CHICO — Residents of senior mobile home parks get another chance to make their case for rent stabilization when the Chico City Council revisits the subject Tuesday evening.
The agenda also features reviews of the Downtown Chico Business Association’s 12-month progress report, a proposal allowing alcohol at private events in City Plaza and a policy for allocating Fire Victim Trust funds. Other open-session discussions include three budget adjustments and adding monthly reports from councilors to meetings; closed session, scheduled for just a half-hour, has labor negotiation updates as the sole item.
Mobile home parks hit councilors’ consciousness in the fall after a north Chico location, Pleasant Valley Mobile Estates, announced a 30% hike in space rents following 10% increases the previous two years. The owner subsequently reduced the rise to 10%, but residents of that park and others asked the council to consider adopting a rent stabilization ordinance.
The council referred the matter to its Internal Affairs Committee, which heard from affected seniors during the March 4 meeting. Neither committee chair Tom van Overbeek nor Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds seconded a motion from Councilor Addison Winslow to recommend the council weigh an ordinance, so the item comes to the full council with no action from Internal Affairs.
The DCBA, under terms of a funding contract with the city, presents periodic updates to the council. The first annual report comes Tuesday before the council decides on anther downtown issue, expanding alcohol provision in the plaza from public events to also include private functions. Internal Affairs recommended the change on a 2-1 vote Feb. 5, with Winslow opposed.
Regarding fire relief funds, the Finance Committee reviewed a policy to ensure “specific uses do not conflict or jeopardize other forms of funding” at its Feb. 28 meeting and recommended approval.
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 5:30 p.m. Meetings are free and open to the public.
