Yuba City Council appoints new leadership
The Yuba City Council has new leadership after members appointed a mayor and vice mayor for 2021 at a meeting earlier this week.
Councilman Marc Boomgaarden was appointed as the city’s new mayor, while Councilman Dave Shaw was appointed vice mayor. The newest council member, Wade Kirchner, who was elected in November, was also administered an oath of office during Tuesday’s meeting.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Yuba City. I consider it an honor,” Boomgaarden said. “As your mayor, I’m inheriting a city that has been running efficiently and providing good services to the citizens that live here and the guests who visit.
“I’ve always had a personal goal regarding my work efforts; the goal is to leave whatever I’m involved in in better condition than when I began there. I was able to do that with the Yuba City Fire Department, I believe I have done that with my career at Valley Truck and Tractor, and it is certainly my intent to carry this goal forward as mayor and council member of Yuba City.”
Boomgaarden said there are a number of key items the council will look to accomplish heading into 2021. Priorities include continuing to operate the city and the services it provides to residents; hiring a new city manager; completing a master tax exchange agreement with Sutter County; continuing to cooperate and collaborate with regional partners; placing an emphasis on business retention, expansion and attraction where possible; and developing implementable strategies around encouraging the development of affordable housing within the city.
Council members also met for a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss threats to public services or facilities. According to the agenda, the emergency meeting was
kneeling on his saucer swing everyday and it was one of his favorite things to do.
“Alex loved sitting in his swing daily watching the cars on the freeway and people going by,” said Rix. “He’d wave at them, smile and be in his happy place.”
The post gained much attention on the site, with more than 300 comments. Several people offered to buy a new swing, according to Rix, but Mcginnis would decline the offers because “she did not want anyone to be financially impacted during these times.”
Rix said she decided to purchase the swing anyway.
“When you have the means to help, you help,” said Rix.
Alex’s new swing was installed on Tuesday afternoon, just before the caravan began.
According to Rix, about 10 cars were included in the procession past the Mcginnis residence, led by a Yuba City
Police car with flashing lights and sirens. Many of the cars were also decorated with lights and signs of encouragement for Alex.
Several of the people involved in the caravan brought gifts for the family as well, and Alex handed out “thank you” candy canes.
Rix said she was amazed to see how the community pulled together to help Alex even though none of them had met him prior to hearing about his stolen swing.
“This was all about seeing that smile and hearing him vocal,” said Rix of the non-verbal teen. “Something as simple as a swing brought much joy to him.”
According to Rix, Alex spent more than two hours on his new swing that afternoon.
“His smile was brighter than the full moon that day,” said Rix’s husband Paul.
Rix said she plans to continue visiting the Mcginnis family to get to know them better and hopes that this experience will be a lesson to some.
“I hope people think before they just take stuff,” said Rix. “You never know what something means to someone.”