Red Bluff council approves placing 'Street Smart' road-funding measure on June ballot

The Red Bluff City Council voted Jan. 20 to place a citizen-initiated sales-tax measure called the "Street Smart" initiative on the June ballot after a public hearing and discussion about local hiring, cost and outreach needs.

City Attorney Sophia Meyer told the council the action would recommend consolidation of the petition measure with the county's June election and that staff had attached a resolution with the correct ballot language. "If you approve the Street Smart Initiative measure today, then it will be requested to be placed onto the ballot for the June election," Meyer said.

Danielle Eyestone, the initiative's proponent, outlined the group's timeline, endorsements and fundraising needs and asked the council for a vote of support. "We were hoping that this passes council tonight," Eyestone said, noting proponents had collected signatures ahead of schedule and were seeking local-school-board endorsements and contributions for voter outreach.

Several residents told the council they supported the measure to repair streets and urged the initiative committee to include local hiring provisions. David Brook, who said his daughters attend local schools, asked the council to consider language that would give Red Bluff or Tehama County residents priority for construction jobs created if the tax passes. "Let's change 5 people's lives," Brook said, urging a local-hire target.

Supporters and council members discussed prior Measure R results, how much the tax revenue would actually cover and misconceptions about where sales-tax dollars flow. A staff member said the city did not yet have a final election cost estimate; consolidation with the county should yield economies of scale but additional election-related costs remain to be determined.

After public comment and council discussion, the council adopted the staff recommendation (resolution 01-20-26) to place the citizens initiative on the June ballot. The resolution moves the measure forward for inclusion on the consolidated ballot and begins the countdown toward campaign outreach and ballot materials. Mayor Pro Tem Clement and other council members said they would expect proponents to continue public education and fundraising for voter mailers and outreach.

Next steps: the measure will be printed on the June ballot if county elections staff certify it; proponents and the council will continue to refine and publicize the measure's details and schedule.