Calls for transparency and discussion about council member conduct surface at Red Bluff meeting

Public comment and council discussion on Oct. 21 included allegations about prior complaints and litigation tied to a sitting council member and a request from a councilmember to pursue a resignation or other action.

A speaker identifying as "Shasta County watchdog" told the council that a complaint had been filed Dec. 17, 2024, about a contractor (Jeffrey Peterson) and alleged false allegations by Councilmember Cody Strzok. The speaker said a state review found no evidence supporting the allegations and questioned why the city had not notified the attorney general or disclosed pending cases on the public agenda and minutes. She said citizens deserve to know "where their money's been spent." The speaker also referenced a lawsuit filed June 9, 2025, against the city, saying the city had not properly disclosed the litigation in minutes and public materials.

Later in the meeting a councilmember proposed placing discussion of Councilmember Strzok's future on a future agenda and said, in part, "I personally... as a council, we need to come together and... say, Cody, we want your resignation." The city attorney responded that the council does not have the authority to remove a council member and that the council's formal options are limited to censure; the attorney said staff would return with guidance on agenda options.

Council directed staff and legal counsel to discuss next steps and return to a future meeting with options for how to proceed; no formal removal action was taken at the meeting.