Traffic cameras back on agenda for Chico City Council – Chico Enterprise-Record

CHICO — For the past few months, the City of Chico has explored installing red-light cameras at major intersections to slow speeders and reduce accidents. It’s ironic, then, that the City Council may put the pedal to the metal to reach that point Tuesday night, given the extensive agenda set for the meeting.

A resumption of the traffic-cam consideration represents one of 19 potential action items, ranging from affordable housing and building codes to bar licenses and Bidwell Bowl. Not to mention nuisance abatement, stray shopping carts, Old Humboldt Road, passenger travel from the airport, short-term housing rentals …

There’s a lot.

Traffic cameras — slated as the third item of regular business, following four public hearings — could prove the most divisive, based on previous council votes and reaction from the public. A vendor provided information at the last meeting, Aug. 1; Police Chief Billy Aldridge seeks further direction on proceeding with the project.

Citizens also pushed back on a decision to allow more alcoholic beverage establishments downtown, though the proposal before councilors Tuesday involves reconciling that change within parameters of state and city regulations. That’s listed seventh under regular business.

One of the public hearings on affordable housing also faces possible pushback. Cussick Apartments, a development for low-income residents planned in northwest Chico, drew significant opposition from neighbors at multiple hearings before the Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board. They could return to chambers for this step in the process — approval of financing — that councilors also will assess for the Oleander Community Housing Project, multi-family units also in northwest Chico.