ADJOURNED REGULAR CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING - June 17, 2025 Minutes
1.1. Call to order - Mayor Reynolds called the June 17, 2025 - Adjourned Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, California.
1.2. Invocation - Chaplain Bud Chauvin
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. June 17, 2025, Closed Session Announcement - City Attorney John Lam City Attorney Lam announced that Council met with staff in Closed Session regarding the following items:
2.1. Real Property Negotiations - No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
2.2. Labor Negotiations (CPSA, Local 39, CFME, SEIU) - No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
2.3. Pending Litigation (WC Claim) - Item not heard.
2.4. Public Employee Evaluations (City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney) - Council was briefed; no formal action was taken.
2.5. Existing Litigation - Warren v Chico - Council was briefed. No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
6.1. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT - Verbal Report, City Manager Sorensen Special Recognition of City Clerk Debbie Presson by Mayor Reynolds and City Manager Sorensen celebrating 25 years of service.
CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Councilmember O'Brien and seconded by Councilmember van Overbeek to approve the Consent Agenda, as read, with it noted for the record that Councilmember Winslow voted no on Item The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
2.1. RESOLUTION NO. 32-25 - RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICO ADOPTING THE 2025-26 FINAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF CHICO AND THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE CHICO
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
The City Manager requested consideration and adoption of a resolution approving the FY2025-26 Final Budget for the City of Chico and the Successor Agency to the Chico Redevelopment Agency. (Mark Sorensen, City Manager)
June 17, 2025 City Council Minutes Pagel1
Councilmember Winslow voted against the budget resolution.
2.2. MINUTE ORDER NO. 03-25 - AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO DONATE SURPLUS FIRE
EQUIPMENT TO BUTTE-GLENN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT ITS FIRE ACADEMY Approved a minute order declaring a cache of fire equipment as surplus property and authorizing the City Manager to donate the items to Butte-Glenn Community College District. (Steve Standridge, Fire Chief)
2.3. MINUTE ORDER NO. 04-25 - AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO DONATE A REVOLVE
AIR SELF CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS REFILL STATION TO HAMILTON CITY FIRE
PROTECTION DISTRICT TO SUPPORT ITS OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES Approved a minute order declaring outdated fire equipment as surplus property and authorizing the City Manager to donate the item to Hamilton City Fire Protection District. (Steve Standridge, Fire Chief)
2.4. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION/BUDGET MODIFICATION NO. 2025-ASD-006
The Administrative Services Director requested consideration and approval of a Supplemental Appropriation/Budget Modification to the FY 2024-25 Budget. (Barbara Martin, Administrative Services Director
2.5. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF 5/6/25
2.6. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA - None
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Members of the public addressed the Council on any matter not already listed on the agenda and were 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 on this item were Nichole Nava, Bo Powell, and Bill Monroe.
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1. APPEAL HEARING OF AIRPORT COMMISSION APPROVAL OF MINUTE ORDER 01-25 FOR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY AT 100 LOCKHEED (SPELTS APPEAL)
At the April 29, 2025 meeting, the Airport Commission approved a Minute Order (MO) to execute a lease for hangar and office space located at 100 Lockheed to Aero-Flite Inc. for aircraft parts storage, service support, aircraft aerial firefighting retrofitting, and aircraft storage. Mark Spelts appealed the lease approval, claiming he still has a lease on the property based on verbal communication between him and Airport Manager, Tom Bahr. Mark Spelts leased the property for a five-year term starting in 2021, but requested his lease be terminated and signed over to Dawson Taylor Aviation in 2024. The City entered a new lease with Dawson Taylor in October of 2024. Unfortunately, Dawson Taylor defaulted on their lease in December of 2024, thus creating an opportunity where no lease existed for the property at 100 Lockheed. (Report - Erik Gustafson, Public Works Director - Operations & Maintenance)
Exparte Communications
Councilmember O'Brien - Spoke with Mark Spelts
Councilmember van Overbeek - Spoke with Mark Spelts
Mayor Reynolds opened the hearing to the public. The appellant Mark Spelts and his attorney Michael Shepherd addressed the Council.
