Once again SEIU Local 15 members turned out in force to support living wages for In Home Support Service providers, who remain out-of-contract.
With 70 days to go until the Nov. 4 statewide election, perhaps the most important thing that happened at Tuesday’s Shasta County Board of Supervisors meeting wasn’t on the agenda: Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis pulled R6, his $125,000 budget request to develop a prototype elections system, before the meeting started.
In addition, District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Kevin Crye pulled R7, a scheduled board discussion on finding a building to house Curtis’s prototype.
“Item R6 regarding the Budget Amendment for County Clerk and Elections has been pulled from the agenda by the County Clerk and Registrar of Voters and will be brought back at a later date,” Chief Deputy Clerk of the Board Stefany Blankenship announced. “Item R7 regarding the Potential Locations for Temporary Use by the County Clerk and Elections Office has been pulled by Supervisor Crye and will be brought back at a later date.”
Curtis’s next potential bite at the apple is at the Sept. 9 board meeting; if successful he’ll have less than two months to develop his prototype and prepare for the election. Considering Curtis, who was appointed by the board earlier this year, has no prior experience running an ROV’s office, the integrity of November’s election could be at stake.
Curtis did not respond to A News Café’s emailed questions before this story posted. Former Assistant ROV Joanna Francescut, who was fired by Curtis and his now running against him in next June’s primary election, said Curtis is going to have to rely heavily on staff for the coming election.
“Election administration is complex and it is most successful when the staff have a clear understanding of their roles and their impact on the big picture of the project,” Francescut said. “Staff’s ability to ensure the success of this election is dependent on the changes Mr. Curtis would like to implement and his ability to provide the necessary resources to allow the team to be successful.”
That election has suddenly gained new importance, thanks to Proposition 50, the “Election Rigging Response Act,” an initiative slammed together last week by the state Legislature’s Democratic supermajority, signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and now headed to the November ballot in a special election, barring any successful legal challenge, of which there appear to be plenty.
With Prop. 50, California Democrats hope to counter the recent Trump-ordered mid-decade gerrymander of Texas, where Republicans hope to add five new congressional seats next year, tipping their precarious House of Representative’s majority more in their favor. By tweaking the boundaries of some of California’s Republican-held congressional districts, Democrats hope to add five new Democratic seats, thereby cancelling out the Texas effort.
What California’s congressional districts will look like if Prop. 50 passes.
If Prop. 50 passes, Shasta County will move to the Second Congressional District, the area marked in green at the top of the map above. Notice how the redrawn district stretches to the Oregon border and the North Coast, with a long finger jutting south all the way to Marin County.
What’s it all mean? For one thing, after 12 years of hard right Republican rule under Rep. Doug LaMalfa, Shasta County could find itself writing letters to Democratic District 2 Rep. Jared Huffman, a competent liberal congressman from San Rafael, should he win reelection in 2026.
No doubt Prop. 50 is rubbing Shasta County’s Republican voters the wrong way, particularly Chair Crye, who frequently likes to “other” San Francisco and Sacramento city slickers as out of touch with Shasta County’s rural needs. Crye has already fired off a first-person letter in opposition to Prop. 50 and Tuesday the board voted unanimously to send another letter expressing their collective disapproval.
District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair Kevin Crye.
“I know right now Texas is a big thing, but you’re talking about moving a few neighborhoods opposed to putting Modoc with Marin County, which if you don’t know where Marin County is, it’s like north of the San Francisco or of the Golden Gate Bridge,” Crye said. “So when you’re talking about having people in Modoc represented by the same person who represents people north of the Golden Gate Bridge, that’s insanity.”
In fact, despite its designation as a high-density urban area and reputation as a playground for the rich, Marin County is quite rural in large areas and faces many of the same agricultural issues as Shasta County concerning government regulations. Since the resolution calling to send another letter in opposition to Prop. 50 was on the consent calendar, the others supervisors did not weigh in on this poignant issue.
