Willows council approves public-safety emergency after talks with sheriff stall

Willows City Council members voted unanimously to approve a public-safety emergency proclamation after weeks of stalled negotiations with the Glen County Sheriff and public concern about local policing coverage.

The proclamation, passed after public comment and council discussion, is intended as a temporary safety net that would allow the city to coordinate with state and county resources — including the California Highway Patrol — if local law-enforcement services become insufficient. Vice Mayor Thomas and other council members said the step is intended to secure short-term patrol and traffic-control resources while the city explores longer-term options such as rebuilding a Willows police department.

The item prompted sustained public comment. Marina Sparkman, owner of the Glen County Shopper, said she opposed the proclamation and warned that, unless restricted, the city manager could sign open-ended contracts for private security and even close community events: “If you vote yes for this, do you realize that gives her the authority to shut [Fourth of July] down?” she said. Robert Weiss criticized the move as misdirected and said “shoplifting at Walmart does not constitute an extreme peril to the public,” arguing the proclamation’s standard had not been met.

Speakers pressed the council for concrete, written assurances about which agencies would provide what services beginning July 1. One commenter repeated a sheriff’s public statement that the Glen County Sheriff’s Office would continue to fulfill its constitutional and statutory duties, including response to 911 calls, but asked what routine patrol and follow-up investigative work would look like if the contract lapse persisted.

Council members outlined the fiscal context. A council member noted the city currently pays roughly $2.35 million for full-service law enforcement under the sheriff contract and discussed earlier studies and estimates showing that reestablishing a municipal police department could cost multiple millions of dollars to stand up. A county-affiliated speaker questioned a proposed $3.4 million contract figure and raised that roughly $500,000 of the figure could be attributable to retirement liabilities for deputies who did not serve Willows; council members said they had requested a detailed breakdown.

Council members emphasized limits on the proclamation. The council cited Willows Municipal Code chapter 2.55, which names the city manager as director of emergency services and establishes a disaster council (to include the mayor, the city manager and Fire Chief Nate Monk). Members said any disaster-council recommendations would return to the full council for approval and that private security with policing powers would not be used.

A motion to adopt the proclamation was moved and seconded and passed on roll call: Vice Mayor Thomas — yes; Council member Hansen — yes; Council member Busby — yes; Mayor Hudson — yes. The mayor pledged oversight and said actions taken under the proclamation would be returned to the council for review. The meeting was adjourned at 12:31 p.m.

What happens next: council members said the proclamation is a temporary tool and that staff will pursue written clarifications from the sheriff, CHP and county Office of Emergency Services where possible; the council also signaled plans to discuss phased steps toward rehiring a police chief and rebuilding a local department in future agenda items.