City of Redding Podcast

The Freedom Festival is back this July 4, and we're answering the questions we've been hearing from the community. In this episode, Katie and Steve cover everything you need to know before heading out, including the event schedule, parking and RABA shuttles, lawn seating, bridge closures, food vendors, fireworks safety, and a few important reminders to help you have a safe and enjoyable...

Missed the June 16 Redding City Council meeting? Katie and Steve break down the highlights in this quick recap episode. Topics include: • A tourism and downtown revitalization update from Visit Redding and Viva Downtown  • Approval of the City's five-year, $751 million Capital Improvement Plan  • Adoption of the 2026 Water Shortage Contingency Plan and 2025 Urban Water Management Plan  • A si...

Ever wonder whether a barking dog is a Code Enforcement issue? How long can a vehicle sit on the street? Or whether someone can legally live in an RV on residential property? In this special mailbag episode, Steve and Katie sit down with the City of Redding's Code Enforcement team to answer some of the most common questions they receive from residents. Topics include: • What Code Enforcement...

In this episode, Steve and Katie recap the June 2, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including updates on: • Preparations for the November 2026 General Municipal Election • Continued regional support for the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) • Utility infrastructure compliance and natural gas pipeline safety requirements • Refinancing electric utility bonds projected to save customers $1....

What does it take to jump out of an airplane into a remote wildfire? In this episode, we sit down with U.S. Forest Service Smokejumper Base Manager Mitch Hokanson to discuss the highly trained firefighters who parachute into some of the toughest terrain imaginable, often reaching fires before they become major incidents. We learn about the intense training required to earn the title, and why havin...

In this episode, Steve and Katie recap the May 19, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including updates on: Public safety investments and roadway improvement projects  New appointments to the City’s Audit Committee and Financial Advisory Committee  Redding Electric Utility’s third-quarter financial report and long-term energy planning  The future operations and management transition of the Reddin...

In this episode, Steve and Katie recap the May 5, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including updates on: Foster Care Awareness Month The upcoming Ironman 70.3 event Housing and Community Development funding Updates to the City’s fire code  They also discuss early findings from the Circle 6 Efficiency Study—including opportunities to return funds back to the General Fund—and changes to the City’...

Today we’re talking with Rebecca Baer, President and CEO of the Shasta Economic Development Corporation, or Shasta EDC. We’ve talked with the EDC before, but this conversation focuses on what it really takes to bring a new business to Redding. And spoiler alert—it’s not just incentives, though Redding does have plenty of those to offer. We talked a lot about quality of life here in Redding… and wh...

The Redding Sports Park continues to evolve, and in this episode, Katie and Steve sit down with Director of Community Services Travis Menne to talk about what’s new, what’s working, and what’s ahead. Since the City of Redding took over operations, the park has grown into more than just a sports facility—it’s becoming a true community destination. We dive into what that transition has looked like,...

This week’s meeting included recognition of Firefighter Steven Sawyer as the 2025 Firefighter of the Year, along with a full agenda of infrastructure, planning, and financial updates. The Council approved several Consent Calendar items, including an Entertainment Zone for Kool April Nights, grant funding for ESL services, and FAA support for improvements at the Redding Regional Airport. On the Reg...

City Manager William Tarbox addresses the cancellation of the March 17th public hearing on proposed Redding Electric Utility rate adjustments and discusses plans for the City of Redding to address efficiency, accountability, and discipline across the entire organization. Contact the City of Redding Podcast Team Email us at podcast@cityofredding.org Connect with us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagr...

Ever wonder why some flights from Redding cost more than Sacramento—or how new destinations get added to the schedule? In this episode, Steve and Katie sit down with the manager of Redding Airports Manager Andrew Solsvig to talk about what it really takes to bring airlines and routes to a regional airport. They dive into the convenience of flying local, how connections through Los Angeles, San Fra...

In this episode, Katie and Steve break down the key highlights from the March 3rd Redding City Council meeting. This week’s agenda included discussions on proposed Redding Electric Utility rate adjustments, a temporary Hilltop Entertainment Zone during Kool April Nites, and several notable consent calendar items that keep the city running behind the scenes. It was a shorter meeting but packed with...

