Regular City Council Meeting - February 6, 2024
View Agenda - Watch Entire Meeting
The land that Eureka rests on is known in the Wiyot language as Jaroujiji. Past actions by local, State and Federal governments removed the Wiyot and other indigenous peoples from the land and threatened to destroy their cultural practices. The City of Eureka acknowledge the Wiyot community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. This acknowledgement demonstrates the City’s commitment to dismantle the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism.
Report Out of Closed Session - Watch
No report out of closed session.
Mayor Bergel presiding; Councilmember Castellano, Councilmember Moulton, Councilmember Bauer, and Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach present in chambers. Absent: Councilmember Fernandez
A. Mayor’s Announcements - Watch
A.1. Grant School - Great Kindness Challenge - Watch
Grant Elementary School Principal Rachel Brakeman and Community Schools Liaison Jessica Maushardt presented about the Eureka City Schools Community Schools program and Kindness Week. The Community Schools program works to support students in the community with community partners, utilizing a restorative practices model, provide additional curriculum to students to help build social-emotional skills, as well as a Wellness Center for students with a social worker available.
Grant Elementary School participated in the Great Kindness Challenge for the second year. Student leadership helped to direct the school events, and community partners joined in the school events, including Mayor Bergel, Sheriff Deputies, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Also thanked Councilmember Castellano for joining the students for the 100th day of school celebration.
A.2. Little Samplings 5 Year Anniversary - Watch
Presented by Director Nancy Danel, Supervisor Shannon Fazio, with comments from Mayor Susan Seaman
Little Saplings will celebrate its 5-year anniversary in March of 2024. Little Saplings Preschool operates in the John Ryan Youth Center facility, which was an afterschool program, summer camp, and community class venue. The facility was repurposed, the process of obtaining a State License began in March of 2018, and the preschool opened to families in March of 2019. The preschool began with four families, and as of now, has served 94 families in the community. Little Saplings enrollment is open to all community members, and full-time City employees receive free enrollment as part of their employment benefits.
Little Saplings serves 24 students daily, ranging in age from two and a half to five years old. The program at Little Saplings is a play-based, hands-on curriculum to support the students learning through play. The program fosters independence, kindness and empathy, and strives to meet children where they are. Have two classes after starting with one class.
Little Saplings will mark the 5-year anniversary with a celebration in March, and is inviting the Mayor and Council to join the celebration.
Little Saplings Preschool is continuing to enroll new families, and is working to get to full enrollment. Will be installing new playground equipment, offering more family events, and continuing to serve the families of Eureka and the families of the employees of the City of Eureka.
Former Mayor Seaman shared appreciation for the work that staff has put in to get the program off the ground, and appreciation for City Manager Slattery for recognizing the need and supporting staff. Believes that Eureka is the only city in the region that operates a child care facility, but that may be changing in the future. Little Saplings also has received and is eligible for more funds from a program administered by AEDC (Arcata Economic Development Corporation) and funded with $4.8 million from the County of Humboldt to support the child care industry through hiring bonuses, retention bonuses, facility loans for improvements that may be forgiven when the improvements are completed, and will be looking into education and parent stipends programs. The majority of the fund is still available, and Mayor Seaman provided Council with the latest AEDC annual report.
City Manager Slattery added his gratitude for the work from Director Danel, and the resource has been service not only to the community but to the City for recruitment and retention of employees. City Manager Slattery shared that his own move to Humboldt was spurred by childcare issues, and the free childcare for employees has been a great tool for recruiting new employees and retaining current employees.
Councilmember Moulton commented that as a parent who was able to enroll a child at Little Saplings, appreciated the hard work and patience of the staff, and noted the value of the resource as a working mom, and hopes to be able to continue to do this for the working families.
Mayor Bergel moved the presentation by Humboldt Bay Fire Chief Robertson up from City Managers Reports to allow Chief Robertson to be at an unexpected commitment.
K. 1. Humboldt Bay Fire Update - Watch
Humboldt Bay Fire Chief Robertson presented 2023 review, this was presented to the JPA (Joint Powers Authority) board at their January 19 meeting, and will be presented to Humboldt Fire Protection District No. 1 at their regular meeting in March.
Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) saw an increase in calls in 2023 at approximately 7,400 calls in 2023. Sixty-three percent of the total calls were for Rescue/Emergency Medical Service, and the remaining 37% of the calls were for Good Intent Calls, Service Calls, Fire Alarm and False Alarm Calls, HazMat, Fires, and then 3 calls for Ruptures/Explosions, and 1 call for a Special Incident.
