MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING May 9, 2023
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The regular council meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Vice Mayor Nuchols. Staff present: Administrator Josh Cook, City Attorney Greg Einhorn, City Planner Bob Summerville, City Engineer Dave Harden, and City Clerk Roben Benish.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Vice Mayor Nuchols
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Buck, Nuchols, and Sheppard
Absent: Bassett and Squires
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
5. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of warrants: 37523 – 37605, 10320231, 41720231, 41920231, 9302720 - 9302747 for the month of April 2023 in the amount of $404,936.32.
B. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2023.
C. Acknowledge receipt of Butte County Animal Control Reports for April 2023.
D. Adopt Resolution No. 2023-05, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS ADOPTING A LIST OF PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 FUNDED BY SB 1: THE ROAD REPAIR AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2017.” E. Acknowledge receipt of Accountant’s Report for March 2023.
Motion/Second to approve the Consent Calendar. (Buck, Sheppard, MCU, Absent: Bassett & Squires)
6. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Public Safety: CSO Alyssa Moreland reviewed the BSCO report with Council.
B. Public Works: No report.
C. Planning: City Planner Bob Summerville reviewed the monthly planning activity report.
D. Engineering: City Engineer Dave Harden reviewed the monthly activity report.
E. Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA). Update by Councilmember Sheppard F. Electric. Update by Councilmember Sheppard.
G. BCAG. Update by Vice Mayor Nuchols.
H. Air Quality. Update by Vice Mayor Nuchols.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS May 9, 2023
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
I. Solid Waste. Report included in agenda.
J. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control. Update by Councilmember Sheppard.
K. SCORE. Update by City Administrator Josh Cook.
L. LAFCo. No report.
M. Biggs Unified School District. Update by Councilmember Buck.
N. Other commission reports. None
O. City Administrator.
1. Feral Cat Program – Residents Brenda Wylie and Bernice Martinez shared with Council the success of the trap, spay/neuter and release feral cat program and asked Council to participate in the program for another six months.
Motion/Second to continue to participate in the Feral Cat Control Program for six months in the amount not to exceed $3,000. (Sheppard/Buck, MCU; Absent: Bassett and Squires)
2. Power Poles and Lines in New Annexation – City Administrator Cook stated the City of Biggs does not own the electrical poles and lines brought into the City through a recent annexation.
Motion/Second to direct Administration to engage the law firm of Day, Carter, Murphy to begin acquisition activities for recently annexed parcels into Biggs Public Utilities. (Buck/Sheppard, MCU; Absent: Bassett and Squires)
3. City Administrator Cook stated staff has assisted non-residential property owners in prorating and splitting out the water and sewer billing between tenants and landlords when a tenant moves in or moves out.
Motion/Second to approve staff sending a letter to the property owner informing them city staff will no longer assist in prorating and splitting water and sewer bills. (Sheppard/Buck, MCU; Absent: Bassett and Squires)
4. Electric Rate Adjustments – City Administrator Cook stated at the two previous council meetings the issue of the erosion of the Electric Fund balance was discussed. Council gave direction that increases should be phased in over time to lessen the impact on ratepayers.
Motion/Second to approve RESOLUTION NO. 2023-06, “RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY OF BIGGS ESTABLISHING THE ELECTRIC UTILITY SERVICE RATES
FOR CUSTOMERS OF THE CITY OF BIGGS MUNICIPAL SYSTEM, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2023, AND DECEMBER 1, 2023.” (Buck/Sheppard, MCU; Absent: Bassett and Squires)
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS May 9, 2023
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
5. Public Benefit Fund Programs – City Administrator Cook stated according to AB 1890, utility-sponsored public benefit programs in the area of energy efficiency are intended to provide “cost-effective demand-side management services to promote energyefficiency and energy conservation.” Motion/Second to direct Administration to investigate options to use Public Benefit Funds to provide high efficiency LED lightbulbs or water heater and electric dryers buy back offers to ratepayers of Biggs Electric Utility as authorized in the current budget. (Buck/Sheppard, MCU; Absent: Bassett and Squires)
6. Dollar General Store – City Administrator Cook advised Council that Dollar General is interest in building a store in Biggs similar to the store in Durham. Council agreed to move forward with preliminary fact-finding.
7. Banking Options – City Administrator Cook stated recent bank failures have caused many City Finance officers to consider risk mitigation strategies to ensure that public funds are properly secured and protected from additional disruptions in the financial markets.
Council gave direction for City Administrator Cook to move forward to acquire reasonable assurances from municipal finance experts that funds on deposit at U.S Bank have adequate FDIC guarantees and report back to Council.
8. Mobile Food Trucks Street Vendor and Trespassing – City Administrator Cook informed Council that staff had received five complaints in the last week related to vendors and food vendors setting up on private property.
The City Administrator and City Attorney would bring back municipal code examples for other small cities regarding this issue.
9. 2023-2024 Budget Development Process – City Administrator Cook stated the City budget is the financial plan that outlines how the City will allocate its resources to meet its objectives and goals for the coming fiscal year. Council discussed purchasing AMI Electric Meters, water meters, and cleaning up the downtown area.
7. INFORMATIONAL: None
8. CLOSED SESSION: Council adjourned to closed session at 6:50 p.m.
9. RESUME REGULAR SESSION: Council resumed regular session at 7:07 p.m. No direction was given.
10. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the regular meeting at 7:07 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK Brian Bassett, MAYOR