In this episode, Steve and Katie sit down with Officer Ron “RJ” Johnson from the Redding Police Department’s Traffic Division to explore how a new DUI-focused traffic safety grant is helping keep Redding’s roads safer. RJ breaks down how the grant supports a wide range of initiatives — from DUI checkpoints and officer training to school presentations and public education about the dangers of impai...

Recapping the February 17, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including disaster relief loan information, community events, the Ironman triathlon agreement, electric utility finances, and REU proposed rate adjustment process, and other council actions.  Watch the full meeting at youtube.com/cityofredding Read the transcript here >> Contact the City of Redding Podcast Team Email us at podcas...

In this week’s Community Mailbag, Steve and Katie tackle your biggest questions about what’s happening across Redding. We break down the facts on airline service at Redding Airport, smart irrigation tips from the WaterSmart program, the long-planned Turtle Bay to Downtown Trail Connection, and the latest on the Riverfront Specific Plan. From clearing up misconceptions to explaining how major proje...

**UPDATE**  This episode has been updated to reflect a correction in the FY 2026 sales tax projection. The Redding City Council adjusted sales tax revenue projections to -2% for FY 2026, with projections of 1.5% in FY 2027 and beyond. ====== The February 3 Redding City Council meeting covered big-picture planning and immediate community impacts. In this episode, Katie and Steve break down the key...

This City Council recap covers the January 20, 2026 meeting, one of the longer and more detailed Council meetings recently. Katie and Steve walk through major agenda items, including the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, funding challenges for the Redding Civic Auditorium, long-term budget and revenue discussions, creation of new financial oversight committees, and updates on parks, nuisance abatem...

After recent storms brought storm drains into the spotlight, this episode explains how Redding’s stormwater system really works. Katie and Steve sit down with Public Works Director Michael Webb to discuss maintenance, capacity, funding, and why flooding can still occur during intense storms—plus how residents can help keep nearby drains clear.  Learn more about storm drains in Redding >> Epi...

Steve and Katie recap the December 16 Redding City Council meeting, highlighting a special recognition honoring Interim City Manager Steve Bade for nearly 28 years of service to the City of Redding. They also cover the approval of a full consent calendar, council appointments, and a personnel item supporting continuity in City operations. The episode wraps with an important discussion on the futur...

Builders, contractors, engineers, and architects: you're going to want to hear this! Jeremy Pagan, Director of Development Services and Building Official with the City of Redding, shares details on 2025 Building Code updates, recently approved by the Redding City Council. These updates are designed to streamline the building or renovation process in Redding. Check it out! If you prefer to wat...

Downtown Redding is entering a new era — and we’re breaking it down with some of the people who helped make it happen. In this episode, we’re joined by Interim City Manager Steve Bade and Blake Fisher, Main Street Coordinator with Viva Downtown, to explore the launch of the City’s brand-new Downtown Entertainment Zone. The Entertainment Zone allows adults 21 and older to enjoy open alcoholic bever...

Steve and Katie recap the December 2, 2025 City Council meeting, covering a busy agenda that included the annual selection of Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem; public comment highlights; ADU zoning code updates; and a major discussion on creating a Financial Oversight Committee to strengthen budget transparency. The episode wraps with an information-only update on parolees in Redding, State pl...

Get an inside look at what it really takes to deliver clean, reliable water to Redding residents every single day. In this episode, we sit down with Water Utility Manager Josh Watkins to break down the system most people never see: miles of pipelines, treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, and the dedicated staff who keep it all running. We discuss the sources of Redding’s water, its trea...

In this episode of the City of Redding Podcast , hosts Steve and Katie recap the November 18th City Council meeting. Highlights include:  A tourism and marketing update from Choose Redding Lodging —including Ironman 70.3 Northern California set for August 2026—and more than 11,400 hotel room nights already committed for 2026.  An encouraging update on the Emerging Redding Riverfront Specific Plan....