7 PUBLIC SERVICES This chapter describes existing public services and facilities serving Butte County as well as an overview of the functions of the departments within the County. This also includes an overview of other ‘non Butte County’ public services in an effort to show the broad picture of how the services of different organizations interconnect with Butte County government services. The following public services are discussed: ♦ County Government and Services, including the County Board of Supervisors and the functions of its many departments. ♦ City Governments, including Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville and the Town of Paradise. ♦ Coordinated Fire Protection System, including the Butte County Fire Department, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, volunteer fire companies and the El Medio Fire District, as well as collaboration with city and Town fire service agencies. ♦ Coordinated Criminal Justice System, which includes the County, City, Town, State and federal Agencies. ♦ Public Education, including the Butte County Office of Education, Butte Community College, California State University, Chico, and the various Butte County school districts. ♦ Special Districts, including water, sewer, recreation and other special districts. ♦ Other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies. I. COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SERVICES The basic provisions for the government of California counties are contained in the California Constitution and the California Government Code. A county is the largest political subdivision of the state having corporate powers. It is vested by the Legislature with the powers necessary to provide for the health and welfare of the people within its borders. The specific 7-1 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 organizational structure of a county in California will vary from county to county. A. County as Distinguished from a City There is a fundamental distinction between a county and a city. Counties lack broad powers of self-government that California cities have (e.g. cities have broad revenue generating authority and counties do not). In addition, legislative control over counties is more complete than it is over cities. Unless restricted by a specific provision of the State Constitution, the Legislature may delegate to the counties any of the functions which belong to the state itself. Conversely, the state may take back to itself and resume the functions which it has delegated to counties (e.g. State funding of trial courts). There is also a common misunderstanding that counties only provide services in the unincorporated areas of the county (outside of cities). This is simply NOT TRUE. In fact, Butte County provides numerous state-mandated services to city residents as well as all unincorporated county residents as depicted below: Agricultural Department: Agricultural Law and Regulatory Enforcement Weights & Measures Enforcement Predatory Animal Control Pesticide Use Regulation Agricultural Pest Trapping/Eradication Assessor/Auditor/Treasurer: Property Tax Calculation/Collection/Distribution RDA Tax Increment Calculation/Collection/Distribution Behavioral Health: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program Mental Health Services for Medi-Cal recipients 7-2 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Youth Development Programs School Based Services Prevention Programs Homeless Assistance Senior Citizens Services Child Supportive Services: Enforcement/Collection of Child Support Payments County Administrative Office: Emergency & Disaster Management Economic Development County Clerk/Recorder: General and Special Elections Marriage Licenses Death Records Passport Applications Voter Registration Recording of Official Records (land records, deeds, liens, etc.) District Attorney: Attorneys & Prosecutors Prosecution of criminal violations of State and local law Criminal Child Support Investigations Child Abduction Welfare Fraud Farm, Home & 4h Advisor: Coordinate 4H Program Provide Advice to Farmers and Gardeners Home Economic Program 7-3 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 Fire: Fire Suppression & Control First Response to Medical Emergencies Libraries: Six Library Branches Library Literacy Program Bookmobile Probation: Probation-Parole Juvenile Hall Juvenile Hall Day School Victim Witness Assistance Youth Authority Placement Payments Public Defender: Legal Assistance to Indigent Citizens Public Health: WIC food voucher and nutrition education Environmental Health & Management Hazardous Materials Monitoring Clinics (well baby, pregnancy, etc.) Health Education Programs Birth Records Public Works Department: Butte County Transit Neal Road Landfill Recycling Information Household Hazardous Waste Facility 7-4 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Sheriff: Coroner County Jail Search & Rescue Services Treasurer – Tax Collector: Safekeeping & Investment of Public Funds Veterans Services: Benefit Assistance Veteran Memorial Halls Water & Resource Conservation: Manages and Conserves Water and Other Resources for All Butte County Citizens Welfare: Employment & Financial Assistance Child Protective Services Adult Protective Services Food Stamps Medi-Cal In-Home Supportive Services Adoption Assistance Public Guardian/Public Administrator B. County Powers The California Constitution authorizes a county to make and enforce local ordinances that do not conflict with general laws. A county also has the power to sue and be sued, purchase and hold land, manage or dispose of its properties, and levy and collect taxes authorized by law. Many additional powers have been granted to counties by the Legislature. The powers of a county can only be exercised by the Board of Supervisors or through officers acting under the authority of the Board or authority conferred by law. In 7-5 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 addition, the Board must follow the procedural requirements in the statutes or its actions will not be valid. For example, if the Legislature has provided a method by which a county may abandon a road, that method must be followed. Also, where state law requires land use zoning by an ordinance, this statutorily prescribed method is binding on the county. On the other hand, where the law does not specifically prescribe a method for accomplishing a task, the county may adopt any reasonably suitable means.1 C. Butte County General Government Services Butte County is a charter county under the 1911 Home Rule Amendment of the California Constitution. This section provides a general overview of government services in Butte County, focusing primarily on County government. The section first describes the County Board of Supervisors, City Councils and overall County government organization, followed by a description of each County office, department and division. Figure 7-1 displays the organization of the Butte County Government. There are three types of County Government offices: elected, appointed and other (other appointees are noted under the Board of Supervisors). Here’s a brief description of each department within Butte County (more information is available about each department at http://www.buttecounty.net): 1. Elected Officers/Departments a. County Board of Supervisors Butte County is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors elected by districts to staggered four-year terms. The Board exercises the legislative, administrative, and appellate powers prescribed to it by the California Constitution and Statutes as well as the Butte County Charter. The Board appoints the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and all department heads with the exception of the Director of Farm, Home and 4H who is appointed by the UC System, the General Services Director who is appointed by the California State Association of Counties, counties.org/default.asp?id=110, accessed July 23, 2007. 1 7-6 http://www.csac. Probation Officer John Wardell 7/1/07 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART COUNTY OF BUTTE Court Exec. Officer Court Commissioners Court Judges Superior Court of California County of Butte Info. Systems Dept. Bob Barnes Child Support Services Sharon A. Stone Farm, Home & 4H Advisor Susan Donahue General Services Richards L. Hall Fire Warden/CDF Contract Henri Brachais Library Derek Wolfgram Water & Resources Conservation Vacant Development Services Tim Snellings Agricultural Dept. Richard Price Human Resources Dept. Jeanne Gravette Employment & Social Serv. Dept. Cathi Grams Behavioral Health Dept. Bradford Luz Public Works Dept. Mike Crump Kim Yamaguchi District 5 County Counsel Bruce Alpert Board of Supervisors Maureen Kirk Curt Josiassen District 3 District 4 Interim Chief Administrative Officer Starlyn Brown Jane Dolan District 2 Public Heath Dept. Phyllis Murdock Bill Connelly District 1 ELECTORATE FIGURE 7-1 C O U N T Y G O V E R N M E N T O R G A N I Z AT I O N Admin., Personnel & Budget Coordination Elected Officials Appointed by the State District Attorney Mike Ramsey County Clerk/Registrar of Voters Candace Grubbs Direct Lines of Accountability Sheriff/Coroner Perry Reniff Treasurer/Tax Collector Dick Puelicher Auditor/Controller Dave Houser Assessor Ken Reimers C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Elected Dept. Heads B U T T E B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 CAO, the County Fire Chief who is appointed by CAL FIRE, the Chief Probation Officer who is appointed by the Superior Court, and those who are elected by the citizens of the county. The Board adopts the County budget and sets service levels for County appropriations under its control. The Board adopts and amends the County’s General Plan, which is it Constitution for development. The Board also serves as the governing body of a number of special districts. Individual Board members serve on various intergovernmental committees, commissions, and policy-making bodies. Unlike the separation of powers that characterizes the federal and State governments, the Board of Supervisors is both the legislative and the executive authority of the county. It also has quasi-judicial authorities. b. Assessor The elected Assessor oversees the task of determining the value of residential, industrial, commercial, and personal property for tax purposes. The valuation of public utility property is the responsibility of the State Board of Equalization. c. Auditor-Controller The elected Auditor-Controller is the chief accounting officer of the County. The responsibilities of this office include the accounting of County revenues, expenditures, assets, liabilities, and fund balances. In addition, this office provides accurate and timely financial information to the Board of Supervisors, other County offices, and county residents. d. County Clerk-Recorder The elected County Clerk-Recorder serves as the Chief Election Official for the County. The Clerk-Recorder administers and conducts all federal, State, county, city, school and special district elections. The clerk registers voters, conducts elections, records vital statistics and real estate documents, issues certain licenses, and maintains files on corporate and fictitious business names, and acts as the commissioner of civil marriages. 7-8 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S e. District Attorney The elected District Attorney is mandated by the California Constitution and Government Code to investigate, charge and prosecute all criminal violations of the laws of the State of California as well as county ordinances and attend all courts in Butte County; mandated by the Welfare and Institutions Code to file all petitions and attend court proceedings involving criminal activities of juveniles; and mandated by the California Constitution and Penal Code to provide the Grand Jury with legal advice, conduct investigations and present evidence for all indictments. The District Attorney reviews all reports from more than 20 law enforcement and regulatory agencies throughout the county and determines whether or not to file criminal complaints. f. Sheriff-Coroner In the State of California, the Sheriff is a Constitutional Officer and the Chief Law Enforcement Officer for the county in which he or she is elected. As such, regardless of which agency has a primary function in a given area, it is ultimately the County Sheriff’s Office that has responsibility to ensure the safety of the people residing in or visiting the County. The elected SheriffCoroner is the department head for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO). The Sheriff-Coroner leads the BCSO in law enforcement, criminal investigation, marijuana eradication and crime prevention in the unincorporated areas of the county. Additionally, BCSO operates the County jail, serves civil process and acts as bailiffs for the court system. The BCSO also functions as the County Coroner, and investigates all violent deaths and deaths where there is no certified cause. g. Treasurer-Tax Collector The elected Treasurer-Tax Collector is responsible for taxing, collecting, and controlling County funds. This office is composed of three divisions: treasury, which invests and safeguards County and school district funds; tax collection, which bills, collects, and processes property taxes; and central collections, which collects funds for most departments. In addition, this office acts as the tax collector for all cities, school districts, and special districts in the county. 