Redding City Council Approves $6.9 Million For Redding Electric Utility Expenses

CALIRED NEWS–Retiring City Manager Barry Tippin proposed two options to solve Redding’s budget deficit near the end of the Tuesday, Sept. 16 City Council meeting.

The Redding City Manager’s presentation (Agenda 9.11g) came following an oral report (Agenda 8.11f) made by the City of Redding Public Works’ Street Division which outlined the City’s Pavement Condition Index (PCI) that showed the majority of Redding’s roads were in the Poor Zone (under 50 and needed reconstruction) not in the Fair Zone (50 to 69 needing rehabilitation) nor in the Good Zone (over 70 requiring preventive maintenance).

Both options would redirect an additional $10 million annually to street maintenance.

Option 1 would impact City staff and programs by $10,017,000 with $4,485,000 cuts in Community Safety (Police Department cuts would be $2,375,000 and Fire Department cuts would be $2,110,000) with an additional $5,532,000 in cuts ($3,850,000 cuts to Community Service; $1,500,000 cuts in Development Services; and $182,000 cuts in Government).

Option 2 would impact City programs by $10,262,000 with $7,710,000 cuts in Community Safety (Police Department cuts would be $3,985,000 and Fire Department cuts would be $3,725,000) with an additional $2,552,000 in cuts ($600,000 cuts in Community Service; $400,000 cuts in Development Services; $1,370,000 Misc. cuts; and $182,000 cuts in Government.

The Redding City Council adopted a resolution (Agenda 2a) honoring City Manager Barry Tippin for 21 years of dedicated service to the City who is retiring. Major accomplishments include creating the city’s first crisis internet response and modernizing the fire department with new fire engines and technology; seeing through developments in Downtown Redding; helping with efforts to provide more housing;  creating more jobs, such as the redevelopment of Mount Shasta Mall; and expanding the Redding Municipal Airport.

Council Comments About Tippin

• Mayor Jack Munns: “Barry Tippin has a legacy that will shape this city for generations.”
• Councilwoman Erin Resner: “Barry Tippin moved up the ranks by his knowledge. I value his insight and knowledge of every department. Thank you for your honesty and candor.”

Council Approves Year-End Budget Increasing Appropriations by Over $7 Million

The Redding City Council approved and adopted the 83rd Amendment (Agenda 9.10a) to the City Budget Resolution No 2023-060 by increasing appropriations by $7,354,390.

The 2025-26 and the 2026-27 budgets were approved despite almost one-hour questioning from City Councilwoman Tenessa Audette over missing financial details (actual numbers or revenues and expenditures) that resulted in an exchange with Mayor Jack Munns who wanted to move forward with other agenda items. Councilwoman Audette was the lone dissenter on the final budget vote which passed 3-1 (Councilman Dr. Paul Dhanuka was absent). Currently, the City has a $5 million budget deficit.

Redding City Council Approves $6.9 Million For Redding Electric Utility

The Redding City Council approved $6,955,258 for Redding Electric Utility expenses outlined in four different agenda items:

• Awarded General Pacific, Inc. a contract (Agenda 4.5a) of $1,258,571 for Three-Phase, Pad-Mounted Distribution Transformers and approved up to $503,430 per fiscal year as a contingency to address unforeseen costs.
• Authorized and approved (Agenda 4.5b) $221,257 to Anixter, Inc. for Pad-Mounted Distribution Switches. 
• Approved an upgrade and repairs with Siemens Energy Inc. (Agenda 4.5c) for $435,000  to the Lube Oil System Variable Frequency Drives (Generator Unit 5).
• Awarded to Gifford Construction Inc. (Agenda 4:11d) an amount of $3,152,000; approved an additional $513,000 to cover the cost of administration and inspection fees; approved $345,000 for project development costs; approved $162,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment; approved $315,000 to provide construction contingency funding; and $50,000 construction contingency costs.

Redding City Council Presentations

1. Danny Orloff, Visit Redding’s Tourism Marketing Director (Agenda 2B): which promotes Redding tourism which includes hotel occupancy and short-term rentals and promotes local special events.
2. Christian Church Homes (Agenda 2C): which started in 1996 and operates low-income properties in Redding and in seven states.
3. Ryan Richardson, Executive Director, Superior California Economic Development (SCED): (Agenda 2D) which started in 1979 and focuses on small business lending and economic development projects. Richardson has worked for this agency for 20 years (during that time he has made 580 loans) and has served as the Executive Director for three years.

Other Redding City Council Actions

• Invocation given by Dr. Patrick Blewett, Simpson University Executive Dean.
• Accepted update regarding the proclamation declaring local emergency due to flood (Agenda 4.1a).
• Adopted resolution amending the Schedule of Administrative Fines for violations of the Redding municipal Code relating to violation of the Tobacco Retail License Ordinance (Agenda 4.1b).
• Adopted a resolution (Agenda 4.3a) authorizing the City of Redding as an applicant for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Fiscal Year 2025 State and Local Cyber Security Grant Program in an amount up to $250,000.
• Authorized and approved (Agenda 4.3b) the purchase of Microsoft Licenses and/or software products between Dell as reseller and the City of Redding.
• Authorized and approved the South Street Water Main at Railroad Emergency Replacement Project (Agenda 4.11a). 
• Accepted an update to the City of Redding’s COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package Public Works projects (Agenda 4.11b).
• Adopted a resolution accepting Piper Way and utility improvements for maintenance and operation (Agenda 4.11c).
• Awarded Ed Staub & Sons, Cardlock Fuel Purchases through Aug. 31, 2028 (Agenda 4.11c).

Redding City Council Public Comments: 

Approximately 9 members of the public gave comments with two of those comments coming at the start of the meeting (one against and one in favor of Redding City Manager Barry Tippin).

The five Redding City Council members are:

• Mayor Jack Munns (elected November, 2022 for a four-year term. Email: [email protected]
• Vice Mayor Mike Littau (elected November, 2024 for a four-year term.Email: [email protected]
• Mayor Pro-Tempore Erin Resner (first elected November, 2018; re-elected in 2024 to a partial two-year term). Email: [email protected]
• Council Member Tenessa Audette (elected November, 2022 for a four-year term). Email: [email protected] (Attended from teleconference location in Castiglione Del Lago, Italy).
• Council Member Dr. Paul Dhanuka (elected November, 2024 for a four-year term). Email: [email protected]. (Absent).

Redding City Council Sept. 16 Agenda (6 pages)

Watch City Council Sept. 16 Meeting: 3 Hours, 39 Minutes

Next Redding City Council Meeting: Oct. 7 (6 p.m.) at 777 Cypress Ave, Redding, CA 96001

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Mike Hernandez is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service and writes for CitizensJournal.net and MountainTopMedia.com. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “Prayer Over News Daily” on Substack.com, the monthly Election Countdown, and edits the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes.” Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists with trainings held every other month, and he can be contacted here.