MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING June 23, 2026
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
The regular council meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Sheppard. Staff present:
City Administrator Nicolas Gauthier, City Attorney Greg Einhorn via zoom, and City Clerk Roben Benish.
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER: By Mayor Sheppard
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
3. ROLL CALL:
Present: Brown, Squires, Wilks, and Sheppard
Absent: Arnold
4. PUBLIC COMMENT: A representative from Waste Management informed council that 10 businesses in town will have their service dates changed from Wednesday to Friday.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Each year the City of Biggs enrolls direct assessments for delinquent charges on the secured property tax roll with Butte County.
B. Mayor Sheppard opened the hearing to the public.
C. With no public comment, Mayor Sheppard closed the public hearing.
D. Motion/Second to adopt Resolution No. 2026-19, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS APPROVING AND CONFIRMING THE
REPORT OF DELINQUENT CHARGES AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY CLERK TO
TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO EFFECTUATE THE LEVY OF DELINQUENT CHARGES IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT.” (Sheppard/Squires, MCU; Absent: Arnold)
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approve minutes for Regular Meetings of May 12, 2026, May 26, 2026, and June 9, 2026, and Special meetings of May 19, 2026, and June 2, 2026, B. Approve Resolution No. 2026-20, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BIGGS CERTIFYING TO THE COUNTY OF BUTTE THE VALIDITY OF
THE LEGAL PROCESS USED TO PLACE DIRECT CHARGES (SPECIAL
ASSESSMENTS) ON THE SECURED TAX ROLL FOR THE NORTH BIGGS ESTATES COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT.”
Motion/Second to approve the consent calendar. Squires/Brown, MC; Abstain: Sheppard,
Absent: Arnold)
7. ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING June 23, 2026
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A. Approval of Support Letter on Tort Relief
City Administrator Nicolas Gauthier stated the City of Biggs had received a joint advocacy letter dated June 5, 2026, addressed to members of the California State Legislature, urging comprehensive tort reform for civil actions against public entities.
Motion/Second to direct City Administrator to send a Support Letter from the City of Biggs and the City Council. (Squires/Brown, MCU; Absent, Arnold) B. Notice of Cancellation for July 14th Meeting
Mr. Gauthier informed Council he would be out of the office from July 12 through July 27, 2026, and would not be available to prepare for or administer the regular City Council meeting scheduled for July 14th. He recommended canceling the meeting.
Motion/Second to cancel the City Council Meeting of July 14, 2026. (Wilks/Squires, MCU;
Absent: Arnold)
C. Approval of MOU with UPEC Employees
Mr. Gauthier stated the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with UPEC is intended to formalize a cooperative relationship to support the City of Biggs’ public works operations and related municipal service needs.
Motion/Second to approve Resolution No. 2026-22, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF BIGGS AND THE EMPLOYEES
REPRESENTED BY THE UNITED PUBLIC EMPLOYEES OF CALIFORNIA LOCAL 792 FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027.” (Brown/Squires, MC; Oppose: Wilks, Absent: Arnold) D. Unrepresented Employee Agreement
Mr. Gauthier asked Council to consider approving the agreement between the City of Biggs and the unrepresented employees, for FY 2026-2027, which treats the unrepresented employees with the same standards as the employees represented.
Motion/Second to approve agreement between the City of Biggs and the unrepresented employees, for 2026-27 fiscal year. (Wilks/Squires, MCU; Absent: Arnold) E. Establishing the Salary Schedule for Represented and Unrepresented Employees Mr. Gauthier stated that following direction of the Biggs City Council and the established policy of treating unrepresented employees with the same standard as represented employees, and given the approval of the before labor agreements, the salary schedule on record need updating to reflect the changes.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING June 23, 2026
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Motion/Second to approve Resolution No. 2026-23, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF
BIGGS ESTABLISHING THE SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR REPRESENTED AND UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES AND CALPERS CCR 570.5 COMPENSATION SCHEDULE.” (Brown/Squires, MCU; Absent: Arnold) F. FY 26-27 Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement
Fire Chief Jason Dyer stated the City of Biggs has maintained a cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE for fire protection services since 1991. The proposed contract is a one-year contract voted on annually. The current contract which ends on June 30, 2026, funds one Fire Apparatus Engineer and a portion of a firefighter. The proposed agreement for 2026/27 would fund one Fire Apparatus Engineer and one Firefighter 2 for a total of $468,237.00.
Motion/Second to approve Resolution No. 2026-21, “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS APPROVING THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT (2CA07733) FOR SERVICES FROM JULY 1, 2026, TO JUNE 30, 2027.”
G. Adoption of the 2026-27 Annual Budget and Budget Resolution Mr. Gauthier presented the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Budget to the City Council for consideration.
Motion/Second to adopt Resolution No. 2026-24, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BIGGS ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 AND ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES LIMITS FOR ALL CITY FUNDS.” (Wilks/Squires, MCU; Absent:
Arnold)
8. DEPARMENT UPDATE REPORTS
Fire Chief Jason Dyer provided a verbal report to the Council.
9. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilmember Wilks attended the swearing in for James Gallagher. She also attended the June 12th SCORE Board meeting.
Mayor Sheppard attended NCPA, Flood Control, and Mosquito Abatement Meetings.
10. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS
Mr. Gauthier reported on meetings he had attended since the last council meeting and items he is currently working on.
MINUTES OF THE CITY OF BIGGS
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING June 23, 2026
COUNTY OF BUTTE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
11. ADJOURNMENT: Council adjourned the Regular Meeting at 7:21 p.m.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Roben Benish, CITY CLERK James T. Sheppard, MAYOR