Agenda Preview - Board of Supervisors 8-12-2025

The Shasta County Board of Supervisors meets Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Redding, with a packed agenda that includes a $2.5 million proposal from the Registrar of Voters to lease a new elections office and provide significant renovations, a four-year contract renewal for County Counsel Joseph Larmour, and the appointment Christy Coleman as the permanent Health and Human Services Agency Director.

R1 – Employee of the Month Recognition

The meeting begins with a resolution honoring Amy Hancock, Administrative Secretary II in the Veterans Services Office, as Shasta County’s Employee of the Month for August 2025. Amy has been with the Veterans Services Office for eight years and is recognized for her exceptional organizational skills, professionalism, and dedication to serving Shasta County’s veterans and their families. She manages complex administrative tasks, supports multiple staff members, and is often the first point of contact for veterans seeking assistance. Colleagues note her consistent positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure clients receive timely, accurate support.

R2 – County Executive Officer Update and Supervisors’ Reports

This standing item allows the County Executive Officer to brief the Board on current countywide issues and, when applicable, recommend actions on legislation tied to the county’s legislative platform. Supervisors also have the opportunity to share updates from their districts, highlight upcoming events, or raise concerns that may require future board attention. No votes are typically taken here, though the Board may direct staff to track or respond to specific legislative bills.

R3 – Presentation from the Amity Foundation

The Board will hear from the Amity Foundation, a nonprofit that partners with correctional systems to provide rehabilitation, education, and reentry support for individuals leaving incarceration. This presentation is connected to the county’s plans for an Alternative Custody Project, aimed at reducing recidivism by offering structured programs outside traditional jail settings.

The Amity Foundation has a track record in operating residential and day-reporting programs for justice-involved individuals, with an emphasis on life skills, substance abuse recovery, vocational training, and family reunification. Similar projects in other California counties have shown reductions in recidivism and cost savings compared to traditional incarceration. In Shasta County, the model under discussion would use county-owned or leased facilities to provide structured, 24-hour supervised environments for eligible participants, potentially alleviating pressure on the jail population while addressing underlying behavioral health and addiction issues.

Chair Kevin Crye recently discussed this approach on his August 10 radio show, describing alternative custody as a more immediate and cost-effective solution than building a new jail. He argued that pursuing both a jail and the proposed medical school project was financially unrealistic, and positioned the Amity model as a way to manage overcrowding while offering rehabilitation opportunities that align with his broader vision for criminal justice reform.

R4 – Department of Public Works Safety Action Plan

The Department of Public Works will present the county’s Safety Action Plan, a strategic framework intended to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The plan uses traffic collision data to identify high-risk corridors and intersections in unincorporated Shasta County and outlines targeted interventions to improve safety.

Recommended strategies include adding high-visibility crosswalks, upgrading guardrails, improving intersection lighting, and pursuing grant funding for rural road shoulder widening. The plan is also designed to position the county for future federal and state funding opportunities, including the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. By adopting the plan, the county aims to prioritize infrastructure improvements that will have the greatest impact on reducing crashes and saving lives.

Consent Calendar Highlights

The Consent Calendar includes several routine items that may be approved in one motion without discussion. Members of the public may comment regarding these items during the open time period at the beginning of the meeting.

• C1 – Legislative Support Letter: Approves a letter supporting Senate Bill 694, which seeks to strengthen protections against deceptive practices targeting service members and veterans. Authorizes the Chair or designee to submit revised letters if amendments do not substantially change the bill’s intent.

  
  

• C3 – Behavioral Health Hospitalization Agreement: Approves an agreement with John Muir Behavioral Health for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization services, valued at $1,035,000, funded through Behavioral Health allocations with no General Fund impact.

  
  

• C4 – Mental Health and Recovery Programs: Retroactive amendment to the agreement with National Alliance on Mental Illness Shasta County, increasing the maximum compensation to $160,000 for mental health and recovery programs. No General Fund impact.

  
  

• C8 – Youth Mental Health Services: Retroactive amendment to the agreement with Open Line Group Homes, Inc., increasing the maximum compensation to $1,500,000 for youth residential specialty mental health services. Funded through Behavioral Health allocations with no General Fund impact.

  
  

• C11 – County Counsel Appointment: Renews the employment agreement with County Counsel Joseph Larmour for a four-year term starting August 13, 2025. This item has drawn public attention due to Larmour’s recent legal decisions, including initiating a county lawsuit against proponents of a local election reform petetion initiative (requiring voter ID, hand counts, and single day voting) a move the group criticized as political intimidation. That lawsuit was later withdrawn. Larmour also advised the Board to call a recess and ban a public commenter the Board did not agree with, raising constitutional concerns about free speech and viewpoint discrimination.

  
  

  

  His most recent performance review took place in closed session on July 29, 2025. With no reportable action from that review, the public was not given advance indication that a contract renewal vote would appear on the very next meeting’s agenda. It's also somewhat unusual to place such a high-profile decision on the Consent Calendar, typically reserved for non-controversial items, seemingly bypassing broader public discussion on a matter where citizens across the political spectrum have a vested interest in the outcome.

  
  

• C14 – Environmental Review Contract: Allocates $180,000 to a consulting firm for preparation of an environmental impact report for an upcoming infrastructure project.

