MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 2025
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The regular council meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Sheppard. Staff present:
Interim City Administrator Cliff Wagner, City Planner Bob Summerville, City Engineer Dave Harden, City Clerk Roben Benish, and City Attorney Greg Einhorn.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: Mayor Sheppard
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Squires, Wilks, Arnold, and Sheppard
Absent:
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
5. PRESENTATION: Biggs resident Angelo Aguilar gave a presentation to Council on a project he completed regarding walkability in the City of Biggs from the perspective of one with visual and hearing impairments.
6. PUBLIC HEARING: General Plan Amendment 2025-01 (City of Biggs) City Planner Bob Summerville asked the Council to approve the General Plan Amendment 2025-01 which references the 2024 Butte County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in the Public Health and Safety Element of the Biggs General Plan.
Mayor Sheppard opened the hearing to the public.
With no public comment, Mayor Sheppard closed the hearing to the public.
Mayor Sheppard suggested revising pages S3-S8 regarding flood control.
Motion/Second to adopt Resolution No. 2025-07, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS ADOPTING THE 2024 BUTTE COUNTY LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2025-01 (CITY OF BIGGS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ELEMENT). (Wilks/Squires, MCU) An ad hoc committee was formed consisting of Vice Mayor Arnold and Councilmember Wilks to review pages S3-S8 regarding flood control.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR:
A. Approve warrants 39087 – 39132, 21120251, 22020252, 9303360 – 9303387 for the Month of February 2025 in the amount of $360,479.59.
B. Approve minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 11, 2025.
C. Acknowledge receipt of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Report for February 2025.
Motion/Second to approve the Consent Calendar. (Arnold/Wilks, MCU)
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 2025
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
8. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION:
A. Interim City Administrator Cliff Wagner stated Jessica Evans had submitted a verbal request for the waiver of rental fees for the use of the Biggs Community Hall.
Since Ms. Evans was not present, Council wished to bring this item back to the next City Council meeting and invite Ms. Evans to attend and answer their questions.
B. Filling the Current City Council Vacancy
City Attorney Greg stated that since two sitting City Council members were appointed, an appointment to fill the current vacancy is not permitted as it would result in a majority of the council being appointed rather than elected.
The fifth seat can be filled at the next scheduled election which would be a special election in November 2025 or the general election in November 2026.
Motion/Second to request the County Recorder’s office to conduct a special election in November 2025. (Wilks/Sheppard, MCU)
C. 2023 Power Source Disclosure Report
Mr. Wagner stated this report is routine and discloses where the City of Biggs purchases its power. Ordinarily this report would have been completed last year but it was not.
Motion/Second to adopt Resolution No. 2025-06, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS APPROVING THE ATTESTATION OF VERACITY FOR THE 2023 POWER SOURCE DISCLOSURE REPORT AND SUBMISSION OF THE REPORT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION.” (Wilks/Arnold, MCU)
D. Updated 2025 Meeting Schedule
Mr. Wagner asked the Council to review the updated 2025 City Council meeting schedule thereby implementing Ordinance No. 437 of the Biggs Municipal Code to change the City Council’s regular meeting schedule to the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m.
Motin/Second to approve the updated 2025 City Council Meeting Schedule. (Sheppard/Wilks, MCU)
9. DEPARMENT UPDATE REPORTS
City Engineer Dave Harden provided an update on engineering projects.
City Planner Bob Summerville provided a planning activity report to the Council.
Fire Chief Chip Fowler provided a report on fire hydrant maintenance.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING March 11, 2025
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
10. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mayor Sheppard attended Lafco, Mosquito Abatement, and NCPA in Washington D.C.
Councilmember Wilks attended a Public Agency Risk Meeting.
Vice Mayor Arnold attended Air Quality and BCAG.
11. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS
Interim City Administrator Wagner will attend an NCPA event in Healdsburg.
12. CLOSED SESSION: The Council adjourned to Closed Session at 6:20 p.m.
13. RESUME REGULAR SESSION: The Council resumed the Regular Session at 7:35 p.m.
Reportable action: The City Council directed the City Attorney and outside Counsel to reject the Government Tort Claim presented by Josh Cook dated February 5, 2025.
14. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting 7:40 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK James T. Sheppard, MAYOR