Frequently Asked Questions below.

Formed in 1982, Chico's Greenline protects farm land on Chico's west side by separating urban and agricultural uses. 

Today, pressure to develop to the west of Chico is immense.  Farmland is flat, has fewer environmental hurdles and the soil is clean and easily drained, making it easier to develop.  Once Butte county's farmland is paved, it's gone forever.

In 2004, a group of neighbors formed the Chico Greenline Coalition to help protect Chico's prime agricultural land by encouraging 'smart growth' in areas with non-prime agricultural soil.

In 2006, the Chico Greenline Coalition formed a local political action committee to support candidates that will appear on the June 2006 Butte County Election ballot.

The Chico Greenline Coalition has endorsed Maureen Kirk for Butte County District Three Supervisor.  Between the first week of May 2006 and June 6, 2006, the Chico Greenline Coalition will engage in a variety of voter contact and other activities to support Maureen's candidacy and build public awareness regarding the importance of protecting Chico's Greenline. 

In order to implement the outreach plan and effectively communicate our message with voters, the Chico Greenline Coalition will raise funds from agricultural interests, neighbors and other interested parties.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question.  Who is the Chico Greenline Coalition?  Who are the rest of the group, Officers, Board members, Secretary? 

Answer:  Nearly 2 years ago, a group of neighbors got together and held 2 meetings on the Greenline in relation to the Northwest Chico Specific Plan process.  Since then, CGC neighbors authored an op-ed, created a website, handed out bumper stickers to "Save Chico's Greenline", walked local neighborhoods in NW Chico, and developed a list of about 175 individuals who have indicated their interest in 'protecting the greenline', among other things.  This group loosely considered itself the Chico Greenline Coalition but the group has not yet organized as a 501c organization and doesn't have a more formal board structure. 

(Read what Supervisor Mary Anne Houx and others have to say about the Chico Greenline Coalition here.) 

Question:  Why is the Chico Greenline Coalition involved in the Supervisor race?

Answer:  About 6 weeks ago, CGC members contacted Supervisor Mary Anne Houx, the Butte County Farm Bureau, several farmers and a few of the neighbors who have been loosely associated with the Greenline Coalition over the past couple of years.  Ultimately, a decision was made to form a PAC, raise money and engage in this election to support Maureen's candidacy. 

More specifically, the Chico Greenline Coalition formed a local, primarily formed recipient committee.  Attached is the group's Form 410.   A copy of the Form 410 can also be obtained at the California Secretary of State's office.

(Read a recent letter to the Chico Enterprise Record by CGC member Tovey Giezentanner)

Question:  After this election cycle, what's next for the Chico Greenline Coalition?

Answer:  After this election cycle and as part of this next phase of the organization, CGC will likely morph into two entities - one will be focused on policy; the other will be focused on supporting candidates.

The policy arm - the Chico Greenline Coalition - will work to establish a policy framework for a more permanent solution for the Greenline.

The political arm - the Chico Greenline Coalition PAC - will continue to support candidates and engage in political activities that support the broader policy framework of finding a more permanent solution for the Greenline.

Question.  I've read that you (Tovey Giezentanner) live in Davis and work for a Sacramento public relations firm and have offices in Sacramento.

Answer:  I grew up in Chico, moved away, got married to a woman who also grew up in Chico and we moved back to Chico last August to raise a family.  I worked with a Sacramento PR firm on one client last year (2005), but no longer work for that firm on that client.  I still sublet office space in Sacramento, but primarily work from Chico and from my car.

Question.  Why are you (Tovey) involved in Chico politics?

Answer:  I live here in Chico, I have family who lives adjacent to the greenline, I'm involved in land-use issues regionally, and I deeply care about how Chico grows. 

I think there is enormous pressure on the greenline - and once this line breaks once, it will be easy to break it again and again.  Once the ag land is paved over, it's gone forever. That's not an empty slogan - in my opinion, that's the truth.  Frankly, I don't understand why there is so much pressure on Chico's greenline - the City of Chico is currently processing applications for 9,400 new residential units...conservatively, that's enough housing for 18,000 new residents.  More likely, that will house between 22,000 and 25,000 new residents.  And Butte County's North Chico Specific Plan has not yet been fully built out.  Why the pressure to break the greenline?

Question:  Where can I see campaign reports for the Chico Greenline Coalition?

Answer: 

• Here is CGC's Statement of Organization (Form 410).  CGC's Form 410 is on file in Sacramento at the Secretary of State's office. 
• Here is CGC's first campaign report (Form 460).  CGC's Form 460 was submitted to Butte County on May 22, 2006 and a copy is on file at the Butte County Elections Division.  CGC will file a Late Contribution Report on Tuesday or Wednesday (June 6 or 7) to disclose two $6,000 donations.  When the Late Contribution Report has been filed with Butte County, a copy will also be available for download from this site.  By the end of July, the semi-annual Form 460 will be filed which will also disclose the loan and any additional activity from the closing date of the last Form 460 that was filed.
• A copy of CGC's non-monetary contribution letter to the Kirk for Supervisor campaign can be found here. 

Question:  Who are your donors?  Who has contributed to the Chico Greenline Coalition?

Answer:  The law requires disclosure of any donor who contributes $100 or more to a political committee.  So far, CGC has incurred about $10,000 in expenses but has no contributors.

On Monday, June 5, the Giezentanner family will loan CGC $12,000 - $6,000 per spouse - to pay for all of the activities that CGC has engaged in during this election cycle.  Please see above for more information re: campaign reports.

CGC plans to hold up to 3 fundraisers in June and July to help pay down this loan.  If and when individuals contribute $100 or more to CGC, those contributions (donors) will be disclosed on future campaign reports as the law requires.

More questions?  For more information or to contribute to the Chico Greenline Coalition, please contact Tovey Giezentanner at info@chicogreenline.com.