May 3, 2024 from: Jon Barrett <jbarrett@tehamacountyrcd.org>

The Resource Conservation District of Tehama County (RCDTC) signed escrow papers on 4-18-2024 and the deed recorded on 4-19-2024. As the legal owner of the building, we will ensure that modification(s) to the building comply with the City of Red Bluff’s building codes. As we do with all our work, we will consider the historic value and cultural significance of the building. The following is in response to the remaining questions raised in your email dated 4/15/2024.

Brown Act – Assuming that you’re referring to the district’s board decision to cancel its 3/6/2024 meeting, the board decided to cancel in Open Session during the February meeting. The March meeting was cancelled because the RCDTC was in transition to a new temporary building and had no conference room to host legally the board meeting. Per the Brown Act, the district has a public comment period during each open board meeting providing multiple opportunities for the public to address the board. Also, per the Brown Act, the district’s board of directors have a limited list of reasons that allow a public board to have closed session agenda topics. One of the closed sessions topics is Section 54956.8, conference with real property negotiators. This allows the board to negotiate with the seller on the property without creating a conflict of interest. This was legally done.

National Historic Landmark - We are under the impression that achieving such status is a multi-year process. We support the conservation of historic structures and the building’s contribution to the Historic Downtown Red Bluff district. Unfortunately, we are not able to halt RCDTC activity for an unknown period. This significant delay permitting would be an overburdening cost to the district in time and productivity.

Future Use Considerations –Future occupancy is an unknown. California law has gone through numerous changes around its Excess Property status and lately it has been focusing on housing for home unsecured individuals. These laws could change, and we would address that issue if the property was deemed excess.

We share your value in our collective, local heritage. Keeping this commonality at the forefront should help shape future communication between our organizations.   Please keep an eye out on our website as we are going to develop a page for the building for community members interested in work that we intend to do to the building.

Thanks,

Jon Barrett

District Manager

Resource Conservation District of Tehama County