The conversation about the Downtown sewer job and proposed remodel has finally turned around. I was frankly shocked when Mayor Kasey Reynolds closed the meeting last week after council failed to come together on any one of the proposals.
Watching the meeting on the city website, and then again watching the clip on the local news, I was also shocked but not surprised to see riff-raff behavior in the chambers. Some people think they can get their way by bullying others, and oftentimes it works. When you really care about something you need to learn to deal with bullies without bullying. You ignore them, and you stand by your beliefs.
I contacted Reynolds, and she assured me that she is also leaning toward a simple and realistic plan to fix the sewers and return Downtown streets to “what we’ve known”. She cited fiscal concerns, and indicated that a lot of the bicycle bullshit is about chasing funding “from Sacramento“. Unfortunately, at least half of that taxpayer based funding goes to city salaries and pensions, while only “43% to 50% of the total project budget directly covers labor and materials (known as hard costs), based on studies of multi-family housing projects and general construction breakdowns…”
Some council members seem to think money grows on trees, not out of the hard work of taxpayers. They won’t acknowledge what their little pet projects do to the cost of living in our town. The other problem with the Sacramento funding is that is requires a lot of matching funds from city coffers.
We all watched the 20th Street bicycle/pedestrian bridge go over budget year after year, finally costing over $23 million. $1 million of that came from the city of Chico – from the Fire Victims Trust Fund, along with local developer fees and transportation funds. Money that should have gone toward other uses that have been largely neglected.
How often do you think you will use that bridge? See any fire victims up there? How are the streets in your part of town? Ever wonder why the price of housing keeps going up-up-up? Gotta watch the bouncing ball Folks.
So I’m watching this conversation, hoping that the vocal minority will not get their way.
And I was also somewhat relieved by the show of leadership from Kasey Reynolds. Yes, I’ve complained about Reynolds’ past actions, I haven’t agreed with her very many times. I’m disgusted with the sewer rate increase and I believe they should take up Bennett’s request for another vote. But I’m with her on the Downtown sewer job.
My husband reminds me that they were going to do a traffic circle there at Bidwell Mansion, for the same kind of state funding, but public outcry changed the vote of one council member and that little boondoggle went away.
Chico Taxpayers Association 
The downtown is dying a slow death (parking meters didn’t help). Continuing to allow cars to speed through the downtown will not fix the problem. Downtown needs to be more family friendly. The vehicle speeds make it dangerous.
Hi Dave,
I agree Downtown is having a downturn. I agree the meters didn’t help. But I don’t agree that reducing to two lanes will stop bad drivers – or for that matter, bad pedestrians or bad cyclists. In fact, I really don’t think cars are a problem Downtown, I honestly have not heard of accidents involving pedestrians or bikes vs cars in the Downtown grid since a reporter from the N&R was hit when he stepped out in front of a car leaving a bar. He flat admitted he did not look first, and the car had the right of way. The latest tragedy I heard about was a cyclist who died after hitting a parked car, but we never got the whole story there.
I certainly have not heard of any children or families being hit by a car.
The vehicle speeds are set by the city, and they’re supposed to be enforced by our very generously compensated cops.
I’ll tell you what would make Downtown more family friendly – CLEAN IT UP. Get rid of the criminal factor, the drug use, the inappropriate behavior. Enforce the laws regarding vandalism and theft. That would encourage more affordable businesses that cater to families, like diners, affordable clothing stores, sporting goods – stores that sell stuff FAMILIES NEED. How about some affordable entertainment for kids? All that was true when our kids were little, and we went Downtown at least a couple of times a week ON BIKES.
In fact, we also have enjoyed many family vacations in Fort Bragg, where we have enjoyed the restaurants and shops that stand right along US Hwy 101, with log trucks and delivery trucks and holiday travelers and camper vans heading right through town. We just wait for the sign to say WALK, and we watch those brutes come softly to a stop. It’s a testament to civilization and co-existence.
This remodel discussion is a waste of money and time. We have people who need to learn the difference between wants and needs. We need to live within our means. We need to fix the sewers – all over town. No more behavioral experiments Downtown.