Elections have consequences, and with new members on the dais, it appears a long-planned village for some of Chico’s homeless may finally win approval this evening.
Years in the making, a plan to house as many as 46 local homeless people in a cluster of unheated storage sheds may receive a green light from elected leaders in Chico.
The sheds, commercially available and intended for backyard storage, would be arrayed around a common kitchen and bathroom facilities. An on-site manager, counseling and other services would be available.
The concept was approved last month, but the council declined to allow City Manager Mark Orme to negotiate a lease with the owners of a proposed location on a 5-4 vote. With newly elected council members now seated, the outcome tonight will likely be different.
The city has been trying to reduce any potential legal liability posed by the site. Chico Housing Action Team would operate the site, funded partly by rent collected from occupants. The proposed site is on Notre Dame Boulevard south of Morrow Lane.
The council will also consider amending rules and procedures for appointing people to city boards and commissions, and hear a presentation from CSU-Chico students concerning homelessness.
Members will also be asked to consider discussing “commercial cannabis” at a future meeting.
In Redding the council will consider multimillion dollar maintenance and upgrades of the airport and will be asked to create a committee that would search for additional public safety funding and consider a new ordinance regulating camping and outdoor fires.