Council appoints Bryce Ingersoll to Climate Action Commission after interviews

The Chico City Council appointed Bryce Ingersoll to the Climate Action Commission on Tuesday, filling a vacancy with a term that has three years remaining.

Council Member Goldstein nominated Ingersoll; the council confirmed the appointment by unanimous vote, 7-0. Goldstein said the selection was difficult because all four applicants were strong candidates and pledged to keep the other applications on file for future recruitment.

Ingersoll, who described himself as a recent Chico State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in geography and planning, told the council he has experience in urban planning, sustainability, prescribed burns at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, and volunteer work with the Butte Environmental Council. He said he hopes to bridge conversations among community organizations, the university and the city.

Other applicants who addressed the council included Natalie Norton, a strategic consultant and UC climate steward; Sarah Lanham, a Chico State student active in sustainability governance; and Cecilia Laura Ramsey, an anthropology student with community engagement experience. Staff noted state law required that the city post the vacancy and follow recruitment rules; the city reported it had one applicant from a prior recruitment and opened an additional recruitment that produced four candidates.

The council discussed timing and the commission’s need for quorum to meet. Staff noted the Climate Action Commission meets “as needed” under municipal code, and that the mayor’s office and staff will reach out to applicants who were not selected when future vacancies arise.

Bryce Ingersoll will serve on the Climate Action Commission for the remainder of the vacated three-year term; the council did not set additional conditions or directives tied to the appointment at this meeting.