The City of Chowchilla has instituted unpaid employee furlough days for all City offices except Public Safety due to the continuing financial crisis. City offices WILL BE CLOSED EVERY OTHER FRIDAY on the following upcoming days in 2010:

March 5, 19
April 2, 16, 30
May 14, 28
June 11, 25

Please note the following important information:
 

• Utility payments will not be penalized on the affected Fridays.
• Payments may be dropped in the payment drop box located on the right side of the front of the Civic Center.
• Garbage services will not be affected.
• For Public Safety emergencies, not day-to-day business, contact the Chowchilla Police Department at 122 Trinity Avenue or call (559) 665-8600.

Due to ongoing budget deficits, the City of Chowchilla was forced to layoff employees from all City departments which will result in a change to some services and programs. Residents may experience a longer wait time if paying utility bills in person or by phone. Residents are reminded they can always mail in their payments or utilize the payment drop box located on the front right side of the Civic Center. Other significant changes will be to the street sweeping services. Based on reduced manpower, street sweeping will not be on a regular schedule but will occur as time and staffing allows.

The Parks and Recreation Department will be affected the most at this time. Programs and events will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. An altered park maintenance schedule will be established based on available staffing. Rental facility and shelter usage will be limited. CATX transportation services will continue. For Parks & Recreation inquiries, visit the Civic Center or call (559) 665-8615, extension 110. The City will strive to maintain the highest level of services it can provide with the reduced staffing, but the community should be prepared to see some changes in normal service levels.    

Soroptimist International of Chowchilla is sponsoring the Easter Coloring/Decorating Contest. Kids 12 years and younger can enter to win some great prizes. Click here to download a copy of the 2010 contest entry form and rules. The deadline is March 18 so enter soon! The winners will be announced at the 35th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 3, 2010. This event is co-sponsored by the City of Chowchilla and Soroptimist International of Chowchilla. For information, call 665-8615, extension 110.

The Chowchilla Police Department holds two rabies clinics every year in the spring and fall. The upcoming Spring Rabies Clinic will be held at the Police Station located at 122 Trinity Avenue on Saturday, March 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Please note: 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. is only for seniors or residents with special needs. The general public hours are 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The cost is $6 per shot. This year, the seven in one puppy shot will also be available for $20, not including the rabies vaccination. Three types of cat vaccines will be offered at $10 per shot. All cats must be in carriers. The next rabies clinic will be held in September 2010 (date TBA).

City residents are reminded that all dogs living within the City limits are required to be licensed and vaccinated for rabies once over the age of four months. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required to obtain a license. Dog licenses are valid for the year in which they are issued and expire on December 31 of that year. Licenses issued after March 31 will require a $20 late fee with the exception of puppies that reach four months of age after that date.There are license fee discounts for seniors and for owners of spayed or neutered dogs. For more information on the clinic, contact the Chowchilla Police Department at (559) 665-8600.

What does Census 2010 mean to Chowchilla? The census is a count of everyone living in the United States every 10 years and is mandated by the United States Constitution. Your participation in the census is required by federal law and it only takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Federal law protects the personal information you share during the census. Census data is used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year. Completing your census is in effect, bringing much needed funding to our own community. Census questionnaires will arrive in March 2010. Remember - it’s important, confidential, easy, and safe!

Each year over 100 million people upgrade their old cell phones. Most simply toss them in a drawer and forget about them. Reusing cell phones ensures that the greatest possible value is recovered and quite literally gives old phones new life. To that end, in May of 2004, the 911 Cell Phone Bank was created to provide an ongoing and readily available source of 911 emergency cell phones and funds to meet the unexpected and urgent needs of participating law enforcement and affiliated victim services agencies.

Since its inception, the 911 Cell Phone Bank has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars and provided thousands of emergency cell phones to victim services organizations nationwide. If you have an old cell phone to donate, please drop it off at the Chowchilla Civic Center or the Chowchilla Police Department lobby. For more information, call (559) 665-8615, ext. 505.

Efforts are being stepped up to enforce the City of Chowchilla’s Administrative Citation Program and citations with fines are now being issued to violators. City staff has begun issuing citations for various violations with the primary focus targeting water waste or non-compliance of watering regulations, dangerous animals or animals at large, graffiti, and ongoing code violations. Fines for code violations will range between $50 to $100 for the first violation with fines increasing for subsequent violations. For more information, contact the Community Development Dept. at 665-8615, ext. 787. Please do your part and follow the City rules. Click here to view the watering rules or call us at (559) 665-8615 for more information. 

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