MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
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: City Administrator Josh Cook, City Attorney Greg Einhorn, City Planner Bob Summerville, and City Clerk Roben Benish.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Vice Mayor Nuchols
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Buck, Sheppard, Squires, and Nuchols
Absent: Bassett
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
5. PUBLIC HEARING: General Plan Text Amendment
A. City Planner, Bob Summerville stated that State law requires every City and County in California to have a General Plan which contains several required Elements and to amend its Plan periodically to reflect changing conditions and/or compliance with State and Federal laws.
B. Vice Mayor Nuchols opened the hearing to the public.
C. With no public comment, Vice Mayor Nuchols closed the hearing to the public.
D. Motion/Second to approve Resolution No. 2024-03, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BIGGS APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2024-01.” (Sheppard/Buck, MCU; Absent: Bassett)
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of warrants: 38240 – 38311, 21520241, 22220241, 9303009 – 9303035 for the month of February 2024 in the amount of $475,101.77.
B. Approval of minutes for Regular Meeting of February 13, 2024.
C. Acknowledge receipt of the Asset Master List.
D. Acknowledge receipt of the February 2024 Animal Control Reports.
Motion/Second to approve the consent calendar. (Sheppard/Squires, MCU; Absent:
Bassett)
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Public Safety: No report.
B. Public Works: Report by Public Works Superintendent Paul Pratt.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
C. Planning: Report by City Planner Bob Summerville.
D. Engineering: Report by City Engineer Dave Harden.
E. City Administrator
1. City Administrator, Josh Cook asked Council to authorize him to contract for Real Estate research services to ascertain who owns the fiber optic facility on City property located at 3951 Farris Road. The cost would not exceed $5,000.00.
Councilmember Sheppard remembered there was a 25-year lease paid to the original owners. He wasn’t sure when the lease would expire.
The Council agreed to bring this item back after more research had been completed.
2. Mr. Cook reported that California has an excessive amount of agricultural biomass due to recent forest wildfires, downturns in various agricultural commodity prices, and poorly executed recycling and waste management policies.
Mr. Cook recommended the council establish a clear policy statement related to ag waste biomass energy projects (and others).
Motion/Second to Approve the proposed Energy Project Development Policy Statement. (Buck/Squires, MC; Noes: Sheppard; Absent: Bassett)
3. Mr. Cook reported that electricity costs continue to rise throughout California.
Compounding the affordability problem is the cost of interconnection and transmission costs.
Motion/Second to authorize City Staff to issue an RFP for Solar energy generation services and bring qualified responses to the City Council for consideration. (Buck/Squires, MC; Noes: Sheppard; Absent: Bassett)
4. Mr. Cook reported that in a review of past and current budgets, it is clear the costs of operating the sewer and water utilities exceed the revenue generated from the tariffs in the current fee schedule.
Motion/Second to direct staff to proceed with the process of adjusting water rates by 10% for 2024 and 2025 and then increase or decrease by the Consumer Price Index for the next three years. (Buck/Squires, MC; Noes: Sheppard; Absent: Bassett) G. Flood Control – Verbal report by Councilmember Sheppard.
H. Electric – Verbal report by Councilmember Sheppard.
I. BCAG – Verbal report by Vice Mayor Nuchols.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 12, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
J. Air Quality – Verbal report by Vice Mayor Nuchols.
K. Solid Waste – No report
L. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control – Verbal report by Councilmember Sheppard.
M. SCORE – Verbal report by Mr. Cook.
N. LAFCO – Verbal report by Councilmember Sheppard.
O. Biggs Unified School District – Verbal report by Councilmember Buck.
P. Other Commission Reports – No report.
8. INFORMATIONAL: None
9. CLOSED SESSION: Council adjourned to Closed Session at 6:33 p.m.
10. RESUME REGULAR SESSION: Council resumed the Regular Session at 6:48 p.m. No reportable action was taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting at 6:48 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK Brian Bassett, MAYOR