BIGGS, CA (MPG) - Biggs City Council meeting this week was well-attended, primarily due to the debate over the proposed development on Sixth Street.

There were a few consent items as per the agenda, as well as some department reports, before launching into the housing issues.

City clerk Roben Benish was appointed city administrator pro tem while Josh Cook is on leave.

Bob Summerville, Biggs city planner, started the discussion of California Housing Laws that led to the idea of the Sixth Street development. He and city attorney Greg Einhorn made it clear that the project has not been submitted and therefore would not be voted on at this meeting. Once that process is started, it can be recommended for approval.

The big question looms, can the state force the City of Biggs to comply with state housing laws? Summerville indicated that the state has hired additional staff to see that the housing mandates are carried out. With new state staff hired to enforce housing stipulations, the state “would definitely want to come after us,” Summerville said.

Einhorn stated several times that the whole discussion was theoretical since the project has not yet been submitted. Therefore, the entire exchange was only informational.

Summerville continued by saying that before the Hamman development was ever suggested, the city was looking for a land parcel that would be adequate to fulfill the state housing mandates. Then, considering the suitability of the Sixth Street property, City Administrator Cook approached Kory Hamman to ask if he would consider upzoning some of his property to satisfy the state. Originally, the idea was to use one acre for apartments.

However, Hamman wanted to add amenities including a playground, dog park and basketball court so he expanded the plan to a two-acre complex.

When the discussion was opened for public comment, tensions grew. The first speaker, Mandy, expressed that in previous council meetings, the project was not “theoretical.” It was being pushed for approval and would be fast-tracked because of Senate Bill 35, legislation that no one had discussed so far in this meeting. Mandy said that once the development becomes subject to SB35, the city and residents will lose all control. Reference was made to CAL FIRE’s inability to fight a fire in a 42-unit apartment complex, in addition to poor roads. Finally, she concluded talking about the project as a “backroom deal.” 

Firefighters in attendance were requested for input on whether Station 73 could handle a two-story apartment complex fire.

“That would be difficult,” the fire chief said, but typically any Biggs fires require help from Gridley and Oroville.

Hamman was invited to speak and began by publicly apologizing for offending anyone on social media. He then spoke to assure all in attendance that his object was to build a quality apartment complex, which was why he added the amenities. The government awards tax credits on a point system. The nicer the complex is, Hamman said, the more tax credits will be given, unlike low-income housing projects in the 1960s. 

Hamman said that he “could start a one-acre complex tomorrow” but wanted to build the higher quality complex. Contractors who build ugly apartment complexes stand little to no chance of getting the tax credits, he said.  Hamman also referred to comments from prior Biggs leaders about growth and how much it was needed.

As to the question of what would happen if Biggs ignored the mandate, Mayor Brian Bassett cited the example of the Waste Water Treatment plant in Biggs that was built “because the state came after us.” Fines of $800,000 were assessed. Bassett added that the waste-water facility could easily handle the 42-apartment complex.

School Superintendent Doug Kaelin weighed in, fully in support of the development. Classes are currently small and would easily accommodate the new students that the development would bring, Kaelin said. Career Technology and AP classes are not presently offered, due to low enrollment. He confirmed that enrollment has declined, with students transferring to Gridley where those classes are offered. Kaelin also put in a plug for Measure A, the school bond initiative, and outlined where the funds will be used.  A gymnasium for the junior high school is top on the list.

As far as impacts to water, and streets, Public Works Superintendent Paul Pratt indicated that his department is always on the lookout for grants to fund upgrades. That is how the Waste Water Plant was funded. The water pipes have some leaks when it rains but have the capacity to handle the development, according to Pratt. Some water and sewer pipes have been upgraded but further upgrades are needed. The sewer is at half capacity and could accommodate the development, Pratt said.

Pratt discussed possible increased revenue from property taxes with Butte County Treasurer-Tax Collector Troy Kidd. The money brought in from the apartment property tax will be negligible.  However, the taxes from the 18 market rate houses and the mini-storage adjacent to the complex will generate some revenue.

Crime was another concern of residents. Mayor Bassett spoke with Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea, asking if crime had spiked in Gridley or Oroville where similar apartment structures were built. He said that Honea had not seen a crime increase in those areas.

Residents continued to express frustration that the project is happening at all, saying that most residents do not want it. The residents’ petition against the project has 200 signatures so far.