7-9 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 2. Appointed County Officers/Departments a. Chief Administrative Officer The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and serves as the chief executive of County operations and as a major policy advisor. The CAO prepares the recommended County budget and is responsible to the Board for the proper and efficient administration of all County offices, departments, institutions, and special districts that are under the Board’s jurisdiction. In Butte County, the Chief Administrative Officer also serves as the Clerk of the Board and the Purchasing Agent. The Clerk of the Board serves as the liaison between the public, County departments, outside agencies and the Board of Supervisors. Through the preparation and distribution of the agenda and minutes, the Clerk of the Board informs County citizens of issues facing their governing body. The Purchasing Agent function is delegated to the Director of General Services. b. Agricultural Commissioner The appointed Agricultural Commissioner enforces the agricultural laws and regulations established by the California Food and Agricultural Code. The Commissioner inspects seeds and plants, detects and manages pests, prepares crop statistics, inspects nurseries, and controls predatory animals. The Commissioner works with and under the guidance of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In addition, the Agricultural Commissioner also serves as the Sealer of Weights and Measures and is responsible for the inspection of scales, and the quantity control of items sold by weight, measures, or count. c. Behavioral Health The Behavioral Health Department provides a comprehensive range of mental health treatment and prevention services to the county. These services include a psychiatric health facility, skilled nursing facilities, residential treatment facilities, outpatient services, individual and group therapy and counseling, administration services for the chronically mentally ill, and community outreach services, including consultation and education. 7-10 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S The Department is also responsible for administering an alcohol and drug services program that includes prevention, education, intervention, treatment, and recovery services. d. Child Support Services The Department of Child Support Services establish paternity and child support orders and collects and distributes child support to families throughout Butte County in an effort to enhance the quality of life and selfesteem of children in an efficient, compassionate, and professional manner. The free services offered by the Department of Child Support Services are governed by California Code of Regulations Title 22, Division 13 and include: ♦ Establishment of paternity; ♦ Location of absent parents; ♦ Establishment, modification, and enforcement of court orders to pay child support; and ♦ Collection and distribution of child support and spousal support monies. e. County Counsel The County Counsel serves as the civil attorney to the Board of Supervisors and other County officers, boards, commissions, committees, and County departments. The Counsel is responsible for advice on legal matters, written legal opinions, review of County contracts, personnel hearings and arbitrations, overseeing litigation, and represents the County in administrative hearings and litigation. The Counsel is appointed for a fouryear term. f. Department of Development Services a. Planning Division The Planning Division is responsible for developing land use plans (such as Butte County General Plan 2030) that concern the physical development of the county. This Division is responsible for administration and implementation of the policies and programs identified in approved plans, which includes processing land use permits, General and Specific Plan 7-11 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 amendments, and making land use related recommendations to various committees and commissions. The Planning Division reviews plans with the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Land Conservation Act Committee, Airport Land Use Commission, Interdepartmental Development Review (IDR) Committee, Mining Committee, and others as needed. b. Building Division The Building Division enforces the provisions of the California Building Standards Code, including the Health and Safety Code and Title 25. The Division investigates complaints and issues citations for code violations and implements the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) and Nuisance Abatement Programs. In addition, the Division provides support to the Building Code Board of Appeals, the Disabled Access Board of Appeals and the Code Enforcement Advisory Board. g. Employment and Social Services/Public Guardian/Public Administrator The Department of Employment and Social Services (DESS) administers federal, State, and County-funded public assistance and social services programs. These programs include temporary assistance to needy families and employment related services through the CalWORKs program; Food Stamps; Medi-Cal; County Medical Services; Foster Care; County General Assistance; In-Home Supportive Services and Adult Protective Services for the frail elderly and Child Protective Services for the children. The Public Guardian serves as conservator of a person and/or estate of individuals who are physically or mentally disabled and are in need of protective intervention. The Public Guardian only becomes involved if no family or friends are able or willing to become the conservator and all alternatives to conservatorship have been ruled out. The Public Administrator is responsible for administering the estate of county residents who die without a will or family in California. The Public Administrator also administers the county’s indigent burial program. 7-12 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S h. Farm and Home Advisor This department provides educational and advisory services in agriculture, floriculture, and home economics to county residents, and sponsors local 4-H clubs. The department operates through an agreement with the University of California Cooperative Extension. i. Fire The Butte County Fire Department (BCFD) contracts for staff with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Under this contract the County pays CAL FIRE salaries and benefits, as well as other related costs, to staff County-owned fire stations and apparatus. CAL FIRE and BCFD provide service to the entire county, with the exception of the cities of Chico and Oroville, the town of Paradise and the El Medio Fire Protection District near Oroville. The County also funds the Butte County Volunteer Firefighter Program, which is a key component of the overall County fire protection system, adding additional staff, equipment and stations to the County system. The County Fire Department is responsible for providing all fire and rescue services within the area designated the Local Responsibility Area (LRA), as well as all non-wildland fire and rescue services within the area designated the State Responsibility Area (SRA). Emergency services are provided at 31 County stations and 10 CAL FIRE stations throughout Butte County. Between the two agencies, CAL FIRE and BCFD maintain a fleet of fire fighting equipment, including engines, aircraft, squads, rescues, bulldozers, water tenders, hazardous material units, heavy rescue vehicles, and an air attack base, all available to the residents of Butte County as needed. j. General Services Department General Services is responsible for the management of certain support service offices and internal service divisions. The service delivery system operated by General Services includes: ♦ Administration. Provides administrative and fiscal oversight for the General Services divisions. 7-13 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 ♦ Purchasing Services. Establishes criteria for standardization of equipment and materials that are utilized by many different departments. Handles the purchase/rental and sale/disposal of all personal property on behalf of the County. ♦ Property Management. Handles the purchase, acquisition, lease or sale of real property on behalf of the County. Maintains an inventory of all real property owned by, leased by, or leased to the County. Makes recommendations for the acquisition, sale, or disposal of real property in the County’s best interest. ♦ Contracts Management. Handles the review and execution of contracts for all County departments, maintains the contracts section of the Contracts/Purchasing Manual and the County Purchasing Ordinance, provides contract templates and contracts training for all County departments. ♦ Capital Improvements. Handles the planning, design, and construction of buildings and facilities needed by the County to provide for the efficient and cost effective service to the citizenry. ♦ Veterans Services and Veterans Memorial Halls. Provides assistance to veterans and their dependents in filing claims against the federal government for compensation and pensions. Approves and schedules use of the County-owned veterans memorial halls, and collects rents/deposits. ♦ Facilities Services. Provides maintenance and security of assigned Countyowned or leased properties and facilities. Designs and constructs special equipment as required to meet specific needs. Participates in planning and acceptance of new construction and remodeling of County-owned facilities. Provides grounds maintenance and custodial support of assigned owned properties and facilities. ♦ Duplicating (Print Shop). Handles duplication, printing, and contract services of County forms and publications. Coordinates the lease and maintenance of all County convenience copy machines. 7-14 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S ♦ Storeroom and Mail Systems. Operates a central warehouse of common use supply items. Provides an interdepartmental courier and message service between all County facilities. Provides a centralized collection and mailing operation for outgoing U.S. Mail. Acts as the surplus equipment clearinghouse for the redistribution of County assets between departments. k. Human Resources Department The Human Resources Department recruits, examines, and certifies qualified employees for County departments. In this capacity, the Human Resources Department provides human resource services, including compensation and employee benefits and administration of employee relations. The Human Resources Department also provides a program of personnel services to all County departments. l. Grand Jury The Grand Jury is a body of 19 citizens selected annually from a panel of prospective jurors by the Superior Court. It is funded by Butte County. The Grand Jury may bring criminal charges by way of indictment against a person; bring charges of misfeasance or malfeasance against an official of government or of a public agency that may result in removal from office; and investigate the operation of city and county governments, as well as tax supported agencies and districts created by state law within the county. m. Information Systems Department The Information Systems Department provides technical and communication services to Butte County departments, as well as some outside agencies. Information Systems provides the wide-area networking (WAN) services for the County of Butte. These services include housing/maintaining the widearea networks, network hardware and operating systems that provide County departments, and related agencies, with wide-area networking connectivity, email services, secure Internet/Intranet access, data warehousing, and centralized housing of departmental electronic assets. In addition, Information Systems provides network engineering services, network 7-15 