Chico >> New lighting,
the Butte County Grand Jury report and Bidwell Ranch’s future will be on the
City Council’s agenda Tuesday.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday in the Council Chambers, 421 Main St.
The council will hold a hearing
about using Richard Heath and Associates of Chico to install LED lighting at
city facilities. The city plans to take advantage of PG&E rebate offers.
According to a staff report, the cost of the project would be $181,497, but
would save the city $98,747.89 annually.
Grand Jury report
City Manager Mark Orme has
crafted responses to the 2014-15 Butte County Grand Jury Report that cites
findings and recommendations.
While the findings report
indicated the city has reduced its debt from $13.1 million to $7.8 million, the
city believes that figure is closer to $2.8 million because of vacancies and
non-personnel savings as well as revenue increases. The city believes it will
be reducing its debt even further and ahead of schedule.
Regarding transparency between
management and the city, which the report indicated had improved, the city
agreed and noted a number of actions have taken place to improve that,
including online employee compensation and accounts payable information.
The city also agrees with the
findings that new administrative, departmental and fiscal polices have been
implemented for fiscal and operational goals.
Regarding the issue of the
city’s self-insurance fund, the report indicated a comprehensive review is
needed, as well as identifying a repayment schedule for the self-insurance
fund. The city is revamping the way the city handles charging workers’
compensation expenses.
The city has implemented four
of the five Grand Jury recommendations, but disagrees with one. Recommendations
implemented are accelerating the deficit reduction plan; continuing dialogue
between council and staff; continuing to review and update policies; and
restoring the workers compensation fund. The city disagreed with the
recommendation to outsource the workers’ compensation insurance and consider
joining the Northern California Self-Insurance Fund.
According to the response, the
city already outsources much of its workers’ compensation function, but the
city believes its restructuring plan for the program appears sufficient.
Bidwell Ranch
Options the city might take in
regard to Bidwell Ranch, in north Chico adjacent to Bidwell Park, will be
considered by the council, which discussed several options in July.
Two options put on the table
included maintaining the 756 acres as an open-space preserve with managed
public access until a future sale as a mitigation bank under the Butte Regional
Conservation Plan, which could be approved in 2016. Public access would be
allowed.
If that conservation program is
not approved, the acreage could continue as an open space preserve and areas
containing sensitive plants and creatures like Butte County meadowfoam and
fairy shrimp could be used for mitigation on future city projects. A site
management plan that would allow nonintensive uses like hiking and trail
running would be needed.
The city staff is recommending
the sale, with the property remaining as open space with managed care until
then.
The conservation plan, also
known as a habitat conservation plan, has been under construction by the Butte
County Association of Governments. Bidwell Ranch would be purchased by BCAG for
between $4,000 and $8,000 per acre, but with managed public access. BCAG
believes it should have all final approvals of the plan by spring 2016.
The staff report indicated
several benefits of selling the property to BCAG including revenue generation,
mitigation banking for future city projects and BCAG being responsible for
management and public access instead of the city. Developers would also
benefit, the city noted, regarding mitigation by negotiating with one local
entity rather than several state and federal agencies.
The report also recommended not
opening the entire property to the public at this time because of jeopardizing
the potential sale price and potential as a mitigation bank, but indicated if
the council wished, a small area could be opened on the southeast corner for
pedestrian use only
August 30, 2015
Chico
Enterprise-Record
By Laura Urseny
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