Some 692 turned out for Tuesday’s State of the City address.
Flanked by a drift boat from The Fly Shop and a kayak from Redding-based TrueRec, Mayor Missy McArthur was well prepared to deliver the 2016 State of the City address Tuesday to a larger-than-normal crowd at the Redding Civic Auditorium.
The theme of her luncheon address, appropriately, was “A River Runs Through It,” and she began her talk, via video, from a drift boat anchored in the middle of the Sacramento River. With the Sundial Bridge as a backdrop, she spoke of the river’s importance to Redding’s economy.
She cited statistics from the Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau that tourism brings a whopping $383 million to the Redding area. Considering that The Fly Shop alone brings 11,000 visitors to Redding each year, she said it’s easy to see how vital the river is to the tourism industry.
“Here in Redding, it is our life blood as well. We’ve learned to fully appreciate its gifts as it flows through our city. With an abundance of lakes, trails and waterways, Redding is a virtual Mecca for the sports enthusiast, whether biking, hiking, paddling, fishing or any combination,” McArthur said.
Good tidings from the river are starting to flow into downtown as well, the mayor said. She noted progress on updating the Downtown Specific Plan, planning for a trail from the Sacramento River Trail into the downtown core and new businesses like the White Building that houses Wildcard Brewing’s Tied House taproom and the Sierra Pacific Industries window shop.
Downtown stalwarts like Jack’s Grill continue to hum along while relative newcomers like Dutch Bros. and the Coffee Bar bring new energy to downtown, as do the millennials who populate Redding Catalyst Young Professionals. That progressive group, which has 770 members, “disproves the misconception that all young people are leaving the community for the big city.”
Additionally, McArthur said Riverfront Playhouse recently purchased a building on California Street and will soon be downtown tenants and word should be received any day on the fate of a $20 million grant that would greenlight transformation of the old Dicker’s department store into a four-story, mixed-use cornerstone of downtown revitalization.
That project also would lead to the reopening of portions of Market, Butte and Yuba streets to vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic. “A river of all types of traffic will bring vibrancy to our downtown as the traffic runs through it,” McArthur said.
Sticking to the time-honored format of highlighting positives, McArthur—who made her last address as mayor since she is retiring from the City Council at the end of the year—noted the ongoing benefits of having two major medical centers in Redding and the plans by Dignity Health to develop a wellness center near the Henderson Open Space that will add as many as 180 jobs.
McArthur also enthused about “the people who propel us forward” and stepped aside as short videos (produced at no cost to the city by Bethel Media Productions) introduced Mimi and Martin Moseley; their son Matt and his wife, Anna; and Josh and April LaFrance. The younger Moseleys have been instrumental in anti-trafficking efforts; April LaFrance founded the Safe City Project.
Bethel Production crew members recorded the address.
The mayor also acknowledged the contributions by longtime community members like Shasta County District Attorney Steve Carlton; former Mayor Archer Pugh; Jenny Abbe Moyer and Anne Peterson, who have both been actively involved with The Women’s Fund among other civic contributions; Dave Scott; and the late John Fitzpatrick.
Some “fresh faces” have moved to the fore in leading Redding’s successes, McArthur said. She highlighted Matt Morgan for his work on public safety efforts; Senior Deputy District Attorney Anand “Lucky” Jesrani and his work with service clubs like the Active 20-30 Club; and Erin and Chris Resner, the civic-minded Dutch Bros. coffee kiosk entrepreneurs.
Following McArthur’s address, Councilwoman Francie Sullivan took the stage to present the Past Mayor’s Philanthropic Award to Sally Wells for her long history of generous support to the North State Symphony, public television station KIXE, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, the Redding Library and many other causes.
Francie Sullivan presents a philanthrophy award to Sally Wells.
The State of the City luncheon, which drew a crowd of 692, was presented by the Redding Chamber of Commerce. Courtney McElvain served as the master of ceremonies.
Photos by Jon Lewis.