Also passed unanimously on the consent calendar was a resolution consolidating the Nov. 4 statewide special election that permits the county to charge Shasta Lake, Redding and Anderson for the cost of conducting the election on a pro-rata basis. In addition to Prop. 50, Redding voters will decide whether or not to raise the sales tax 1 percent to raise money for public safety.
District 4 Supervisor Matt Plummer
District 4 Supervisor Matt Plummer rattled cages at last week’s meeting when he motioned to pause consolidating the special election, which at the time included only Redding’s sale tax initiative, until Redding agreed to sign a lease with the county for the two south Redding parcels designated for the Alternative Custody Program. Redding balked at the last minute, refusing to sign until the property was designated exempt surplus land, a process that could take months.
Plummer’s motion last week passed on an acrimonious 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Chris Kelstrom and Allen Long strongly dissenting. Apparently Plummer’s strong-arming worked; the Redding City Council is scheduled to vote on the lease next week. The Board voted 5-0 to proceed with the lease agreement.
“I just want to really quick thank the city councilmember (Mike) Littau, the Redding City Council and city manager, as well as our county counsel and CEO and the sheriff for putting the press on this last week and getting this over the finish line,” Plummer said. “Our full expectation is that this will come before the City Council next Tuesday and that we’ll be able to let you know we have this agreement in place.”
Bottom line: It looks like Sheriff Michael Johnson’s proposed Alternative Custody Program is going to become a reality, providing long-sought relief to our packed-to-capacity county jail. Meanwhile, Shasta County voters face perhaps the most significant special election in years. ROV Curtis has his work cut out for him.
Defensible Space Standards to be Enforced in Unincorporated County
Shasta County Fire Chief Sean O’Hara and Battalion Chief Matt Alexander.
It’s been a relatively moderate fire season in Shasta County this year, but Shasta County/CAL FIRE Shasta Trinity Unit Battalion Chief Matt Alexander reminded the board how quickly wildfire can get out of control in our hot dry climate—especially when homeowners don’t follow recommendations for removing hazardous vegetation from their properties.
“Last year out in Happy Valley we had a fire start on a normal summer day in Shasta County, with pretty benign winds,” Alexander began, referring to a fire map on the big screen. “But it got up and went for about 40 acres at burn and it hit Lassen Avenue there.”
Many of the homeowners in the area had followed recommendations for establishing defensible space surrounding their homes, and Alexander traced how the path of the fire moved around those homes. But one home had not followed defensible space guidelines, and that’s all it takes for wildfire to spread.
“It caused the fire to gain in intensity, it threw a spot fire and it doubled the size of the fire,” Alexander said. “And you can see lower … you can see a property where the fire naturally went around it. That’s because of proper hazardous vegetation management that they were already implementing on their own accord.”
Alexander and Shasta County Fire Chief Sean O’Hara were on hand to pitch an amendment to the county’s Defensible Space for Fire Prevention code that will establish monetary fines for owners of parcels in unincorporated areas of the county who do not follow the new defensible guidelines in the amended ordinance.
“One of the issues was enforcement of this,” Alexander said. “So we’ve included an infraction status that is a government code that is a standard fine schedule of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second in a 12 month time frame, and then a third at $500.”
While the previous ordinance classified parcels under their zoning designation, the amended ordinance is based on size, only parcels 10 acres or less are affected. Parcels with 0-2 acres require hazardous fuel reduction of the entire parcel; 2.01 to 10-acre parcels require a 30-foot perimeter reduction or a site-specific plan by inspectors.
The fines will be used to help fund abatement of impacted properties. Combined with grant funding, the county plans to hire 2 to 4 seasonal defensible space inspectors over the next two years to conduct an estimated 6,000 parcel inspections. The inspectors will distribute educational materials and offer in-person guidance about ordinance requirements. The county plans on buying a masticator and creating programs to assist economically disadvantaged members of the community abate their properties.
“We’re not really looking to implement this heavily, but it is a way to gain compliance and motivate those that don’t think it is a priority in our community,” said Alexander, who expects inspections to begin ramping up next spring. “The fines collected will go into a committed fund balance, and that money will have a specific use, and that will be to help clear those properties that maybe we need to go in and abate. We have that fund source to limit the impact of the fiscal impact of getting properties in compliance to limit these devastating fires.”
