RED BLUFF – The City Council will receive a report on Red Bluff’s sales tax numbers for the first quarter of 2024 on Tuesday.
According to staff data, revenue from sales in Red Bluff from January to March 2024 was 11.6 percent lower than the same quarter in 2023. Sales tax forecast for the 2023-2024 fiscal year remained unchanged from the previous estimate at $6,436,061.
Excluding adjustments, revenue fell 15.1 percent from the same quarter last year. Staff said the only two sectors with growth were food and drug and commercial and industrial. The remaining sales tax categories declined due to tighter credit conditions as federal policymakers continued to use monetary policy to rein in consumer spending and reduce inflation. Staff said the current sentiment is that people are putting off expensive and non-essential purchases.
The sales tax projected for fiscal year 2024-2025 decreased by $58,135 to $6,515,926 from the previous estimate.
In other business areas
The Council will discuss a five-year contract with Sophia R. Meyer Law PC to provide legal services to the City.
If approved, the contract would take effect in December. Meyer’s hourly rate would be $190 for the first three years and $200 for the final two years. For legal services, the hourly rate would be $85.
Meyer has been the city’s prosecutor since November 1, 2022 and has been running her own law firm since then.
Staff said that, at the direction of the council, a new five-year contract has been submitted for review as the existing contract with the law firm of Sophia R. Meyer expires on November 30, 2024.
The adopted budget for 2024-2025 provides $60,000 for attorney services. No additional funds are required to approve this contract.
The Council shall review and discuss information provided by staff and the public to provide direction, as appropriate, regarding the City’s weed control policy.
According to staff, a developed lot on a typical city lot only needs to have hazardous vegetation removed that is up to 30 feet from buildings. If a small vacant lot is smaller than five acres, it may need to be divided into manageable pieces or all hazardous vegetation removed.
When the standard is applied to a property larger than five acres, the landowner may divide the standing vegetation into smaller portions of approximately one acre as a mitigation strategy rather than complete removal. This approach requires a 30-foot reduced perimeter with cross-fire breaks around the property.
Weed control generally begins in late March to early April.
The Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 555 Washington Street. Meetings are free and open to the public.
