REGULAR CHICO CITY COUNCIL MEETING - July 7, 2026
Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Reynolds called the July 7, 2026, Regular Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
1.1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
1.2. Roll Call - Councilmember van Overbeek attended the meeting via Zoom from the following location: 1499c Tragihalten Weg, 3823 Wengen, Switzerland due to just cause for childcare.
Present: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds
Absent: None
2. CONSENT AGENDA
A motion was made by Councilmember O'Brien and seconded by Vice Mayor Bennett 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. REQUEST TO APPROVE FY 2025 ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTER GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS The City Council was asked to approve three applications under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) FY 2025 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program requesting a total of $872,789 in federal funding. The proposed projects included (1) replacement and completion of essential firefighting, rescue, and extrication equipment on frontline and reserve fire apparatus; (2) acquisition of equipment for the Fire Investigation Team's (FIT) Mobile Fire Investigation Unit; and (3) procurement of a firefighting water tender. If awarded and accepted, the Federal grant requires a 10% match commitment from which a confirming supplemental appropriation will be sought for use of Operations and Maintenance-Fleet Services funds for a match of $64,095 for the firefighting water tender. FY26/27 fire department operating funds will be utilized for the 10% match commitment for the other two projects, if awarded and accepted. (Wes Metroka, Fire Chief)
2.2. ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA - None
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS - Members of the public addressed the Council at this time 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 was Vic, Sam Barber, Annabel Grimm, Bo Powell, and Molly Kopta.
REGULAR AGENDA
1.3. Proclamation and Acknowledgement - Retirement of Mark Sorensen, City Manager
1.4. SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT - Ryan Jones
City Attorney Ryan Jones announced that Council met with staff on the Closed Session matters on July 7,
5.1 Public Employment - City Manager - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
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4.1. CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF CITY MANAGER
Under Articles Il and VIl of the Charter of the City of Chico and California Government Code sections 34851 - 34859, the City Council ("Council") was empowered to appoint a city manager to direct the executive affairs of the City and to implement the Council's policy determinations. To meet this requirement, the City Council was presented with the employment agreement for Gillian Haen who has been selected to fill the City Manager position after a recruitment process. (Report - Mark Sorensen, City Manager) Addressing the Council were Elizabeth Griffin, Vic, Kim Nott, Julian Zener, Dave Garcia, and Vallejo City Councilwoman Gordan.
Councilmember Bennett - "For the record I have a statement and I will try to be brief. At the outset, I want to express my utmost respect for the Council and its decisions, even when I may disagree with some of them The process must be respected and upheld in every instance. Our system must prevail; otherwise, we risk moving toward an undemocratic and flawed outcome. I have no ill will towards the person who is likely to be selected as our next City Manager. I do however disagree with the selection.
First, there was another candidate who I believe would serve our community well as City Manager, a person familiar with our citizens and the unique personality Chico definitely has, he has been a member of the city team for decades, and knows our city department employees and department heads, a responsible leader of a very challenging department - and our Police Chief for the past four years. I believe Billy Aldridge would have been an extraordinarily successful, very responsive, and truly forthright City Manager. A person I know well, a person of unquestionable integrity and commitment, a person with decades of experience in making decisions. I am a firm believer in the concept of the importance and value of experience in life, work, and family to build a person to be a leader and make sound decisions. One of his mission statements is 'doing the right thing, the right way every time'
Second, I have significant reservations and concerns about the economics of the current employment agreement with the new City Manager. I also have reservations and concerns with certain provisions contained in the employment agreement. If passed without changes in some areas of the agreement I believe there will be repercussions with City employees and department heads.
For these reasons, my vote will be a "no" vote. I have made my position clear, and I shall now conclude my comments. Thank you for your time this evening listening to me. I do not take the time of our citizens, our city team, and my colleagues for granted. My intension was to be succinct. Thank you." A motion was made by Mayor Reynolds and seconded by Councilmember Hawley to authorize the execution of the City Manager contract conditioned on Gillian Haen passing a successful background, and with the City Manager and City Attorney to also amend the contract to include the PERs pick up and the employee's portior of FICA-Medicare equivalent to 1.45% pick up to mirror the current City Manager's contract. The contract will also eliminate the me-too clause and modify the termination clause to ensure it mirrors the current City Manager's contract and once the background has been completed, to offer a start date as early as July 27, The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, van Overbeek, Winslow, Reynolds NOES: O'Brien, Bennett
4.2. APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CITY MANAGER
The current City Manager's retirement date was July 10, 2026. The incoming City Manager was expected to begin employment in August of 2026. To ensure continuity in the administration of the City's day-to-day operations during the interim period, the City Council has been asked to designate an Interim City Manager.
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Pursuant to Articles Il and VII of the Charter of the City of Chico, Government Code sections 34851-34859, the City Council of the City of Chico was empowered to appoint a city manager to direct the executive affairs of the City and to implement the Council's policy determinations; and Article VII of the Charter (commencing with section 700), and Chapter 2.12 of the Chico Municipal Code (commencing with section 2.12.010), set forth the qualifications, duties, and powers of the city manager. (Report - Mark Sorensen, City Manager) ity Manager Erik Gustatson as the Interim City Manager etective July 11, 2026 City Manager begins employment with the City of Chico.
The motion carried by the following vote:
AYES: Goldstein, Hawley, O'Brien, van Overbeek, Winslow, Bennett, Reynolds NOES: None
4.3. ITEMS ADDED AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA - None
5. RECESS INTO CLOSED SESSION- The Council did not recess into Closed Session due to holding a Special Closed Session at 5:00 p.m.
5.1. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957(b). Title: City Manager - This item was not heard.
6. ADJOURNMENT - Adjourned at 6:51 p.m. to the July 14, 2026 Closed Session meeting 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.
Date Approved: /drp 8/18/26
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
July 7, 2026 City Council Minutes Page 3
SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION MEETING OF THE CHICO CITY COUNCIL - July 7, 2026 Minutes
1. CALL TO ORDER IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 421 MAIN STREET, CHICO, CA. - Mayor Reynolds called the Special Closed Session meeting of July 7, 2026, to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber located at 421 Main Street, Chico, CA.
1.1 ROLL CALL- All members were present except Councilmember van Overbeek.
2. SPECIAL AGENDA - Pursuant to Government Code § 54954.3(a), the City Council was prohibited by law from considering any other business at this meeting.
2.1 CLOSED SESSION PUBLIC COMMENTS OR COUNCIL DISQUALIFICATIONS- There were no speakers and no disqualifications.
2.2. PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT: Pursuant to Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 54957(b). Title: City Manager Recruitment - Council was briefed and direction was provided; no formal action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. to the Regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber, 421 Main Street, Chico.
Date Approved: /drp 8/18/26
Sebrand heron
Deborah R. Presson, MMC, City Clerk
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