Agenda Preview - Board of Supervisors 7-16-2025

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Redding. The agenda includes a presentation on veteran homelessness, a housing-related public hearing, and several major consent items, including a shift in children’s health services and contracts with large financial impact. The Board will also discuss union negotiations and the performance of County Counsel Joseph Larmour in closed session.

R1: Employee of the Month

The meeting begins with a resolution honoring Emmy Westlake, Supervising Accountant with the Sheriff’s Office, as Shasta County’s Employee of the Month for July. Westlake is recognized for her leadership, professionalism, and willingness to work overtime during a staffing crisis. The nomination comes from the county’s Employee Recognition Committee and has no general fund impact.

R2: CEO Update and Legislative Platform

Item R2 includes an update from County Executive Officer David Rickert on current county issues, along with reports from each Supervisor. While no specific legislation is listed in the agenda packet, this section often includes endorsements or oppositions to state bills that align with the county’s legislative platform.

R3: Veteran Homelessness Collaboration

The Board will receive a presentation from the Veterans Service Office and the Health and Human Services Agency on a local initiative to address veteran homelessness. In addition to the presentation, the Board is asked to take formal action: approving two budget amendments totaling $188,394 and adopting a salary resolution to add a full-time Alcohol and Drug Counselor position. These actions require a four-fifths vote and are funded through the Opioid Settlement and Behavioral Health budgets, with no impact on the general fund.

This item stems from a directive made during the May 13 meeting, when Supervisor Matt Plummer brought forward a proposal grounded in the Built for Zero model, a nationally recognized framework for ending veteran homelessness. Plummer had spent months working with partners to adapt the model to Shasta County.

At that meeting, Chair Kevin Crye blocked the proposal by casting doubt on the model’s effectiveness and redirecting the conversation toward terminology. Despite offering no alternative, Crye's opposition stalled what had been positioned as a unifying plan.

The current version reflects a narrowed approach but still represents progress toward addressing a persistent local issue. The vote will determine whether this scaled-down plan moves forward.

Consent Calendar Highlights

The Consent Calendar includes 18 items, most of which are expected to pass without discussion. Below are key highlights based on cost, impact, or potential controversy.

C1: CAL FIRE Greenhouse Gas Grant : $999,036

Ratifies the County Executive Officer’s signature on a grant agreement with CAL FIRE for nearly $1 million. The funds will support defensible space inspections, public education, and vegetation removal in high-risk fire zones. The program includes hiring temporary inspectors and purchasing a masticator to assist residents who cannot clear vegetation on their own.

C5: Fire Services Contract: $11.4 million

Approves a retroactive renewal agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for administration of the Shasta County Fire Department. This is one of the largest contracts on the agenda and has general fund impact.

C7–C10: Behavioral Health and Long-Term Care Contracts: Over $10 million total

These four retroactive agreements fund psychiatric inpatient care, outpatient mental health services, skilled nursing, and residential care for adults and elderly clients. The largest is with Restpadd Health Corp for psychiatric services at $5.5 million.

C12: Letter of Intent for Whole Child Model Independence

This item approves a letter of intent for Shasta County to become an Independent Whole Child Model County, which would give local government full control over administration of the California Children’s Services (CCS) program. The CCS program serves about 1,000 children with complex health needs and another 200 through physical and occupational therapy.

Although the County already handles most of the work under a hybrid model, this move would eliminate the remaining state oversight. The shift could have significant implications for accountability and access. This move may reduce protections for vulnerable families, especially if local control is used to delay or restrict services. The decision to go independent aligns with a broader ideological preference for local authority, and could raise concerns about transparency, equity, and future service delivery.

C13: Software Contract Waiver

Authorizes an agreement for a countywide IT system upgrade and waives competitive bidding requirements. The vendor, Network Consulting Services Inc., was selected through a manufacturer-driven RFI process.

C16: CHP Cannabis Tax Grant: $413,972

Accepts funding from the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund to support impaired driving enforcement and education efforts in the Sheriff's Office.

R4: Public Hearing on Housing Allocation Plan

The Board will conduct a public hearing and consider adopting an amended five-year plan under the Permanent Local Housing Allocation (PLHA) program. The update adds homeownership opportunities, including down payment assistance, to the county’s strategy for using up to $1.8 million in state housing funds.

The amendment expands the scope of previously approved PLHA activities, which have historically focused on rental assistance, homelessness prevention, and affordable housing development. By adding support for homeownership, the county aims to help low- and moderate-income residents secure long-term housing stability.

There is no general fund impact. A simple majority vote is required.

Closed Session

The Board will recess into closed session to discuss several matters:

Existing litigation, including three cases: a workers’ compensation claim (Sara Culver v. County of Shasta), a civil suit (Robinson v. County of Shasta), and California Land Stewardship Council LLC v. County of Shasta and its Board of Supervisors.

• Regarding California Land Stewardship Council LLC: This item concerns a recent court ruling in which the Shasta County Superior Court sided with the County in a Public Records Act lawsuit brought by the Land Stewardship Council. The case involved a request for records related to a 2023 agreement between the County and the Redding Rancheria. The court found that the County conducted a reasonable search and acted in good faith, but it did not determine whether all records were disclosed or whether any were withheld. Chair Kevin Crye characterized the suit as a “poorly executed attack,” though the ruling simply affirms that the County met the minimum standard under the law. It does not confirm the completeness of the disclosure or rule out the possibility that relevant records were omitted.

Real property negotiations with the City of Redding regarding 7251 Eastside Road.

Labor negotiations with multiple bargaining units, including SEIU Local 2015 and UPEC General Unit 792. SEIU represents In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) caregivers who assist low-income seniors and disabled residents in remaining safely in their homes. UPEC 792 covers a wide range of county employees, including many in frontline service roles. Contract talks with both unions have continued for months, with unresolved issues still on the table.

A performance evaluation for County Counsel Joseph Larmour.

• Larmour’s recent legal decisions have drawn public attention. In March, he withdrew the county’s lawsuit targeting supporters of a state ballot initiative aimed at protecting election systems, a suit many criticized as a political intimidation tactic. He was also involved in advising the Board to shut down a public meeting and ban a regular commenter, raising constitutional concerns around free speech and viewpoint discrimination. His performance review comes amid growing tension between legal risk management and political agendas.

  
  

These meetings shape decisions about public health, housing, infrastructure, and civil rights in Shasta County. Residents are encouraged to attend in person, speak during public comment, or contact their supervisors directly.

Civic engagement remains one of the most effective tools the public has to influence local government.

And that's the Agenda Preview.