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 security, countywide desktop support and housing of County departmental servers and related operational equipment. Communications provides and maintains the equipment and technology that serves the voice communications infrastructure for Butte County departments and related agencies. This includes providing and managing telephone equipment and lines (Centrex), special service circuits (electronic data networking), cellular, Nextel, and pager services. In addition, Communications is responsible for all radio and related voice communications for the Butte County public safety and general government radio networks, the Octel voicemail system, as well as being the E-9-1-1 coordinator for the County’s Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs), which includes all law enforcement jurisdictions in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County. n. Library Chartered in 1913, the Butte County Library has served as an important cultural and educational resource for the people of Butte County for nearly a century. During the 1960s and 1970s, a number of individual city libraries were consolidated into the County library system. Today, Butte County Library is the sole provider of public library services in the county. As such, the Butte County Library provides library services to all county residents through a consolidated operation from its headquarters in Oroville and branches in Biggs, Chico, Durham, Gridley and Paradise. Originally established in the Butte County Charter, the Butte County Library system currently consists of six branch libraries, a bookmobile and a literacy program. In its branches, the Library houses a collection of over 330,000 items, including books, videos, DVDs, music CDs, and books on tape and CD, most of which are available for checkout by library cardholders. In addition, Butte County Library participates in the Ask Now service, which provides 24/7 live online reference through a Statewide network of librarians. The Library is a member of the 13-county North State Cooperative Library System, a network of public and academic libraries that pools resources for 7-16 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S interlibrary loan service, access to specialized reference services and cooperative planning for regional service. Butte County Library branches also provide children’s story time programs, book discussion groups for adults, film screenings and other entertaining and educational programs. Free public meeting rooms are available in most branches, and the Library provides free public access to the Internet and word processing programs at each location through its network of public computers. In fiscal year 2005-2006, the Library provided library services to over 660,000 visitors and checked out over 720,000 items. o. Probation The Probation Department provides mandated and discretionary probation services to the adult and juvenile courts in the county. These services include investigations, sentence recommendations, supervision of persons placed on probation, and the administration of several programs, including victim witness program, the school dropout prevention program, and juvenile hall. The Department operates under the direction of the Chief Probation Officer who is appointed by the Superior Court. p. Public Defender The Public Defender offers legal counsel to those citizens who have been charged with a criminal offense and who are unable to provide for their own legal defense, as required by State and federal requirements. The court appoints the Public Defender at the request of the defendant or of the court. The County contracts with a consortium of private attorneys in the area to provide these legal services. q. Public Health The Public Health Department administers public health programs to promote individual, community, and environmental health within the county. These public health programs include County medical services; chronic disease control; maternal and child health; dental health; communicable disease control; health services for the elderly; emergency and disaster services; nursing field services; animal control and health education. 7-17 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 The environmental health programs provide services that monitor food, housing and institutions, solid waste, water supply, and hazardous materials within the county. r. Public Works Department The Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining County roads and bridges, and administration of the Neal Road Landfill. The services provided by this department include general administration, operation, engineering, construction, and mapping. In addition, the Department supervises several public works areas, including land development, County Service Areas, refuse disposal, and County lighting districts. s. Water and Resource Conservation Department Butte County’s Department of Water and Resource Conservation is involved in a wide range of activities, including: providing support to the Butte County Water Commission, management of Butte County’s State Water Project allocation, including contracts with the California Department of Water Resources, the Del Oro Water Company and the California Water Service Company; and the inventory and analysis of Butte County’s water resources. II. CITY GOVERNMENTS City and town councils govern the five chartered or general law cities in Butte County: Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, and the Town at Paradise. There are also a number of joint City-County boards, commissions, and committees that are responsible for issues that affect both the cities and the unincorporated areas of the county, including airports, public transit, and waste management. According to the California Department of Finance, as of January 2006, approximately 82 percent of California’s citizens live within the city limits of one of the 479 cities. In Butte County, by percentage, the actual number is much less at 58 percent of residents living within the city limits. 7-18 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S A. City of Biggs Biggs, incorporated in 1903, is a full-service, general law city located in the southerly area of Butte County. In addition to providing police, fire and public works services, the city also operates electric, sewer and water utilities. The city contracts with the City of Gridley for police and electric utility services and with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for fire services. The current Annual Budget is $8.5 million, with a full-time workforce of nine positions. Biggs is approximately 25 miles south of the City of Chico and 5 miles north of Gridley, at an elevation of 93 feet. The town can be accessed from the north and south via Highway 99 and is approximately 2 miles north of the City of Gridley. The 2006 population for Biggs was 1,768 people.2 B. City of Chico The City of Chico was founded in 1860 by General John Bidwell, and incorporated in 1872 with a population of approximately 1,000 persons in an area of 6.6 square miles. The City of Chico, with recent annexations, has grown to a 31-square-mile Charter city of 84,396 with an urbanized, unincorporated area immediately adjacent to it making the total population of the Chico urban area 105,080. Chico is located in the Northern Sacramento Valley of California approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento, in Butte County, east of Interstate 5. Chico maintains an historic downtown, a wide variety of services, and family oriented neighborhoods. Chico is known as a well-managed city that values quality infrastructure and services, and maintains a special sense of community and small-town living as it has developed into a vibrant regional center for business, recreation and cultural activities. There are also many recreational opportunities in and around Chico. Bidwell Park, one of the 2 City of Biggs, California, http://www.biggs-ca.gov, accessed July 23, 2007. 7-19 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 largest municipally owned parks in the nation (3,670 acres), is the focal point of the City's park system and offers numerous trails for biking, hiking and equestrian use.3 C. City of Gridley The City of Gridley was founded in 1905 and is located in the southwest corner of Butte County, approximately 5 miles south of the City of Biggs. State Route 99 runs in a north-south direction through the eastern portion of the city, and the Union Pacific Railroad extends through the center of the city. The City has a small commercial area that serves most daily needs of its residents, but most shopping for major items occurs in the other population centers (e.g. Chico or the Marysville-Yuba City area). Most of Gridley’s working residents are employed in activities related to farming or in local retail and services. Some residents are farm workers who live in Gridley on a seasonal basis. A large percentage of the population is retired and not in the labor force. The 2006 population for Gridley was 5,914 people.4 D. City of Oroville The county seat, Oroville was incorporated in 1906. Located at the intersection of the Feather River and the Sacramento Valley, Oroville was a prime service location for the valley and foothill regions. During the gold rush, early settlers provided supplies to the foothill mining industries, including Bidwell’s Bar, now submerged under Lake Oroville. Following the gold rush, Oroville became a supply center for local agriculture, including cattle ranches and orchards. Oroville also began to and continues to supply recreational users, including anglers, campers, hikers and other visitors to the Sierra Nevada. In 1968, the Oroville Dam was completed. Although the boundaries of the Oroville Dam and facilities are outside of the City of 3 4 2007. 7-20 City of Chico, California, http://www.chico.ca.us, accessed July 23, 2007. City of Gridley, California, http://www.gridley.ca.us, accessed July 23, B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Oroville’s Sphere of Influence (SOI), the project created a demand for housing for workers and their families. Studies have indicated that the Oroville area, which includes unincorporated portions of Butte County, has a higher rate of unemployment, lower rate of per capita income and a higher reliance upon subsistence programs than the rest of Butte County and the State of California, primarily due to the economic vacuum left when the Lake Oroville Project was completed. The 2006 population for Oroville was 13,477 people.5 E. Town of Paradise Incorporated in 1979, the Town of Paradise was first established on a foothill ridge to supply the gold rush. The Town’s relatively flat topography and accessible water supply promoted its development. Although gold mining in the Paradise area continued to be viable after the gold rush waned, the region’s population decreased in the latter part of the 19th century and the economy shifted to an agricultural one, focused around small fruit plantations. In the early 1900s, the Diamond Match Company opened a sawmill in the nearby community of Stirling City, followed by a railroad connecting it to Chico. This railroad included a station in Paradise, leading to more substantial growth in its agricultural production industries. The 2006 population for Paradise was 26,366 people.6 III. COORDINATED FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM This section describes fire protection services in the unincorporated county. The Butte County Fire Department (BCFD), with support from CAL FIRE, provides fire protection to all of the unincorporated county, except for a 5 City of Oroville, California, http://www.cityoforoville.org, accessed July 23, 2007. Town of Paradise, California, http://www.townofparadise.com, accessed July 23, 2007. 6 7-21 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 small area south of Oroville served by the El Medio Fire Protection District. The incorporated jurisdictions of Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, Paradise and the El Medio Fire District, play an important role in providing fire protection services in the areas within their jurisdictions, as well as coordination with BCFD in the unincorporated areas surrounding their jurisdictions. The CAL FIRE also operates its own seasonal stations and an air attack base within the county. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service provides seasonal wildland fire protection in the Plumas and Lassen National Forests, which have small portions within Butte County. A. Butte County Fire Department Since 1931, the County has contracted with CAL FIRE to provide staffing to the Butte County Fire Department (BCFD) through an annual cooperative agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, the County funds CAL FIRE professional command, fire-fighting, and administrative staff to operate the BCFD. Through this arrangement, CAL FIRE and the BCFD function together as a fully consolidated fire protection agency and provide costeffective fire protection service for Butte County. 1. Service BCFD provides emergency services to all of Butte County, protecting over 1,600 square miles, several municipalities, and the entire unincorporated county population (with the exception of the El Medio Fire District coverage area). BCFD services include fire control for structural, vegetation, vehicular and other unwanted fires; emergency medical service, technical rescue response; hazardous materials response; flood control assistance; fire prevention and public safety education; fire law enforcement/arson investigation; and vegetation management. In addition, the BCFD operates county-wide dispatch services, coordinates major emergency response within the county as the Office of Emergency Service’s mutual aid coordinator, and provides training for career and volunteer fire fighters. 7-22 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S In 2006, the CAL FIRE and BCFD Emergency Command Center (ECC) processed 15,006 calls for service, more than two thirds of which were for emergencies such as traffic collisions, rescues, and medical emergencies. BCFD also responded to 747 fires, of which 289 were vegetation fires. In 2005, the BCFD responded 59 times to incidents involving chemicals or suspected chemicals. Other responses, such as general assists to the public, fireworks complaints, false fire alarms, assists to other agencies, downed powerlines, and law enforcement operations totaled 2,810 responses. In addition to fire engine responses, the department’s ECC provides Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) services. In 2005, the ECC gave potentially life-saving information over the phone to 70 people. These EMD procedures provide life saving instructions such as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, control of bleeding, child birth, choking and other emergency medical information before fire engines and paramedics arrive. 2. Automatic Aid and Mutual Aid Agreements The BCFD has established automatic aid agreements and mutual aid agreements with other fire protection agencies to provide optimal fire protection service to the entire county. Automatic Aid agreements allow the resources nearest to an emergency situation to be dispatched on the first alarm regardless of jurisdiction, while mutual aid agreements require a specific request for help on an incident-by-incident basis, The BCFD has automatic aid agreements with every fire-fighting agency in the county, with the U.S. Forest Service, Lassen and Plumas National Forests, Hamilton City in Glenn County, Sutter County, Tehama County, and with several fire districts in Yuba County. Additionally, under contract the BCFD/CAL FIRE ECC provides dispatching services for the Oroville Fire Department and the El Medio Fire Protection District. 3. Volunteer Fire Companies BCFD is supported by 150 volunteer fire fighters. These volunteers are organized into 18 local companies and are an integral component of the fire protection system in Butte County. The volunteer companies are dispatched 7-23 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 by the CAL FIRE/BCFD ECC as needed. The volunteer companies make up an essential part of the County fire protection system, often providing the first response to an emergency in the rural portions of the county that are some distance from a BCFD or CAL FIRE station. Although the volunteer companies are organized within and supported by the local communities, they operate as part of the county-wide fire protection system and receive regular training by the BCFD and CAL FIRE career fire fighters. Recruitment and retention continues to be a problem within the BCFD volunteer fire company program. This is not a problem unique to the fire service in Butte County; it is a nationwide issue. Over the past 10 years, BCFD volunteer numbers have decreased from as many as 400 to the current 150 volunteers. The volunteer facilities include shared stations with the BCFD, stand-alone stations, and in a few cases, stations in name only, where the equipment is kept outside. The volunteer companies are listed in Table 7-1, as are CAL FIRE and BCFD stations. Figure 7-2 displays the locations of fire stations operated by CAL FIRE, BCFD and other agencies. 4. Organization The BCFD is organized into three divisions. The North Division and the South Divisions comprise the field organizations that provide emergency response within the county. Additionally, the North and South Divisions are responsible for the Training and Safety Bureau and the Chico Air Attack Base. The Administrative Services Division provides dispatch, maintenance, fire prevention, personnel, finance, and other support services to the BCFD. The Field Divisions are divided into seven battalions, each of which in turn is comprised of a mixture of BCFD and CAL FIRE stations and volunteer fire companies. Within the county fire department, there are 12 BCFD stations staffed with career fire fighters and 18 volunteer fire companies. During the seven months outside of the peak fire season, the County provides funding for six CAL FIRE stations per the Amador Plan. 7-24 B U T T E TABLE 7-1 C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S FIRE STATIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BUTTE COUNTY No. Location Type 10 Butte Meadows BC Volunteer 11 Butte Meadows (open during fire season only) CAL FIRE/LNF 12 Stirling City BC Volunteer 13 Stirling City CAL-FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 17 Magalia (open during fire season only) CAL FIRE 21 Cohasset BC Volunteer (No station) 22 Cohasset (open during fire season only) CAL FIRE 23 Forest Ranch CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 24 Forest Ranch BC Volunteer 25 Butte Valley BC Volunteer 26 Centerville Canyon BC Volunteer 27 Centerville Canyon BC Volunteer 31 Magalia BC Volunteer 33 Magalia BCFD/BC Volunteer 35 Paradise CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 36 Jarbo Gap CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 37 Concow BC Volunteer 38 Concow BC Volunteer 41 Nord BCFD 42 North Chico BCFD/BC Volunteer 44 South Chico BCFD 7-25 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S TABLE 7-1 P L A N 2 0 3 0 FIRE STATIONS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF BUTTE COUNTY (CONTINUED) No. Location Type 45 Durham BCFD/BC Volunteer 51 Feather Falls (open during fire season only) CAL FIRE 52 Feather Falls BC Volunteer 53 Clipper Mills BC Volunteer 54 Robinson Mills CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 55 Bangor BCFD/BC Volunteer 60 Brush Creek BC Volunteer 61 Berry Creek BC Volunteer 62 Harts Mill CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador) 63 Oroville CAL FIRE/BCFD 64 Kelly Ridge BCFD/BC Volunteer 66 Wyandotte BC Volunteer 67 Cherokee BC Volunteer 71 Richvale BCFD/BC Volunteer 72 Palermo BCFD/BC Volunteer 73 Biggs BCFD/BC Volunteer 74 Gridley BCFD/BC Volunteer 76 Gridley BC Volunteer 77 Gridley (Graylodge) BC Volunteer Notes: BCFD=Butte County Fire Department BC Volunteer=Butte County Volunteer CAL FIRE/BCFD (Amador)=CAL FIRE station that is paid in part by the County during nonfire season BCFD/BC Volunteer=Butte County Fire Department combined with Butte County Volunteer Source: Butte County Fire Department. 7-26 BUTTE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN 2030 SETTING AND TRENDS PUBLIC SERVICES ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ÿ | 32 ! ! ! ! ! Chico ! ! ! Paradise ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ÿ | ! 191 99 ÿ | ! ! 70 ÿ | ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Oroville ÿ | 162 Biggs ! 99 ÿ | 70 ÿ | ! ÿ | 162 ! ! ! ! ! !! Gridley ! 0 2.5 Miles 5 ! CAL FIRE ! BCFD \ CAL FIRE ! El Medio Fire District ! City of Chico ! City of Gridley \ CAL FIRE \ BCFD ! City of Oroville ! Town of Paradise boundary Source: Butte County Geographic Information Systems FIGURE 7-2 FIRE STATIONS B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 5. BCFD/CAL FIRE The year-round BCFD stations, situated in a number of communities, were built to serve the needs of expanding local populations. Each of the 12 BCFD stations is staffed with at least two fire fighters 24 hours per day. A Capital Outlay Budget Change Proposal was submitted by CAL FIRE to staff Butte Fire Center, located in Magalia, as a conservation camp. If funded and built, CAL FIRE and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will jointly run the Butte Conservation Camp at that location. The CAL FIRE stations are located primarily in the foothills of the eastern portion of the county. These stations operate primarily during the summer wild fire season, although six of the stations, Forest Ranch, Jarbo Gap, Paradise, Robinson Mill, Harts Mill, and Stirling City are staffed during the winter months by the BCFD to provide year-round protection to county residents (Amador Program). The remaining stations are located in Butte Meadows, Cohasset, Feather Falls, and Oroville. In addition, CAL FIRE operates the Chico Air Attack Base during the summer season. The BCFD and CAL FIRE headquarters, Administrative Division, Emergency Command Center (ECC), Fire Prevention Bureau and Fleet Maintenance activities are located in Oroville. The need for additional fire stations and replacement of existing stations is being considered by Butte County. A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in 2007 and will help guide the BCFD in infrastructure improvement decisions in the future. A Standards of Cover Study, begun in 2007, will also assist the BCFD in station location decisions. Butte County is working to replace the Bangor Fire Station in 2008. Butte County is partnering with Butte College to acquire land to construct a station, classroom and Emergency Operations Center near the main campus in Butte Valley. Estimated construction of this facility is 2009/10. 7-28 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Many of the vehicles in the BCFD fleet have been in service for over 15 years. A schedule allowing for the replacement of frontline fire engines every 10-12 years and reserve and volunteer engines every 20 years was adopted as part of the CIP. CAL FIRE operates more than 70 fire-fighting and support vehicles as well as one air tactical aircraft and one air tanker from the Chico Air Attack Base during fire season. The BCFD operates more than 110 fire-fighting and support vehicles. This number includes vehicles assigned to BCFD stations and those assigned to volunteer companies. Vehicles within the BCFD and CAL FIRE fleets are maintained by State and county-funded employees as part of the contract between CAL FIRE and Butte County. 6. City of Chico Fire Department The City of Chico Fire Department operates six fire stations and one Fire Training Center. The stations are staffed by 72 full-time fire fighters and three uniformed personnel. Additionally, a volunteer squad of 36 fire fighters is on-call in case of a large scale emergency. The Department provides response to structural, vegetation, vehicle and other unwanted fires, medical aid and other rescues services to Chico city residents. The area covered by the City of Chico Fire Department is 31 square miles. In accordance to the Chico Urban Area Fire and Rescue Agreement (an automatic-aid agreement), the Department provides first response to emergencies in the unincorporated County area surrounding the City, when the City engine is the closest resource. In exchange, County resources respond to City emergencies when a County engine is the closest resource. 7. City of Oroville Fire Department The City of Oroville Fire Department operates one fire station that is staffed by 21 full-time personnel. For larger incidents, the Department employs 12 fire fighters that work on an on-call basis. The area covered by the Department is 13 square miles. The Department provides service to Oroville City residents and, through an automatic aid agreement with BCFD, provides first response in the unincorporated County surrounding the City, when the 7-29 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 City engine is the closest resource. In exchange, County resources respond to City emergencies when a County engine is the closest resource. 