District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon chats with KRCR news anchor Mike Mangas.
Inspecting 6,000 parcels is easier said than done, especially in deeply rural areas where anti-government sentiments run high. District 3 Supervisor Corkey Harmon knows the territory.
“I just want to say, because I know the first thing people are going to think is this is a little more government overreach,” Harmon said. “That’s not what this is. There’s a little bit of teeth to it, which you got to have in order to get people to cooperate sometimes.”
As Harmon has previously noted, the homeowner’s insurance on his own home was cancelled within the past six months because Shasta County is a high-risk area.
“I think we need to embrace this and see it as a positive thing that maybe we can use with our insurance issues that we got,” Harmon said. “We should get credit when we’re following what these guys are trying to put together and get done.”
The Board voted unanimously to approve the amendments to the county’s Defensible Space for Fire Prevention code.
SCOREBOARD
REGULAR CALENDAR
Board Matters
R1 Receive an update from the County Executive Officer on County issues and consider action on specific legislation related to Shasta County’s legislative platform and receive Supervisors’ reports on countywide issues.
No Additional General Fund Impact
No Vote
County Fire
R2 Introduce and waive the reading of, “An Ordinance of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Shasta Amending Chapter 8.10 Defensible Space for Fire Protection and Prevention of the Shasta County Code” and find the proposed ordinance is not subject to and exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the reasons stated in the ordinance.
Future General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: 5-0.
County Administrative Office
R3 Approve a lease agreement with the City of Redding for properties with Assessor Parcel Number (“APN”) 050-050-010 and APN 050-070-008 in Redding for land to develop custody operations in Shasta County.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: 5-0.
Board of Supervisors
R4 Take the following actions: (1) Approve participation in a coalition of counties to submit “Oppose Unless Amended” position letters to Assembly Bill 470: Carrier of Last Resort; (2) authorize the Chair to represent the Board in the coalition to assist in drafting, approving, and signing letters consistent with the Board’s intent; and (3) approve the use of the Shasta County logo on the coalition letters (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: 5-0.
Health and Human Services Agency-Behavioral Health and Social Services
R5 Receive a presentation from the Health and Human Services Agency regarding the Commission on Aging (“Commission”) and either: (1) designate authority to the County Executive Officer, and direct staff, to take the actions necessary to decommission the Commission; or (2) provide alternative direction to staff.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: The Board voted 5-0 to bring the matter back at a later date.
County Clerk-Elections
R6 Approve a budget amendment which increases appropriations by $125,000 in the Election Admin & Registration Budget (BU 140) offset by use of General Fund.
General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote Board of Supervisors
Score: R6 was pulled at the request of Shasta County ROV Clint Curtis.
R7 Discuss potential locations for temporary use by the Registrar of Voter / Elections Department for the November 4, 2025, consolidated Statewide Special Election and consider providing direction to staff (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Score: R7 was pulled by Board Chair Kevin Crye.
CLOSED SESSION
There was nothing to report out of close session.
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: Deputy Sheriffs Association – Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant and District Attorney Investigator Unit
R9 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION
(Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(1)):
Name of Case: Laura Burch v. County of Shasta (WC Case# 23-0751 / WCAB Case# ADJ20668505)
CONSENT CALENDAR
The Board unanimously approved the consent calendar.
Auditor-Controller
C1 Receive the Fiscal Year 2024-25 annual report of shortages relieved by the Auditor-
Controller.
General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C2 Adopt a resolution which approves the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Countywide Tax Rate, Unitary Debt Service Rate, and the tax rates for bond sinking funds, voter-approved debt, and tax overrides.
General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Board of Supervisors
C3 Approve a Letter of Opposition for Assembly Bill 604, Senate Bill 280, and Assembly Constitutional Amendment 8: Proposed Congressional Redistricting and authorize the County Executive Officer, or their designee, to submit revised letters on the Board’s behalf as the bill is amended, unless changes substantially alter its intent or affect the Board’s position (Sponsored by Supervisor Crye).
