Mural at Shasta Lake City Council chambers, site of Tuesday’s county board meeting.
Sometimes it’s hard not to feel that all the world’s problems are interconnected, and try as we might we’re never going to solve this cascading nightmare of blunders as we hurtle toward a burning future where human life on earth ceases to exist, perhaps by the end of this century.
Consider Tuesday’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting, where the phrase “climate change” wasn’t literally on the agenda or anyone’s lips, even though global warming ran through a myriad of issues considered by the Board.
In his board report, Shasta County CEO David Rickert hyped SB 269, a Republican bill that if passed would grant tax credits to homeowners who harden their homes against wildfires. Meanwhile the Board unanimously approved writing a letter opposing SB 222, Democratic S.F. State Senator Scott Weiner’s attempt to force Big Oil and Gas to pay the bill for the climate crisis they knowingly created.
“While we acknowledge and share concern about the growing risks posed by climate change and extreme weather, we believe SB 222 creates significant legal and economic risks that will adversely affect local governments, businesses, and taxpayers in rural counties such as ours,” the county’s letter states.
At least the board acknowledged climate change and extreme weather are real—did they really mean that? Weiner’s bill would permit anyone who can claim more than $10,000 damages from a wildfire or a flood to sue Big Oil and Gas for damages. Critics of the bill point out, perhaps correctly, that Big Oil and Gas will simply pass these costs on to consumers.
Thus that feeling of helplessness ensued from the very beginning of the meeting.
Photo of charging station as imagined by Frontier Energy.
The helplessness only intensified with R2 on the agenda, a presentation from the Department of Public Works and Frontier Energy, the consultant hired to help plan Shasta County’s transition to electric, hybrid and hydrogen powered vehicles by 2035 as mandated by the state of California.
Sometimes, presentations before the Board leave something to be desired. One recent presentation, in its accompanying Power Point materials, boldly stated, “Who Are We?” instead of “Who We Are.” If you can’t tell the difference, stay out of consulting.
Fortunately, Frontier Energy knows what the heck it’s doing. Its 853-word study details exactly, in three phases, how Shasta County could transition roughly 500 internal combustion engine powered vehicles in its current fleet—cars, vans, trucks, firetrucks and snowplows—to EVs, hybrids and hydrogen powered vehicles by 2035.
Public Works Director Troy Bartolomei and Frontier Energy’s Soria Adibi.
The huge catch in this global electrification project—and it has to be global or we are literally toast—is almost nobody involved in the above scenario is delivering on time.
District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Kevin Crye complained about “green energy buses to Burney” not making it up the hill, correctly pointing out that heavy EVs, like trucks and buses with the range required in Shasta County, aren’t yet market ready.
Perhaps that is why President Donald Trump recently pardoned Trever Milton, the founder of EV truck firm Nikola, convicted for fraud for among other things filming one of his supposed trucks rolling down a very long hill as if it was under power. It wasn’t.
District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom complained about efforts to close California’s last remaining nuclear power plant at Diablo Canyon, which provides 17 percent of the state’s zero carbon energy and 9 percent of its electrical grid. Kelstrom, even though he probably doesn’t know it, is in agreement with MIT scientists who believe as many as 300 modern nuclear power plants will be required to meet the increasing demand for carbon-free electricity.
Note to Chris: The problem with Diablo Canyon now is its past due operating status. Newer, safe plants are the answer, but your point is well taken.
District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom.
Somewhat unbelievably, District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon claimed he had 300 ICE vehicles spread across his quarry and contracting businesses. Harmon was leaning heavily on hydrogen fuel cell technology for heavy trucks, which has made advances recently that may challenge the EV only concept, to replace his fleet in the long run.
That is, if the “changing landscape” of the Trump regime doesn’t wipe out climate science and environmental regulations. Then all bets are off.
Can we afford to be in denial? We’re going to find out.
The Board voted unanimously to send Frontier Energy’s report back to staff to figure out what grants and exceptions the county might be able to carve out of the 2035 zero-carbon vehicle mandate, should it actually ever be enforced.
District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon.