R5 – Opioid Settlement Fund Allocation

The Board will consider a request from Mercy Medical Center to use $25,000 from Shasta County’s opioid settlement funds. The proposal includes a budget amendment increasing appropriations in the Opioid Settlement Budget (BU 430) by the same amount, offset by use of restricted fund balance. Sponsored by Supervisor Crye, the funding would support Mercy Medical Center’s opioid stewardship and harm reduction initiatives, including training healthcare staff on best practices for prescribing opioids, expanding patient education on pain management alternatives, and improving follow-up care for individuals treated for overdoses. These activities meet the settlement’s guidelines for prevention and treatment efforts.

R6 – Correctional Health Services Contract

The Board will consider approving a contract with Wellpath for the provision of medical, mental health, and dental services at the Shasta County Jail and Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility. The agreement is intended to ensure compliance with state and federal standards for correctional healthcare and to address ongoing staffing and service gaps.

According to the staff report, Wellpath would be responsible for round-the-clock medical coverage, mental health evaluations and treatment, medication management, dental care, and coordination with outside specialists when necessary. The contract cost exceeds $1 million annually, funded through the county’s public safety budget.

R7 – Appointment of Director of Health and Human Services Agency

The Board will consider appointing Christy Coleman as the permanent Director of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Coleman has served as Interim Director since last year, following the medical leave and subsequent retirement of former director Laura Burch. According to the staff report, Coleman has worked for HHSA for more than 20 years in various leadership roles, including Deputy Director of Adult Services.

The decision comes during a period of heightened scrutiny of HHSA, with alleged financial irregularities and ongoing public discussion about the agency’s direction. Coleman has led the department through this transition, but her candidacy has been met with mixed internal support. A confidential poll from the county’s managers and supervisors bargaining unit, leaked to the public via the facebook group, Thought You Should Know, showed that over 70 percent of voting members reported they did not have confidence in Coleman’s leadership.

Supporters on the Board have cited her institutional knowledge and ability to navigate state compliance requirements, while the leaked email from union representative Heather Mcfall argues that the appointment should be delayed until the agency’s structural and fiscal challenges are more fully addressed.

R8 – Lease of Property for Elections Office

The Board will consider leasing the former Joann Fabrics building in Redding to serve as the new Shasta County Elections Office at an annual cost of about $265,000. In addition to the lease, the proposal would allocate $2.5 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for tenant improvements, including secure storage for elections equipment, ballot processing areas, voter service counters, and public observation spaces. These improvements would remain with the building’s private owner if the county ever vacates the property, meaning the public investment would not result in a county-owned asset.

Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis has said the location is “perfect for what we need” and described it as offering ample space for elections operations and public observation. According to KRCR’s coverage, Curtis also emphasized the site’s visibility and accessibility as advantages for both staff and the public.

ARPA funding is often intended for durable, long-term public assets. While federal rules allow such funds to be used for leased facilities if tied to essential services, the fact that the county will be making substantial permanent upgrades to a privately owned building has raised questions about long-term value.

It is also unclear how the move would significantly improve election transparency or efficiency. While the current building has its challenges, many Shasta County residents feel public observation there has been sufficient. There may be more pressing needs for these funds, and committing millions to upgrades on a leased property may not represent the most fiscally sound choice for the county.

This discussion comes amid shifting county priorities for major capital spending, with community members pointing out that money once set aside for a new jail may now be redirected toward the medical school project and this elections facility.

Closed Session

Closed session items are discussed privately by the Board and are not heard in front of the public. Any reportable actions taken during closed session will be announced after the Board reconvenes in open session.

R9 – Conference with Real Property Negotiators

The Board will meet with real property negotiators regarding 7251 Eastside Road, Redding (APN 050-050-010). Negotiations with the City of Redding will focus on the price and terms of payment for the potential purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of the property.

R10 – Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation

The California Land Stewardship Council lawsuit stems from a 30-year intergovernmental agreement approved by the Board on July 25, 2023, between Shasta County and the Redding Rancheria. Under the deal, the County agreed to provide law enforcement, fire protection, emergency response, and road and traffic control services to Rancheria-owned properties, including a planned new gaming complex, in exchange for $3.6 million in payments over the life of the contract. The stated purpose was to ensure ongoing service coverage for properties exempt from property taxes.

However, the agreement bypassed established county procedures. On July 14, 2025, Superior Court Judge Stephen H. Baker issued a writ of mandamus setting aside the vote, ruling that the Board’s decision was not authorized by law. The Court found that the County failed to properly follow the critical review process required before bringing the matter to a vote. Negotiations leading up to the agreement were conducted without meaningful involvement from the departments most affected, including the Sheriff’s Office, County Fire, the District Attorney, and acting County Counsel, all of whom opposed both the agreement and the manner in which it was presented. The County also failed to comply with Rule 6.1(f)(1), which requires County Counsel and Risk Management to review agreements prior to Board approval.

While the Court noted that the projected revenue from the agreement was unlikely to cover the actual cost of services, this was not the legal basis for voiding the decision. Judge Baker emphasized that counties are free to make unpopular or even unwise agreements, but they must follow the law in doing so. In this case, the absence of legal vetting, failure to consult affected agencies, and lack of procedural safeguards rendered the Board’s action invalid. The ruling makes clear that agreements like this must undergo proper legal review and departmental consultation before reaching the Board to protect both the County and the public.

R11 – Conference with Labor Negotiators:

This closed session item involves labor negotiations between Shasta County and the Professional Peace Officers Association. These negotiations are held outside of public view to allow both sides to discuss proposals, counterproposals, and potential agreements candidly.

This meeting covers capital investments, leadership appointments, and contracts that will shape public health and safety services. The outcomes will guide how millions of public dollars are used and determine which priorities move forward. Staying informed and engaged helps ensure those choices reflect the community’s needs.

And that's the Agenda Preview.