LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) – Moving the long discussed and debated Sheriff’s Contract agreement to the last business item on the March 20 agenda was met with continuous disruption in the live stream during City Council discussion with Sutter County Administrator Steven Smith and Sutter County Sheriff Brandon Barnes. City staff reportedly is working with Granicus to resolve the City Council live streaming problems.

The sheriff succinctly summed up the issues already set out for City Council in June 2023, along with the accommodations made in August 2023. If the contract was approved now, Barnes restated, the parties could meet and cover in an addendum if necessary any data obtained later or details for specific services acquired. After much reiteration, Barnes commended his staff on behalf of their work for Live Oak and ended their participation for the night. The motion to accept the contract was then passed unanimously.

A several-minutes-long teaching from Biblical text to not be “uncompromisingly righteous” was presented by Andrew Berlsein as part of the meeting’s invocation.

Sutter County Fire Chief John Shalowitz, assisted by Golden State Fire Apparatus sales representative Brad Hanson, made an informational presentation about purchasing a new fire engine. City Council was told costs for new engines were going up quarterly, the current price being $898,000 with a 48- to 52- month wait time. 

Hanson explained that there is a 6,000-engine backup and only 1,500 engines can be built in a year. New emission standards will go into effect in January 2028 and with that an additional $110,000 will be added to the cost. Hanson added another increase in interest to 1 to 1¼% is expected, saying City Council would not be able to obtain longer than a 15-year loan. The city was informed that if it prepays now, the price would be $850,000; if it buys later, $998,000.

When Vice-Mayor Nancy Santana inquired to whom the Fire Department goes for engine repairs, Shalowitz said that the Yuba City Fire Department mechanic is sometimes used and “sometimes they go to Sacramento.” Santana asked if the city could use any of its current grant money for such a purchase and was told “No, it has to be awarded a new grant for this.”

Brynda Stranix, district director, Yuba-Sutter Economic Development District, and Cynthia Rogers, grant writer, presented data on economic conditions and projections, including a rail line from Sacramento to Chico planned to expand access to housing and jobs that will take 10 years to complete. Stranix said employees are ready to work with City Council on grant writing for the Safe Streets program and for other needs.

“You have underutilized our services. We want you to utilize them. We can customize a package for Live Oak,” Stranix said.

A motion to adopt the resolution approving the 2023 Comprehensive Economic Development Performance Report and updated Appendices, and to authorize submittal to the U.S. Department of Commerce passed unanimously.

Sutter County Battalion Chief  Richard Epperson discussed resubmitting an application for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant to continue to receive staffing, which City Council approved unanimously.

All Consent Calendar items were unanimously approved, including a resolution designating Luis Cibrian as acting city manager, following former City Manager Aaron Palmer’s separation from the position, and an agreement with Sutter County Fire for Fire Services.

The next Live Oak City Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. April 3 at 9955 Live Oak Blvd.