Redding’s Measure B authorized the city to sell a parcel of land at Turtle Bay Exploration Park to the McConnell Foundation for $600,000. Two weeks after the election, it continues to stir up controversy. North State Public Radio’s Kelly Frost was at Tuesday night’s Redding City Council meeting, where things got heated.
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In what some claim was an election ploy, Redding businessman Alan Shuffelberger made a last-minute bid to buy the property for a million dollars. The council had been set to discuss that offer in closed session, but at the last minute a letter surfaced from the US Department of Commerce which outlines a 20 year one point six million dollar grant that was given to the city in 1995 meaning that the city could be liable for a 74 percent “claw back” if the land is sold. Council Member Gary Cadd questioned why that letter was not made public prior to the election, and asked the rest of the council to debate it in open session.
Cadd: “Mr. Duvernay knew about it back last April. Mr. Bosetti knew about it, Mr. Starman knew about it, McConnell people knew about it, and Turtle Bay people knew about it. So this covering it up is ridiculous. And if this Council turns around and doesn’t move this up to the open session where this comes out and we talk about this issue totally, then we’re seeing just who is transparent and who is accountable.”
Cadd claimed that City Attorney Rick Duvernay purposely withheld the letter in an attempt to sway the election, but Duvernay — clearly annoyed — said the letter was meaningless.
Duvernay: “The negotiations were confidential and sharing of information with the public, the media, stakeholders and council members is a two-way street. And all you gotta do is ask for the information and information will be provided. Nothing was withheld, nothing was hidden and I resent suggesting something to the contrary.”
Duvernay then suggested that the council take council member Cadd’s advice and remove the item completely from the agenda, which it did, meaning that it was not discussed either in closed or open session. What all of this means for the future of the land sale is still a question to be answered.
For North State Public Radio News, I’m Kelly Frost.
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