CHICO >> In a mostly routine meeting apart from two minor surprises, the Chico City Council approved a proposed parking improvement plan and the lowering of speed limits in several locations.

That item and a dozen others passed quickly, though twists emerged regarding the airport and the park.

The parking plan, brought forth by the Internal Affairs Committee, notably recommended the council not pursue a proposed hour of free parking downtown.

“Council wanted to provide a boost to downtown,” said Councilor Mike O’Brien, who chairs the committee. “Improving the experience did not involve free parking, which was a surprise to me.”

O’Brien noted while he was critical of the downtown parking system at its start, he’s come around to it and said anyone can figure out how to use the mobile application and the kiosks.

The committee’s recommendations include providing education on parking services; adding more directions to kiosks through more signage; an update to the website and parking portal; looking into tiered parking rates and increasing the frequency of enforcement in priority areas.

O’Brien recommended a follow-up in six months to review if the plan is working.

Jesse Horgan, parking manager at Chico State, gave a public comment recommending how the city can better collaborate with the parking management system vendor and suggested asking the vendor to pay for improved signs at kiosks. He also recommended offering tiers like “economy, especially for people who are working downtown.”

Vice Mayor Dale Bennett noted Explore Butte County has spent “a quarter of a million dollars on signage” and suggested collaboration with the organization once planning for new parking signs is underway.

Councilor Bryce Goldstein said she “loved” the idea of tiered parking.

The item passed 6-0, with Councilor Addison Winslow absent.

Airport lease

In a rare reversal, councilors voted not to ratify a decision from the previous meeting regarding a lease at the Chico Regional Airport.

Businessman Mark Spelts, occupant of the hangar at 100 Lockheed, appealed the Airport Commission’s approval of a lease for the facility with firefighting aircraft firm Aero-Flite. On a 5-2 vote, the council restored Spelts’ claim to the space.

Councilor Katie Hawley, who along with Mayor Kasey Reynolds dissented from their colleagues, pulled the item off Tuesday’s agenda, then argued against ratifying it.

“The resolution (affirming the appeal) is not consistent with priorities of the council and the highest use of the airport,” Hawley argued.

Reynolds agreed and made a motion to reject the resolution, which Hawley seconded. On the advice of City Attorney John Lam, the mayor changed her motion to a simple yes-no on the resolution.

This time, Goldstein and Bennett joined them, while O’Brien and van Overbeek repeated their previous vote.

With Winslow absent, the 4-2 vote nullified the resolution, and the lease matter will return to the council.

Other items

• Councilors voted to lower the speed limit at three separate locations: Cohasset Road between The Esplanade and Mangrove; Park Avenue between Humboldt Avenue and E. 20th Street; and W. East Avenue between Highway 99 and The Esplanade.

Discussing the item, van Overbeek proposed raising the speed limit at Highway 32 where it crosses El Monte. However, Public Works Engineering Director Brendan Ottoboni said that road is governed by Caltrans.

“Good effort,” said O’Brien jokingly.

Reynolds asked if Vallombrosa Avenue could be considered in the item because of the number of crosswalks. Ottoboni said Vallombrosa was being looked at and would come later in a different study.

The item passed 6-0.

• For the final item on the regular agenda, Hawley recommended a discussion of fee calculations. Bennett suggested this go back to the Finance Committee for further assessment. O’Brien and van Overbeek agreed, and all said it was a good idea for Hawley to bring forward. The motion passed unanimously.

• During councilor requests, van Overbeek sought to reconsider the council’s previous decision on South Park Drive that would ban cars on that road through lower Bidwell Park. The council will revisit that on August 19. (See separate coverage.)