As extreme heat and wildfire are becoming the new normal, Chico must adapt. Examples of climate infrastructure include enhancing our urban forest to keep the city cool, supporting programs that offer cooling centers, and funding land-stewardship efforts. By designing people-centered policy, we can prepare and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Collaborate with organizations that alleviate the effects of extreme weather for residents, including cooling centers, safe spaces for disenfranchised communities, land stewardship, food accessibility, and groups who provide resources to the neighborhoods that need them most.
Protect trees on city property, and plant new trees that are adaptable to a warming climate. Trees retain moisture, sequester carbon, filter air, and provide shade in the summer to keep our city cool. By planting more trees and maintaining our urban forest, we spend less on other methods to achieve the same result while adding beauty to our community, affectionately called the “City of Trees.” Our trees are a giant savings account, and investing in our parks and urban forest should be a Council priority.
Actively pursue opportunities for community-owned energy systems to increase energy equity and decrease dependence on PG&E. Hundreds of State and Federal grants are available for solar panels, hydropower, micro-grids, and other types of energy infrastructure that the City has historically neglected to apply for. Residents are held captive by price hikes, and our environment has suffered tremendous losses due to PG&E’s negligence.
Protect our valuable open land and agricultural land through infill development initiatives. Unnecessary developments into severe-risk fire zones, such as the Valley’s Edge proposal, are dangerous, increase flood risk, hike home insurance rates, and add more paved surfaces that absorb heat and intensify already hot days.
Climate Resilience
The 2020 Vegetative Fuels Management Plan advised City Council to budget a prescribed burn in the same area the 2024 Park Fire ignited. Council neglected to do so.
Katie distributing free tomato plants at the Paradise Grazing Festival. Climate resilience includes food sovereignty!
It’s no secret Chico has a lack of affordable housing. Taking inspiration from pro-housing cities, Chico can encourage housing options for all budgets while protecting renters.
Support local developers in creating affordable housing options such as backyard cottages, duplexes, townhouses, and starter homes. Chico can relax or remove unnecessary development requirements, such as parking minimums based on square footage, to promote housing options and development opportunities that accommodate growth.
Allow more housing in centrally-located blocks to create opportunities for residents to live in walkable neighborhoods.
Protect renters from predatory landlords that don’t understand our peoples needs: rent stabilization, eviction protections, and enforcement against abuses by landlords.
Support workforce development by partnering with labor unions for skilled training programs. Support contractors who provide healthcare benefits, hire local laborers, and have state-certified apprenticeships to improve job retention.
Address the needs of people who are unhoused by providing temporary shelter and social services that pave a path towards reliable housing. The Genesis Shelter, managed by the city, has significantly reduced the size and number of encampments in town. By addressing the issues head on, the city can stop wasting resources chasing folks from parks and plazas.
Affordable Housing
Safe Streets
Chico’s infrastructure is designed solely to promote fast car traffic, creating dangerous and confusing situations for both pedestrians and drivers. The City must take deliberate action to ensure viable options are made available for people getting around without a car. However folks choose to get around, they ought to have options to do it safely, be it walking, biking, or taking the bus.
Mobility barriers in Chico need to be prioritized and addressed. Implementing safe street design will improve visibility and decrease the risk of pedestrian collisions. Affordable safety solutions, such as quick-build protected bike lanes, will diversify the modes of transit that can be taken safely and efficiently.
Respond to high rates of pedestrian-collisions in locations like Downtown Chico with infrastructure that ensures community safety. Residents shouldn’t be dodging cars when walking, shopping, and eating downtown. Folks should go to downtown, not through downtown.
Improving environmental design features that lower crime rates, such as adequate lighting, urban greening, and public art.
Address mobility barriers that limit residents accessibility and safety when using public streets. Sidewalks that dead-end, potholes that throw people off bikes or damage cars, and inadequate crosswalks ought to be prioritized in the annual budget.
The Downtown Complete Streets Project, which was not approved by City Council, is imagined here by local artist Ms. Cordy.
An example of a dead-end sidewalk in District 5.