REGULAR CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 4, 2025
Chico Municipal Center, Council Chamber, 421 Main Street
1.1. Call to Order - Mayor Reynolds called the February 4, 2025 - Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, California.
February 4, 2025 Agenda
1.2. Invocation - Minister Chet Rutledge, Chico Church of Christ
1.3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
1.4. Roll Call
1.5. Presentation – Bidwell Mansion Update by Matt Teague, District Superintendent, California State Parks
1.6. Presentation – Wildfire Readiness by Steve Standridge, Fire Chief
1.6. February 4, 2025, Closed Session Announcement - City Attorney John Lam City Attorney Lam announced that the Council met in Closed Session with staff with all members of Council present. Item 2.1. was removed from the agenda and not heard. Item 2.2 was discussed. No action was taken; direction was provided.
2. CONSENT AGENDA
2.1. RESOLUTION NO. 03-25 - RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICO ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF THE FIRE CHIEF'S ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING THE CHICO FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTION OF SPECIFIC BUILDINGS AND OCCUPANCIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 AND 13146.3 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE The Fire Chief requested the City Council to acknowledge receipt of the annual fire inspections report which provided an overview of Chico Fire Department's efforts to meet State mandated educational and residential inspection obligations. (Report - Steve Standridge, Fire Chief)
2.1. Staff Report
2.2. CONFIRMATION OF THE MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES & OUTSIDE AGENCIES The Council was asked to confirm an amendment to the Mayor's appointments of Councilmembers to serve in various positions to internal City committees and outside boards or agencies, with the original appointments confirmed at the January 7, 2025 meeting. Since that time, Mayor Reynolds has amended the appointments to remove herself from the Finance Committee and appointing Vice Mayor Bennett to serve on the Finance Committee to serve in her place. Council confirmation was required for this proposed change. (Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk & Elections Official)
2.2. Staff Report
2.3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF ANNUAL AUDITED FINANCIAL REPORTS The certified public accounting firm of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) was engaged by the City Council to perform an audit of the financial statements and perform compliance testing of the City of Chico, Chico Passenger Facility Charges and Chico Urban Area Joint Powers Financing Authority for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. CLA issued unmodified (clean) audit opinions on all financial statements and presented the results for the audit to Finance Committee at the January 29, 2025, meeting. The Finance Committee recommended the City Council acknowledge receipt and acceptance of the 2024 Audited Financial Reports. (Barbara Martin, Administrative Services Director)
2.3. Staff Report
2.4. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA - None
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Members of the public addressed the Council on matters not already listed on the agenda and within the jurisdiction’s authority. The Council was prohibited from taking any action at this meeting on requests made under this section of the agenda.
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
5. REGULAR AGENDA
5.1. CONSIDERATION OF TIMELINE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET At its meeting of 1/28/25, Council requested further discussion at this meeting. City of Chico's annual budget process begins in January, culminating in City Council adoption by June 30 each year. The goal is to establish the programs, projects, personnel, and funding levels for the coming fiscal year. In recent years, there have been two approaches to the timeline and presentation of information to the City Council. ( Report - Barbara Martin, Administrative Services Director) The Council discussed the various options and agreed to hold the extended budget session at its second meeting in May and to have the Mayor work with the City Clerk on scheduling a strategic planning session that would be held prior to the May meeting where priorities could be identified.
5.1. Staff Report
5.2. COUNCILMEMBER OVERBEEK REQUEST - FIRST HOUR FREE PARKING At its meeting of 1/7/25, the Council voted to agendize a discussion regarding providing first hour of parking for free.
5.2. Councilmember van Overbeek Request
5.3. COUNCILMEMBER VAN OVERBEEK REQUEST - EMERGENCY ORDINANCE At its meeting of 1/28/25, the Council voted to agendize a discussion regarding Chico Municipal Code 2.68.030 which allows the Mayor to declare an emergency. This would happen just before the vegetation dries out, and to permanently close Bidwell Park, Lindo Channel, and Teichert Pond to people camping, and to have the City Attorney explore this further.
5.3. Councilmember van Overbeek Request
5.4. ITEMS ADDED AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA - None
6. REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS - The following reports and communication items were provided for the Council’s information. No action could be taken on items under this section unless the Council agreed to include it on a subsequent agenda.
6.1. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT - Verbal Report, City Manager Sorensen
6.2. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT AND BUDGET MONITORING REPORTS THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2024 - Information Only
6.2. Staff Report - December
6.3. 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 was needed in order for staff to agendize.
7. ADJOURNMENT - Adjourned at 9:04 p.m. to the City Council Closed Session meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., or 5:30 p.m. followed by the Regular City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico.
Closed Session
Minutes
February 4, 2025
February 4, 2025 Agenda
1. CALL TO ORDER IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - Mayor Reynolds called the February 4, 2025 - Closed Session to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, California.
1.1. ROLL CALL - All members were present.
2. CLOSED SESSION AGENDA - There were no speakers nor announcement of any Council disqualifications. The Council recessed into the Closed Session meeting in Conference Room 2, 421 Main Street, Chico, California.
2.1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - EXISTING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a) – Workers’ Compensation Claim No. 196087542 - This item was removed from the agenda and not heard.
2.2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957(b). Title: City Attorney - The City Council considered this item. No action was taken; direction was provided.
2.3. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS THAT AROSE AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA - None
3. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m. to the Regular City Council Meeting on February 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.