Red Bluff City staff told the Planning Commission on Sept. 23 that City Council recently adopted updated water and sewer master plans and that the city will commission a nexus study to set rates and review development impact fees.

Tom (community development staff) said the water and sewer master plans had not been updated since February 2004 and that the city’s subsurface infrastructure includes pipes nearly 100 years old. “Our water and sewer rates haven't been adjusted since 2012,” Tom said, adding that the master plans will inform a capital improvement program and a subsequent nexus study to determine appropriate user rates and one-time development impact fees.

Staff said the council adopted the updated master plans in early September and that city staff expect to present proposed fee changes to the council in 2026. Tom described the nexus study as the technical step that will calculate fees “based upon the condition of our system and the future needs” and said a public outreach component will accompany any rate proposals.

Tom described several capital projects and near-term procurement steps. Bid documents for the River Park splash pad are complete; staff plan to go out to bid in October and to start construction in the spring. The city is under construction on a vault replacement project on Walton Drive, which Tom described as “the critical piece that probably feeds 90% of all the sewer from the city to the treatment plant.” He said the vault replacement is expected to be finished in the next 60 days. Plans for a sewer line replacement through River Park are nearly complete and staff expect to bring construction plans to City Council and go out to bid within the next one to two months.

Staff also reported recent personnel additions in the Community Development Department: Emily Westlake was hired as a full‑time grant writer about a month ago and Zach Dixon started as a full‑time code enforcement officer roughly three weeks ago. Tom said both positions report to Community Development Director Beth, who has been on leave since June and is expected to return in January 2026.

Commissioners asked about materials used in the system; Tom said the city’s buried pipes include a mix of clay, reinforced concrete and PVC pipe. Commissioners also asked how the city will avoid surprising residents with higher rates; Tom said the master plans and the nexus study will provide engineering and financial grounding for any proposed changes and that staff will conduct public outreach.

Tom said the council has applied for grants previously and will continue to pursue outside funding to reduce pressure on the general fund; he noted a new grant writer should improve the city’s ability to seek grant dollars for capital projects. He also said plans for a new fire station are finished but that a previous funding application was not awarded; the project cost at the time of the application was about $7.5 million and remains unfunded. Separately, Tom said Council Member Gonzales asked to schedule a general discussion about potential annexation of properties; staff will bring that item back for a future council work session.

Tom closed by asking commissioners to contact staff if they encounter delays while Community Development Director Beth is on leave; he said he expects to cover her duties until her return.

Next steps reported to the commission include completing the nexus study, continuing grant seeking for capital projects, advertising the River Park splash pad bid in October, and finalizing sewer replacement plans for advertisement to bidders in the coming months.