Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Redding public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
8 issues in taxes budget with high priority
Public safety cuts and REU rate hikes
Speaders pushed back on the council's recent deletion of 22 vacant police and fire positions and flagged REU's planned back-to-back 6% power rate hikes ahead of a November 17 hearing.
Interim City Manager performance evaluation
The council will sit down privately to review how the Interim City Manager is doing. This could signal where the city is headed on naming a permanent city manager — a role that oversees all day-to-day city services.
City Staffing Crisis: 93 Vacancies and a Hiring Freeze
Nearly 10% of city jobs are empty, a citywide hiring freeze is in place, and the police department alone is 20 positions short. An employee union warned that water, wastewater and electric utility vacancies are funded by ratepayers, not the general fund, and shouldn't be frozen.
Proposed 6% REU electric rate increases
REU wants roughly 4.5% annual increases for four years, which would add about $63 to a typical residential bill in year one and $339 more per year by year four. Councilmembers pushed hard on a 58% five-year jump in personnel costs, and the hearing was continued to March 17 with more workshops planned.
City Manager Recruitment and Interim Leadership
The city is running on acting leaders: interim city manager, interim finance director, interim fire chief, and no permanent city manager. Residents urged the council to just pick a city manager already.
Labor negotiations with city employee units
The council met privately with negotiators covering 13 employee groups — firefighters, electrical workers, police, and more. One commenter pointed out the city is broke yet unions are asking for raises.
Master Fee Schedule Adjustment
Staff wanted to charge $74/hour after free help at the permit counter exceeded an hour or two. Councilmembers worried it would discourage people from asking good questions and demanded a written policy first.
Capital Improvement Plan consistency and process reform
The city's six-year, $751 million capital plan covers streets, water, fire, parks, and more, but about $248 million of the five-year horizon is unfunded. Commissioners pushed for consistent rules on what counts as a capital item — questioning fire hoses and airport forklifts — and for the commission and public to be involved earlier in shaping future plans.