R4 on the Regular Agenda stated, “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Approving the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for Local Responsibility Areas.”
As Shasta County Fire Chief Sean O’Hara explained to the Board, that’s bad news for the Fall River and McArthur areas in northeastern Shasta County, which have increased in risk level due to new criteria that includes data on firebrands.
Those areas are in District 3, and Supervisor Harmon was totally triggered by O’Hara’s presentation because he’d finally received what all residents in fire-prone areas call “the letter.” The letter that tells you your home insurance is kaput.
“So coincidentally, I got a letter yesterday,” Harmon said. “They dropped off my insurance on my house. I already went through this early in the year. … They dropped my insurance because I refused to have an inspection. I already did the inspection. … I’ve gotten rid of all the risk, anything you can think of around my place, and here I am getting dropped again.”
“That wasn’t what I planned thing to bring up,” Harmon concluded. “That just happened to happen yesterday.”
On a more positive note, the Hawes Farms rezoning, after massive public input to alter the contours of the agro/entertainment project on Deschutes Road to local resident’s specifications, was approved on a 5-0 vote. And it looks like there’s a second Maverick’s super gas station coming to Shasta County at Churn Creek Bottom.
Maverick’s has been a calming influence on Shasta County, offering via its enormous I-5 billboards some of the lowest gas prices the region. You can kinda gage the state of the economy on their prices.
In case you haven’t noticed, gas prices are going up again.
It’s hard not to feel like we’re going down.
SCOREBOARD
REGULAR CALENDAR
Board Matters
R1 Take the following actions: (1) Receive an update from the County Executive Officer on County issues and consider action on specific legislation related to Shasta County’s legislative platform; (2) receive Supervisors’ reports on countywide issues; and (3) approve letters of opposition to: (a) Senate Bill (SB) 707: Teleconferencing and the Brown Act; and (b) SB 222: Climate disasters: civil actions.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The board voted 5-0 to approve sending letters of opposition to SB 707 and SB 222.
Public Works
R2 Receive a presentation from the Department of Public Works and Frontier Energy regarding the Zero Emission Vehicle Fleet Infrastructure Plan and consider providing direction to staff.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The board voted 5-0 to send the resolution back to staff to apply for grants and exemptions.
PRESENTATIONS
R3 Receive a presentation from the Shasta County Sheriff acknowledging Sheriff’s Office Volunteers (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
No Vote
CONSENT CALENDAR
Score: The board voted 5-0 to approve all 21 items on the Constent Calendar.
County Administrative Office
C1 Approve a retroactive evergreen agreement with the Superior Court of California, County of Shasta for mutual provision of services.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote Clerk of the Board
C2 Adopt a resolution which repeals Resolution No. 2022-117 and approves the Conflict of Interest Code for the Burney Fire Protection District.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C3 Approve the minutes of the meetings held on March 18, 21, 24, 25, and 27, and April 8, 2025, as submitted.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C4 Appoint Carol Arnett as the District 4 representative on the Commission on Aging to serve a two-year term to January 4, 2027.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C5 Approve an amendment to the 2025 Board of Supervisors’ meeting calendar.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Human Services Agency-Economic Mobility
C6 Adopt a resolution which authorizes the Health and Human Services Agency Director, or their designee, to submit the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) CalHome Program application, in an amount of up to $1,000,000, and sign the grant agreement and any amendments, including retroactive, required by HCD.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C7 Adopt a proclamation which designates May 2025 as “Community Action Month” in Shasta County.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Human Services Agency-Public Health
C8 Appoint Laura DiPaulo and reappoint Kristen Lyons as general members to the Public Health Advisory Board to serve three-year terms to expire March 31, 2028.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Probation
C9 Adopt a salary resolution which amends the Position Allocation List which adds 1 FTE Senior Staff Analyst to the Probation Budget (BU 263).
Future General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Public Works
C10 Approve an evergreen lease agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for the access road to the CSA 17-Cottonwood Sewer Treatment Plant.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C11 Approve a budget amendment which increases revenue by $27,128 in the Fleet Management Replacement Budget (BU 940) for the transfer of one 2024 Chevy Malibu to Social Services.
