Redding’s City Attorney Christian Curtis will be leaving his position within the next few months.
In an interview with the Record Searchlight, Mayor Mike Littau confirmed Curtis’ upcoming departure.
According to Curtis’ contract with the city, he is required to give the city three months notice. In an email exchange with Curtis, he told the Record Searchlight his “last day is not decided yet but will be no later than the end of April.”
Littau said “it’s possible the new agency he’s going to work for would like him to come earlier,” but it would be “up to the council’s discretion” whether to waive the three-months notice requirement.
Littau said “this could easily be three to six months to find and hire a replacement,” and in the meantime the city may look into bringing in an interim city attorney to fill the gap.
In terms of finding a permanent replacement, Littau said he is open to hiring both internally and externally and the city may hire a recruiter to find candidates to interview.
Littau said it’s critical for any candidate to have “experience working in government.”
Asked what new position he would be taking up, Curtis said he cannot share at this time but expects “the details to be public by the end of next week.”
Curtis started as Redding’s city attorney a little over two years ago in January 2024.
According to the city of Redding’s website, the city attorney’s duties include “advising city officials on all legal matters involving the city,” reviewing the city’s “contracts, leases, and agreements” and “assisting departments in the research and development of city resolutions and ordinances,” among other things.
This story was updated with new information.
Drew Askeland covers Redding and Shasta County government issues, as well as anything else that needs reporting for the Record Searchlight and USA Today Network. Reach him at drew.askeland@redding.com or (530) 225-8247. Please subscribe today to support our newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: UPDATE: Redding city attorney leaving within months
Reporting by Drew Askeland, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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