The Redding City Council is the five-member elected body that governs the City of Redding, California. It sets local policy, adopts the city’s biennial budget, passes ordinances, approves utility rates, and appoints the City Manager and City Attorney who run day-to-day operations. All five members are elected at-large, meaning every voter in the city picks from the same pool of candidates rather than voting by district.
Who Serves on the Council
Each member serves a four-year term. Terms are staggered so two or three seats appear on the ballot every two years, with elections held in even-numbered years. The next general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.1City of Redding. Elections Each year the council selects a Mayor and Vice Mayor from among its own members, so the mayoralty rotates rather than being elected separately.
Some California cities have moved to district-based elections under the California Voting Rights Act. As of 2025, Redding still uses the at-large system, so each member answers to the whole city.
What Happens When a Seat Opens Mid-Term
If a seat opens because a member resigns, is removed, or moves outside city limits, California Government Code Section 36512 gives the remaining members 60 days to either appoint a replacement or call a special election. An appointee covers the rest of the term if the vacancy falls in the term’s second half; if it falls in the first half and the next general municipal election is at least 130 days away, the appointee serves only until voters fill the seat at that election. The council cannot use an appointment if doing so would leave a majority of sitting members appointed rather than elected; in that case the seat must go to an election.2California Legislative Information. California Government Code 36512
What the Council Decides
Redding runs on a biennial budget that starts July 1 and runs through June 30 two years later.3City of Redding. Budget The most recently adopted plan estimates net revenue of about $390.4 million for fiscal year 2025–26 and $401.4 million for 2026–27, covering general fund operations, utilities, and capital projects.4City of Redding. 2026-2027 Biennial Budget Staff and the City Manager draft the budget, but the council has final approval over every dollar.
The council also writes the local law. Ordinances it passes become part of the Redding Municipal Code and govern zoning, land use, public safety, and more. It directly appoints the City Manager, who serves as chief executive, and the City Attorney, who provides legal counsel. The idea is to keep elected officials on policy and let professionals handle administration.
One power residents feel on their monthly bills is utility rate-setting. The council approves rates charged by Redding Electric Utility5City of Redding. Rates and Fees along with water, wastewater, and solid waste rates. A typical residential electric bill for 800 kilowatt-hours is around $159 a month,6Redding Electric Utility. Redding Electric Utility Rate Book and combined utility costs for a single-family home can land in the $250 to $330 range depending on water use and season.
Attending a Council Meeting
Regular meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Redding City Council Chambers at 777 Cypress Avenue. You don’t have to show up in person to follow along. Meetings are broadcast live on the city’s YouTube channel and on Shasta Community Access Channel 181 via Charter/Spectrum cable, and archived recordings are available through the city’s Granicus video portal.7City of Redding. Redding City Council
Agendas are posted before each session through the City Clerk’s office and on the city website, along with staff reports that lay out the financial and legal reasoning behind proposed actions. Reading those reports beforehand makes a real difference if you plan to speak.
Speaking During Public Comment
Every regular meeting includes a public comment period governed by the Ralph M. Brown Act, the state law that guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in local legislative meetings.8California Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. The Brown Act Open Meetings for Local Legislative Bodies The Brown Act allows reasonable time limits, and Redding typically gives each speaker three minutes at the podium.
If you can’t attend in person, you can submit written comments to the City Clerk before the meeting for inclusion in the official record. Public comment is not a conversation: council members listen but generally don’t engage in back-and-forth during the meeting. They may direct staff to follow up afterward, which is often where things actually move. A concise point tied to a specific agenda item tends to be far more effective than a broad complaint.
Serving on an Advisory Board
The council appoints residents to advisory boards and commissions that make recommendations on areas like planning, parks, and community development. To be eligible, you must live in Redding, work within city limits, or own a business located there. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and kept on file for two years, with the city drawing from that pool when vacancies open.9City of Redding. Boards and Commissions These volunteer seats are one of the most direct ways to shape policy outside an election. Check the city’s Current Vacancies notices or contact the City Clerk’s office if you’re interested.
Running for a Seat
To run for the Redding City Council, you must be a registered voter of the city at the time nomination papers are issued to you, and an elector of the city when you take office. If a sitting member moves outside city limits or stops being an elector during their term, the seat becomes vacant immediately.10City of Redding. Candidates’ Guidelines The city publishes updated Candidates’ Guidelines before each cycle with nomination petition details and filing deadlines.
Campaign contributions fall under California’s statewide default limit set by Assembly Bill 571. For the 2025–2026 cycle, the cap is $5,900 per contributor, per election, unless the city has adopted its own local ordinance.11California Fair Political Practices Commission. Contribution Limits – City and County Candidates Confirm the current limit with the City Clerk’s office, since the FPPC notes its list of cities with local ordinances may not be exhaustive.
Pay and Financial Disclosure
A council seat in Redding is closer to a civic role than a full-time job in pay terms. According to 2023 data from the California State Controller’s Office, individual members earned roughly $5,700 to $7,500 that year, with the Mayor at about $5,735.12California State Controller’s Office. City Council – Redding (2023) – Cities Members are eligible for the city’s group health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability, with the city paying a portion of the cost.13City of Redding. 2023 City of Redding Employee Benefits Guide
All members file a Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) disclosing personal assets, income, and financial interests. Under the Political Reform Act, they’re classified as “87200 filers” and, as of January 1, 2025, file directly with the Fair Political Practices Commission rather than locally.14City of Redding. Redding Statement of Economic Interest (SEI) – Form 700 Members must also recuse themselves from votes that could affect their personal economic interests. Late filing can bring a penalty of up to $5,000.15California Fair Political Practices Commission. Statements of Economic Interests – Form 700