No General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
C12 Find the “2025 Redding Regional Septage Impoundment 1B Cleanout Project,” Contract No. 207613, categorically exempt in conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301, Class 1-Existing Facilities, approve plans and specifications and direct the Public Works Director to advertise for bids, and authorize opening of bids on or after May 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C13 Approve a retroactive amendment to the agreement with Yeh and Associates, Inc., for geotechnical engineering services for the “Big Bend Slide Repair Project,” Contract No. 706748, which modifies the terms.
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C14 Approve an agreement with Nichols-Melburg & Rossetto, AIA & Associates, Inc., for architectural services required for the Metal Building and Conference Room Construction (“Project”) at 1265 Redwood Boulevard, Redding.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Resource Management
C15 Adopt a resolution which: (1) Ratifies the CalRecycle Regional grant application for Waste Tire Amnesty Grant Program (TA8) (Program) funds; (2) finds that the Program is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2); (3) designates authority to the Director of Resource Management, or their designee, to accept Program funds and execute all grant-related documents; and (4) authorizes expenditures for the operation and completion of the Program through October 28, 2027.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Sheriff
C16 Take the following actions: (1) Waive competitive procurement requirements as outlined in Administrative Policy 6-101, Shasta County Contract Manual, and Shasta County Code 3.04.020 due to opportunity for fiscal savings; (2) authorize the purchase of one Toyota Tacoma from Lithia Toyota of Redding; and (3) approve a budget amendment which increases appropriations and revenue by $65,000 in the Sheriff‘s Budget (BU 235).
No Additional General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
Sheriff-Jail
C17 Take the following actions: (1) Waive competitive procurement requirements as outlined in Administrative Policy 6-101, Shasta County Contracts Manual, and Shasta County Code 3.04.020 on the basis of sole-source procurement; (2) approve an agreement with Guardian RFID for inmate management, monitoring and tracking solutions; and (3) approve a budget amendment which increases appropriations by $70,000 in the Jail Budget (BU 260) offset with the use of Inmate Welfare fund balance.
Future General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
C18 Approve a renewal agreement with Ardent Security for inmate off-site security.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C19 Approve a renewal agreement with Law Search Associates, LLC, dba Legal Research Associates, LP, for legal research materials and services to inmate.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Support Services
C20 Adopt a retroactive resolution which amends Shasta County Personnel Rules Appendix B, Policies and Resolutions to update the Procedure and Policy for the Expansion of the Recruitment Award Program – Pilot Project.
Public Works
C21 Approve contracts with: (1) Arizona Exhibitone, Inc., dba E1 AudioVisual; (2) True Telecom & Surveillance, Inc.; and (3) World Telecom & Surveillance, Inc., for access control and surveillance system services at County facilities.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
REGULAR CALENDAR, CONTINUED
R4 Introduce and waive the reading of, “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Approving the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map for Local Responsibility Areas.”
No General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote Support Services
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to approve the 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map.
R5 Adopt a proclamation which designates April 27 through May 3, 2025, as “Employee Appreciation Week” and May 3, 2025, as “Employee Appreciation Day” in Shasta County (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to declare April 27 through May 3 Employee Appreciation Week.
SCHEDULED HEARINGS
Auditor-Controller
R6 Conduct a public hearing and introduce, waive the reading of, and enact “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Setting and Identifying Fees to be Charged by the County of Shasta” to update fees charged by the Treasurer Tax Collector.
General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to update fees charged by the Treasurer Tax Collector.
