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September 11, 2007

THE CITY MAY BE CREATING A FIRE HAZARD ON THE ESPLANADE

Without the past knowledge of using tree chips on The Esplanade, the General Service Department (GSD) may be creating a fire hazard on the landscape area on the eastside of The Esplanade.

Many years ago, the Park Director used tree chips to control weeds on the dividing strip between northbound and southbound traffic lanes.

It seemed like a good idea expect that when the tree chips dried, they caught on fire from cigarettes and other items dropped in the tree chip areas.

Perhaps the GSD has taken this problem into consideration and found a way to minimize the fire hazard.

Posted by Fred at 09:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 05, 2007

IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE-City of Chico's Park and Recreation Facilities

The City Council and its Park Commission majorities seem to have forgotten that their primary charter is to provide park and recreation facilities for its residents, and not just preservation to meet the demands of small groups of so-called preservationists, environmentalist and in some cases property owners adjacent to Bidwell Park.

The City Council, Park Commission and the Development Services Department have demonstrated that they are incapable of properly developing and maintaining the City of Chico Park and Recreation Facilities.

One solution, considered many years ago, is to turn the City’s Park and Recreation Facilities over to CARD (Chico Area Recreation District). This will require approval of the voters of the District and the City to authorize a limited tax for maintenance and development.

There are too many activities to list which demonstrate the City’s inability to properly manage Chico’s Park and Recreation Facilities. A few examples: (1) Neighborhood Parks promised have not been constructed; (2) The Park Master Plan which has been under way for several years with a consultant cost of approximately $500,000 and now requiring an additional supplemental appropriation of $100,000 with no deadline for completion of the Plan and (3) Bidwell Park is overgrown with high weeds which are just waiting for a fire that will do substantial damage to the trees and scrubs.


Posted by Fred at 09:40 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack