MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING October 8, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The regular council meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Bassett. Staff present: City Attorney Greg Einhorn and City Clerk Roben Benish.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Bassett
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Bassett, Buck, Nuchols, Sheppard and Squires
Absent:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
5. COUNCIL APPOINTMENT:
Appointment of City Clerk as Acting City Administrator.
City Attorney Greg Einhorn pointed out that the City Administrator is currently on leave and the City does not have a process in place of the assignment of City Administrator duties in their absence.
Motion/Second to appoint the City Clerk as Acting City Administrator during absence of City Administrator, with a stipend of an additional $40/hour for the period during which the City Clerk is the acting City Administrator. (Sheppard/Nuchols, MCU)
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of warrants: 38748 – 38820, 91720241, 9303210 – 9303233, and 93023434 – 93023437 for the Month of September 2024 in the amount of $411,125.18 B. Approval of minutes for Regular City Council Meeting of September 10, 2024.
C. Approve Resolution No. 2024-17, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BIGGS AUTHORIZING THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A SUBSTITUTION OF TRUSTEE AND DEED OF RECONVEYANCE” Smith.
D. Acknowledge receipt of the City of Biggs Recommended Energy and Natural Gas Hedging Strategies, CY 2025 and 2026.
E. Acknowledge receipt of the Treasury Report CARE ACT Covid Expenditures and direct the City Attorney to review it for completeness.
Councilmember Sheppard asked to remove item A and D from the consent calendar.
City Attorney Greg Einhorn asked to remove item E.
Motion/Second to approve items B & C. (Buck/Nuchols, MCU) Councilmember Sheppard asked how the work by Nacho Electric was approved and asked if permits had been received for the project.
Councilmember Sheppard asked why the warrants for Lakeview Energy had increased.
Motion/Second to approve item A. (Sheppard/Buck, MCU)
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING October 8, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Item D was pulled by mistake. Motion/Second to approve item D. (Nuchols/Sheppard, MCU)
City Attorney Greg Einhorn has reviewed the report in item E and this is a proper use of ARPA Funds and recommends it be approved.
Motion/Second to approve item E. (Nuchols/Buck, MCU)
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Public Safety:
Lt. Josh Brazzi reviewed the Butte County Sheriff's Office report.
Police Chief Chip Fowler provided a verbal report to Council.
B. Public Works: No Report
C. Planning:
1. Activity Report – City Planner Bob Summerville.
2. CA Housing Laws
Mr. Summerville stated regarding the potential rezoning of the property on Sixth Street, the Council is not being asked to make a decision because no development application has been submitted. If development applications were submitted, staff would recommend their approval.
Mr. Einhorn stated he understood the Council’s intent was to provide opportunities for discussion on potential development. This is a theoretical project because there has been no project applications.
Resident Mandy Mattos stated her concerns about SB35 and pointed out this project could receive a welfare tax exemption.
Biggs School Superintendent Doug Kailin stated development would not have a negative impact on the Biggs Schools. Any development is positive.
Mr. Harden stated the sewer system has capacity to handle development.
Resident Mandy Mattos informed the Council she has a petition signed by close to 200 people who do not feel rezoning this property is a good idea, they don’t agree with this project, and they have more infrastructure questions. They would like to see a more complete environmental report.
3. Sixth Street Apartment Proposal – This items has previously been discussed.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING October 8, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
D. Engineering:
1. Shift REAP 2.0 Funds from Pedestrian Railroad Crossing to Sidewalk and ADA Compliance.
City Engineer Dave Harden stated this shift will allow the City of Biggs to supplement Caltrans funding for non-reimbursable costs under Caltrans guidelines.
Motion/Second to authorize the City Administrator to shift the REAP 2.0 funds of $158,519 allocated for the Biggs B&E Street Pedestrian and Bike Improvements for the UPRR crossing to the 2nd Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements project. (Buck/Sheppard, MCU)
2. Task Order #38 for the Biggs 2nd Street Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements ProjectAdditional Engineering Support.
Mr. Harden stated the City has received 2022 RTIP/STIP funds in the amount of $500,000 for construction of the Biggs 2nd Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project. The financial impact will include $74,992 in costs incurred by Bennett Engineering Services.
Motion/Second to authorize the City Administrator to execute Task Order #38 (16-604- 303) with Bennett Engineering Service, Inc. for addition engineering support on the 2nd Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project. (Nuchols/Buck, MCU) E. City Administrator
1. Industrial Park Improvements.
Council members stated their concerns about the improvements to the industrial park, the amount of money being spent and who authorized the work to be done? How was the City labor being tracked and charged?
The Council agreed to hold a Council Study Session to further discuss what needs to be done to fully complete the project and the leasing logistics.
2. Industrial Park Lease for East Barn – Tabled
3. Industrial Park Self-Storage – Tabled
4. C4 Electric Rate Review – Tabled
5. Social Media Policy Review
It was suggested when posting to social media that councilmembers not use their council titles and note the comments are not the views of the City of Biggs.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING October 8, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
6. Landscape Services Agreement
City Attorney Greg Einhorn stated there is no written contract for the current landscaping service. The landscaping service had originally been hired on an added need basis. Mr. Einhorn suggested the agreement be reduced to a written contract.
The Council agreed to have the Public Works Superintendent come to the next meeting and provide input on this issue.
F. Flood Control – No report
G. Electric – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
H. BCAG – Report by Vice Mayor Nuchols
I. Air Quality – Report by Vice Mayor
J. Solid Waste – No report
K. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control – Report by Councilmember Sheppard L. SCORE – No report.
M. LAFCO – No report.
N. Biggs Unified School District – Report by Councilmember Buck O. Other Commission Reports – No report.
8. INFORMATIONAL: No report
9. CLOSED SESSION: Council adjourned to Closed Session at 8:04 p.m.
10. RESUME REGULAR MEETING: Council resumed the Regular Meeting at 9:13 p.m. with no reported action taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting 9:13 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK Brian Bassett, MAYOR