MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING November 12, 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:
Acing City Administrator Roben Benish and City Attorney Greg Einhorn.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Bassett
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Buck, Sheppard, Squires, and Bassett
Absent:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Ricki Donnahoe wished to invite the public and the City Council Members to the Christmas Tree Lighting Event, Sunday, December 1st, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Resident Mandy Mattos asked to be added to the January 2025 agenda to discuss items received through a public records request. The topics to be discussed would be the Sixth Street Apartment Complex and the purchasing of trucks for Public Works, and the Seventh Street and Bannock Escrow.
The Council agreed to allow the request from Ms. Mattos to be included on the January 2025 agenda.
5. COUNCIL APPOINTMENT:
Appointment Interim Biggs City Administrator
City Attorney Greg Einhorn pointed out that Roben Benish has been Acting City Administrator for the last month or so. The Council was asked to consider appointing Cliff Wagner as Interim City Administrator to work 32 hours per week at $75.00 per hour for an indefinite period. Mr. Wagner has experience with NCPA (Northern CA Power Agency) and asked the Council empower Mr. Wagner to act on the City’s behalf with respect to NCPA.
Motion/Second to appoint Cliff Wagner as the Interim City Administrator at $75 per hour, 32 hours per week and direct staff to execute a contract dated, November 13, 2024. (Sheppard/Buck, MCU)
6. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approval of warrants: 38821 – 38879, 101820241, 102220241 – 102220243, 9303238 – 9303264 for the Month of October 2024 in the amount of $554,988.58.
B. Approval of minutes for Special Council Meetings of September 27, 2024, October 1, 2024, October 16, 2024, and October 31, 2024, and Regular Council Meeting of October 8, 2024.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING November 12, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
C. Approve second reading of Ordinance No. 436 by reading of title only, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS AMENDING TITLE 11 BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE BIGGS MUNICIPAL CODE.” D. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-20, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS ADOPTING THE 2024 BUTTE COUNTY LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.”
E. Acknowledge receipt of Butte County Animal Control Report for the months of September and October 2024.
Councilmember Sheppard asked to remove item A from the consent calendar. This item will be brought back next month.
Motion/Second to approve items B – E of the Consent Calendar. (Buck/Sheppard, MCU)
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Public Safety
1. Butte County Sheriff’s Office Report by Officer Moreland.
2. Fire Department:
Chief Chip Fowler provided the October monthly report.
Chief Fowler informed the Council that CALFIRE Local 2881 and CAL HR negotiated a temporary labor agreement that would reduce the firefighter workweek from 72 hours to 66 hours. In order to meet the need of adequately staffing all state and local government fire resources, CALFIRE is requiring a 3-person staffing factor for each position identified in the contract.
Chief Fowler asked Council to either approve the “first amendment” with the CALFIRE for services from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, contract agreement number 2CA06878 for a maximum amount not to exceed $312,006 or direct staff to negotiate an alternative agreement with CALFIRE with a reduced level of service and reduced costs.
The Council agreed to direct staff to approve the first amendment with CALFIRE.
B. Public Works:
Landscape Services Agreement
At a previous meeting, the Council discussed the idea of an “as needed” professional services agreement for landscape services. Public Works Superintendent Paul Pratt discussed the concept of using a landscape service on an as needed basis.
The Council directed staff to have the interim city administrator bring this item back for discussion at the next meeting.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING November 12, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
C. Planning:
1.Activity Report - Mr. Summerville stated former Councilmember Nuchols was interested in raising the height of accessory structures. Councilmember Sheppard would follow up with Mr. Nuchols.
2. Mr. Summerville requested the City Council concur with its approval of the Revised Site Plan Review 21-13 (Dhami) for a new home as 328 Aleut Street located at the Northwest corner of First and Aleut Street.
The Council concurred with staff’s position.
D. Engineering:
1. Activity Report
2. City Engineer Dave Harden stated the City solicited public bids for the Second Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project on October 2, 2024. Five bids were received, and Frankin Construction was the lowest responsive bidder.
Motion/Second to authorize the Interim City Administrator to execute a contract with Franklin Construction, Inc. in the amount of $725,749 for the construction of the Second Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project; and approve a construction cost budget of $800,000 to include a 10.2% contingency for the project. (Sheppard/Buck, MCU)
E. City Administrator
1. Vacancy of Vice Mayor/City Council Position
Acting City Administrator Roben Benish stated Vice Mayor/City Council Member Chuck Nuchols submitted his resignation letter on October 10, 2024.
Motion/Second to accept resignation of Vice Mayor and Council Member Nuchols and determine the position of Vice Mayor and Council Member Nuchols has become vacant. (Buck/Bassett, MCU)
2. Nomination and Election of Vice Mayor – Council agreed to hold this election at the next Council Meeting.
3. Filling the Council Member Vacancy
The Council directed staff to prepare a notice for interested citizens to present an application to serve on the City Council with a closing date of November 26th. A special meeting for interviews and appointment will be set for December 3rd at 5 p.m.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING November 12, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
4. Ms. Benish presented fiscal year 2024-2025 budget adjustments.
Motion/Second to authorize the listed Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget Adjustments in the staff report. (Sheppard/Squires, MCU)
F. Flood Control – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
G. Electric – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
H. BCAG – No report
I. Air Quality – No report
J. Solid Waste – No report
K. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control – Report by Councilmember Sheppard L. SCORE – No report.
M. LAFCO – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
N. Biggs Unified School District – Report by Councilmember Buck O. Other Commission Reports – No report.
8. INFORMATIONAL: No report
9. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting 6:18 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK Brian Bassett, MAYOR