Despite considerable pressure from fellow Redding City Council members and many community members who spoke in support of it, Councilman Adam McElvain stuck to his guns last week and blocked a proposed half-cent sales tax hike from going before Redding voters in the June primary.
If passed by a simple majority of voters, the measure would have generated about $11 million a year that the city promised to spend on police officers, firefighters and increasing Shasta County’s jail capacity.
To place the measure on the June ballot, the City Council needed to declare a fiscal emergency; such a declaration requires a unanimous 5-0 vote. McElvain’s dissenting vote means a public safety sales tax hike won’t come before voters until November.
“I am a huge proponent of public safety,” McElvain said. “It was the No. 1 issue I campaigned on. I’m a veteran and I’m 100 percent committed to law and order. I have two small children and I want a safe city for them to live in.”
However, he added, a declaration of fiscal emergency would have consequences, especially if the sales tax hike measure fails. He noted the dismal track record of the past two tax hike proposals to bolster public safety, including 2016’s Measure D, and said he got the feeling from talking with constituents that support for a third effort was marginal at best.
A fiscal emergency declaration would deter investment in the city and make it more difficult to fill existing vacancies in the city’s police ranks, McElvain said.
Instead, he said his plan will be to continue the council’s work at cutting expenses and increasing revenue and ensuring that all new revenue is spent to improve public safety.
“It takes money,” Councilwoman Julie Winter said. “We can’t cut our way out of this.” She noted the council dipped into the city’s reserves to find $3 million to support current police staffing levels. That practice can’t continue, she said.
McElvain said his decision also was prompted by news that the California Supreme Court will hear arguments in Redding’s PILOT lawsuit this spring or summer. A ruling against the city will take $6 million to $8 million out of the General Fund, which would a more appropriate time to declare a fiscal emergency.
(The lawsuit was filed in 2011. Plaintiffs argue the city’s practice of charging its own electric utility a payment in-lieu of taxes, or PILOT, are in essence a tax on ratepayers and is unconstitutional under Proposition 26. Prop 26 requires a two-thirds approval for any fee or charge exceeding the reasonable costs to local government for providing a service.)
McElvain said a successful signature drive to put the tax measure on the ballot “would be the best route.” That way, he said, “the ask is coming from the people.”
Mayor Kristen Schreder disagreed. “It’s the job of the council to make these tough calls. It’s not to make you go out and collect signatures and canvas neighborhoods. Our job is to give voters the ability to help us support you.”
Remembering Merle
Fans of the late Merle Haggard learned Saturday that they needn’t worry about the Hag’s legacy fading away anytime soon.
A capacity crowd filled the intimate Old City Hall to enjoy some of their favorite Haggard tunes as performed by Scott Joss, Doug Colosio and Jeff Ingraham—all members of Haggard’s longtime backup band The Strangers—and some more-than-capable fill-ins, including young Josh Sandbloom on bass and Eric Day on lead guitar.
Eric Day, left, Josh Sandbloom and Scott Joss. Photo by Kayla Long.
Dubbed The Haggard Connection, the band’s performance was a benefit for the Shasta County Arts Council. Organizer Mike Flanagan said his goal was to promote Old City Hall’s spot in the newly designated Redding Cultural District and show how artists can bring culture to where they live.
Josh Sandbloom, left, Scott Joss and Doug Colosio. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
Joss, a world-class fiddler and north state native, treated the crowd to versions of Haggard hits like “Big City,” “Lucky Star,” “Today I Started Loving You Again,” “It’s Been a Great Afternoon,” “If I Can Only Fly,” “Swinging Doors,” “Right or Wrong,” “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink,” “Silver Wings,” “Rambling Fever” and “Natural High.”
The latter tune was in response to a request from retired Redding businessman Bob Wallenberg, who pointed out that he officiated at the wedding of Joss’ daughter, Kim. Joss closed out the evening with a rollicking version of “Orange Blossom Special.”
Another highlight from Saturday: Joss, Colosio (keyboards) and Ingraham (drums) recently toured with Kris Kristofferson (a longtime fan and collaborator with Haggard), and they secured a guitar autographed by Kristofferson to be raffled off. Andrea Charroin (A News Café contributor, no less) held the winning ticket and left with a special souvenir.
Andrea Charroin shows off the Kris Kristofferson-autographed guitar she won. Photo by Jon Lewis.
Brewing up new jobs
The City Council last week voted to waive some $40,000 in development fees for Fall River Brewing, which is hard at work transforming the former Redding Distributing building on Eastside Road into a new brewery and business headquarters.
The break in building permit, traffic impact and sewer impact fees is part of the city’s policy of offering incentives to companies to locate in Redding and create new jobs.
When completed, the new brewery will represent a $4 million investment by Fall River. Over the next five years, the brewer plans to increase production to 60,000 barrels a year and hire an additional 25 employees. At its peak production level, Fall River would be among the top 20 out of more than 1,000 breweries in California.
Fall River currently operates a taproom at 1030 E. Cypress Ave., Suite D, in the Safeway-Lowe’s shopping center. Owners John and Amanda Hutchings say a taproom at the new brewery could open in the next three years.
