Oroville City Council to Enhance Transparency Standards

The Oroville City Council is set to take significant steps toward enhancing transparency and accountability within its operations. During a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, council members will discuss proposed updates to the Elected Officials Guiding Principal Handbook. The changes, prompted by councilors Shawn Webber and Tracy Johnstone, aim to establish clearer rules governing interactions with staff, property sales, contract negotiations, and whistleblower protections.

Proposed Changes to Governance Guidelines

The council’s proposed guidelines include a crucial provision that prohibits any individual councilor from issuing directives to staff members independently. Instead, all directions are to be communicated during scheduled meetings, ensuring that the entire council is informed. Additionally, the updated rules will restrict both councilors and the mayor from unilaterally making, drafting, or negotiating contracts.

In an effort to protect city employees from potential misconduct, the guidelines will introduce an anonymous reporting system. This system will allow employees to report inappropriate directives to both the city attorney and the city administrator. Should any councilor violate these guidelines, they may face consequences that include public censure, referrals to the Fair Political Practices Commission, loss of committee assignments, or non-binding demands for resignation.

Other Agenda Items for Discussion

In addition to the transparency measures, the council will address several other important matters during Tuesday’s meeting. These include an update on a 4.7% increase in waste services provided by Recology, effective January 1, 2026. The council will also consider extending land leases for Northwest Lineman College and review the Oroville Police Department’s annual military equipment use report.

Furthermore, there will be discussions regarding an application for a grant from the State Department of Housing and Community Development aimed at funding the city’s first-time homebuyer program. The council is also expected to approve a grant of $123,622 to support a training session for the Oroville Police Department on tobacco inspections, conducted by the Department of Justice.

The Oroville City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Oroville City Council Chambers located at 1735 Montgomery St. The closed session will commence at 4 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and will also be streamed live via Zoom and YouTube. For additional details, including the agenda and links to live feeds, visit cityoforoville.org.