8. Town of Paradise Fire Department The Town of Paradise Fire Department operates three fire stations. The stations are staffed by 22 full-time, paid fire fighters and 28 volunteer fire fighters. The Department covers an 18-square-mile area. The Department responds to structural, vehicular and wildland fires, provides hazardous material clean -up, rescue and medical aid services for people in the Town limits, as well as providing services in the unincorporated area surrounding the Town through an automatic aid agreement with BCFD. In exchange, County resources respond to Town emergencies when a County engines is the closest resource. 9. El Medio Fire District The El Medio Fire District operates a single station located in South Oroville. Six full-time fire fighters and 20 volunteers staff the station. The El Medio Fire District covers approximately 2 square miles. The District provides response to structural, vegetation, vehicle and other unwanted fires, medical aid and other rescue services to over 4,000 people in their district. The El Medio Fire Protection District contracts with CAL FIRE/BCFD for dispatch services. The District also has an automatic aid agreement with BCFD and the City of Oroville. 10. Fire Rating The Insurance Service Office (ISO) collects information on municipal fireprotection efforts and rates individual communities as they compare to a nation-wide standard. The fire ratings range on a scale from Class 1 to Class 10, where Class 1 represents exemplary public protection, and Class 10 indicates that the area’s fire-suppression program doesn’t meet the ISO’s minimum criteria. Those areas of Butte County that are within 5 miles of a fire station and within 1,000 feet of a fire hydrant or “recognized water system” have an insurance service office (ISO) rating of 4. Areas within 5 miles of a fire station but not within 1,000 feet of a recognized water system 7-30 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S have an ISO rating of 8B. Areas that are not near a fire station or water system have an ISO rating of 10. IV. COORDINATED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM City, Town, County, State & Federal agencies provide criminal justice services in Butte County. These include, but are not limited to the police agencies in the cities of Chico, Oroville, Gridley, Biggs and the Town of Paradise, the Butte County Sheriff, the California Highway Patrol, the State Department of Fish & Game, the State Department of Parks and Recreation and the U.S. Forest Service. However, in any case, this is simply the first part of the criminal justice system. When arrests are made by any law enforcement agency or State agencies with Butte County, the arrestees are incarcerated in the County Jail, prosecuted by the County District Attorney's office, a court report is prepared by the County Probation Department, and in many cases, the County's Public Defender provides a legal defense to the defendant. Following trial, the County Probation Department also provides court-directed supervision to adults and juveniles. Also, the Incarceration Division of the Sheriff's Office is mandated by law to provide for the care, safety, security, and welfare of persons incarcerated in Butte County correctional facilities. The Division provides transportation of inmates to court, medical and dental appointments, and state prisons. In short, County Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Services include general police response, investigation and patrol services; special police operation unit services (e.g. emergency ordinance disposal team, special weapons and tactics team, canine unit, aviation unit, dive and rescue team, and narcotics task force); jail services; prosecution services; probation department services; and public defender services. 7-31 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 A. Butte County Sheriff The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is responsible for law enforcement, criminal investigation, marijuana eradication, and crime prevention in the unincorporated areas of the county. The BCSO operates the County jail and serves as Bailiff for the court system. In addition to crime prevention and law enforcement services, the BCSO also functions as the County Coroner, and investigates all violent deaths or deaths which have no certified cause. The BCSO is the county-wide coordinator for mutual aid situations and maintains mutual aid agreements with the California Highway Patrol and the Oroville, Chico, Gridley and Paradise municipal police departments. The BCSO has its main office in Oroville, with sub-stations in Chico and Magalia. The County jail is approved by the California Corrections Standards Authority to house 614 inmates, in accordance with a consent decree. BCSO sworn personnel include the Sheriff, Undersheriff, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Deputies; non-sworn personnel include Correctional Officers and Technicians, Public Safety Dispatchers and clerical staff. Of the sworn personnel, 34 Deputy Sheriffs are assigned to one of eight patrol teams and each team is supervised by a Sergeant. Another 17 Deputy Sheriffs and two Sergeants are assigned to a contract with the courts, with the remainder assigned to Designated Area Deputy positions, administration, narcotics, marijuana eradication, boat patrol, criminal investigations, internal affairs, background investigation, specialized units and the jail. The BCSO has divided the county into north and south service areas. Twenty-four hour patrol service is provided. Typically, one deputy is assigned per car. The patrol teams normally operate in response to specific incidents and have very limited time for non-directed patrol activities within the county. 7-32 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S B. Butte County District Attorney – Bureau of Investigations The Butte County District Attorney’s Office maintains a Bureau of Investigations which consists of 28 full-time peace officers as District Attorney Investigators. Besides providing follow-up investigations on crimes referred to the District Attorney by outside agencies, these investigators also do original county-wide investigations on child abuse and child abduction cases, investigate and arrest those who willfully do not pay their child support obligations; investigate and arrest those who commit fraud to obtain public assistance benefits; collect from those who pass insufficient fund checks; investigate and arrest those who commit fraud such as counterfeiting, embezzlement, insurance scams, worker compensation frauds and computer crimes; and investigate and arrest those who endanger their children by their narcotics activities. C. Butte County District Attorney – Prosecution Bureau The Butte County District Attorney’s Office maintains a Prosecution Bureau, which is responsible for prosecuting felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile cases. The Bureau consists of 23 attorneys, and includes specialized prosecutions and assignments to provide effective and prompt response to the needs of Butte County citizens. D. Public Defender The County’s Public Defender Consortium is comprised of 16 private attorneys under contract with the County that provide legal assistance to indigent clients in criminal cases. Federal and State constitutions require the provision of competent counsel to those who are unable to retain a private attorney to defend him/herself. 7-33 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 E. Butte County Probation The County Probation Department supervises convicted felons, both adults and juveniles, who are placed on probation by the court. The Department also prepares reports recommending sentencing after a conviction, operates the Juvenile Hall, manages the victim witness/assistance program, and participates in a variety of collaborative programs with schools, outside law enforcement agencies, County departments, and private agencies to prevent crime. F. State Superior Court The Butte County Superior Court is a separate governmental entity and its operational costs are funded entirely by the State of California and it is an integral part of the local criminal justice system. G. California Highway Patrol The California Highway Patrol (CHP) provides law enforcement services, primarily traffic control, for the State roads and roads in the unincorporated portions of the county. These services include traffic control, accident investigation, and licensing of vehicles. The CHP has a mutual aid agreement with the Sheriff’s Department and will respond when requested by the Sheriff. The CHP has two offices to serve Butte County. The county is divided into north and south regions at the intersection of State Routes 99 and 149. The north district office, located in Chico, has 24 uniformed staff, including 20 officers, three sergeants and one captain. The office has 14 vehicles in operation. Typical staffing has 3 to 4 units during the day and evening shifts, and one two-person unit during the graveyard shift. The north district office 7-34 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S is also the dispatch center for the region.7 The CHP’s south office, located in Oroville, has 23 officers, three sergeants and one lieutenant. The office has 10 vehicles in operation, with similar staffing as the north district office.8 The normal deployment/distribution of CHP personnel is based upon traffic volume and accident rates within the county. Areas with a high incidence of accidents or traffic control problems are patrolled on a regular basis. There are many areas of the county, particularly in the foothills, which are outside regular CHP patrols and visited only when called. H. California Department of Fish and Game The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) is responsible for protecting wildlife resources within the county. The Department has jurisdiction over all State, county, and municipal lands to enforce wildlife statutes. CDFG regional headquarters is located in Rancho Cordova. The officers operate out of their own home offices and establish their own hours, patrols, and focus for their activity. The CDFG officers in Butte County generally respond only to situations involving wildlife, but can and do respond to public safety issues if they witness such violations or situations. They will also assist in emergency situations. Most of the officers have federal wildlife enforcement capability as well, since they are deputy marshals in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sergeant Bruce Carpenter, California Highway communication with Ricardo Bressanutti, Design, Community March 9, 2007. 8 Sergeant Steve Muders, California Highway communication with Ricardo Bressanutti, Design, Community March 9, 2007. 7 Patrol, personal & Environment, Patrol, personal & Environment, 7-35 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S I. P L A N 2 0 3 0 California Department of Parks and Recreation The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible a number of parks within Butte County, including the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area, the Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park and the Clay Pit State Vehicular Recreation Area. A number of rangers are employed at these various facilities. Park rangers are trained to enforce the laws and regulation of the State Park system, which may involve protecting plant and animal resources, trespassing of prohibited areas, loaded fire arms and hunting, fire, noise, vehicle use and travel, camping permits and refuse disposal. J. Gridley-Biggs Police Department The Biggs-Gridley Police Department is responsible for protecting the citizens and property in the City of Gridley and the City of Biggs. The Department operates one police station. The station is staffed by a police Chief, one Police Lieutenant, two Sergeants and eight sworn officers. The Department provides a variety of support services to the City of Gridley and the City of Biggs, as well as the surrounding unincorporated area. These services include Animal Control, a Reserve Force, Gang Task Force, Volunteer Senior Corps and a Volunteer Radio Team. The City of Gridley provides 24 hour emergency service. K. City of Chico Police Department The City of Chico Police Department covers a district that is approximately 30 square miles and serves the residents in the City of Chico The Department is staffed by 102 sworn police officers. The Department provides a Patrol Section, Crisis Negotiation, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), a Traffic Unit, Downtown Bicycle Patrol, and Neighborhood Watch. 