Redding City Council directed staff to move ahead on a request for proposals for the Civic Auditorium at 700 Auditorium Drive after staff said Advance Redding appears likely to wind down without additional city support.
According to the May 19 council meeting summary, the council’s direction came after public testimony and discussion about how the city should handle the venue’s future operations. The summary says council settled on several terms for the RFP, including keeping core city events available, allowing some parking charges, preserving the city’s ability to use the building for municipal purposes, and requiring bidders to show financial capacity.
The council also signaled that a future capital improvement plan could be negotiated later if an operator performs well, according to the meeting summary.
The meeting summary identifies Travis Mini, the city’s director of community services and airports, as the staff presenter on the Civic Auditorium RFP and transition funding discussion. It also says Advance Redding was discussed repeatedly in relation to the lease, transition funding and the possibility of winding down.
The development marks a concrete step toward replacing or reworking the auditorium’s operating model as the city weighs what arrangement will keep the venue available for civic events and municipal use.
