Red Bluff City Council Discusses Street Repair Plans

City officials outline funding challenges and potential solutions for addressing aging infrastructure

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Red Bluff City Council held a discussion on Tuesday about the city's plans to address needed street improvements, including the potential impact of a citizen initiative for a street repair sales tax on the June ballot. City officials provided details on the annual funding available for road projects, as well as the challenges of securing grants and collaborating with the county on shared jurisdiction roads. Council members expressed a desire for better communication with the public about the city's plans, even if repairs may be years away.

Why it matters

The condition of Red Bluff's streets is a major concern for residents, and the city's ability to fund necessary repairs is crucial for maintaining public infrastructure and addressing community frustrations. The upcoming ballot measure could provide additional resources, but the council is also exploring alternative strategies to address the backlog of street projects.

The details

The city currently receives around $900,000 annually for road projects, which has been built up over several years to complete larger projects like the recent South Main Street reconstruction. City officials noted that grant funding can be restrictive in how it can be applied, and they are exploring the possibility of collaborating with Tehama County on shared jurisdiction roads. Council members acknowledged that some residential streets may require complete reconstruction, which would involve additional work beyond just the asphalt.

  • The Red Bluff City Council discussed street repair plans at their meeting on Tuesday, March 5, 2026.
  • A citizen initiative for a street repair sales tax is scheduled to appear on the June 2026 ballot.

The players

Scott Miller

Red Bluff Public Works Director

Robin Kampmann

Red Bluff City Engineer

Kris Deiters

Red Bluff City Councilmember

Pat Hurton

Red Bluff City Councilmember

J.R. Gonzales

Mayor of Red Bluff

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We have to remember that South Main was just redone a couple of years ago, and that took about six years worth of the $0.9 million funding to allocate to get that project done.”

— Robin Kampmann, Red Bluff City Engineer (redbluffdailynews.com)

“I feel like we don't communicate very well about certain issues, and it would cut down on a lot of the public's frustration on a lot of issues if we actually communicated better.”

— Kris Deiters, Red Bluff City Councilmember (redbluffdailynews.com)

“If we don't plan for it — even if its years out — and we don't communicate that, the public's frustration, which becomes my frustration, is that they perceive that as we're just flat out not trying to do anything, and we're not paying attention and we're not listening, and that's not true.”

— Kris Deiters, Red Bluff City Councilmember (redbluffdailynews.com)

What’s next

City Engineer Robin Kampmann will provide a summary and map of planned street repair projects in the 1st and Franklin Street area at an upcoming council meeting.

The takeaway

Red Bluff's aging street infrastructure and limited funding present ongoing challenges, but the city is exploring creative solutions like grant opportunities and county collaborations. Improved communication with the public about the city's plans, even for long-term projects, could help address community frustrations and build support for potential funding measures.