A few minutes after they emerged from a closed session meeting on Tuesday evening, Redding City Council members announced they’ll appoint Assistant City Manager Steve Bade to be Redding’s next interim city manager.
The council voted 4-1 to appoint Bade, with Councilperson Tenessa Audette dissenting, City Attorney Christian Curtis reported at the beginning of the council’s public meeting that followed the closed session.
Starting Oct. 4, Bade will replace current City Manager Barry Tippin, who announced in June he will retire this autumn. His final day will be Oct. 3, Tippin said in the public meeting.
Regarding why she voted against appointing Bade to the interim position, Audette said she preferred not to select anyone in the interim who is also applying for the permanent job of city manager.
“The city has very serious issues to overcome and the time required (for city workers applying) to fulfill their duties and apply for the job seemed enough without adding the role of CM,” Audette said in a text to the Record Searchlight on Wednesday morning.
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Council members met twice this summer to discuss the appointment prior to last Tuesday’s meeting.
Bade, whose city bio says he was born and raised in Redding, worked for the city since 1998. He serves as the housing director, and oversees the airports and the city’s economic development and innovation division. Bade held different positions in Redding’s housing department office and served 16 years as the city’s downtown liaison, according to the city.
Council members have yet to publicly announce the names of those applying for the position.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica on Record Searchlight Facebook groups Get Out! Nor Cal , Today in Shasta County and Shaping Redding’s Future. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding City Council votes 4-1 to appoint Steve Bade interim city manager
Reporting by Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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