Grand Jury Report Fiscal Year 2024-2025

Recommendations 9

• R1
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City Council of Biggs complete a comprehensive fiscal audit of the Biggs Industrial Park by January 1, 2026. The City Council should initiate an independent fiscal audit reviewing all expenditures, labor allocations, and vendor relationships related to the Industrial Park, including but not limited to: • Complete financial reconstruction of all Industrial Park expenditures from July 2023 to present • Analysis of authorization processes for each transaction • Verification of work performed against payments made • Documentation of all materials and labor provided by city staff
• R2
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs establish and maintain accurate financial records for the Industrial Park operations by December 1, 2025. The City should implement a system where public records of Industrial Park financial activities are maintained and updated on a monthly basis, including all revenues, expenditures, and outstanding obligations.
• R3
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs complete lease standardization and legal review for all Industrial Park tenancies by December 1, 2025. All new and existing leases must be standardized, legally vetted, and approved in open session before new or continued tenant occupancy/operations, including but not limited to: • Market-based rate structure with transparent justification • Standardized insurance and liability requirements • Establishment of formal tenant recruitment and approval process • Consistent terms and conditions across all leases • Defined process for lease review and renewal A public registry of all city leases should be created and maintained by city administrators and made available to the public for review. 18
• R4
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Biggs execute current, legally compliant lease agreements for all Industrial Park tenants by January 31, 2026. Valid lease agreements must be in place for all existing tenants, with no exceptions for verbal agreements or expired contracts.
• R5
  The Grand Jury recommends that LOAPUD extend sewer services to Palermo
• R6
  The Grand Jury recommends that Butte County Administration utilize Facebook, public noticeboards at USPS, flyers at public gatherings to remind Butte County citizens that they should report issues via County Connect website, or its replacement, to log requests for work that must be expedited by December 31, 2025. 30
• R7
  The Grand Jury recommends that the District 1 Supervisor, Public Works director, Water & Resource Conservation Director, Environmental Health Director, and 3 Palermo citizen representatives (including a Palermo Community Council member) meet quarterly as a Palermo Task Force formed by October 2025 for a minimum of 3 years.
• R8
  Butte County 2026 120,000/year
• R9
  Board of Supervisors By May 31, 2027 Staff time APPENDIX: PRIORITY DRAINAGE CLEANUP PLAN Required Action: Remove all cattails and vegetation on ditch banks and bottoms (as in 7059 Perkins Avenue) Resource Estimates: a crew of 8 from Public Works could clear approximately 10,000 feet of drainage ditch with light vegetation in 2 days. Heavy vegetation will slow progress. But the use of specialized equipment like the Rotary Ditch Cleaner GR70 or similar would significantly expedite ditch cleanup work. Summer 2025 Priority Sections (estimated lengths) 1. High Priority (800 feet) -- Perkins Ave to Palermo Ave 2. Critical Flow Path (1,300 feet) -- South Villa to Railroad Ave 3. Main Drainage (1,300 feet) -- Railroad Ave to Wyman Tributary 4. Critical Intersection Clearance of Perkins-- 20 ft upstream/downstream at: a. Palermo Rd b. Kenilworth Rd c. Williams Rd d. Ludlum Rd 46 47 Palermo is Ready to Have Their Pool Back Feather River Recreation and Parks District to the Rescue!