HBF uses National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) classification codes for reporting to the national database, collected at the National Fire Academy in Maryland. All fire departments report information the same way for consistency. Besides responding to fire calls, HBF also responds for calls for rescue/EMS, which are extractions, water rescue, and all medical-related calls; hazardous conditions, which can be fuel leaks and electrical issues; service calls, public service assistance, agency assists, burn complaints, and cover assignments; good intent calls, which include cancelled calls, wrong location or no call, reports that turn out to be steam or controlled burns; and special calls
Fire calls made up 3.34% of the calls in 2023. There was a decrease in structure fires from 40 in 2022 to 20 in 2023. Other fires were consistent, with vegetation and garbage fires making up the bulk of the other fire responses.
Rescue and EMS calls made up the bulk of the calls in 2023, 62.62% of the calls. Most of the calls were for motor vehicle accidents and extractions. The predominate calls the medical calls, at over 3,800 for the year.
Station 1 at 6th & C Streets processed the highest volume of calls in 2023, followed by Station 3 on Ocean Avenue at Henderson, then Station 4 on Myrtle & West Avenues, and Station 2 on Herrick Avenue. Within all the stations, Quarter 1 and Quarter 4 of 2023 were the highest call times. The winter months tend to lead to more calls from more people using heating devices, and seasonal sickness trends. Overall have seen increases in the call volume as the area population increases.
HBF is facing staffing issues with 13 people leaving HBF for other agencies over the last two years, with an average of 11 years of service. Has created a gap in promoted positions that require more training, and did lead to temporary station closures. Adapted recruitment practices and now have open recruitment every rank. Modified the training programs to get more people qualified earlier in their career, moving to a development model. Currently 2 permanent and 1 temporary position vacant, and expect that to increase but working to mitigate that. HBF is developing a partnership with College of the Redwoods to create an accredited Firefighter Academy, where some HBF personnel are also instructors. The Academy started to serve CalFire with wild fire training, and has now expanded to include structure fire training. The labor pool across the state is shrinking, as a very large number of fire departments are looking for firefighters. Most people who do interview have very little experience, and require more training after their initial onboarding. HBF was fortunate to fill a vacant Battalion Chief position by hiring an employee who had retired from a Captain position.
Current HBF employees have continued to train for new positions within HBF. This is possible through the support of all staff filling in when folks are out for training to continue to provide service to the community.
HBF held department awards in June, awarding Firefighter of the Year to Yolla Montalbin, the Service Award to Executive Secretary Jenna Harris, the Medal of Honor to Tyler Gillespie, and the Citizen Award to Natalie Dy of Happy Donuts.
The HBF Firefighters union adopted a new uniform shirt for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with a portion of the funds from all shirts purchased donated to a local breast cancer support group, and raised just over $2,000. HBF introduced a new cadet program to aid in training for EMT and Firefighter 1 certification. Had a successful toy drive over the holiday season. Had a huge year of training, staff completed 2,000 more hours of training than the year before, totaling more than 10,500 hours of training, culminating in a live fire training exercise.
Upcoming projects for HBF include a new tiller truck and engine, remodels for Stations 1, 2 and 3, starting a Junior Firefighter program in conjunction with the Cadet program, will be beginning with a soft-launch for families of both HBF and City of Eureka employees to participate, and beginning the Rural Address and Water Tank Identification program.
B.1. Human Rights Commission Presentation
Presented by Jim Glover from the Human Rights Commission
The Humboldt County Human Rights Commission will be teaming up with The League of Women Voters of Humboldt to host a forum on recognizing hate speech and how to respond to it, with representative panelists. The forum is free to attend, and will be at the Sequoia Conference Center at 901 Myrtle Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 4-6 p.m. The forum will be rebroadcast afterwards on Access Humboldt, and there may be future forums to build on the work accomplished here. The public is invited and all Councilmembers are encouraged to attend.
Three people spoke at public comment. One person shared about an accident they had crossing a street and asked if the City had received any complaints about that intersection. [Please note: any member of the public may request public information from the City. More information may be found at the City Attorney's website, and Public Record Requests can be submitted online, and PDF forms are available online and at the Front Desk of City Hall at 531 K St. in Eureka.] Another commenter complained about receiving a Code Enforcement letter, and asked for another dumpster from the City's Dumpster Grant program. The last commenter shared an article about legal action taken against the City of Sacramento.
Item F.2. was requested to be pulled from the Consent Calendar for further discussion.
