Redding City Council Honors Late City Manager William Tarbox, Appoints Interim Leaders, and Advances Community Projects
- Elisa Ballard
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
REDDING, Calif. — The weight of City Manager William Tarbox’s sudden passing hung heavily over the Redding City Council chambers on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Mayor Mike Littau opened the meeting with a moment of silence for Tarbox and his family. Littau also dedicated the meeting to Tarbox. The impact he made in the short months since arriving in February was truly astounding, as council members, staff, and residents reflected on a leader who brought clear decision-making, a focus on long-term sustainability, and a genuine commitment to the community.
A representative from Redding Nazarene Church delivered an invocation emphasizing integrity, stewardship, wisdom, compassion, and service. Multiple speakers offered condolences and praised Tarbox’s leadership. The city had announced his unexpected death on Sunday, July 19.
Following a closed session, the council appointed Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director Michael Webb as interim city manager to ensure continuity while a search for a permanent replacement begins. Webb will continue in his other roles as the city navigates multiple leadership transitions.
Interim Police Chief Appointed
The council unanimously appointed retired annuitant Robert “Hank” Schreeder, former Santa Rosa police chief, as interim chief of police. Schreeder, who has also served interim roles in other cities, was selected by the late city manager and is limited to 960 hours. He is scheduled to begin around August 3.
Chief Brian Barner’s retirement is effective September 22, 2026, with his last day in office having been June 30. Recruitment for a permanent chief continues, with interviews involving technical and community panels that include Interim City Manager Webb and Councilmembers Tenessa Audette and Jack Munns. Public speakers thanked acting and interim leadership while expressing concern about turnover and the need for stability.
Civic Auditorium Short-Term Funding Approved
With the current tenant (Advance Redding) vacating July 31, the council approved up to $107,000 from the general fund for six months of essential operations and maintenance at the Redding Civic Auditorium. Costs are estimated at about $17,000 per month plus $5,000 in materials for staff checks, fire alarm and security contracts, pest control, HVAC, and temporary structural hardening. A suggestion was made by Councilmember Munns to increase the presence of security at the location.
An RFP for a new operator is expected in July or August, with a vendor potentially in place by October or November. Unspent funds will return to the general fund. The facility will have limited interim use due to staffing, with an exception for the International Fly Fishing Conference. Security fencing will be minimized for visibility and removed during the Ironman event and the conference. An update is planned for early October.
Public Hearings and Assessments
The council held a federally required public hearing for the California Enterprise Development Authority to issue up to $13 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds for Redding School of the Arts facility improvements and expansion. There is no fiscal impact or liability to the city. The hearing closed with no speakers, and the resolution was adopted.
Annual Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) assessments for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 were approved after a public hearing with no speakers. The 53 LMDs benefit 5,963 properties. The Construction Cost Index was 2.7 percent; the average levy increased 1.76 percent overall. Sixteen LMDs saw an average decrease of 11.21 percent, 30 saw an average increase of 9.84 percent, and seven remained unchanged. LMDs A, B, and C lack escalator clauses and are targeted for reform next fiscal year. McEntire Landscaping, Inc. has had the maintenance contract for this work, and the contract expires this year.
Assessments for the Hope Lane and Seven Bridges Sanitary Sewer Maintenance Districts were also confirmed and approved with no public comment. Hope Lane (52 parcels) has a maximum of $546 per lot and a levy of $278. Seven Bridges (74 current parcels) is at its maximum of $198 per lot.
Fee Schedule Hearing Continued
The public hearing on adjustments to the city’s schedule of fees and service charges was opened and continued to the second meeting in August (August 18, 2026). Council member Tenessa Audette requested a detailed analysis of the general fund subsidy tied to current fees, modeling of whether proposed increases would close or reduce the gap, a three-year history of fee increases, input from a stakeholder working group, and a clearer segmented presentation of changes including consolidations and removals. Officials acknowledged that closing Development Services budget gaps may require tools beyond fee increases. Vice Mayor Dr. Paul Dhanuka encouraged public review and comments before the continued hearing.
Item 9.1, a Public Works update on the Pump Station One replacement project, was pulled and will return at a future meeting. The agenda was otherwise approved unanimously.
Public Comments
Several residents spoke during public comment. A co-director presented the Lake Redding Regatta scheduled for August 1–2, highlighting its historical roots dating to the Water Carnival of 1927 and regattas of 1933–1939, partnerships with the Shasta Historical Society and public safety agencies, and planned family-friendly activities, historic ship exhibit, classic cars, crew, performance kayak, and stand-up paddleboard races.
Public speaker, Nick Gardner, thanked the city for keeping the field house open at Big League Dreams and praised the turnaround of the hockey program and Black Sheep Gastro Pub.
Multiple residents strongly opposed a proposed jail or rehabilitation center at 7251 Eastside Road in south Redding, adjacent to the River Ranch subdivision of about 100 homes. They cited proximity to families, potential property value declines, lack of transparency and research by the planning commission, possible taxpayer costs from litigation, questions about necessity versus remodeling the existing county jail or using the old courthouse, and concerns about employment and housing for day-program participants. Speakers asked the city to revoke the lease to the County for this land that had previously been described as a buffer zone and clarify budget caps for legal expenses.
Another speaker urged a dedicated sales tax to fund a county jail, criticized the lack of political will for that approach, and opposed adult rehabilitation or day-center alternatives as insufficient for public safety needs.
Public speaker Leslie Sawyer encouraged continued progress following Tarbox’s passing, whom she said accomplished more in the short time he was here than the former City Manager, Barry Tippin, accomplished during the years he was in the role. She also congratulated Michael Webb on his interim appointment and advocated that everyone focus more on state-level efforts. Sawyer recognized Assemblymember Joe Patterson for AB 2700 on utility accountability, Assemblymember James Gallagher’s work including $155 million for the Sacramento River Basin, and support for HR 845 on gray wolf delisting, while calling for accountability from North State representatives.
Looking Ahead
Parks maintenance issues should be reported through the phone number listed on the city’s website. Council member Erin Resner shared a personal note about travel to Mount Rushmore with her family, and the finance committee will be contacted to schedule its first meeting.
The council faces significant leadership transitions in the wake of Tarbox’s death while continuing work on fees, infrastructure, public safety facilities, and community assets. An update on the Civic Auditorium RFP and related security is expected around early October.
