TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Beth Moyer, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Resolution Approving a Cooperative Agreement with Tehama County for Building Department Support
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RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution 29-2026 approving the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Red Bluff and the County of Tehama for reciprocal plan check and building inspection services and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City.
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SUMMARY:
The City of Red Bluff and Tehama County each administers and enforces the California Building Standards Code within its jurisdiction, including reviewing construction plans, issuing building permits, and conducting required building inspections. The City and County have periodically assisted one another with building inspection services to help provide timely service to the community during staffing shortages. The proposed Cooperative Agreement formalizes this arrangement and establishes the terms under which either agency may request and provide plan check and inspection assistance when staffing, workload, budget, and operational circumstances allow.
County Counsel and our City Attorney have reviewed the Agreement, and it is ready for City Council consideration and adoption.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
On January 4, 2022, the City Council approved establishing a Part-Time Community Development Inspector classification to provide backup inspection support when the City’s full-time Building Inspector was unavailable due to vacation, illness, or other absences. This action was intended to help ensure continuity of inspection services and timely service to the community. The proposed Cooperative Agreement with Tehama County builds upon the City’s ongoing efforts to maintain reliable building inspection services when the part-time position is vacant.
DISCUSSION:
The Cooperative Agreement establishes a reciprocal process under which the City or County may request the other agency to perform plan check services and/or inspections associated with permits issued when experiencing Building Inspector shortages due to time off for various reasons. Assistance is subject to the providing agency’s staffing, workload, budgetary limitations, availability, and ability to accommodate the request.
The Agreement preserves each agency’s authority over its own jurisdiction. The requesting agency remains responsible for issuing permits, approving or denying plans, making final code interpretations, determining compliance with local requirements, and exercising its administrative and discretionary authority. Plan review provided by the other agency is limited to technical review and recommendations.
The Agreement becomes effective on the date stated in the executed document and remains in effect until terminated by either party upon 90 days’ advance written notice.
CEQA:
The proposed action concerns an administrative agreement to coordinate existing municipal and County plan check and building inspection services. The Agreement does not approve a development project or authorize physical construction.
CITY FISCAL IMPACT:
Payment is required only when services are actually provided. The requesting agency will compensate the providing agency at the fully burdened rate in effect for an Inspector III or $75.00 per hour, whichever is greater, plus mileage reimbursement at $0.70 per mile.
All costs associated with services provided under the Agreement will be paid from the Community Development Enterprise Fund (Account No. 20-26-720340-0100) and will not impact the City’s General Fund budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may adopt the proposed resolution, direct staff to seek revisions to the Agreement, or decline to approve the Agreement.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. DRAFT COOP Agreement - Redline w. County Counsel revisions
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 29-2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLUFF APPROVING A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY OF TEHAMA FOR BUILDING INSPECTION AND PLAN CHECK SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City of Red Bluff (“City”) and the County of Tehama (“County”) are each responsible for enforcement of the California Building Standards Code within their respective jurisdictions, including building permit plan review and inspections; and
WHEREAS, the City and County have periodically cooperated by providing building inspection assistance for permits issued by the other agency to support timely service to the community; and
WHEREAS, the City and County desire to formalize the terms under which either agency may provide plan check and building inspection assistance to the other, subject to staffing, workload, budgetary, and operational limitations; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Cooperative Agreement preserves each agency’s authority and responsibility for permits, approvals, final code interpretations, and enforcement decisions within its own jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the Agreement has been reviewed by County Counsel and City Attorney and is presented to the City Council for consideration and adoption; and
WHEREAS, the Agreement becomes effective on the date stated in the executed document and remains in effect until terminated by either party upon 90 days’ advance written notice.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED ON OCTOBER 20, 2026, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RED BLUFF:
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. The City Council hereby approves the Cooperative Agreement between the City of Red Bluff and the County of Tehama for Building Inspection and Plan Check Services, in substantially the form presented to the City Council.
3. The City Manager is authorized to execute the Agreement on behalf of the City, together with any non-substantive changes approved as to form by the City Attorney.
4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
MOTION:
SECOND:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT OR NOT VOTING:
ATTEST: ___________________________
Mayor’s Signature
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Deputy City Clerk