The City of Chico is ideally located in the Northern Sacramento Valley, approximately ninety miles north of Sacramento. The City has grown to over 33 square miles with a population of approximately 130,000 in the incorporated area and greater urbanized area. Chico is a host to medical, retail, financial, and agricultural services to the North State. It is a beautiful city that values quality of life and maintains a special sense of community and small-town living. Chico is also known as a vibrant regional center for business, recreation and cultural activities. Residents pride themselves on preserving local heritage and natural resources, with emphasis on sustainability. There are many recreational opportunities in Chico, including Bidwell Park. The park is one of the largest municipally owned parks in the country (3,670 acres), is the focal point of the City’s park system and offers numerous trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. Other recreational and scenic opportunities easily accessible from Chico include the Sacramento River; Oroville, Almanor and Shasta Lakes; the Sierra Nevada Mountains; Lassen Volcanic National Park; Mount Shasta; and various ski areas.... The City is conveniently located within three hours driving to the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe regions. Chico’s historic downtown provides an array of entertainment, shopping and dining for all age groups. Having been previously awarded the distinction of “one of the best downtowns” among mid-size cities in the nation, Chico continues to look for options to enhance and improve what is already seen as a cherished environment for local merchants and restaurants. At the heart of the area is CSU Chico, which the City is very proud to be home to. Housing options are abundant and varied in type, offering family-oriented neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and high-quality schools. The City of Chico is a Charter City and operates under the council-manager form of government. The Council is composed of seven Council Members elected at-large for four-year staggered terms. After each biennial November election, the Council selects a Mayor and Vice-Mayor to serve two-year terms. The City of Chico is a full-service city, including police and fire, with an average of 400 employees. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk and the City Attorney who serve at the pleasure of the Council. All other departments are under the authority of the City Manager as the chief executive of the City.