HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.2 Chris Rauen 6.23.25 Public Comment - FW_ Public Comment for Item 5.2 Special Budget Hearing - June 24 @ 1pm.ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening
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From:Clerk of the Board
To:BOS
Cc:Taggart, Kevin
Subject:Public Comment - FW: Public Comment for Item 5.2 Special Budget Hearing - June 24 @ 1pm
Date:Tuesday, June 24, 2025 7:51:01 AM
Please see public comment received for item no. 5.2 below.
From: Chris Rauen <chris@magaliacommunitypark.org>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 8:23 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: Public Comment for Item 5.2 Special Budget Hearing - June 24 @ 1pm
To the Butte County Board of Supervisors
From: Chris Rauen, Magalia Resident
Firstly, I wanted to thank the Board of Supervisors and County staff for continued
consideration of, and approval for, projects that will enhance the betterment of the lives
of those of us who have called the Upper Ridge home. CDBG-DR funding for road
improvements both in our residential and business area, and the widening of the
roadway across Magalia Dam, will be welcome projects in our community.
I just wanted to briefly address the current state of the rebuild in the Camp Fire burn scar
in Magalia. As you are all aware, we still have hundreds of vacant lots on the Upper Ridge
where homes once stood, and construction of new homes on these lots has been very
slow. I'd like to ask that as projects are considered & developed, some prioritization be
given directly to the communities that were directly affected by the Camp Fire, Park Fire
and North Complex fires and their residents. In our case, I would fully support any kind
incentivization program for building / rebuilding homes on existing residential lots so that
those who were burned out can come home, or new folks who wish to bring their
families here may be more encouraged to build.
Our business district also took a hit from the fire...and the aftermath from it, as Magalia
lost its hardware store, a bank, and a pharmacy, among others. Unrelated to the fire, our
drug store (Rite Aid) is closing soon, at which point we will have no pharmacy. For the
thousands of us who have chosen to reside a little further up the hill from Paradise, this
makes it more of an effort to get down to Paradise & Chico for some basic services that
we previously were able to obtain here. Several vacant commercial properties stand
ready for construction. The Upper Ridge Community Plan supports a thriving downtown
district on Lakeridge Circle, just off the Skyway, and if a project could be put together
that may be a close match to what had been envisioned by the participants in this plan,
as well as meeting the needs of the community today, it may encourage new business
owners & entrepreneurs to consider investing on the Upper Ridge.
I'm aware and appreciate that CDBG-DR funding will be going towards some of the road
improvements planned for next year, eventually extending toward the Lakeridge Circle
area, and later, for the widening of the road across Magalia Dam, so this is certainly a
plus for the community.
Glad to have a conversation with any County staff & Supervisors on ideas or plans for
future projects that may be considered for helping improve the lives of those of us on the
Upper Ridge.
Regards,
Chris Rauen