Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Cool Commons and Tribal Outdoor Learning Project

2026081173

California Construction Authority

NOE - Notice of Exemption

8/31/2026

8/31/2026

Stewart Deluz

California Construction Authority

Program Manager

Lead/Public Agency

1776 Tribute Rd,
Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 263-6180

sdeluz@ccauthority.org

Fair Street and East Park Avenue. Nearest state highway

95928

65.97

APN 005-500-001 (25.500 ac), APN 005-490-014 (26.700 ac), and APN 005-490-062 (13.770 ac)

CA-99

2357 Fair Street, Chico, CA 95928

Categorical Exemption

Class 23 — Normal Operations of Existing Facilities (14 CCR § 15323). Alternate: Class 1 (14 CCR § 15301); Class 4 (14 C

A. Class 23 Categorical Exemption — Normal Operations of Existing Facilities. CEQA Guidelines section 15323 exempts the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose. Facilities listed within Class 23 include racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, auditoriums, and amphitheaters. The Silver Dollar Fairgrounds has operated continuously as a public gathering facility for the annual Silver Dollar Fair, Junior Livestock Show, Silver Dollar Speedway racing events, community fairs, exhibitions, and public assemblies for well in excess of the three-year threshold, and the future occurrence of these activities is not expected to change. The Cool Commons and Tribal Outdoor Learning Project supports these normal operations by providing shade, tree canopy, hydration, and outdoor learning improvements that serve the existing designed use of the facility. The Project does not expand the operational envelope, increase attendance capacity, or introduce a new use inconsistent with the fairgrounds' historic public-gathering purpose. Two authorities directly support the Class 23 pathway. (i) The California Construction Authority, acting as CEQA lead agency for the 3rd DAA on this same site, previously determined that construction of the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Resiliency Center — a 41,806-square-foot event center on APN 005-490-014 — is categorically exempt under Class 23 (14 CCR § 15323). That determination was filed with the State Clearinghouse on September 9, 2025 as SCH No. 2025090348 and remains on record. The Cool Commons and Tribal Outdoor Learning Project involves substantially less physical disturbance and shares the same lead agency, the same site, and the same normal-operations character. (ii) Class 23's application to Third District Agricultural Association operations at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds was affirmed by the California Court of Appeal in Campbell v. Third District Agricultural Assn. (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 115, which held that racing and public-gathering activities at the fairgrounds qualify as normal operations of existing facilities under Class 23 and are exempt from CEQA review. B. Alternate Categorical Exemptions — Classes 1, 4, and 11. In the alternative, the Project qualifies under Class 1 (14 CCR § 15301), which exempts minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, and topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use; under Class 4 (14 CCR § 15304), which exempts minor public alterations in the condition of land and vegetation that do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees and which expressly includes new gardening or landscaping (§ 15304(b)); and under Class 11 (14 CCR § 15311), which exempts placement of minor structures accessory to existing institutional facilities, including small structures supporting the existing use. C. Exception Analysis (14 CCR § 15300.2). None of the exceptions to categorical exemptions set forth in 14 CCR § 15300.2 applies. Location: the fairgrounds is a fully developed urban campus within the City of Chico; no portion of the Project is located on a list of hazardous waste and substances sites compiled pursuant to Government Code § 65962.5. Cumulative Impact: the Project, considered together with successive projects of the same type at the fairgrounds, does not produce a cumulatively significant impact; the Project adds nature-based cooling and vegetative improvements that reduce, rather than intensify, environmental burden at the site. Significant Effect: no unusual circumstances distinguish the Project from other projects in the Class 23, 1, 4, or 11 categories such as would create a reasonable possibility of a significant effect on the environment. Scenic Highways: the Project does not damage scenic resources within an officially designated state scenic highway; State Route 99 in this vicinity is not designated a state scenic highway. Historic Resources: the Project does not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historic resource; the improvements are additive landscape and shade features that do not alter character-defining features of any fairgrounds structure. D. Voluntary Tribal Consultation. Public Resources Code § 21080.3.1 tribal-consultation requirements apply prior to the adoption of a Negative Declaration, Mitigated Negative Declaration, or Environmental Impact Report, and are not triggered by a Notice of Exemption. The 3rd DAA has nonetheless voluntarily engaged in tribal outreach, has requested the Native American Heritage Commission tribal contact list for the project area, and has initiated consultation with the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria and additional tribes identified by NAHC regarding the Tribal Outdoor Learning Area and any cultural resources concerns. Documentation of tribal outreach is available upon request.