Redding City Council Chooses New City Manager, Plans Action on Civic Center

January 6, 2026

Redding City Council Chambers

The Redding City Council convened Tuesday for a lengthy meeting dominated by extended public comment on the administrative leave and reinstatement of Police Chief Brian Barner, followed by formal council action to appoint a new city manager and renewed discussion of Civic Auditorium funding through an ad hoc committee originally formed last month.

The Jan. 6 meeting, held at Redding City Hall, drew an unusually high number of speakers, prompting Mayor Mike Littau to suspend the usual limit on public comment and allow all speakers to be heard at the start of the agenda. In addition to the Barner matter, the council addressed consent calendar items, committee assignments for 2026, the appointment of a new city manager, and next steps for Civic Auditorium financing and related budget planning.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation, Littau announced that the Council had met in closed session prior to the regular meeting, and that there was no reportable action. All council members were present.

Public Comment

Public comment lasted more than 40 minutes and focused overwhelmingly on the disciplinary action toward Police Chief Brian Barner, who was present in the chambers but did not speak.

Several speakers questioned how the decision to place Barner on leave was made, whether the City Council had been fully informed, and whether the process followed appropriate procedures. Others emphasized Barner’s years of service and expressed concern that the action had caused lasting reputational harm. One speaker stated that “his reputation has been damaged,” warning that the effects extended beyond the immediate controversy.

A smaller number of speakers addressed broader fiscal and governance concerns, including long-term budget pressures, transparency in closed-session decisions, and past disagreements among council members over financial warnings. One speaker criticized the council for previously dismissing budget concerns raised by Council member Tenessa Audette.

Council Response to Public Comment

Following public comment, council members addressed the concerns raised by speakers and the limits on what could be discussed publicly. Vice Mayor Paul Dhanuka addressed what he described as “the elephant in the room,” explaining that city ordinances restrict the council’s ability to receive or publicly discuss detailed information related to personnel matters. He said those limits can leave the public without clear answers even when council members share constituents’ concerns.

Audette then asked City Attorney Christian Curtis whether those restrictions were imposed by state law or by city ordinance. Curtis responded that the limitations stem from city ordinance rather than state statute. Dhanuka noted he had searched for a relevant state law and found none, indicating the policy could be reconsidered by the council through a formal process.

Agenda Items

The council began its agenda items with the consent calendar, which was approved unanimously by voice vote. Then they took up the issue of the new city manager.

Appointment of City Manager

Littau introduced Item 9A, approval of the appointment of William Tarbox as City Manager. Kari Kibler, serving as interim city manager, presented the staff report outlining the recruitment process and terms of employment.

Two members of the public spoke during the item, raising concerns about compensation levels and overall budget constraints. The council voted 5–0 to approve Tarbox’s appointment.

Committee Assignments

The council approved its updated list of departmental, commission, committee, and agency liaison assignments for calendar year 2026.

Civic Auditorium Ad Hoc Committee Report

Littau introduced an oral report from the Civic Auditorium Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of council members Audette and Erin Resner. The committee was originally formed at the council’s Dec. 16 meeting to explore potential funding support for the Civic Auditorium while broader budget discussions were underway.

A public speaker cautioned against additional taxpayer funding without a sustainable operating model. At Council member Jack Munns’ request, city staff provided background on comparable facilities, noting that civic auditoriums rarely operate at a profit and often require ongoing subsidies.

The discussion expanded into timing and capacity considerations with council members weighing how quickly the ad hoc committee’s work could realistically proceed and whether it should be paused pending the arrival of the new city manager. Both committee members pushed for getting the work done quickly, with Audette arguing that some preparatory work should begin sooner rather than later to avoid delaying key financial decisions.

Audette also requested a future update on the city’s motocross lease, citing prolonged delays, prior public assurances that updates would be provided, and the need to inform stakeholders and residents about the status of the agreement.

The meeting was adjourned after a short closed session that produced no public comments.

Meeting Summary:

• Consent Calendar:

  Approved unanimously by voice vote.

• Appointment of City Manager:

  Approved 5–0 — William Tarbox appointed City Manager.

• Committee and Liaison Assignments (2026):

  Approved updated list of departmental, commission, committee, and agency liaison assignments.

• Civic Auditorium Ad Hoc Committee:

  Received oral report from the existing ad hoc committee (Councilmembers Tenessa Audette and Resner); recommendations were given but no formal action taken.

• Future Agenda Items:

  Council agreed to revisit Civic Auditorium funding, budget sequencing, finance committee structure, and to receive a future update on the motocross lease.

The meeting reflected heightened public concern focused primarily on concerns about transparency and process surrounding the Brian Barner affair. Many speakers warning that the handling of the matter caused reputational harm and undermined public trust. Several speakers also tied the issue to broader questions of council oversight, governance limits, and fiscal accountability. While council members acknowledged the concerns raised during public comment, particularly regarding transparency and governance, they emphasized existing limits on personnel discussions and focused on moving forward with planned actions, including leadership transitions, committee work, and future budget deliberations.