7-36 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S L. City of Oroville Police Department The City of Oroville Police Department has 38 sworn police officers that protect the City of Oroville. The Department provides community patrol, SWAT, neighborhood watch, School Resource Officers, and participates in the Butte Inter-Agency Narcotics Task Force. M. Town of Paradise Police Department The Town of Paradise Police Department serves the Town of Paradise. The Department provides the following special units, Special Response Team, K9 Unit, Narcotics Task force, School Resource Officers, Animal Control and participates in the Butte Inter-Agency Narcotics Task Force. V. PUBLIC EDUCATION The County Office of Education (BCOE), Butte Community College, California State University, Chico, and local school districts provide public education in the unincorporated area of Butte County. The local districts provide elementary and secondary education to the communities and unincorporated areas of the county, while the County Office of Education offers special education programs and other related services to the individual districts within the county. The Butte Community College is a two-year junior college that serves the residents of Butte and Glenn Counties with post-secondary and adult education. A. Butte County Office of Education The Butte County Office of Education provides local and regional educational programs, services, and support to the individual school districts 7-37 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 within the county. The BCOE provides help to establish and maintain a consistent level of educational quality among the various school districts and serves as a link between the local districts and the requirements of State and federal education programs. The BCOE provides three areas of service to the school districts: administrative and organizational support, including fiscal services, personnel services, and data services; curriculum and staff support, including staff development, instructional support and curriculum development; and student services, including student activities and events, student welfare and related programs, migrant education, and the mini corps program. In addition, the office operates the juvenile court schools, community schools, and a series of special service programs including vocational education, regional occupation, teenage parent education, and special education. The office also provides a series of services to the State of California, including management information systems, policy assistance, and legal compliance programs. B. Butte College Butte College is a two-year community college that serves the residents of Butte and Glenn Counties. The college offers a range of liberal arts and career/technical classes through full-time, part-time, and evening programs. Founded in 1967, the college offered classes in Durham until it moved onto the current campus in 1974. Students may earn an Associate degree in 25 academic disciplines and 55 vocational areas, complete a Certificate of Achievement in 60 vocational programs, or earn a Certificate of Completion in short-term programs. The main campus, located approximately 15 miles northwest of Oroville, is accessible to the communities of Oroville, Chico, Durham, Gridley, Paradise, and Magalia. The college also operates two satellite centers, one in Chico and 7-38 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S the second in Orland in Glenn County. Approximately 925 acres in size, the main campus has over 20 academic and support buildings and also functions as a wildlife refuge. The District completed a Facilities Master Plan at the end of 2001 and has been using State and local bond measure monies to improve its facilities. Butte College enrollment in the 2006-2007 academic year is approximately 14,200 students.9 Approximately 50 percent of the students attend classes on the main campus, which offers both day and evening classes. The Chico Center serves another 25 percent of the students. C. California State University, Chico California State University, Chico, was established in 1887. Located in Chico, the campus serves Butte County and the region. Chico State has seven colleges (Agriculture; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Business; Communication and Education; Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology; Humanities and Fine Arts; and Natural Sciences), six schools and 14 centers. The campus itself is 119 acres in size. In 2005, there were approximately 16,250 students, 965 instructional faculty and 1,010 staff.10 Chico State is one of the California State University system’s most popular campuses, and has more qualified applicants than it can accommodate. The second-oldest campus in the system, Chico State is a distance education trailblazer. Chico State was the first university in the world to offer a graduate degree via satellite. Students have won recent national awards in business, engineering, journalism, political science and speech. Chico State is Public Relations for Butte County Community College, http://www.butte.edu/information/public/pr/bcfacts.html, accessed December 26, 2006. 10 California State University at Chico, http://www.csuchico.edu/pub/ facts/, accessed March 6, 2007. 9 7-39 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 also known for its college-town atmosphere, top ratings from corporate recruiters, and high graduation rates. D. School Districts within Butte County The following school districts serve Butte County and are shown on Figure 7-3. ♦ Bangor Union Elementary School District ♦ Biggs Unified School District ♦ Chico Unified School District ♦ Durham Unified School District ♦ Feather Falls Union School District ♦ Golden Feather Union School District ♦ Gridley Unified School District ♦ Manzanita Elementary School District ♦ Oroville City Elementary School District ♦ Oroville Union High School District ♦ Palermo Union School District ♦ Paradise Unified School District ♦ Pioneer Union Elementary School District ♦ Thermalito Union School District In addition to these listed school districts, a portion of the Marysville Joint Unified School District extends into Butte County, although it primarily serves Yuba County. As shown in Figure 7-3, five of the districts (Biggs, Chico, Durham, Gridley and Paradise) are unified school districts, serving students from kindergarten through high school. Eight districts (Bangor, Feather Falls, Golden Feather, Manzanita, Oroville City, Palermo, Pioneer and Thermalito) provide elementary education throughout the rest of the county, feeding students into Oroville Union High School District and Gridley Unified School District for secondary education. 7-40 BUTTE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN 2030 SETTING AND TRENDS PUBLIC SERVICES ! ( ( ! Elementary Schools High Schools Biggs Unified Chico Unified Durham Unified Gridley Union High Marysville Joint Unified Oroville Union High Paradise Unified Feather Falls Union Palermo Union ( ! Thermalito Union Bangor Union Elementary ( ! Pioneer Union Elementary Golden Feather Union ( ! ÿ | 32 Oroville Elementary Gridley Union Elementary ! ( ( ! ( Paradise ! Chico ( ! ( ! ! ( ( ! ( ! ( ( ! !! ( ( (! ! ( ! (! ! ( ! ( ( ! ( (! ( (! ! (! ! ( (! (! ! Manzanita Elementary ! ( ( (! ! ( ! ÿ | 191 99 ÿ | ( ! ( ! ( ! 70 ÿ | ( ! ( ! ( ! ( ! (! ! (! ( ( ! ((! (! ! ! (( ! (! ! ( ( ! ( ! ÿ | 162 ( ! Oroville ÿ | 162 70 ÿ | 99 ÿ | ( ! ( ! Biggs ! ( ( ! ( (! ! ! ( (! Gridley 0 2.5 Miles ( ! ( ! 5 Source: Butte County Geographic Information Systems FIGURE 7-3 SCHOOL DISTRICTS B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 According to the California Department of Education California Basic Educational Data System (CBEDS) report for the fiscal year 2005-06, there were 33,192 students enrolled in schools in Butte County. Enrollment has decreased since its peak of 35,304 students during the 1997-1998 school year.11 The local school districts range in size from the single school Feather Falls Union Elementary School District, which has an average daily attendance (ADA) of 47 students,12 to the Chico Unified School District, which has 26 schools and an ADA of over 14,077 students.13 One school district (Oroville) provides year round schools at the elementary grade level. (Oroville provides year round elementary schools at Ophir, Wyandotte and Bird Street schools. (Chico eliminated year-round programs in 2006-07.) Special educational services are provided for those students with special needs/handicaps: orthopedically impaired, hearing impaired, communicatively impaired, and severely handicapped. There are three special education schools in the county: Loma Vista (Chico) and Mesa Vista (Thermalito) serving K-12 students, and Sierra Del Oro (Oroville) that serves preschool students. The following sections provide more detail on the various school districts serving Butte County. California Department of Education, http://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ ASPGraph1.asp?Level=County&cName=BUTTE&cCode=04&cTopic=Enrollment &cLevel=County&cYear=2005-06&myTimeFrame=S&TheCounty=04,BUTTE& cChoice= TSEnr2, accessed December 26, 2006. 12 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/feather.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 13 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/chico.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 11 7-42 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S 1. Bangor Union Elementary School District The Bangor Union Elementary School District provides elementary education to the community of Bangor and the surrounding unincorporated county area south and east of Oroville. The District is approximately 40 square miles in area and operates a single school, Bangor Elementary, with a 2005-2006 ADA of 150 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.14 Following eighth grade, Bangor students attend school in the Oroville Union High School District. The elementary school, which was built for an enrollment of 75 to 100 students, is operating at capacity. The District has experienced moderate growth over the past several years and is projecting growth to continue at a rate of approximately five students per year. The District also participates in the State class size reduction program, which requires limiting the number of student in primary grades. In order to accommodate enrollment growth and class size reductions, the District has added six portable classrooms. 2. Biggs Unified School District The Biggs Unified School District provides elementary and secondary education to the City of Biggs and surrounding unincorporated county areas. The District is approximately 135 square miles in area and operates six schools, with a combined total enrollment of 822 students.15 The six schools that make up the District are:16 ♦ Biggs Middle and High School campus contains both Biggs High School and Biggs Middle School. The middle school serves 137 students in grades seventh and eighth, and is separate from the high school, which serves 251 students in grades ninth to twelfth. Each school has its own core teaching staff, yet both schools share some facilities, such as the Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/bangor.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 15 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/biggs.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 16 Biggs Unified School District: http://www.biggs.org/, accessed July 28, 2006. 