F.1. Approve City Council regular minutes of January 16, 2024
F.3. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways Grant Funds Application
Samoa Boat Launch Division of Boating and Waterways Resolution
F.4. EPD Reorganization and New Classification - Forensic Analyst I/II
F.5. Hills and McCullens Pump Stations Pump Upgrads Project Award
F.6. Secondar Clarifier Repairs Phase II - Acceptance
Motion to council
Council moved to approve the balance of the Consent Calendar, motion passed with four yes votes and one absent.
F.2. Modify First-Time Homebuyer Agreements - Watch
Example 1 - Without Interest Option
Example 2 - With Interest Option
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach requested that the item be pulled from the Consent Calendar for an explanation of the item for the public.
Finance Director Millar explained that staff had become aware of differences in loan agreements for first time homebuyer loans and rehab loans made in 2001 and 2003. These loans were made by an entity of the City at that time, the City's Redevelopment Agency. Loans from before 2003 did not have the same conditions as those made after, and staff brought this to Council to modify those loans so that they might have the same conditions available.
Council Questions & Comments
Councilmember Castellano asked to clarify, that there are a total of 37 loans in the community and 6 do not have the condition that allows homeowners to benefit from growth in the market. Answer: Director Millar said there are more loans on the books, this was just a subset from the Redevelopment Agency. Staff did not comb through every loan agreement, staff found the difference between two of them, and noticed that one had an option, whereas the other one didn't have that option, and that's what staff would like to modify going forward. Economics has changed in 20 years and home values have gone way up, so calculations that may have been more attractive 20 years ago aren't as attractive today. The intent of the program was not to create large interest revenue windfalls, and without this changes, that would could happen in some cases.
City Manager Slattery clarified for the public that these agreements that staff is seeking to modify had certain clauses that were based solely on appreciation, and when Director Millar talks about revenue, that is referring to the intent of these loans were not for the City to recoup revenue from these loans, and the loans that solely have appreciation if the homeowner has this property for 20-plus years, there's a lot of equity built up, and these agreements that staff would like to adjust would require the homeowners to pay the City a certain percentage of that appreciation, as opposed to just an interest on what was originally loaned. There's huge difference in what the City would recoup if these loans were not modified. Staff does not feel that it is fair to those folks, nor was it the intent of the program when it was first brought forward.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach asked how many people this would affect, the number of loans affected. Answer: Approximately six would now have these two options of the different calculations. City Manager Slattery added that those are existing loans, not necessarily people coming to us to try to sell their property. There was someone who recently sold their property and the City utilized a different method to adjust that, but if someone did not sell their property, it wouldn't make a difference. If one of the six homeowners wishes to sell their property, this could benefit them. Director Millar also added that making the option available doesn't mean that a homeowner would take that option; there are lots of scenarios, providing an additional option wouldn't hurt anyone and could benefit a few.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach asked how old some of the loans are, and how was it handled when homeowners wanted to sell. Answer: Director Millar was not certain on the oldest loan, one of the loans that faced difficulties was signed in 2001. The City typically do not see many issues around the payoffs, there have been no problems navigating the payoffs until this point; the market conditions have changed so much in the past few years, which is why the Director believes this option has become problematic now. City Manager Slattery also said that the City is also aware of one other homeowner with a loan similar to this who was intending on selling their property, and at the time different management and staff were holding them to those terms, and that person chose not to sell their property.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach clarified that when Director Millar said that there had not been issues previous, did he mean that no one had raised concerns. Answer: Director Millar clarified that while he has overseen the Housing Division, he had not come across somebody that has pointed out the difference and how that could negatively affect them or change their decision to sell their home.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach asked if it is known how many sales occurred with that condition. Answer: the City does not have an exact figure of how many people sold without this condition.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach asked where any excess funds from payoffs of these loans go within the City. Answer: Director Millar said that where there are many different version of these loans, but in this case where the monies originated from the Redevelopment Agency, which is now referred to as the Successor Agency, that Agency is regulated in its way. For loans that are paid off, the funds go back into what is called the Housing Successor, and those funds are restricted to funding housing developments, or shelter. In some cases the City has used those monies to provide grants to the Betty Chinn Foundation; the monies are restricted in a way that they must be used for some sort of housing or housing-adjacent activity.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach clarified that currently the clause, which hasn't previously been a deterrent for people selling their house, that if their property has appreciated, a portion of that appreciation comes back to the City. Answer: Director Millar agreed that was a correct understanding. City Manager Slattery added that this matter would allow the homeowners to choose that option, or to choose another option, which would just be based off of the interest. So if they don't have that clause currently, this would provide an option, and it's better for anybody to have that choice.