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Clerk of the Board
C4 Reappoint John Wildey to the Assessment Appeals Board as a member to serve a three-year term to September 4, 2028.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C5 Approve the minutes of the meetings held on July 21, 22, 29, and 31, 2025.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
County Clerk-Elections
C6 Adopt a resolution which consolidates the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election and allows the County to charge the incorporated cities and districts for actual costs on a pro-rata basis.
General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
County Counsel
C7 Approve a retroactive agreement with Greines, Martin, Stein, and Richland LLP, for legal services.
General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
Health and Human Services Agency-Administration
C8 Reappoint Christy Coleman to the Partnership Health Plan of California Commission to serve a four-year term to August 31, 2029.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Health and Human Services Agency-Behavioral Health and Social Services
C9 Approve a retroactive renewal agreement with North Valley Behavioral Health, LLC, for psychiatric inpatient services.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C10 Approve a retroactive renewal agreement with Wayfinder Family Services for helping to locate and engage relatives, and assist with establishing or maintaining family connections for youth in foster care.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Health and Human Services Agency-Economic Mobility
C11 Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Training, Education, and Community
Help, Inc., to submit a joint application for Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Round 6 (HHAP-6) grant funds and designate authority to the Health and Human Services Agency Director, or their designee, to sign the HHAP-6 agreement, and any documents specific to HHAP-6, including retroactive.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Public Defender
C12 Take the following actions: (1) Approve agreements with Journal Technologies, Inc., for: (a) development and implementation of case management software with no maximum compensation; and (b) software licensing, maintenance, and support; (2) designate authority to the County Executive Officer to sign amendments to the agreements that do not result in an increase in maximum compensation in excess of $50,000; and (3) approve budget amendments which: (a) increase appropriations and revenues by $95,900 in the Public Defender Budget (BU 207); (b) decrease revenues by $95,900 in the Sheriff Civil Budget (BU 237); and (c) transfer appropriations by $95,900 in the Statham Robbins Criminal Construction Admin. Budget (BU 00810).
No Additional General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote Public Works
C13 Approve budget amendments which increase appropriations and revenue by $75,000 in the Land Buildings and Improvement Budget (BU 166) and adjust appropriations by $75,000 in the Juvenile Rehab Facility Budget (BU 262) from Account 033791 to Account 095166 for the “JRF West Recreation Yard CCTV Project.”
No Additional General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
Sheriff-Jail
C14 Approve a retroactive renewal revenue agreement with State of California Department of State Hospitals for Jail-Based Competency Treatment in the Shasta County Jail.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
C15 Take the following actions: (1) Adopt a Salary Resolution, effective September 7, 2025, which amends the Shasta County Position Allocation List which: (a) deletes 1.0 FTE Sheriff’s Records Specialist I/II in the Sheriff Civil Unit Budget (BU 237); (b) deletes 1.0 FTE Deputy Coroner Investigator I/II in the Coroner Budget (BU 287); and (c) adds 1.0 FTE Lieutenant in the Jail Budget (BU 260); and (2) approve budget amendments which: (a) increase appropriations by $233,938 in the Jail Budget (BU 260); and (b) decrease appropriations by: (i) $125,563 in the Coroner Budget (BU 287); (ii) $89,788 in the Sheriff Civil Unit Budget (BU 237); and (iii) $18,617 in the Sheriff Budget (BU 235).
Future General Fund Impact
4/5 Vote
C16 Adopt a resolution which designates authority to the County Executive Officer to
execute a renewal agreement with Calaveras County for jail beds.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Support Services
C17 Take the following actions: (1) Approve an agreement with Carahsoft Technology Corporation for an online Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) System with related support; (2) approve an agreement with Marshfield Consulting, LLC to design the CLM model; and (3) designate authority to the County Executive Officer to sign amendments to either agreement.
Future General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator
C18 Approve an agreement with First Corporate Solutions, Inc., for personal services, “party of interest” information provided to the Treasurer-Tax Collector for parcels that may be sold at property tax auction and for properties that have sold at the property tax auction for excess proceeds notification.
No Additional General Fund Impact
Simple Majority Vote
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