Agenda Preview 6-17-2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting (Article Edition)

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the County Administration Center in downtown Redding. The agenda includes a physician shortage proclamation, departmental presentations, and two public hearings on solid waste charges. The Board will also meet in closed session to discuss ongoing litigation, including a case brought by former District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones.

R1: CEO and Supervisor Reports

The meeting will begin with updates from County Executive Officer David Rickert and each supervisor. These reports often include legislative updates, departmental highlights, and constituent concerns. No formal vote is scheduled for this item, but these reports can sometimes set the tone for future policy directions.

R2: Proclamation Declaring a Physician Shortage Crisis

The Board will consider a proclamation recognizing a public health crisis due to the physician shortage in Shasta County. The item is sponsored by Chair Kevin Crye and follows a recent declaration by Dr. James Mu identifying the shortage as a critical issue. There is no direct cost to the General Fund, and a simple majority vote is required.

While the proclamation is symbolic, it has become a springboard for Crye’s broader push to establish a new medical school in the region. In a video released the day before the meeting, Crye suggested that unnamed individuals were "throwing themselves in front of the train" to stop the initiative. The metaphor raises concerns about how dissent or scrutiny of the proposal is being framed, positioning disagreement as obstruction rather than engagement.

The urgency of the physician shortage is not in dispute. Emergency rooms are overburdened and wait times are growing. But critics have questioned the viability and timing of Crye’s solution. Building a new medical school from scratch could take over a decade before yielding a single new local physician. In the meantime, options such as expanding residency programs, offering rural retention bonuses, or partnering with existing hospital networks like Dignity Health have not been prioritized.

There are also concerns about how the initiative is being managed. Crye’s advisor on the project is Chriss Street, a former CEO candidate who was later given a $40,000 no-bid contract, conveniently under the threshold requiring board approval. That contract positioned Street to shape the medical school effort without a formal appointment process.

The proclamation may pass without controversy, but the underlying plan and the process behind it continue to raise questions about transparency, feasibility, and priorities.

Consent Calendar Highlights

The Consent Calendar includes routine items typically approved in a single motion. However, several items stand out due to their financial scale, policy implications, or public interest:

C1: Year-End Budget Adjustments

This sweeping item reallocates funds across more than two dozen departments. Notable changes include over $1.1 million in cuts to the Roads Budget, $2.3 million added to reserves, and significant increases for Mental Health and Social Services programs funded through state realignment. The adjustments reflect shifting priorities and late-year efforts to reconcile spending.

C4: Amendment to Board Meeting Policy

Updates Administrative Policy 1-101, Operation and Conduct of Business Before the Board of Supervisors, to change the regular meeting start time from 9:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. starting in July 2025. The change is part of a broader revision to align policies with current county operations. Though framed as a procedural adjustment, earlier start times may limit public accessibility for working residents and those with morning obligations.

C6: Legal Services Agreement with Sloan Sakai Yeung & Wong, LLP

Requires a 4/5 vote. Though the report states there’s no General Fund impact, the hiring of outside counsel continues a trend of rising legal costs, likely linked to investigations, personnel matters, or pending litigation.

C7: $7 Million Contract with Restpadd, Inc.

Renews funding for inpatient psychiatric services. This reflects an ongoing reliance on contracted providers to meet critical mental health needs in the region.

C9: $1.08 Million Agreement with Victor Community Support Services

Provides youth programs including Aggression Replacement Training and counseling. These services are aimed at reducing recidivism and supporting behavioral health in juvenile populations.

C13: Environmental Services for Old Courthouse Demolition

Authorizes a contract with Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. to oversee environmental review for the demolition of the old courthouse. Though there is no direct General Fund cost, the project has drawn scrutiny over its long-term goals and transparency.

C15: Countywide Drug Testing Agreement

Approves a new contract with Redwood Toxicology Laboratory, Inc. for testing materials and services. While standard, it reflects ongoing operational costs and reliance on private labs.

Residents are encouraged to attend in person, speak during public comment, and contact their supervisors directly. Whether you support or oppose what’s on the agenda, showing up and staying informed is how public accountability happens.

R3: Presentation on Children's Services

The Board will receive a presentation from the Director of Behavioral Health and Social Services at HHSA on children’s services in Shasta County. No vote is scheduled, and the item has no direct impact on the General Fund.

Presentations like this often provide an overview of program goals, service delivery models, and trends in demand. It may also touch on how recent staffing shortages, budget limitations, or changing state mandates are impacting local child welfare and behavioral health efforts. Depending on the data presented, it could help set the stage for future funding or policy discussions later this year.

R4: Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) Update

The Board will receive a presentation from the Redding Area Bus Authority (RABA) on the current state of public transit services in the region. This item is sponsored by Supervisor Chris Kelstrom. There is no scheduled vote and no immediate General Fund impact.

These updates typically include ridership statistics, budget trends, service changes, and plans for future improvements. With recent discussions around infrastructure funding and regional connectivity, the presentation could highlight challenges RABA faces in maintaining service levels, especially in rural areas. Public input and Board feedback could influence future transit priorities or grant applications.

R5: Commission on Aging Presentation and Potential Board Direction

The Board will hear a presentation from the Chair of the Shasta County Commission on Aging. This item is sponsored by Supervisor Crye and includes the option for the Board to provide direction to staff. While there is no immediate financial impact, any follow-up actions could affect future General Fund expenditures.

The presentation may address aging demographics, service gaps, and recommendations for improving support for seniors in areas like transportation, housing, healthcare access, and social services. If the Board chooses to act, it could signal a shift in how the county prioritizes aging-related policy initiatives or resource allocations.

R6 & R7: Public Hearings on Solid Waste Charges

The Board will hold two public hearings related to solid waste services. The first concerns the continuation of parcel charges to help fund Siskiyou County’s waste disposal facilities, which Shasta County supports through a regional agreement. The second involves proposed rate increases for Burney Disposal, Inc., including new service charges and a framework for future adjustments.

For the Burney Disposal item, property owners and tenants have the opportunity to submit written protests. If a majority protest is not received, the Board may approve the new rates and grant authority to the Public Works Director to carry out the changes.

Neither item affects the General Fund. Both are administrative steps to maintain ongoing waste management operations in the region in response to cost and service demands.

R7 & R8: Closed Session: Litigation Matters

The Board will recess to closed session to discuss two legal matters:

Anticipated Litigation: One potential case involving former District 4 Supervisor Patrick Jones

Existing Litigation: Jennifer Yuzon v. County of Shasta (Shasta County Superior Court Case #207728)

The anticipated litigation relates to a prolonged dispute over alleged misconduct in the District Attorney’s office during the 2022 election. Jones has publicly challenged the findings of an independent investigation, claiming he witnessed illegal campaign activity by DA staff. While the investigation found only a minor violation and largely cleared the office of wrongdoing, Jones continued to assert his version of events, saying the report confirmed what he had seen. He has also signaled interest in legal or disciplinary action following the report’s release.

This is not the first time Jones has used county resources to pursue personal vendettas, often promoting claims that conflict with independent findings. His role in advancing misleading narratives has drawn criticism from other board members and members of the public.

Both matters will be discussed in private, and any reportable action will be disclosed after the Board reconvenes in open session.

Residents are encouraged to attend in person, speak during public comment, and contact their supervisors directly. Whether you support or oppose what’s on the agenda, showing up and staying informed is how public accountability happens.