MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING September 12, 2023
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The regular council meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Bassett. Staff present:
Administrator Josh Cook, City Attorney Greg Einhorn, City Planner Bob Summerville, and City Clerk Roben Benish.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Bassett
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Buck, Sheppard, Squires, Nuchols and Bassett
Absent:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: Resident Doug Arnold stated his concern about the garbage trucks driving over the sidewalk at the school.
Christian Garcia with Waste Management reminded Council that the citywide cleanup was scheduled for September 23rd.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of warrants: 37856 – 37920, 80720231, 81720231, 82220231 and 9302830 – 9302857 for the Month of August 2023 in the amount of $285,330.81.
B. Acknowledge receipt of Animal Control Reports for August 2023.
Motion/Second to approve consent calendar. (Nuchols/Buck, MC, Abstain: Sheppard)
6. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Planning:
1. Activity Report presented by Bob Summerville
2. Annexation 20-01, Pre-sone 20-02, and Tentative Subdivision Map 20-01 (Boeger) – 3286 4th Street, APNs 022-110-019 and -013.
At the August 8, 2023, City Council Meeting, Council considered a request by the Mr.
Boeger to approve or disapprove the subject project. Following the public hearing, the applicant withdrew his request for approval or disapproval. In addition, the City Council requested a review of the consultant scored rankings, with the cost of each proposal to be reviewed at this meeting.
Dan Boeger asked the Council to approve the Donna Decker report by adding the item to next month’s meeting for consideration.
Herbert Votaw from Anderson Rolls questioned Council why the RFP was being brought forward for approval and asked that they not take action at this time.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS September 12, 2023
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Motion/Second to direct staff to prepare a third-party contract between the City of Biggs and LACO Associates for an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Tree House Subdivision Project and authorized the City Administrator to sign. Staff also recommend that a fee of 100% be collected from the applicant prior to initiating the contract. (Nuchols/Sheppard, MCU)
3. Phased Annexation Plan Consultant Contract.
Mr. Summerville stated the Planning Department Staff recommended that the City Council direct staff to complete a contract between Consultant PlaceWorks and the City of Biggs for final preparation of a Phased Annexation Plan to be paid by a reimbursable SB2 Grant Award implemented by the State Housing and Community Development Department.
Motion/Second to prepare a contract between Consultant PlaceWorks and the City of Biggs for final preparation of a Phased Annexation Plan. (Nuchols/Buck, MCU)
4. Consideration and action to approve the purchase and sale agreement of real property between the City of Biggs and Dollar General.
City Administrator Cook stated the City had been presented with a contractual offer for real property withing the city limits.
Motion/Second to authorize the City Administrator to sign the contract and advance the Dollar General Store. (Buck/Nuchols, MC; Noes: Sheppard and Squires) B. Public Works:
Disposal of Surplus Equipment Fleet Management.
Public Works Superintendent Paul Pratt informed the Council of public works vehicles that needed major repairs. He also mentioned a surplus of equipment he would like to sell on the online auctions for Government Surplus.
Mr. Pratt has been working on a Fleet Management Plan to maximize the City’s assets’ value overtime while avoiding repairs and maintenance costs.
Council would discuss this at the upcoming budget workshop.
C. Engineering: No report
D. City Administrator Reports
1. Electrical Service Extension.
City Administrator Cook stated one of the ways to offset our costs is to have more rate payers. The California Law allows municipal utilities to provide services to places in the sphere of influence and if LAFCO approves of the extension.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS September 12, 2023
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Motion/Second to complete an application to offer electrical services in the Biggs Sphere of Influence and develop a program to provide electrical service efficiently and cost-effectively to residents and businesses. (Buck/Squires, MC; Noes: Sheppard)
2. Budget Update – Invitation to a workshop.
City Administrator Cook and the City Finance Advisor, Roy Seiler, will hold a workshop on September 19th to discuss the City’s finances and budget.
3. Employee Classification Update
City Administrator Cook said in 2010, the Council adopted a classification plan and staffing requirements guideline to provide direction to the City Administrator.
Motion/Second to approve the City of Biggs classification plan, updating staffing guidelines as outlined in Appendix A, and aligning the Employee Manual, labor agreements and other personnel documents accordingly. (Buck/Squires, MC; Noes:
Sheppard)
4. Designate Emergency Services Assistant and Order of Succession.
City Administrator Cook stated in the event of an emergency, the mayor is designated as the Chairman of the Disaster Council and Director of Emergency Services. The City Administrator is the Assistant Director. The director of emergency shall designate the order of succession to that office, to take effect in the event the director is unavailable to attend meetings and otherwise perform his duties during an emergency.
Motion/Second to approve an order of succession related to Municipal Code Section
2.25.062(2) of Councilmembers Nuchols, Sheppard, Squires and Buck. (Sheppard/Nuchols, MCU)
E. Councilmember Reports – None
7. INFORMATIONAL: None
8. CLOSED SESSION: No closed session.
9. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK Brian Bassett, MAYOR