Conservative takeover

For the first time in a dozen years, a conservative majority is set to take the reins of the Chico City Council. Newly elected Reanette Fillmer and Andrew Coolidge will join forces with conservative incumbent Mark Sorensen, re-elected for a second term, and sitting Councilman Sean Morgan on a panel where progressive Councilmembers Ann Schwab, Tami Ritter and Randall Stone will, as of next month, comprise the minority vote.

Strangely enough, the shift in 2002 from a conservative to a progressive council included the election of Scott Gruendl, whose 12 years on the council ended in defeat this time around. One of the more contentious city issues in the fall of 2002 was the development of a city tree ordinance in the wake of a developer felling 110 oak trees in southeast Chico. And now, in 2014, the issue of city trees is once again high on the agenda. The more things change …

To try to get a handle on how things may or may not change politically over the next few years, the CN&R asked both the council members-elect and the sitting members a few questions about their individual roles on the council, whether the new panel will be able to work together and the health of the urban forest.

Having first been elected in 2004, Schwab will be the longest-serving member. She said she sees her role as focusing on making decisions that are in the best interest of the community—a sentiment all the council members echoed—with the city’s future in mind.

“My responsibility is to thoroughly understand all issues, respectfully listen to and consider all opinions in a civil manner,” she said.

Vice Mayor Sorensen said that representing the people of Chico involves “serving on the board of directors of a $100 million-plus-per-year municipal corporation, and to run that corporation in an effective and efficient manner to provide the services that a city should provide to its taxpayers.”

For his part, Morgan said his responsibility in office is giving his constituents the best return in services for their tax dollars.

Newly elected Fillmer said the role of a council member is to represent the taxpayers and make “responsible and collaborative decisions on things that are important to the community.”

Fellow newly elected Coolidge said he sees his role as a council member directly tied to finances. “I believe the role of a council member is to establish and adopt policies for the city and most importantly review and adopt the city budget,” he said.

Ritter said her role on the council includes collaborating “to adopt ordinances, resolutions, policies and regulations for the health, safety and welfare of all Chicoans and future generations.”

Stone said a council member “has the responsibility to ensure that policy and direction is being faithfully executed by staff,” adding, without naming names, that there have been recent instances in which staff failed to do so, putting a lot of pressure on the council.

Most of the council members agreed that, despite a new conservative majority, they will be able to work well together.

“This new council will be able to work together if we remember to be civil to one another and respect each other’s viewpoints,” Schwab said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t disagree; it just means to disagree with the opinion, not the person. I expect everyone to be opinionated. That’s why people elected us.”

For the most part, Sorensen said, the council will agree on a majority of issues and he blamed the press for suggesting there will be a general shift politically. The new council “absolutely” will be able to work together, he said—his first term on a liberal-dominated council was proof of that.

Morgan said he is confident the council can work together and that any noticeable change in council direction will be subtle at best.

“More importantly than a new direction is a dedication to do only those things that are relevant, important and affordable,” he said. “I believe we are all public servants with the best interests of the community in mind. While only in office for two years, I have found all my time with my colleagues cordial and civil.”

For her part, Fillmer said she hopes that the citizens will see the council shift direction with more attention placed on public safety and finances. Her goal, she said, is to work with those council members who “want to make reasonable choices and work together on solutions. Being a council member is not an independent role.”

Coolidge said he could not predict the actions of others and thus cannot say if the new lineup will be able to work together.

“I believe the political makeup of the new council is seven citizens who are willing to dedicate their time and efforts to making the city the best it can be for themselves and the citizens of Chico,” he offered.

Ritter said the overall political stripe of the new council would appear to be conservative but that the members will be able to work together.

“The previous council had to deal with challenges in leadership,” she said, “and despite a progressive majority, we elected a conservative vice mayor. We made a clear statement that we were willing to work together then, and we will continue to work together now.”

Stone said he doubts the public will note a change in direction by the council and is “certain” the members will be able to work together.

As for the health of the city’s trees, some council members believe the city needs to hire an urban forester while others declined to comment altogether.

Schwab said the city needs to rehire an in-house, full-time urban forester.

Ritter said the urban forest is in a bit of jeopardy and agreed that it is well past time the city hire an urban forester as well as implement a management plan.

Morgan said the state of the urban forest is a matter of “perspective,” and that having an urban forester does not “guarantee quality results.”

Stone said the city’s trees are not being properly maintained but, then, neither are its roads, parks and public safety.

“This has a tremendous impact on our community in ways that are seen and unseen and unrecognized by most,” he said, “This is true of most every city in America. The next shoe to drop after fiscal solvency is achieved and after we dodge pension bullets, assuming we ever do, is infrastructure. This includes the distant urban forest.”

Neither Sorensen nor Coolidge weighed in on the urban forest question, and Fillmer said she was not prepared to answer the question without further review.