June 17, 2025 City Council Minutes Page 2
Additional speakers included Philip Larios, Stan Gungl, Dan Jay, Brian Baldridge, and Peter Magnusson.
A three-minute rebuttal was provided to Mark Spelts.
The hearing was closed to further comment.
A motion was made by Councilmember van Overbeek and seconded by Councilmember O'Brien to uphold the appeal; with Speltz lease to remain in effect under the same terms and conditions as original lease and ask Mr. Spelts to make best faith efforts to work with Aero-Flite for the sublease of any unused extra space.
The City Attorney reminded Council that only the appeal was before them for consideration and asked the motion to be reworded to "uphold the appeal and direct staff to return with a resolution reflecting that action and to include findings specific to why the appeal was being upheld." All lease agreement details would be defined in the agreement process by staff, ultimately requiring consideration and action by the Airport Commission.
The motion was reworded to: "uphold the appeal, with staff to return with a resolution on the Consent Agenda reflecting that action, and to include findings specific to why the appeal was being upheld." on the Consent Agenda."
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett NOES: Hawley, Reynolds
The Council recessed at 7:29 p.m. for a five-minute break. The meeting was reconvened, and all members were present.
4.2. HEARING ON RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE In accordance with Budget Policy E.5, changes in the City's Fee Schedule are to be brought to City Council annually. At this meeting, the City Council was asked to consider fee changes to be incorporated in the City's Fee Schedule. A public hearing was conducted specifically to address proposed cost of living increases to Development Impact Fees set to be inflated by the California Department of Transportation Highway Construction Cost Index (HCI). (Report - Heather Childs, Accounting Manager) The Mayor opened the hearing to the public. Addressing the Council were Katy Thoma and Adam Fedeli. The hearing was closed to further comment.
A motion was made by Councilmember van Overbeek and seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 33-25 - RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICO AMENDING THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE (AMENDMENT NO. 356 - FEE SCHEDULES: 50.010, 50.020) The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: Hawley
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5. REGULAR AGENDA
5.1. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF SOUTH PARK DRIVE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OPTIONS As part of the planned pavement rehabilitation of South Park Drive in Bidwell Park, staff developed four conceptual design options for the segment between Cypress Street/Woodland Avenue and Caper Acres.
These options align with the 2023 Lower Bidwell Park Traffic and Circulation Evaluation, previous City Council direction, and input from the Bidwell Park & Playground Commission. City Council was asked to review and select one of the four options to proceed with final design and construction scheduled for 2026. (Report - Brendan Ottoboni, Director of Public Works - Engineering) Addressing the Council were Logan Underwood, Jill Circo, Elizabeth Griffin, Nichole Nava, Eric Booth, Michael VanDervoort, Carol Whipple, Jeff Glatz, Bruce Burke, Kirk Monfort, Kathleen Gabriel, Ann Bykerk- Kauffman, David Welch, Bo Powell, Portia Ceruti, LaDona Knigge, Julie McCollough, and Ted Schwartz.
A motion was made by Councilmember Winslow and seconded by Councilmember Goldstein to select Option 2, which permanently closes South Park Drive to vehicles, with the costs related to this option estimated at $2,062,088. The existing road would be rehabilitated within its current footprint and reprogrammed solely for walking, biking, and maintenance access.
To maintain parking access for key park destinations, this option includes:
New access routes from Woodland Avenue would serve Sycamore Field and Caper Acres. ‡40 existing on-street stalls would be removed.
