CHICO — In contrast to most election-night meetings, the Chico City Council will tackle a significant agenda Tuesday — the day after the three-councilor Internal Affairs Committee considers two meaty matters.
This afternoon, the IAC will discuss mobile home park rents and potential changes to the city’s licensing of businesses manufacturing cannabis products. The full council convenes the next evening to address annexation of the Orchard Creek Estates property and planning for the Downtown Complete Streets renovation project, among other items.
Mobile home parks hit councilors’ consciousness in the fall after the owner of a north Chico park for seniors raised rents 30% following back-to-back increases of 10%. That prompted residents to seek relief, and while their landlord reduced the increase, they asked the council to consider a rent stabilization ordinance. At its Jan. 16 meeting, the council referred the issue to Internal Affairs.
The IAC also will hear a proposal from the city manager’s office to broaden the scope of state licensure the city requires cannabis manufacturers to obtain and also require these businesses to begin operating within three years of receiving their city license.
The controversial Orchard Creek Estates project could clear its final hurdle Tuesday with a pair of approvals. First, the council’s decision last meeting to let the subdivision move forward gets a confirmation vote as part of the consent agenda. Later, the council will hold a public hearing on whether to annex the parcel, thereby removing it from the Bell-Muir Special Planning Area that currently falls under Butte County jurisdiction.
Internal Affairs reviewed the initial proposal for the downtown street plan in December. Since then, public works engineers have met with downtown business owners and other community members for input. Public Works Engineering seeks direction on five components: sidewalk vaults, street trees, bike lane buffers, connectivity from cross streets (Second, Third, Fourth) and features on the thoroughfares (Main and Broadway).
The consent agenda also includes property acquisitions for the Pomona Avenue Bridge Replacement Project and a one-time adjustment to the pay scale for firefighters. In closed session, councilors will hear updates on labor negotiations and Warren v. Chico, plus start annual performance evaluations for the city manager, city clerk and city attorney.
The Chico City Council regularly meets at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 421 Main St.; closed session starts at 5 p.m. The Internal Affairs Committee meets at 1 p.m. on the first Monday of the month, in the same building. Meetings are free and open to the public.
