Tag: Chico City Council

Tiny homes win on a split Council vote

NSST wants four tiny homes for pilot project
by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 8, 2025
Mason speaks at the City Council meeting. Screenshot photo by Yucheng Tang.

The disagreement around tiny homes for the unhoused, at the end of the Oct. 8 City Council meeting, centered on whether to limit the number that will be allowed on a church parking lot. 

There were two motions on the table when one of the two passed 4-3 — supporting a pilot program for tiny homes on a church parking lot that can house women. The motion directs City staff to move forward with the plan that was presented earlier by the North State Shelter Team (NSST). Most importantly, compared to the other motion, this motion doesn’t limit the number of houses that will be provided. 

Before the motion passed, there were tense moments with a 3–3 split on the Council. Three conservative councilmembers — Tom van Overbeek, Mike O’Brien and Dale Bennett — voted against the motion, and the three progressive councilmembers — Addison Winslow, Bryce Goldstein, and Katie Hawley — voted in favor.  read more

Alternative Site resident discusses hurtful stereotyping

by Yucheng Tang | Posted October 8, 2025

After a lengthy public hearing Oct. 7 over the City’s Alternative Camping Site, a resident, Michael Morgan, speaks with ChicoSol about the unfair assumptions people make about the encampment and who lives there.

Chico City Council looks for alternatives to Alternative Camping Site

by Yucheng Tang | Posted September 18, 2025
Brenda Sallee speaks at the Council meeting earlier this week. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

The City Council voted unanimously Sept. 17 to identify location and service options for the Cohasset and Eaton Roads camping site where unhoused people have lived for several years, sheltered only by tents. The Council’s motion directs staff to look at alternative locations, whether the camp could be split among smaller sites and possible collaboration with service providers.

The discussion was initiated by Councilmember Mike O’Brien after a resident living in the neighborhood brought up safety concerns at a recent meeting. 

Erik Gustafson, Chico Public Works director, addressed the Council on challenges that Public Works has with the site and recent improvements that have been made. During public comment, neighborhood residents raised safety concerns about the north Chico campground and one camper, Brenda Sallee, spoke. read more

Maze gates and right-of-way rules worry cyclists

South Park Drive makeover to be reconsidered
by Ann Bykerk-Kauffman, guest writer | Posted July 24, 2025
A driver on South Park Drive where cars would not be allowed. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

Opposition to the recent Chico City Council decision for South Park Drive near One Mile Recreation Area has been immediate and fierce, mostly focused on the plan to extend the car-free portion to the entrance gate.

On June 17 the Council approved the following proposal for that portion of South Park Drive:

  1. Repave it, maintaining its current width
  2. Extend the motor vehicle-free portion westward to the Bidwell Park entrance gate at Cypress Street 
  3. Repave the driveway to the Sycamore Pool parking lot and build two new driveways to the Sycamore Field and Caper Acres parking lots
  4. Pave the parking lots with permeable pavement
  5. Abandon and re-vegetate the parking areas along the north side of South Park Drive and the egress driveway located just east of Caper Acres.

But the Chico Safe Streets Coalition, an active transportation advocacy group, opposes the plan, too. Why? Although, on the face of it, the closure of South Park Drive seems to facilitate bicycle and pedestrian transportation, the current implementation plan does the opposite – the devil is in the details. 

During the June 17 meeting, Brendan Ottoboni, director of Public Works – Engineering, revealed that he planned to install “bike path gates” (a.k.a. “maze gates”) on either side of each of the three driveways that would cross South Park Drive; he also implied that cyclists and pedestrians on South Park Drive would lose the right of way they have enjoyed for decades and would instead have to stop and yield to motorists at every crossing driveway.  read more

South Park Drive to close to cars

Vehicles still to be allowed in some parts of Lower Park on weekdays
by Yucheng Tang | Posted June 19, 2025
A man runs today on South Park Drive in Lower Bidwell Park. Photo by Yucheng Tang.

The City Council voted 4-3 to approve closure of parts of Lower Bidwell Park to vehicles at the June 17 meeting. Mayor Kasey Reynolds, Vice Mayor Dale Bennett and Councilmember Michael O’Brien voted in opposition.

Many of the 17 speakers during the public comment session opposed the plan to close the entire stretch of South Park Drive—running parallel to Woodland Avenue—to vehicular traffic. Under the plan, the parking lot at the One Mile Recreation Area will only be accessed via Woodland Avenue, and the plan will be implemented in the summer of 2026.

“There has been no proof, no evidence that any of these improvements are needed, except for the resurfacing of the pathway, the roadway in the park,” said Elizabeth Griffin, who, like most speakers, supported pavement rehabilitation without any other changes.   read more

City Council to staff Fire Engine 1

Some road repairs to be delayed
by Yucheng Tang | Posted June 4, 2025
Councilmember Mike O’Brien

The City Council majority voted at its June 3 meeting to staff Fire Engine 1, but the panel was divided over where to find the funding.

The 4-3 vote to cut the road repair fund — instead of cutting unoccupied positions at Chico Police Department or elsewhere in the budget — elicited sighs from some members of the audience. The road repair fund comes from Measure H sales tax revenue.

“I’m not going to lose sleep if we delay some road projects,” said Councilmember Mike O’Brien. “If we lose a neighborhood because our fire department is not adequately staffed, I will lose sleep over that.”

O’Brien, a former Chico police chief, made the passing motion, which defers road improvement projects to fund the engine staffing. His motion was supported by Mayor Kasey Reynolds, Vice Mayor Dale Bennett and Councilmember Tom van Overbeek after an alternative motion from other councilmembers failed. read more