REDDING, Calif. — Redding city council decided to unanimously approve the short term lease extension requested by the Redding Rodeo Association.
This came after the discussion in the meeting Tuesday night went back and forth between councilors on whether to approve a longer term, 25 year lease as well.
City Manager Barry Tippin advised the council against the move. Citing that California’s Surplus Land Act requires cities follow a strict process for any city owned property that is extending its lease by more than five years.
“The process involves letting the community, and the world know, frankly, that the property is available,” Tippin says. “That its considered surplus by the state’s definition, not by any local definition. And that it could be purchased for uses of affordable housing.”
Tippin clarified the law does not require the city accept any offer that comes from this process.
A representative of the Redding Rodeo association told KRCR Wednesday they’re happy with the councils decision, and plan to work with the city going forward as they develop a plan for what improvements they’ll need a long term lease to do.
“We would need a longer term lease in order to have skyboxes,” Cindy Seanholtz, the rodeo’s general manager, says. ” Make a nice area up there, redo the announcer stand, and then that would likely continue on into a lot of the other areas. ”
Seanholtz says the best way anyone could support them is providing input into the city’s riverfront plan.
