The City has adopted a Reasonable Accommodations Policy that provides a procedure for receiving and resolving requests for accommodation to participate in this meeting. Please visit yubacity.net ADA & Accessibility Resources page. If you need assistance in order to attend the City Council meeting, or if you require auxiliary aids or services, e.g., hearing aids or signing services to make a presentation to the City Council, the City is happy to help. Accommodations should be requested as early as possible as additional time may be required in order to provide the requested accommodation; 72 hours in advance is suggested.
Please contact City offices at (530) 822-4817 or (TTY: 530-822-4732), so such aids or services can be arranged. Requests may also be made by email at [email protected] or [email protected] or mail City Clerk, 1201 Civic Center Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993.
AGENDA
AUGUST 12, 2026
NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF YUBA CITY
3:00 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS/VIRTUAL
ZOOM: HTTPS://YUBACITYNET.ZOOM.US/J/87078135827?PWD=UVY0TDANTAR5YFZKFBM7I7JSEQV4XB.1 MAYOR ● Marc Boomgaarden
VICE MAYOR ● Michael Pasquale
COUNCILMEMBER ● Toni Cole
COUNCILMEMBER ● Wade Kirchner
COUNCILMEMBER ● Dave Shaw
CITY MANAGER ● Robert Bendorf
CITY ATTORNEY ● Shannon L. Chaffin
1201 Civic Center Blvd
Yuba City CA 95993
Wheelchair Accessible
AGENDA
NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF YUBA CITY
AUGUST 12, 2026
3:00 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING
COUNCIL CHAMBERS/VIRTUAL
ZOOM: HTTPS://YUBACITYNET.ZOOM.US/J/87078135827?PWD=UVY0TDANTAR5YFZKFBM7I7JSEQV4XB.1 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to California Government Code Section 54956, Mayor Marc Boomgaarden has called a Special Meeting of the City Council as set forth in this Agenda.
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s office at 1201 Civic Center Blvd., Yuba City, during normal business hours. Such documents are also available on the City of Yuba City’s website at www.yubacity.net, subject to staff’s availability to post the documents before the meeting.
Aviso Legal sobre Traducción Automática: De conformidad con la sección 54953.4(b)(2) del Código de Gobierno de California, esta traducción ha sido generada mediante un servicio de traducción automatizada y se proporciona únicamente para la comodidad del público. Es posible que no constituya una traducción exacta o completa de la versión original en inglés. En caso de cualquier discrepancia o conflicto, prevalecerá la versión en inglés. La Ciudad de Yuba City no se hace responsable de la exactitud ni del contenido de las traducciones automatizadas.
Regular Meeting
Call to Order
Roll Call
__ Mayor Boomgaarden
__ Vice-Mayor Pasquale
__ Councilmember Cole
__ Councilmember Kirchner
__ Councilmember Shaw
Invocation/Inspiration
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Agenda Modifications
Public Communication
1 Appearance of Interested Citizens
You are welcome and encouraged to participate in this meeting. Public comment is taken on action items appearing on the Consent Calendar or Business Items on the Agenda when they are called. Public comment on any other items within the scope of the City’s jurisdiction, including items not listed on the Agenda will be considered at this time. Public comment is limited to three minutes per speaker. Members of the public submitting written requests at least 24 hours prior to the meeting will be allotted five minutes to comment per speaker. Repetitive comments may be limited, and large groups are encouraged to select representatives to express the opinions of the group.
Consent Calendar
All matters listed under Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and can be enacted in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items prior to the time that Council votes on the motion unless members of the City Council request specific items to be discussed or removed from the Consent Calendar for individual action.
Business Items
2 Public Safety Concerns at Sam Brannan Park
Recommendation: A. Approve the Temporary Closure of Sam Brannan Park effective September 1, 2026
B. Authorize the City Manager or designee to make necessary
budget transfers of up to $265,000 in order to fund remediation and improvements to Sam Brannan Park
Future Agenda Items
Reports and Communications
The following reports and communication items are provided for the Council’s information. No action can be taken on items under this section unless the Council agrees to include it on a subsequent agenda
3 City Council Reports
Adjournment
Agenda Item 2
CITY OF YUBA CITY
STAFF REPORT
Date: August 12, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor & Members of the City Council;
From: Administration Department
Presentation By: Robert Bendorf, City Manager
Summary
Subject: Public Safety Concerns at Sam Brannan Park
Recommendation: A. Approve the Temporary Closure of Sam Brannan Park effective September 1, 2026
B. Authorize the City Manager or designee to make necessary budget transfers of up to $265,000 in order to fund remediation and improvements to Sam Brannan Park
Fiscal Impact: The estimated cost for the temporary park closure, security improvements, and environmental remediation is approximately $230,000 - $265,000. Capital improvement and contingency accounts will be utilized for this project Purpose:
Restore a safe environment for residents, visitors, and City employees at Sam Brannan Park by addressing public safety concerns, improving park conditions, and implementing security measures that support the park's intended recreational use.
