MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING December 10, 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:
Interim City Administrator Cliff Wagner, City Clerk Roben Benish, City Planner Bob Summerville, and City Attorney Greg Einhorn.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Bassett
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Arnold, Sheppard, Squires and Bassett
Absent:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
5. SPECIAL BUSINESS: Declare Election Results and Swearing-in Ceremony.
A. Motion/Second to adopt Resolution No. 2024-22, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS RECITING THE FACT OF THE
CONSOLIDATED GENERAL ELECTION HELD ON NOVEMBER 5th, 2024,
CERTIFYING THE CANVASS AND DECLARING THE RESULTS AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS PROVIDED BY LAW.” (Sheppard/Arnold, MCU) B. City Clerk Roben Benish administered the Oath of Office to Anita Wilks.
C. Interim City Administrator Cliff Wagner addressed the vacancy of a city council position due to the resignation of City Council Member Mike Buck on December 3, 2024. The Council may take action on the vacancy by appointment or by initiating a special election.
Councilmember Bassett made a motion to appoint Jerome Squires to fill the vacancy.
Councilmember Wilks made a substitute motion to allow residents to apply for the council vacancy. Lack of second.
Motion/Second to appoint Jerome Squires to fill the city council vacancy. (Bassett/Sheppard, MC, Noes: Wilks)
City Clerk Roben Benish administered the Oath of Office to Jerome Squires.
D. City Clerk Roben Benish conducted the selection of Mayor. Nominations were taken and voted on in the order received until such time the first Councilmember received a majority vote of three votes or more.
Councilmember Arnold nominated Councilmember Bassett for Mayor.
Councilmember Squires nominated Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING December 10, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Those in favor of Councilmember Bassett for Mayor – Arnold.
Opposed to Councilmember Bassett for Mayor – Bassett, Shepperd, Squires and Wilks.
Those in favor of Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Sheppard and Squires.
Opposed to Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Arnold, Bassett, and Wilks.
Because both nominations failed, the nominations were reopened.
Councilmember Arnold nominated Councilmember Bassett for Mayor.
Councilmember Squires nominated Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor.
Those in favor of Councilmember Bassett for Mayor – Arnold and Bassett.
Opposed to Councilmember Bassett for Mayor – Shepperd, Squires and Wilks.
Those in favor of Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Sheppard and Squires Opposed to Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Arnold, Bassett, and Wilks Because both nominations failed again, the nominations were reopened.
Councilmember Bassett nominated Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor.
Those in favor of Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Bassett, Sheppard and Squires.
Opposed to Councilmember Sheppard for Mayor – Arnold, and Wilks.
Councilmember Sheppard was appointed by majority vote to serve as Mayor of the City of Biggs to serve a two-year term.
E. City Clerk Roben Benish conducted the selection of Vice Mayor. Nominations were taken and voted on in the order received until such time the first Councilmember received a majority vote of three votes or more.
Councilmember Bassett nominated Councilmember Arnold to serve as Vice Mayor.
All in favor of Councilmember Arnold as Vice Mayor – Arnold, Bassett, Sheppard, Squires, and Wilks.
Councilmember Arnold was appointed by majority vote to serve as Vice Mayor of the City of Biggs to serve a two-year term.
F. Commission and Committee Appointments.
Mayor Sheppard appointed council members to serve in the following positions:
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING December 10, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Police, Fire, Emergency Services: Primary – Sheppard, Alternates – all councilmembers as alternates.
Electric/NCPA: Primary – Sheppard, Alternates – all councilmembers as alternates.
Lodi Energy Center: Primary – Sheppard, Alternate – City Administrator.
Public Works: Primary – Arnold and Squires, Alternate – City Administrator.
CA Integrated Waste Management and Butte County Regional Waste Management Authority: Primary – Bassett, Alternate – City Administrator.
Employee Relations: Primary – Arnold and Sheppard.
Mayor Sheppard asked for council approval on the following commission and committee appointments:
Flood Control: Primary – Sheppard
Air Quality Management District: Primary – Wilks, Alternate – Bassett.
BCAG: Primary – Wilks, Alternate – Bassett.
School Liaison: Primary – Sheppard, Alternate – City Administrator.
Parks: Primary Arnold, Alternate – Squires.
League of California Cities: Primary – Wilks, Alternate – Bassett.
LAFCO: Wilks.
Butte Subbasin Advisory Board: Primary – Sheppard, Alternates – Squires and City Administrator.
Butte Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care: Primary – Squires, Alternate – Bassett.
Butte County Abandoned Vehicle Abatement: Primary – Bassett and City Administrator.
Mosquito Vector Control: Sheppard.
SCORE: Primary – Wilks, Alternate – City Administrator.
Motion/Second to approve Mayor Sheppard’s commission and committee appointment suggestions. (Bassett/Wilks, MCU)
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING December 10, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
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 warrants 38880 – 38923, 111520241, 111920241, 9303265 – 9303302 for the Month of November 2024 in the amount of $377,739.77.
C. Approve minutes for Regular Meeting of November 12, 2024 and Special Meeting of December 3, 2024.
D. Acknowledge receipt of Butte County Animal Control Report for the month of November 2024.
E. Adopt Resolution No. 2024-23, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS, CALIFORNIA APPROVING AMENDED AGREEMENT (#CA06878) FOR SERVICES FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025 WITH THE CA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION.”
Motion/Second to approve the Consent Calendar. (Bassett/Squires, MCU)
7. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
A. Public Safety: Verbal report by Biggs Fire Chief Chip Fowler.
B. Public Works: No report
C. Planning: Activity Report by City Planner Bob Summerville.
D. Engineering: No report
E. Interim City Administrator
1. Request for Proposals for Accounting Services.
Interim City Administrator Wagner stated the City’s accountant, Roy Seiler, is scheduled to retire in January 2025 and asked Council to approve issuance of an RFP for Accounting Services.
Motion/Second to approve the issuance of a Request for Proposals for professional accounting services. (Wilks/Arnold, MCU)
2. Interim City Administrator Activity Report.
F. Flood Control – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
G. Electric – Report by Councilmember Sheppard
H. BCAG – No report
I. Air Quality – No report
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING December 10, 2024
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
J. Solid Waste – No report
K. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control – Report by Councilmember Sheppard L. SCORE – Report by Interim City Administrator Wagner
M. LAFCO – No report
N. Biggs Unified School District – No report.
O. Other Commission Reports – No report.
8. INFORMATIONAL: No report
9. CLOSED SESSION: The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 6:07 p.m.
10. RESUME REGULAR SESSION: The Council resumed the Regular Session at 7:24 p.m. with no reportable action taken.
11. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting 7:25 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK James T. Sheppard, MAYOR