The Oroville City Council on Jan. 7 swore in three newly elected councilmembers, adopted the meeting agenda and approved the council’s committee and commission appointments for 2025. The council also introduced Jason Wines as the city’s new police chief and heard a public comment urging completed outside investigations before a swearing-in.

The swearing-in ceremony in Oroville’s council chambers placed Chuck Reynolds in District C, Scott Thompson in his council seat and Janet Goodson on the council. Mayor Pittman administered the oaths of office; each official repeated the oath to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and the State of California.

The oath mattered because it is the formal pledge required of elected municipal officials, the council noted. Following the swearing-in, the council moved to routine business: a motion to adopt the meeting agenda and a separate motion accepting committee and commission appointments for 2025. The agenda adoption passed unanimously, and the committee appointments motion passed with seven yes votes, according to the meeting record.

During public comment before the swearing-in, Bobby O'Reilly, identified in the record as a resident, said he wished “to have seen the conclusion of all investigations as well as outside legal counsel determinations or suggestions, regarding Mister Reynolds before he was to be sworn in tonight.” O'Reilly also thanked the council for not renewing the previous police chief’s contract and for changes he said were needed in the department.

The council introduced Jason Wines as the city’s new police chief; Mayor Pittman said Wines’ first official day on the job was Jan. 7 and welcomed him to “hit the ground running.” No formal council action on policing policy or department contracts was recorded during the meeting.

Councilwoman Chrissy Riggs, whose four-year term concluded, received brief recognition from the council and delivered a farewell to the chamber. Riggs thanked community members, staff and fellow councilmembers for their service and said, "It has been an honor to serve, and I thank you guys for that." She also asked the record to show she had declined a commemorative plaque.

The council entertained nominations for vice mayor for 2025; a nomination and a second were recorded, and the mayor referenced a roll call, but the meeting transcript does not include the result of that roll call vote in the audio record. The council then considered and approved the slate of committee, commission and board appointments for the year, with the mayor saying he aimed to distribute workloads evenly.

Before adjourning, the council set its next regular meeting for Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. in the same chambers and closed the Jan. 7 session. A short invocation and a request from a resident to check for a lost phone were recorded after the formal business concluded.

Votes at a glance: Agenda adoption — motion to adopt the agenda; outcome: approved, recorded as passing unanimously (7–0). Committee and commission appointments — motion to accept appointments; outcome: approved (7–0). Adjournment — called and declared; no roll call vote recorded.