Strategic Focus Area:
Supports the City's Safe Communities strategic focus area by restoring Sam Brannan Park as a safe and welcoming public space through cleanup efforts, security improvements, and coordinated outreach that enhance public safety and quality of life.
Background:
Sam Brannan Park, comprising 8.51 acres, is Yuba City's largest community park. It provides residents of all ages with playgrounds, picnic areas, open green space, restrooms, and recreational amenities that include bocce ball, volleyball, pickle ball courts, and a skate park.
In recent years, the overall condition and public use of Sam Brannan Park have declined. A primary contributing factor is the prolonged presence of individual transients and drug users who occupy the park during the day and evenings. Current conditions have affected the park's safety as well as cleanliness and public perception. This has resulted in families seeking other locations for recreational opportunities.
Analysis:
Over the last year, the impacts resulting from people occupying the park have intensified and
exacerbated the park’s deteriorating conditions and public safety. This has put a strain on already limited staffing for several City departments. Attachment 1 provides a summary of observations of conditions from community members, the adjacent school and affected City departments. Public safety, health and welfare concerns about the park’s current condition are the focus of comments made.
Due to the City’s current fiscal challenges, Park Maintenance staffing was previously reduced by three (3) positions, leaving nine (9) staff to care for seventeen (17) City parks as well as numerous other landscaping duties.
The conditions at Sam Brannan Park have required increased attention from Parks Maintenance staff at a significantly higher rate compared with other City parks. Among others, additional staff time is required to:
• Remove excessive litter, abandoned property, as well as human/animal waste. • Maintain restrooms in clean and sanitary condition.
• Dispose of needles, drug paraphernalia, and other hazardous materials. • Respond to vandalism and other site maintenance issues. • Coordinate with law enforcement and emergency medical responders during incidents involving park occupant’s intoxicated or aggressive behavior, drug overdoses and death.
This increased attention required places strain on City resources while reducing the time available to maintain other City parks and recreational amenities.
Due to Sam Brannan Park’s current state and residents not feeling safe to visit the park, the City has observed a significant decline in reservations which undermines its purpose as a community gathering space and reduces the recreational opportunities available to residents, particularly those living in nearby neighborhoods.
Given the imminent public safety concerns at Sam Brannan Park discussed in this staff report, staff recommends the following actions be taken:
• The temporary closure of Sam Brannan Park, located at 812 Gray Avenue, Yuba City, CA, effective September 1, 2026.
• The posting of signage regarding the park closure.
• Authorize the City Manager to allocate funding up to $365,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund (CIP) to implement a remediation plan that includes the installation of security cameras, decorative fencing with electronic gate access with card locks together with enhanced regulations for park use.
• Implement environmental remediation and public safety restoration to allow for safe and beneficial use of the park by residents.
• The park closure will apply to all members of the public, with limited exceptions, subject to reevaluation every 90 days.
• Prior to initiating enforcement, the City’s Homeless Outreach Team, in partnership with local service providers will conduct intensive outreach, offering services such as sheltering options, mental health resources, substance abuse counseling, and transitional housing placement.
Attachments 2 & 3, prepared by the Community Services Department and Public Works Department, outline project tasks, cost estimates and preliminary drawings.
Due to the recent closure of the local dog park, Attachment 3 also includes preliminary options for
adding dog friendly amenities to a portion of Sam Brannan Park. While these improvements are not included in the cost estimates provided, coordinating the timing of these improvements with other park safety improvements is most efficient and would introduce a new feature to Sam Brannan Park.
It is intended that once environmental remediation efforts are complete, park operations will resume as follows:
• Park usage will be limited to reservations only. This practice is already in place. • Pickleball, skate park, volleyball, and bocce ball facilities can continue to be used for their intended purpose with individual users of these three facilities obtaining a City access pass, which can be obtained at the Recreation Department at the Yuba City Senior Center. Each pass will require a one-time refundable $20 dollar deposit. The deposit will be returned to the cardholder when the access pass is returned to the Recreation Department. • Use of parking spaces shall be limited to those attending a reserved event or participating in one of the park’s recreational amenities.
