Heat from the dais

“I propose that the city declare June ‘Homelessness Discrimination Month,’ to celebrate the hard work and prejudice that Chico First is so diligently poisoning our community with,” Mark Herrera read from the City Council chambers lectern. “It takes a special kind of people to go out of their way to victimize and marginalize a portion of our population by using every creative tactic to criminalize the human condition of homelessness.”

That’s just a taste of the tongue-lashing the one-time City Council candidate unleashed before he was escorted from the council chambers in handcuffs. Though he didn’t call out anyone by name, Herrera evidently crossed a line by referencing The Big Lebowski, calling the founder of Chico First a “human paraquat.”

Mayor Sean Morgan had warned Herrera that he was “bordering on a personal attack,” but Herrera continued, to which Morgan replied by thanking him for his time and beckoning two police officers to boot him out.

His dramatic exit was the climax of a tense, contentious meeting that also included a bleak financial outlook for Chico in the next decade, in light of declining revenues and increasing retirement costs, which will climb from $8 million per year to $14 million by 2030.

Herrera’s comments were triggered by a request by Councilman Andrew Coolidge for the panel to consider discussing a laundry list of items homeless-advocacy watchdogs say are discriminatory. The run-down of items, called “Chico Safe Now” proposals, includes several championed by Chico First—specifically, earlier closing times for city parks, renewing the sit-lie ordinance and creating penalties for wayward shopping carts. However, Coolidge is also calling for discussion on declaring a shelter crisis, which could make way for the Chico Housing Action Team’s planned tiny home community, Simplicity Village.

As Herrera was steered outside, Councilman Karl Ory commented, “I think that could have been avoided,” and made a motion to adjourn the meeting, before any of the proposals were brought up. It failed 3-4 along party lines. After some heated exchanges between Ory and Coolidge, and Vice Mayor Reanette Fillmer shouting at Councilwoman Ann Schwab, prompting the mayor to call for calm, the panel voted 5-2 in favor of discussing Coolidge’s proposals (Schwab and Ory dissented).

Things also got heated between Ory and Fillmer when the council considered whether to discuss the potential creation of City Council districts at a future meeting. Ory at one point slammed his fist on the dais, charging she was attempting to silence him by calling a point of order. The panel voted to 4-3 along party lines to agendize that discussion.

Earlier in the meeting, Administrative Services Director Scott Dowell told the panel that, assuming another recession hits, as is predicted, the city will need to generate additional revenue, or make cuts to services or to departments (or a combination of the two) to the tune of $4 million to $8 million, largely due to escalating retirement costs.

Dowell made some suggestions, including an increase in the city’s transient occupancy tax (paid by those using Chico’s hotels and motels) from 10 percent to 15 percent, which could generate $1.4 million annually, and a business license fee increase, which could generate about $1 million.

“I know that increasing taxes is not anyone’s preference,” he said before suggesting the council consider a utility tax on mobile phones in Chico, “but you need to look at and analyze all options.”

Dowell highlighted that the city is doing well currently, and wouldn’t hit a deficit until five years from now, assuming another recession hits. If the city continues to contribute to its emergency reserves, it’ll reach its target goal of around $11 million in five years, too.

The presentation had a sobering effect on the council. “It’s a little bit like being on the Titanic in the middle of the day and seeing the iceberg,” Morgan said, “but thank you for that.”

Also at the meeting, $40,000 in community organization funding that used to fund a grant program for local nonprofits every year was diverted back to the general fund on a vote along party lines: Councilwoman Schwab’s desire to keep the funding set aside for community organizations was rejected.

However, arts and culture organizations and public art projects did secure 1 percent of the city’s transient occupancy tax revenue, about $27,000 based on current budget figures, after the council squabbled over what the precise percentage should be and whether or not to add a “cap” of $50,000. The vote was 4-3, with Councilmembers Mark Sorensen, Fillmer and Morgan against.

Sorensen called the decision “lazy budgeting,” adding that the city was throwing money at something that brings in far less tax revenue than other industries.

Coolidge replied that the only way for the city to generate additional revenue is through the university and arts and culture events. “I think this is a token contribution to something that is vitally important to our community, and I think it is an outstanding statement to make.”

In a bizarre moment, Fillmer pointedly asked Schwab to define what culture means while she was speaking in support. Schwab’s response: “It would be an enrichment of the visual and performance arts that creates an atmosphere of exploration of different communities and differences in ourselves, between one another, and spurs creativity,” she said. “It’s a celebration of our community and the talents we have, and … creates a sense of place.”