Redding Planning Commissioners Hatch and Greene May Continue in Current Roles Unless Replaced by a Majority Vote, City Attorney Says

4.8.25 7:40 pm: We have updated this story to correct Council member Erin Resner’s role in appointments.

During the City Council’s heated debate last week, Council member Tenessa Audette double-checked whether, if the Council failed to appoint new Planning Commissioners, the two open seats would remain empty, reducing the size of the Commission from seven to five.   

“So for a point of clarification if we don’t agree, there’s just a vacancy,” Audette said, turning to ask City Manager Barry Tippin before a vote on the topic during the last meeting.

“That’s correct,” Tippin said. His words were immediately echoed by a similar statement from Mayor Jack Munns.

The claim significantly raised the pressure on dissenting Council members to approve Munns’ picks for the Commission. But according to newly-released legal guidance from Redding City Attorney Christian Curtis, it’s not true. 

Curtis’s email guidance on the topic, which was confirmed for Shasta Scout by City Manager Barry Tippin, indicates that the law allows Commission members to continue in their positions if no new appointments are made.

The discussion on vacancies occurred as the Council was considering whether to appoint former Beverly Hills police officer and security consultant Blake Nance and builder and developer Joshua Johnson to fill two seats on the Commission. Johnson has experience. He’s served a short stint on the Planning Commission last year before stepping down to accept a temporary appointment on the Redding Council which has now ended. Nance’s planning-related experience, Munns told the Council, includes “all the planning for Dick Clark productions… massive productions, massive planning that takes months.”

It’s unclear how Nance’s experience in event security planning connects to the land management work of the Planning Commission. Munns has not responded to Shasta Scout’s requests for comment.

The two Planning Commissioner seats in question are currently held by Commissioners Aaron Hatch and Brandi Greene who’ve both expressed interest in being reappointed after their terms end on April 30. Munns, whose mayoral role includes suggesting appointees to the Council for potential approval, said he’s not interested in reappointing Hatch and Greene–but has not disclosed why. 

During last week’s Council meeting, only Audette supported Munns choices for Planning Commissioner. Council members Dr. Paul Dhanuka and Erin Resner firmly opposed both potential appointees while Council member Mike Littau abstained from voting out of concerns about the “political” nature of the decision.

Fundamental Disagreements

During the discussion last week, Dhanuka said he wanted Hatch and Greene to be reappointed, in part to make up for Audette’s unsuccessful efforts to oust Hatch from the role mid-term last year. Keeping Hatch in the role is important for community unity, Dhanuka said, citing the vast support the Planning Commissioner received from the community during last year’s debacle.

Resner, who originally selected Hatch for his role during her time as Redding’s mayor, said she’s not committed  to the reappointments of those specific two, but does want to see their seats held by commissioners who provide similar perspectives to Hatch and Greene in terms of a strong value for green space, including parks. Resner said she believes recreational activities, including the use of parks, is one of the top priorities of City residents and should be well-represented on the Commission.

Both Hatch and Greene are strong advocates for planning that’s reflective of environmental concerns. Hatch is a financial planner who until recently served on the Board of the Shasta Land Trust. Greene is an environmental scientist who operates Burnsini Vineyard in Cottonwood. They’ve both said they will accept a Council decision not to reappoint them to their roles but are advocating, much like Resner, for their positions to be filled by candidates that represent the diverse perspectives of citizens in Redding. 

Current Planning Commissioners include Hatch and Greene as well as transporation engineer Russ Wenham, commercial realtor Michelle Goedert, commercial property owner Luke Miner, construction CFO Leslie Williem, and insurance agent Gregory Balkovek.

As Hatch and Greene have both pointed out, Munns’ choices for Planning Commissioner would have increased the number of realtors and developers on the Council, giving a clear majority voice to a group that already constitutes a significant portion of the Commission.

What’s next for the Planning Commission?

The Planning Commission is a state-mandated advisory body that provides recommendations to the City Council on land management issues, including planning documents. Redding is currently working to update one of the City’s foundational planning documents known as the Riverside Specific Plan, which will provide legal guidance for how some of the area’s most cherished land could be developed. Planning Commissioners are expected to weigh in on that process later this year. 

Over the last six months, the City has received seven new applications for the position of Planning Commissioner in addition to the expressions of interest in reappointment from Hatch and Greene. Redding residents can submit applications for the position of Planning Commissioner at any time. They’re kept on file for two years.

While Hatch and Greene may legally continue in their roles for four more years if not replaced by a vote of the Council, it’s also possible that Mayor Jack Munns could bring a new set of appointees to the Council’s next meeting in hopes of getting them approved.

Council member Littau told Shasta Scout by text today, April 8, that his decision to abstain from voting on Commission appointments at the last meeting was strategic and intended to “give pause and time for the Mayor to reflect.”

“I still stand by my offer of compromise”, Littau wrote, referencing his attempt at facilitating agreement during the last Council meeting, “to reappoint one commissioner and (for) the Mayor to choose one new commissioner.”

“It’s a fair offer”, Littau continued, “that might not be perfect for everyone but meets in the middle.”

Hatch, who was surprised by the news of the City attorney’s legal ruling, said he would be happy to continue serving until or unless the Council agrees on new appointments.

“It bears repeating,” Hatch added by email, “that I respect the process… As our community tackles the Riverfront Specific Plan and other land use priorities, Redding benefits from experienced Commissioners who offer a range of perspectives and who have no financial stake in any local development project. It is my hope that this will be considered by the City Council and the public going forward.”

Under City ordinance, Commissioners can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms, and may serve again after stepping down for a time. While Audette called such consecutive terms “rare” during the last meeting, documents obtained by Shasta Scout via public records request reveal the frequency with which Commissioners have served such back-to-back terms.

Director of Development Services Jeremy Pagan is the department head who regularly interfaces with the Planning Commission and Council related to land management issues.

He told Shasta Scout that while Planning Commissioners don’t necessarily need expertise in planning, they do need strong public service values and should have a keen interest in local matters pertaining to planning and development. Planning Commissioners should be willing to educate themselves on pertinent state and local regulations and, Pagan added, and represent diverse perspectives.

“In my view,” Pagan wrote by email, “the Planning Commission should be made up of a diverse mix of people representing the community’s shared values and goals.”

---

Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.