Chico City Council

Amidst allegations that a member of the Chico City Council violated the Brown Act, an ACLU attorney explains the law and the rights it affords to the public. Also, snow and gusty winds have prompted a winter weather advisory for many mountainous areas of the North State through this afternoon, and Yuba City is looking for a local artist to create a ‘Welcome’ sign for the city that will be placed at key entry points and replace older signs.

Chico City Council member Addison Winslow was issued a cease and desist letter by the city attorney last week requesting the councilmember halt disclosing information from closed sessions. The letter wasn’t specific with the information disclosed but Winslow says it’s likely referring to his conversations with local press about the city’s recently filed amicus brief regarding homelessness.

The City of Chico is preparing to clear another series of homeless encampments. NSPR spoke with some campers who have been forced to move around ten times. Also, Chico City Council member Addison Winslow was issued a cease and desist letter by the city attorney last week requesting the councilmember halt disclosing information from closed sessions. and approval of a grant application to the county for funds to be used for outreach and emergency sheltering of unhoused people is to be discussed by the Chico City Council today.

The expected rent increase for residents of a senior mobile home park in Chico won’t be as much as they initially expected, but the proposed spike has motivated some seniors to speak up. Also, the city of Chico has announced its intention to forcibly remove more unhoused people camping along the bike path, and a North State teenager who was reported missing over the weekend has been reunited with her family.

There are payment plans for electricity, phone and healthcare bills, but not for rebuilding permits if you’re a wildfire survivor. Butte County is looking into changing that, maybe by the start of the year. Also, some landowners in Butte County are currently voting on the formation of the controversial Tuscan Water District, and the Chico City Council meets tonight to discuss whether sewer assessments for new connections should be collected on the tax roll and the effects of a new bill that increases the limits for city councilors’ compensation.

The city of Chico has filed an amicus brief in support of a Supreme Court case that could overturn Martin v. Boise, which ruled that cities typically can’t enforce anti-camping ordinances against unhoused residents sleeping on public property when no alternative shelter is available.

The North Valley Harm Reduction Coalition has been asked by the city of Chico to cease operation of its syringe access program after being issued a notice of violating an ordinance that bans syringe exchange programs or “anything similar to them.” Also, a request to Butte County for a March 2024 special election for Valley’s Edge was requested by the Chico City Council, and the city of Willows finalized a contract with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement services through the end of this year.

Chico’s city council approved a motion this week that may create a more livable downtown by removing parking restrictions that require one parking space per residential unit.

Tax Day has been extended for much of California. NSPR spoke with a tax preparer who helps Camp Fire survivors file taxes on their PG&E settlement money. Also, Chico’s city council approved a motion this week that may create a more livable downtown by removing parking restrictions, and the city of Oroville is conducting a test of a LiveView Rapidly Deployed Surveillance trailer this week which is part of a broader goal to reduce crime rates in the city.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is doubling down on their opposition to a new state law barring hand-counting ballots in elections in counties with more than 1,000 registered voters. NSPR spoke with the county clerk and registrar of voters about the difficulty of hand-counting and the ban. Also, The Chico City Council will reconvene tomorrow after the last meeting was canceled due to issues with the chamber’s audio system, and California is set to receive more than $1 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy in a nationwide campaign to build regional hydrogen energy hubs.