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach confirmed that the options are consistent to what was available in 2003. Answer: yes.
Public comment for this item
Two people shared public comment on this item. A real estate agent who worked with homebuyers who borrowed with and without the interest option available. One buyer borrowed $15,000 in 2001 for a home with a purchase price of $115,000. He estimates that he would list that home for $425,000 if listing today, and with the appreciation option only, the loan of $15,000 could cost the borrower up to $160,000 to pay back. Buyers who got a $50,000 loan in 2003 and then refinanced in 2012; their repayment for that loan time was $63,000. The real estate agent said that the proposed modification would make the first home buyer's loan payoff more reasonable, and asked that Council pass this modification.
The home buyer that the real estate agent represented for the loan of $15,000 in 2001 spoke. He shared that he was grateful for the oppurtunity to raise his family, but now is looking to retire and downsize to a home that is more manageable. He said that the equity in the home represents the work of his life. He asked that council pass this modification.
Council questions comments
Councilmember Bauer thanked staff for bringing this modification forward; the City is not in the business of trying to make money off of people, trying to help people get into houses.
Motion to council
Council voted to approve the modification, motion passed with four yes votes and one absent.
I. Reports & Action Items - Watch
I.1. Bay to Zoo Trail Consulting Services - Watch
Presented by Public Works Director Gerving and City Engineer Willor. Director Gerving gave an overview, staff will present an update on the next phase of the the Bay to Zoo trail project and some history of the project, recommend that Council authorize a contract with GHD for the next phase of professional services, and allocate Measure H funds to match a grant that the City received for this project.
City Engineer Willor presented the history and the current status of the project. The Bay to Zoo trail is a proposed 3 mile trail from the existing Waterfront Trail terminus at Tydd street going to the Sequoia Park Zoo. The proposed trail will have 2 miles of Class 1 trail and 1 mile of Class 3. Class 1 trail wide paved trails, in this case a minimum of 10 feet wide, separated protected path like as for the existing Waterfront Trail. Class 3 trail will be in the southern portion of the trail, around Washington Elementary School and Sequoia Park Zoo, and will have sharrows, signage, and improvements to the sidewalk to improve pedestrian and cyclist access and travel in that area. The project provides access to the only existing protected crossing of Highway 101, where the existing Waterfront trail goes along the slough and under the Highway 101 slough crossing bridge. This project creates important connection to the Zane Middle School and Washington Elementary School, and the hospital, as well as providing a connection with the continuation of the Humboldt Bay Trail, which will be completing in the very near future. Encourages and promotes Multimodal and Active Transportation
The project originated when the Eureka Trail Committee, formed in 2000, discussed a "greenbelt" trail through Eureka gulches that would connect schools and neighborhoods to the waterfront in that same year. In 2016 and 2017, Eureka City Schools and the City officially identified the Bay to Zoo Trail as a Safe Route to School project. In 2018, the then City Council designated the Bay to Zoo Trail as a Strategic Visioning Goal, and that goal has been in Strategic Visioning documents in the years following that point.
The trail will provide connections for multimodal uses by connecting the Waterfront Trail and future Humboldt Bay Trail North, connecting Sequoia Park and surrounding neighborhoods in the south, residential neighborhoods and schools, Open Door Clinic location and St. Joseph Hospital, future trail segments connecting to possible trails in the south of Eureka, and existing and future trails and pathways to the greater Eureka area, including Cutten and the McKay Tract and Myrtletown.
The trail will go along waterfront and tidal areas, so the design of that portion will include bridges and boardwalks, the trail along the northern portion, the Class 1 trail will be very similar to the existing waterfront trail with a wide paved trail with widened gravel shoulders. The Class 3 portion of the trail will have bike facilities in the southern section, on street facilities and improvements to the sidewalks, to help create a safer and more accessible pathways in the south section. A major change proposed is a roundabout on Myrtle Avenue, at the intersection of of McFarland and Myrtle, where the trail would cross Myrtle Avenue, coming from the Second Slough lowlands. This creates an opportunity to slow traffic, shorten street crossing distance, and to make trail users more visible to vehicles.