Surplus funds from the less expensive roadway rehab would be used to upgrade nearby parking lots (One Mile, Sycamore Field, Caper Acres) with:
- Asphalt drive aisles,
- All-weather but pervious parking surfaces.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, van Overbeek, Winslow
NOES: O'Brien, Bennett, Reynolds
5.2. CONSIDERATION OF GRANT PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL - FY25 COPS SCHOOL VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAM (SVPP)
The City of Chico, in collaboration with California State University, Chico's University Police Department (UPD), Chico Unified School District (CUSD) and other local public safety agencies, was seeking approval to submit an application for the FY25 COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) Grant. The proposed project aims to enhance public safety by improving communication interoperability between Chico Police Department (CPD), UPD, and other local agencies through advanced radio communication equipment, installing license plate reader (LPR) systems near local schools, and acquiring advanced security screening equipment. The total grant request was $500,000, with the City providing the required 25% match of $125,000, for a combined project total of $625,000. (Report - Barbara Martin, Administrative Services Director)
A motion was made by Councilmember Hawley and seconded by Councilmember van Overbeek to authorize the submittal of a grant proposal to the COPS Office in the amount of $500,000.00.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
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5.3. WEST SACRAMENTO AVENUE & WARNER STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT This report addresses the City Council's May 20, 2025, directive to develop a series of proposed alternatives to improve safety and mobility along two vital corridors in Chico: W. Sacramento Avenue and Warner Street. (Report - Brendan Ottoboni, Public Works Director-Engineering) Addressing the Council on this item were Jesse Horgan, Marie Patterson, Kirk Monfort, Ann Bykerk- Kauffman, Tim G., Sarah Lanum, Bryce Ingersoll, LaDona Knigge, and Michael VanDervoort.
A motion was made by Councilmember van Overbeek and seconded by Councilmember Goldstein to accept staff's recommendation that the City Council 1) direct staff to proceed with the permanent improvements' scenario; and 2) authorize staff to submit a grant to the Safe Streets For All (SS4A) grant program, requiring local match funds. A supplemental appropriation / budget modification to create the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project would be forthcoming.
A friendly amendment was requested by Mayor Reynolds to include the direction for staff to continue to work with California State University - Chico and the Chico Unified School District. The amendment was accepted.
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 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.
6.2. 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 was needed in order for staff to agendize.
Councilmember van Overbeek - Wayfinding Signs
A motion was made by Councilmember van Overbeek and seconded by Councilmember Winslow to agendize a discussion about Council approving the creation of an ad hoc committee to discuss the repor on Wayfinding Signs with the committee to be comprised of Councilmember van Overbeek, a member of the Public Work's staff, a member representing the University, a member from the cycling community and lastly, a member from DCBA.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
ADJOURNMENT - Adjourned at 9:56 p.m. to Closed Session Meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 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: / drp 7/8/25
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
June 17, 2025 City Council Minutes Pagels
CLOSED SESSION MINUTES
June 17, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER - Mayor Reynolds called the Closed Session meeting to order in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, California at 5:00 p.m. She announced that Council would be meeting to discuss real property negotiations, labor negotiations for CPSA, Local 39, CFME, and SEIU, pending litigation on a WC Claim, public employee evaluations for the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney, and existing litigation related to Warren v. Chico.
CLOSED SESSION AGENDA - There were no speakers and no Council disqualifications. The Council recessed into Conference Room 2.
2.1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR - Pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.8. - No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
Agency Negotiator: Mark Sorensen, City Manager
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment, in association with the 2026 Road Rehabilitation Project - Ceanothus
Party Negotiating with APN Address
A. Jose V. Guzman and Hidy Rose Guzman 015-460-005 2233 Ceanothus Avenue B. Maplewood Series 2 LLC 015-460-003 2245 Ceanothus Avenue C. Dietz Rentals, LLC 015-480-095 2244/2246 Ceanothus Avenue D. The Cavaness Revocable Trust 015-490-002 2280 Ceanothus Avenue E. Chico Unified School District 015-490-001 1475 East Avenue
2.2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATOR: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957.6 - No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
Negotiator: Laura Izon (Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo law firm (AALRR)) & Barbara Martin, Administrative Services Director
Employee Organizations: Chico Public Safety Association, Stationary Engineers Local 39, Chico Fire Management Employees, Service Employees International Union - Trades & Crafts
2.3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - PENDING LITIGATION: Pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1). Case: XXXXX vs. City of Chico: (WC Claim No. 196087069-001) - Item not heard.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957(b). Title:
City Attorney, City Clerk, City Manager - Council was briefed; no formal action was taken.
2.5. 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. No formal action was taken; direction was provided.
2.6. CLOSED SESSION ITEMS THAT AROSE AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA - None
3. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. to the Adjourned Regular City Council Meeting on June 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
Date Approved: / drp 7/8/25
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Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
June 17, 2025 City Council Minutes Pagelo