Agenda Preview 6-9-2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting (Article Edition)

I’ve decided to continue writing the agenda previews for now. I may produce videos for these again if there’s significant context for clips and audio.

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will meet Monday, June 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the County Administration Center in downtown Redding.

On the agenda: a letter declaring the county is not a sanctuary jurisdiction, new budget actions on homelessness and mental health, and a public hearing on workforce vacancies. Budget hearings begin the following day, with formal appeals expected from the Elections Office, District Attorney, and Victim Witness programs.

R1 – Employee of the Month Recognition

The meeting opens with recognition for Jessica Roi, a Social Worker with the Health and Human Services Agency, as Shasta County’s Employee of the Month for June 2025.

R2 – CEO Update and Legislative Platform

County Executive Officer David Rickert will provide general updates on county operations. This is also when each Supervisor gives their board report, informing the public about what they’ve been working on and sharing updates from their districts.

The Board may also discuss recent or pending legislation aligned with the county’s platform. While no vote is scheduled, they sometimes use this time to express support or opposition to state and federal bills.

Consent Calendar Highlights

The Consent Calendar includes 17 items this week, covering leases, infrastructure, behavioral health, and security services. These are typically approved without discussion unless pulled by a Supervisor. Here are some of the highlights.

Health and Human Services Agency – Administration

C7 – Budget Amendment for HHAP Funds

Approves a budget amendment to expend $107,600 in remaining Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Round 1 funds, with a $26,971 revenue reduction offset by restricted fund balance. This use-it-or-lose-it funding comes as the county continues to face housing instability and public pressure for results.

HHSA – Behavioral Health and Social Services

C8 – Agreement with Anderson Creek SRF

Approves a $5.4 million contract with Compassion Pathway Behavioral Health LLC for residential mental health services at Anderson Creek SRF. The contract allows the department to approve rate increases up to 10%, signaling a long-term reliance on private facilities for high-need placements.

C9 – Mobile Crisis Team Renewal with Hill Country

Renews a $10.8 million agreement with Hill Country Community Clinic to operate the Mobile Crisis Team, which dispatches behavioral health staff in response to psychiatric emergencies. These teams are part of an effort to reduce law enforcement involvement in mental health crises.

Support Services

C16 – Security Services Contract with Securitas

Renews an agreement with Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. for unarmed private security at county facilities, not to exceed $7 million. The continued outsourcing of security services,especially for government buildings and meetings, has drawn criticism from some residents concerned about transparency and accountability.

Regular Calendar: Continued

R3 – “Not a Sanctuary Jurisdiction” Letter

Supervisor Crye is sponsoring a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security declaring that Shasta County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction. While more symbolic than substantive, Shasta already complies with federal enforcement. This move aligns with national discourse on immigration and law enforcement.

The letter comes amid heightened federal action elsewhere. In Los Angeles, a series of ICE-led raids over the weekend resulted in at least 118 arrests and widespread protests. Law enforcement deployed tear gas, flash-bangs, and pepper balls as demonstrators clashed with federal agents. In response, President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops under a federal Title 10 directive, bypassing California’s state authority.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, who called the deployment “purposefully inflammatory” and warned it could escalate tensions even further.

In this context, Shasta County’s declaration is less about policy and more about signaling. The letter doesn’t change current practices, but it places the county firmly in line with the broader push for stricter immigration enforcement, and against sanctuary-style protections, even if none are currently in place locally.

R4 – Support for Dam Preservation

Supervisor Kelstrom is requesting Board approval for a letter supporting preservation of the North Battle Creek and McCumber Reservoir dams. The letter opposes their removal, citing concerns about water storage, fire protection, and hydropower generation. This reflects ongoing tensions between ecological restoration efforts and local water use priorities.

R5 – Representation on the Fountain Wind Project

The Board will consider designating Supervisor Crye as its spokesperson for future meetings with the California Energy Commission regarding the Fountain Wind Project. The item is sponsored by Supervisor Harmon.

At the May 16, 2025 meeting, both Supervisors Crye and Harmon were named to present the county’s position at a scheduled hearing. This item appears to establish Crye as the ongoing representative for future discussions on the matter.

While Crye has become a vocal opponent of the project, it is important to remember that Shasta County’s resistance to the Fountain Wind Project began well before his election. Former District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert was a key figure in shaping the county’s early opposition, raising concerns about fire safety, rural character, and the state’s top-down approach to local land use. Her advocacy helped lay the groundwork for the current stance.

Crye has taken a more combative posture on the issue, often emphasizing themes of local sovereignty and state overreach. Whether this approach strengthens the county’s influence with regulators or shifts the tone of future engagement remains to be seen, but the legacy of local concern did not begin with this Board.

R6 – Oversight of Correctional Programs

The Board will discuss whether to request regular updates from the Community Corrections Partnership and the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council. These bodies oversee criminal justice realignment and juvenile programming, respectively. No specific policy change is proposed, but the item signals potential increased oversight.

R7 – Status of County Workforce and Recruitment Efforts

The Board will hold a public hearing to receive a presentation on employee vacancies and the county’s efforts around recruitment and retention. This hearing is required under Government Code § 3502.3 and serves as a formal update on the state of the county workforce.

As of May 1, 2025, the county had 305 vacant positions, representing a vacancy rate of 14.57 percent. While some vacancies reflect hard-to-fill roles or hiring freezes, the continued shortage impacts service delivery across departments, especially in Health and Human Services and Public Safety.

The presentation is expected to cover ongoing challenges including competition with private-sector wages, the rising cost of benefits, and efforts to streamline hiring. Though no vote is scheduled, the discussion could shape future decisions on compensation policy, staffing models, and labor negotiations.

R8 – Fiscal Year 2025–26 Budget Hearings (Begins June 10)

The County’s formal budget hearings will begin the day after the regular meeting, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., are expected to last until Thursday. These hearings are the final step in adopting the county’s Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget.

The Board will receive an overview from the County Executive Officer, consider departmental budgets, and hear public comments. Most budget units are expected to be approved without significant changes. However, formal appeals have been filed for three departments: the Elections Office (BU 140), the District Attorney’s Office (BU 227), and the Victim Witness Program (BU 256).

Any revisions to the CEO’s recommended budget must be submitted in writing before the close of the hearings or approved by a four-fifths vote of the Board. Once the hearings are complete, a final budget resolution will be prepared for adoption.

The hearings present one of the few opportunities for public input on spending priorities across all departments. Residents can attend in person or submit written comments to the Board.

Other Agencies

After completing the main agenda, the Board will briefly recess and reconvene as the governing body for three dependent agencies:

Shasta County Housing Authority

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority Governing Board

Shasta County Water Agency

Of note, SEIU Local 2015, which represents IHSS workers in Shasta County, remains without a contract. While no specific labor items are listed on the agenda for this session, the ongoing impasse continues to affect hundreds oflocal caregivers and recipients.

If you want your voice heard, now is the time to speak up. A letter on immigration enforcement, expiring homelessness funds, multi-million dollar contracts, and the start of budget hearings all reflect where this Board is choosing to focus its attention.

The meeting takes place Monday, June 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the County Administration Center, 1450 Court Street, Room 263, in downtown Redding.

You can attend in person, submit a public comment, or email the Board directly at ShastaCountyBOS@ShastaCounty.gov. County leadership doesn’t get the last word, you do.

And that’s the Agenda Preview.