A large American flag provides a backdrop for Redding Mayor Tenessa Audette. All photos by Jon Lewis.
The announcement of Redding-to-Denver flight service to begin next summer was one of the highlights of Tuesday’s State of the City event at the Civic Auditorium.
The presentation by Mayor Tenessa Audette, the first State of the City address in five years, featured video interviews with seven “pillars” of the community and a 23-minute speech that touched on economic development, crime, homelessness, streets, planning and quality of life.
Redding Mayor Tenessa Audette addresses Redding’s State of the City audience. Photo by Jon Lewis.
After asking for a drum roll from the capacity crowd, Audette announced the addition of United Airlines passenger service to Denver, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2025. The announcement was met with a hearty round of applause. Airport officials have been lobbying for eastbound service to United’s hub for about two decades.
“This will be great for attracting business and development to Redding,” Audette said.
Audette also was happy to report that Redding has been included in the top 100 best places to live in the country, according to the website livability.com.
Left, Redding City Councilman Mark Mezzano speaks to retired Senator Maurice Johannessen, while Redding City Councilwoman Julie Winter — center/left — chats with former Redding City Councilwoman Kristen Schreder. They were among hundreds who attended Tuesday’s State of the City event. Photo by Jon Lewis.
The theme for Tuesday’s address was “United Redding,” and Audette said she chose it “because I believe there is more that unites us than divides us. And above all the political posturing that can happen, what we all want most is a thriving and functioning city that prioritizes people and provides excellence.”
Redding Mayor Tenessa Audette speaks with a woman at Redding’s State of the City event. Photo by Jon Lewis.
Some of the municipal service highlights include a proactive Redding Police Department that has added a downtown bike patrol team and “park rangers” in parks and on the Sacramento River Trail network; new RABA bus routes and an on-demand RABA Runabout service; and a new “Let’s Get Scrappy” food waste recycling program to keep Redding in compliance with a state law aimed at keeping organic waste out of landfills.
Nothing seems to reduce grumbling like filling potholes, and Audette gladly noted the Redding Public Works Department repaired 24 miles of roadway in the city in 2023, with the biggest project being Bechelli Lane from South Bonnyview to Cypress Avenue.
“And don’t forget, even if you wanted to, about Placer Street, which is now completed and looks great,” Audette added.
On the development front, Audette pointed to progress on the 10.5-acre Panorama Park being built on Lake Boulevard between Panorama and Tamarack drives, which will include a 20,000-square-foot community center and gym. Also on tap is the Day Resource and Navigation Center on Veda Street, a facility being developed in partnership with the Good News Rescue Mission.
An update to the city’s Riverfront Specific Plan, covering approximately 380 acres of public property stretching along the river from the Rodeo Arena to Cypress Avenue, should be completed next year.
“Will this be the year of the river? I believe it will be,” Audette said.
The updated plan “will reintroduce the community to the river” and provide a clear vision for the riverfront’s future, she added.
Moving a little farther downstream from the specific plan area, Audette noted that earlier on Tuesday a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the $70 million Sierra Pacific Regional Cancer Center. The 40,000-square-foot Dignity Health facility will be located near the intersection of Hartnell and Cypress avenues and offer riverfront views. Completion is expected in early 2026.
Redding Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Todd Jones speaks to the audience. Photo by Jon Lewis.
The video portion of the presentation featured Audette’s interviews with the following: Mark Emmerson and Todd Payne of Sierra Pacific Industries; Jonathan Anderson of Good News Rescue Mission; Simpson University President Norm Hall; McConnell Foundation Chief Operating Officer Shannon Phillips; Redding Rancheria CEO Tracy Edwards; Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church; and Rodger Page (Dignity Health) and Jake Mangas (Mercy Foundation North).
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- Mark Emmerson, left, and Todd Payne with Sierra Pacific Industries
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- Jonathan Anderson, Good News Rescue Mission.
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- Rodger Page (Dignity Health), left, and Jake Mangas (Mercy Foundation North).
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- Shannon Phillips, McConnell Foundation COO.
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- Mayor Tenessa Audette appearing on video.
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- Bill Johnson, left, and Kris Vallotton of Bethel Church.
Emmerson, SPI’s CEO, said the timber giant has 2,200 crewmembers in the North State; Payne, the lumber president, said SPI’s sustainability efforts include planting 10 million trees a year.
Anderson said the Good News Rescue Mission serves 170,000 meals a year, while Simpson’s Hall discussed the new Business, Technology & Engineering building.
Phillips said children and education are two of the McConnell Foundation’s top priorities, while Edwards said the Redding Rancheria has 900 employees, and has been planning its new casino and event center for 20 years.
Vallotton, Bethel Church’s senior associate leader, told Audette, who is also a member of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry faculty, that the school emphasizes that students’ “relationship with God has to positively affect the community.”
Page, Dignity Health’s North State Market president, discussed the regional cancer center while Mangas, president and chief philanthropy officer, praised the community support that allowed the Connected Living Food Bank to double in size. The food bank serves between 5,000 and 7,000 people a month.
Audette chose a quote from the industrialist Henry Ford to conclude her presentation: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
Click here to watch a video of the event once it’s released by the city for public viewing.
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