4 Year record on city council

Written By Anika Burke

In 2022, I ran a campaign calling for 

more housing, 
less sprawl, 
and better neighborhoods (for all). 

My first council meeting, I introduced 6 motions for discussion including 

and

  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design on Chico’s bike paths

None of the motions passed. 

Despite the difficult political environment, I set to work to advance the things I promised.

This is a brief account of my first campaign platform and progress in my first term.

More Housing, Less Sprawl

This may sound like a contradiction, but these are two complementary ends. 

In the mid-twentieth century Chico, like most cities, started growing differently: Large new developments were built on the city’s periphery and in leapfrog subdivisions upon old orchards and wetlands. Many of these were built without sidewalks or storm drains. Over a half century later most remain in the same state but with worse pavement. 

The Chico City Council also put up barriers to new construction, like parking lot mandates, and zoning rules that banned construction of new housing opportunities in Chico’s core walkable neighborhoods. Rather than being dispersed through all neighborhoods, new housing for students or seniors became concentrated in apartment projects, like on North Cedar and Columbus, or along Rio Lindo Avenue.

The expense of sprawling infrastructure like streets and sewers without new revenue in older neighborhoods has led the city government to chronically undermaintain existing neighborhoods.

The solution is a return to walkable communities. For that, we need pro-housing and safe streets policies that allow us to meet our housing needs in ways that support our existing public services and maintain high expectations for sustainability and affordability in any new development on the urban periphery.

It may seem ironic, but the Valley’s Edge Referendum brought forward progress on the pro-housing platform we launched in 2022. 

Valley’s Edge was a planned Home Owner’s Association. Primarily larger homes on larger lots than Chico’s existing large-scale HOA, California Park, which also has parks off limits to the general public. 

I asked for the Valley’s Edge plan to consider our local housing needs. Accessibility to public transit. Long-term financial sustainability. There was no compromise, and I was the lone no vote on the project. 

But most people in Chico were with me. We organized a referendum, contrasting Valley’s Edge with smart growth. The referendum was successful, with 62% of Chico voting against the project as proposed.

Because the public’s interest in housing development could not be denied, the City Council majority let me take a leadership role in pro-housing reform. 

Since I entered office, the City Council has VOTED unanimously IN FAVOR OF:

  • zoning to support redevelopment in walkable neighborhoods and along transit corridors.

  • allowing a wider diversity of “missing middle” housing types citywide

  • removing parking lot requirements for housing in walkable areas

  • reducing impact fees for infill development in lower impact areas

  • allowing separate sale of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to widen home ownership options

As of Summer 2026, most of these have still not been adopted by ordinance. 

Better Neighborhoods

Better neighborhoods means caring for the streets and trees. Upon entering office I sought to work with my fellow councilmembers to improve city services and execute the Chico General Plan vision. Unfortunately setbacks occurred, like the Council majority cutting out strong portions of the Urban Forest Master Plan. 

Most but not all progress has occurred since the elections of Bryce Goldstein and Katie Hawley to represent District 5 and 7. Below are some examples of successes.

  • A joint proposal of Councilmember Katie Hawley and I for a West Aves Safe Access Plan adding protected bicycle lanes and greenery to West Sacramento and Warner Streets serving high school and college students, faculty, and staff. Passed 7-0.

  • At my second request in 2024, the City Council supported a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design program focused on Chico’s airport and railroad paths. Passed 6-1.

  • Supported investing in street lighting in certain underserved locations. Passed 7-0.

  • Proposed improvements to street sweeping to keep streets and waterways cleaner. Passed 7-0.

  • Proposed improvements to leaf pickup to keep key bicycle routes clear in the Fall

Anika Burke