Residents urge city council to revote on stalled downtown street redesign

Former Chico Mayor Ann Schwab and seven other Chico residents are pressing to revive the city’s stalled downtown street redesign by overturning Mayor Kasey Reynolds’ vote against it. Their lawsuit, filed May 6 in Butte County Superior Court, argues Reynolds should have recused herself because she co-owns Shubert’s Ice Cream & Candy, a downtown business within the project area. The legal challenge landed after the Chico City Council deadlocked 3-3 on April 21, leaving the Downtown Revitalization Project without approval and putting a June 22 state grant deadline in play. North State Public Radio reported a hearing is set for May 27. ### Why are residents asking for another vote at all? The April 21 Chico City Council vote ended in a 3-3 tie, which meant no action on the redesign. The same project had also deadlocked at an April 7 council meeting, according to Action News Now. (mynspr.org) Peter Washington, the attorney for the plaintiffs, said in statements reported by local outlets that the goal is to set aside the failed vote so city staff can pursue outside funding. The lawsuit asks a judge to rescind Reynolds’ vote and approve the project so staff can meet the state grant deadline, NSPR reported. (actionnewsnow.com) ### What exactly would the downtown redesign change? The proposed Downtown Revitalization Project would reduce Broadway and Main streets from three vehicle lanes to two and add protected bike lanes and wider sidewalks, according to NSPR. Action News Now reported that the recommended alternative would install protected one-way bike lanes on Main Street and Broadway. (mynspr.org) The project area includes downtown streets such as Main Street, Broadway, Wall Street and Salem Street, according to Action News Now’s report on the lawsuit. Reynolds’ business, Shubert’s, is on East Seventh Street just off Main Street, the report said. (mynspr.org) ### What is the legal argument against Reynolds’ vote? The May 6 lawsuit says Reynolds violated California’s Political Reform Act by not recusing herself from the April 21 vote. Schwab and Washington argue Reynolds had a financial interest because she co-owns a business inside the project area, according to NSPR, ChicoSol and Action News Now. (actionnewsnow.com) ChicoSol also reported that the Fair Political Practices Commission opened an investigation into Reynolds’ participation after receiving complaints. The outlet cited an April 29 email saying the FPPC had commenced an investigation and had not yet made any determination about possible violations. Reynolds told NSPR she had hired a lawyer and would not comment on the allegations while the case moves through court. (mynspr.org) NSPR also reported that Reynolds previously told the Chico Enterprise-Record she follows FPPC guidance and that the city attorney had not advised her to recuse herself on downtown matters. (chicosol.org) ### Who is on each side of the redesign fight? Around 200 people packed a public meeting on April 16 that turned heated as business owners, residents and supporters argued over the project’s design, Action News Now reported. Some downtown merchants backed a fourth alternative that would keep all three traffic lanes and focus on resurfaced sidewalks, trees and lighting. (mynspr.org) Leann Powell, owner of The Peddler’s Closet, told Action News Now that many business owners wanted to keep three lanes and worried construction would hurt stores. Nicole Hill, marketing and operations manager at Tandem Creative, told the station she supported a design that would create more of a destination downtown. (actionnewsnow.com) Enloe Health raised a separate objection at the April 21 council meeting. Action News Now reported that the hospital system said reducing lanes on Main Street and Broadway could slow emergency response times to South Chico, Durham and areas west of Highway 99. (actionnewsnow.com) ### Why does the June 22 date matter so much? June 22 is the deadline for a Caltrans Active Transportation Program grant application that city staff say is critical because Chico cannot afford a major downtown redesign without substantial outside funding. Action News Now reported that the plaintiffs’ injunction request is aimed at clearing the way for staff to submit that application. (actionnewsnow.com) May 27 is the next concrete milestone in the dispute. NSPR reported that a Butte County Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing for that date, and the outcome could determine whether the city gets another chance to act before the June 22 grant deadline. (mynspr.org) (actionnewsnow.com)