City offices, with the exception of Public Safety, will be closed every Friday through September 2010. Chowchilla City Council and staff have been vigilant during the ongoing fiscal crisis to strictly monitor the City’s budget.  Employee furlough days were established to help with cost savings. The additional Friday closures, in addition to the furlough days, will assist with staff productivity and efficiency allowing the reduced number of staff time to catch up on their workload.

Although offices will be closed on Fridays, telephone calls will be received and most City operations, such as CATX, will continue as normal on non-furlough Fridays. See our Calendar of Events to see affected furlough Fridays. A few important items to remember during closure dates are as follows: for any Public Services emergencies such as water main breaks, street concerns, or other safety issues, call 559-665-8615, extension 305 during regular business hours and for after-hour assistance, contact the Chowchilla Police Department at 122 Trinity Avenue or call 559-665-8600; garbage services will not be affected and schedules will continue as normal; and utility payments can be deposited in the drop box located at the right side of the front of the Civic Center – payments will not be penalized due to Friday closures. For more information, call the City’s Public Information office at 665-8615, extension 110.

The Chowchilla American Legion Post 148 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9896 are proud to announce that the Vietnam Moving Wall Memorial Display is coming to Chowchilla August 13-16, 2010. The wall will arrive with a motorcycle escort on August 12th and set up will begin in Veterans Memorial Park on August 13th. The memorial wall will be open to the public for viewing beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 14th. An opening ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. that day. The wall will remain on display until Monday, August 16th with a closing ceremony taking place at 3:00 p.m. The community is invited to  come and visit this memorial honoring those men and women who gave their lives in defense of our country. Security personnel will be on duty at all hours to provide info as needed. Anyone wanting to volunteer to help with this project may call John at 559-665-5470.

The 21st Annual Community-Wide Block Party will be held on Friday, August 13th from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the Sports & Leisure Park located at 625 N. 15th Street. This annual summer gathering for the whole family features food and craft booths, safety vehicles, Health Fair (including a blood drive, immunization shots, and an Eyemobile), inflatable games for the children, music, and more! The event is open to all. For more information, call (559) 665-8615, extension 110.

The Chowchilla Senior Center, located at 820 W. Robertson Boulevard,  is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for those in need of cooling and will be opened on an “as need” basis after 2:00 p.m. to accommodate those in need. For information during regular business hours, call the City’s Public Information Office at (559) 665-8615, extension 110.  For transportation to the Center during business hours, call CATX at (559) 665-8655. For elderly residents, those requiring special assistance, or for after regular business hours information, please contact the Chowchilla Police Department at (559) 665-8600.

The reservoir is now open Thursday through Sunday for the summer season! The reservoir gates will open by 10:00 a.m. and close before dusk on those days. The Chowchilla Lions Club is assisting with this project this year. Check back here or on our Facebook page for any updates.

If you were unable to attend the Special Budget Workshop on June 14, 2010, the presentation is available to view online. View the updated Cost Savings Items under Consideration.

Hard economic times have meant staffing cuts at the City which means some services have been eliminated or reduced. Staff is working hard to cover many areas however extra help is always a good thing. As much as the City appreciates our residents lending a helping hand on their own, there are certain laws and safety regulations that have to be followed by a municipality. Therefore, we want you to be aware we have established a City Volunteer Program for those individuals who would like to volunteer their time or talents to help during these tough times. For more information or to learn what volunteer opportunities are available, contact us at 665-8615, extension 110. 

The City of Chowchilla’s Homebuyer Assistance Program offers affordable secondary mortgage financing to first-time homebuyers. The program is designed to provide the additional financing needed to keep a first mortgage payment affordable. Homes may be new construction or existing single family homes and they must be located in the city limits of Chowchilla. There are loan, property and eligibility requirements. Participants must also complete a free homebuyer education course. The Homebuyer Assistance Program is funded by the State Department of Housing and Community Development Grant Programs. Self-Help Enterprises contracts with the City of Chowchilla to determine eligibility. For more information, contact Maria Gonzalez with Self-Help at (559) 802-1643.

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. 

                                                                                                       City of Chowchilla
                                                                                                                            Copyright © 2005  All Rights Reserved
                                                                                                                          Site best viewed at 800 x 600 resolution