Live Oak City Council members are considering a proposed one-year law enforcement agreement with Sutter County that would cap the city’s cost at $1.855 million, effective for the period covering December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2027. This proposal, presented as a business item on the Oct. 21 City Council agenda and staff report, outlines significant changes to patrol coverage and call response within the city.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, patrol staffing in Live Oak would shift from two deputies on duty around the clock to one deputy on duty around the clock. The staff report identifies a reduction of four deputy positions and the lieutenant position as part of this change. It also warns that incidents requiring two deputies could experience longer response times due to the decreased staffing levels.
Furthermore, the proposal details a new approach to lower-priority calls. Many such incidents, including civil standbys, noise complaints, and traffic-enforcement requests, would generally be referred to Live Oak’s AI answering system, city staff, or another agency. According to the report, these calls could receive a delayed response or no response, depending on the specific request and the available resources. The proposed agreement grants the Sutter County Sheriff discretion to determine whether a response to these types of calls is warranted, and it lists calls the department would not ordinarily respond to unless circumstances require.
This new agreement is being sought as a replacement for the existing contract. Live Oak previously gave notice that it would terminate and renegotiate its current agreement with Sutter County, which is scheduled to conclude on November 30, 2026. The city manager’s report estimates that these reduced service levels would result in approximately $1 million in annual savings for the city.
The contract's effective date falls midway through Live Oak’s fiscal year. City staff stated that costs associated with the new agreement could exceed the amount currently budgeted. Any necessary budget adjustment would likely be brought forward for review during the midyear budget cycle. The report also notes that the city could incur undetermined costs related to the transfer of lower-priority calls to city systems and staff.
The agenda item recommends authorizing City Manager Benjamin Moody to enter into the agreement. This authorization would be subject to minor, non-substantive revisions approved by the city attorney. As of the supplied agenda packet, there is no record of whether the council has approved the proposal. The agreement still requires execution by both parties before it can take effect.