Resource Management
R7 Take the following actions: (1) Conduct a public hearing; (2) adopt the California Environmental Quality Act determination of a Negative Declaration; (3) adopt the recommended findings listed in Planning Commission Resolution 2025-012; (4) introduce, waive the reading of, and enact an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Amending Ordinance Number 378, the Zoning Ordinance of the County of Shasta, a Portion of the Zoning Plan (Zone Amendment 21-0002 – Planned Development – Greg and Nikola Hawes),” to amend the Zoning Plan of the County of Shasta identified as Zone Amendment 21-0002 to change the zoning for an approximately 8.25-acre parcel from an existing Planned Development (PD) zone district to a revised PD zone district; and (5) introduce, waive the reading of, and enact an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Amending Ordinance Number 378, the Zoning Ordinance of the County of Shasta, a Portion of the Zoning Plan (Zone Amendment 21-0002 – Commercial Recreation – Greg and Nikola Hawes),” to amend the Zoning Plan of the County of Shasta identified as Zone Amendment 21-0002 to change the zoning of three parcels and a portion of a fourth parcel totaling approximately 87.09 acres from the PD and Limited Agriculture (A-1) zone districts to the Commercial Recreation (C-R) zone district. The approximately 95.34-acre project site is located at 6171 Deschutes Road, 6465 Deschutes Road, and 21945 Dersch Road, Anderson, CA 96007 (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 057-190- 031, 057-190-036, 057-190-037, 057-190-040, and por. 057-190-041). No changes are proposed to the Restrictive Flood (F-2) combining district applicable to APNs 057-190-031, 057-190-036, 057-190-040, and por. 057-190-041, and the Building Site (B) combining districts applicable to APNs 057-190-037 and 057-190-041.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to approve zoning amendments for Hawes Farms.
R8 Take the following actions: (1) Conduct a public hearing; (2) adopt the recommended findings listed in Planning Commission Resolution 2025-011; (3) introduce, waive the reading of, and enact “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Amending Ordinance Number 378, the Zoning Ordinance of the County of Shasta, a Portion of the Zoning Plan (Zone Amendment 22-0007 – Maverik, Inc.),” to amend the Zoning Plan of the County of Shasta identified as Zone Amendment 22-0007 to change the zoning of three parcels totaling 30.39-acres located at 19482 Knighton Road, Redding, CA 96002, which is situated on the northwest corner of the intersection of Knighton Road and Churn Creek Road (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 055-160-012, 055-160-009, 055-160-008 as those APNs are assigned for purposes of the 2025 Regular Assessment Roll), from the Planned Development combined with the Restrictive Flood (PD-F-2) zone district to the Limited Agriculture combined with Restrictive Flood (A-1-F-2) zone district for two parcels totaling 15 acres, from the PD-F-2 zone district to the A-1-F-2 zone district and for a 6.85-acre portion of a 15.49-acre parcel, and from the PD-F-2 zone district to the Highway Commercial combined with the Restrictive Flood (C-H-F-2) zone district change for a 8.64-acre portion of the same parcel; and (4) adopt a resolution which: (a) adopts the California Environmental Quality Act determination of a Mitigated Negative Declaration; and (b) approves Parcel Map 22-0004 for a subdivision of a 15.49-acre parcel into two (2) parcels and a remainder parcel of 4.99-acres (Parcel 1), 3.65-acres (Parcel 2) and 6.85-acres (Remainder), in accordance with Title 15, Subdivisions, of the Shasta County Code.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to approve zoning for new Maverick gas station in Churn Creek Bottom.
REGULAR CALENDAR, CONTINUED
Resource Management
R9 Receive a presentation from the Director of Resource Management regarding Shasta County Air Quality Management District financial matters and pending assessments to the jurisdictions with membership on the Air Pollution Control Board.
No General Fund Impact
No Vote Required
CLOSED SESSION
Score: County Counsel Joe Larmour said there was no reportable actions on the following three items.
R10 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
(Government Code Section 54957.6):
Agency Negotiators:
County Executive Officer David Rickert
Personnel Director Monica Fugitt
Chief Labor Negotiator Gage Dungy, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee Organizations:
United Public Employees of California, Local 792 – General Unit United Public Employees of California, Local 792 – Professional Unit Deputy Sheriffs Association – Correctional Officer – Deputy Sheriffs
R11 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT
(Government Code section 54957):
Title: Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director
At the conclusion of the Closed Session, reportable action, if any, will be reported in Open Session.
R12 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1)):
Names of Cases: County of Shasta et al. v. California Energy Commission et al. (Shasta County Superior Court, Case No. 23CV-203737)
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