14 7-43 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 music room, cafeteria, gymnasium, and a few classrooms. In addition, the administrator for the middle school is also the high school's athletic director and Principal. ♦ Biggs Elementary School serves 400 students from kindergarten through sixth grade, with class-size reduction in kindergarten through third grade. Originally built in 1951, Biggs Elementary School has grown from three to 19 rooms, with many added improvements, such as a multipurpose room and playgrounds. The District’s maintenance department takes care of all campus buildings, with matching funds from the State, using a series of five-year plans. ♦ Richvale Elementary School has a total enrollment of 54 students from first through sixth grade. The school has three classrooms and other facilities, including a full-sized gymnasium with a stage and a cafeteria. Like a majority of the District facilities, Richvale Elementary School is eligible for modernization funding through the Office of Public School Construction. The District will be working to modernize each school site to ensure that the facilities remain in good repair. ♦ Biggs Intermediate and Secondary Community Day Schools aim to address the needs of students that have either been expelled or demonstrate chronic behavioral or attendance problems. This structure allows for a very low student-to-teacher ratio. The first Community Day School began in Biggs in March 1999 and opened for classes in May 2000. It served grades 9 to 12 with one teacher and one aide, and was designed for no more than 15 students. The second opened in 2002 for grades 5 to 8 with the same staffing ratio. To meet future increases in enrollment, the District added six portable classrooms for the elementary school and four for the high school in the late 1990s. The District owns a vacant, 44-acre site next to the Biggs schools, but it has not made plans to build a new school facility at this time. 7-44 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S 3. Chico Unified School District The Chico Unified School District provides elementary and secondary education to residents of the City of Chico and surrounding unincorporated areas. The District serves an area of approximately 322 square miles and operates 26 schools on 25 sites with a combined total enrollment of 14,077 students in the 2005-2006 school year. The District has 17 elementary schools with grades K-6 (Chapman, Chico, Citrus, Cohasset, Emma Wilson, Forest Ranch, Hooker Oak, Little Chico Creek, Marigold, McManus, Neal Dow, Nord, Partridge, Parkview, Rosedale, Shasta, and Sierra View), four junior high schools with grades 7-8 (Bidwell, Chico, Marsh, and the Academy for Change), Chico Country Day School serves grades K-8, and four senior high schools with grades 9-12 (Chico, Pleasant Valley, Oakdale and Fairview Continuation. The District has accommodated continued growth in enrollment by changing school boundaries, reusing existing facilities, modifying existing facilities, allowing intradistrict student transfers, constructing new facilities, and using leased portable facilities,. Renovation and new construction of District facilities are funded by voterapproved State bonds through the School Facility Program, by the Measure A local school bond, by school impact fees of $2.63 per square foot levied on residential development, and by pass-through of two percent of the tax increment revenue generated by redevelopment areas within the City of Chico. The State Deferred Maintenance Program matches District funds for major repair or replacement of existing school building components.17 The District’s Student Housing Master Plan forms the basis for long-term planning decisions affecting District facilities and includes both a TwentyYear General Plan and a Five-Year Specific Plan. The Master Plan, with projections covering the next 20 years, is in the process of being reviewed and Chico Unified School District, http://www.chicousd.org/ __dept/business/facilities_planning/index.html, accessed March 21, 2007. 17 7-45 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 updated to reflect changing State and local demographics and District and student facilities needs.18 4. Durham Unified School District The Durham Unified School District provides elementary and secondary education to 186 square miles that include Durham and the surrounding area. The District operates four schools, Durham Elementary School (K-5), Durham Intermediate School (6-8), Durham High School (9-12) and Mission High School (9-12 and Continuation), with a combined ADA of 1,296 students in the 2005-2006 academic year.19 The Durham Unified School District experienced its peak enrollment in 2000-2001, with 1,362 students, and expected enrollment to decline through 2006-07 at an average rate of 37 per year. The District has addressed growth in the past by moving the sixth grade to the intermediate school and through the use of portable classrooms at all schools. The District has installed 27 portable classrooms throughout its campus. In addition, the District has identified the need for new, permanent elementary and intermediate schools. 5. Feather Falls Union School District The Feather Falls Union School District provides elementary education to the community of Feather Falls and surrounding county areas. The District is approximately 94 square miles in area and operates a single school, Feather Falls Elementary School. The school had an ADA of 47 in the 2005-2006 school year, as well as 3.5 full-time teachers and a part-time Resource Specialist.20 Administrative services for the District are provided by the Chico Unified School District, http://www.chicousd.org/ __dept/business/facilities_planning/index.html, accessed March 21, 2007. 19 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/durham.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 20 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/durham.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 18 7-46 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Pioneer Union Elementary School District. Following eighth grade, Feather Falls' students attend school in the Oroville Union High School District. School enrollment has averaged an ADA of between 35 and 55 over the past 10 years, with growth projected in the next few years. The existing school could accommodate up to 100 students. 6. Golden Feather Union School District The Golden Feather Union School District provides elementary education to approximately 208 square miles of unincorporated county lands to the north and west of Lake Oroville. The District operates three elementary schools, Spring Valley Elementary School (K-4), Concow Elementary School (5-8), and Golden Feather Community Day School (K-8), with a combined 20052006 school year ADA of 200 students.21 Following eighth grade, Golden Feather students attend school in the Oroville High School District. The District has experienced uneven enrollment growth. The Spring Valley Elementary School site can physically accommodate 2 or 3 additional portable units, but is constrained by an inadequate water supply. The Concow Elementary School site does not have room for any portable classrooms. 7. Gridley Unified School District The Gridley Unified School offers elementary education to residents of Gridley and the surrounding areas. The District is approximately 87 square miles in size and operates McKinley Primary School (K-1), Wilson intermediate Elementary School (2-5), Sycamore Middle School (6-8), and Gridley High School (9-12), as well as an alternative education center containing Esperanza Continuation High School (10-12), Gridley Community Day School (K-8 and 9-12), Gridley Home School (K-12), and Adult Education. The District ADA for the 2005-2006 school year was 1,995. Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/durham.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 21 7-47 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 Gridley High School leases a gymnasium from the Butte County Fairgrounds across the street, and is operating at close to its enrollment capacity. The high school has accommodated growth by moving in a number of portable classroom buildings. There is adequate space on the school site for additional portable classrooms to handle increasing enrollment in the near term. The District owns a 17-acre parcel to the west of Sycamore Middle School that would be an ideal site for a new middle school. There are no plans for a new middle school at this time, due to a lack of funding. The District is eligible for State rehabilitation funding that could be used for middle school and high school facilities, but does not have a high priority rating compared with other districts in the State that are experiencing faster growth. 8. Manzanita School District The Manzanita School District provides elementary education to the Rancho Boga community area to the south of Gridley. The District covers approximately 11 square miles and operates a single school, Manzanita Elementary School, with a 2005-2006 ADA of 250 students in grades K-8.22 Following eighth grade, Manzanita students attend school in the Gridley Unified School District. School enrollment has steadily declined from 556 students in 1996-1997 to 431 students in 2005-2006.23 9. Oroville City Elementary School District The Oroville City Elementary School District offers elementary education to residents of Oroville and the unincorporated county areas east and south of the city. The District is approximately 78 square miles in size and operates six elementary schools, one middle school, and one special education school, as follows: ♦ Bird Street Elementary, K-4 ♦ Eastside Elementary, K-3, Home School Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/durham.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 23 California Department of Education, http://dq.cde.ca.gov/ dataquest/ASPGraph1.asp?cYear=2005-06&Level=School&cName=MANZANITA ^ELEMENTARY&cCode=6055883&dCode=5673759, accessed December 26, 2006. 22 7-48 B U T T E ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S Oakdale Heights, K-6 and Special Education Ophir Elementary, K-6 and Special Education Wyandotte Avenue, K-6 and Special Education Central Middle, 7-8 and Special Education Sierra del Oro, Pre-School and Special Education The eight schools have a combined ADA of 2,843 students in the 2005-2006 school year.24 In 2000, the District had expected that enrollment would grow due to an influx of Hmong students and young families into the community. However, the District has instead declined in enrollment, which could be a result of declining employment in the community. The District operates three schools on a multi-track, year-round schedule: Bird Street School, Ophir School, and Wyandotte Avenue School. Following eighth grade, students attend the Oroville Union High School District. 10. Oroville Union High School District The Oroville Union High School District offers secondary education to a 663-square-mile area that includes Oroville and surrounding unincorporated county areas. The District accepts students from the Bangor Union, Feather Falls Union, Golden Feather Union, Oroville Elementary, Palermo, Pioneer, and Thermalito School Districts. The District operates the following schools: ♦ Challenge Charter High School ♦ Las Plumas High School ♦ Oroville Adult Education Career and Technical Center ♦ Oroville High School ♦ OUHSD Community Day School These schools had a combined enrollment of 3,018 students in the 2005-2006 school year.25 The District has experienced continued growth in enrollment. A number of facilities improvements and upgrades are underway including Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/oroelem.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 25 California Department of Education website, accessed December 26, 2006. 24 7-49 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 the Oroville High Library Project, which broke ground in October, 2004, and a new building at Las Plumas High, which broke ground in June, 2005.26 11. Palermo Union School District The Palermo Union School District provides elementary education to approximately 67 square miles of unincorporated county territory to the south of Oroville. The District operates five schools: Helen Wilcox (K-4, Day Care Center), Honcut Elementary (K-4), Palermo School (5-8), Palermo Community Day School (K-6), and Palermo Community Day School (7-8). The District had a combined ADA of approximately 1,308 for the 2005-2006 school year.27 Following eighth grade, Palermo students attend school in the Oroville High School District. The 2002-2003 projection reflects a three percent decline in enrollment since 1999-2000. In spite of this decline, Palermo and Helen Wilcox Schools continue to experience overcrowding. The District uses 16 emergency portables to provide adequate instructional space. The District is in the process of planning and designing a twelve-room school. 12. Paradise Unified School District The Paradise Unified School District provides elementary and secondary education to a 220-square-mile area that includes Paradise and unincorporated areas north to Tehama and Plumas Counties. The District operates 15 schools and programs as follows: ♦ One Preschool (Paradise Pre-School) ♦ One K-8 school (Children’s Community Charter School) ♦ Two K-5 schools (Cedarwood and Pines Elementary Schools) ♦ Two K-6 schools (Paradise and Ponderosa Elementary Schools) Oroville Union High School District: http://www.ouhsd.org/ construction/, accessed July 28, 2006. 27 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/palermo.