CHICO — “It’s a full moon tonight,” Mayor Andrew Coolidge said, “and it’s proving itself at this council meeting.”
Coolidge made the remark after asking Police Chief Billy Aldridge to escort a speaker out of chambers — the second such removal in a 20-minute span Tuesday evening — but it also applied to the main item on the agenda, the city’s response to a critical grand jury report, in which members of the public and the council grew heated.
Councilors breezed through other matters, notably a public hearing on the city’s use of federal development funding, a status report from the Downtown Chico Business Association and a land transaction for the development of Lost Park. Public comments and the grand jury discussion eclipsed those in the two-plus hour session.
The meeting grew contentious when a speaker who identified herself as Karma grew increasingly animated and emotional, to an extent that Coolidge deemed her disruptive. He made the same assessment with Stephen Hazel, who at a previous meeting also sparred with the mayor. Police led both from the chambers.
They were just a prelude to contentiousness to come.
At the previous meeting, the city took exception with the Butte County Grand Jury report that criticized Chico’s approach to homelessness, particularly management (or lack thereof) of the alternate camping site at Eaton and Cohasset roads.
Sean Morgan expressed the council’s prevailing opinion that night when he told the grand jury to “pound sand” — though this wasn’t the official reaction. Instead, he and his colleagues voted 6-1 (with Addison Winslow dissenting) to have Coolidge, Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds and City Manager Mark Sorensen draft a written response that the council considered Tuesday.
That document rejected most of the report’s recommendations. Winslow asked if staff consulted with the grand jury foreman to clarify any of the criticisms; Sorensen responded that wasn’t necessary.
Three speakers addressed the response. Mike Johnson, a candidate for council, read prepared remarks castigating councilors — drawing a counter-rebuke from Coolidge. Grace Marvin likewise asked councilors to reconsider their tack, and Julian Zener joined Johnson in defending the grand jury.
“Now is the time for a fresh start, particularly with the winding down of the settlement agreement,” Zener said, advocating for a sanctioned campground as Marvin and earlier speaker Charles Withuhn had.
Tom van Overbeek defended the response and his colleagues — commenting, “I know it’s a full moon, but we’ve certainly had our share of crazies.” He said he wouldn’t change a word in the response, but Winslow went point by point offering counterpoints and also asked for more public discussions.
Overall, he called the council’s reaction “flagrant disrespect” of a citizen watchdog group and the written response “snarky.” Van Overbeek called Winslow’s excoriation “uncalled for” and suggested an apology was in order.
A speaker identified as Karma directs comments to the audience before being escorted out of City Council Chambers on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024 in Chico, California. Police later asked Stephen Hazel, rear left, to leave as well. (Evan Tuchinsky/Enterprise-Record)
Coolidge asked Sorensen about the amount spent on homelessness; “it’s disproportional,” the city manager responded, “and I think that’s your point.” Coolidge also stated that the council has clearly expressed its desire to keep the Pallet shelter and rattled off state policies that led to people living in public spaces.
At that, Morgan moved to accept the response, and Reynolds seconded. Winslow continued debating, Coolidge retorted, and 40 minutes after the item started, a 6-1 vote ratified the filing over Winslow’s objection.
Downtown
As a condition of receiving city funds for three years, the Downtown Chico Business Association (DCBA) provides the council with periodic reports. The group submitted its 18-month update, which indicated progress made in the four “key areas” of organization, events, marketing and placemaking.
Deputy City Manager Jennifer Macarthy noted the DCBA has created a committee to look at assessments, a topic of concern during the last review. Organization volunteer Audrey Taylor told councilors the DCBA, which now has one full-time employee and three part-timers, has “made significant progress on our three-year plan. I’d like to thank the council for supporting us.”
Councilors praised the group’s efforts in accepting the report, notably the Taste of Downtown event and its new headquarters. During the public comment period, Chico State President Steve Perez gave his kudos.
In another downtown matter, the council decided to designated city-owned property at Lost Park — Municipal Parking Lot 5 — as surplus land to facilitate development of the site in partnership with Chico State.
Macarthy detailed a multi-use project that would further connect downtown and the campus. Once the process unfolds, the designation will allow the city to work with a developer and the university.
“I think this has a chance to transform this end of town,” said Winslow, whose district includes Lost Park. The vote was 7-0.
Development funds
The council held a federally mandated hearing on its Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) programs.
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, Chico expended approximately $2.2 million, predominantly on housing and services. HOME funds contributed to the affordable housing complexes North Creek Crossing and Creekside Place, while CDBG funds went to The Foundation and Habitat for Humanity’s Wisconsin Street project.
The council unanimously approved the CAPER.
Other items
• Councilors referred two discussions to their Internal Affairs Committee: additional regulations on massage establishments, requested by Deepika Tandon, “to make sure they’re all legal”; and expanding codes for blighted buildings around town, requested by van Overbeek, the IAC chair.
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• At the request of Coolidge, the council referred to the Arts Commission a project to honor acclaimed abstract artist Jackson Pollock, whose cities of residence included Chico. “Next to Aaron Rodgers, he’s probably our most famous (citizen),” the mayor said. The approval, like with the other requests, was unanimous.
• The consent agenda, routine items enacted in a single motion, included revising noticing requirements in city building codes recommended by the Planning Commission and property acquisitions along Bruce Road as part of the pavement rehabilitation project. It passed unanimously.
• The council did not hold a closed session.
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