Biggs City Council honored retiring city accountant Roy Seiler. From left are Jerome Squires, Roy Seiler, Mayor Bo Sheppard and Anita Wilks. Photo courtesy of Interim City Manager Cliff Wagner

BIGGS, CA (MPG) – The May 13 Biggs City Council meeting started with recognition of retiring City Accountant Roy Seiler. Mayor James “Bo” Sheppard praised Seiler’s 15 years of dedication and professionalism in his service to the community.

“It’s been my privilege,” responded Seiler.

 “We have been very spoiled to have you on site as an accountant and I didn’t realize what a luxury that was until now that we don’t have on-site accountants anymore,” said City Clerk Roben Benish.

Next was an informational presentation by Randy Howard, general manager of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA). Biggs participates in the Combustion Turbine (CT1) and geothermal projects.

The Combustion Turbine has a plant in Alameda and a plant in Lodi, which serve as back-up plants in times of emergency. Howard said that California’s goal is to be 100% emission-free. The plan is to produce hydrogen from reclaimed wastewater at the Lodi site. The projected date to begin production is 2028, contingent upon funding. Cost for the project will be $250 million, with 40% to 50% covered by grants.

Howard explained that the two geothermal plants are located in Geyserville and also operate with reclaimed water. The water is injected into faults to produce steam, which in turn is fed into the turbine to produce electricity. Howard confirmed that it has been a good year for water, providing more hydroelectric capabilities this summer and less dependence on natural gas.

“What that means is stable prices, stable supply. We don’t see any real issues even with short heat waves. We should be in really good shape in Northern California,” Howard said.      

Filling in for Fire Chief Chip Fowler, Mike Conaty and Spencer Mallinger then presented the 2025 Butte County Community Wildfire Protection Plan, aimed at identifying measures to reduce structure ignitability. This is the first update to the plan in 20 years and is more in-depth. Recommendations include tree trimming and clearance of hazardous materials from ditches and retention ponds, which will provide more funding opportunities. Part of the document is specific to Biggs.

Councilmember Anita Wilks had questions about the two rice straw bale fires that occurred in 2022 on the west side of Biggs near her home, one that burned for 30 days. Mallinger answered that “the hay bale fire that you are referring to was more of an agricultural hazard and not specifically addressed in this plan.”

Wilks responded, “Is there any reason why we can’t add that to the plan?”

Mallinger opined that “…by cleaning out those drainage canals, keeping the retention ponds free and preventing any continuity of fuel between those two properties does fall within this plan.” 

Councilmember Jerome Squires pointed out that the hay bales had been put up quickly and were too damp, increasing the fire risk.

If there had been wind that day, Sheppard commented, the fire would have jumped to the city. Sheppard said that there had been a near-miss with a bottle rocket incident on the edge of town.

“There are things on the borderline of the community that are a threat that aren’t listed per se in this. She (Wilks) wants it addressed and quite frankly, I do as well,” said Sheppard.

Concerning the storage of agricultural products (such as hay), Mallinger said “It’s something I don’t think is in the purview of this document but there needs to be further discussion of those items.”

Mayor Sheppard wanted to know “Why did it take 20 years to do this? This should have been done a lot sooner, as opposed to now.”

Councilmember Wilks asked for specifics on the “mitigation and risk management” mentioned in the plan, to prevent a third fire.

Mallinger again referred to the drainage canals, the sewer retention pond and clearing along the power lines. He said that is something the city has the ability to take care of on its own and to seek grant funding or other assistance in order to do it. Other measures include increasing public education and enforcing weed abatement.

Regarding the damp hay bales, Wilks said, “Can you do some of the education with the farm owners and say, “Hey, this is a really big deal. We have to be mindful of the families, the children that are home without their parents and elderly people on that street (11th). Let’s do preventive maintenance on that so it doesn’t happen again.”

Mallinger said that the property owners were talked to after the hay bale fires and “they admitted” that they had moved too quickly.

“So they’re aware of that situation,” Mallinger said. “Definitely we could reach out and educate those farmers.”

The plan was approved unanimously.

A time extension was given for a previously-approved tentative subdivision map for Realtor Kory Hamman. Presented by City Planner Bob Summerville, he emphasized that this one-acre parcel with 18 market rate houses was not the two-acre parcel that some have objected to over the past year. The two-acre parcel map will come up in a few weeks.

Once again, resident Amanda Mattos voiced strong opposition, stating emphatically that Hamman “is making money on the backs of the people who live in this town.”

Mattos brought a list of cities in California that are doing initiatives to take back local control of development, including Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Burbank.

Biggs resident Melody Thomas spoke about how the development would not benefit the community.

“My objection is the growth will change our town,” Thomas said, and suggested refurbishing the dilapidated homes in town. “Has anyone looked into that?”

Quoting Randy Howard of the Northern California Power Agency, Mayor Sheppard said, “with the volatility of the utility market, if towns don’t grow, they die.”

Interim City Manager Cliff Wagner underlined that the parcel being discussed was for market rate housing, not affordable housing. The cost of maintaining services, utilities, fire and law enforcement is all increasing dramatically, according to Wagner. Without growth, the existing residents will shoulder the burdens of those increases.

Mattos argued that the development’s density was being changed from medium to high.

Due to Councilmember Squires’ proximity to the property, he recused himself from voting on the issue. As a result, the absence of a quorum required that the item be tabled until the next meeting.

A few routine items followed, regarding road maintenance, the upcoming budget study session at the next regular City Council meeting, and managing utility and water rates.

The May 27 City Council meeting has been cancelled because council members have other commitments.