoali, followed by Annabel Grimm, Robert Egert, Katy Thoma, John Dunbar, Keith Doglio, Ben Reed, Austin Barron, and Freeman. Mayor Coolidge closed the hearing to the public.
Recommendation : The Community Development Director recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing on the proposed project and introduce the following ordinance by reading its title only and adopt the following resolution: ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICO AMENDING THE PREZONING OF PROPERTIES WITHIN THE BELL-MUIR SPECIAL PLANNING AREA FROM SPA (SPECIAL PLANNING AREA) TO R1 (LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL) (RZ 24-02) RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CHICO CITY COUNCIL ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM, APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 24-02, AND CONDITIONALLY APPROVING SUBDIVISION 24-01 (Epick, Inc. / City of Chico) Item 4.1 Staff Report
4.2. HEARING ON HENSHAW ANNEXATION DISTRICT NO. 4 (ANX 24-01) A hearing to consider adopting a resolution initiating annexation of a 20-acre area located on the east side of Nord Avenue, just north of Henshaw Avenue. The area is currently designated and zoned Very Low Density Residential (1-acre minimums) by the County of Butte. Pending final approval of related applications GPA/RZ 24-02, the 20-acre area is pre-designated/pre-zoned Low Density Residential (R1) by the City of Chico (2870 Nord Avenue and 1124 Henshaw Avenue, Chico (APNs: 042-020-009, 042-020-105). The annexation is initiated to accommodate the Autumn Leaf Estates residential subdivision (SUB 24-01), which was considered separately by the City Council. A Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Program was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). (Report - Mike Sawley, Principal Planner)
Vice Mayor Reynolds opened the public hearing. Addressing the Council was Austin Barron. Vice Mayor Reynolds closed the hearing to the public.
Recommendation : The Community Development Director recommends that the City Council hold a public hearing on the proposed annexation and adopt the following resolution: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICO INITIATING PROCEEDINGS TO ANNEX PROPERTY NOW LOCATED IN THE UNINCORPORATED TERRITORY OF THE COUNTY OF BUTTE TO THE INCORPORATED TERRITORY OF THE CITY OF CHICO: HENSHAW AVENUE ANNEXATION DISTRICT NO. 4 (CITY OF CHICO; ANX 24-01; APNs 042-020-009, 042-020-105) Iten 4.2 Staff Report
5. REGULAR AGENDA
5.1. COUNCILMEMBER BENNETT REQUEST - SUPPORT OF PROPOSITION 36 At its meeting of 9/3/24, the Council voted agendize Councilmember Bennett's request of a discussion of Proposition 36 with the hope of the discussion leading to a consensus of supporting a letter to the primary organization heading up Proposition 36.
Adrienne Haylor addressed the Council on this item, followed by Austin Barron.
Item 5.1 Attachment
5.2. ITEMS ADDED AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA
6. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS -
The following reports and communication items are provided for the Council's information. No action can be taken on items under this section unless the Council agrees to include it on a subsequent agenda.
6.1. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT -
Verbal Report, City Manager Sorensen
6.2. COUNCILMEMBER REQUESTS -
Pursuant to AP&P 10-10, Councilmembers may verbally request an item to be agendized at a future meeting. After stating what the item would be, a majority vote of Council is needed in order for staff to agendize.
7. ADJOURNMENT -
Adjournment at 8:18 p.m. to the City Council Closed Session meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., or 5:30 p.m. followed by the Adjourned Regular City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico.
1. CLOSED SESSION - CALL TO ORDER IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - Mayor Coolidge called the Closed Session meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
1.1. ROLL CALL
Present: Bennet, Morgan, van Overbeek, Winslow, Reynolds, Coolidge
Absent: None
2. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA -
There were no Council disqualifications.
2.1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957.6 - This item wasn't heard or discussed.
Negotiator: Laura Izon (Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo law firm (AALRR)) & Chelsea Phebus, Human Resources Director Employee Organizations: Chico Fire Management Employees,
2.2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): USDC (ED) Case No. 2:21-cv-00640 - MCE-DMC: Warren v. Chico - Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
2.3 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): Estate of Tyler S. Rushing et al v. Chico, AG Private Protection, Inc., et al., Case 2:18-cv-01692-DAD-AC - Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
2.4 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code § 54956.9(d)(4): One (1) case - Council was briefed; direction was provided; no final action was taken.
2.3. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS THAT AROSE AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA- None.
3. ADJOURNMENT -
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. to the Regular City Council Meeting on October 1, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.