The Live Oak City Council recognized a local family for life-saving actions after witnessing a car crash outside their home. From left are Councilmember Lakhvir Ghag, Councilmember Bob Woten, Mayor Ashley Hernandez, Cayleigh Johnson, Ashely Martin, Cyle Johnson, Councilmember Jeramy Chapdelaine, and Vice-Mayor Nancy Santana. Photo courtesy of the City of Live Oak

LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The Live Oak City Council issued a proclamation at its Dec. 4 meeting recognizing the heroic actions of a local family: Cyle Johnson, Ashely Martin and their 6-year-old daughter, Cayleigh Johnson. 

Live Oak Mayor Ashley Hernandez read the proclamation, stating that Cayleigh was outside playing on Nov. 25, when she witnessed a roll-over car crash into an irrigation canal on Larkin and Paseo roads. The vehicle landed upside down and the driver’s head was submerged under the water. 

Cayleigh ran inside to tell her parents, who both rushed outside to help. The driver, Live Oak resident Robbie Carpenter, was unresponsive and Cyle Johnson quickly forced the door open. A passerby offered a knife to cut the seat belt and they pulled Carpenter to safety. The family stayed with Carpenter until emergency services arrived on scene and Carpenter was transported to medical care with minor injuries. 

If not for this family, Mayor Hernandez stated, there would have been a much different outcome and the city applauded their heroic, life-saving actions. 

During general Public Comment, Live Oak resident Cruz Mora introduced a public petition for safe, clean, and affordable water free from PFAS (also known as forever chemicals), which were recently found at low levels in some wells within the city. 

“People are concerned,” said Mora. “PFAS should not be in our water, bottom line. And the residents are demanding more.”

Mora said the Live Oak ratepayers call on the City Council to take action, including the shutdown of all affected wells and the introduction of safe alternative water sources. Mora asked for an investigation into why PFAS are present in the wells and to determine the extent of contamination in all wells and groundwater sources. He asked City Council to identify steps for both short- and long-term mitigation, such as continuous testing and monitoring, the construction of a drinking water filtration plant and the introduction of additional wells so backups are available when needed. 

Mora directed residents to visit Change.org/noPFASinLiveOak to view and sign the petition. 

City Council then considered the end-of-year holiday work schedule, with a proposed City Hall closure from Dec. 21 through Jan. 1. Interim City Manager Rick Crabtree said employees appreciate the ability to take time off between Christmas and New Years, using a combination of accrued personal time and already-scheduled city holidays, “so there is no net increase in compensation expense to the city or benefit to the employee.”

Crabtree recommended continuing the tradition and closing City Hall during that time. 

Councilmember Bob Woten supported continuing the tradition “for the benefit of our employees” to show appreciation for their hard work. 

Councilmember Jeramy Chapdelaine said, “In a relatively slow time, I think the benefit to the employees’ families is well worth it.”

Vice-Mayor Nancy Santana said she supported the idea but asked whether residents would still be able to contact the city in case of emergencies, such as flooded roads, downed trees and power lines. 

Crabtree said there is an emergency number and essential public works employees will be on call to respond. 

During City Manager items, Crabtree said the County Clerk has completed the canvass of the ballots from the recent election, so the elected councilmembers can be sworn in at the next meeting.  

During final City Council comments, Councilmember Chapdelaine said he reached out to the Sacramento State Office of Water Programs, which helps facilitate the state water board’s PFAS program. He inquired about potential grant funding to help cover mitigation costs, but because it is a new program, there is not much funding available. Live Oak is currently at a notification level rather than an action level, so available funding would prioritize jurisdictions with actionable levels of PFAS in the drinking water supply. 

Councilmember Woten said it’s important to educate the public about the PFAS issue and not cause panic since it is not at an actionable level. 

Vice-Mayor Santana said the city needs to take PFAS seriously, and when the new test results come in, that data should be posted to the city’s website. 

Santana also asked that City Council consider implementing a School Resource Officer (SRO) program, after a recent school shooting at the Feather River Adventist School in Oroville. 

The next Live Oak City Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at City Hall, 9955 Live Oaks Blvd.