Current and Past Projects
Avenues Effort to Gain RDA funding Success!Tracking the Enloe Project ongoing
Chico Avenues Traffic Calming Forum January 15 -17th, 2006
Avenues Effort to Gain RDA funding
SUCCESS! At the September 19th, 2006 meeting of the City Council, the Chico City Council approved dedicated RDA funding to the Chico Avenues. The Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association wants to thank the Chico City Council for voting to fund 7.5 million dollars for Avenues infrastructure. Although we are in agreement that the area needs far more support to finance a complete renovation of the area, it is a great start and quite timely, since the neighborhood planning process is just around the corner.
BACKGROUND The original intent (1950) of California redevelopment legislation was the elimination of blight (slums in the inner cities), and to provide more affordable housing. Redevelopment is funded by the sale of bonds that do not require voter approval. Bonds are paid off by property taxes that are diverted from other government agencies, such as cities, counties and school districts. In addition to funding capital improvements like roads, drainage, sidewalks and other infrastructure, the Chico RDA bonds also fund State mandated affordable housing projects (~20% of RDA) and City mandated public arts funding (~1% of RDA).
In 2007, the Chico Redevelopment Agency was to divert an estimated $20 million from the above mentioned agencies, including $3 million from the city of Chico's general fund. The latest bond issue was for $65 million. City staff estimates that the bond balance ranges from $22-$64 million based on various scenarios, but the list of proposed capital improvement projects comes to $130 million plus.
CANA and the "Citizens' Committee"
Responding to requests by the public, the Chico Redevelopment Agency/City Council authorized formation of a Chico Citizens Redevelopment Committee. Barbara Reed attended these weekly meetings that began in March of that year. One mission of the Chico Citizens RDA Committee is to ensure that public input is considered in the Redevelopment Agency's decision-making process.
CANA's letter to the Council & RDA Committee July 25, 2006
Partial Avenues Infrastructure Estimates
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Tracking the Enloe Project
Read Enloe's Construction Updates online--back to top--
Chico Avenues Traffic Calming Forum
On January 15th - 17th, 2006, the Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association hosted a Traffic Calming forum with featured expert, Dan Burden, from Walkable Communities, Inc. Dan Burden is a nationally recognized authority on street corridor and intersection design, traffic flow and calming, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs, and other design and planning elements that affect roadway environments. He has had 25 years of experience in developing, promoting and evaluating alternative transportation facilities, traffic calming practices and sustainable community design.
The forum was sponsored by New Urban Builders, Enloe Hospital, and CANA, and was made possible through a generous in-kind donation from the Grateful Bed. More than 50 neighbors, community leaders, and planning staff participated in the sessions that spanned the three day event, including a 3-hour neighborhood tour and identification of problem areas. Dan Burden's Traffic Calming presentation (PDF) OR Dan Burden's Traffic Calming presentation (PPT) provides a thorough overview of the tools that could be helpful in solving some of the neighborhoods biggest speeding, safety, and traffic-related challenges. This forum served as meaningful training for Avenues residents that will participate in the Neighborhood Planning process.
Read press coverage of this event: Friday, January 20th 2006 article from the Chico Enterprise Record.--back to top--
