Redding has a new mayor. In its annual reorganization Adam McElvain was chosen by his peers to preside over the city council for the next year. During his first meeting as mayor the council approved two separate fire mitigation plans. One is a voluntary plan proposed by a group called “Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire”, a national team of wildfire planning experts who conducted research earlier this year. Funded by the Forest Service and private foundations, they came to town following last year’s Carr Fire. Many of their findings were similar to a plan put together by the Redding Electric Utility as required by state law. REU Director Dan Beans says one of the more controversial parts of the plan is what to do during days when there is an elevated risk of wildfire. He says while PG&E was utilizing the public safety power shutoffs, no one in Redding lost power. Beans says the one thing Redding is doing during high risk events is to turn off the automatic circuit resets. If there is an interruption in the circuit those lines must now be inspected manually instead of part of an automated system. Also as part of the plan the REU has funded 14 fire department apprentices doing vegetation management, in addition to funding staffing for three person engine companies. Goats are also part of the vegetation management plan.