ADJOURNED REGULAR CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING - February 4, 2025 Minutes
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
1.2. Invocation - Minister Chet Rutledge, Chico Church of Christ
1.3. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
1.4. Roll Call
Present: Goldstein, Hawley, O Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds
Absent: None
1.5. Presentation - Bidwell Mansion Update by Matt Teague, District Superintendent, California State Parks
1.6. Presentation - Wildfire Readiness by Steve Standridge, Fire Chief
1.7. 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
A motion was made by Councilmember O'Brien and seconded by Councilmember van Overbeek to approve the Consent Agenda, as read.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
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)
2.2. 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 Committee to serve in her place. Council confirmation was required for this proposed change. (Deborah R Presson, MMC, City Clerk & Elections Official)
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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
2.4. 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.
Addressing the Council were Frank Rebelo, Nichole Nava, Marybeth Wuerthner, Tracy Vincent, Tom Wuerthner, Jeff Hill, Charles Whithuh, Nancy Park, Robin McCollum, Jeanne Thatcher, Bill Monroe, and Loree Monroe.
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 Council priorities could be identified.
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.
Addressing the Council on this item were Tracy Vincent, Greg Scott, Jesse Horgan, Bruce McLean, and Leanne Powell.
A motion was made by Councilmember van Overbeek and seconded by Councilmember Hawley to direct staff to bring back an analysis on the financial and operational impacts of enacting one-hour free parking in the two- hour parking zones in downtown.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES:
The Council recessed at 7:52 p.m. for a five-minute break. The meeting was reconvened, and all members were present.
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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.
Addressing the Council were Nichole Nava, Ms. Garcia, Kim Dietz, Tracy Vincent, Ryan McMullen, Chris Fogleman, Nolan Leupp, Michael Buchanan, Mike Johnson, Ken Dickson, Eric Chisler, Leann Powell, Mike Bush, J.D. DiGiovanni, Matt Tennis, and Miranda Byer.
A motion was made by Mayor Reynolds and seconded by Councilmember Goldstein to direct staff to work with the City Attorney to create an operational plan regarding declaration of an emergency as well as enforce any existing laws that are already on the books related to unsafe and hazardous conditions. A friendly amendment was requested and accepted to authorize the Mayor to declare an emergency when hazardous conditions exist.
It was noted for the record that the Mayor already has this authority as noted in the CMC, and a separate action was not needed.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
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
6.3. 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.
Tools to Address Homelessness
A motion was made by Councilmember Goldstein and seconded by Councilmember Winslow to agendize a discussion regarding ordinances, code changes, and programs beyond enforcement that the City can use as tools to address homelessness.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
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.
Date Approved:
delhand Presson
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
February 4, 2025 City Council Minutes Page /3
Closed Session
Minutes
February 4, 2025
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.
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA - There were no speakers nor any announcements of Council disqualifications. The Council recessed into the Closed Session meeting in Conference Room 2, 421 Main Street, Chico, California at 5:01 p.m.
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 Date Approved:
Nebrand Pesson
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
February 4, 2025 City Council Minutes Page |4