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 26 7-50 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S ♦ Two 6 to 8 middle schools (Mountain Ridge Middle and Paradise Charter Middle Schools) ♦ One 7-8 intermediate school (Paradise Intermediate School) ♦ Two K-12 schools (HomeTech Charter School and Independent Learning Center) ♦ One 9-12 comprehensive high school (Paradise High School) ♦ One 9-12 continuation high school (Ridgeview High School) ♦ Two Special programs [College Connection (12) and Community Day School (7-12)] District enrollment in 2005-2006 was approximately 5,209.28 Enrollment in the District has declined since 1998, particularly at the elementary grades. The District is trying to obtain a comprehensive high school site in the Magalia area to ease overcrowding at Paradise High School.29 13. Pioneer Union School District The Pioneer Union School District provides elementary education to the residents of the communities of Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Mountain House, Lake Madrone and surrounding areas to the north and east of Lake Oroville. The District is approximately 129 square miles in area and operates Berry Creek Elementary School and Bald Rock Community School. Berry Creek Elementary School had an ADA of 158 students in grades K-8 during the 2005-2006 school year.30 Following eighth grade, Pioneer students attend school in the Oroville Union High School District. In 2002, a countyoperated State preschool was established on the site of Berry Creek Elementary School. The District provides administrative services for the adjoining Feather Falls Union Elementary School District. California Department of Education, accessed December 26, 2006. Steve Jennings, Superintendent, Paradise Unified School District, personal communication with Ricardo Bressanutti, Design, Community & Environment, March 20, 2007. 30 Butte County Office of Education, http://www.bcoe.org/home/ districts/palermo.htm, accessed December 26, 2006. 28 29 7-51 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 The Berry Creek Elementary School reached its peak enrollment of 203 students in the 1992-1993 school year. Since then, enrollment at this school has declined. 14. Thermalito Union Elementary School District The Thermalito Union Elementary School District provides elementary education to the community of Thermalito and surrounding county areas to the west of Oroville. Combined enrollment in District schools was 1,455 students in 2005-2006.31 The District has a large population of students who do not speak English as a first language and operates a number of special programs to serve the needs of these students. Following eighth grade, Thermalito students attend school in the Oroville Union High School District. The District operates four conventional schools, two day schools and a home study program.32 Each conventional school is discussed below:33 ♦ Poplar Avenue School, located at Poplar Avenue and 20th Street, serves roughly 250 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ♦ Sierra Avenue School, located at Sierra Avenue and 12th Street, serves approximately 300 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ♦ Plumas Avenue School, located at Plumas Avenue and 5th Street, serves roughly 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ♦ Nelson Avenue Middle School, located at 6th Street and Nelson Avenue serves approximately 520 students in sixth through eighth grade. California Department of Education website, accessed December 26, 2006. Thermalito Union School District: http://www.thermalito.org/ default.htm, accessed June 13, 2006. 33 Thermalito Union School District: http://thermalito. schoolwisepress.com/cde/2006/pdf/facts_en_Poplar-6003362e.pdf, accessed June 13, 2006. 31 32 7-52 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S The District is projecting that growth will continue, with an enrollment projection of approximately 1,746 students by the year 2007-2008. The District has accommodated increasing enrollment by the addition of portable classroom facilities. The District has also acquired land to be used for a new school in the future. The District has not considered implementing year round schedules. VI. SPECIAL DISTRICTS Special districts are a form of local government created by a local community to meet a specific need. Inadequate tax bases and competing demands for existing taxes make it hard for cities and counties to provide all the services their citizens desire. When residents or landowners want new services or higher levels of existing services, they can form a district to pay for and administer them. According to the California Special Districts Association, “Most Californians don't understand special districts. Most of us don't know: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ How many exist (about 3,400). What they do (services from A to Z: airports to zoos). Who runs them (it could be your next-door neighbor). Or even what they cost (about $26 billion a year). Celebrated as the best example of democracy, cursed as the worst form of fragmented government, and generally misunderstood even by the experts, special districts are California's unique contribution to local government. But what is so special about special districts anyway? The answer: focused service. Focused because special districts only serve in specifically defined areas, unlike counties and cities that provide services throughout their boundaries. Special districts are also focused because most of them provide only a single service, allowing them to concentrate on one activity. Service because special districts deliver public programs and public facilities that their constituents want. Cities and counties must provide a wide variety of services, some of 7-53 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 them mandated by the federal and state governments. provide the public services that the public wants.” Special districts For more information about Special Districts, visit http://www.csda.net. For more information about Special Districts in Butte County, visit the LAFCO website at http://www.buttelafco.org/common/_mod_ resource.asp?p=21&f=142. Specific to Butte County, the following is a list of Special Districts, city providers and other entities that provide of a variety of services: 1. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Water South Feather Water and Power Agency Paradise Irrigation District Durham Irrigation District Lake Madrone Water District Buzztail Community Services District Berry Creek Community Services District California Water Service Company – Chico District California Water Service Company – Oroville District Thermalito Irrigation District* City of Gridley* City of Biggs* 2. Sewer ♦ Lake Oroville Area Public Utility District ♦ Richardson Springs Community Services District ♦ City of Chico ♦ City of Oroville ♦ Richvale Sanitary District ♦ Sewerage Commission – Oroville Region ♦ Thermalito Irrigation District* ♦ City of Gridley* ♦ City of Biggs* * Sewer and water provider. 7-54 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S 3. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Drainage Drainage District No. 1 Drainage District No. 2 Drainage District No. 100 Drainage District No. 200 Butte Creek Drainage District 4. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Irrigation South Feather Water and Power Agency Durham Mutual Water Company Biggs-West Gridley Water District Butte Water District Western Canal Water District Richvale Irrigation District 5. ♦ ♦ ♦ Reclamation Rock Creek Reclamation District Sacramento River Reclamation District Reclamation District No. 833 6. Fire Protection ♦ El Medio Fire District 7. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Recreation/Parks Chico Area Recreation and Park District City of Chico Park Department Paradise Recreation and Park District Feather River Recreation and Park District Durham Recreation and Park District City of Oroville Parks and Trees Department Richvale Recreation and Park District Biggs Swimming Pool District Gridley Swimming Pool District City of Biggs Recreation and Park Services City of Gridley Recreation Department 7-55 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 8. ♦ ♦ ♦ Mosquito Abatement Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District Durham Mosquito Abatement District Oroville Mosquito Abatement District 9. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Cemetery Bangor Cemetery District Gridley-Biggs Cemetery District Kimshew Cemetery District Oroville Cemetery District Paradise Cemetery District Pine Creek Cemetery District Thompson Flat Cemetery District Upham Cemetery District 10. Butte County Resource Conservation District Butte County Special Districts are part of the statewide association. For more information, you can visit http://www.csda.net/loclchap.htm and search for Butte County. VIII. QUASI GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES & JOINT POWERS AUTHORITIES (JPA) IN WHICH THE COUNTY PARTICIPATES This is a brief listing of other entities in which Butte County participates: ♦ BCAG34 – The Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) is an association of all the local governments within Butte County. Its members include the cities of Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, the Town of Paradise and the County of Butte. Butte County Association of Governments, http://www.bcag.org, accessed July 23, 2007. 34 7-56 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L P L A N 2 0 3 0 S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S BCAG is responsible for development of federal and State transportation plans and programs that secure transportation funding for the region's highways, transit, streets and roads, pedestrian and other transportation system improvements. BCAG is also coordinating the development of the County’s Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (http://www.buttehcp.com). ♦ LAFCO35 – The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) is a state-mandated local agency that oversees boundary changes to cities and special districts, the formation of new agencies including incorporation of new cities, and the consolidation of existing agencies. The broad goals of the agency are to ensure the orderly formation of local government agencies, to preserve agricultural and open space lands, and to discourage urban sprawl. ♦ Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program (AVA ) – Butte County as a jurisdictional member of the Butte County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement (AVA) Program Service Authority encompassing the unincorporated areas of Butte County began towing abandoned vehicles in December 2003. Funds for the AVA program are generated from a one dollar registration fee collected by the State of California. Each quarter, after the State takes out their administrative fee, the registration funds are sent to the County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Joint Powers Authority for distribution to the participating jurisdictions (Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville, Paradise and Butte County). Butte County has towed over 2,000 abandoned vehicles since this program began. ♦ City of Chico/Butte County Nitrate JPA – In 1979 high levels of nitrates were discovered by the State Department of Water Resources in parts of the Chico Urban Area. In order to deal with the nitrate issue, the Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a Prohibition Order in Local Agency Formation Commission, http://www.buttelafco.org, accessed July 23, 2007. 35 7-57 B U T T E C O U N T Y G E N E R A L S E T T I N G A N D T R E N D S P U B L I C S E R V I C E S P L A N 2 0 3 0 1990 which prohibited the use of septic systems in parts of the Chico Urban Area. Since that time, the County and the City of Chico have taken several steps toward implementing the Nitrate Compliance Plan. In order to fund necessary sewer improvements within the Greater Chico Urban Area, the County and the City of Chico are currently applying for a loan from the State Revolving Loan Fund. The applicant for the loan is a Joint Powers Financing Authority formed by the County of Butte and the Chico Redevelopment Agency. If the loan is approved, the City of Chico will construct, own operate and maintain the sewer improvements. This sewer project is separated into six project phase areas. One project phase area will begin construction every twelve to twenty four months once construction begins. It is anticipated that the entire project will take approximately ten years to complete. The project will construct sewer lines and individual laterals to 5,634 individual property lines. In order to connect, individual property owners will be responsible for the abandonment of their septic tank and on-site sewer connection. For more information on the Chico Urban Area Nitrate Compliance Plan, please visit http://www.buttecounty.net/cob/nitrate_plan.htm. 7-58