City of Redding Podcast

Redding recently hosted its first-ever Ironman 70.3 Northern California, bringing hundreds of athletes to the area for a 1.2-mile swim in Whiskeytown Lake, a 56-mile bike through Shasta County, and a half marathon on the award-winning Sacramento River Trail. 

In this episode, Katie and Steve check back in with Tim Bauer from the Redding Sports Commission to hear how the event went, what athletes had to say about their experienc...

Katie and Steve recap the August 18 Redding City Council meeting, including major utility and infrastructure contracts, the updated City Schedule of Fees, Redding Electric Utility’s 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, and the $74 million replacement of Water Utility Pump Station 1.

The Council also approved the Caldwell Park Expansion Project, continued interim City Attorney services, and addressed several other road, storm drain, ...

It was a short Redding City Council meeting, with most business handled through the Consent Calendar. Katie and Steve recap several approved projects, including storm drain work, road improvements, and a new hydro-cleaner vehicle for the Wastewater Collection Division.

They also highlight the Council’s unanimous approval of funding and City support for the upcoming Ironman 70.3 Northern California event, which is expected to b...

Most people know Haven Humane as the place to adopt a pet, but there's much more to the organization than finding homes for animals.

In this episode, Katie and Steve sit down with Haven Humane CEO Jim Lewis to discuss the organization's partnership with the City of Redding and its role in providing Animal Regulation Services. From responding to stray animals and dangerous dogs to investigating animal cruelty and enforcing local anim...

This week, we recap the July 21, 2026, Redding City Council meeting, including:

• The appointment of an Interim City Manager following the passing of City Manager William Tarbox
• Updates on infrastructure and neighborhood maintenance districts
• The selection of an Interim Police Chief
• Continued discussion on the City's proposed fee updates
• Funding to maintain the Civic Auditorium

Get the highlights in about 5 minutes. To watch the f...

The inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California is coming to Redding, bringing athletes from across the country to compete in one of the most scenic race courses in the nation.

In this episode, Steve and Katie sit down with Tim Bauer from the Redding Sports Commission to discuss why Redding was selected to host this world-class event, what makes the course unique, how the community is preparing, and what residents can expect on race ...

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 evening.

Whether you're a first-time attendee ...

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 six-month update on ...

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 does—and doesn't do
• Vehicles...

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 $1.3–$1.5 million in int...

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 having a smokejumper base in Redding is s...

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 Redding Civic ...

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’s ...

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 what it...

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, the fe...

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 Regular Calendar, the Council unan...

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
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• Visit the City of Redding website
...

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 Francisco, Seattle, and Denver op...

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 meaningful conversation about...