⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 7 findings
F1
Smart kiosks offer cost and maintenance advantages to the City. Consumers have commented that the Passport system phone application is easy to use. The City will find it worthwhile to encourage widespread adoption of the application.
F2
The City’s efforts to educate the public and assess community impact after implementation were insufficient. Some of these efforts have been made by partners such as the Downtown Chico Business Association. If the City chooses to work with outside groups to promote and explain use of the system, it should nonetheless provide effective oversight and strong leadership of the effort.
F3
When members of the public are not able to consistently and reliably make contact with elected officials, it has a negative impact on the City’s ability to engage with the public and best serve the needs of the people represented.
F4
In the past, some City Council Members repeatedly exerted pressure on and gave direction to city employees, violating the Oroville Municipal Code. This negatively impacted the City’s operations while resources were used to respond to, address, and/or avoid the behavior.
F5
The City Council voted to adopt the “Elected Officials Guiding Principles Handbook” on December 17, 2024 to “promote ethical and responsible governance…”. As of April 7, 2026 only three of seven council members have signed the document and the public has not been informed of missing signatures.
F6
The Oroville City Council does not have a mechanism to share with the public the status of prior agenda items requiring action by City Council members.
F7
Violation of confidentiality required by City Council closed sessions resulted in concerns the City Council is unable to effectively discuss sensitive and confidential topics. This is a violation of § 2.08.100 in the Oroville Municipal Code and negatively impacts the City’s efficiency and effectiveness when working to resolve complex legal issues. 31
Recommendations 9
-
R1The Chico City Council direct the City Manager to develop, either itself or using a partner group, a short instructional video on how to use the smart kiosk and how to download and use the Passport phone application. The video should be posted to appropriate websites and widely-used social media.
-
R2The Chico City Council direct the City Manager to review the Go! Downtown Chico website with the Chico Downtown Business Association to determine how its parking information can be updated and improved.
-
R3The Chico City Council direct the City Manager to conduct quarterly reviews of Chico parking information on City and partner websites to ensure that they are accurate and up to date. Such reviews should particularly be conducted when the City updates the kiosk system interface to ensure that changes are reflected in publicly available information. 20
-
R3aThe Oroville City Council should instruct the City of Oroville IT Department to test voicemails and emails from outside of the city systems, specifically using the contact information and links published on the city website for City Council members. Ensure voicemails and emails are readily accessible and received by the City Council members. Testing should be completed and changes, if needed, implemented
-
R3bThe Oroville City Council should establish response timelines for public inquiries and include those timelines in voicemail greetings and automatic email responses by January 31, 2027. When a member of the public contacts an elected official, that person should be informed when they will next hear from the City Council regarding their question/concern.
-
R4The Oroville City Council should direct the City to establish and monitor an anonymous ethics violation reporting mechanism. Implementation of the mechanism to be completed and communicated to all City employees, contractors, and City Council members
-
R5The Oroville City Council should enforce Item 10 (Consequences for Non-Compliance) in the adopted Elected Officials Guiding Principles Handbook by November 1, 2026. City Council members who have not signed the document shall be “ineligible for committee assignments”.
-
R6The Oroville City Council should create a recurring agenda item for public meetings that would report pending Council Member action items (signatures, required trainings, etc.). Implement
-
R7Effective immediately, Oroville City Council members should maintain the confidentiality of all closed session proceedings and related materials, as required by 32 law.
In the Press 1
Press coverage of this report, automatically tracked.
Grand Jury finds Gateway project agreement failures cost Oroville valuable protections - Action News Now
Action News Now
· June 26, 2026