The proposed trail alignment is very conceptual at this phase, as the City is entering into the process of design. Tentative alignment was established as part of the Environmental Document; actual trail alignment will be determined through the design process and consultation with property owners and community partners. The trail will generally heads up one side of Second Slough, crosses Myrtle Avenue at that proposed roundabout, and then goes parallel to McFarland before going back along the edge of Second Slough, continuing to Zane Middle School. There will be connections to Zane and the Eureka Dog Park and that area. The trail would then cross Buhne with an improved crossing to allow for safer, higher visibility crossing, and continuing along behind St. Joseph Hospital. The Class 1 portion of the trail would end at Russ street, and continue on facilities that are on existing streets with sidewalk improvements, or bike facilities that are highlighted there.
The City has completed the CEQA Environmental Document; received a grant of $110,000 to complete environmental studies for the Bay to Zoo Trail, which included mapping, wildlife and plant studies, and cultural studies. The Planning Commission adopted the Environmental Document in September of 2021. The City then applied for Design, Right-of-Way and Construction funding from the California Active Transportation Program (ATP). The City was awarded a grant of $8,999,000 in 2023 contingent upon a commitment from the City committed of a million dollar match for the project.
The matching funds for this project were identified through Measure H funds. Measure H funds go toward street maintenance, repair and development projects annually in a minimum amount of $2.5 million. Typically these funds go to maintenance and repair, this year a minimum of $1.5 million will go to maintenance and repair and $1 million will go to the Bay to Zoo Trail project. The project includes many aspects of what Measure H supports: street repair and road safety, community health services, and parks and recreation. The application was rooted in Safe Routes to School and to providing access to disadvantaged communities, and was a large part of why the application was successful, and this commitment of $1 million from the City has leveraged nearly $9 million in State and Federal funds through ATP.
In November of 2023, the City released a formal Request for Proposals from experienced engineering and planning consultants for professional services for the Bay to Zoo Trail project. One proposal was received by the deadline, and staff is recommending that Council determines GHD the selected consultant and authorizes a contract for up to $1.7 million.
Once Council grants Authorization to Proceed, project team will begin working on Project Acceptance and Environmental Document (PA&ED). These are CalTrans terms, as the funds are State and Federal Transportation funds that are administered by CalTrans. That primarily means the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation, which follow along with the CEQA documents that were produced previously with federal funding in mind. That should make producing the NEPA documents a more efficient process. The project team will re-engage with property owners in the community. There have been conversations in the past years of this project, but now that the funds have been awarded it is time to start talking to property owners along the proposed trail sites.
The project team is focusing on community engagement and outreach, and is developing a robust community outreach plan to reach property owners, businesses, the school district, hospital and medical offices, and community members. It is important to the project team that everybody has an opportunity to weigh in on the project.
The project team has been authorized to proceed with the PA&ED phase, and that phase has begun, and should be completed by January of 2025. The Right-of-Way phase will follow immediately after the PA&ED is complete, and is scheduled for January 2025 to January 2026. The final plans specifications and estimates (PSE) phase should end at the beginning of 2026, with an aim of construction from 2026 through 2027, with an estimated construction time frame beginning in May 2026 and estimated to conclude in October 2027. This is an ambitious goal, but one that should be striven for.
Council Questions
Councilmember Bauer noted that it had been about 20 years since the conversations with community members and property owners has begun, and asked how outreach had been conducted in the meantime. Answer: City Engineer Willor in 2016, after discussion with the schools and staff, began process of opening dialogue with neighbors. The first round were phone calls, then going out along an existing sewer access easement and initiating conversations along the way. Since that point, have acquired grant funding to host a Safe Routes to School community meeting at Zane Middle School, a public community meeting to discuss the trail and what the trail could be and what the connections could be around and to the school. That was in 2017 or 2018. Since then have garnered support from some of the bigger stakeholders. The school district has provided letters of support in all three applications made for the project. Have also been in conversation with St. Joseph Hospital; the trail alignment crosses through a couple of their properties, and they have also provided letters of support for applications as active transportation goals are important to them. The project team has done presentations to Council and the Open Space, Parks and Recreation Commission, some local biking and trails groups in the community. Humboldt Trails Council has asked the project team to present about the trail, have presented at the Trails Symposium a few times, among other community meetings. Communications has been pretty active since 2016, but there was a gap in the communication prior to that. City Manager Slattery also added that City Engineer Willor mentioned the discussions at City Council meetings, and added that there are all of the regulatory meetings where this project has had to be approved; the Planning Commission, and the overall regional transportation plan produced by Humboldt County Association of Governments. This has been a part of that plan since 2016 or 2017, and each year there is a meeting related to that, and the project team makes adjustments accordingly.