CEQA:
The temporary closure of Sam Brannan Park and the potential installation of security devices including fencing, cardlock gate access and security cameras is Categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Class 1, Existing Facilities) and Section 15303 (Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) The installation of security fencing, and cameras and establishing cardlock gate access to an existing developed park will involve no expansion of use at an existing park facility. Further, such modifications qualify as new, small facilities for the park. Finally, none of the exceptions to the exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 are applicable to this project.
Fiscal Impact:
The estimated cost for the temporary park closure, security improvements, and environmental remediation is approximately $230,000 - $265,000. Capital Improvement and contingency accounts will be utilized for this project.
Alternatives:
The City faces significant liability exposure due to known hazards and criminal activity affecting park usage, impacts to an existing adjacent middle school, and City employees if no action is taken. Even with a focused police enforcement effort in the area, conditions continue to deteriorate. Council may consider these and other alternatives:
• No action taken. The Park will remain open with staff enforcing local and state laws within the constraints of low staffing.
• Contract for private security at the park to be permanently stationed there from sunrise to sunset.
• Other options that Council may deem adequate and necessary.
Recommendation:
A. Approve the Temporary Closure of Sam Brannan Park effective September 1, 2026.
B. Authorize the City Manager or designee to make necessary budget transfers of up to $265,000 in
order to fund remediation and improvements to Sam Brannan Park.
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1 - Community Concerns & Observations
2. Attachment 2 - Estimated Project Cost
3. Attachment 3 - Park Improvement Renderings
Prepared By: Submitted By:
Robert Bendorf
City Manager
Robert Bendorf
City Manager
ATTACHMENT 1
ATTACHMENT 1
Community Concerns and Observations
Yuba City Unified School District
• Ongoing illegal drug use and paraphernalia, including needles and pipes, found throughout the park and hidden under park structures.
• Homeless encampments can restrict safe access to park facilities used by students and families.
• Students regularly encounter substance-abusing individuals before, and after school and have been harassed by these individuals; some have attempted to climb the school fence.
• Students have been exposed to substance abuse, suspected drug transactions, sexual activity, aggressive behavior, and physical fights. • Adult fights and conflicts involving animals have occurred, creating unnecessary risks for students and staff.
Yuba City Police and Fire Departments
Between January 1 and May 31, 2026, the Yuba City Police Department responded to 139 incidents at or near Sam Brannan Park, resulting in officer time dedicated to calls for service and proactive enforcement efforts. The majority of activity involved traffic stops, security checks, transient-related incidents, illegal camping, suspicious persons, disturbances, and narcotics-related activity. During the months of January through July officers have also responded to four separate overdose related calls that occurred at the park, one of them resulting in a death in the bathroom.
During this period, approximately 18 incidents resulted in arrests and two incidents resulted in formal crime reports. Most calls were resolved through officer intervention, enforcement action, and problem-solving efforts without the need for a written report.
This data demonstrates that transient-related activity, illegal camping, suspicious persons, and drug-related offenses continue to be the primary public safety and quality-oflife concerns impacting the park and surrounding area.
In addition to the documented calls for service, on June 20, 2026, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and our Homeless Liaison Officer conducted a focused enforcement operation at Sam Brannan Park. During the operation, officers conducted 20 traffic stops and field contacts, made 8 arrests, conducted 7 searches, and issued 2 citations. These enforcement efforts highlight the ongoing need for proactive policing and targeted enforcement to address criminal activity and preserve the park for its intended public use.
As documented through city meetings and the adopted city budget, the police department and all citywide departments are operating at lower than adequate due to a lack of funding.
The police department currently has 8 less sworn law enforcement and 3 less Community Service Officers. This has impacted our officer’s ability to respond timely to quality of life issues that can negatively affect our community, such as with Sam Brannan Park.
Our Fire Department is also impacted by service calls to the park. 2025: 56 calls for service
2026: 24 calls for service (through the beginning of June) Calls for service at the park continue to reflect a demand on Fire Department resources, largely associated with transient activity involving suspected drug use, medical emergencies and individuals experiencing homelessness, illness and mental health episodes. Additionally, Sam Brannan Park sits in the heart of the busiest response district for Yuba City Fire and directly impacts response times to other various calls for service.
Engine 1 (Fire District 1), located several blocks away at Forbes and Clark, traditionally averages over 3,600 emergency calls per year, with some years sitting around 3,800 calls.
