BIGGS, CA (MPG) - Items of business at Biggs City Council meeting on Feb. 11 included the unanimous approval of a contract with Regional Government Services (RGS) for city accounting services. Two other firms were considered but the review committee said that Regional Government Services showed greater competency and was the clear choice. 

Approval was also granted for the purchase of 40 new replacement water meters to comply with Assembly Bill 2572. The meters will cost $12,027.32, which required approval because the amount exceeds the $10,000 limit on the city administrator’s authorization. The amount is within the city budget and does not include installation costs.

Interim City Administrator Cliff Wagner gave an update on various city-owned properties under lease, such as the two in the Industrial Park, one for agriculture and the other the Fiber Optics center. The agriculture lease is current but other leases have expired. Wagner recommended that the leases be renewed or canceled. Some upgrades will be needed, according to councilmembers. Discussion involved the profit that the properties bring in, justifying the cost of upgrades. The councilmembers voted unanimously to update the leases.

Department reports began with the Fire Department. Fire Chief Chip Fowler said that the equipment on loan to Southern California has been returned and some firefighters are still there. Volunteer firefighters are being tested and 34 new recruits have been outfitted countywide. County firefighters rescued 23 people and nine dogs from flooding in Butte and Tehama counties in January. Councilmember Anita Wilks asked about the fire hydrant seals and Fowler said that the hydrants are inspected annually.

City planner Bob Summerville reported that three pre-approved, pre-permitted Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) plans are now available on the city website at cityofcolusa.com. The Accessory Dwelling Unit plans should eliminate about 30% of the permitting time and costs.  Anyone who wants to take advantage of these plans can contact Summerville at his office at 530-868-6008.

After some discussion, authorization was approved for Wagner to execute a contract with Gannett Fleming in the amount of $138,961 for the construction management of the long-awaited Second Street Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements Project. The contractor had communicated possibly beginning in the spring or summer to avoid school traffic. Councilmember Wilks indicated that she would favor “to get right on it” rather than waiting until the summer.

Public Works superintendent Paul Pratt gave a report on department actions to mitigate the increase of wastewater due to recent heavy rainfall. Wagner expressed his appreciation for the long hours of “hard, dirty, gritty work” that Pratt and his team have done to maintain the system. Residents with flooding emergencies can contact the city Public Works line at 530-868-1396 to be connected to the emergency team.

During committee reports, Councilmember Wilks said that she attended the Small Cities Organized Risk Efforts (SCORE) Board of Directors meeting. Thanks were extended by Small Cities Organized Risk Efforts to City Clerk Roben Benish for getting invoices submitted on time. A new service available to the city at no cost would be the Employer Pool Notice Program, to be discussed at a future City Council meeting.

Wagner reported that about 3,000 legislative bills are introduced in California each year, with a good portion impacting electric utility regulation. As administrator for a Publicly Owned Utility (POU), Wagner and his staff track and comply with all the new regulations.  Wagner was also successful in gaining access to the ARV Compliance Service tracking system. 

Wilks commented that she recently attended the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) meeting and observed that the Northern California Power Agency is working very hard to reduce utility costs.