Councilmember Bauer followed up with a question about the section from Myrtle to Buhne, where there is an existing desire/social trail, that is used by students to get to Zane from Buhne and Myrtle and seems to get a lot of use already; asked if the project team have taken a look at that. Answer: City Engineer Willor have observed people utilizing the existing path, and have seen where property owners have cut trails connecting their properties to that path. There is a lot of access from Zane and the dog park where people have connected to that path from those locations. Does not have numbers, but does know that it does get use fairly heavily.
Public comment for this item
Seven people shared public comment. Six people were supportive of the trail. A parent spoke about how their children would like a protected bike area to use to get across town. People from local bike advocacy and transportation advocacy groups spoke and shared their excitement and support. A bike commuter spoke in support. A member of Planning and Harbor commissions spoke in support, will share specific concerns in writing to Council, is excited to leave a legacy of Right-of-Way access, and asked for more public outreach to welcome property owners along trail alignment. One commenter said that Measure H funds should not be diverted for use in trails. One commenter responded to that comment, saying that these uses were in alignment with the intent of Measure H, and shared their support.
Council Comments
Councilmember Castellano noted that after reviewing the agenda, had requested that staff will make opportunities for public engagement with the hiring of GHD and moving forward. Noted that the City will be continuing to improve roads, that capital improvement and road improvement plans won't end because of this project. Thanked a public commenter for mentioning that these projects give people opportunities to get off roads. Looking forward to how this will connect to other trails, and requested a refresher of the overall trail plans in a coming Council meeting, so the public can have that on their radar.
Councilmember Bauer understands the public's concerns and thanked commenter who spoke about their property along the trail alignment. Staff and Councilmember Bauer will be happy to meet with the public, and he wants to see that the public is heard. A priority of the project is to get children to school safely, and easier access to safe trails to help with community health. A new trail will be challenging, and will require the community working together to make sure that it will work for everyone.
Motion to council
Council voted to authorize the contract with GHD and authorize the matching Measure H funds. Motion passed, four yes votes, one absent.
J. Future Agenda Items - Watch
Councilmember Moulton requested report from staff on the findings from the Jacobs Town Hall, along with a recommendation for the rezoning of the Jacobs Campus site. Response: consensus.
Councilmember Castellano would like to invite speaker who spoke at the NAACP Martin Luther King Jr Day Celebration to present that speech to Council. Response: consensus.
M. Council Reports & City Related Travel Reports - Watch
Councilmember Contreras-DeLoach attended Pathway to Payday event, attended Jacobs Town Hall, attended the Greater Eureka Chamber Gala, attended CalCities Taxation Revenues Committee meeting and reporting thta the Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) is projecting a $68 billion deficit in the State's budget and projecting cuts to funding for services for homelessness, children's programming, and there are concerns about the State clawing back under- and unused funds. LAO is also noting ongoing reduction in gas tax revenue with prevalence of electric vehicles and pushing to ask State to address disparity and loss of funds. Will be hosting a Town Hall on Public Safety in Chambers on Saturday, February 17 with Supervisor Arroyo, Chief Stephens, and others.
Councilmember Bauer participated in the recent Trash Bash and collected a record amount of trash with the Pac Out Green Team. California Conservation Corps members are working in Cooper Gulch removing non-native plants to make room for native species. Attended CalCities Environmental Quality meeting and noted that the legislative year is just beginning and there will be bills to review that will affect Eureka. Attended the Chamber Gala, and Redwood Coast Energy Authority meetings.
Councilmember Moulton attended JPA meeting, attended the Chambers Gala, where The Foggy Bottom Boys won Small Business of the Year and Betty Kwan Chinn Foundation won the award for Positive Community Impact for a Nonprofit, began Eureka City School 2x2 meetings.
Councilmember Castellano attended Grant Elementary School's 100th Day of School Parade, attended the Chamber Gala, continuing to meet with folks about housing, attended Norther California Association of Nonprofits meeting, attended the Jacobs Town Hall, attended Arts Alive, attended Eureka Main Street's Strategic Planning meeting, attended CalCities Housing Community and Economic Development Policy Committee meeting.
Mayor Bergel traveled to Sacramento to see Senator McGuire sworn in, missed the Trash Bash, attended the dedication of a new Little Free Library, hosted a class from College of the Redwoods for students with Developmental Disabilities and lead them in a mock Council meeting, attended the Chamber Gala, attended Kindness Day at Grant Elementary.
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