Yuba City Community Services Department (Parks and Recreation) Staff have observed a consistent pattern of extended occupancy of picnic shelters and common areas by individuals using the park as a daytime gathering location. These activities have included:
• Drug overdoses including a related death.
• Activities associated with drug use, including needle use and the use of illegal substances.
• Sexual activity in the public restrooms.
• Public urination and defecation.
• Public consumption of alcohol and intoxication.
• Occupying picnic tables and shelters for extended periods, denying others the opportunity to use the public facilities.
• Using facilities for other than their designed and intended purpose. This includes:
o Temporary habitation of restrooms and associated activities such as drying clothing and importing camping material and other personal belongings.
o Individuals have occupied restroom facilities for extended periods during daytime hours, with concerns that numerous people (up to four) exiting from the locked bathroom after long waits by the public to use the facilities. • Transporting shopping carts and large quantities of personal property into the park. • Using barbecue pits as warming stations rather than for their intended recreational purpose.
• Use of the park after hours.
• Leaving behind litter and personal belongings that require additional maintenance. • Bringing dogs into the park, including some that have displayed aggressive or intimidating behavior toward park visitors. Many of these animals are not licensed or vaccinated.
• The changing conditions at Sam Brannan Park have resulted in park reservations decreasing from by approximately 50%.
General Observations and Community Concerns
Administrative staff and members of the public have also observed concerning behavior at the park, including but not limited to:
• Urinating in public
• Chopping of wood with an axe in park common areas for campfires • Frequent food handout events during daytime park use
• Verbal and physical disputes
• Numerous unleashed dogs in the park; associated aggressive behavior by certain animals
• Ongoing littering due to trash receptacles being overloaded o Even when they aren’t certain park visitors do not use them and discard trash on the ground.
• Patrons of the park fear walking to and using the bathroom unless two people walk there together, as they are yelled at, aggressive dogs are not being controlled and other incidents of verbal and physical disputes.
Due to the recent closure of the local dog park, staff has outlined preliminary options for Council consideration which would add dog friendly amenities to a portion of Sam Brannan Park. While these enhancements are not included in the cost estimates provided, coordinating the timing of these changes with other park safety improvements is most efficient and would introduce a new destination feature to Sam Brannan Park.
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
ATTACHMENT 2
ESTIMATED PROJECT COST
ATTACHMENT 2
PROJECT COST ESTIMATE
Sam Brannan Park
ITEM ESTIMATED COST
Fencing $132,000
20'-wide Sliding Gate with Opener $40,000
20'-wide Manual Sliding Gate (Gray Ave) $25,000
13'-wide Swinging Gate for Water Access $10,000
Signage $500
Professional Cleaning TBD
Lighting Repair & Installation $25,000
Cameras $10,000*
2 Card Readers $5,800
500 Cards $230
Card Printer $1,200
SUBTOTAL $239,730
*Cameras Grant Funded -$10,000
TOTAL $229,730
Reservation Process
Park reservations
• Park reservations may be completed online through the Recreation Department or in person at the Yuba City Senior Center.
• The number of cards issued will be based on the size of the park reservation. • Cards will remain active for the duration of the reservation and will expire when the reservation ends.
• All cards will be printed and distributed by staff at the Yuba City Senior Center.
Pickleball / Bocce Ball / Skate Park registration
• Registration must be completed in person through the Recreation Department at the Yuba City Senior Center.
• Each card will provide access for up to 4 people at one time. • A $25 deposit is required at registration. Cards will expire one year from the date of purchase. • All cards will be printed and distributed by staff at the Yuba City Senior Center.
ATTACHMENT 3
8-FOOT TALL SECURITY
FENCING WITH PEDESTRIAN
AND VEHICLE ACCESS GATES
SAM BRANNAN PARK SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT EXHIBIT GRAY AVENUE LARGE DOG PLAY
AREA
(APPROX. 0.6 ACRES)
SMALL DOG PLAY AREA
(APPROX. 0.31 ACRES)
EXISTING PICKLEBALL AND
TENNIS COURTS AND
SKATE PARK
EXISTING BOCCE COURTS
EXISTING PLAYGROUND
SAM BRANNAN PARK SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT EXHIBIT
GRAY AVENUE
PEDESTRIAN GATES
8' TALL STEEL FENCING
ROLLING VEHICLE
GATES
GRAY
AVENUE
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
SAM BRANNAN PARK SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS
PROJECT EXHIBIT
GRAY AVENUE
PEDESTRIAN GATES
8' TALL STEEL FENCING
ROLLING VEHICLE
GATES
GRAY
AVENUE
MIDDLE
SCHOOL